ImmigrantImmediate relativeIntercountry adoptionForm I-600 / I-800No Immigrant Fee

IR-3 / IR-4 Orphan Adopted by a U.S. Citizen

Immigrant visas for a child adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen (IR-3) or coming to be adopted in the United States (IR-4); Hague Convention cases use IH-3 and IH-4.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026Sources: USCISReport an error

At a glance

Who files: U.S. citizen (with spouse, if married)
Petition: I-600 (non-Hague) or I-800 (Hague)
Petition fee: $920
Child’s age at filing: Under 16 (under 18 for a birth sibling)
Visa fee: $325
Citizenship: IR-3/IH-3: automatic on admission if INA 320 is met

Adoption is no longer exempt from the 2026 travel restrictions. Proclamation 10949 (June 2025) exempted adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4). Proclamation 10998, effective Jan. 1, 2026, replaced those exceptions for the earlier countries and lists no adoption exception, so immigrant entry of children who are nationals of the 39 listed countries is suspended unless an exception applies. The State Department says children being adopted by Americans can qualify for a case-by-case National Interest Exception, and families should continue the normal process — submit visa applications and attend interviews — without taking extra steps. A separate State Department pause on immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries (from Jan. 21, 2026) is, per the State Department, no longer in effect as of Aug. 21, 2026 following the court’s order in CLINIC v. Rubio.

Overview

A child adopted from another country can immigrate on one of four visas. Children from countries that are not party to the Hague Adoption Convention use the orphan process (Forms I-600A/I-600): IR-3 if the adoption was finalized abroad and the parent (or at least one spouse, if married) personally saw the child before or during the proceedings, IR-4 if the child will be adopted in the United States (USCIS).

Children habitually resident in a Hague Convention country follow the Hague process (Forms I-800A/I-800) and receive IH-3 (adopted in the Hague country) or IH-4 (to be adopted in the United States). The Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, and the State Department is the U.S. Central Authority (USCIS).

Under the orphan process the child must meet the immigration-law definition of an orphan: no parents because of death, disappearance, abandonment, desertion, separation or loss, or a sole or surviving parent who cannot provide proper care and has irrevocably released the child in writing for emigration and adoption.

Who qualifies

Adoptive parents

Must be a U.S. citizen; if married, the spouse must also sign the petition and adopt the child.
Orphan process: an unmarried petitioner must be at least 25 when filing Form I-600.
Hague process: must be habitually resident in the United States; an unmarried petitioner must be at least 24 when filing Form I-800A and 25 when filing Form I-800.
Must submit a home study, prepared by someone authorized to do adoption home studies and meeting DHS standards, showing ability to provide proper parental care (USCIS).

The child

Petition filed before the child’s 16th birthday (18th if a birth sibling of a child already adopted).
Orphan process: meets the orphan definition; USCIS or the State Department verifies this in an overseas investigation.
Hague process: habitually resident in a Hague country and found eligible for intercountry adoption by its Central Authority, with all necessary consents.

Duration & extensions

Status on admission	Lawful permanent resident (immediate relative)
IR-3 / IH-3	Citizenship acquired on admission if under 18 and residing in the citizen parent’s legal and physical custody; USCIS automatically issues a Certificate of Citizenship
IR-4 / IH-4	Green Card by mail; citizenship once the adoption is completed in the United States while the child is under 18 (USCIS)

Fees

USCIS fees from the 10/01/26 fee schedule; State Department fees from 22 CFR 22.1.

Fee	Amount	Who pays	Notes
Form I-600A or I-800A (suitability)	$920	Adoptive parents	Certain extension and change requests have reduced or no fees.
Form I-600 or I-800 (child)	$920	Adoptive parents	$0 for the first petition filed during an approved I-600A/I-800A period, and for birth siblings.
Immigrant visa application fee	$325	Adoptive parents	Immediate relative applications, 22 CFR 22.1 item 32(a).
USCIS Immigrant Fee	$0	—	Children entering under the orphan or Hague adoption programs are exempt.
Panel-physician medical exam	Varies	Adoptive parents	Paid to the panel physician.

Form I-864 is not required for an orphan adopted abroad by both parents who saw the child before or during the adoption, when admission will make the child a citizen under INA 320; it is still required if the adoption will take place in the United States (8 CFR 213a.2).

Processing time

Visa number wait: None; Adopted orphans and Hague adoptees are immediate relatives.

Adoption timelines depend on the country of origin, home study and overseas investigation. USCIS times for I-600A, I-600, I-800A and I-800 are at egov.uscis.gov/processing-times.

