Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country

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Last updated: November 9, 2025.

By Asel Williams, Esq. · Columbia Law School · Licensed immigration attorney

What is Form I-800A?

Form I-800A, “Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country” is an immigration form used in the international adoption process
Adoptive US citizen parents must file Form I-800A with USCIS if they want to adopt a child from the Hague Convention country
The main purpose of Form I-800A is evaluating the eligibility and suitability of adoptive parents to adopt a child
Form I-800A applies to international adoptions that took place on or after April 1, 2008
Form I-800A is used to initiate the immigration process for a child being adopted from the Hague Convention country
Hague Convention rules apply to children who are considered “habitual residents” of one of the 103 countries
The following countries have not ratified the Hague Convention: Russia, Ethiopia, and South Korea

The list of Hague Adoption Convention countries

The list of countries that are parties to the Hague Adoption Convention:

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
Cabo Verde
Chile
China (and Hong Kong)
Colombia
Côte d’Ivoire
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Eswatini
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Mali
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Niger
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of the Congo
Romania
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
San Marino
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Togo
Turkey
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia

The current list of Hague Convention countries is available on the U.S. Department of State website.

Who can file Form I-800A?

The following individuals can file Form I-800A with USCIS:

US citizen adoptive parent(s) habitually residing in the U.S.
Intending to adopt a child from the Hague Convention country
Adoptive parent(s) must meet the following requirements:
- Adoptive parents are married and both will adopt a child
- If married, both parents are US citizens or one of the parents is either a non-citizen US national, or permanent resident. If one of the adoptive parents is not a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident, this factor will be taken into consideration when assessing the parents’ suitability and eligibility
- If is unmarried, the adoptive parent must be at least 24 years of age

Who cannot file Form I-800A?

The following individuals may not file Form I-800A:

Adoptive parents are married but neither is a US citizen
Unmarried adoptive parent is not a US citizen
Adoptive parent is a US citizen who is legally married to their spouse but separated (unless the spouse will join the adoption)
Child being adopted is from a non-Hague Convention country (file Forms I-600 and I-600A instead)

How to file Form I-800A?

To correctly file Form I-800A with USCIS, take the following steps:

Step 1. Determine whether the Hague Convention rules apply to your case or not. If the Hague Convention rules do not apply, file Forms I-600A and I-600 instead

Step 2. If the Hague Convention rules apply, adoptive parents must obtain an approved home study from an accredited provider. Provider must be licensed in the parents’ state and has proper authorization to conduct home studies.

Step 3. Adoptive parents file Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country) and home study with USCIS.

Step 4. USCIS forwards the approved Form I-800A and the home study to to the adoption service provider and the National Visa Center (NVC).

Step 5. NVC forwards the approved Form I-800A and home study to the Central Authority in a foreign country.

Step 6. Central Authority refers a child to the adoptive parents.

Step 7. If the referred child is accepted by the adoptive parents, parents must file Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, with USCIS.

Step 8. USCIS provisionally approves Form I-800 and forwards it to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in the child’s home country.

Step 9. Consular officer at the US Embassy/Consulate sends the so-called “Article Five Letter” to the Central Authority in the child’s home country.

Step 10. Adoptive parents finalize the adoption process.

Step 11. Adoptive parents submit the adoption decree to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate. Form I-800 is approved by the consulate and an immigrant visa is issued to the child.

Form I-800A filing fee

Form I-800A filing fees:

General filing: $920
If filing due to a change in marital status after approval of a prior Form I-800A: $920
If filing due to a change in marital status while a prior Form I-800A is pending: $0

Check the most current Form I-800A filing fees on the USCIS website.

