ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDoes K-1 visa accept religious marriage?

Not quite; though not applicable to the OP, USCIS won't recognize legally valid same-sex marriages.



You're correct, over generalization.

Edited by DaveE, 09 October 2012 - 07:49 AM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-09 07:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDoes K-1 visa accept religious marriage?
In the United States, marriage is a state issue. Therefore there are 50 sets of rules depending upon which state you reside in.

The most important thing to remember is that USCIS recognizes any legal marriage, whether religous or civil.

For example, here in Georgia everyone goes the the county courthouse and gets a marriage license. The only document my wife had to show was her Passport from the Philippines and a valid US entry document, (the I94 stapled to her passport). We paid the $60 and left with the marriage license.

Next you have two options, go to any person authorized to administer marriage vows; for civil ceremonies that can be the local judge or magistrate, or go the the church/mosque of your choice.

After administering the vows, the goverment official or clergy signs the marriage license and sends it to the local county registrar for recording. The registrar then mails you a copy of the marriage certificate.

We had our formal marriage certificate about five days after the ceremony.


Remember, every state may do this a little differently.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-09 07:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan a congressman help expedite the process?
Really, the only thing a congress person can do is get an quick answer as to your status. If you are close to getting a decision, they might take credit for it, but really had no inpact. This is straight from one of my Senator's mouth.

If congressional involvement made it fast, everyone would do it.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-14 16:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCivil Surgeon in Las Vegas/Henderson Area
Heres the list from the USCIS website:



Nevada Civil Surgeons
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-24 16:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresk1 visa potential "denied" result

^^^ The highlighted part above is not correct.

The rule is that you and your fiancé must have met face to face within the two-year period previous to the date when the petition was filed. You have already done so. You were together in December 2011, so you have fulfilled the requirement. The clock does not start ticking again. There is no requirement that you meet face to face again.



You are misreading what I wrote. The fact that they have already filed the petition means they are good to go. If they had not filed the petition they would have to file it prior to Dec 2013 or not meet the two year requirement. I never said it runs out.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-23 13:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresk1 visa potential "denied" result

hahahaha.. thanks a lot davee... this stuff reading too much from other people makes me confuse with what i have... but i think its normal to compare just to be safe right? hehehehe



Yep, normal to worry. Just make sure you have the proof that he was there for your package.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-23 09:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresk1 visa potential "denied" result
The requirement is that you have met in person within two years of filing the K1 petition. If he was there in Dec 2011, you are good until Dec 2013. There should be no problem.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-23 09:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresInterview question-Why arent you getting married in your home country?
My wife was not asked any questions like that. However, if she had been asked she would have replied that we are getting married in a home country; HIS.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-25 08:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK2 Interview
My daughter was 14 at the time of her interview. They asked three questions.
1. What is your name?
2. When is your birthday?
3. They held up a picture of me and asked who is this?
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-26 07:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresProof of Wedding Plans
They asked my wife at the interview, and all she said is as soon as possible. They asked the same thing at POE and she answered the same way. The guy at POE just said "awesome".
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-12-17 17:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresUSCIS online costumer services tools will be Unavailable this Sunday
USCIS customer service has been unavailable for years.
DaveEMalePhilippines2013-03-14 11:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHaving a non-legally binding wedding before the K1 visa is processed
Yep, here is a lady who went to her interview and the CO had her fiance's FB page open during the interview, and questioned her about it.

"Then the funny part : I could see the computer she was working on. I was a little bit shocked when I saw facebook page of my fiance open."



Link here
DaveEMalePhilippines2013-04-24 08:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHaving a non-legally binding wedding before the K1 visa is processed

Neither me or my fiance will be on FB during my interview. The only reason I'm asking is (and I'm sure it happens to many others) that many family and friends have already booked flights, booked time off work etc to make the ecclesiastical ceremony. It would cost a lot to postpone the wedding. When we filed, we had advice it would take 5/6 months, but it's more like 8/9 months.




Many times the CO will check the facebook pages of the both the petitioner and recipient prior to the interview. There have been instances of couples getting extra scrutiny merely because they jokingly referred to each other as husband and wife on a FB page.

