U.S. Immigration FAQs

The information below was provided by the new U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (formerly known as the Immigration & Naturalization Service). Note: While these questions are specific to North Carolina residents, most of the information presented is also general in its application to adoptive parents.

Q. What is the purpose of Form I-600A?
A. To start the international adoption process with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS). The focus of this form is to prove you are suitable parents for a child(ren).

Q. What is the purpose of Form I-600?
A. To provide the basis for an immigrant visa for your child(ren) to come to stay permanently in the U.S. A U.S. Embassy or Consulate will not issue a visa to your child without an approved Form I-600. However, you must prove your child(ren) meet the definition of “orphan” for this petition to be approved.

Q. Where do I file Form I-600A?
A. At the CIS office having jurisdiction over your residence. See the CIS website to locate the CIS office having jurisdiction over your area.

Q. Who can file Form I-600A?
A. A married United States citizen and spouse of any age (spouse must be at least a lawful permanent resident or in lawful nonimmigrant (temporary) status in the United States); or an unmarried U.S. citizen at least age 24.

Q. What is needed to file a Form I-600A?
A. Proof of U.S. citizenship of petitioner, proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, or lawful nonimmigrant (temporary) status in the U.S., copy of marriage certificate of petitioner and spouse, proof of termination of all prior marriages of petitioner and spouse; filing fee and fingerprint fees for all adults, age 18 and over, whose primary residence is in the petitioner’s household.

Q. I filed a Form I-600 or I-600A in another state and have moved to North Carolina. What do I do?
A. Have the CIS office where you filed that application transfer the application to the CIS office in Charlotte, NC, for processing. There is no fee for this transfer. CIS/Charlotte will send you a letter of acknowledgment when your application is received in Charlotte.

Q. Where do I file Form I-600?
A. You may file this at your local CIS office or overseas at an CIS office, or at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Some countries (Russia & China) require these petitions to be filed at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country.

Q. Does CIS provide an escort for my child?
A. Escorts are not provided by CIS. Contact your facilitator or the agency assisting you in obtaining a child.

Q. Does my spouse need to be a U.S. citizen to file the Form I-600A or Form I-600 with me?
A. No. However, the petitioner on either Form I-600A or I-600 must be a U.S. Citizen, of any age, if married. If unmarried, the petitioner must be at least age 24 to file Form I-600A and age 25 to file Form I-600

Q. My spouse is NOT a U.S. Citizen What proof of his immigration status is acceptable?
A. Copy of his Permanent Resident Card (front and back) OR a copy of his Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (front and back), with proof of lawful status in the United States

Q. My spouse/I became a U.S. citizen by naturalization. Can I make a copy of my/his/her naturalization certificate and submit it to Bickers proof of U.S. citizenship?
A. Yes, or you may submit a copy of the photograph page from his/her U.S. passport, which must be valid for at least 5 years. Either document is acceptable.

Q. Must I send in to CISoriginal documents?
A. No, but you must submit, with any copies, a statement signed by the petitioner (or petitioner and spouse) that these copies are exact copies and originals may be required by CIS. Please do not send original documents, if at all possible, unless requested by CIS.

Q. What if documents are in a foreign language?
A. All documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by English translations.

Q. We plan on adopting our child(ren) abroad, rather than in the U.S. How should I answer question #14 on Form I-600A (OR Item #18 on Form I-600)?
A. Item #14 of Form I-600A should be answered “no”; Item #18 of Form I-600 should be answered “no”.

Q. Our initial adoption will take place in North Carolina. How should I answer question #14 on Form I-600A (OR Item #18 on Form I-600)?
A. Answers would be “yes.”

Q. Can I travel abroad before I receive my Notice of Approval?
A. No. DO NOT MAKE TRAVEL PLANS OR TRAVEL ABROAD UNTIL YOU RECEIVE THE NOTICE OF APPROVAL FROM CIS.

Q. How is the Notice of Approval sent from CIS?
A. It is sent by regular mail. We are unable to fax or email this notice.

Q. How can I speed up receipt of this Approval Notice?
A. Send in a prepaid FedEx airbill with your application OR provide credit card information so your Notice of Approval can be sent by FedEx and charged to your account. (Credit card information will be safeguarded and not released to other individuals or organizations.)

