The South Carolina Guidelines for Obtaining a Certificate of Foreign Birth: Domestication of Foreign Adoptions is a set of legal procedures to be followed when a child born outside the United States is adopted by a South Carolina resident. The guidelines provide information on the application process, legal documents required, and the requirements for a successful domestication of foreign adoption. There are two primary types of South Carolina Guidelines for Obtaining a Certificate of Foreign Birth: Domestication of Foreign Adoptions: 1. I-600A Petition for Adoption of an Orphan: This is the initial application for the adoption of a child born outside the United States. Applicants must provide proof of citizenship, residence, and financial support for the child. In addition, the applicant must provide the home study report and fingerprints to the USCIS. 2. I-600 Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative: This petition is used to classify an adopted child as an immediate relative of the adoptive parents. Applicants must submit evidence of a valid adoption decree, proof of legal custody of the child, and proof that both adoptive parents have met all the legal requirements to obtain a permanent residence for the child. The USCIS must also approve the home study report and fingerprints. Once the petitions are approved, the adoptive parents must obtain a Certificate of Foreign Birth from the state of South Carolina. This certificate is used to obtain a Social Security number for the child and to establish the child’s legal identity in the United States.