Edited by DaveE, 24 April 2013 - 08:39 AM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2013-04-24 08:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPrevious marriage question

I doubt you will have any problem with the USCIS portion of your petition. Their real requirement is that you be legally able to marry at the time the petition is filed, and have you met in the last two years.

 

I would advise you to prep your future bride however about potential questions during the interview.  Things like:

 

Did you know he was still married when your relationship began?

When was his divorce finalized?

If children, how many and what happened to them, (custody).

 

 

The interview is where the decision will be made to grant or deny the visa.

 

 


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-07-25 10:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow many pics to send with K1 packet in USCIS?

I included about a dozen pictures with my application to USCIS.  At the interview in Manila, the CO never asked for any pictures from my fiancee. He held up several that I had send in the initial package and asked questions about them.


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-09-05 07:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDo they google you?

Threre was a RUB lady on VJ a while back who said her husband's facebook page was opened on the CO's computer during the interview.


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-05-15 14:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisa Denied because I am ugly???

I hate scammers. Some of the of folks here however need to understand the power of the consular official in the visa process. The CO can basically refuse a visa for any reason they want as long as they document it. They can just say that they feel the relationship is not real.

 

They operate under the doctrine of consular nonreviewability, (google it and it will open many eyes).  A short quote from a lawyers website who was trying to intervene in a visa case.

 

"Unfortunately, due to a rule known as the doctrine of consular nonreviewability, there was no way to require a U.S. Department of State visa office to justify either its lack of action or rejection of a visa application. We cannot get a federal court to force a decision, because the courts will defer to the U.S. Department of State under this doctrine. The only way to get past this judicial deference to visa decisions is to prove that the visa office acted in bad faith, an impossibility in the vast majority of cases. This is because the applicant has no information from the visa office, much less information about what evidence the decision is actually based upon.

The rationale for the deference, according to visa decisions under the doctrine of consular nonreviewability, is that the United States government has broad powers to determine who it permits to enter its borders, and decisions to deny admission to foreign nationals, barring bad faith, will not be second-guessed by the courts."

 

 

 


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-09-26 09:25:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)confused

Hello Wally Greene
thank you for post ^_^ :yes: it's very much helpful... :D but i have few more questions about terms. What do you mean by NOA1 and NOA2? because my fiance receive a letter stating the our case was approved last March 2, 2012. is that NOA2? and it was send to the NVC, it's been 2weeks already and we haven't receive any feedback yet! and i tried to call the NVC using my magicjack here in Phil but i can't. so i sent them inquiry thru email. do have any idea how long they will take reply? :unsure: :wacko: and regarding about the medical schedule, since i can't wait for my instruction letter to come,and if i just confirm my MNL case # thru phone call? what will i show them? :unsure:
PLEASE REALLY NEED HELP!because we have baby just 1month old and my fiance's family is having a vacation this summer here in Phil and they can't come with them because the baby can't travel below 5months. therefor, I should be there before her family arrive this summer. PLEASE I REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING RATHER THAN WAITING FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR SO.. :(


Why can't the baby travel below five months? My daughter flew with us from Seoul Korea to Atlanta when she was 3 weeks old? Just asking?
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-03-14 10:27:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionMy Filipina Fiancee might have TB
My step daughter failed her TB test (the skin test). They didn't delay her at all; just approved her visa and let her come to the states. At POE Detroit they informed my wife (fiancee then), that they were notifying the Georgia Health Department and that they would be in touch. About a week after they arrived, I got a call from the local health dept telling me to get a chest xray for the girl and bring her in. After reviewing the chest xray, they put her on a nine month regimen of daily tablets and a blood test every month. She has two months left.
DaveEMalePhilippines2011-03-02 12:58:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionhow long between petition approval and fiance' receiving package

Your petition is probably in Manila right now, or at least it's on the way to Manila.

Don't wait for the U.S. Embassy Manila to send your fiancée their letter telling her she is eligible to schedule an interview and giving her instructions on how to prepare for the interview. That letter can take forever to arrive. Some people never receive it.

Instead, call the NVC today and get your MNL case number. Once you have your MNL case number, you can pay the visa application fee at BPI. The next day you can schedule the interview appointment. Then, you can complete the medical. You can even complete the CFO seminar.

If you wasn't to read the Embassy's letter, you can do so here: http://photos.state....f2_rtf2_001.pdf





 

 

 

So true - my wife has been here since 2010 and is still waiting for the letter from the Embassy.


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-08-12 13:23:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAffair before naturalization, but no divorce

Affairs in USA are immoral not illegal and will have nothing to do with your naturalization.re If your hubby forgave you and did not cancel anything then you're ok. Change your contact information (which if it is over you should not want him to have any means to contact you) and ignore his threats. If it continues then call the police.. Congratulations on working it out with your husband. That takes a lot of work on both parts. Good luck!



Actually adultery is a criminal offense in nearly half the states. It is almost never prosecuted unless the aggreived spouse presses charges. Here is an article this week about an arizona woman who may go to jail for adultery. Additionally, the article says that in Michigan, adultery is classified as a felony. Here in Georgia max punishment is one year in jail and $1000 fine. Again, it is almost never prosecuted unless one half of the equation really gets pissed off.


http://www.sott.net/...ng-Adultery-Law
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-01-16 20:04:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSelective Service Refused

Written by the USCIS, yest they take failure to register very seriously and really no reason not to. If you don't want to serve if called, just go to Harvard, like Quayle, Clinton, kid Bush, and Obama did. Actually the three latter did serve, as commander in chief of the armed services, very safely behind closed doors.



So, you're saying GWB did not serve flying F-102s for the Texas Air National Guard?
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-01-21 17:47:00
US Citizenship General Discussionstep fathers last name
The cost probably depends on the state you are in. Here in Georgia it would cost about $400. It is a simple submission to the court with a reason for the name change.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-10 16:34:00
US Citizenship General Discussionstep fathers last name

i have a question about changing names.im petitioning my daughter right now and wondering if i can change her last name once shes her without going to an attorney. i know few people that never go for adoption but they used their step fathers last name. i dont know how they did it and they dont tell me straight answer.does anybody knows here the answer to my question....




Without adoption you would need to go to the court and petition for a name change.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-10 15:50:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNotifying Social Security after naturalization

VJers,
My spouse's oath ceremony is over and she is now US citizen. I have to notify social security administration that she is now US citizen (while we were at ceremony, no one from Social Security Administration was present). Is there a form that we have to fill out for this notification at local SS office? How long do we have to wait before we can notify Social Security administration? After notifying them, is my spose going to get a new social security card and number? She did NOT have her name changed....Anyone who recently had their spouse become US citizen, please let me know the process that you guys went thru...

thank you for helping me...

CS.



My daughter received citizenship through adoption. We just got her a US passport and took it to the local SS office and they handled everything. I imagine your situation would be the same, just take the certificate to the local SS office.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-12-23 20:30:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionStunned by Social Security Administration

But with FAFSA you need to be either a citizen or eligible permanent resident, so even if she wasn't a citizen she was a permanent resident, was she not?


Doesn't matter. My daughter was a citizen and filled out her FAFSA as such. When FAFSA verfied the data, it did not match and her scholarships were being held up the second year because of the mismatch. If you don't want annoying issues, update social security with your new citizenship info. From the FAFSA website:

"If your citizenship status has changed from an eligible noncitizen to a U.S. citizen, you should contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to update your citizenship status. If you do not update your citizenship status with the SSA, it could delay processing your student financial aid."


http://www.fafsa.ed....elp/fotw15a.htm
DaveEMalePhilippines2013-03-21 19:37:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionStunned by Social Security Administration
If you have children it gets involved also. When you submit FAFSA for college age children, they use social security info to determine citizenship.


FAFSA kicked back my daughters documentation saying that she was not a citizen. She presented her US passport to the school, and the school accepted it the first year. Second year same thing, and this time the college was worried some underhanded stuff was going on. We had to take her US Passport to the Social Security office and prove she was a citizen. Once we did that, they corrected some data in their system, and no issues since.
DaveEMalePhilippines2013-03-21 14:36:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionMy son got refused for applying U.S. Passport from USPS. HELP!
DOS and USCIS do not agree on much in my opinon. They interpret law differently, and at times refuse to recognize decisions made by the other agency.

