The i800 is Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, the petition a U.S. citizen files with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to finalize the immigration process for a child who habitually resides in a Hague Convention country. You must already hold an approved, valid Form I-800A before you file it. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF and instructions are published by USCIS, and the petition itself is filed with USCIS by mail.
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What is I-800?
Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, is the USCIS form a U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parent uses to establish that a child habitually resident in a Convention country is eligible for classification as a Convention adoptee.
The petition finalizes the immigration side of a Hague Convention adoption. USCIS uses the form and its supporting evidence to decide whether the child qualifies. The petitioner must first hold an approved, valid Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. Form I-800A decides your suitability as an adoptive parent; Form I-800 concerns the specific child proposed to you by the Central Authority.
The form has Parts 1 to 10. They cover the basis of filing, information about you and your spouse, processing information, the child, fees and expenses, the Affidavit of Support exemption, and the statements and signatures of the petitioner, spouse, interpreter and preparer. In Part 3 you choose how the child will come: on an immigrant visa, on a nonimmigrant visa to obtain naturalization under section 322 of the INA, or by adjustment of status.
Form I-800, Supplement 1, Consent to Disclose Information, is optional. Complete it if you want USCIS to discuss your case with your primary adoption service provider. Children from countries that are not Convention countries follow the Form I-600A and Form I-600 process instead, as the instructions explain.
Who needs to file I-800?
You may file Form I-800 if you are a U.S. citizen who habitually resides in the United States and all of the following apply:
- You have an approved, valid Form I-800A.
- The Central Authority of the child's Convention country has proposed an adoption placement, you have accepted it, and you have not yet adopted or obtained custody of the child.
- No significant changes have occurred in your circumstances since your Form I-800A was approved or extended.
- If you are unmarried, you are at least 25 years old when you file.
Married petitioners file together: your spouse completes Part 8 and signs. If you are still legally married but separated, you cannot file unless your spouse joins in the petition and the adoption.
Do not file Form I-800 if:
- the approval or extension of your Form I-800A has expired;
- your marital status has changed since approval, unless a new Form I-800A reflecting it was approved;
- a significant change requires Form I-800A, Supplement 3, and it has not been approved (examples include a change of residence, a new child or household member, or a change in arrest or abuse history);
- you intend to adopt from a country that is not a Convention country.
A parent or legal guardian may sign for a petitioner under 14, and a legal guardian may sign for a mentally incompetent person. An attorney or accredited representative may also submit Form G-28 or G-28I.
When to file I-800
File Form I-800 after the Central Authority has proposed placing a child with you and you have accepted, and before you adopt or obtain custody of the child. You must obtain provisional approval of the petition before you adopt or obtain custody.
The petition must be filed before your Form I-800A approval (or extension) expires and before the child's 16th birthday. Exceptions in the instructions:
- If the Central Authority placed the child more than 6 months after the 15th birthday but before the 16th, you must still file before the 16th birthday. If the required evidence is not yet available, you may submit a statement from your primary adoption service provider, signed under penalty of perjury; no approval is granted until the evidence arrives.
- If your Form I-800A was filed after the child's 15th birthday but before the 16th, its filing date counts as the I-800 filing date, provided you file Form I-800 no more than 180 days after the I-800A was first approved.
- A birth sibling of an adopted child may qualify up to age 18 if the petition is filed before the I-800A approval expires and before the 18th birthday.
USCIS will notify you of its decision in writing.
Documents you need
- Form I-800A approval notice and, if applicable, proof that the approval period has been extended.
- The Article 16 report, with all the information specified in 8 CFR Part 204.313(d)(3) and (4); it may be several documents that together cover every required element.
- A copy of the child's birth certificate or secondary evidence of the child's age, to accompany the Article 16 report.
- A copy of the irrevocable consent(s) signed by the legal custodian(s) and anyone else who must consent, or the Central Authority's certification that the documents exist if identities may not be disclosed.