Q. How long is this approval valid?
A. Eighteen (18) months from the date of completion of advance processing. If you do not receive a child within this time, a new application with fee and fingerprint fees must be filed. Federal law does not allow for extension of this validity.

Q. Circumstances have changed (such as number or gender of children requested, change of residence, etc.) since I received my Approval Notice (Form I-171H). How do I obtain an amended approval notice?
A. Have your home study agency provide an amended home study, one original to you, in a sealed envelope marked “only to be opened by a Consular officer or CIS” for you to take when you go abroad for your child(ren) AND a second original amended home study to be mailed to CIS with your original Form I-171H. CIS will issue you an amended approval notice and return your original Form I-171H to you. Your approval notice must still be valid (i.e., within 18 months of issuance).

Q. How long are my fingerprints valid?
A. 15 months from the date they are processed by the FBI. Federal law does not allow for any extension of this validity. Fingerprints must be valid at time of approval of Form I-600A OR at time of approval of Form I-600.

Q. My fingerprints were taken as a part of filing the Form I-600A. The Form I-600A has been approved, and I am filing Form I-600 with the local CIS office. If my fingerprints will expire before CIS approves my Form I-600 for the child, will I/we require new fingerprints?
A. Yes. See CIS fingerprint policy.

Q. How can I change the country of adoption BEFORE my Form I-600A is approved? After approval?
A. BEFORE approval – Notify our office in writing. Be sure your home study agency is aware of your change of country so your home study is correct. AFTER approval – You must file a Form I-824 (Notice of Duplicate Approval) with appropriate filing fee (see CIS website: www.uscis.gov for correct fees). Send it to the Charlotte CIS office and clearly indicate “orphan case – retain in Charlotte.”

Q. When must proof of compliance with pre-adoption requirements of North Carolina be submitted?
A. When the initial adoption will take place in North Carolina and not abroad OR if the petitioner (or petitioner and spouse) did not personally see and observe the child prior to or during the adoption proceeding abroad.

Q. What are the pre-adoption requirements for North Carolina?
A. Six months residence in North Carolina, a home study approved by a North Carolina agency duly authorized by law to perform adoption services, current satisfactory physical examinations, a financial assessment, including the source of the financial information, which must be contained in the home study, and positive references from at least three people.

Q. My child is being escorted to the U.S. I/We will not go abroad for the adoption & visa issuance process. Must I comply with NC pre-adoption requirements?
A. Yes

Q. What does CIS accept as proof of compliance with North Carolina pre-adoption requirements when filing Form I-600A?
A. A letter from the NC Dept. of Social Services in Raleigh, NC. Your home study agency must send an original home study to Ms. Linda Wrightson of that office for her review. If Ms. Wrightson determines that pre-adoption requirements have been met, she will issue a letter and forward it to CIS/Charlotte. The CIS cannot finalize your application without this letter if your initial adoption will take place in North Carolina.

Q. Who mails the home study to CIS?
A. Only your home study agency can mail the home study to CIS.

Q. Are there any time limits on this home study?
A. Home studies must be received within one year from the date of filing your application (i. e., the date CIS accepts your money) and cannot be more than six months old at the time of submission to CIS.

Q. My I-600A has been approved by CIS. I am ready to proceed abroad to get my child. The U.S. Embassy wants to see a new home study. Should this be mailed to CIS?
A. No. The CIS does not retain your application, supporting documents, or the home study after approval of Form I-600A. Have your home study agency mail to you an original home study in a sealed envelope marked “to be opened only by a Consular officer or CIS.”

Q. Must the home study be sent in with Form I-600A to CIS?
A. No, but it must be received within one year of filing Form I-600A.

Q. When do home studies need to be amended?
A. When there is a change in residence, marital status, finances, additions of dependents, or evidence of a criminal record has been discovered.

Q. How do I select a country for adoption?
A. Your home study agency can assist you. You may also obtain information from the Department of State website (www.state.gov). Click on “international Adoption” and scroll down the page to the list of countries. Click on the country desired. This will provide you detailed information about requirements for U.S. citizens to adopt from that particular country.

Q. When will we receive notices to be fingerprinted?
A. You will be sent fingerprint appointment letters with a letter from CIS telling you that processing of your application has begun within 2-3 weeks of submission at our office. This letter will explain the application process at CIS and also provides you with valuable information which you should read concerning international adoption requirements.

