←Home/Templates/Legal/Immigration/I-800 Checklist: International Adoption Petition

I-800 Checklist: International Adoption Petition

Immigration Attorney and Hague Adoption Resource

Prepare a Hague Convention adoption petition with our Form I-800 checklist. Form I-800 (Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative) is used when the child is from a Hague Adoption Convention country. Families generally file Form I-800A first so USCIS can approve the prospective parent(s), then I-800 after the Central Authority issues the required Article 16 report and the case is ready for the petition. This checklist helps immigration attorneys and adoptive families gather I-800A approval, the home study, Hague articles, and civil documents. Non-Hague countries use I-600 instead. Confirm current USCIS and country Central Authority rules. Not legal advice.

I-800 Checklist: International Adoption Petition form template preview

Key Benefits

File I-800A before I-800 in the usual Hague sequence
Collect Article 16 and related Central Authority documents
Keep the home study current through I-800 filing
Avoid filing I-600 on a Hague Convention case
Reduce RFEs on civil documents and translations
Professional Hague adoption workflow

Common Use Cases

U.S. citizens adopting from a Hague Convention countryFamilies with an approved I-800A ready to file I-800Immigration attorneys coordinating with the Central AuthorityAdoption agencies assembling Hague article packagesParalegals tracking home-study expiration and updatesProspective parents preparing for the immigrant visa interview

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use I-800 instead of I-600?
Use I-800 (and I-800A) when the child's country is a Hague Adoption Convention country. I-600 is the orphan petition for non-Hague countries. The processes, authorities, and documents are not interchangeable.
What is Form I-800A?
I-800A is the Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. USCIS generally must approve I-800A before you file I-800 for a specific child. Keep the approval and home study valid through the I-800 filing.
What are Article 16 and Article 17?
They are Hague Convention steps. Article 16 is the Central Authority's report on the child. Article 17 is the agreement that the adoption may proceed. USCIS and the Department of State expect these Convention documents in a Hague case. Do not skip them.
Does I-800 approval finish the adoption?
No. I-800 classifies the child as an immediate relative for immigration. The child still needs an immigrant visa (or another path USCIS/NVC instruct) and must be admitted. State court adoption steps may still apply depending on the country and the case.

Checklist

USCIS Forms

Approved Form I-800A (suitability) still valid at I-800 filing
Required

File any required I-800A extension or update before the approval expires. Attach the approval notice.

Complete Form I-800 (Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative)
Required

Use the current edition. File only after the Hague steps the instructions require for that country.

Supporting Documents

Home study and any updates meeting USCIS Hague requirements
Required

Must remain current. Include the accredited provider's information and any state-required addenda.

Hague Documents

Article 16 report and supporting child background from the Central Authority
Required

This is the child's report under the Convention. Translations must be certified.

Article 17 agreement or equivalent authorization that the adoption may proceed
Required

Required before immigration processing can move forward in a Convention case.

Identity Documents

Proof the petitioner is a U.S. citizen
Required

U.S. passport, birth certificate, or naturalization or citizenship certificate.

Photographs of the child per I-800 instructions
Required

Follow current photo specifications. Visa photos may also be required later at the consulate.

Civil Documents

Child's birth record and identity documents as issued for the Convention case
Required

Use the documents the Central Authority and USCIS instructions specify for that country.

Documentation

Certified English translations for foreign-language Hague and civil documents

Article 16 packages are often in the language of the country of origin.

Financial Requirements

Filing fee payment (check current I-800 and I-800A fees on USCIS.gov)
Required

I-800A and I-800 have separate fee rules, including biometrics. Confirm before filing.