HOW TO ADOPT

The Philippines Adoption Authority

The Inter-Country Adoption Board
The Process
Because The Philippines is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adopting from The Philippines must follow a specific
process designed to meet the Conventions requirements.

A brief summary of the Convention adoption process is given

below. You must complete these steps in the following order so that your adoption meets all necessary legal requirements.
Note: If you filed your I-600a with The Philippines before April 1, 2008, the Hague Adoption Convention may not apply to
your adoption. Your adoption could continue to be processed in accordance with the immigration regulations for nonConvention adoptions. Learn more.
1. Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider
2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
3. Be Matched with a Child
4. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
5. Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in The Philippines
6. Bring your Child Home

1. Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider

The first step in adopting a child from The Philippines is to select an adoption service provider in the United States that
has been accredited. Only these agencies and attorneys can provide adoption services between the United States and The
Philippines. Learn more.

2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt

After you choose an accredited adoption service provider, you apply to be found eligible to adopt (Form I-800A) by the U.S.
Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Learn how.

Once the U.S. Government determines that you are eligible and suitable to adopt, you or your agency will forward your
information to the adoption authority in The Philippines. The Philippines adoption authority will review your application
to determine whether you are also eligible to adopt under Philippino law.

I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an

Orphan Petition

Form I-600A (494 KB PDF)

Instructions for Form I-600A (346 KB PDF)

Supplement 1 for Form I-600 and I-600A (372 KB PDF)

Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (240 KB PDF)

Purpose of Form
This form is used by a U.S. citizen who plans to adopt a foreign-born child and enables USCIS to adjudicate the
application that relates to the suitability and eligibility of the applicant(s) as prospective adoptive parent(s).

Number of Pages
Form 12; Instructions 14.

Edition Date
02/01/15. No previous editions accepted.

Where to File
See the Filing Addresses for Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition for information on where
to file.

Filing Fee
The filing fee for Form I-600A is $720. An additional biometric services fee of $85 is required for each adult member of the
household. USCIS will inform a person residing abroad if he or she must pay a USCIS biometric services fee.

Special Instructions
Form M-760, Orphan Home Study Tip Sheet, provides prospective adoptive parents and adoption service providers with
helpful tips for preparing home studies for orphan adoptions that are not subject to the Intercountry Adoption Universal
Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA). Form M-738, Hague Processing Tip Sheet, provides helpful tips for preparing home
studies for orphan adoptions that need to comply with the UAA. Please visit our Web page on the Universal Accreditation
Act for more information.

You must complete Form I-600A/Form I-600, Supplement 1, Listing of Adult Member of the Household, for each
adult member of your household. You do not need to complete one for yourself or your spouse (if married).

Please see the instructions for Form I-600A for details.

If filing at a USCIS Lockbox facility:

We recommend reading our Lockbox Filing Tips.

If you want to receive an e-Notification when your Form I-600A has been accepted, complete Form G-1145, ENotification of Application/Petition Acceptance and clip it to the first application in the package.
This page can be found at http://www.uscis.gov/i-600a

I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability

to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country

Form I-800A (174 KB PDF)

Instructions for Form I-800A (106 KB PDF)

Form I-800A Supplement 1 (Listing of Adult Member of the Household) (46 KB PDF)

Form I-800A Supplement 2 (Consent to Disclose Information) (25 KB PDF)

Form I-800A Supplement 3 (Request for Action on Approved Form I-800A) (84 KB
PDF)

Form M-738, Hague Processing Tip Sheet (101 KB PDF)

Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (240 KB PDF)

Purpose of Form
For adjudicating the eligibility and suitability of the applicant(s) to adopt a child who habitually resides in a Hague
Adoption Convention country.

Number of Pages
Form: 9; Instructions: 11; Supplement 1: 2; Supplement 2: 1; Supplement 3: 4.

Edition Date
11/23/10; (04/16/09; 09/10/09; 02/25/08 editions also accepted)

Where to File
Regular Mail:
USCIS
P.O. Box 660087
Dallas, TX 75266
Express Mail and Courier Service deliveries:

USCIS
ATTN: Hague
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business,
Suite 400,
Lewisville, TX 75067
E-Notification: If you want to receive an e-mail and/or text message that your Form I-800A has been accepted at a USCIS
Lockbox facility, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance and clip it to the first page of
your application. Form G-1145 can be downloaded through the link above.

