[olive123]

Just wanted to let everyone know that we had submitted an I-600A to USCIS on April 14th and had it returned to us on Friday, stating that since Bulgaria and the US are both Hague countries, an I-800A is required instead.

On the I-800A form, it states that the home study must be submitted with the I-800A. Unlike the I-600A, it does not appear you can submit this form and then later submit your home study. Not sure if this will further delay our processing and approval timelines, as we will still need fingerprints, etc. Our home study will not be completed until ~June 20th.

Anyone else hit this yet?

[socialkat78]

When I was researching agencies last month one of them mentioned that after April 1st I would have to have a homestudy completed to turn in with the new form.

[jessibird]

Ours is for China, but our agency said we cannot submit until our HS is done also. Our agency is checking to see if we need to do the 1600A or the 1800A. I think we will have to do the I800 also.

[kwien]

Hi,

Checked with my home study agency and they confirmed what you are saying.

Apparently the U.S. was not fully Hague compliant until this year. Hence, the change in forms.

I checked about those of us who have already completed and received the i-171H and it seems we are good for now...the question is if/when we need to renew...it may be with the new i-800A. So, need to find out at that time. My agency said that some things may yet change with that procedure.

Thanks for the heads up!

-K

[KaronD]

I dont think it will be a huge delay because they will not fingerprint you for the I-600A until they have the homestudy either. They did take my initial I-600A paperwork but it just sat there until I sent in the homestudy.

Karon

[adopt2007]

Hi!

We have filed I-600A with all relevant docs including the home study. Initially we received a letter from INS (Mar 24, 2008) stating they received the application for I-600A.

later we received I-797 form on which the Case Type mentioned is I-600 instead of I-600A.

is this a problem or a normal procedure? Has anyone received I-797 with the case type I-600A?

BTW, if you filed I-600A before Apr 1st 2008, you dont need to re-do paper work for I800A. Hague convention came into effect on 1st Apr 2008.

Thanks

[sak9645]

1. The 171-H and the 797-C are older and newer versions of the same document. Both convey I-600A approval. Some state USCIS offices tend to use one, and some tend to use the other.

2. USCIS offices have varied in terms of the handling of the I-600A. However, even when they have allowed submitting the homestudy report after the actual application, most have not actually begun processing the application until both documents were in hand. As a result, there was often very little time saved. Frankly, from the standpoint of document mixups, I think it is best to send the two documents together. So if people sending the I-800 are being told that the two documents must be sent together, this is probably a good thing.

3. As of this past April, any American who adopts from a Hague country MUST use the I-800A. There are some rules about grandfathering in people whose paperwork was submitted before April, and, in particular, those people whose paperwork might expire before they complete their adoptions, so please read the directions on the USCIS and State Department websites and talk with your agency.

By the way, Americans adopting from other Hague countries now MUST use an "accredited agency" or "approved provider". There is a transition period for agencies, but be very careful about starting with an agency that does not have approval in hand. Some agencies have been denied Hague accreditation.

Sharon

[Splinter]

We got a call from our agency today saying that we do NOT have to complete the I-800. We completed the I-600 a couple of months ago for our planned adoption from another country. When our agency opened its Bulgaria program, we switched and were told we would need to do the 800.

The agency got a letter from CIS saying that people switching from a non-Hague to a Hague adoption would be able to use the I600 if it was completed prior to April 1.

[Splinter]

FAQs: Transition Cases and the Hague Adoption Convention

[olive123]

We finally got our home study back and were able to submit our I-800A yesterday - yeay!! Given the USCIS processing time in North Carolina, expecting about a 4 month wait here to get approval back.

[mom4three]

Congrats! Keep us updated when you send your dossier off.