Is DNA Testing Mandatory By USCIS

Does USCIS require DNA Testing to be performed?

No. DNA testing is a voluntary option for a petitioner and beneficiaries when they fail to provide credible evidence to support their claimed biological relationship when filing for an immigrant visa.

It should be noted that voluntary DNA testing is a secondary option provided by USCIS. Therefore it is not recommended that you perform a genetic test while filing your petition or before receiving a Request for Evidence document from a USCIS office.

USCIS DNA Testing Procedure:

Below is a brief outline of what you can expect from the genetic testing process.

1. The petitioner must have a copy of their I-130 Request For Evidence letter.

2. Contact our office at 888-204-0583 and our partner AABB accredited laboratory will initiate your case.

3.  Scheduling of the petitioner’s DNA sample collection appointment if located in the U.S. and the will ship a DNA test kit to U.S. Embassy/U.S. Consulate abroad to have the beneficiary (your relative) DNA sample collected.

4. U.S. Consular Section will oversee the collection process for the beneficiary and will contact the beneficiary by phone or by email with their DNA sample collection appointment details. The medical facility associated with the Consulate will be responsible for shipping the beneficiary’s samples back to the laboratory in the U.S.

5. Once all the genetic samples have arrived at the laboratory testing will begin. Upon the completion of the test. A copy will be sent to the requesting USCIS office on your family’s behalf by the laboratory, and a second copy will be sent to the petitioner. Get a more detailed description of the immigration DNA testing process here.

Is DNA testing mandatory for CRBA and U.S. Passport issuance?

No. DNA testing is voluntary and is only provided as an option for both U.S. Embassy/Consulate CRBA cases and U.S. Passport Agency.

It should be noted that all voluntary DNA testing services will be performed and handled under strict supervision by our partner AABB-Accredited Laboratory. If would like to learn more about our genetic testing services call 888-204-0583 to get started.

What Secondary Evidence Documents Are Recognized

As per the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Below is a list of secondary items USCIS will accept as evidence with or without DNA test results.

• Medical records or health records
• Church records or religious documents
  Early school records;
  Insurance records;
  Employment records
  Financial records
  Census of tribal records
• Government records or identification
• Any evidence submitted should include;
• The name(s) of all parties (child and parent(s); husband and wife, etc)
• Dates (child’s birth certificate, marriage or divorce, religious event, school attendance, hospital admittance etc)
• Stamp, seal, signature of issuing official, authorizing personnel, etc

When the above-mentioned secondary evidence is not available an affidavit can be submitted as tertiary evidence. It should be noted that this option does not hold much weight on its own. To increase the of an affidavit it should be accompanied by other independent and objective evidence that corroborates statements.

Affidavits must:
Be submitted by at least two individuals who are not parties to this petition and who have direct personal knowledge of the event.

Note: USCIS will not accept a single statement signed by multiple individuals. Each person must submit his/her own affidavit attesting to their personal knowledge of the event.

The affidavit must include

The full name and address of the affiant;

The date and place of birth of the affiant

The relationship between the affiant and parties to this petition

Full information regarding the event for example, the date and place of the birth of a child including both parents’ names, the date and place of marriage, divorce, death, etc, and complete details concerning how the affiant acquired knowledge of the event.

To learn more about information regarding the availability of and/or procedure for obtaining civilly registered documents, refer to the U.S. Dept of State website at http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/reciprocity-by-country.html