IH-4 Visa for Thai
This is the IH-4 Visa for Thai nationals. Since 2008 as can be seen from the Thai adoption statistics, you will note that the IR-4 visa is the most common visa used. This US visa is a visa for adopted children from The Convention countries. The following is a breakdown of the IH-4 visa. Note that IH-4 is for incomplete adoptions where as IH-3 is for final adoptions.
IH-4 visa for Thai:
Is issued when a child is coming to the US from a Hague Convention country to be adopted.
Children with an IH-4 visa:
- IH-4 children do not acquire automatic citizenship upon entry to the US;
- IH-4 children become Permanent Residents when they enter the US;
- Also the IH-4 children automatically receive a permanent resident card (green card);
- IH-4 children automatically get citizenship on the date of their adoption in the US (if)
- IH-4 children are adopted before the child’s 18th birthday.
The IH4 Visa is issued if your child’s adoption was not completed abroad and/or both adopting parents (in the case of a married couple) have not met the child. In this case, adoption or readopting must be completed in the U.S. after which, citizenship will be granted automatically. However, IR4 or IH4 families must apply separately for a copy of their child’s Certificate of Citizenship. The final adoption process is completed back in the US with what is called readopting.
Always seek proper legal advice as this website is no substitute for proper legal advice but only to give you an overview of the adoption process. Once the child arrives in the US, you will need to activate the bi-monthly reporting which lasts for 6 months and you will also need to start the re-adoption process or post adoption process in the US in order for the child to obtain US citizenship.
See the adoption process overview.
