United States•North America3 months – 1.5 years
Varies by processing route
$1,365–$2,285 USD
Varies by filing options
Indefinite
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
No dependents
PR Pathway
Yes
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote not required
Orphan coming to the U.S. to be adopted by a U.S. citizen. Adoption not yet finalized abroad.
The IR-4 is a US immigrant visa for orphaned children whose adoption by a US citizen was not fully finalized abroad, or where neither adoptive parent observed the child before adoption proceedings. It uses Form I-600 and applies only to children from non-Hague Convention countries.
The child must be under 16 at petition (under 18 if a sibling of a child already adopted). Unmarried petitioners must be at least 25. The child enters as a Lawful Permanent Resident; the adoption must be finalized in a US state court after arrival. Citizenship follows automatically under INA §320.
This visa is ideal for US citizens adopting from non-Hague countries where the adoption cannot be completed abroad, and who plan to finalize the process in US courts.
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| USCIS petition only (I-600) | 3–6 months |
| End-to-end (petition + consular processing) | 6 months – 1.5 years |
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
Petitioner must be a U.S. citizen
If unmarried, petitioner must be at least 25 years old when filing I-600
Child must be under 16 at time of petition (or under 18 if sibling of child adopted by same parents)
Child must qualify as an orphan under INA §101(b)(1)(F): no parents, or sole/surviving parent unable to care for child who has irrevocably released child for emigration and adoption
Child must not be habitually resident in a Hague Convention country (those use IH-4/Form I-800)
Approved home study completed by accredited agency/provider
IR-4 applies when adoption was not finalized abroad or petitioner did not see and observe child prior to adoption proceedings
Child's original birth certificate (or written explanation plus secondary age/identity evidence if unavailable)
Evidence of orphan status: death certificates, abandonment documentation, court orders
Evidence sole/surviving parent is unable to care for child and has irrevocably released child for emigration and adoption
Proof of legal custody or guardianship obtained in child's country
Approved home study with original signature
Proof of petitioner's U.S. citizenship (passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate)
Marriage certificate if married; proof all prior marriages were legally terminated
Proof of spouse's identity if spouse is not a U.S. resident (if applicable)
Certified English translations of all foreign-language documents
| I-600A Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition | Fill online |
| I-600 Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative | Fill online |
| I-604 Determination on Child for Adoption (completed by USCIS/State Dept overseas officer) | — |
| DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application | Fill online |
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