ELNw Inc. U.S. Immigrant Visa DNA Testing
404-788-2322
DNA Testing for Immigration General Information:
Establishing biological and legal family relationships for Immigration, United States Citizenship
and Passports for the INS, USCIS, or US Department of Homeland Security
Reasons for DNA Testing: During the immigration process when a Petitioner is sponsoring a
Beneficiary, applicants are free to submit any evidence they believe pertinent to prove a biological family
relationship. However, in some cases, the Government rules that the evidence that has been presented in
not official enough to be deemed, satisfactory, original or true. For instance: children cannot be confirmed
as the biological offspring; a birth certificate may contain errors or was created after the date of birth;
perhaps it cannot be established through documentation if a spouse is the true spouse or a sibling of that
individual; etc.
In order to establish a true biological relationship between a petitioner and beneficiary, the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA) requires that a blood relationship exist between those parties. Volume 22 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, Section 51.40 provides that the burden of proof is upon the applicant to
establish a claim to U.S. citizenship. When primary and secondary documentary evidence are deemed
insufficient to establish such a claim, parentage blood testing, or DNA Testing, is an option available to
applicants.
In the cases where children are born out of wedlock, the DNA test establishes the true biological parental
relationship, the Department of State would expedite issuance of a consular Report of Birth of a U.S.
Citizen Abroad and a U.S. passport, provided applicable requirements of the Immigration and Nationality
Act concerning birth out of wedlock and establishment of a legal relationship (acknowledgment of
paternity and legitimization prior to the child's 18th birthday) have been met.
AABB Accreditation: DNA Testing for Immigration purposes must be performed by an AABB Accredited
laboratory listed one on the Department of State's U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Directory: Genetic Testing Laboratories. Our lab, Chromosomal Laboratories, Inc., is AABB Accredited as
well as NYSDOH Accredited (New York State).
DNA Sample Types
Cheek swab / buccal cells: These samples are the standard for almost all Legal Relationship DNA
Tests. Cheek swab samples are collected using a cotton swab (buccal swab). Buccal cheek cells contain
the same exact genetic information that the white bold cells taken from the blood for testing contain and
are just as reliable.
Blood: Although blood can be tested in place of cheek swabs, it is not the standard for DNA testing is
more difficult to come by and can cost more to extract. Buccal cheek cells contain the same exact genetic
information that the white bold cells taken from the blood for testing contain and are just as reliable.
HLA Blood Testing: In some documents issued by the U.S. Government pertaining to family relationship
blood testing, an HLA test is requested. HLA, or Human Leukocyte Antigens, were used prior to the
standardization of DNA testing. This is no longer necessary and a state-of-the-art DNA relationship test
can be conducted instead. Basic blood testing of the ABO, Rh and MN groupings does not constitute
parentage, or relationship, blood testing.
Documentation: All official documents that were issued by the U.S. Government regarding the
Relationship DNA test should be sent to our offices. In almost every case, we included these documents
along with the kit or the DNA test results. Legal DNA testing must be conducted under appropriate
safeguards, which include strict controls concerning protection of the chain of custody of blood or tissue
samples, identification of the parties to be tested. Photographs of each donor, and correct preparation of
the test results.
ELNw Inc. U.S. Immigrant Visa DNA Testing
404-788-2322
Expenses: All expenses must be borne by the U.S. citizen parent(s), including shipping costs, and must
be paid in advance. For more information about of our fees, please see: Fees and Shipping.
Test Results: In all phases of testing, communication must be directly between the laboratory and the
U.S. embassy or consulate. All test results must be delivered directly by the laboratory to the U.S.
embassy or consulate in a manner which precludes tampering. Under no circumstances should any other
party, including those being tested, be permitted to carry or transport blood or tissue samples or test
results. Since the applicant is bearing full financial responsibility for testing, however, the Department of
State has no objection to that person receiving a copy of the results from the laboratory.
How Our Process Works: For more information about this process, please visit: About Our Services and
Fees and Shipping
Questions: For questions pertain to this and other types of DNA testing, please contact us at: (404) 7882322. Or you may email us at: dna@e-laboratory.org.
