Changing 1600a - switching countries

I just went through this! You cannot change your I600a until you recieve your I-171H. You then fill out an I-824 and send in the fee ($200) along with copies of your I-171H and your fingerprinting paper. Hope this helps. Once you send it in it take about two or three weeks to get it back.

Maegan, Did you have to have your updated homestudy sent to CIS in order to get an updated I-171-H? Thanks,Megan

Megan, Wow, ok so this is kinda weird! Anywho, What you need to send in is an addendum to your homestudy. Unfortunately you need to send this in with the rest of the paperwork cuz this goes to a different source than the 171. It is easy to do. Just tell your homestaudy agency that you need an addendum for what ever country your choosing and they should be able to mail it to you within a couple of days. My agency charged $50, so you might have a little fee. Other than that its pretty easy. Let me know if you have more questions!

Okay - I am a bit confused. I told my HS agency that I needed to change countries and she needed to provide me with a letter. She didn't know what I was talking about - she said she has had lots of her clients change countries - but she didn't have to write a letter... So - here is my situation - I have already sent in my 1600 for Kaz - we want to go back to Russia. HS isn't in yet, so of course no I171h - so NOW I have to wait until they cable Almaty, Kaz showing I am approved, then fill out the form, pay 200 and wait another 3 weeks and do they cable Moscow then?? Why not just amend now? Is this not doable??? Thanks

I would try contacting the CIS office you sent the I-600A form to -- you should be able to change to Russia without having to wait since it has not yet been processed (e.g. your homestudy was not yet sent in and you did not receive an I-171-H letter yet).

What I was led to believe from the CIS was that you could not get approved for the I600a until you have completed your HS. Then you have to be approved. The I824 form even says that you cannot ammend your I600 until your approved but I would check with your HS agency. I was told that I needed to send in a HS addendum (just one piece from your HS agency stating that your changing countries).

Just as an update - on the other chat board frua - several other paps have done this and this is how it works. Since we haven't sent in our HS yet - we can still just submit a letter saying we are changing countries and agencies along with our HS. There is no charge for this and our 171H will come back saying Russia. No charge for this - the charge and the form is only once you have submitted your HS. You also have your SW do an addendum saying your are changing... Thanks everyone