Why do we need DNA testing for immigration?

DNA tests can be required as part of the immigration application if other proof for biological parenthood, such as a birth certificate or other records, do not exist or are insufficient. Often, biological familial relationships must be proven to obtain an Immigrant visa, a passport for another country, or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.

An Immigration DNA test may also be needed to qualify an applicant for an immigration benefit based on family relationships. DNA testing for immigration is extremely common now, but this has not always been the case. There are multiple reasons for the recent increase in popularity of DNA testing for immigration in the United States.

What is the history of DNA testing for immigration in the USA?

Nowadays, DNA testing for immigration is extremely common. However, until recently, the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) has used DNA testing as a last resort for the immigration process. This is partly because DNA testing has not always provided the accurate results that it does today.

Today’s DNA testing labs, such as our lab, usually collect buccal cells, or cheek cells, from inside a person’s cheek using a cheek swab made of cotton. This is a painless, non-invasive method that is preferable to the previously used method of obtaining a blood sample. Buccal cell samples provide results just as accurate as those from blood samples and therefore are now the most popular method for obtaining a DNA sample.

The first DNA testing in the United States occurred in 1987 for use in a criminal case. However, DNA testing did not become more widely available until the late 1990s. Since then, DNA testing has become more common and more accurate because the process of DNA comparison, known as DNA Profiling, has become more accurate as science has advanced.

Throughout the history of the USCIS, which assumed responsibility for the immigration services of the United States federal government in 2003, the policy on DNA testing for parentage has remained unchanged. However, in 2018, the USCIS updated its policy on DNA evidence to be in support of sibling relationships. In other words, the policy will now permit the suggestion and consideration of sibling-to-sibling DNA test results as part of the immigration process, due to the increased accuracy of sibling DNA testing in recent years. This policy provides standards for evaluating both full siblings and half siblings.

How do I get a DNA test for immigration?

Today in the United States, this immigration DNA testing must be performed by an AABB accredited DNA testing laboratory, such as our lab, and cannot be performed via home DNA test kits or non-accredited testing laboratories. Before proceeding with immigration DNA testing, make sure you’ve received written authority from the U.S. Department of State, USCIS, or U.S. Embassy.

Therefore, the first step to obtaining a DNA test for immigration is to make sure you’ve received written authority to do so. The next step is to contact an AABB accredited lab, such as our lab. We will walk you through the entire DNA testing process.

Contact us today to schedule an immigration DNA test appointment with the best DNA testing lab in NYC.

718-701-0292

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References:

https://dnacenter.com/immigration-dna-testing/
https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-updates-policy-dna-evidence-support-sibling-relationships
https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history/our-history
https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents