G-325A - No Father, Help Please!

[USColombia 6]

My fiancee's father isn't in the picture at all nor is he on her birth certificate. However, if I put N/A next to Father on the G-325A, would that look suspicious? Should I attach a letter from her stating that "my father has never been in my life and is not on my birth certificate"? She got a temporary work visa when she was here as an au pair without trouble, but I want everything to be perfect.

Thanks!

[Inky 1,111]

Put UNKNOWN.

I did not have any problems with it listed as UNKNOWN on my application.

[happyme'11 3]

My fiancee's father isn't in the picture at all nor is he on her birth certificate. However, if I put N/A next to Father on the G-325A, would that look suspicious? Should I attach a letter from her stating that "my father has never been in my life and is not on my birth certificate"? She got a temporary work visa when she was here as an au pair without trouble, but I want everything to be perfect.

Thanks!

Same with my situation. I just put "UNKNOWN" and never had a problem.

[amykathleen2005 441]

My husband also put unknown.

[pushbrk 13,639]

My fiancee's father isn't in the picture at all nor is he on her birth certificate. However, if I put N/A next to Father on the G-325A, would that look suspicious? Should I attach a letter from her stating that "my father has never been in my life and is not on my birth certificate"? She got a temporary work visa when she was here as an au pair without trouble, but I want everything to be perfect.

Thanks!

N/A means "not applicable". The question is certainly applicable. Enter the information you know and "unknown" only for what is actually unknown. Don't lie on an immigration form.

[USColombia 6]

N/A means "not applicable". The question is certainly applicable. Enter the information you know and "unknown" only for what is actually unknown. Don't lie on an immigration form.

The problem is he is known.. He's just not applicable because he's not in the picture nor has he ever been (hence the N/A instead of unknown). I don't want to lie and say unknown but will N/A not suffice?

[TwoCats 55]

The problem is he is known.. He's just not applicable because he's not in the picture nor has he ever been (hence the N/A instead of unknown). I don't want to lie and say unknown but will N/A not suffice?

I think what the others are saying is that 'N/A' is the incorrect answer. Everyone has a father, regardless of if the person is on their birth certificate or not, known to them or not. If someone put down 'N/A' I'd be tempted to ask them questions about their immaculate conception.

I'd say put down what information you do have on him. Any information you don't have, just write 'unknown'. If worried, you could always note an attachment and explain that he is not in the picture and you have no way of getting x-information.

Edited January 24, 2011 by TwoCats

[USColombia 6]

I think what the others are saying is that 'N/A' is the incorrect answer. Everyone has a father, regardless of if the person is on their birth certificate or not, known to them or not. If someone put down 'N/A' I'd be tempted to ask them questions about their immaculate conception.

I'd say put down what information you do have on him. Any information you don't have, just write 'unknown'. If worried, you could always note an attachment and explain that he is not in the picture and you have no way of getting x-information.

When applying for her visa she just put N/A and they didn't ask questions but maybe attaching a sheet would be better... Problem is I am sending in the forms now so I couldn't get her signature...

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Unknown.

[pushbrk 13,639]

The problem is he is known.. He's just not applicable because he's not in the picture nor has he ever been (hence the N/A instead of unknown). I don't want to lie and say unknown but will N/A not suffice?

I get that you don't like the answers you've been given but they are correct. The question is applicable, so do NOT answer with N/A. Provide the information you have and if something is unknown, enter "unknown". If you want a visa, you provide the information asked for. Don't tell them their questions are N/A when they ARE applicable.

N/A is used, for example, when asked for name of former spouse. If NONE, then their place of birth is N/A. Everybody has a father. The question is applicable. Get over the stubborn streak and answer the questions the forms ask. Do it and get on with your lives.

My parents divorced when I was young. I don't remember ever seeing my father. He wasn't in the picture. But, by the time I filed a petition for my spouse, I knew the information asked for on the G325a including the year he died. (When asked for place of current residence for a deceased person, you answer "Deceased" and the year, if known.) If I only knew his name or name and place of birth, I would have entered what I knew and unknown for what I didn't know.

