On Monday, USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) announced some good news. Because of extended adoption processing timelines, they are offering free one time extensions on I-600As (your I171H) as well as refingerprinting when necessary. Below is the notice as well as a FAQ.
No one likes things taking longer, but at least this can make one part of it a little bit easier!
Notice: Download file
FAQ: Download file
Posted by Kevin at August 8, 2007 10:37 PMKevin,
I'm curious. The actual document says you can only get a free extension if you HAVE NOT filed an I600. So the long Guatemalan adoptions have probably already filed an I600 to get the DNA authorization and preapproval, right? So all *we* get is the one time free fingerprints and will have to pay for an extension of the I171h, unless it was originally filed after the rates went up on 7/30/07. So it seems this is more for China, which could take more than 18 months to get a referral? Am I reading this correctly?
We just pd $140 to get our fingerprints redone. Sad for us but I am glad they are making some positive changes.
Posted by: jmallen at August 9, 2007 06:50 AMHip Hip Hooray! That's great news! (But I hope I don't have to take advantage of that free offering). :)
Posted by: Joanna at August 9, 2007 08:28 AMWe just e-mailed out USCIS in Chicago to have our fingerprints redone and they told us there was no charge. I read it as if you have your !-600 filed that you only need to redo to fingerprints. Gives us something to talk about. Like we don't have enough. And to the other poster I would ask for the $140 back.
Posted by: m and j at August 9, 2007 08:53 AMThis is a good change. I've never understood why the I171H expires in 18 mos and the fingerprints in 15 mos. In the original notice of this change, in the Federal Register, it stated that USCIS was also working on developing a storage system for fingerprints, so that, in the (not immediate) future, prospective adoptive parents would only have to be fingerprinted once and prints could be stored. Interesting that this notice doesn't mention that.
Posted by: SJBJ at August 9, 2007 09:33 AMMaybe I missed it, but is there any information on when to request the refingerprinting without charge? Our fingerprints actually expire 7 months before our I-171H.
Posted by: sarah at August 9, 2007 03:53 PM"Curious", I think you may be confusing the I-600A with the I-600?? The I-600 is not filed w/ USCIS until after the adoption has been completed and you are on the actual verge of bringing your child home. The I-600A is what you file at the very beginning of the pre-adoption process.
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa at August 9, 2007 05:30 PMOur agency told us to apply for re-fingerprinting 2-3 months before they expire. That's probably conservative, as we were re-fingerprinted on July 7 and got our updated I171H on August 8.
Posted by: sjbj at August 9, 2007 06:30 PMHi, this is kind of off topic but my husband and I have been researching Guatemalan adoption. Why do some agencies require you to travel and some do not? We are in the early beginnings of contemplating adoption because of secondary infertility. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by: Michelle at August 10, 2007 11:47 AMMichelle- This along with many other questions that you may have regarding GT adoptions can be best sought out by going onto the Guatdopt.com Forum. Scroll to the left and click on forum, register and you wil get the insight that you are looking for.
Marie, Guatadopt.com
Does anyone know the process for going for the free fingerprinting? What you do present - I'm assuming that you would show your I171h preapproval that identifies on it when your fingerprints expire. If this is anything like getting a free extension on your I171h, everything would simply need to be done by the date of expiration??? Anyone know?
Posted by: Kathy at September 8, 2007 10:44 AM