USCIS had to put out a policy memorandum to tell their agents to keep their paws out of the passport business. It seems that USCIS was actually taking passports from folks and telling them they weren't valid because USCIS interpretation of law was different from DOS. See the memo here: http://www.uscis.gov...pm-602-0036.pdf

Immigration attorneys have recognized this fact and speak of it freely: " A U.S. passport is proof of U.S. citizenship for almost all purposes. Moreover, sometimes the U.S. Department of State differs from USCIS on whether a person derived citizenship. The DOS is more likely than USCIS to accept your proof that you are a U.S. citizen." "Some derivative citizens want a Certificate of Citizenship because unlike a U.S. passport, it does not expire. If you want a Certificate, get a U.S. passport first. That way, if USCIS denies your application for a certificate, you will already have the passport."
Read the article here: http://www.nydailyne...ticle-1.1250531

Of course I could again tell the story of my US citizen passport holding daughter having to pay to remove conditions because USCIS would not accept the application for her mom unless she applied also.

Edited by DaveE, 02 April 2013 - 12:32 PM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2013-04-02 12:32:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionMy son got refused for applying U.S. Passport from USPS. HELP!

Not True.

Non-Citizen US Nationals may apply and receive a US Passport.




Quite true - but it cannot be inadvertantly used as proof of citizenship in that it specifically states that they are a US National, and not a citizen. Endorsement code 9 "THE BEARER IS A UNITED STATES NATIONAL AND NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN".
DaveEMalePhilippines2013-04-02 12:15:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionMy son got refused for applying U.S. Passport from USPS. HELP!
Your post office person just made a mistake.

First - they only submit the forms for you, they don't decide whether a passport is issued or not.

My daughter is 16, and I just completed her adoption last September, (she was a K2 from the Philippines).


I took the finalized adoption decree, my passport, her greencard, and her filipino birth certificate to the local post office and applied for her a passport.

They accepted it with no problem.

About two weeks later we got a letter from the Passport Service requesting an official NSO copy of her foreign birth certificate.

Two weeks after that, her US passport arrived in the mail. She has no certificate and doesn't plan on getting one.


Heck USCIS says that your passport is your best proof of US citizenship here: USCIS
DaveEMalePhilippines2013-03-31 12:26:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionLegal Resident AND US Citizen. What to do when on the limbo?

Just be advised that USCIS and State Department do not share databases for passport issuance.

 

My K2 stepdaughter became a US citizen when I adopted her. State Department issued her a passport right away with no issue. Local post office said they see this a lot.

 

Time to remove conditions for mom, and USCIS (Vermont) threw a fit. They flat rejected my wifes applicaton because I did not include my K2 daughter. I included a copy of her passport, adoption decree, new Georgia birth certificate, and a letter of explanation with the app. 

 

Angry as he11, we went to Atlanta (infopass), and were basically told to shut up and color. The State Department and USCIS systems are not linked. Although we were required to provide a copy of the green card to prove legal residence on her passport application, the passport issuance is not reported to USCIS.

 

Bottom the is that Atlanta told me if I didn't want my wife going out of status I would file for ROC for my daughter even though they acknowledged that she was a citizen. They told me they could not separate my wife and daughter in the system until ROC was complete.

 

We are now waiting for her 10 year green card just to turn it back in to USCIS with a copy of her passport.


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-05-16 10:03:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport Application Accepted

Don't worry, they will send you a letter asking for more information if they need it.  In my daughter's case they sent us a letter requesting an NSO copy of the birth certificate.

 

Since she was adopted by me, the instructions said we only needed to provide a certified copy of the adoption decree. However for some reason they wanted the birth certificate.

 

We sent a copy and two weeks later had the passport.

 

I am sure you will be fine.


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-05-17 12:55:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport Application Accepted

They will return the documents.

 

You can track the passport status here: http://www.travel.st...tatus_2567.html

 

Click on the blue "check applicaton status"

 

Congrats

 

 


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-05-16 11:06:00
US Citizenship General Discussionn-600 or passport

The problem is not the citizenship, it is the passport. Even with the N600 the minor will not get a passport unless you have sole custody.  If the desired outcome is proof of citizenship, the N600 is fine. If the desired outcome is a US Passport, it won't happen without the other parent signature unless you have sole custody.

