danver

Hello fellow VJ members.

My sister was naturalized last year and I understand, her 13 yrs old girl is an automatic US citizen too (they just filed the N600) her question is, she and her husband want to change the child's last name to his (he doesn't want an adoption at this time maybe because he still has an issue with his adopted children from ex and that's another topic) but while he is not ready for adoption at this time, he is open to let the child use his last name. Is it possible?

Background: mother and biological father not married but father acknowledge the child on the birth cert and now the dad is no where to be found for years (he's from another Asian country).

N

Any asnwers will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

There are a few topics on this here, do a search (upper right is the box). The adoption process is different for each state so you will need to check with the state you live in. The Philippines itself has no horse in this race. it is solely a state process.

thank you

Hi again y'all..

What does the term Eligible to work mean...I ask this because if a K1 can apply for an SSN prior to marriage based on the immigrant status which implies Alien allowed to work, why then would we need to apply for an EAD if we are already allowed to work.

Would this not then imply that K! can work without an EAD.

I would like clarification on the matter as my fiancee wants us to got to the SSN office and apply prior to getting married. However, having been told I need an EAD on the phone from an SSN employee i don;t want to go there and look stupid.

Thanks

YOu will be able to get an SSN but I doubt you will be able to work unless you have your EAD = Employment Authorization DOcument.

Hello fellow vj members,

How are yall all? Hope everyone is great! I apologize if I am in the wrong forum..i did post it in the off topic section but got no reply.

ANybody here who came here on a K1 visa and her kids (from the Philippines) were legally adopted by her USC husband? any success?? any link or info you could share would be greatly appreciated.. THanks.

My fiancé just sent me a photo montage and in the corner of it was a generic list called, '15 ways to keep a good relationship'

I read them all, then tripped over maxim #11, "Don't talk about your stupid ex-wife". ....Question #11 seems more filipina than generic...

Well, in two weeks she will be moving into my house that my ex-wife and I designed and built. She and my (intelligent) ex-wife will inevitably meet at family gatherings at my daughters house, as my 'ex' is my granddaughter's step-mother.

My fiancé knows I am respectfully friendly with my 'ex', as I told her family gatherings need to be stress free for everyone sake. She agreed at the logic, but the enthusiasm wasn't there...

I've always been good at sorting things out, but I smell potential trouble here.

Any one have some 'pearls of wisdom' on this subject ?

Thanks, Rob187

I can relate to that since my husband sees his ex wife on a very seldom bases. but even when they see each other because the x has kids with my hubby.. it didn't bother me at all.

First I would suggest..if u are in a family gatherings DONT talk about X,, then let ur wife now feel secure and give her more attention that way she would not feel alone .I never had issues with my hubby's x..though they seldom talk even on the phone. and btw... the house we bought after we got married was the house that my husband and x live together.. When we moved ..my hubby let me do and decorate what I wanted to in that house so it really did not bother me at all. he made me feel this is our new home.

Thank you so much jimmyhou,

I been married to him since 2011 and he is us citizen (born here) I've been given the green care since feb 2 2012.so I believe base on your explanation I am eligible to apply sometime by November or December or January ( 90 days before reaching the 3 years period.Thank you once again for spending time to reply on my post....you made it clear ..may god bless you

that's right and that's what I did .

I have this friend..... (no seriously, it actually is a friend!!)

She's strongly considering giving up and going back to the Philippines. She was asking me some of the details of divorce here in the USA as I've gone through a divorce once before. I browsed the posts here for a few hours, but it really does seem that her case is a little bit unique. Any advice or help would be very much appreciated.

The facts:

Filipina Citizen

US Citizen Husband

Texas Residents

Arrived to the USA 10 months ago on a K1 visa.

Married 7 months ago

Never filed Report of Marriage

Never filed AOS, EAD, AP, Green Card

Never got a Social Security number

Very limited funds

She feels trapped and is looking at her options to go "home".