Q. Do I get a receipt for proof of payment of the filing fees?
A. Yes. This will be mailed to you separately from the fingerprint letters & the letter explaining the application process.

Q. Can I change my fingerprinting appointment?
A. Return your fingerprint appointment letter to the address listed on the fingerprint appointment letter and state when you would like to be printed. If you would like to be printed on a Saturday, this can only be done in Charlotte. Our Application Support Center is closed on Saturdays before Federal holidays that are on the following Monday. However, please make every effort to keep your fingerprint appointment.

Q. Where do I go to be fingerprinted?
A. It depends on where you live in North Carolina. You will be asked to appear in Charlotte or in Raleigh. Several times a year there is a mobile fingerprinting unit in Wilmington, NC. If the mobile unit is not scheduled for Wilmington, NC and you reside in that area, you will be scheduled for fingerprinting in Raleigh. All fingerprint scheduling notices will be for a specific date and place. Addresses of the fingerprint locations and hours for fingerprinting are provided in our letter.

Q. What does “rejected” fingerprints mean?
A. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) could not “read” your fingerprints because they were not clear. Some people, due to the condition of their hands, are unable to obtain good fingerprints. We suggest applying hand lotion daily two weeks prior to fingerprinting, if your hands are extremely dry. If your fingerprints are rejected one time, you will be scheduled to appear again for fingerprinting. There is no extra charge for this second fingerprinting.

Q. I’ve been fingerprinted two times, but both time my fingerprints have been rejected. What happens now?
A. Police clearances must be obtained from all jurisdictions where you have resided in the past 5 years. Do not obtain fingerprints. CIS will be unable to finalize your application without these police clearances if they are required. If police clearances are required, they must be submitted to CIS within 12 weeks of the date of their request. Your application may be denied for failure to comply with their request. You will also be asked to appear in person at the CIS office in Charlotte for a brief sworn statement. Failure to appear for this statement may result in denial of your application.

Q. Besides my husband and/or myself, I have other adults (over age 18) living with me. Must they pay a fingerprinting fee and also be fingerprinted?
A. Yes. Fingerprinting fees and fingerprints are required. Also, please indicate on a separate sheet of paper when submitting Form I-600A to CIS the names and dates of birth for the other household members whom will need fingerprinting. This is required so CIS can send them fingerprint appointment letters also.

Q. Is there any age limit on who is required to be fingerprinted for an orphan application?
A. Any adult, whose primary residence is your household, age 18 and over, must pay a fingerprint fee and be fingerprinted. We are unable to finalize your application unless these individuals are also fingerprinted.

Q. I have a child (children) attending school in another city (state) who are age 18 or over. They return to my home for vacations, holidays, and the summer break. Must they be fingerprinted?
A. No.

Q. In my past, I did some things I’m not proud of, resulting in an arrest record. Must I tell my home study preparer about these incidents? What happens if I do not?
A. Yes. Any and all arrests must be disclosed to your home study preparer, no matter when or where they occurred. Failure to disclose an arrest may result in denial of your application. If CIS discovers an arrest after receipt of your home study (and the arrest is not listed on the home study), you will need to obtain certified copies of the arrests and court dispositions for all arrests, submit a statement explaining why you failed to mention these arrests to your home study preparer, explain any mitigating factors concerning these arrests. Your home study preparer must submit new home study, including a discussion of the criminal history, with a new recommendation in light of these circumstances. Your statement about the arrests and the certified copies of the arrest and court dispositions of each incident must accompany the home study.

Q. How much time will I be given to submit the arrest records and court dispositions to CIS?
A. 12 weeks from the date of their request. Failure to submit these records within that time may result in denial of your application. There are no extensions of this time.

Q. There was an incident with the police, but I’m not sure if I was fingerprinted, if the charges were dismissed, or the record was expunged. Do I need to mention this to my home study preparer?
A. Yes. Any incidents with a law enforcement officer, no matter how trivial, or when they occurred, must be completely discussed in the home study process.

Q. How soon should I select a country of adoption?
A. As soon as possible. You may amend this at any time without charge before approval. Your home study agency must be made aware of any change in country of adoption. Your home study must be geared to a particular country.

