Immediate Relative-4 Category
The Immediate Relative-4 is the immigrant visa classification for children that will be adopted in the U.S. The American parents must have custody of the child to take him/her to the U.S. for adoption. Once issued, the visa is valid for 180 days.
The following are some requirements for the Immediate Relative-4:
- Completed Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative petition.
- Completed Immigrant Visa application signed by one parent on behalf of the child in the presence of a consular officer.
- Documents that show the child will not be a public charge in the U.S. (ex. job letter, tax returns, bank statement, proof of assets or I-864, Affidavit of Support).
- Results of child's immigrant visa physical examination and vaccination report.
- An Affidavit of Acknowledgement of Health Problems of Adopted Child, signed in front of a consular officer. This affidavit must include all health problems listed on the adoption decree and medical history of the children.
- Affidavit of Vaccinations Requirement Waiver signed in front of a consular officer. This is required for children 10 years old and younger.
- Immigrant fee of U.S. $335 cash, payable at the time of the interview.
- An original and copy of the adoption decree.
- An original and two copies of a birth certificate issued in the child's new adopted name.
- Two copies of the court decree declaring that the child is an orphan and/or unambiguously declaring that any surviving parents have no legal parental rights. If applicable, adopting parents may present two copies of a certificate of abandonment produced by the biological parents, the police or the hospital.
- Two notarized copies of the child's pre-adoption birth certificate.
- The original and a copy of the orphanage's medical report/medical history for the child.
- The original and a copy of the passport for the country of origin, issued in the child's new adopted name.
- The original and a copy of each of the adopting parents' passports.
- Two passport-size photographs of the child with a three-quarter profile, showing the right ear and a second one showing the frontal facial photo.
Additional possible requirements include:
- Certified copy of the approved home study.
- Evidence that the pre-adoption requirements of the adopting parents' state of residence have been met.
- Evidence that re-adoption is legally possible in the parents' state of residence, if applicable.
- A notarized statement from the parent who has not met the child that he or she intends to adopt the child in the United States.
- Form I-864 Affidavit of Support and supporting documentation.