Gawain

How old is the child? Is he sending any monthly support payment presently?

I agree with this. But what I would also suggest is before any appearance that includes a judge or mediator, request from your lawyer an hour of his/her time. It should be near the date of the court appearance. Get with your lawyer and lay out the case as you see it. Try to get the lawyer to "see it through your eyes." Most of these divorce lawyers (and judges) are conditioned to go through a set routine with divorce cases, and you don't want to just get caught up in the grind. You want the specific details of your case have light shone on them, so the judge sees. Your divorce lawyer has to be able to articulate this to the judge. You probably also know if your spouse has any social media accounts. I would start looking at all those posts, as much as possible, and see if the spouse is posting things that you can print and copy and let the judge see. I know this sounds stupid, but a friend of mine won his divorce that way when the spouse started posting how she called the cops on him to make a false allegation of abuse... It's a longshot but it deserves a look. It might also be important for us to know the jurisdiction where this is happening, but I'm not asking for you to divulge any details that you don't want to. Good luck.

You can go from Pete to Helsinki airport (Terminal 2) using Lux: https://luxexpress.eu/ru/ Or these: https://bus.sovavto.ru/ https://ecolines.net/international/en We've only used Lux. The times they show on the website seem to take into account for all delays. App seems to work good. If you cancel a ticket after purchase, you will get 1/2 refund. Used Lux 3 or 4 times now. Most recent - May 2023. You will need the appropriate passports, Schengen visas, etc., or they will not let you get on the bus. If using a Schengen visa make sure it is for the intended purpose, or it may not work. Finnish border guard answers emails with any questions you may have. Good luck.

Ah, great point. I didn't even realize...

You say that you have the SS# so that means also a USA passport. It should really be no problem at this point, as long as there is proof of residence. I have found the banks to be cooperative, but they may want to see the relative in person. As others have said, proof of residence in the form of a utility bill (one would be good, two would be better) will help. I would call the utility company first. Then I would send a letter to the main office. This is just a rough idea/suggestion: To the zzzzzz Gas company address of zzzzzz To Whom it May Concern, I would like to have my wife listed on my zzzzzz gas bill. She understands that she will be responsible for the payment if I ever am unable to pay. My zzzzzz gas bill is enclosed. I was told on the phone that we could do this by mail if I include her ID and social security card. She doesn't speak English fluently and that is why I'm doing this by mail. Thank you. Best regards, Sometimes a utility company will wait until the next billing cycle to add someone to the bill. So it probably will not be immediate. The other idea I had is that when the social security card arrived (if it arrived at your residence), it would have her name and the residence printed on the form (this is the form that the card arrives on, and then you separate the card from the form). It could be helpful. I'm not sure if you had it sent to you or not. Good luck.

One other thing - I remembered that when I was planning out my daughter's US passport, the U.S. embassies authorized to adjudicate for Russians was Riga, Tallinn, or Tbilisi. Now maybe Tbilisi is swamped with Ukrainians (from web page): "INFORMATION RELATING TO UKRAINE SITUATION The governments of Georgia and Ukraine are assisting refugees from Ukraine. Call 144 to contact local authorities." so that may be why it was suggested to go elsewhere. But I really don't think Riga or Tallinn will be swamped. Also - Riga is usually less busy than Tallinn. It may be worth the effort to try to get a Schengen visa.

Yes, I read it somewhere on Shengenvisainfo Here it is: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/russian-shoppers-entering-finland-via-norway-despite-entry-ban/ This may also be of interest: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/top-10-easiest-countries-to-get-a-schengen-visa-for-summer-2023/ I don't see Don's case as being a tourist case, though. They aren't going there for vacation. I see it as a humanitarian reason (the child needs to get the passport). Many of these Baltic countries that have banned Russians from taking vacation may still allow a Schengen visa for purposes other than tourism. For instance - Finland may allow one for a compelling personal reason: compelling personal reason: "...involve a compelling or unforeseeable matter which requires personal attendance, which cannot tolerate delay, and which would cause undue harm within the context in question if the person concerned would not attend to it." One has to research each and every country for Schengen visa and then find the loopholes where they still may allow entry. The legal loopholes are usually listed on the border guard's web page for that particular country. Then when applying for the Schengen visa, write a letter explaining the compelling personal matter. This is my best advice. Good luck!