 

From the State Department website:

 

 

 

One Parent
(with sole legal custody)
MUST:

 

  • Appear in person with the minor
  • Sign Form DS-11 in front of an Acceptance Agent
  • Submit primary evidence of sole authority to apply for the child with one of the following:
    • Minor's certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate listing only the applying parent
    • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only the applying parent
    • Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child's travel is restricted by that order)
    • Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent)
    • Court order specifically permitting applying parent's or guardian's travel with the child
    • Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent
    • Death certificate of non-applying parent

 


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-08-15 12:10:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCitizenship for step-daughter

You are so correct about DOS and USCIS being at odds with each other.

 

Last fall, it was time for my wife to remove conditions. My daughter was already a citizen and had a US passport.  Vermont refused my wifes petition to remove conditions because I did not include my daughter (K1/K2) thing. I had send them a nice letter with copies of the adoption decree and her US passport.

 

I called the toll free number, to no avail, then made an infopass appointment in Atlanta. The USCIS rep in Atlanta told me that my wife and daughter were inseparably linked in the USCIS computer and my wife could not remove conditions unless I applied for and paid for my daughter also. They said I must get my daughter a ten year green card, and then immediately turn it in.

 

Since it had taken them six weeks to reject the initial application, my wifes green card was about to expire. I refiled including my daughter, and everything went through.

 

Bottom line - she has a shiny new ten year green card and a US passport. I was concerned about that when she returned from the Philippines three weeks ago, but there was no issue with her passport. We will go to Atlanta and turn the green card in next week.

 

 


Edited by DaveE, 27 August 2013 - 09:30 AM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2013-08-27 09:28:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCitizenship for step-daughter

 

What country did they show her place of birth at?  If in the USA, positively absolutely no problem.  Was told by other people on this board, were able to adopt in their own state.  Really didn't do this much research on this issue, Wisconsin, but was told the adoption would have to occur in my stepdaughter's home country that takes years and would cost thousands of dollars.  Same thing happened to friends that recently adopted a baby that would have have died if not adopted.  Cost them $52,000.00, and even after paying that and showing that child was born in Ethiopia. and them just like the biological parents.  Put down Ethiopia as the home country, so that baby had to go through the immigration process.

 

So I am gathering again, one country, 50 different states on this issue and 50 different sets of laws.  And many other issues as well.

 

 

The Georgia birth certificate shows her birth in Muntinlupa, Philippines. It also lists myself and her mom as her parents. In any case it was not problem getting her a US passport. State department requested one additional document that we didn't know we had to provide. They wanted an NSO certified copy of her original filipino birth certificate, and they even gave us the website to request it from. We provided that and they sent her the passport in her US Citizen name.

 

She spent the summer in the philippines and had no problem traveling back to the US with it.

 

I don't know if Georgia is unique, but they have two types of birth certificates  for "foreign birth adoptees".  The difference is whether or not the child is entitled to citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. Both acknowledge the foreign birth, but one will actually state that it is not valid as proof of citizenship. Since my daughter was eligible for citizenship she got the second birth certificate, without the disqualifying statement. Georgia statute below.

 

rose.gif The following shall apply to certificates of birth of adopted persons born in a foreign country:

(1) If a person was born in a foreign country, is not a citizen of the United States, and does not meet the requirements of the federal Child Citizenship Act of 2000, P.L. 106-395, 114 Stat. 1631, but was adopted through a court in this state, the state registrar shall prepare and register a certificate in this state. The certificate shall be established upon receipt of a report of adoption from the court decreeing the adoption and proof of the date and place of birth of the child. The certificate shall be labeled 'Certificate of Foreign Birth' and shall show the actual country of birth. A statement shall also be included on the certificate indicating that it is not evidence of United States citizenship for the person for whom it is issued. After registration of the birth certificate in the new name of the adopted person, the state registrar shall seal and file the report of adoption which shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by statute;

(2) If a person was born in a foreign country and was not a citizen of the United States at the time of birth but meets the requirements of the federal Child Citizenship Act of 2000, P.L. 106-395, 114 Stat. 1631, and was adopted through a court in this state, the state registrar shall prepare and register a certificate in this state. The certificate shall be established upon receipt of a report of adoption from the court decreeing the adoption and proof of the date and place of birth of the child. The certificate shall be labeled 'Certificate of Foreign Birth' and shall show the actual country of birth. After registration of the birth certificate in the new name of the adopted person, the state registrar shall seal and file the report of adoption which shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by statute; and

(3) If a person was born in a foreign country and was a citizen of the United States at the time of birth, the state registrar shall not prepare a 'Certificate of Foreign Birth' and shall notify the adoptive parents of the procedure for obtaining a revised birth certificate for their child through the United States Department of State.


