DNA Testing in Immigration

An Immigration Story

It was in early 2006 when, as he stood on the Lake Tahoe shore, it suddenly dawned on Edilberto Bollozos that the seemingly impossible had actually taken place for his family. He and wife Brenda watched on as Mark Jason, 12, aimed his first snowball at Edilberto, 9, who had dashed away toward their snow-covered van. It seemed like only days ago that the couple received word from the American Embassy in Manila that the boys' visa application had been denied.

The matter-of-fact letter, citing a lack of “documentary evidence [to] sufficiently establish the parent-child relationship,” was a heart-rending obstacle to Bollozos' desire to reunite his family in the States. The notice recommended DNA testing as a means of officially gathering the necessary evidence. The couple was initially concerned.

“We were a little unsure about the idea of DNA testing,” Bollozos admitted, “but we realized that if this was what the government wanted, it was something we wanted too.”

It was mid-July, 2005 when the couple noticed GeneTree among the handful of genetics laboratories the U.S. embassy had literally circled as recommended American Association of Blood Banks' (AABB) accredited administrators. GeneTree earned Eddie and Brenda's confidence from the outset.

“We just called the 800 number, answered a few questions and set up an appointment. GeneTree was very reliable.” Within a few days, a GeneTree collection specialist was in their home, guiding them through the specimen gathering and documentation process. “They were very friendly and helpful, and the whole process was actually extremely easy.”

Meanwhile, GeneTree's client services team coordinated the collection of the boys' genetic specimens with the American embassy in the Philippines. The couple was told to expect a few weeks for test results to be gathered and processed by the US government.

“I was never afraid,” said Eddie. “I always knew in my heart that they were my children. But you can't help but worry when there are so many little pieces to the puzzle.”

Despite being assured that he would be contacted as soon as all results were available, Eddie could not help calling GeneTree twice, “just to check”. Within a few days, the parents' genetic fingerprint information was on its way to the Philippines; it was on a morning in late July that the official word arrived from the U.S. embassy in Manila: the visas had been granted.

“We were so happy,” Eddie explained. “We couldn't wait for the boys to come over, so we bought tickets and flew to the Philippines to meet them.” There, the Bollozos family spent more than a month together, before the four of them departed for the United States, and the boys' new Hayward, CA home.

Immigration Policy and GeneTree

With the United States Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requiring the existence of biological relationships between visa applicants and American citizens, DNA testing has become a virtual necessity, especially in the absence of adequate primary and secondary records.

“We receive requests on a regular basis, from individuals whose loved ones are having problems securing visas with paper documentation,” explains Whitney Young, GeneTree Collections Coordinator. “We put ourselves in the customers' shoes, and approach each individual case as if it were our own family involved.”

GeneTree's administrative staff makes all necessary arrangements with designated collection agents, ensuring that all essential information reaches U.S. Embassies or other designated international collection sites. Appointments and other arrangements are made by GeneTree staff within 24 hours of order placement.

“The idea is to make the process as seamless as possible for the customer,” says Steve Smith, GeneTree's Operations Manager. “Typical immigration DNA test customers aren't interested in the minutiae of the process; they're focused on reuniting their families. We keep that in mind when handling these cases”

Once the collection process is complete, GeneTree receives and processes the samples, notifying participants according to their requested method, as soon as results become available. They also provide test results to the appropriate U.S. embassy expeditiously.

United States immigration code requires participants to seek the services of an AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) accredited genetics lab, such as GeneTree. As an active member of the AABB Parentage Accreditation Program, GeneTree follows the strict procedural guidelines and regulations set forth by the AABB, while keeping the costs of legal DNA immigration testing at a minimum.

When it comes to stringent chain-of-custody demands, GeneTree and its network of more than 3,000 worldwide collection locations adhere strictly to government regulations:

“Under no circumstances should any other party, including those being tested, be permitted to carry or transport blood or tissue samples or test results,” reads the State Department policy on sample collection. “In all phases of testing, communication must be directly between the laboratory and the U.S. embassy or consulate.”

As an accredited Immigration and Naturalization Service/Department of Human Services supplier for immigration DNA testing, GeneTree has been recognized for its ability to meet exacting governmental procedural standards.

While the stringency of these guidelines is superficially intimidating to prospective immigration DNA test participants, there is good news for visa seekers: the U.S. Department of State requires expediting the processing of blood relationship cases involving parentage testing, effectively simplifying and shortening the pathway to attaining a visa.

“The State Department policy helps make up for lost time for visa applicants,” adds Smith. “The accepted accuracy of DNA evidence tends to help eliminate unnecessary red tape; international governments, embassies and consulates all recognize the reliability of genetic testing.”

GeneTree is fully aware that the process appears overwhelming to potential immigration DNA test applicants.

“Our DNA immigration testing consultation is a free service,” says Young. “It's in the best interest of GeneTree to help customers with everything from deciding who must be involved and choosing the appropriate test, to ensuring the relevant agencies are all on the same page.”

GeneTree's Client Services representatives are available to provide assistance throughout the testing process; its goal is to make the entire procedure as smooth and painless as possible.

The Process

A GeneTree immigration DNA test commonly verifies either paternity or maternity. In cases where parental relations are unavailable, GeneTree employs a strategy that includes verifying sibling or avuncular (aunt/uncle) relationships, as necessary.

Once an initial deposit is received, the immigration DNA testing process—including scheduling all appointments and shipping all necessary forms and collection kits—is initiated by GeneTree.

When the U.S. resident is an American citizen, the petitioner in the foreign country should initiate a visa application through their local U.S. embassy or consulate. GeneTree's client services representatives are happy to assist visa applicants in finding and contacting appropriate agencies. (also see the Frequently Requested Embassies appendix to this article)

GeneTree's thousands of regional collection locations means easy accessibility in most cases; in some instances, as with the Bollozos family, collectors can be dispatched to meet clients at more convenient locations.