1. No. 2. Ask the embassy directly. 3. My advice - forget about Poland. 4. I don't know. If it's not too much, then consider applying. It doesn't hurt to apply. 5. Ask the embassy directly. 6. Probably. You need to do more homework. Many Russians are now getting Schengen visas from Norway and going through Norway, then on to their final destinations from there. Do more research. I've been through this and you have to research a little bit every day. Although there is great information in this forum, you will learn new and helpful information from the US embassies. My advice is to communicate with them more. I have found that in an email, I get a response if I keep the questions to a minimum (maybe 1 or 2 questions) and be brief. After you get a reply, then you can hit them with another email. And so on... Good luck.

Why aren't you considering going to the US Embassy in Estonia or Latvia for the passport? LUX EXPRESS travels to Helsinki, Riga, and Tallinn, leaving from Saint Petersburg. Write the embassies for more information. Let them know that you have the CRBA. Emails are easy to look up. Me personally - I have found the border guard in Finland and Estonia to be responsive, and helpful. I've found both the Estonian US Embassy and the Latvian US Embassy to be very helpful during my Visa/Passport journeys.

For me personally - I like to use a translator in my local community. I like it better than online. I Zelle'd the money to her but once or twice we met up for coffee - where she handed me the notarized translations and I paid her there. After time it became more of a friendship with her, her husband, and her little daughter. I like to be able to trust people. This was how I went about it. Now whenever I might need a translation I don't have to worry about it and I know she's got my back. Or as someone else pointed out - you or someone can use the form provided. For me (personally) l prefer to say at the end something like this: I, / /, herewith certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and xxxxxx languages, and that the above document is a true and accurate translation of the document attached. I am competent to translate from xxxxxx to English, and from English to xxxxxx. Signature Date It's overkill, but I like overkill. Good luck with your choice.

Don't want to. Besides, she's 18.

All valid points. I will answer you why. My daughter is young, and inexperienced at flying. She grew up in a small town. All she feels comfortable doing is riding on the train. She's never navigated an airport on her own, and she's never flown by herself. The only time she ever flew was one short, flight with me. Since the mobilization of young men, the flights out of Russia have been booked solid (almost) and the prices have doubled. Given all the variables, I can't risk her being on a longer flight to either of those places. If something were to go wrong I'd get an email from her expecting me to tell her what to do, and I'd be helpless to help her. Taking the bus to a Schengen country - I'd at least be able to take a car to the border crossing point if I had to, if she got held up at the checkpoint. Perhaps early next year, after I accompany her to the United States, she will begin to travel on her own. Your mail forwarding service - you say it was in July. A lot of things have changed since then. In fact, they seem to change bi-weekly. But would you be so kind as to tell me the name of the mail forwarding company? I'd look them up on the internet and see if they have offices in Finland. Thanks.

Yes. Yes, her International Passport was stamped by Estonia when she came in to visit me on the first trip (the trip when we applied for the United States passport). The only thing I need to make sure is that she can use the Estonian-issued Schengen to go from Russian into Finland. Apparently, Finland will not take a hard line and still allow Russians to enter https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/finnish-mfa-imposing-an-entry-ban-on-all-russians-is-against-rule-of-law/ I just need to make sure that she can go from Russia to Finland using this Estonian-issued Schengen

Yes and no. I will be bringing the USA passport to her. I have to hand it to her. They would not mail it to Russia, they had to mail it to me instead. So back to the original question....Can she use the Schengen visa issued by Estonia to enter Finland?

My daughter is a Russian citizen and she obtained a Schengen visa from Estonia. She used it when we met there in August. It doesn't expire until November. My question is this - Can she use the Schengen visa to enter Finland? I know that Estonia no longer allows Russians to enter (even with a valid Schengen visa) but I don't believe Finland is doing this. The Schengen visa she has was issued by Estonia and there are no restrictions on it. I'm thinking of sending her from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, by bus. Thanks.

Thanks! But don't thank me...thank the person who posted it. I think I got those templates from Visa Journey! In fact, I just googled "Buddy O Mine affidavit" and the Visa Journey link popped up.

I have a follow up question, if I may: We have the passport, passport card, and social security card in hand. Should I immediately notify Warsaw to cancel the IR2 visa application?

