Special Fingerprint Instructions for Form I-600 and Form I-600A

These instructions apply to the fingerprint requirements for Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (or Orphan Petition) and Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (or Advance Processing Application).

If you are a prospective adoptive parent (PAP) or an adult member (age 18 or older) of a PAP’s household, you must provide fingerprints to USCIS for FBI background checks. These background checks are one of the primary tools that USCIS uses to determine your suitability as adoptive parents and ability to provide a proper home environment for an orphan.

IMPORTANT:

• FBI fingerprint checks are valid for 15 months.
• An approved Form I-600A is valid for 18 months. 
• USCIS will not approve a Form I-600 without current FBI fingerprint records for the PAPs and all adult members of the PAP’s household. You may need to provide fingerprints more than once in order to comply with immigration regulations.

If you are a PAP, you must:

• Submit an $85 fingerprinting fee for each PAP and for each adult member of your household in addition to the Form I-600 or Form I‑600A filing fee. For example, married PAPs with two additional adult members of their household must submit $340 ($85 × 4) along with the $775 filing fee for total fees of $1,115. You may submit the total fees in one check. Do not submit completed fingerprint cards with the Form I-600 or Form I-600A.
• Inform USCIS of any additional adult members in your household so that anyone required to provide fingerprints may be scheduled for an appointment. If you do not inform USCIS of additional adult members in your household, this may result in processing delays.
• Attend and make sure any adult members of your household attend any required biometric services appointments or otherwise provide required biometrics.
  • For those who reside in the United States, USCIS will notify each person in writing of the time and location where he or she must go for biometric services. Please carefully read the instructions in your appointment letter and take it with you to your appointment.
    • Note: Processing and adjudicating Orphan Petitions and Advance Processing Applications continues to be an USCIS priority. Therefore, to avoid delays, USCIS will schedule fingerprint appointments for PAPs and adult members of their households on an accelerated schedule.
  • For those who reside abroad, each person must go to a USCIS international office, U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or U.S. military installation abroad to submit a completed Form FD-258, Applicant Fingerprint Card, or provide biometrics electronically where available.