Information regarding Home Study Addendums

Please note:  If you, the prospective adoptive parent(s), have had a significant change in circumstances since the approval of your Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, you will need to contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office that approved your Form I-600A to seek an amended approval. Significant changes may include but are not limited to:

1. You have moved
2. A person (adult or child) has moved into or out of your home
3. You have had a change in criminal history, abuse history, etc.
4. The characteristics of the child you wish to adopt have changed (i.e. age, gender, special needs)
5. The number of children you wish to adopt has changed
6. There has been a significant change in the finances of your household
   

Although the characteristics of the child included in your home study preparer’s recommendation for adoption may not be stated on the Form I-600A approval notice sent to you by USCIS, you may find this information on your copy of the home study USCIS most recently used to make a decision on your Form I-600A.
If you originally planned to adopt a healthy child, but subsequently choose to adopt a special needs child, you must request that your home study preparer amend your home study to reflect that you are recommended to adopt a special needs child. This amended home study must then be submitted to USCIS with a request for an amended Form I-600A approval.

If required, it is very important that you request an amended approval as early as possible to avoid delays in processing the amended Form I-600A approval or your child’s immigrant visa. 

When an amended Form I-600A is approved, USCIS notifies the Guangzhou Consulate via the National Visa Center (NVC). The Consulate can only accept notifications concerning your adoption from the NVC. This official notification provides the consulate with specific information that may not appear on your approval notice.