We went to the embassy. I was questioned if I supported her. Thank GOD that 15 years ago I wrote to Western Union and asked for a copy of all transactions that I sent to XXXXXXX. Although it was a copy of the letter, I had it and I showed them the copy. I was asked if I have a relationship with my daughter. I introduced her in Russian and the clerk said, "...you speak Russian..." (as if she was amazed at this). I replied, "a little." I had 2 piles of evidence one for me and one for my daughter. I brought documents from 20 and 25 years ago to prove that I've been a United States citizen for 5 years. All they cared to look at was the old passports (I'm glad I saved them). At one point in the conversation I even asked if they wanted to see more and she said, "I'm not concerned about you - I've got all your old passports right here..." We had a certified copy of my daughters birth certificate and the copy was made in 2019. My daughter also managed to find another one that was made in 2011. Both had my name listed on them as father. They seemed still concerned though - that these were copies (but they were certified and had the official stamp). I'm not sure why all the fuss. They questioned me about it and I was able to produce the ORIGINAL birth certificate that showed my name. Any remaining doubts seemed to instantly evaporate. The consular officer had some kind of prepared statement...something to the effect of, "Since your father was a United States citizen you were a United States citizen AT BIRTH." I almost lost it and broke down at that point. The culmination of my efforts, which collectively took more preparation, time, and planning than "Ocean's 11" and "Ocean's 13" combined...had suddenly come to fruition. On the application, we ordered the passport and passport card and I was informed that it takes longer for the card. So I'm going to have to come back to the embassy to pick them up when they are ready. They are letting me come back by myself to pick it up and she doesn't have to be there. I think this forum has been quite invaluable. I didn't know about it all those years ago - I kind of stumbled upon it. If I had to think up some of most important tips that helped me it was this: 1. Ask a lot of questions on VISAJOURNEY. Some of the replies will come from people that have no idea, but just weed through the responses and look for the people that have been here for some time and are following the post. It's easy to tell who was following the post. 2. A visa is not necessary for someone who had a claim to citizenship AT BIRTH. A United States passport is faster, and easier. It can be obtained for someone who is over 18. It can be obtained for a child who at the time of birth, the parents were divorced (like me). It's important that the parents were married. 3. ! BRING EVERYTHING ! I'm sure that not all consular officers were created alike. They will each have their own style and their own line of questioning. Take time to think about what you are bringing, and if you are leaving anything out. Take quiet time to do absolutely nothing, with no distractions, and meditate on what papers you are bringing and if you can somehow improve the evidence in any way. You never know what they may ask for. 4. Don't give up. This took me 18 years. I had a bitter ex-wife that who threw just about every roadblock in the way that could be thrown in the way. Don't give up. Do whatever you can do for your child. Start whatever process you can start. LOOK for alternatives, and back up plans, and back up plans for the back up plans. TIME is actually your friend if you find yourself in the same boat as me. In an ironic twist of fate - I was given the original, certified birth certificate by a Russian court, because of due process there. My bitter ex tried to do something to me in Russian court. As a matter of procedure and process, the Russian court had to supply me with a bunch of documents. It was THIS document (the original birth certificate) that sealed the deal. Her bitterness - in the end - produced the very document for me that allowed my daughter to be a United States citizen. Love to all, T H A N K Y O U

Well, in about 2 weeks, God willing, I will be with my daughter at a US embassy - submitting for her first United States passport application. This has been a long, hard ride. I trust it will go smoothly from here on out. I feel pretty good about the embassy and they have been communicating with me. I'm bringing everything, plus the kitchen sink.

No, never.

I got: 1) Transmission - Tons of evidence. I think I got: 2) Legitimation - I was married to the mother but when we were divorced (sadly) we were not married. In the divorce papers it states, "The wife is pregnant, child is expected on or about Month xx, Year xxxx" 3) Filiation – "The applicant must establish a biological and legal relationship with the claimed U.S. citizen parent." This one throws me off. What exactly is a "legal" relationship between a father and his 18-year old daughter? I still send her money. Must I provide proof of the money I send her?

Thanks. I was trying to avoid a DNA test. More hassle.

We will be applying for her first United States passport for a person over the age of 18. Thanks.

"Submit different pictures of the child (mostly birthdays, 1 year, 2 years...)." Not going to happen, unfortunately. The ex would not let me have contact with my child, who is now 18 years old.

Thanks. I will bring what I have, plus two "Buddy O' Mine" affidavits swearing to the fact that she has never been in the United States. Maybe I will even make one for myself.