A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to facilitate the admission into the United States of more than two adopted children, and to provide for the expeditious naturalization of adopted children.
PL 95-417 (H.R.12508), enacted 10/05/1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-417—OCT. 5, 1978 
92 STAT. 917 
Public Law 95-417 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to facilitate the admission into 
the United States of more than two adopted children, and to provide for the 
expeditious naturalization of adopted children. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress a^semhled. That section 203(a) 
(8) of the Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by adding the 
following sentences: "No immigrant visa shall be issued under this 
paragraph to an adopted child or prospective adopted child of a 
United States citizen or lawfully resident alien unless (A) a valid 
home-study has been favorably recommended by an agency of the 
State of the child's proposed residence, or by an agency authorized by 
that State to conduct such a study, or, in the case of a child adopted 
abroad, by an appropriate public or private adoption agency Avhich is 
licensed in the United States; and (B) the child has been irrevocably 
released for immigration and adoption: Provided^ That no natural 
parent or prior adoptive parent of any such child shall thereafter, by 
virtue of such parentage, be accorded any right, privilege, or status 
under this Act. No immigrant visa shall otherwise be issued under this 
paragraph to an unmarried child under the age of sixteen except a 
child who is accompanying or following to join his natural parent. . 
SEC. 2. Section 204(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act is 
amended to delete the language "no more than two petitions may be 
approved for one petitioner in behalf of a child as defined in section 
101(b) (1) (E) or (F) unless necessary to prevent the separation of 
brothers and sisters and". 
SEC. 3. Subsection (e) of section 204 of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act is renumbered subsection (f) and a new subsection (e) is 
inserted to read as follows: 
"(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) no 
petition may be approved on behalf of a child defined in section 
101(b)(1) (F) imless a valid home-study has been favorably recom-
mended by an agency of the State of the child's proposed residence, or 
by an agency authorized by that State to conduct such a study, or, in 
the case of a child adopted abroad, by an appropriate public or private 
adoption agency which is licensed in the United States.". 
SEC. 4. Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 320(a) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act are amended to delete the word "sixteen" 
and substitute in lieu thereof the word "eighteen", and subsection (b) 
of section 320 is amended to read as follows: 
"(b) Subsection (a) (1) of this section shall apply to a child adopted 
while under the age of sixteen years who is residing in the United 
States at the time of naturalization of such adoptive parent, in the 
custody of his adoptive parents, pursuant to a lawful admission for 
permanent residence.". 
Oct. 5, 1978 
[H.R. 12508] 
Immigration and 
Nationality Act, 
amendment. 
8 use 1153. 
8 
use 
1154. 
8 
use 
1101. 
8 
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1154. 
8 
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1431. 
92 STAT. 918 
PUBLIC LAW 95-417—OCT. 5, 1978 
SEC. 5. Paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 321(a) of the Immigra-
8 use 1432. 
tion and Nationality Act are amended to delete the word "sixteen" 
and substitute in lieu thereof the word "eighteen", and subsection (b) 
of section 321 is amended to read as follows: 
"(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall apply to a child adopted 
while under the age of sixteen years who is residing in the United 
States at the time of naturalization of such adoptive parent or parents, 
in the custody of his adoptive parent or parents, pursuant to a lawful 
admission for permanent residence.". 
SEC. 6. Subsection (b) of section 322 of the Immigration and Nation-
8 use 1433, 
ality Act is amended to read as follows: 
"(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall apply to a child adopted 
while under the age of sixteen years who is residing in the United 
States, in the custody of the adoptive parent or parents, pursuant to a 
lawful admission for permanent residence.". 
Repeal. 
SEC. 7. Section 323 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the 
8 use 1434. 
title preceding that section are hereby repealed. 
SEC. 8. The table of contents, title III, chapter 2, is amended by 
deleting the following: 
"Sec, 323. Children adopted by United States citizens,". 
Approved October 5, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No, 95-1301 (Comm, on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol, 124 (1978): 
July 18, considered and passed House, 
Sept. 20, considered and passed Senate.