Edited January 25, 2011 by pushbrk

[USColombia 6]

I get that you don't like the answers you've been given but they are correct. The question is applicable, so do NOT answer with N/A. Provide the information you have and if something is unknown, enter "unknown". If you want a visa, you provide the information asked for. Don't tell them their questions are N/A when they ARE applicable.

N/A is used, for example, when asked for name of former spouse. If NONE, then their place of birth is N/A. Everybody has a father. The question is applicable. Get over the stubborn streak and answer the questions the forms ask. Do it and get on with your lives.

My parents divorced when I was young. I don't remember ever seeing my father. He wasn't in the picture. But, by the time I filed a petition for my spouse, I knew the information asked for on the G325a including the year he died. (When asked for place of current residence for a deceased person, you answer "Deceased" and the year, if known.) If I only knew his name or name and place of birth, I would have entered what I knew and unknown for what I didn't know.

You're missing the point -- it has nothing to do with her having some psychological angst against a father that was never there so she doesn't want him listed. She has already filed and successfully gotten a J-1 visa in the past which is how we met (but then she had to go back). On that visa she was told that "N/A" in her situation was what was recommended. The issue isn't whether the father is known --- it's that no where on ANY of her government documents (birth certificate included) does it mention she has a father. The birth certificate and subsequent documents has only her mother listed. However, she does know him but the government doesn't recognize her as officially having a father.

So she was told to put "N/A" on those visa documents. So when someone reviews the paperwork, if they saw a Father's name but it's not on the birth certificate, it delays us as they ask for an explanation.

Hence why "UNKNOWN" is a lie -- she does know. And putting his name only causes confusion. The recommendation then (for her original visa) was put "N/A", attach a birth certificate and letter of explanation. I was just curious if it would be the same for this visa.

My subsequent replies were not being stubborn, it was ensuring that I was clear with the situation and that I understood the feedback properly. Thank you for your feedback it is appreciated.

[pushbrk 13,639]

You're missing the point -- it has nothing to do with her having some psychological angst against a father that was never there so she doesn't want him listed. She has already filed and successfully gotten a J-1 visa in the past which is how we met (but then she had to go back). On that visa she was told that "N/A" in her situation was what was recommended. The issue isn't whether the father is known --- it's that no where on ANY of her government documents (birth certificate included) does it mention she has a father. The birth certificate and subsequent documents has only her mother listed. However, she does know him but the government doesn't recognize her as officially having a father.

So she was told to put "N/A" on those visa documents. So when someone reviews the paperwork, if they saw a Father's name but it's not on the birth certificate, it delays us as they ask for an explanation.

Hence why "UNKNOWN" is a lie -- she does know. And putting his name only causes confusion. The recommendation then (for her original visa) was put "N/A", attach a birth certificate and letter of explanation. I was just curious if it would be the same for this visa.

My subsequent replies were not being stubborn, it was ensuring that I was clear with the situation and that I understood the feedback properly. Thank you for your feedback it is appreciated.

Then you're missing my point. I'm telling you the earlier recommendation of N/A was a poor one. I don't know where she got the recommendation but it was not for a petition based visa. On a G325a form submitted with a petition for a visa, the question is applicable and she certainly has a father. You provide the information that IS known. You only indicate Unknown for information that is unknown. If she knows, his name, date of birth, place of birth and current city and country of residence then everything asked is both applicable AND known.

Hint: They don't ask questions they think are not applicable. Parents' names ARE applicable in petition based cases for multiple reasons.

[USColombia 6]

Then you're missing my point. I'm telling you the earlier recommendation of N/A was a poor one. I don't know where she got the recommendation but it was not for a petition based visa. On a G325a form submitted with a petition for a visa, the question is applicable and she certainly has a father. You provide the information that IS known. You only indicate Unknown for information that is unknown. If she knows, his name, date of birth, place of birth and current city and country of residence then everything asked is both applicable AND known.

Hint: They don't ask questions they think are not applicable. Parents' names ARE applicable in petition based cases for multiple reasons.

Thank you for your reply.

[amykathleen2005 441]

Why are you asking a question if you refuse to listen to any answer but the one in your head?

She has a father, it is impossible not to. He has a name, either she knows that name (write that) or she doesn't (write unknown). USCIS doesn't care if he was an absent father or that beat his children or he might have beenthe best father in the world. The question just wants a name.