- A statement signed under penalty of perjury by the primary provider certifying the report is a true, correct and complete copy of the Central Authority's report.
- The child's background information under 22 CFR Part 96.49, as a summary or separate document, with a complete English translation of any medical records.
- A statement from the primary adoption service provider verifying that all pre-placement preparation and training has been completed.
- If the child will be adopted in the United States, the primary provider's written post-placement plan, signed under penalty of perjury.
- Evidence of compliance with preadoption requirements, if the child's proposed State of residence has any.
- Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ, unless you request an exemption in Part 6.
- SSA earnings statements, if you claim the exemption in Part 6, Item Number 1.a. (40 qualifying quarters).
- Form I-601, when required, for example if the child's information indicates a ground of inadmissibility such as a medical condition.
- Form G-28 or G-28I, if an attorney or accredited representative represents you.
- For any foreign-language document, a full English translation with the translator's signed certification of completeness, accuracy and competence.
How to fill out I-800
Select the basis of filing
In Part 1, select whether you are filing for one child, or for birth siblings or unrelated children, and whether this petition is for the first or an additional child. Your Form I-800A must be approved and still valid.
Enter your personal information
In Part 2, Item Number 1, give your legal name, other names used, date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy), place of birth, physical address (no P.O. Box) and mailing address. Type "N/A" if you have no U.S. Social Security Number; answer Items 2 and 3 on whether your phone and e-mail match Form I-800A.
Complete the spouse information
If you are married, complete Item Number 4.a. and 4.b. with your spouse's details and whether your spouse resides with you. A separated spouse must join the petition and adoption.
Provide your Form I-800A details
In Part 3, Item Number 1, enter the I-800A receipt number, approval date and expiration date. Select 2.a. (immigrant visa), 2.b. (nonimmigrant visa and section 322 naturalization) or 2.c. (adjustment of status), as the form describes.
Give the embassy and multiple-petition answers
If you chose 2.a. or 2.b., enter the city and country of the U.S. Embassy or consulate in Item Number 3. Answer Items 4 and 5 about filing more than one petition and whether the children are already siblings.
Describe the child
In Part 4, Items 1 to 4, enter the child's current name, birth name if known, other names, date and place of birth, and sex. Item 5 asks for the country of habitual residence, and Items 6 and 7 for the legal custodian and its category.
Enter the child's residence
Choose Item Number 8.a. for a U.S. address or 8.b. for an address outside the United States, the latter only for a child seeking a nonimmigrant visa under section 322.
Answer the report and evidence questions
Answer Items 9 to 15 on the Article 16 report, background information, accompanying documents, medical inadmissibility and whether you are filing Form I-601. Select one box among 13.a. to 13.d. unless Items 10 and 11 apply.
Report contacts and prior custody
Items 16 and 17 ask about contact with the child's parents or custodian; Items 18 and 19 ask whether you have already adopted or obtained custody. Items 20 and 21 cover where you will adopt and any preadoption requirements.
Identify your adoption service provider
In Items 22 to 24, give your primary adoption service provider's name, contact person, address and contact details, whether it is an accredited agency or approved person, and answer the pre-placement statement and post-placement plan questions.
Enter current care and payments
Items 25 and 26 identify where the child lives and the person's relationship. In Part 5, list payments already made and anticipated future payments in the tables, using a separate signed sheet if you need more space.
Choose the Affidavit of Support option
In Part 6, select 1.a. or 1.b. to request an exemption, or Item 2 if you will submit Form I-864 or I-864EZ.
Complete statements and signatures
In Part 7 select the interpreter and preparer statements, then sign and date. A married petitioner's spouse completes and signs Part 8. An interpreter completes Part 9 and a preparer completes Part 10, if either was used.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check that every item is answered or marked "N/A" and that all signatures are handwritten. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit I-800
Form I-800 is filed with USCIS by mail, through the U.S. Postal Service or a courier. Check www.uscis.gov/I-800 for the most current filing information before you send it.
