[hg808]

Does anyone know what happens when the fingerprints for I-171H expire - are they still good for 3 more months to go to court? Or does the form itself expire at the same time as the fingerprints (in 15 months)?

I know that this subject is being mentioned on the forums from time to time, but I could not find any mention of it - sorry for repetition.

Helen

[charlotte16]

I believe that you have to re-do your fingerprints for everything to be valid. My fingerprints expired in the middle of June, and I had to re-do them. My I171H expires in Oct. I just mailed off a new I600A form yesterday...what a pain to do! Good Luck!
p.s. if you don't re-do your prints, wherever you travel they would make you re-do them in that country and have to wait at least a couple of weeks to have the fbi here approve them!

[hg808]

Can I still travel to the country within these 3 months when the fingerprints have already expired, but I-171H has not? (i.e., between 15th & 18th month)

[charlotte16]

You can travel, but you will not be able to bring home your child without current fingerprints. I would really get them done HERE now and not have to worry about them. Better safe than sorry!
Good Luck!!

[hg808]

Charlotte, I hate to be a pain, but what happens if the fingerprints were re-submitted between 15th and 18th month for the new I-171H (or I-797H), but the new INS approval has not been received yet? (in NJ it takes about 3 months).

I tried to reach USCIS, but did not get anywhere, hopefully someone knows what to do.

Thanks in advance,
Helen

[charlotte16]

Helen,
This is copied for the us embassy website for Ukraine re expired fingerprints. It whould be the same rule everywhere...

An I-600 petition can be approved only if the petitioners (and all adult members of their household) have unexpired FBI fingerprint clearances. Though fingerprint are taken and checked by the FBI at the time prospective adopting parents file an I-600A, they are valid only for 15 months and must be re-done if the 15 months have expired.. The validity period for the I-600A is 18 months and is not tied to the fingerprint checks. Thus, it is possible for adopting parents to have a valid I-600A and expired fingerprint checks at the same time. Prospective adopting parents should verify that their fingerprint check are current and will not expire before traveling to Ukraine to adopt. If the fingerprints are about to expire soon, prospective adopting parents should contact their USCIS office and have their fingerprints retaken. If your fingerprints are not valid when you come to file the I-600 petition in Kiev, the Embassy staff will have to take them and send them to the FBI for the background check, which will delay an adopting family’s return to the United States by several days.