Government Requirements

A DNA immigration test is conducted at the request of either the Department of State (DOS) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in all cases. The Department of State operates US Embassies and Consulates abroad, while the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for the operation of the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) offices which are located throughout the United States. The Department of State has an official policy on the procedures which are required to establish identity between a Petitioner and Applicant and Orchid Cellmark adheres to these requirements in all cases.

The DOS policy can be viewed here

International Specimen Collection Network

Orchid Cellmark has been working in the DNA immigration testing field for more than a decade and has established a strong working relationship with US Embassies abroad. The procedures for overseas specimen collection vary from one US Embassy to the other. However Orchid Cellmark has a good understanding of the procedures at each Embassy which insures that the overseas specimens are collected in the shortest possible time. Some Embassies require the Beneficiary to contact the embassy to schedule the appointment, others require Orchid Cellmark to provide notification of the appointment date and time to the Petitioner to relay to the Beneficiary and yet others will notify the Beneficiary directly either by mail or phone. Orchid Cellmark staff will explain the procedures in detail to the Petitioner at the outset so that the expectations for the appointment can be set.

Orchid Cellmark has experience working in at least 70 countries but will contact any US Embassy to set up procedures if they have not yet been established.

• List of Collection Centers around the world