She is doubtful that her husband will cooperate in a divorce.

What options does she have? I was thinking that since there was never a Report of Marriage to PH, that she could just hop on a plane and mostly be done with it. It would seem that it would just put him in a situation where only he is being "negatively" effected by the lame duck marriage, and he'd maybe cooperate with the divorce. I don't want her to have too many options closed to her in the future with the USA or potentially other relationships, etc.

Would she need to come back to the USA to finalize the divorce? She would not be able to get a visa to do that, right? What bridges would she be burning if she did just hop a plane? If that creates too many issues, what is the next most direct route to get out of her unhappy situation?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

If she's out of status and is not happy with her situation.. I think she should go back home ..that is if things don't really work out...instead of staying here illegally.

I am not sure if I am allowed to ask here but if not feel free to remove my post pls.

I forgot my fb password so I made a new one with same email and password. only to find out the new account I made is a blank account with no info or nothing.

I tried different ways to reset it and make a new password but I just cant retrieve my old account where I had all my kids photos for my family in the Philippines for the grandma to keep in touch with the grand kids.

tried to call but no one is available.

is there someone here who knows how? I am desperate and frustrated. thank u all very much.

Hi everyone...

We successfully arrived here in California last monday...

Now i am planning to obtain SSN...

I am a k-1 visa holder and have two kids as under k-2 visa... Im just wondering if i do need to apply SSN for them? Well theyre minor so they cant apply for work yet...

I read a thread but it was not so clear in my understanding...

Do we have to get married first before we can apply for ssn?

Do i need to apply for AOS before i can get SSN?

And what are the requirements? Thank you for the time reading my query... Pls everyone let me know... Thanks

its best u get married first then apply for u and ur kids SSN ..that way u will have ur married name in ur SSN card. U have to go to the nearest SSS office to apply for one.

Hello everyone,

Well my wife removed her passport from her visa packet today and noticed that they misspelled her name on the visa stamp.

On the stamp it has her middle name ending in an "I" when it should end in an "E".

On all the paperwork, on the bottom half of the visa stamp and her passport it has it correct.

Is this something we should worry about or is it ok for her to us for POE?

Thank you

she should go back to the US embassy and have her passport amended. its better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the very helpful information We're gonna go to the SS tomorrow to apply.

u need to get it done before ur I-94 expires

Hello everyone!

I just wanna ask, I have a friend who work in Singapore and got married in Philippines recently and back in Singapore right away to continue working.

My question is:

1. When she check the marriage contract, Her american husband's middle name was placed next to his name and probably leaves the middle name blank. Will she be in trouble during their filing of CR1 because of the marriage certificate's error?

2. Can they file a petition using Philippines as her country even though she is in Singapore now? What are her best options?

Your help will be greatly appreciated guys..

I would add to ur first question.

You can go to a notary public and have a lawyer make an affidavit explaining the situation. I had it when my birth certificate has an error on it and all I did was a notarized affidavit from the lawyer .

Thanks for clearing this up Hank... I would've wanted to have everything done before my fiancee leaves for the USA, but I guess it was too much to hope for... Do you think they will allow a guardian or a relative to accompany the girls during their SLEC and/or USEM interviews?

Follow-up questions: Since I'm the one who will come back home and accompany their entry to the US, do I still need to complete individual consent to travel forms signed by their mother, or does the fact that I married their mother which makes me essentially their stepfather negate the need for it?

Thanks again for always being helpful

yes provided the guardian who will accompany the kids for their interview will have the authorization from the parents. I was here and my mom (kid's grandma ) was the one who accompanied my 2 kids from getting their passports to medical at St. Lukes and to their interview at the embassy.

I went there to pick up my kids as soon as I was sure they had their visas on hand.

