For those of you adopting internationally, you probably know that one of the most difficult and dreaded aspects of international adoptions is dealing with the USCIS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

I have already written several posts on “how to” best navigate the necessary steps with immigration for your adoption here, here, here and here, and today I have some good news to add.

One of the biggest frustrations with dealing with the USCIS was that in the past, you sent off your application, money, supporting materials, etc. and then waited and hoped for the best. While a few of the offices have a phone number that applicants can call, most do not. Some offices allow you to make an appointment and inquire in person about your case, but many people live hours from their office and many people have had very unsuccessful results when they did show up in person and tried to get some answers.

This week the USCIS announced that they have created email addresses for all of the field offices, specifically for adoptive parents that have filed an I600 or I600A to use to ask questions. And better yet, they are supposed to answer your email with two days.

Here is the press release:

September 6, 2006

USCIS MAKES IT EASIER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ADOPTION APPLICATIONS

District Offices Create Email Boxes to Respond to Questions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites parents with
questions on pending or approved inter-country adoption petitions to
make use of newly designated email addresses based in our local
offices. This new email system is devoted solely to customers who have
filed inter-country adoption petitions. USCIS anticipates this new
service will offer prospective adoptive parents more timely answers to
their questions concerning pending or approved cases. The email
addresses may be found in each domestic and overseas office's web page
on our web site at:

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/index.htm.

Given the possibility of sensitive issues regarding inter-country
adoptions, prospective adoptive parents frequently have difficult and
urgent questions that are not easily addressed through routine
customer service channels. The new e-mail service will expedite
customer communications with USCIS regarding those issues.

In an ongoing effort to improve customer service, this email address
system is intended for use only by customers who have a pending or
approved Form I-600 or I-600A. To receive a response to an inquiry
about a Form I-600 or I-600A, the sender must be the petitioner or his
or her legal representative, such as an attorney. If you are the legal
representative, you must already have a Form G-28 on file. When
sending an email, you must provide the following information:

* The petitioner's name,
* The petitioner's date of birth,
* The petitioner's country of birth,
* The receipt number of the Form I-600 or I-600A (if any),
* The alien registration number (A-Number) associated with the
case (if any), and
* The name of the child to be adopted (if known)

Please note that it may take two days to retrieve information and
respond to your inquiry. For general information concerning
inter-country adoptions, please visit the USCIS website located at
www.uscis.gov and to access your local district office please visit
the USCIS field offices website at

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/index.htm.

For country specific information, please visit the Department of
State's website at www.travel.state.gov.

The links in the press release are not working as of yet, but when I went to this page,on the USCIS webpage that lists their field offices, many of the field office sites already have their email address posted.

These email addresses should be a great resource for adoptive families and I hope they come in useful for those of you who find yourselves waiting extra long, having complications or needing to get in touch with your USCIS office for any other reason.