DNA Testing for Immigration
United States citizens can petition for their spouses, parents, children or siblings to immigrate to the United States and
permanent residents can do so for their spouses and unmarried children.
In most cases there are sufficient written records to validate relationships and satisfy the requirements of the U.S. Citizen and
Immigration Services Department. If more evidence of a biological relationship is needed, a voluntary DNA test may be
advised. Tests are typically requested for immigration and passports and sometimes for other reasons. It is important to ask
the reason for testing, as that could dictate which U.S. agency is responsible for sample collection and receiving reports.
Test Fees
Fees must be paid by the test participants. The fees are not paid by the USCIS or Embassy. There are two fees associated with Immigration DNA testing:
1. DNA test fee which includes:
DNA test - Paternity, Maternity, Siblings, etc.
2. Immigration handling fee which includes:
Shipment of DNA kit from our lab to the US Embassy/Collection site.
Return shipment of samples from the foreign collection site to our lab.
Shipment of the original report and documents from our lab to USCIS/US Embassy.
DNA Collection of Petitioner
The person residing in the United States is the petitioner. We can set up an appointment for the petitioner to be collected at a facility close to their home. They will need a government issued photo identification and a copy of a letter from the USCIS/ Embassy asking for a DNA test. If this letter is not available we would require any document they have received stating their government issued case number. This paperwork will allow the USCIS/ Embassy to match the laboratory results to the correct government case.
DNA Collection of Beneficiary
The person outside of the United States, is the beneficiary. The beneficiary will be collected at the U.S. Embassy in their country or at a site approved by the U.S. Embassy. A sample collection kit must be sent directly from our lab to the foreign location. This shipping cost is included in the immigration handling fee.
Our lab will then supply you with the tracking number, or the appointment information. Some countries contact the persons in their country with an appointment time, while other countries contact the petitioner with an appointment time. On the other hand, some countries contact the laboratory with an appointment time. The fees to be paid for the collection are NOT included in the immigration fee. The cost is bore by the persons in the foreign country. The beneficiary needs to take government issued identification with them to the collection appointment.
*Shipping Samples from a Foreign Country
After collection, the samples are sent directly to our lab by the U.S. Embassy or their designee. The fees for this shipment are included in the immigration handling fee. The laboratory will provide you with a tracking number for this shipment; however we cannot guarantee that the shipper will use the air bill provided. Please note, a small number of
countries require the persons in the foreign country to bear these shipping costs. This will not change the immigration handling fees. The laboratory will notify you if you are working with one of these countries.
DNA Testing
Once all of the samples and necessary documentation have been received, a sample receipt email will be sent to inform you that the samples have arrived from the foreign country. Test results will be available in 2-6 business days, depending on the testing scenario. Initially, you will receive the test results by fax or email.
Final Report
The U.S. Government requires that the final results be received directly from the testing laboratory. We will ship two notarized copies of the test results and the original photographs and documents to the USCIS office or U.S. Embassy. It is important that the test participants ensure the laboratory knows where to ship the results.
We will provide a FedEx tracking number for this shipment. The fees for this shipment will be included in the immigration handling fee.
Follow Up
The USCIS typically requires one to two weeks to process once they have received the result package from our lab.
permanent residents can do so for their spouses and unmarried children.
In most cases there are sufficient written records to validate relationships and satisfy the requirements of the U.S. Citizen and
Immigration Services Department. If more evidence of a biological relationship is needed, a voluntary DNA test may be
advised. Tests are typically requested for immigration and passports and sometimes for other reasons. It is important to ask
the reason for testing, as that could dictate which U.S. agency is responsible for sample collection and receiving reports.
Test Fees
Fees must be paid by the test participants. The fees are not paid by the USCIS or Embassy. There are two fees associated with Immigration DNA testing:
1. DNA test fee which includes:
DNA test - Paternity, Maternity, Siblings, etc.
2. Immigration handling fee which includes:
Shipment of DNA kit from our lab to the US Embassy/Collection site.
Return shipment of samples from the foreign collection site to our lab.
Shipment of the original report and documents from our lab to USCIS/US Embassy.
DNA Collection of Petitioner
The person residing in the United States is the petitioner. We can set up an appointment for the petitioner to be collected at a facility close to their home. They will need a government issued photo identification and a copy of a letter from the USCIS/ Embassy asking for a DNA test. If this letter is not available we would require any document they have received stating their government issued case number. This paperwork will allow the USCIS/ Embassy to match the laboratory results to the correct government case.
DNA Collection of Beneficiary
The person outside of the United States, is the beneficiary. The beneficiary will be collected at the U.S. Embassy in their country or at a site approved by the U.S. Embassy. A sample collection kit must be sent directly from our lab to the foreign location. This shipping cost is included in the immigration handling fee.
Our lab will then supply you with the tracking number, or the appointment information. Some countries contact the persons in their country with an appointment time, while other countries contact the petitioner with an appointment time. On the other hand, some countries contact the laboratory with an appointment time. The fees to be paid for the collection are NOT included in the immigration fee. The cost is bore by the persons in the foreign country. The beneficiary needs to take government issued identification with them to the collection appointment.
*Shipping Samples from a Foreign Country
After collection, the samples are sent directly to our lab by the U.S. Embassy or their designee. The fees for this shipment are included in the immigration handling fee. The laboratory will provide you with a tracking number for this shipment; however we cannot guarantee that the shipper will use the air bill provided. Please note, a small number of
countries require the persons in the foreign country to bear these shipping costs. This will not change the immigration handling fees. The laboratory will notify you if you are working with one of these countries.
DNA Testing
Once all of the samples and necessary documentation have been received, a sample receipt email will be sent to inform you that the samples have arrived from the foreign country. Test results will be available in 2-6 business days, depending on the testing scenario. Initially, you will receive the test results by fax or email.
Final Report
The U.S. Government requires that the final results be received directly from the testing laboratory. We will ship two notarized copies of the test results and the original photographs and documents to the USCIS office or U.S. Embassy. It is important that the test participants ensure the laboratory knows where to ship the results.
We will provide a FedEx tracking number for this shipment. The fees for this shipment will be included in the immigration handling fee.
Follow Up
The USCIS typically requires one to two weeks to process once they have received the result package from our lab.
