RFE for kids

[ToddT 1]

We're bringing her kids (my step kids) too. I sent as one packet but with separate I-130s. Everything has been smooth until today. The kids all got an RFI today after my wife's I-130 was approved. Our Thai friends here said that's common and probably has to do with the bio father but to wait and see. I expect the RFI letters by Tuesday at the latest and then I'll know. One thing, there is no father listed on the official birth certificates and my wife doesn't want to even attempt to find the father unless there's absolutely no other choice.

[Karee 4,190]

We're bringing her kids (my step kids) too. I sent as one packet but with separate I-130s. Everything has been smooth until today. The kids all got an RFI today after my wife's I-130 was approved. Our Thai friends here said that's common and probably has to do with the bio father but to wait and see. I expect the RFI letters by Tuesday at the latest and then I'll know. One thing, there is no father listed on the official birth certificates and my wife doesn't want to even attempt to find the father unless there's absolutely no other choice.

I wouldn't think you would get an RFE from USCIS for that. That issue usually comes up at the Embassy stage. But who knows. Good news is that as soon as you give them the info they want, they'll approve the I-130s pretty quick. They don't put you back at the bottom of the pile.

[Ning 619]

We're bringing her kids (my step kids) too. I sent as one packet but with separate I-130s. Everything has been smooth until today. The kids all got an RFI today after my wife's I-130 was approved. Our Thai friends here said that's common and probably has to do with the bio father but to wait and see. I expect the RFI letters by Tuesday at the latest and then I'll know. One thing, there is no father listed on the official birth certificates and my wife doesn't want to even attempt to find the father unless there's absolutely no other choice.

I agree with Karee that the RFE isn't about the bio fathers permission. He is right that this comes up at the embassy stage.

The last couple that I worked with didn't want to deal with the bio father so they didn't try to find him. The embassy insisted he could and would be found or no visas for the kids. Two years later they still don't have the kids. The wife was granted her visa and was forced to leave the kids or stay herself. This is a terrible situation to be in especially when they thought all would be ok until the last moment.

I am sending you some info via P M that may help you understand the position of the embassy and their reaction to attempts made by the couple.

[Karee 4,190]

I agree with Karee that the RFE isn't about the bio fathers permission. He is right that this comes up at the embassy stage.

The last couple that I worked with didn't want to deal with the bio father so they didn't try to find him. The embassy insisted he could and would be found or no visas for the kids. Two years later they still don't have the kids. The wife was granted her visa and was forced to leave the kids or stay herself. This is a terrible situation to be in especially when they thought all would be ok until the last moment.

I am sending you some info via P M that may help you understand the position of the embassy and their reaction to attempts made by the couple.

Thanks Ning! Glad you stopped by. That Thai custody stuff is out of my league.

[ToddT 1]

There's no father listed on the birth certificates - wouldn't that help?

[ToddT 1]

Yes, Thanks for stopping by... I'm sure we'll need to know quite a bit before the interviews if we want approvals all around.

[Ning 619]

There's no father listed on the birth certificates - wouldn't that help?

The embassy knows there is a father out there somewhere and in every case I helped with or have seen they insisted the father was to be found. I am not sure if the father was listed on all those B Cs but keep in mind this isn't unusual in Thailand.

You may want to ask the embassy a direct question about this as it applies to your case. They sometimes indicate they will not respond because they view this as " prescreening " the case which they told me they would never do. I would ask anyway.

Your wife could for example buy a special pin number at any Thai post office which will allow her to call directly into the embassy visa unit. If she does this she must understand how to frame the questions in a general manner rather than ask about her own situation. For example- How would the officer or embassy react to a case where the fathers name isn't on the B C?

This subject is difficult and must be taken very seriously. I am not trying to make this difficult for you. I hope you find I am wrong about the embassies stance on your situation but you must prepare so you aren't surprised later.

Whatever happens please take the time to post it here so all of us have first hand recent info in this special situation.

It may be best to ask a mod to move these posts so they are not mixed into slowlymans which have nothing to do with this subject.

Edited June 2, 2013 by Ning

[Karee 4,190]

The embassy knows there is a father out there somewhere and in every case I helped with or have seen they insisted the father was to be found. I am not sure if the father was listed on all those B Cs but keep in mind this isn't unusual in Thailand.

You may want to ask the embassy a direct question about this as it applies to your case. They sometimes indicate they will not respond because they view this as " prescreening " the case which they told me they would never do. I would ask anyway.

Your wife could for example buy a special pin number at any Thai post office which will allow her to call directly into the embassy visa unit. If she does this she must understand how to frame the questions in a general manner rather than ask about her own situation. For example- How would the officer or embassy react to a case where the fathers name isn't on the B C?

This subject is difficult and must be taken very seriously. I am not trying to make this difficult for you. I hope you find I am wrong about the embassies stance on your situation but you must prepare so you aren't surprised later.

Whatever happens please take the time to post it here so all of us have first hand recent info in this special situation.

It may be best to ask a mod to move these posts so they are not mixed into slowlymans which have nothing to do with this subject.

I'll report it to a mod.

[Ontarkie 14,276]

~~~~Thread split, to help keep the flow of responses from getting mixed up with appointment talk.~~~~

[ToddT 1]

I spoke with my wife and she says she has an official letter from a Thai court officer stating that she's the only legal parent of her children.

[Ning 619]

I spoke with my wife and she says she has an official letter from a Thai court officer stating that she's the only legal parent of her children.

I am so happy to hear these people have this court order. Todds wife has done a great job to prepare for the up coming interview and it should go well for she and her children.

I hope they will take time to let the V J group know how this went so it can serve as a recent model of how to get this done.

[ToddT 1]

The RFE is for the original birth certificate with translations. I sent those with the I-130 packet and they were translated so I'm not sure what the trouble really is... I'll have to have my wife send originals from Thailand again - all I have here now are copies.