Document Application Adopt Online For Free

An adopted child who arrived in the U.S. with an IR-3 visa on January 20, 2004 or later can expect to get their Certificate of Citizenship within 45 days. In other situations, they can submit an Application for Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600).

A certified copy of the child's original birth certificate; A certified copy of the signed Adoption Order/Decree; A copy of the signed Adoption Agreement (California only). For states other than California, the Adoption Order/Decree will suffice if it lists the name of the minor before and after the adoption.

If you want the Social Security record to show that your child is a U.S. citizen, apply for a Certificate of Citizenship from DHS or a U.S. passport from the Department of State for your child. We can use either document as proof of your child's U.S. citizenship.

4 to 6 weeks after filing your application you will receive notice of an appointment to get your fingerprinting done for USCIS. Approximately 75 days after filing you will receive notice from Citizenship and Immigration Services Office as to approval of your application.

Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA 320) provides that children acquire U.S. citizenship if they satisfy certain requirements before age 18 which include: Have at least one U.S. citizen parent by birth or naturalization. Be admitted to the United States as an immigrant for lawful permanent residence.

The form you use depends on the foreign country from which you would like to adopt. 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.

A child being adopted from the United States to another Convention country retains his/her U.S. citizenship. He or she may also acquire the citizenship of the prospective adoptive parents depending on the citizenship status of the parents and the laws of the other Convention country.

Proof of U.S. citizenship: You must either provide your most recently issued passport, an original U.S. birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240), a naturalization certificate, or a certificate of citizenship.