Q. Can CIS discuss my application OR any aspect of my home study (i. e., finances, criminal record, health issues) with my home study agency?
A. No, unless you (or you and your spouse) have submitted a signed Privacy Act release. Submission of this release is not required & is voluntary. No information will be released without signed consent of petitioner (and spouse, if applicable). CIS will send you a Privacy Act release form with your fingerprint notices and the letter explaining the application process.

Q. Can my application be approved without telling CIS which U.S. Embassy or Consulate to send the approved Form I-600A to?
A. Yes. Your application will be retained in our office, and you have 18 months to notify CIS in writing where to send the approved Form I-600A. You must notify in writing CIS/Charlotte when you have identified an Embassy or Consulate. Failure to notify CIS within 18 months of the approval will result in your application being deemed abandoned.

Q. I’ve(we’ve) changed my(our) mind(s) and want to stop this application? What do I do?
A. Submit a letter to CIS, dated and signed by petitioner or petitioner and spouse. You do not need to inform CIS the reason why you are requesting withdrawal. CIS will send you a letter of acknowledgment of your withdrawal. You may file a new application at any time, however.

Q. If I withdraw my application, are the filing and fingerprint fees refunded?
A. No, fees cannot be refunded

Q. I have withdrawn my application, but I decided I still wish to pursue an international adoption. Can the filing date of the application that was withdrawn be retained?
A. No. If you withdraw your application, the old filing date cannot be retained. You must start the process again with a new application, fingerprints, home study and filing fees.

Q. If I/we do not get a child after 18 months, what happens?
A. Your approval is no longer valid. CIS will send you a letter informing you that your application has been abandoned. A new application, with filing fee and fingerprints must be submitted if you wish to again pursue an international adoption. Federal law prohibits extending this validity.

Q. Can I file Form I-600 with Form I-600A?
A. Yes. If you have identified a child, you may do so. However, only one filing fee (and fingerprint fee or fees, if applicable) is required.

Q. I have an approved Form I-600A and now need to file Form I-600. What documents are required?
A. (The child identified must be under age 16). No fee is required; however, you will need: a copy of your Notice of Approval for Form I-600A, , a copy of the child’s birth certificate, adoption decree (if adopted abroad),proof the child qualifies as an “orphan”, release for the child from the child’s guardian or sole or surviving parent. The sole or surviving parent must explain why she/he is unable to care for the child. If the initial adoption will be in North Carolina, your home study agency must send an original home study with the child’s documents to Ms. Linda Wrightson , Division of Social Services, Raleigh, NC, for her review. If Ms. Wrightson determines that the pre-adoption requirements of NC have been met, she will issue a letter and forward it to CIS/Charlotte. CIS cannot finalize your application without this letter if your initial adoption will take place in North Carolina. Also, if fingerprints were done more than 15 months ago, new fingerprints will also be required.

Q. If I file Form I-600A and Form I-600, what documents will I need?
A. Form I-600 is used when you have identified a child for adoption. This child must be under age 16. You will need proof of U.S. citizenship for the petitioner, proof of spouse’s U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status, copy of petitioner’s marriage certificate, copies of termination of all prior marriages of petitioner and spouse, a home study from an approved agency, duly licensed and approved to conduct home studies in North Carolina, You, the petitioner, must establish that the child qualifies as an “orphan, a birth certificate for the child, an adoption decree (if adopted abroad), and if the child has a guardian or a sole or surviving parent, a statement of release from that parent or guardian. That parent must also establish why he/she is unable to care for the child. That release must be in writing and is irrevocable. A release is also required if the child is in an orphanage. If your initial adoption will be in North Carolina., CIS will also require your statement of intent to adopt the child in the U.S. and proof of compliance with the pre-adoption requirements of North Carolina. CIS cannot finalize your application without proof of compliance with pre-adoption requirements of North Carolina if your initial adoption will take place in North Carolina. Also, the application must be accompanied by all applicable fees (fingerprint fees and application fee. If you file both Form I-600 and I-600A, there is only one application filing fee. (See www.uscis.gov)

Q. I have been approved on Form I-600A for two children. Do I need to file a Form I-600 for each child and pay a fee?
A. A Form I-600 is required for each child. No fee is required if you file Form I-600 for siblings. (You must provide documentary evidence the children share a common parent(s).Look on your approval notice (Form I-171H) for the number of children you were approved for. EX.: approved for 3 children=3 I-600’s to be filed). If the children are not siblings, additional fee is required for each orphan beyond the first child. (Ex: filing I-600’s for 3 children, 1 can be accepted without fee; 2 require payment of fees.) See the CIS website: www.uscis.gov for current fee information.