About Our Services
DNA Genetic is here to answer any questions that you have and offer any advice that we are qualified to
give you. We work with the general public, immigration attorneys, immigration specialists, and some
government agencies, in order to provide you with a solid, reliable, Immigration DNA Test for family
relationships, such as Maternity (Mother) DNA Tests or Paternity (Father) DNA Tests. Our Chromosomal
Laboratories, is accredited by the American Associate of Blood Banks (AABB Accredited), in order to
perform DNA testing for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or INS, as well as the New York State
Department of Health, The State of Texas DPS, and are FQS-I Accredited.
We begin the process by taking all of the information about your case - information about the applicants,
petitioners and beneficiaries, as well as their contact information and case numbers. It is helpful if you can
fax or email any of the documents that you have been issued by the Government, as we will include these
in your case. (In some cases, including these documents is mandatory.)
Should any of the applicants be located outside the United States, international shipping will apply, Along
with the applicant's information; we will request a minimum payment for shipping up front and will initiate
the kit shipment to that country within 24 hours.
Should any applicants be located inside the United States, we will then arrange an appointment for that
individual to either visit a local clinic, or have a mobile collector travel to them. From there, the DNA
samples will be sent to the laboratory. When all samples have arrived the test will begin.
When the results are released we will send out multiple shipments - one set of documents to the
applicant, and/or their lawyer/attorney/immigration specialist in the U.S., the other will be an "Embassy
Package" sent either to the U.S. Embassy or a local Service Center in the United States. We can also
email and/or fax copies of the results documents to you or a designated official.
ELNw Inc. U.S. Immigrant Visa DNA Testing
404-788-2322
International Testing
DNA Testing in the Beneficiary’s Country
As soon as the Sponsor’s DNA sample, legal documents and immigration
paperwork, are delivered to the laboratory via UPS Overnight Delivery
Service, the laboratory stores the Sponsor’s sample and prepares the
International shipping package to be sent out immediately.
Using the information you provide to us, the laboratory will ship the proper
supplies (DNA testing sample kit and paperwork) to the Embassy
appointed/approved Doctor whose office then arranges a DNA collection
appointment for the person being tested (beneficiary) in that country.
Please note: All shipments are mailed using UPS World Wide Express
Shipping and are therefore expedited as quickly as possible. Please let us
know if you would like to use your personal shipping account, should you
have one.
It is important to know that almost every Embassy appointed/approved
doctor, will charge a *small* fee to have the DNA sample collected at their
location. DNA Genetic and its laboratory will not know what that fee is as it
varies by country, location, Doctor and situation. However, the Embassy
will notify the person or persons being tested about the fee before they
reach their appointment. (Fee typically around $35.)
At the appointment, the Embassy-appointed doctor or nurse will perform
the DNA Sample collection, take a photograph and fill out the proper legal
documents – the same protocol the Sponsor has experienced. The package
will then be shipped back to the laboratory via UPS World Wide Express
Services. Once all the samples have been received, the laboratory will
begin the testing process.
ELNw Inc. U.S. Immigrant Visa DNA Testing
404-788-2322
Receiving Your Results
Release, Turn Around, and Time Frame
DNA Genetic will notify you, the client, about the results as soon as the
laboratory releases them. Paternity/Maternity DNA Test results are typically
available two-business days from the date all of the samples are received
at the lab. Sibling DNA Testing or Grandparent DNA Testing typically
turnaround time is 3 - 5 business days.
Although DNA Genetic uses the fastest International Shipping for all of our
shipments, sometimes it can take a few weeks, to a couple of months, from
start to finish to complete the DNA testing process for Immigration.
Ultimately, the timing will vary depending on the speed of the Embassy and
Embassy appointed/approved panel physician or clinic.
In almost all cases, the Embassy desires the official, notarized Legal DNA
test results to be mailed directly from the laboratory to the Embassy, or
Service Center, in order to prevent tampering or forgery and maintains the
Chain-of-Custody process that makes the test LEGAL. However, in some
cases, you will be able to have the results sent directly to your Immigration
Officer, Attorney, Lawyer or Representative. When establishing your case,
make sure that you obtain all related documentation with the request or
suggestion for the DNA Test. Once testing has been completed, and the
results are available for release, the laboratory will mail the official,
notarized results and supporting documentation, called the Embassy
Package, directly to the Embassy or U.S. Service Center, as well as to
whomever you, the client, has requested in writing that they be mailed to
(such as yourself and your lawyer).