Filing Fee
$720. (An $85 fee for biometrics is required for the applicant - and spouse, if any. Additionally, an $85 fee for biometrics is
required for each person 18 years of age or older who is living with the applicant. See form instructions for additional
details.)

Special Instructions
The Hague Processing Tip Sheet, M-738, provides prospective adoptive parents and adoption service providers with helpful
tips for preparing the home studies for Hague Convention adoptions.
Do not send Change of Address Requests to a USCIS Lockbox facility.
Notes on fees:

An $85 fee for biometrics is required for the applicant (and spouse, if any).

Additionally, an $85 fee for biometrics is required for each person 18 years of age or older who is living with the
applicant.

Form I-800A, Supplement 1 (Listing of Adult Member of the Household) must also be provided for each adult
member of the household, excluding the applicant and applicant's spouse.

$360 for Form I-800A, Supplement 3 (Request for Action on Approved Form I-800A), if applicable.
This page can be found at http://www.uscis.gov/i-800a

3. Be Matched with a Child

The Philippines adoption authority matches the prospective adoptive parents with a child. The Central Authority prepares
a report that determines that: the child is adoptable, the envisaged placement is in the best interest of the child, the birth
parent or legal custodian has freely consented in writing to the adoption, and no payment has been made to obtain the
consent necessary for the adoption to be completed.

4. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption

After you accept a referral to a child, you will apply to the U.S Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for provisional approval to adopt that particular child (Form I-800). USCIS
will determine whether the child is eligible under U.S. law to be adopted and enter the United States.

Learn how.

After this, your adoption service provider or you will submit a visa application to a Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy.
The Consular Officer will review the childs information and evaluate the child for possible visa inelegibilities. If the
Consular Office determines that the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States, he/she will notify the
Philippines adoption authority (Article 5 letter). For Convention country adoptions, prospective adoptive parent(s) may not
proceed with the adoption or obtain custody for the purpose of adoption until this takes place.
Remember: The Consular Officer will make a final decision about the immigrant visa later in the adoption process.

5. Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in The Philippines

Remember: Before you adopt (or gain legal custody of) a child in The Philippines, you must have completed the above four
steps. Only after completing these steps, can you proceed to finalize the adoption or grant of custody for the purpose of
adoption in The Philippines.
The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in The Philippines generally includes the following:
Role of The Court: The Regional Trial Courts are responsible for domestic adoptions in The Philippines. This is where
prospective adoptive parents file adoption petitions.
Adoption Application: To start the Philippine adoption process, prospective adoptive parents or their accredited FAA
must contact the Philippine Inter-country Adoption Board (ICAB).
Application: The prospective adoptive parents file an application with the ICAB through a United States adoption agency.

6. Bringing Your Child Home

Now that your adoption is complete (or you have obtained legal custody of the child), there are a few more steps to
take before you can head home. Specifically, you need to apply for several documents for your child before he or
she can travel to the United States:

Birth Certificate
You will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child, so that you can later apply for a passport.
Your name will be added to the new birth certificate.

Philippines Passport
Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or Passport from Philippines.

U.S. Immigrant Visa

After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you also need to apply for an U.S. visa from
the United States Embassy for your child. After the adoption (or custody for purpose of adoption) is granted, visit
the U.S Embassy for final review and approval of the childs I-600 petition and to obtain a visa for the child. This
immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be

provided the Panel Physicians medical report on the child if it was not provided during the provisional approval
stage.

Child Citizenship Act

For adoptions finalized abroad: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your child to acquire American
citizenship when he or she enters the United States as lawful permanent residents.

For adoptions to be finalized in the United States: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your child to typically
acquire American citizenship when the U.S. state court issues the final adoption decree. We urge your family to
finalize the adoption in a U.S. State court as quickly as possible.

*Please be aware that if your child did not qualify to become a citizen upon entry to the United States, it is very
important that you take the steps necessary so that your child does qualify as soon as possible. Failure to obtain
citizenship for your child can impact many areas of his/her life including family travel, eligibility for education and
education grants, and voting.

A first step is to file an application with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Your application
will consist of a USCIS form, a home study, an application fee, and other supporting documents. The form you use
depends on the foreign country from which you would like to adopt. To know which form to file, you will need to know if
your adoption is subject to the Hague Adoption Convention (view list). For a Convention country, file Form I-800A. (A
Convention country is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention.) For a country not party to the Hague Adoption
Convention, use Form I-600A.