Form I-800A checklist of required documents

Submit photocopies of the following documents with Form I-800A application:

Evidence required	Examples of acceptable documents
Completed and signed Form I-800A	Download the most recent edition of Form I-800A on USCIS website Answer all questions Sign and date the form in ink Unsigned, undated or outdated editions of Form I-800A will be rejected by USCIS
Completed and signed Form I-800A, Supplement 1 (Listing of Adult Member of the Household) – if applicable	ONLY if there are adult members (besides the applicant and applicant’s spouse) in the household: Download the most recent edition of Form I-800A, Supplement 1, on USCIS website Answer all questions Sign and date the form in ink Unsigned, undated or outdated editions of Form I-800A, Supplement 1, will be rejected by USCIS
Filing fee	Check the most current Form I-800A filing fees on the USCIS website USCIS accepts the following payment methods: Money order Personal check Cashier’s check, or Credit card payment using Form G-1450 If you pay by check, it must be payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Proof of adoptive parent’s U.S. citizenship	At least one of the following documents: U.S. birth certificate (if adoptive parent was born in the U.S.); Certificate of Naturalization; Certificate of Citizenship; Consular Report of Birth Abroad (only if the adoptive parent was born abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s)); or Unexpired U.S. passport (biographic page)
If married, proof that your spouse is a U.S. citizen or national	At least one of the following documents: Birth certificate that establishes birth in the U.S. or in an outlying possession of the U.S.; Certificate of Naturalization; Certificate of Citizenship; Consular Report of Birth Abroad (only if the adoptive parent was born abroad to U.S. citizen parent(s)); or Unexpired U.S. passport (biographic page)
If married, proof of your spouse’s lawful immigration status in the U.S.	If your spouse is residing in the U.S., proof of spouse’s lawful immigration status: Green card (front and back) Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record Valid foreign passport indicating current immigration status, or Other DHS issued document(s)
If married, proof that your spouse is not a resident of the U.S.	Proof of spouse’s name, identity and citizenship (for example, foreign passport)
Proof of marital status (if married)	Marriage certificate Previous marriage termination documents for you and your spouse: Divorce decree Annulment decree Death certificate
Proof of termination of previous marriage(s)	If you are now unmarried but were married previously: Divorce decree Annulment decree Death certificate
Compliance with pre-adoption requirements	If the U.S. state of the child’s proposed residence has any pre-adoption requirements, these requirements must be complied with before the child becomes eligible for adoption Compliance with pre-adoption requirements apply to the following adoptive parents: The child’s adoption will not be completed abroad, or The child was adopted abroad only by one of the spouses and it will be necessary for the other spouse to adopt the child after the child’s admission
Home Study	Home study prepared by an authorized person/organization that is no more than 6 months old when it’s submitted to USCIS If the home study is more than 6 months old, you must include an update to the home study
English translation	If any supporting documents are in a foreign language, provide certified English translations. Attach the photocopy of the original document in foreign language

Form I-800A processing time

It takes about 4.5 months for USCIS to process Form I-800A.

To check the most current processing times for Form I-800A:

Visit the USCIS website at https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times
Select “Form I-800A”
Choose the USCIS Service Center (your service center is printed in the lower left corner of Form I-800A receipt notice)

The processing times are general estimates, and you case may take less or more time to complete.

Additionally, if USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE), it can increase the processing time.

If your case is taking much longer that the USCIS average processing times, you can place an Outside Normal Processing Time e-Request or request assistance from your local congressman’s office.

Form I-800A FAQs

What is Form I-800A?

Form I-800A is an immigration form used to initiate an international adoption process for a child from the Hague Convention country. The list of Hague Convention countries is available on the US Department of State website.

How long does I-800A approval take?

It takes USCIS about 4.5 months to approve Form I-800A.

What is I-800 approval?

Form I-800 approval means that the adoptive parents can finalize the adoption process of a child from the Hague Convention country.

How much is the fee for I-800A application?

Form I-800A general filing fee is $920. If filing Form I-800A due to a change in marital status after approval of a prior Form I-800A the filing fee is $920. If filing Form I-800A due to a change in marital status while a prior Form I-800A is pending no additional filing fee is required.