Well of course there are gonna be exceptions, it's not a general, all-encompassing rule. All people are different, but it doesn't mean that what I said isn't true... Good for you that you save your money and don't spend it on "nonsense," but you can't seriously tell me that you don't appreciate some luxuries from time to time. My fiancee doesn't ask for stuff from me and she is very thrifty with the money I send (thank god), but when I do send her something like a genuine Michael Kors bag for Christmas for example, the smile on her face and the light in her eyes are priceless...

The "fake" merchandise business at Greenhills won't be enjoying so much success if the people weren't concerned with brand names... my fiancee hates that stuff, but is always overjoyed when I send her or the girls some genuine brand name stuff from time to time. It's like us men who say we don't care if we drive a Honda or a Mustang... but if we get a chance to drive a Mustang and we can afford it, we won't mind

of course if its a gift sure it would make my eyes big lol . but what am saying is it don't bother me if my friends has this or that and I don't. I just don't spend my hard earned money for these kind of stuff. I buy and spend my money on what I need and what iwant. but like others say it's all up to u..

Yeah, it's either shoes, handbags, watches or sunglasses... or all of the above... Brand names are a big deal in the Philippines... you'll see women there going to the mall dressed better than women in the USA going to parties...

don't agree with all u said. Not all women are brand conscious . It's just those that wants to show off that thinks brand names stuff will make other ppl look at u like u got all the $$$ when most of them are using the fake or imitations...lol but it is true.

I don't care if idont wear Nike or Levis or have an LV or MK.. I worked hard and save my money instead of spending it for these nonsense..

just my 2 cents

Five months later we are back in the Philippines, she prefers life here in the PI to that in the USA, one of few I would guess. So I am also here in the PI, not really what I wanted to do, was a lot of effort to bring my wife to the states. She felt somewhat isolated in the spectacular place where we lived, she enjoyed many of the amenities of living there but friends, family ties and the food back home was too much, so many thousands of dollars and travel and moving we are now settled "back home".

Now many of you may say "she should have joined a Filipino group so she felt welcome", but, as so many have also told me that is a HUGE mistake. She had filipinas there that she saw but not a large group. Since we have been back many of the guys I know reiterated the position of if she is in a large community of Filipinas that one of them will grab her ear and coach her on the niceties of how to get a divorce, support money etc, happens way to often. I have a good friend going through this and have heard endless stories since my return, way to common, buyer beware so they say. Now for us we have no issues such as this and I intend to keep it that way.

So my commitment to USCIS as in the change of address form for the I-864 I-865 is not needed here, her 10 yr GC will expire without a trip back in the coming year. I have many personal feelings on not living back in our wonderful USA home but....as Joe Dirt learned after searching so long for his parents, "home is where ya make it".

God Bless

good luck to u both. Been here for over 7 years but never was homesick to think that my 2 kids were in the Philippines back then. If she decides to keep her LPR status she can't be out of the USA for over a year but if she really decides to live there then that would mean she will abandon her residency .. and if she decides to come back here later in the future then she will have to start the process all over again once status is abandoned.

With regards to being in a Filipino group,, I don't think it is a huge mistake as you have the option who to befriends with.

I just chose to be with a group that prioritize family and not friends that has this, and has that.

Divorce, money?? it still depends on u..coz true love conquers all unless one is here for green card and not love

im getting ready to mail my n400 so i want to be sure i get things right. im filing under the 5 yr rule. do i still need to mail a copy of my annulment in the phils? my 1st marriage was annuled . it says on the uscis site:

If you were married before, send:

Proof that all earlier marriages ended (divorce decree(s), annulment(s), or death certificates(s)).

im not sure if this refers to people filing under the 5 yr rule.

my 2nd marriage was to an american citizen who petitioned for me to come to the usa.

yes

Hi Visajourney members!

My question is about the i-864 affidavit of support form. My husband USC petitioning my son below 21 and his income is not suitable for 3household members. I am green card holder and working already. We filed tax jointly 2013 and my income can help add up for my husband income to support 3household members. My question is do I have to fill up I-864 separately even he is my son? any idea please help.

yes u have to fill up a separate I-864 and when my husband petitioned my 2 kids he was out of job so we had my sister in law as co- sponsor and we never had a problem.

