I-130 for an Adopted Child: Two-Year Custody and Residence Evidence

Adoption can create a qualifying immigration relationship, but Form I-130 adoption cases are document-heavy. In many cases, the adoption must have occurred before the child turned 16, and the petitioner must prove legal custody and shared residence for at least two years.

USCIS looks for more than an adoption decree. Strong packets often include custody orders, school records, medical records, tax records, leases, travel records, and affidavits that show the child actually lived with the adoptive parent.

Intercountry adoption can also involve Hague Convention or orphan procedures that do not follow the ordinary I-130 path. Filing the wrong type of petition can waste time and create avoidable denials.

New Horizons Legal reviews adoption histories before filing so families can choose the correct process and document custody, residence, and parent-child ties clearly.