The US Embassy Consular Visa Section in Bangkok
Soon after the approval of your I-600, you will receive a packet of information from the immigrant visa branch of the US embassy in Bangkok. This packet contains all of the documents needed for the first step to apply for your child's immigrant visa.
First: Complete and return the Form DS-230 Part I, Biographic Data to the consular visa section. The consular visa section will not process your case until this form is received.
Second: Obtain the following documents on the following checklist which pertain to you. Do not send them at this time, but present them when you formally apply for your visa. Once you can certify that you have all the documents in time for the interview, complete and sign the Checklist of Documents and return it to the embassy. Your interview will not be scheduled until they have received both the DS-230 Part I and this Checklist of Documents.
Note: The documents listed are required for both your immigrant visa and the U.S. Immigration authorities when you apply for permanent resident status. If you wish to retain the original document, you must bring a photocopy along with the original and they will be happy to return the original to you after the interview. You are strongly urged to personally keep a duplicate file copy of all documents submitted in connection with your visa application.
All applicants must present the following documents, if applicable, at the interview:
Passport: A passport must be valid for travel to the United States and must have at least eight months validity beyond the visa issuance date. An immigrant visa is issued the same name which appears on the applicant’s passport. If you have changed your name due to marriage and would like the visa to reflect the change, your passport must first be amended to include the new name. It is not required that you change your name.
Birth Certificates: You will need one original or certified copy of the birth record or family register and ID for each visa applicant. The certificate must contain the seal or signature of the official custodian to the record and also show that it is an extract from an official record. If you or any children were adopted, you must submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree. You must also submit birth certificates for all unmarried children under age 21, even if they are not applying for a visa. Photo static copies are acceptable provided the original is offered for inspection by the consular officer.
Unobtainable Birth Certificates: If an official birth certificate is not obtainable, present the best possible secondary evidence, such as a baptismal certificate, hospital certificate, school records, and/or a notarized affidavit from your parents.
Photographs: Two (2) 2 x 2 inches (50 x 50 mm) frontal view photographs are required. The photographs can be color or black and white with white background, no border, must face the camera directly, must show ears, the face must fill at least 50 % of the area, and are less than six months old.
Marriage Certificates: If you were previously married, you must submit a certified copy of your marriage certificate and proof of termination of your previous marriage (e.g. death certificate of spouse, final decree of divorce or annulment).
Evidence of Relationship: You should bring with you evidence to establish the relationship between you and the petitioner. It is, therefore, useful to bring with you letters, photographs, or other evidence of your relationship to the petitioner.
Police Records: Each applicant aged 16 years or over is required to submit a certificate from the appropriate judicial or police authorities from the country of the applicant’s nationality or current residence where the applicant has resided for at least six months since attaining the age of sixteen, as well as from all other countries where the applicant has resided for twelve months or more since attaining the age of sixteen. For countries maintaining national police records, a certificate from the national police or judicial authorities must be submitted. For countries not maintaining national police records, a certificate must be obtained from each locality. A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason, regardless of the length of residence. Police records from certain countries are considered unobtainable.
Court and Prison Records: Persons convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each court record and any prison record, regardless that they may have benefited from an amnesty or pardon.
Military Records: A certified copy of any military record is required.
Evidence of Support: Evidence which will show that you and your children, if any, are not likely to become public charges in the Untied States. For family-based immigrant visas, the I-864 Affidavit of Support must be submitted.
Medical Examination: Follow the instructions on the attached instruction sheet for obtaining a medical examination. This medical examination will also be accepted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence. Unless Class A or TB condition is present, a medical report is usually valid one year from the date of examination.
Translation: All documents not in English, must be accompanied by certified English translations.
NOTE: Only one copy of each document, except photographs, is required. However, you are advised to obtain and keep a duplicate copy of each document for your records.
Third: As soon as you have obtained all of the documents that apply in your case, sign and date the checklist, and return it to the consular visa section. Only after the form has been returned will you be scheduled for a visa interview, at the earliest possible date. You should bring all of the above pertinent documents and the application forms with you to the interview. next page...
Return to the Adoption Home Page |