- U.S. Postal Service (USPS): USCIS, Attn: Adoption I-800, P.O. Box 660087, Dallas, TX 75266-0087.
- FedEx, UPS and DHL: USCIS, Attn: Adoption I-800 (Box 660087), 2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067-8003.
A filing fee applies. See Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, at www.uscis.gov/g-1055 or the USCIS Fee Schedule page for the current amount; Part 3 also explains when a fee is required for a second or later petition.
Sign the petition in handwriting: a stamped or typewritten name is not accepted, though a photocopy, fax or scan of the original handwritten signature is valid for filing. If you print the form, make sure the edition date and page numbers are visible on every page and all pages are from the same edition, or USCIS may reject it. Do not send the USCIS checklist with the petition. To receive an e-mail or text message when USCIS accepts the petition, clip Form G-1145 to the first page. Do not send original documents unless the instructions request them. For questions, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing when your Form I-800A approval or extension has expired, or after a change in marital status or circumstances that needed a new I-800A or Supplement 3 first.
- Leaving Part 2 without a Family Name or Physical Address; USCIS says it will reject the form if these are missing.
- Submitting the petition unsigned, or with a typewritten or stamped name instead of a handwritten signature; USCIS rejects unsigned forms.
- Omitting the spouse's signature in Part 8 on a married petitioner's filing; every petition must contain the spouse's signature too.
- Putting a P.O. Box in the Current Physical Address field; the instructions say not to.
- Printing the form with missing pages or pages from different editions; USCIS may reject it if the edition date and page numbers are not visible on every page.
- Sending original documents when none were requested; USCIS may destroy originals it did not ask for.
- Submitting foreign-language documents without a full English translation and the translator's certification.
- Leaving questions blank instead of typing or printing "N/A" where an item does not apply, or "None" for a zero numeric answer.
- Adopting or obtaining custody of the child before the petition receives provisional approval.
Frequently asked questions
What is the i800 form used for?
The i800 is USCIS Form I-800, the petition a U.S. citizen files to have a child from a Hague Convention country classified as a Convention adoptee and immediate relative. USCIS uses it to decide the child's eligibility. You need an approved, valid Form I-800A first.
What is the difference between Form I-800 and Form I-800A?
Form I-800A decides whether you are suitable to adopt a child from a Convention country. Form I-800 is filed afterward for a specific child proposed to you and determines that child's eligibility as a Convention adoptee. You cannot file Form I-800 without an approved, valid I-800A.
When is the deadline to file Form I-800?
File before your Form I-800A approval or extension expires and before the child's 16th birthday. Special rules apply for children placed after age 15 and for birth siblings up to age 18; the instructions set out the conditions for each.
Where do I mail Form I-800?
Mail USPS filings to USCIS, Attn: Adoption I-800, P.O. Box 660087, Dallas, TX 75266-0087. FedEx, UPS and DHL deliveries go to USCIS, Attn: Adoption I-800 (Box 660087), 2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067-8003. Check www.uscis.gov/I-800 for current details.
What documents do I send with Form I-800?
Include your I-800A approval notice, the Article 16 report with its accompanying birth certificate, consents and provider statement, the child's background information, the pre-placement training statement, and Form I-864 or I-864EZ unless exempt. Post-placement plan, preadoption evidence and Form I-601 are required only when applicable.
Is there a filing fee for Form I-800?
Yes, a fee applies, and a fee is required for the second and each later petition during the I-800A approval period unless the children are siblings. Check Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, or the USCIS Fee Schedule page for the current amount.
Can my spouse sign for me on Form I-800?
No. The petitioner must sign Part 7 in handwriting, and a married petitioner's spouse must separately sign Part 8. A typewritten or stamped name is not accepted, and an unsigned petition is rejected.
Can I fill out Form I-800 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of USCIS and does not file the petition; you mail the signed form to USCIS yourself.
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