IR-3 — Orphan Adopted Abroad by U.S. Citizen

United States•North America

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IR-3 — Orphan Adopted Abroad by U.S. Citizen

Residency Pathway PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Remote Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

6 months – 1 year

Estimated Cost

$1,245–$2,165 USD

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote work OK

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen, with full and final adoption completed overseas.

The IR-3 is a US immigrant visa covering non-Hague orphan adoptions completed abroad. Petitioners must be US citizens; single filers must be 25+. Child must be under 16.

The child enters as a lawful permanent resident and acquires automatic US citizenship. Fees: $920 (I-600) + $325 (DS-260); immigrant fee waived.

This visa is ideal for US citizens who have finalized a non-Hague international adoption and want to bring the child home as a permanent resident with automatic citizenship.

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Cost Breakdown

Form I-600A (Advance Processing of Orphan Petition)$920 USD

optional

Form I-600 (Petition to Classify Orphan as Immediate Relative)$920 USD

Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260)$325 USD

Medical examination (panel physician)—

USCIS Immigrant Fee$0 USD

Total$1,245–$2,165 USD

Stay & Extensions

Status type

Permanent / indefinite

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Petitioner must be a U.S. citizen (LPRs cannot petition)

Petitioner must be at least 25 years old if unmarried

Child must be under 16 at time of filing (or under 18 if sibling of previously adopted child)

Adoption must be full, final, and irrevocable under the foreign country's law

Country of adoption must NOT be a Hague Convention country (use IH-3 for Hague countries)

Child must qualify as an 'orphan' under U.S. immigration law (INA definition)

At least one U.S. citizen petitioner must have physically seen the child before or during adoption proceedings

Petitioner must pass a home study and suitability assessment

Petitioner must pass background checks and fingerprinting

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Child's original birth certificate with certified English translation

Final foreign adoption decree with certified English translation

Proof of biological parental rights termination (death certificates, abandonment orders, court orders)

Home study report completed by a USCIS-authorized adoption service provider

Evidence that child qualifies as an orphan under INA

Medical examination results from a USCIS-approved panel physician

Two passport-style photos of the child

Petitioner's U.S. citizenship proof (U.S. passport or birth certificate)

Marriage certificate (if petitioner is married)

Prior divorce decrees (if applicable)

Completed Form DS-260 (Online Immigrant Visa Application)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Child enters the United States as a lawful permanent resident — no separate green card application needed
Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, the child automatically acquires U.S. citizenship upon entry to the U.S. — no naturalization application or fees required
USCIS automatically issues a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560) at no cost
No annual quota or cap — IR-3 is an immediate relative visa, exempt from numerical limits
Child is immediately authorized to work upon entry as an LPR
USCIS immigrant fee ($235) is waived for children entering on IR-3 visas

Worth Knowing

Only available for adoptions from non-Hague Convention countries; adoptions from Hague member countries use the IH-3 process with Forms I-800/I-800A
If the adopting parent(s) did not physically observe the child before or during the adoption proceedings, the child receives an IR-4 visa instead (no automatic citizenship upon entry)
Processing times can be lengthy (6–12+ months) and vary significantly by country and USCIS service center
Some countries have suspended or closed international adoption programs; qualification depends on the specific country
Home study must be completed by a USCIS-authorized adoption service provider
Children must be under 16 at time of petition filing
The full foreign adoption must be legally final before applying for IR-3 (as opposed to IR-4, which allows finalization in a U.S. state court)

Application Process

File Form I-600A (Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) with USCIS to establish suitability and complete home study — optional but recommended before identifying a child

Identify a qualifying orphan child in a non-Hague Convention country and complete the full, final adoption under foreign law

File Form I-600 (Petition to Classify Orphan as Immediate Relative) with USCIS or at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate

USCIS reviews I-600 petition; consular officer completes Form I-604 (Determination on Child for Adoption) to verify orphan status

Complete medical examination with a USCIS-approved panel physician in the child's country

Submit Form DS-260 (Online Immigrant Visa Application) at the National Visa Center and pay the $325 visa processing fee

