Bringing Step Children Later

[Oriont907 0]

Hello! I served 7 years and began immigrating my wife when I joined the Army. I could not bring the step kids because the Mexican government would not give the kids their passports. I tried for years to get the kids' passports, unsuccessfully, while in the Army. Now I've left the Army and moved to Mexico temporarily to get these kids passports and filed an I 130 for each kid.

We've made lawyer friends that know people in the Mex government that can help us with our kids' passport issues so now I would like to know if there is a way if I can get the kids into the US expeditiously (k4 maybe?). It took two years for my wife and was a DISASTER of a process. I cannot afford that now and need the kids in the US. I am born citizen and former combat infantryman.

The father is not listed on their birth certificate and his location is unknown. They've resided with their grandmother for the entirety of their life.

Edited May 31, 2016 by Oriont907

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

Are they giving you a reason why they wont issue passport?

[Oriont907 0]

They're from an EXTREMELY poor indian village in central Mexico. They were registered after their first year of birth which is not uncommon in their area where many are never registered. The requirements are much more strict because of this and the local registrar would give us improperly sealed documents or jerk us around anytime we tried to fullfil these requirements. Seems to be an anti indigenous sentiment in that part... we've had much greater success near the border with any tramites.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Without passports, they cannot receive visas.

[Oriont907 0]

I know I'm writing with my phone so it's probably difficult to read my post because of formatting.

I've addressed the passport issue and clearly understand that they need passports to immigrate.

My question was about whether or not there is a more expeditious method of immigrating them than filing an I-130 and waiting.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

have you looked into possible hardship what they may consider and if its allowed with relative petitions

[Oriont907 0]

Great idea, I'll look into that. I'm calling a lawyer. Got royally screwed by immigration lawyer in the past so I'm apprehensive.

[NikLR 13,227]

Not really, you can try the hardship expedite. The IR2 process only takes a year.

[Hypnos 6,576]

You can see USCIS' expedite criteria here: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria

If you think you qualify for any of them then you can file a service request and ask, after you have the I-130 receipt numbers.

Edited May 31, 2016 by Hypnos