Adoption of Adult Daughter

[Dogderf]

My question involves adoption but not of a child. My stepdaughter is 23 years old has been in the US for nearly 5 years and is planning on applying for citizenship next year. She has expressed interest in being adopted. Are there any issues - pros and cons - that I should be aware of? How difficult would the process be and does she need to have her citizenship first? Thanks.

[dnoblett]

Two options:

 

#1 She can do a legal name change when she files the N-400 for citizenship taking your family name, the N-400 allows doing this at same time, nothing extra to do, SEE N-400 Part 1 section D. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/n-400.pdf

 

#2 You can legally adopt and do the legal name change at this time, procedure varies by state. HOWEVER doing so now will also involve filing an I-90 and paying a $450 fee to get a new green card in new name.

 

Hankster just did #2 with his ~ 19 year old step son, Henry can tell you all about what was involved in his state of Tennessee. http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/user/2526-hankster/