USCIS officers will now suggest optional DNA testing if family relationship evidence is insufficient

• Applies specifically to verifying biological parent-child relationships for minor children.
• Does not apply to spousal petitions, which rely on marriage documentation.
• Applies only to biological children in this category, not to foreign-born spouses.
• Voluntary DNA testing might be suggested to confirm biological parentage.

What you could do — Gather full, official long-form birth certificates for your children, and seek legal guidance if foreign civil registries are difficult to obtain.

What you could do — Verify that your child's birth records are complete, and consult an accredited legal specialist if an evidence request proposes DNA testing.

• Officers may explicitly suggest voluntary DNA testing if your primary birth records are missing or insufficient.
• You retain the right to submit other secondary evidence instead of undergoing DNA testing.
• Officers may suggest voluntary DNA testing if primary family relationship records are insufficient.
• Testing is entirely optional and serves as an additional path to prove biological ties.

What you could do — Review your birth certificates and family civil documents now; if they are missing or delayed, gather secondary proof or consult an accredited legal advocate to discuss voluntary DNA options.

What you could do — Gather primary civil documents early, and speak with an accredited legal representative if you receive a request for evidence mentioning DNA options.

• Allows officers to suggest DNA testing to verify full or half-sibling relationships.
• Offers a alternative when old family birth certificates or parents' records are unobtainable.
• Officers may suggest voluntary DNA testing to confirm shared parentage between siblings.
• Helps resolve missing record issues when older birth certificates are incomplete.

What you could do — Collect birth records for both siblings and your shared parents, and research accredited testing procedures if you anticipate documentation gaps.

What you could do — Obtain official birth records for both yourself and your U.S. citizen sibling, and reach out to a legal helper if an evidence request mentions DNA.

• Officers may suggest DNA testing for parents or children missing clear primary birth records.
• Testing remains optional and is considered alongside any secondary proof you submit.
• Officers can offer optional DNA testing to establish parentage directly.
• Offers a clear evidence pathway if civil records are missing or unverified.

What you could do — Review birth certificates for parents and children before filing, and talk to a qualified immigration legal service if civil records are missing.

What you could do — Organize primary civil documents early, and consult an accredited legal representative to understand how optional DNA testing works.

• Provides a clear option to prove biological parentage via DNA if documents are insufficient.
• Helps prevent long processing delays caused by missing or late-registered civil records.
• Voluntary DNA testing may be suggested as an option to confirm your biological parentage.
• DNA evidence remains optional and is used alongside or in place of insufficient primary evidence.

What you could do — Ensure your birth certificates clearly match your U.S. citizen parent's legal name, and consult a legal representative if primary records cannot be issued.

What you could do — Review your family's civil registry records, and seek legal guidance if you receive a request for evidence from USCIS.

• Gives a recommended optional path for DNA evidence when parentage documents are unclear.
• DNA testing remains strictly voluntary for confirming parent-child ties.
• Officers can offer voluntary DNA testing as an evidence option to confirm parentage.
• Testing remains voluntary and does not replace standard birth records when they are available.

What you could do — Check whether your birth was registered long after you were born, and collect school, religious, or medical records early in case additional proof is requested.

What you could do — Collect early secondary records such as school or medical documents, and consult a legal professional if USCIS sends a request suggesting DNA testing.

• Offers DNA testing as a clear suggested option to resolve doubts about biological parentage.
• Remains optional alongside traditional secondary proof like school or census records.
• Officers may suggest optional DNA testing to establish your biological parent-child connection.
• Provides an additional proof option if government birth records are missing or incomplete.

What you could do — Review your birth records for accuracy and begin gathering supporting family records in case USCIS requests extra evidence.

What you could do — Gather secondary family documentation, and consult an accredited immigration representative before deciding whether to undergo DNA testing.