Form I-800A - Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country

Form I-600A - Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

Forms I-800A and I-600A allow prospective adoptive parents to demonstrate that they are eligible to adopt and capable of
providing proper care to a child. They ask for relevant information about you and, if you are married, your spouse. They
request supporting documentation, such as proof of citizenship and proof of marital status (if applicable). If there are any
additional adult members residing in your household other than you and your spouse, you will also be required to submit
a supplemental form about those individuals.
For Hague Convention Adoptions
If you wish to adopt a child from a Hague Adoption Convention country, you must begin the adoption process by filing Form
I-800A. Do not accept any adoption placement before USCIS has approved Form I-800A. During this time, you must also
refrain from any contact with parents, legal custodians, or other individual or entity responsible for the care of the child
who may be eligible for adoption.
For Non-Hague Convention Adoptions
If you wish to adopt a child from a country not party to the Hague Adoption Convention, you may choose to file the Form
I-600A before identifying a child for adoption. You may also file the Form I-600 with USCIS in cases where the child is

known and you are traveling to the country where the child is located. Either way, the child must remain in the foreign
country where he or she is located until processing is complete.
Application Instructions
It is very important to fill out your Form I-800A or I-600A (or I-600) properly and completely. If you do not complete the
form, or file it without required supporting documentation, USCIS may deny your petition.

USCIS provides detailed

instructions:

Instructions for filling out Form I-800A

Instructions for filling out Form I-600A

Instructions for filling out Form I-600

Filing Fee
USCIS charges a filing fee of $670 USD. An additional fingerprint fee of $80 USD must be paid for each person residing
in your household who is 18 years of age or older. The latest fee information is posted on the USCIS website.
Where to File
Form I-800A File with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility at the following address:
U.S. Mail:
USCIS
P.O. Box 805695
Chicago, IL 60680-4118
Private Couriers:
USCIS
Attn: Hague
131 South Dearborn 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5510
Form I-600A or I-600 File at local USCIS office in the United States with jurisdiction over your place of residence. See
their Field Office Locator. Under certain circumstances, Form I-600 may also be filed overseas.
Validity Period
USCIS evaluates your suitability and eligibility to be adoptive parents. If the application is approved, USCIS will send you
written notification.
For Form I-800A, the period of approval is 15 months from the date that USCIS was notified of your fingerprint record
check results. You are entitled to request one extension of this approval with no additional fee and second extension of
the approval with a fee.
Form I-600A approval lasts 18 months. For more information on extending the validity of an I-600A, see the USCIS
website.

How to File a Grandfathered Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, Form I-600A(USCIS
FAQ - 02/10/09)
Fingerprinting
USCIS requires prospective adoptive parents to be fingerprinted for the purpose of conducting FBI criminal background
checks. To better ensure both the quality and integrity of the process, you must be fingerprinted at an authorized site.
Authorized fingerprint sites include USCIS offices, Application Support Centers, and U.S. embassies and consular
offices and military installations abroad. In general, USCIS schedules people to be fingerprinted at an authorized
fingerprint site after an application. USCIS charges $80 USD per person at the time of filing for this fingerprinting
service. (Note that fingerprint validity for I-600A is only 15 months.)
Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) Eligiblity Criteria
Like all Americans considering adoption, persons with disabilities and persons in certain protected categories (for
example, age, sex, race, color, national origin, or religion) must also comply with three sets of laws in order to adopt: U.S.
federal law, the laws of the childs country of origin, and the laws of your home U.S. state.

U.S. federal law does not prohibit Americans with disabilities or those in certain federally defined protected categories
from being an adoptive parent. However, some countries or origin, for example, do forbid individuals with certain
disabilities from adopting. Likewise, some countries of origin may restrict single parent adoptions. U.S. state law on the
eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parent(s) also varies. When deciding to pursue intercountry adoption, do
your research. Find out your states requirements and restrictions. We recommend viewing the section on U.S. state
lawsmaintained by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
If a country of origin has notified the Department of its eligibility requirements, then such eligibility requirements may be
included in the Country Information section of our website.
More Information
For more information about filing an I-800A or an I-600A, or an I-600, call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283
1.