Family-Based Petition Process

Under this process, an adopted child is considered to be the child (or unmarried son or daughter under the age of 21) of the adopting parent for immigration purposes if:

• The adoptive parent adopted the child before their 16th birthday (or before their 18th birthday, under certain circumstances as described below) and provides evidence of a full and final adoption; and
• The adoptive parent had legal custody of and jointly resided with the child for at least 2 years while the child was under age 21.
  • The legal custody must have been the result of a formal grant of custody from a court or other governmental entity.
  • The legal custody and joint residence requirement may be met by custody and residence that preceded the adoption.
  • The 2-year time period does not need to be continuous and may be counted in the aggregate.
  • If both parents adopted the child, the 2 years of legal custody and joint residence cannot be split between the adoptive parents, but only one adoptive parent needs to meet them.
  • The 2-year legal custody and joint residence requirements are waived for certain abused children.

A child is still considered to be an adopted child if they were adopted after their 16th birthday, but before their 18th birthday, if:

• The child is the birth sibling of another child who was adopted by the same parent(s) before the other child’s 16th birthday and immigrated through the family-based petition process; or
• The child is the birth sibling of another child who was adopted by the same parent(s) before the other child’s 16th birthday and who immigrated as an orphan based on an adoption by the same parent(s).

U.S. citizens may file a petition for an adopted:

• Child (unmarried and under the age of 21);
• Unmarried son or daughter over the age of 21;
• Married son or daughter; or
• Sibling.

For additional information on filing a petition on behalf of a relative, go to the Green Card page.

Permanent residents may file a petition for an adopted:

• Child (unmarried and under the age of 21); or
• Unmarried son or daughter over the age of 21.

Generally, U.S. citizens must follow the Hague Adoption Convention process to adopt a child from a country that is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention. However, under certain circumstances, U.S. citizens may file a Form I-130 for a child from a Hague Adoption Convention (Hague) country if they can establish the Hague Adoption Convention does not apply to the adoption.

Specifically, USCIS may approve the Form I-130 if a U.S. citizen adoptive parent can establish, in addition to other eligibility criteria, that:

• The adoption occurred before the country became a Hague country;
• They were not a U.S. citizen when the adoption from the Hague country was finalized (so they could not use the Hague process);
• They were not habitually resident in the United States at the time of the adoption (for example, by satisfying the 2-year joint resident and legal custody requirements by residing with the child outside the United States); or
• The child is not or was not habitually resident in a Hague Adoption Convention country.

For more information visit:

• The USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 5, Adoptions, Part A, Adoption Processes and Part E, Family-Based Adoption Petitions, Chapter 3, Hague Restrictions on Family-Based Petitions.
• Fact Sheet: Adoption in U.S. Courts of Children from Hague Adoption Convention Countries, Information for State Court Judges, Child Welfare Professionals, and Adoptive Families (PDF, 181.56 KB)

To begin the immigration process for your adopted relative (as described above), file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. For information about where to file, see the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-130. For information on what supporting evidence to submit, see the Instructions for Form I-130 (PDF, 258.23 KB).

For more specific information on the legal authorities for this process see Section 101(b)(1)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Title 8 Code of Federal Regulations 8 CFR 204.2(d)(2)(vii).

• Form I-130 Filing Information for Prospective Adoptive Parents Living Abroad
• Immigration, Adoption, and Citizenship for Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens and LPRs
• Fact Sheet: Adoption in U.S. Courts of Children from Hague Adoption Convention Countries, Information for State Court Judges, Child Welfare Professionals, and Adoptive Families (PDF, 181.56 KB)