“They offered to come to us,” recalls Bollozos. “It was a DNA testing house call.”
The collection process is simple; all participants provide positive identification, sign appropriate documents and permit the collection of samples by a simple swab inside the cheek.

“It went pretty fast,” adds Bollozos. “The collectors knew what they were doing. Just a few cotton swabs, and that was it.”

Collection and Analysis
Once collection is complete, GeneTree receives and begins processing the specimens at its Salt Lake City, Utah laboratory. The testing process can require as many as 7 business days, but is often complete within 2 or 3 days.

Results are analyzed by GeneTree's laboratory director to ensure compliance with AABB standards, and a report is generated, highlighting the probability of a relationship, and providing the data for the genetic markers analyzed.

Since most embassies require direct reporting from genetics laboratories, GeneTree offers rush international delivery options, to help improve the experience of its clients. GeneTree also provides complimentary report copies for each participant. The bottom line for GeneTree: make the process work.
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For satisfied customers like the Bollozos family, the process could not have worked better. Thanks to the irrepressible resolve of one father, and the incredible technological asset of DNA testing, the Bollozos family is finally reunited.

Fondly recalling his thoughts as he stood along the snowy Tahoe shore, Bollozos is overcome with gratitude. “It's wonderful that my sons are finally able to share my love of this land”—one to which he fondly refers as “the country with a great future for my kids.”

Appendix:

Frequently Requested Embassies
For a full list visit http://usembassy.state.gov/ or call GeneTree Client Support at 888-404-4363.

Albania
U.S. Embassy Consular Section
Rruga e Elbasanit
No. 103
Tirana
Albania
Ph. 355-4-247-285
Fx. 355-4-374-957
http://www.usemb-tirana.rpo.at/consular/consular.htm

Czech Republic
U.S. Embassy
Trziste 15
118 01 Praha 1
Czech Republic
Ph. 420-257-530-663
Fx. 420-257-530-920
http://prague.usembassy.gov/general_consular_information.html

Ecuador
Consulado De Los Estados Unidos
Departamento de Visas de Residentes
Av. 9 de Octubre Y Garcia Moreno
Guayaquil Ecuador
South America
Ph. 800-010-145
http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/wwwhspanmain.html

Ethiopia
U.S. Embassy
Entoto Street
P.O. Box 1014
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Ph. 251-11-124-24-24
Fx. 251-11-124-24-35
http://addisababa.usembassy.gov/

Ghana
Embassy of the United States of America
11th Lane Osu RE
P.O.Box 194
Accra
Ghana
Ph. 233-21-776-601
Fx. 233-21-701-1813
http://usembassy.state.gov/accra/wwwhvisa.html

Guayana
U.S. Embassy
100 Young and Duke Streets
P.O. Box 10507
Kingston Georgetown
Guyana
Ph. 592-226-2614
Fx. 592-225-7966
http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/guyana/consular.html

Jamaica
First Floor, Mutual Life Building
2 Oxford Road, Kingston 5
Jamaica, W.I.
Ph. 876-929-4850-9
http://kingston.usembassy.gov/

Jordan
American Embassy
P.O. Box 354
Amman 11118
Amman
Jordan
Ph. 962-6-590-6000
Fx. 962-6-592-0121
http://www.usembassy-amman.org.jo/

Kenya
U.S. Embassy
United Nations Avenue Nairobi
P.O. Box 606 Village Market
Nairobi 00621
Kenya
Ph. 254-375-3700
http://usembassy.state.gov/nairobi/wwwhcop.html

Nigeria - Abuja
Embassy of the United States of America
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area
Abuja
Nigeria
Ph. 234-9-461-4262
Fx. 234-9-461-4171
http://abuja.usembassy.gov/wwwhcons.html

Nigeria - Lagos
U.S. Consulate General Lagos Office
2 Walter Carrington Crescent
Victoria Island
Nigeria
Ph. 234-1-261-0050
Fx. 234-1-261-2218
http://abuja.usembassy.gov/wwwhcons.html

Pakistan
American Embassy
Diplomatic Enclave
Ramna 5
Islamabad
Pakistan
Ph. 92-51-208-0000
Fx. 92-51-227-6427
http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pakistan/consular.html

Panama
Visa Inquiries by Email Only
Panama-VISAS@state.gov
Panama
http://panama.usembassy.gov/panama/consular.html

Philippines
U.S. Embassy Consular Section
1201 Roxas Boulevard
Manila 1000
Philippines
Ph. 632-528-6300
Fx. 632-523-1356
http://manila.usembassy.gov/

Senegal
American Embassy Dakar
BP 49
Avenue Jean XXIII, angle Rue Kleber
Dakar
Senegal
Ph. 221-823-4296
Fx. 221-822-2991
http://dakar.usembassy.gov/wwwhcontacten.html

Vietnam - Hanoi
Consular Section
2nd Floor, Rose Garden Tower
170 Ngoc Khanh Street
Hanoi
Vietnam
Ph. 844-831-4590
Fx. 844-831-4578
http://hanoi.usembassy.gov/visa_services.html
Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City
U.S. Consulate General
4 Le Duan Blvd.
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Ph. 84-8-822-9433
Fx. 84-8-822-9434
http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/

Yemen
U.S. Embassy in Sana'a
Sa'awan Street
P.O. Box 2347
Yemen
Ph. 967-1-755-2000 Ext. 2153
Fx. 967-1-303-175
http://yemen.usembassy.gov/yemen/visa_services.html

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