I noticed that during the biometrics process at the USCIS in Phoenix, that camera's were not allowed inside. I also noticed that is is also the place in which the swearing in is done for US Citizenship. Does anyone know if cameras are allowed to photograph the swearing in process at the USCIS in Phoenix AZ?

In Georgia I was taking pictures inside while the ceremony was going on.

Adoptions are covered by state laws, so there is no way to get a form that is valid in all states as each state has its own laws. You need Georgia specific forms.

that's what I thought. Thank you again.

Unfortunately, Georgia and the Hall County Superior Court does not make it easy to file for a stepparent adoption. I could not find any free forms or templates.

You may want to pony up the $300 for the legal forms offered by various legal paper mills. For simple stuff, the legal paper mills are good enough.

Hey there, thanks again...I did talked to a lawyer and they asked $500 to start with just to have the forms and the questionares to answer. Also called an online adoption agency that offers services and asked 300 for just the forms. I guess I will have to read some more and find out.. I was able to print an ADOPT -200 form for free ..January 2014 version but I am not sure if this is the same for all states???

I really appreciate ur help so much. I am trying to do it myself if I could. I did my K1 to AOS to ROC to US citizenship, to I- 130 for my 2 kids and the CRBA of my youngest son by myself with no problem and no lawyer involved.

We are all Us citizens and the biological father of my two kids is deceased so I think it will be easier since my kids live with us for over 3 years now.

Thank you very much for ur effort.

DO NOT USE AN ON-LINE AGENCY.

What state do you live in?

In California, it is very simple to do. All the state courts have websites with "how to adopt your stepchild" instructions.

For example; http://www.scscourt.org/self_help/probate/adoption/stepparent_adoption.shtml

You can file yourself. It's not any harder than filing an immigration petition.

Thank you very much.. I could not find where to get the forms to start with? I live in Hall COunty Georgia and I went to the SUperior court in the county where I live and they all say the same thing ...that they do not handle adoption and I have to hire a prvate adoption lawyer and they do not have the forms?

Can u pls. share me any link about step parent adoption in Georgia?? I really woud appreciate it.

Hello y'all there, Greetings in God's precious name! Hope all is well.

Okay few days ago I posted about step parent adoption process but I still did not get any help or info that can help me in anyway.

Okay as much as w e don't wanna spend thousands of $$$ to hire an adoption lawyer.. I am positive I can do it myself .I just needed to know where and how to start the process with??

I was told by ppl from Dept. of Children and family services personnel that I have tot go to the court house and ask since they don't handle step parent adoption.

After a 3rd attempt to talk to someone from the court house which was not really a help at all since they said the same thing " get a private adoption lawyer".

Anyway,,, we talked to this lawyer ffirm who charges $500 for the adoption form and looking at around $4,000.00 per child.

I only need to get the forms and fill it out and file it myself at the court house in the county where I live.

Also I found this adoption agencies online that will give services and forms for $297.00.

My concerns are:

1. Are these adoption agencies u read online that offers services legitimate??/ I don't wanna waste my money and be a victim.. Has anyone tried? Thank u very much for ur info.

I apoligize though i did not mean to ignore or am not even aware of the warning. .sorry about duplicate thread,,i just though i post it in the wrong place reason why i did not get response.

Hello All,

Greetings in Jesus' Christ Name. Hope all is well. I posted few days ago here about stepkids adoption. I did not get enough reply so here I am again asking and hoping for some answers from those who have been through this process.

Anyone had adopted their wife's kids (stepkids adoption)? from the Philippines? What are the process" when where and how to start?? We can not afford the lawyer asking $4k each child.

Can we just do it on our own without a private lawyer?

Anyone who can share their stories will be appreciated. Pls.share any link of info for stepkids adoption in Georgia. Thank you very much.