California Resources:

Adoption Process

CA Live Scan Fingerprint Locations:   Families are normally requested to have Live Scan fingerprints taken for by the Home Study agency.   Live Scan fingeprints are different from the fingerprints requested by USCIS for the I600A, I600, I800a or I800 form(s).   Results for the Live Scan clearances are sent directly to the Home Study agency.

CA USCIS Field Office Locator:   Families will locate the correct USCIS office for submission of the I600a, I600, I800a or I800 forms.   Smaller field offices do NOT accept all forms.   Some locations accept submissions in person.   Please look for the ‘Orphans Unit’ in the USCIS field location detailed information, to ensure that you are sending and/or taking your submissions to a field office that handles ‘orphan petitions’.

Readoption / Finalization:   Post-Placement

HOW TO Readopt or Finalize:  these are member suggested instructions on how to readopt or finalize the adoption of your child

CA Court Locations:   for submission of Readoption or Adoption Finalization applications

Adopt-050:  How to Adopt in CA document

Adoption Finalization / Readoption Forms L1140:   the packet of forms required for submission to the courts for finalization or readoption

California - Readoption / Finalization 

Note:  Readoption and Adoption Finalization procedures and process times vary from county to county within California.   Please contact your local Court House, placing agency and social worker to obtain further information on the correct documents required for your child’s adoption finalization or readoption.   Some CA counties do NOT require that you use an attorney for this process, thus allowing you to submit the forms and apply for a court date.    Members are welcome to add their tips and advise as you complete these portions of your adoption process.   Members are also welcome to post questions and recommendations on the community forms at adoption.wowcio.com General Steps (collected thus far from adoptive families) 

FORMS:

Adopt-050 How to Adopt a Child in California

L-1140 Adoption Kit, which includes the following forms 

• Adopt-200 form
• Adopt-210 form
• Adopt-215 form
• Adopt-230 form

VS44 - Certificate of Birth request form

Consent and Joinder FAM020 -  Family Law Case Cover Sheet

•  $20 + 2 extra copies of all forms + (Post Placement OR Readoption Report)* will all be submitted t the County Clerks office
• County Clerk issues Court date + Case#  (the courts that are backlogged can potentially issue a family a court date up to 6-months or longer into the future)
• On the Court Date the family will take their copies of all of the above forms.   One additional form that will be completed before or DURING the court hearing is the VS44 - Certificate of Birth request form, which is what initiates the issuance of the new Birth Certificate
• During the Court hearing - family can ask how long it should take for the new Birth Certificate to arrive as this time is continually changing

Note:   Families with children from countries that require Adoption Finalization (eg. Korea, India) will be required to submit PP-Post Placement reports*Note:  Families with children from countries where the adoption was completed in the birth country, but require Readoption (eg.  China, Vietnam) will be submitting a Readoption report along with the court forms, along with copies of legal adoption documents, in addition to the copy of the Immigrant Visa.

Next Steps:

•  N600** with USCIS for ‘Certificate of Citizenship’
•  SS-5 form for Social Security Card (filing for SS card will have to wait until after official Birth  Certificate is received)

**If your child arrived home on an IR-3 Visa, then your child should automatically receive the U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (usually within 45 days of returning home).   You will NOT need to file the N600 with USCIS. Available FORMS are located under the INFORMATION section.