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-08-26 11:52:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCitizenship for step-daughter

I adopted my stepdaughter and she became a US citizen as soon as it was finalized. We obtained her a US passort, and that is all we plan on doing. She now has a Georgia birth certificate though, as a result of the adoption.


DaveEMalePhilippines2013-08-26 09:00:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionStep daughter adoption

Go to the original source - USCIS. From HERE :
Automatic U.S. Citizenship After Birth - But Before the Age of 18
A Child Born Outside the U.S. is a Citizen after Birth IF… The child was adopted by a U.S. citizen parent
AND... The child resides legally in the U.S. in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent and meets the following conditions after February 27, 2001 but before his or her 18th birthday:

The adoptive parent adopted the child before his or her 16th birthday (or, in some cases, 18th birthday (my comment: in siblings case)) and had legal custody of the child and resided with the child for at least two years; OR....


I am not going to argue, I think I am right. I don't want you to be disappointed later. Go to Instruction for N-600 form. Paragraph 2, you have to apply to your child 2a and 2b and 2c and 2d and 2e or 2f, where 2f is not your case, and 2e says about 16 again. Of course, I can make a mistake. Check it again.



This my last post on this as my daughters immigration journey is over. I was very concerned about her citizenship status because of all the conflicting guidance given by the State Department. For example, here Child Citizenship Act FAQ it says the only requirements are that the child be under 18, the adoption be final, proof that she is legally in the states, and proof that I am a citizen. Here it says basically the same thing State Department .Yet Mayliana is correct the reference they cited says that the adoption must be complete before the child is 16 years old.

My daughter was 16 in July 2012, and the adoption was not final until September 2012. I just said heck with it and took her to the post office and applied for a passport. I attached printouts of all the conflicting guidance and put in the the package with the passport application, basically asking which one of these is correct? I included the final adoption decree, a copy of her green card front and back, a copy of my passport ,photographs and $150.00 later I was out the door. Then the wait began. I heard nothing for two weeks, and then an ominous letter arrived from the State Department. I fully expected a rejection letter and them thanking me for the $150.00. Actually it was a very nice letter saying that I needed to send an NSO certified copy of her birth certificate back to them, (this is the one thing they never asked for on the web page). They even provided a link to the Philippine government web site where I could order one. We had a copy so we return mailed it to them.

Bottom line - today my daughters 10 year United States passport arrived in the mail. She is the newest citizen in the family. According to the USCIS, your US passport is your best proof of US citizenship, USCIS

Poor mom, doesn't even have her 10 year green card yet.

Edited by DaveE, 11 October 2012 - 04:23 PM.

DaveEMalePhilippines2012-10-11 16:16:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionStep daughter adoption
Just got back from the court with five certified copies of the final decree. I am so happy we did it ourselves. We filed in May 2012; had the preliminary hearing August 20th (Des had to certify that she wanted to be adopted), and the final hearing today. The certified copies were issued immediately.

Life is good.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-09-06 13:44:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionStep daughter adoption

DaveE,
What about biological father? Did you supply any documents to terminate his rights?
My first husband has no contact with his kids. My husband want to adopt my 9 years old, but we are afraid about the biological father's rights. I have full custody of both kids (9 and 17). The biological father lives outside the states (from what I know).



Normally in Georgia, you must publish in a local newspaper for two months your intention to adopt. This gives the biological father time to object if he so wishes.

However, since there is no biological father listed on the birth certificate (the space is blank), and it was sixteen years ago in the Philippines, there is no issue.

My impression is that because my step daughter is over 14, her desires basically trump everything else. That is why she has to go to the court on August 20, and personally sign in front of the Judge that she desires this adoption to take place.
DaveEMalePhilippines2012-07-11 10:21:00