United States•North America4-5 months
2,165 USD
Indefinite
No
Not Required
Not Specified
Available
Not Required
Orphan from Hague Convention country coming to U.S. for adoption. Not yet finalized.
The IH-4 is a US immigrant visa for children from Hague Convention countries who enter the US before their adoption is finalized. Unlike the IH-3, adoption is completed in a US state court after arrival, not abroad.
Parents file Form I-800A ($920) for suitability and Form I-800 ($920) to petition for the child, using an accredited Adoption Service Provider. DS-260 costs $325. The child must be under 16 (or under 18 via sibling exception); unmarried petitioners must be at least 25. The child enters as a lawful permanent resident.
This visa is ideal for US citizen parents adopting a Hague Convention country child whose adoption will be finalized in a US state court rather than abroad.
I-800A Suitability | 920 USD |
I-800 Convention Adoptee Petition | 920 USD |
DS-260 Immigrant Visa Application Processing | 325 USD |
USCIS Immigrant Fee (Hague adoptees exempt) | 0 USD |
| I-800A approval | 4 months – 5 months |
| I-800 + consular | 2 months – 7 months |
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
Child must be under 16 (or 18 sibling exception) and unmarried
Child must reside in Hague Convention country
Adoptive parent(s) must be U.S. citizens
I-800A suitability determination required
Must use accredited Adoption Service Provider
IH-4: adoption NOT completed abroad — finalized in U.S.
Education
none or higher
I-800A with home study
I-800 with child eligibility evidence
DS-260
Proof of U.S. citizenship
Child's birth certificate
Article 16 report
Legal custody decree
Medical exam results
Background check results
| I-800A Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country | Fill online |
| I-800 Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative | Fill online |
| DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application | Fill online |
| DS-2054 Medical Examination for Immigrant or Refugee Applicant | — |
| N-600 Application for Certificate of Citizenship | Fill online |
| Application Steps | Select accredited Adoption Service Provider; Complete Hague-compliant home study; File I-800A with U… | uscis.gov |
| Fee Breakdown | I-800A Suitability: 920 USD; I-800 Convention Adoptee Petition: 920 USD; DS-260 Immigrant Visa Appli… | uscis.gov |
| Fees | $920 I-800A + $920 I-800 + $325 DS-260 per applicant (USCIS Immigrant Fee is exempt for Hague adopte… | uscis.gov |
| Forms | I-800A; I-800; DS-260; DS-2054; N-600 (post-adoption) | uscis.gov |
| Forms · DS-2054 · description | Medical Examination for Immigrant or Refugee Applicant | travel.state.gov |
| Forms · DS-260 · description | Immigrant Visa Electronic Application | travel.state.gov |
| Forms · I-800A · description | Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country | uscis.gov |
| Forms · I-800A · url | https://www.uscis.gov/i-800a | uscis.gov |
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