Attend visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the child's country

Receive IR-3 visa; child enters the United States as a lawful permanent resident

Application Forms

Go to application portal

I-600A Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition	Fill online
I-600 Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative	Fill online
I-604 Determination on Child for Adoption	—
DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application	Fill online

Verified Claims (24)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Application Steps

File Form I-600A (Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) with USCIS to establish suitability and com…

travel.state.gov

Fee Breakdown

Form I-600A (Advance Processing of Orphan Petition): 920 USD; Form I-600 (Petition to Classify Orpha…

uscis.gov

Fees

$920 USCIS I-600 petition fee + $325 immigrant visa application fee (DS-260)

uscis.gov

Forms

Form I-600A (Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition) — optional; Form I-600 (Petit…

travel.state.gov

Forms · DS-260 · description

Immigrant Visa Electronic Application

travel.state.gov

Forms · I-600A · description

Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition

uscis.gov

Forms · I-600A · url

https://www.uscis.gov/i-600a

uscis.gov

Forms · I-600 · description

Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative

uscis.gov

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Overview

Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen, with full and final adoption completed overseas.

The IR-3 is a US immigrant visa covering non-Hague orphan adoptions completed abroad. Petitioners must be US citizens; single filers must be 25+. Child must be under 16.

The child enters as a lawful permanent resident and acquires automatic US citizenship. Fees: $920 (I-600) + $325 (DS-260); immigrant fee waived.

This visa is ideal for US citizens who have finalized a non-Hague international adoption and want to bring the child home as a permanent resident with automatic citizenship.

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Petitioner must be a U.S. citizen (LPRs cannot petition)

Petitioner must be at least 25 years old if unmarried

Child must be under 16 at time of filing (or under 18 if sibling of previously adopted child)

Adoption must be full, final, and irrevocable under the foreign country's law

Country of adoption must NOT be a Hague Convention country (use IH-3 for Hague countries)

Child must qualify as an 'orphan' under U.S. immigration law (INA definition)

At least one U.S. citizen petitioner must have physically seen the child before or during adoption proceedings

Petitioner must pass a home study and suitability assessment

Petitioner must pass background checks and fingerprinting

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Child's original birth certificate with certified English translation

Final foreign adoption decree with certified English translation

Proof of biological parental rights termination (death certificates, abandonment orders, court orders)

Home study report completed by a USCIS-authorized adoption service provider

Evidence that child qualifies as an orphan under INA

Medical examination results from a USCIS-approved panel physician

Two passport-style photos of the child

Petitioner's U.S. citizenship proof (U.S. passport or birth certificate)

Marriage certificate (if petitioner is married)

Prior divorce decrees (if applicable)

Completed Form DS-260 (Online Immigrant Visa Application)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Child enters the United States as a lawful permanent resident — no separate green card application needed
Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, the child automatically acquires U.S. citizenship upon entry to the U.S. — no naturalization application or fees required
USCIS automatically issues a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560) at no cost
No annual quota or cap — IR-3 is an immediate relative visa, exempt from numerical limits
Child is immediately authorized to work upon entry as an LPR
USCIS immigrant fee ($235) is waived for children entering on IR-3 visas

Worth Knowing

Only available for adoptions from non-Hague Convention countries; adoptions from Hague member countries use the IH-3 process with Forms I-800/I-800A
If the adopting parent(s) did not physically observe the child before or during the adoption proceedings, the child receives an IR-4 visa instead (no automatic citizenship upon entry)
Processing times can be lengthy (6–12+ months) and vary significantly by country and USCIS service center
Some countries have suspended or closed international adoption programs; qualification depends on the specific country
Home study must be completed by a USCIS-authorized adoption service provider
Children must be under 16 at time of petition filing
The full foreign adoption must be legally final before applying for IR-3 (as opposed to IR-4, which allows finalization in a U.S. state court)

Application Process

File Form I-600A (Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) with USCIS to establish suitability and complete home study — optional but recommended before identifying a child