You may elect to also receive the initial results notification in any manner
of your choosing: phone call, email, fax or any combination of your choice.
The official, notarized legal documents detailing the results will be
delivered in the mail to you via USPS mail, unless you elect to pay for
expedited shipping. You may elect to have up to three results documents
delivered to your desired location (beyond the Embassy Package).
Therefore, if you wish to have three or less of the official DNA Testing
Results Legal Documents mailed to more than one national location, you
will not pay a fee unless you elect to use expedited delivery for additional
legal documents printed and shipped.
ELNw Inc. U.S. Immigrant Visa DNA Testing
404-788-2322
Immigration DNA Testing Service Fees
DNA TESTING FEES The DNA Testing Fee varies according to type of test, number of people being
tested, testing location, and clinical or mobile collection fees. We offer competitive rates and fair prices.
Please call a DNA Genetic representative for more info and a service quote. You may also visit the listed
country to get more information about services for and within that country.
COLLECTION FEES Inside the United States: If the applicant or applicants are located inside the
United States, we can arrange a DNA Collection appointment at a local clinic or dispatch a mobile
collector if they are in a participating area. There are fees for the DNA collection. Most clinical fees range
from $25 - $35 per person; however some can be higher or lower, depending on your location. Mobile
collector fees vary, as well.
Outside the United States/International: If any of the applicants are located outside the united states,
their DNA appointment will be conducted by, or at, any of the following, depending upon location: U.S.
Embassy, U.S. Consulate, Approved Panel Physical, Approved DNA Collection Clinic. There are fees for
these collection services and they vary based on what is charged in that country. In all cases, the fee is
paid in person at the time of the appointment. For more information, please visit your country in this site. If
we have received a response from the Embassy, Clinic or Panel Physician regarding their fees and
practices, we have placed that information on that page.
SHIPPING FEES Inside the United States: If all applicants are located within the United States, we can
send you to a clinic or mobile collector in your area who will have the DNA collection kits on hand. This
collector will also ship the DNA samples back to the laboratory using FedEx Next Day Service. One U.S.
shipment is always included in the fee. If the applicants are in different U.S. locations and the DNA
collection is split, there will be an additional FedEx Fee of $25. In some cases, the DNA Test Results are
requested to be shipped to a United States Service Center, such as Vermont or Laguna Niguel. In this
case, the fee to process the paperwork and send the DNA Test Results will all supporting documentation
via FedEx Next Day Air is $75. However, should the DNA Test Results need to go to an Embassy located
outside the U.S. there will be a fee to send the shipment via International Expedited Shipping.
Outside the United States/International: If all, or some, of the applicants are located outside the United
States, multiple International shipments will occur and the client will be charged accordingly. Rates are
based on current market prices set by the shipping company, as well as a small handling fee to hand
create, print, pack and ship, track, manage all shipments and cases. If one or more of the applicants is
located inside the United States, their DNA collection shipment to send their samples back to the lab will
be free. The shipping legs may include any of the following:
1. The DNA Sample Collection Kit to be shipped internationally to the collection location
(Embassy appointed/approved Doctor/Clinic in that county.)
2. The completed DNA Sample Collection Kit to be shipped back to the laboratory in the US (we
provide the return shipping label)
3. The official, LEGAL, notarized documents to be shipped directly from the lab back to the
Embassy in the country of origin for processing. In some cases, the results will go to the local
service center. Fees will remain the same should this be the case.
DNA Genetic will accept Visa or Master Card, Money Order, Personal or Cashier's Check, and in
some cases, CASH.
We hope this answers all of your questions about DNA Testing for Immigration. Please contact us with
any further questions. We are more than happy to help you find any answer you might have regarding
DNA Testing! (404) 788-2322. For more information about DNA Testing, please contact a DNA
representative at: dna@e-laboratory.org