Extension and Validity Periods

Initial Approval Expires:

18 months from the date of approval

Example:

If we approved your Form I-600A Jan. 1, 2019, the approval would expire July 1, 2020.

How to Request an Extension:

• Submit the following to the USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) before your Form I-600A approval expires, but no earlier than 90 days before it expires:
  • A written request;
  • Your updated home study;
  • Your original home study; and
  • Any other home study updates.
• There are no fees for an extension, or for your first biometrics update request.
• When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-600A when we update your biometrics.
• If we approve your extension, you will receive an approval notice.
• You may only request one extension. If you wish to have additional validity time after your first extension expires, you must file a new Form I-600A with filing and biometrics fees and an updated home study.
• If you do not request an extension before your Form I-600A approval expires, you must file a new Form I-600A with fee or a Form I-600 concurrent (or combination) filing if you wish to continue with the orphan adoption process.

See the Form I-600A instructions for more information.

Extension Expires:

18 months from the expiration date of the original Form I-600A.

Example:

If your Form I-600A was first approved Jan. 1, 2019, and you received an extension beginning July 1, 2020, your extension would expire Jan. 1, 2022.

How to Request a One-Time Biometrics Reuse:

• Submit your request to: nbc.adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov.

Initial Approval Expires:

15 months from the date of the biometrics results

Example:

If the date of your fingerprint results was Jan. 1, 2019, and we approved your Form I-800A March 1, 2019, your approval would expire April 1, 2020.

How to Request Extensions:

• You must file Form I-800A, Supplement 3 with an updated home study before your Form I-800A approval expires, but no earlier than 90 days before it expires.
• There are no fees for your first extension. Each additional extension requires filing and biometrics fees.
• When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-800A when we extend your Form I-800A approval.
• If we approve your extension, you will receive an approval notice.
• If you do not request an extension before your Form I-800A approval expires, you must file a new Form I-800A application with fee if you wish to continue with the Hague adoption process.

See the Form I-800A instructions for more information.

Extension Expiration:

15 months from the date of the updated fingerprint results.

Example:

• If the date of your updated fingerprint results was April 1, 2021, and we approved your extension April 20, 2021, your extension would expire July 1, 2022.