Ask AF: Adoption Visa Clarification

How do you know if you need to apply for citizenship for your child, or if the adoption visa is enough? The AF legal expert explains.

Q: We finalized our daughter’s international adoption a few years ago, but haven’t gone through the naturalization process yet. Do we have to? What forms do we need to complete?

A: First, examine the stamp that was placed in her passport when she entered the United States. If she entered the U.S. on an IR-3 visa, she automatically became a U.S. citizen upon entering the country. If you did not receive a U.S. certificate of citizenship within 45 days of returning home with her, request one using USCIS Form N-600. (Download the form at uscis.gov.)

If your child was issued an IR-4 visa, you will need to adopt her again in your state of residence. Once the “re-adoption” occurs, you can request a certificate of citizenship using Form N-600. It’s in your child’s and your best interests to complete the re-adoption. The fact that several years have passed since you adopted her shouldn’t pose a problem, but I urge you to begin the process sooner rather than later.




HOW TO ADOPT
Everything you need to know about the adoption process, delivered monthly to your inbox.



Copyright © 1999-2024 Adoptive Families Magazine®. All rights reserved. For personal use only. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

More articles like this

Elizabeth Curry with some of her children featured in May M. Tchao's documentary Hayden and Her Family.
Top