Fingerprinting for Adoptions

USCIS requires applicants and petitioners for certain immigration benefits to be fingerprinted for the purpose of conducting FBI criminal background checks. To better ensure both the quality and integrity of the process, USCIS processes fingerprint cards for immigration benefits only if an authorized fingerprint site prepares them. Authorized fingerprint sites include USCIS offices, Application Support Centers (ASC's), and U.S. consular offices and military installations abroad. In general, USCIS schedules people to be fingerprinted at an authorized fingerprint site after an application or petition is filed. USCIS charges $70 per person (for most applicants) at the time of filing for this fingerprinting service. Please check the instructions on your Immigration application or petition form to find out if you must be fingerprinted.

To make fingerprinting more convenient for our customers, USCIS has opened 84 freestanding fingerprint sites (ASC's) and 46 sites located in existing USCIS offices. USCIS now employs a system where fingerprints are taken and submitted electronically to the FBI. By using electronic fingerprint technology, USCIS has significantly reduced processing times for criminal background checks.

For more information about those immigration benefits that require fingerprinting and fingerprint procedures, please see below:

Special Fingerprint Instructions for Form I-600, "Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (Orphan Petition)," and Form I-600A, "Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Advance Processing Application)"

Immigration regulations require that prospective adoptive parents and all additional adult (18 years of age or older) members of the prospective adoptive parents' household provide fingerprints to USCIS for completion of FBI background checks. These background checks are one of the primary tools used by USCIS to determine the ability of prospective adoptive parents to provide a proper home environment for an orphan and their suitability as parents.

Submit $70 for each prospective adoptive parent and for each adult member (18 years of age or older) of the household in addition to the orphan petition or advance processing application filing fee. For example, married prospective adoptive parents with two additional adult members of the household must submit $280 ($70 × 4) along with the $525 filing fee for total fees of $805. The total fees may be submitted in one check. This $70 fee covers the cost for each person to be fingerprinted by USCIS. Do not submit completed fingerprint cards with the Orphan Petition or Advance Processing Application.

Prospective adoptive parents must advise USCIS of all additional adult members of the household at the time of filing the orphan petition or application for advance processing. We require this information so that all persons requiring fingerprinting may be scheduled for an appointment. Failure to advise USCIS of additional adult members of the household may result in processing delays.

After receiving an Orphan Petition or Advance Processing Application, USCIS will send appointment letters with the date and location for all prospective adoptive parents and additional adult members of the household to be fingerprinted. Please read the instructions in the appointment letters carefully, and take the letters with you to the USCIS fingerprint location for the fingerprint appointment.

Processing and adjudication of Orphan Petitions and Advance Processing Applications continues to be an USCIS priority. Therefore, to avoid processing and adjudication delays, USCIS will schedule fingerprint appointments for prospective adoptive parents and the adult members of their households on an accelerated schedule.

Prospective adoptive parents residing abroad (and adult members of the household) are also required to be fingerprinted, however, they are exempt from the $

70 USCIS fingerprinting fee. Prospective adoptive parents residing abroad (and adult members of the household) must have their fingerprint cards prepared by USCIS, by a United States consular officer at a United States Embassy or consulate abroad, or at a United States military installation abroad. While those prospective adoptive parents will not be charged the $70 fingerprinting fee, State Department consular officers and United States military offices are authorized to charge a fee for this service. These completed fingerprint cards must be submitted with the Orphan Petition or Advance Processing Application.

Fingerprinting in the Adoption Process

Fingerprinting for Domestic and International Adoption

Fingerprinting Services Provided by USCIS to Applicants