[Devora]

While I agree with Sharon's explanation of the IR-3 and IR-4 visa laws, your friends should still talk with someone on the Italian side first and then find out from them whom to talk with on the US side. It doesn't sound like anyone here is expert enough to give a definitive answer.

I say this in part because when I lived in Japan there were numerous US citizens who adopted children from Korea. While there were a different country's laws in play there (and military dependent status, too), it makes me think that it's worth talking with someone more in the know about other laws that may apply.

While it's true that non-US citizens could not get an IR-3 or IR-4 visa for a child adopted abroad to enter directly into the US, that does not necessarily mean that Italian citizens who have a US visa cannot obtain a visa for their minor child to enter the US. If they had entered the US and had minor children already (adopted or biological), they could have obtained visas for their children.

I would suggest that they start by talking with the nearest Italian consulate's office.

Best wishes,
Devora