Families pursuing a non-Hague intercountry adoption may be alarmed by a longer Form I-600 processing timeline, but the national statistic does not mean every case will take the same amount of time or be denied. USCIS's latest historical table lists a fiscal year 2026 median of about 19 months for completed I-600 petitions, up from 13.8 months in fiscal year 2025.

This information most directly affects U.S. citizens using the orphan process for a child from a country that is not generally covered by the Hague Adoption Convention process. Other adoption-based immigration pathways use different forms and rules, so families should not assume this figure applies to every international or domestic adoption.

Plain-English Explanation

Form I-600 asks USCIS or, in some circumstances, a U.S. consular post to determine whether a child qualifies as an “orphan” under U.S. immigration law and may be classified as an immediate relative. That legal term has specific requirements; it is not a judgment about a child's worth or a family's commitment.

Think of intercountry adoption immigration as a bridge with inspections at more than one checkpoint. The adoption or custody process under another country's law is one checkpoint, while the child's eligibility under U.S. immigration law is another. A delay at one point does not necessarily tell you what is happening at the others.

SanSha Law Office's immigration practice includes adoption visas and other family-based matters for clients nationwide.

Practical Impact

Longer processing can complicate travel, bonding plans, medical arrangements, school timing, document validity, and coordination with adoption service providers or foreign authorities. The published median reflects completed cases across offices and does not identify the reason a particular petition remains pending.

Example 1: A U.S. citizen files Form I-600 for a child in a non-Hague country after completing required adoption steps abroad. The family sees the national median rise and fears the petition is in trouble. The statistic alone does not show a problem with that case; its timeline may depend on evidence, local procedures, an orphan determination, or required overseas review.

If a longer wait is making it hard to understand what comes next, a focused consultation can help your family distinguish a published trend from the facts in your own record.

What We Know vs. What's Still Developing

We know USCIS's historical data show the I-600 median increased substantially from fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026. We also know USCIS may review whether the child meets the statutory orphan definition, whether the adoption or custody arrangement is legally valid, and—when there is no still-valid approved I-600A—whether the petitioner is suitable and eligible to adopt.

What is still developing is the final fiscal year picture and how the national median will change as additional cases are completed. Historical medians may be revised as systems update, and they are calculated differently from some case-processing estimates shown for individual forms and offices.

Example 2: One family has an approved I-600A and a well-documented petition, while another files without a still-valid I-600A and requires a suitability determination within the I-600 case. Even if the petitions arrive close together, the issues USCIS must examine are not identical, so the median cannot predict which case will finish first.

Why Legal Strategy Still Matters

Intercountry adoption cases involve immigration law, foreign-country law, and sometimes state adoption requirements. The correct pathway may depend on the child's country, Convention status, age, family history, custody or adoption order, the prospective parents' citizenship and residence, and whether the child satisfies the applicable immigration definition.

Legal review cannot guarantee approval or shorten agency processing. It can help identify which legal framework applies, explain the roles of USCIS and the Department of State, review notices for inconsistencies, and reduce the risk of treating a foreign adoption order as automatic proof of U.S. immigration eligibility.

What This Could Look Like For You

• Your I-600 receipt is several months old and the case status has not recently changed.
• You are uncertain whether the orphan, Hague, or family-based process applies.
• A document, home study, address, household circumstance, or foreign proceeding changed after filing.
• You received a request for evidence, interview notice, or overseas case update that needs context.

Common Misunderstanding

An approved foreign adoption does not automatically establish every requirement for a U.S. immigrant visa, and a longer processing median does not mean USCIS has changed the law or denied pending cases. The immigration agency must still apply the correct statutory category and evaluate the evidence, while foreign authorities and the Department of State may have separate responsibilities.

Questions People Are Asking

Does the 19-month median apply to every adoption case?

No. It concerns completed Form I-600 orphan petitions nationally. Hague cases, family-based I-130 petitions, and other adoption situations follow different processes.

Is a case denied if it takes longer than the median?

No. A median is a historical midpoint, not a denial deadline or a guarantee of completion by a particular month.

Can USCIS request more evidence in an I-600 case?

Yes. USCIS may seek additional information, original documents, or an interview when needed to evaluate eligibility and the evidence.

Sources

• USCIS — Historical National Median Processing Times
• USCIS — Instructions for Form I-600
• USCIS — Response to Public Input on Adoption Processes

Learn more about the firm on the About SanSha Law Office page or review the consultation options.

If you are unsure how these changes affect your case, the immigration attorneys at SanSha Law Office can help you understand your options and plan for timely renewals.

We hope this information helps you feel more confident as you navigate the immigration process. If you have any questions or need assistance with your specific case, contact us at SanSha Law Office today at 469-777-6161. Our team is here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to get started or for a consultation — we're ready to help you move forward.

Disclaimer

We regularly update our blog section to acquaint the community with the latest changes in Immigration policies. Please note the information in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be nor should it be construed as legal advice. We can promptly and efficiently represent clients located anywhere in the US or abroad on US Immigration Policies. If you seek further clarification, don't hesitate to contact SanSha Law Office at [email protected] or call us at 469-777-6161.