WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR IMMIGRATION DNA TESTING?

*Our Office can assist you collecting your samples in our location for immigration testing as directed by an AABB Accredited faicility: in order to initiate your case, please contact any of the facilities listed on the AABB website"

Once you have initiated your case ask the selected laboratory to find the most convenient location to you. Our office has proffesional collector who may assist you with the specimen collection part of the case.

*These steps apply mostly when the beneficiary is outside the US* in some cases both parties may be in the U.S., in that instance a representaive of the selected laboratory may be able to guide you with the process, and answer all your questions.

According to the U.S. Department of State website:

Step 1: Locating and accredited Facility.

If a DNA test is recommended the petitioner (you) will initiate the process by selecting a laboratory where the DNA sample will be collected. The laboratory you select must be accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). To find the laboratory in the United States nearest you, visit their list of Accredited Facilities.

Note: The list of laboratories is based on the physical location of the lab’s headquarters. To find the most convenient location, you should be able to choose from the full list of AABB laboratories that conduct DNA testing. After you have located a facility it is your responsibility to both set an appointment and pay the required fees. Under no circumstances should a third party be involved in the process of selecting a lab, scheduling the appointment, or any other process outlined in the next steps.

Note: Fraudulent DNA Labs - Beware of labs that claim to be accredited by AABB, or to be affiliated with an AABB lab, but are not. We only accept testing kits and results from AABB-accredited labs. If a lab is not listed on the AABB’s website, then you should not use it for the purposes of an immigration DNA test.

Step 2. Petitioner DNA Sample Collection

Petitioners must not directly receive test kits for themselves or their beneficiaries.

At your appointment, you will submit DNA by a buccal swab. After the sample is provided, the AABB collection site or clinic must submit the test kit (sample) directly to their main AABB lab testing site.

Test Kit for the Visa Applicant - Under no circumstances should you receive the DNA test kit for yourself or relative. The AABB testing site which the petitioner selects, will forward the test kit along with a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your relative(s) will be tested.

Step 3. The Embassy Contacts the Applicant.

Once the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad receives a DNA kit from an accredited laboratory in the United States, they will contact the visa applicant who needs to provide a DNA sample, and provide him or her with an appointment to come to the Embassy or Consulate.

Step 4. Sampling Fees PRIOR tothe Applicant's Appointment

Before your family member’s appointment, they must arrange payment for the collection directly with the the panel physician that will conduct the DNA sampling. When they pay the fee a receipt will be given to them that they must bring to their appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If your family member fails to bring the receipt to the appointment they will be required to reschedule the DNA collection appointment.

Step 5. Appear at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the Collection Appointment.

All DNA collection for visa applicants is done in the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate by a designated physician or medical technician and witnessed by Embassy or Consulate officers managing the process. The day of your DNA collection appointment, the applicant must come to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with the following documents:

The visa applicant’s passport

A photo of the applicant

A receipt from the panel physician showing payment for the DNA collection

After the collection has been taken, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate will use the pre-paid and pre-addressed envelope to send the test kit back to accredited lab testing site in the United States. Under no circumstances will the test kit be released to the beneficiary, lab technician, or other party for return to the AABB lab.

• Receiving the Test Results and Next Steps

Once the analysis is complete, the AABB laboratory in the United States will send the results directly to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Once the Embassy or Consulate receives the results, the visa applicant will be contacted in order to continue processing his or her visa application to conclusion. Only results sent directly to the Embassy or Consulate by the AABB lab will be accepted. Submitting to DNA testing does not guarantee visa issuance.

For copies of the results either the petitioner or beneficiary may contact the AABB laboratory directly. Please note that the Embassy or Consulate will not provide the petitioner or applicant with a copy of the laboratory results.