Q. When we/I went overseas to adopt my child, we/I were/was told my child had a sibling. I want to adopt the sibling. What do I need to do? (My Form I-600A has not yet been approved).
A. That sibling must be under age 18 to be adopted. The adoption can take place abroad or in the United States. Your home study must reflect you are adopting more than one child and include adoption of an older (or younger) child. You must provide documentary evidence the children share one or both biological parents. Form I-600 must be filed prior to the sibling’s 18th birthday, with the documentation specified above, either overseas or at the local CIS office. If your Form I-600A has does not reflect you are adopting more than one child, you may amend your application, without fee. The sibling cannot be adopted unless the first child is adopted also.

Q. Several years have gone by and I recently learned my child has a younger/older sibling. I want to adopt that sibling. What do I need to do?
A. You must file Form I-600 prior to the child’s 18th birthday for an identified child with all applicable documentation required with Form I-600, filing and fingerprint fees, home study, documentary evidence to establish the children share one or both biological parents, and proof the child qualifies as an “orphan”.

Q. How do I meet the pre-adoption requirements of North Carolina when I file Form I-600?
A. The agency assisting you in locating a child should submit copies of the child’s documents to Ms. Linda Wrightson, NC Dept. of Human Resources, Division of Social Services, 325 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603. She will review the documents and issue a letter indicating that the pre-adoption requirements of North Carolina have been met. Your Form I-600 cannot be finalized until this letter from Ms. Wrightson is received.

Q. I have not filed Form I-600A but have identified a child I want to adopt. What form do I file?
A. Form I-600. You also have the option of filing both Form I-600A and Form I-600 at the same time. You must pay a $332 filing fee, a $50 fingerprinting fee for each adult, age 18 and over, whose primary residence is in your household, proof of U.S. citizenship for the petitioner, proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, or lawful immigration status for their spouse, a copy of your marriage certificate, if married, proof of termination of all prior marriages, a home study licensed by an agency licensed in North Carolina to conduct home studies, a birth certificate for the child, an adoption decree (if adopted abroad), and if the child has a guardian or a sole or surviving parent, a statement of release from that parent or guardian. That parent must also establish why he/she is unable to care for the child. That release must be in writing and is irrevocable. A release is also required if the child is in an orphanage. If your initial adoption will be in North Carolina., CIS will also require your statement of intent to adopt the child in the U.S. And proof of compliance with the pre-adoption requirements of North Carolina. CIS cannot finalize your application without proof of compliance with pre-adoption requirements of North Carolina if your initial adoption will take place in North Carolina.

Q. My spouse and I did not personally see and observe the child prior to or during the adoption of our child abroad. Must I meet pre-adoption requirements of North Carolina?
A. Yes.

Q. When a sole or surviving parent signs a release, what does this mean?
A. That person is giving up all parental rights, control, and contact with the child. This release must be in writing, signed by that parent, and is irrevocable.

Q. How does immigration law define “orphan”?
A. To qualify a child as an “orphan”, one or more of the following conditions must apply and be supported by the proper documentation:

1. Death of parents: death certificates needed
2. Abandonment: parents have forsaken all parental rights, obligations and claims to the child, as well as possession & control over the child
3. Desertion by both parents: parents have willfully forsaken their child and refused to carry out their parental rights; the child is a ward of a competent authority
4. Disappearance of both parents: both parents have unaccountably and inexplicably passed out of the child’s life, there whereabouts are unknown, no reasonable hope of their reappearance. A reasonable effort has been made to locate them, as determined by a competent authority, in accordance with the laws of the sending country
5. Loss from both parents: involuntary severance or detachment of the child from the parents in a permanent manner, such as by natural disaster, civil unrest, or other calamitous event beyond the control of the parents, as verified by a competent authority, in accordance with the laws of the foreign sending country.
6. Separation from both parents: involuntary severance from both parents by action of a competent authority for good cause and in accordance with the laws of the foreign-sending country. The parents must have been properly notified, granted an opportunity to contest such action, been properly notified and granted an opportunity to contest such action. The termination of all parental rights and obligations must be permanent and unconditional.

