[KristinS2]

I am wondering if anyone can give me an estimate on the time frame for processing the I600 in Michigan. We submitted the I600A last November and it was approved with little difficulty. But now we have been waiting for almost 7 weeks for the I600 to be approved. I have friends from other states who are receiving their approvals in 1-3 weeks, so I'm getting concerned. Any advice?

Kristin

[DPline]

I want to make sure I am clear as to what you are asking. Are you looking for the processing time for the I600 for a specific child, or the I600A and the issuing of your 171H?

I don't personally know anyone who has filed a I600 in Michigan. Typically it is done in the sending country. However, Michigan is (and has been for many years) notoriously slow in processing I600A's and issuing 171H's. My very unscientific impression is that since 2003 (when we first filed ours) on, Michigan has averaged 2-3 months issuing 171h's while some other states issue them in a month or less. There have been spurts where they were getting them processed faster, but generally they are slow, slow, slow.

Good luck! Hopefully which ever you are waiting for will get issued soon! Having waited 3 months for our 171H, I know how frustrating it is!

[KristinS2]

Thank you! We received our 171-H in November, but we received a referral this past February and have since filed the I600. I thought the purpose of the I600A was to get preapproved so that the I600 could be approved more quickly. We have a baby waiting for us in Korea, so we are anxious to receive the approval for the I600 as quickly as possible. At least now I know that is probably just the way Michigan operates and not that I completed any of the paperwork incorrectly.

[DPline]

Oh gosh! I know nothing about how the Korean adoption system works. Is the child being escorted here and that is why the I600 is being filed here? I wish I could give you some better information other than Michigan tends to be super, duper slow. Basically, the I600A/171H is your 'preapproval' to adopt. But I am only familiar with the I600 being filed at the Embassy in the sending country when the adoption is complete there and then the parents traveling to the country for pickup and having the child's visa appointment. (I do know sometimes the I600 is filed in the US, but not how that works.)

Are you anywhere near the Detroit office that you could make an INFOPASS appointment and go in and talk to them? Or have you asked your homestudy agency? They may have contacts within USCIS. My only other thought is to try cross posting this on the China and Russia forums. I know there are a lot of people from Michigan on those forums and maybe someone there has some better information.

Good luck!

[umichlori]

We did this the same time last year and it took us 3 months for approval- with a Senator's intervention. I hope it is shorter for you but MI is notoriously slow.

[DPline]

Out of curiosity, which senator intervened for you? Just wondering if one might be more helpful than the other. I know people from the Guat board who contacted both about USCIS issues and neither would help so it is nice to hear they helped you!

[umichlori]

actually, it wasn't even a MI senator. Long story!

[astroguync2000]

The I600 is a tougher form to adjudicate then an I600A. Often all the paperwork submitted is not adequate to define the child as an "orphan" for immigration purposes. There is often a lot of behind the scenes paperwork that is taking place to get the child classified as an orphan. Also, an A file needs to be created and the Visa needs to be shipped to the NVC for processing. 7 weeks is still an acceptable time frame for processing. Personally, I would give it another 3 weeks before I made an infopass appointment. Usually a USCIS office will have a specific email for answering adoption related email. If you wanted to give it a try the email would probably be detadoption@dhs.gov I hope this helps

[DPline]

The email is actually Adoption.Michigan@dhs.gov . Though I personally have found them to be much more responsive in person with an INFOPASS appointment than via email or phone. (Back when you used to be able to call them.)