Application steps

1
Home study
Have a home study prepared by someone authorized to complete adoption home studies; Hague cases also need an accredited or approved primary adoption service provider.
2
Suitability determination
File Form I-600A (orphan) or Form I-800A (Hague) to establish eligibility to adopt.
3
Child-specific petition
File Form I-600 or Form I-800 for the identified child; in Hague cases, before adopting or gaining custody.
4
Adoption or custody abroad
Complete the adoption (IR-3/IH-3) or obtain custody for adoption in the U.S. (IR-4/IH-4).
5
Immigrant visa
Apply at the consulate with the medical exam; pay the $325 visa fee.
6
Arrival
IR-3/IH-3 children who meet INA 320 become citizens on admission; IR-4/IH-4 children receive Green Cards until the U.S. adoption is completed.

Required documents

From the adoptive parents

Proof of U.S. citizenship and marriage (if married).
Home study meeting DHS regulations.
Evidence of the adoption or grant of custody, and of having seen the child (IR-3).

About the child

Birth certificate and evidence the child is an orphan or Hague-eligible (death certificates, release, Central Authority findings).
Passport and panel physician’s medical report.

Dependents & family

Not applicable — the child is the beneficiary. Birth siblings can be petitioned for up to age 18, and additional petitions for birth siblings during an approved suitability period carry no fee.

After you arrive

What happens after arrival depends on whether the adoption was final abroad.

Step 1

IR-3 / IH-3

USCIS automatically issues a Certificate of Citizenship if the child meets INA 320 on admission; no Form N-600 is needed.

Step 2

IR-4 / IH-4

A Green Card is mailed; the child acquires citizenship once the parents complete (or re-adopt, where required) the adoption in the U.S. while the child is under 18.

Step 3

Proof of citizenship

Families may then apply for a U.S. passport or file Form N-600; fee exemptions exist for certain adoptees.

Citizenship under INA 320 applies only to children under 18 who meet all conditions; otherwise the child remains a permanent resident and may naturalize later.

IR-2 / CR-2

Child of a U.S. citizen

For adopted children who meet the 2-year custody rule instead.

IR-5

Parent of a U.S. citizen

Adoptive parents of adult citizens, if adopted before 16.

F2A

Child of a permanent resident

Permanent residents cannot use the orphan or Hague process.

Common questions

What is the difference between IR-3 and IR-4?

IR-3: the adoption was finalized abroad and the parent(s) saw the child before or during the proceedings. IR-4: the child comes to be adopted in the United States. IH-3 and IH-4 are the Hague-country equivalents.

Does an adopted child become a citizen automatically?

An IR-3 or IH-3 child who is under 18 and living in the citizen parent’s legal and physical custody acquires citizenship on admission under INA 320, and USCIS issues a Certificate of Citizenship automatically. IR-4/IH-4 children acquire it once the U.S. adoption is complete.

Can I use the orphan process for a child from a Hague country?

Generally no. Since April 1, 2008, U.S. citizens habitually resident in the United States must generally use the Hague process to adopt a child habitually resident in a Hague country.

Is the USCIS Immigrant Fee charged?

No. Children entering under the orphan or Hague adoption programs are exempt.

Official sources

Recent changes

Aug 24, 2026
Court enjoins USCIS adjudication holds for nationals of 39 countries. In Red Eagle Law v. Edlow (N.D. Cal.), the court enjoined PM-602-0192 and PM-602-0194 and certified a class; USCIS says it will adjudicate covered applications in the normal course while litigation continues. Source ↗
Aug 21, 2026
75-country immigrant visa issuance pause no longer in effect. The State Department paused immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries from Jan. 21, 2026, citing public-charge review. Following the court’s order in CLINIC v. Rubio, the State Department says the pause is no longer in effect as of Aug. 21, 2026. Source ↗
Jun 5, 2026
Court vacates USCIS hold policies on pending applications. In Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS (D.R.I.), the court vacated PM-602-0192, PM-602-0194 and PA-2025-26 (final judgment June 11, 2026). USCIS says it will follow the order pending possible further review. Source ↗
Jan 29, 2026
National Interest Exceptions available for adoption visas. Where immigrant visa issuance is limited by Proclamation 10998 (or was paused for 75 countries), children being adopted by Americans can qualify for a case-by-case National Interest Exception; families do not need to take additional steps beyond the normal visa application and interview. Source ↗
Dec 16, 2025
Proclamation 10998 expands entry restrictions to 39 countries (effective Jan. 1, 2026). Suspends immigrant entry for nationals of every listed country and removes the broad family-based immigrant visa exception that Proclamation 10949 had contained; remaining exceptions are narrow, plus case-by-case national-interest exceptions. Source ↗
Jun 4, 2025
Proclamation 10949 restricts entry from 19 countries (effective June 9, 2025). Originally exempted immediate-relative immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of the relationship, and adoption visas (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4). Those exceptions were superseded by Proclamation 10998. Source ↗
Apr 1, 2024
USCIS fee rule takes effect. The fee schedule final rule (89 FR 6194, published Jan. 31, 2024) set current family-based fees, including separate online and paper fees for Form I-130 and folding biometrics into the filing fees. Source ↗

This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.