Q. How do you define “competent authority” as explained above?
A. It is a court or governmental agency of a foreign-sending country having jurisdiction and authority to make decisions in matters of child welfare, including adoption.

Q. How do you define “foreign-sending country” as explained above?
A. It is the country of the orphan’s citizenship, or if he or she is not permanently residing in the country of citizenship, the country of the orphan’s habitual residence. This excludes a country to which the orphan travels temporarily or to which he or she travels either as a prelude to, or in conjunction with, his or her adoption and/or immigration to the U.S.

Q. How can I make this process go smoother?
A. Submit the application with the proper fees required; complete all questions on the application completely and clearly, sign the application (petitioner and spouse, if applicable), cooperate fully in the home study process, disclosing all arrests or any contacts with a law enforcement officer, submit all required documents as specified in the instructions on the application. Appear for fingerprinting when requested. It is helpful to keep copies of all applications submitted to CIS and copies of all correspondence sent to and received from CIS.

Q. What if CIS needs additional information or documentation with my application?
A. You will receive a letter for the missing information. This letter is not to be construed as a denial of your application, only a request for additional information. You must comply with their request within 12 weeks. Failure to reply to a request for more information within the twelve-week period may result in denial of your application for lack of prosecution.

Q. Where can I get more information?
A. The CIS website:www.uscis.gov; the State Department website: www.state.gov; the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse: www.naic.com.

Q. How can I contact CIS?
A. Visit www.uscis.gov to locate the office having jurisdiction over your residence.

Q. May I contact CIS by email?
A. No, the email address is not for public use.

Q. What is the processing time for Form I-600A?
A. Contact the office having jurisdiction over your residence for processing times.

Q. What is the processing time for Form I-600 filed with CIS?
A. Contact the office having jurisdiction over your residence for processing times.

Q. May I submit my application in person?
A. Contact the office having jurisdiction over your residence for processing times.

Q. When will my child become a United States citizen?
A. If the child was adopted abroad – and that adoption was full and final – your child is a U.S. citizen upon admission to the United States. If the child was not adopted abroad (i. e., coming to the United States for adoption) or the adoption abroad was not full and final – your child becomes a United States citizen upon completion of the adoption proceeding in the United States. For more information, see the CIS website (www.uscis.gov) and look for information on the Children’s Citizenship Act in “Frequently Asked Questions” on that site.

Q. I/We filed a Form I-600A (or I-600) and CIS did not approve (denied) my/our application. Can CIS do this? What happens now?
A. For Form I-600A, CIS makes an independent determination as to your suitability as parents, despite a favorable recommendation from a home study agency. Reasons for denial are clearly explained on Form I-292. For Form I-600, the most common deficiency is inability to prove the child is an “orphan” as defined in Federal law. Reasons for denial are also explained in detail on Form I-292. In either case, you have the right to appeal CIS decision. Appeal forms are included with denial notices. You have thirty (30) days from the date of the decision to submit an appeal. If an appeal is not submitted within 30 days of the decision, the decision by CIS is final. Any questions can be answered at an CIS office or the office that made the decision to deny your application.

Q. Where can I obtain application forms for CIS (Forms I-600A & I-600)?
A. They may be downloaded from the CIS website (www.uscis.gov). It is not necessary to submit the forms on colored paper.

Q. My I-600A (or I-600) was denied by CIS. Can I appeal this decision?
A. An appeal form is sent with the denial decision (Form I-290B). It must be filed with a $110 filing fee within 30 days of the date of the decision. Otherwise, the decision is final. Appeals are forwarded to the Administrative Appeals Unit in Washington, DC This appeal process may take as long as a year. The office that rendered the decision cannot answer any questions about the appeal process.

Q. The Immigration & Naturalization Service (I&NS) is being absorbed into Department of Homeland Security. How will this affect processing of orphan petitions and applications?
A. Applications will continue to be received, processed and decided as they have been in the past. All laws and policies affecting orphans will remain the same. However, as of 3/1/03, I&NS, as it is currently structured, will no longer exist. The new name will be the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. All approval notices, correspondence, and requests for information will still carry the old name and are still valid. Any applications that have been denied are still considered to be denied. Any applications that have been withdrawn by the petitioner(s) are still considered withdrawn. Major changes will not take affect for at least one year. For more information on this transition, visit the CIS website: http://uscis.gov/