Immigrant Visas

Adoption - Introduction

Disclaimer: The Consulate General urges prospective American citizen adoptive parents to consult with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before identifying or taking custody of a child or otherwise proceeding with any adoption case.

Hello and welcome! The U.S. Consulate General's Immigrant Visa Unit handles adoption cases for orphans from Hong Kong and Macau. Hong Kong/Macau authorities and American consular officers give each case careful consideration to ensure that parents meet the legal requirements of both countries, for the protection of the prospective adoptive parent(s), the biological parent(s), and the child.

• For information on adopting a child in Hong Kong, click here.

• For information on adopting a child in Mainland China, click here.

On 1 April 2008, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption entered into force for the United States. This Convention governs all adoptions between the U.S. and other countries party to the Convention. American citizen residents of Hong Kong or Macau who are considering adopting a child should first determine if the child's home country is party to the Hague Convention. A list of Hague countries can be found here.

Intercountry adoptions can involve a significant amount of paperwork, much of which needs to be submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). American citizens residing in Hong Kong and Macau are serviced by the USCIS district office in Bangkok, Thailand (contact information.) Americans residing outside Hong Kong and Macau are advised to locate their local USCIS office. For a brief synopsis of the procedures associated with intercountry adoption, please review the State Department's adoption booklet.

I reside in Hong Kong/Macau and I am planning to adopt a child. Where can I obtain additional information about the process?

General information on the USCIS process can be found here. Questions about filing I-600/I-600A/I-800/I-800A petitions, home study requirements or other documentation requirements should be directed to the USCIS office in Bangkok. Questions about obtaining an immigrant visa for a child adopted in Hong Kong and Macau should be directed to the Consulate General's Immigrant Visa Unit.

USCIS District Office contact information

E-mail:		bkkcis.inquiries@dhs.gov
Phone:		+66-2-205-5352
Fax:		+66-2-255-2917
Mail:		DHS/USCIS Sindhorn, Tower 2, 15 th Floor 130-133 Wireless Rd. Lumpini Pathumwan Bangkok Thailand 10330

Immigrant Visa Unit contact information

E-mail:		Please use the Visa Inquiry Form on our website.
Fax:		+852-2147-3586
Mail:		U.S. Consulate General 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

I need to be fingerprinted for a USCIS service such as adjustment of status, re-entry permit, adoption or a naturalization application. Does the Consulate General offer fingerprinting services?

American citizens residing in Hong Kong or Macau who need to be fingerprinted for an adoption related service should contact the Immigrant Visa Unit. Fingerprinting is conducted on Wednesday afternoons at 2pm. Please contact the Immigrant Visa Unit (see information below) for an appointment.

Email: Please use the Visa Inquiry Form on our website
Fax: +852-2147-3586
Mail: U.S. Consulate General, 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong

Individuals residing in Hong Kong or Macau who need to be fingerprinted for an N-400 citizenship application and who have already received fingerprint cards and a Notice of Action regarding fingerprinting overseas should contact the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Fingerprinting is conducted by appointment only, generally on the first and third Wednesday of the month, from 4-5 pm on the first floor of the Consulate General. Please contact the ICE office for an appointment: phone: +852-2230-5100, fax: +852-2810-6550, mail: ICE, U.S. Consulate General, 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong.

I would like to learn more about intercountry adoptions or the Hague convention.

American citizens considering an intercountry adoption are encouraged to review the State Department website at http://adoption.state.gov/. Additional information on adopting in Hague and non-Hague countries may also be obtained by contacting the State Department's Office of Children's Issues:

Email:		AdoptionUSCA@state.gov or askci@state.gov
Phone:		202-736-9089
Fax:		202-736-9080

Mailing address:
Department of State
CA / OCS / CI
2201 C. Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20520-2818

Alternate for U.S. Postal Service and Couriers (DHL, UPS, etc):
U.S. Department of State
Office of Children's Issues, SA-29
2100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 4th floor
Washington, D.C. 20037

Where can I get an expeditious naturalization certificate and passport for my adopted child?

If you reside overseas your child will not automatically acquire citizenship at the port of entry. Instead you will be required to file an Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322, Form N-600K with the Honolulu, Hawaii District Office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. You will need to make an appointment for this using INFOPASS.  INFOPASS can be accessed on the Internet at http://infopass.uscis.gov/. Please select the option, need to see an Immigration Officer and use the zip code 96813.

Form N-600K can be downloaded from the USCIS Web Site: Form N-600K. Please read the instruction to see if your child is eligible for N-600K application.

The contact information for Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services Honolulu and the U.S. Passport Agency in Honolulu are as follow:

Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
595 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Facsimile (808) 532-6386
Email: hawaii.naturalization@dhs.gov

Public Service Hours:
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Monday to Thursday
8 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Friday

If you wish to obtain your child's certificate of U.S. citizenship in Honolulu, once you know your flight information and arrival time, send an e-mail in advance of your departure for Honolulu. Citizen and Immigration Services advises they will respond by email with further instructions. Allow five working days for an initial response.

Honolulu Passport Agency:
The Honolulu Passport Agency only serves customers who are traveling or submitting their passports for foreign visas within 14 days. To apply at the Agency, you must schedule an appointment by calling 1-877-487-2778, 24 hours/day. If you are not traveling, or needing to submit your passport for foreign visas within 14 days, you must apply at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility.

WARNING: There is no charge for an appointment at a passport agency. Customers should not pay anyone or any business making such a charge.

Public Hours of Operation:
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays)

Address:
Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste. 1-330 (corner of Punchbowl St.)
Honolulu, HI 96850-1330.

Expedited Passport Issuance Information: The service operates on a first come - first serve basis. A minimum of 24 hours is required to process a passport. Please be prepared to present an international airline ticket showing immediate travel. Those who need a passport immediately are encouraged to try to visit the office early in the morning.

Is Honolulu, Hawaii the only place we can go to complete the expeditious naturalization and passport process?

The Honolulu District office offers a fast expeditious naturalization for adoptive parents residing overseas. We are not yet aware of any other district offices that can complete the process as quickly as Honolulu but please check with the Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Office for updates.

 

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Last modified: August 27, 2009