Search the Community

Hi, I am so glad there are many knowledgeable people who can help me in this... I will make this concise. I am from India, and my parents died when I was 12. My uncle (US Citizen) obtained legal guardianship over me, with which I was granted an IR-4 visa. Using this visa, I entered United States when I was 14 in 2001 May. Right when I landed, I was issued a permanent resident stamp on passport (and green card mailed in a few months). My uncle never finalized my adoption in the United States. Fast forward 14 years, I had a green card. I had been a permanent resident for more than the required 5 years, and satisfied all the requirements for naturalization. However, the immigration officer is giving me trouble because my adoption was not finalized. The way I understand, IR-4 children get a green card. Adoption needs to be finalized in order for the child to get US Citizenship. However, I have never found a law that states green card can be revoked if adoption is not finalized, or that I can't get naturalized. Just that you will remain a permanent resident. Is there a law that states otherwise? Please correct me if I am wrong. So based on the facts, I have been a permanent resident for more than 5 years, passed the naturalization test, registered for selective service, and cleared everything to become a citizen. On the day of the interview, the IO issued me an N-14 stating that she needs the final adoption decree before she approves. How is this even applicable to naturalization? I am applying for naturalization based on the fact that I satisfied the eligibility criteria. My attorney sent a response stating the same and its been almost 90 days since we sent the response. They keep saying its under review. I am planning to send letter to Senator. Do I have a valid case? Is my green card conditional? Was it supposed to be revoked if adoption is not finalized? Was the IO even supposed to ask me for my adoption decree even though I expressed a DOZEN times that I don't have one? Please help me and let me know! Thank you!! Sorry about the long post Sam

After several attempts at our pregnancy, we couldn't have a child of our own. My wife's (green card holder) niece in Pakistan which she wants to adopt and bring her to USA. The family from which we want to adopt is struggling to survive financially with 4 kids. We aren't familiar with the process of adopting a child from Pakistan so any information we could get may b ed beneficial for us. I'm a US citizen. My wife is a GC holder but has applied for citizenship. Her niece is 8 years old.

My boyfriend came here on a student visa when he was 17, his visa was to expire before his 18th birthday. So his sister's husband adopted him around that time,(his mom had no way of taking care of him) his sister told him his renewal for the visa was denied, come to found out she never reapplied for him. Fast forward its been 10 years since that happened. We tried filing before but its hard to know what we can or can't do. We want to get married. I just need advise badly. Thanks for all your time.

Hello, I have a serious question -- that I am currently struggling with: Currently, I am a 28 yo male, naturalized Citizen, living in the USA. My biological mother currently lives in Venezuela. I was adopted as an adult, however, at the age of 26 for reasons that are not important for this post. My question is whether I can petition for my biological mother despite the fact that I was legally adopted. Any feedback is appreciated. This is really weighing heavy on my mind.

Every now and again we get posts about bringing a child from another country to the US. We advise the posters to do extensive research on the process because it is one of the most strict and tedious processes of immigration. This story shows what can go wrong if the rules are not thoroughly followed. Overall summary US citizen couple was living in Peru. Husband is dual citizen (US and Peruvian). Couple encountered the newborn while living in Peru and decided to adopt. Peruvian adoption completed in 2017. Couple filed proper petition to bring child to US but was delayed. Inaccuracy of article: It states, “She was unable to travel to the United States because the U.S. does not grant travel visas to anyone with a current immigration application.” As we all know, this is not true. Many have been able to travel to the US during procedures. The couple did not want to wait out the rest of the 2-year live with child in their home country requirement (they had a year left to go). They brought the child over on a tourist visa and applied for residency (likely AOS) from the child’s tourist visa and was denied. Couple does not understand why the plan did not work. Further proof that Immigration is very strict when it comes to immigrating adopted children. Seems this couple was impatient and thought the rules would not apply for them. They had another 13 months to go on the 2-year requirement. Fortunately, the couple can rectify this by continuing to proceed the proper way. Link: https://kdvr.com/2018/08/09/colorado-parents-fighting-to-stop-legally-adopted-four-year-old-daughter-from-being-deported/

On June 8, 2018 my case online status changed to "Request for Initial Evidence was Mailed" notice saying "On June 8, 2018, we mailed a request for initial evidence for your Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, Receipt Number MSC1791573256. The request for evidence explains what we need from you. We will not take action on your case until we receive the evidence or the deadline to submit it expires. Please follow the instructions in the request for evidence. If you do not receive your request for evidence by July 8, 2018, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschangeto give us your new mailing address." I have not seen any mail in my mailbox from uscis at all (today is 06/27). Since the notice said they mailed the rfe on June 08, does that mean the mail should be in my mailbox on June 08? Should I get worked up and request for another notice even though it's yet been July 08? Thank you in advance.

On June 8, 2018 my case online status changed to "Request for Initial Evidence was Mailed" notice saying "On June 8, 2018, we mailed a request for initial evidence for your Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, Receipt Number MSC. The request for evidence explains what we need from you. We will not take action on your case until we receive the evidence or the deadline to submit it expires. Please follow the instructions in the request for evidence. If you do not receive your request for evidence by July 8, 2018, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschangeto give us your new mailing address." I have not seen any mail in my mailbox from uscis at all (today is 06/27). Since the notice said they mailed the rfe on June 08, does that mean the mail should be in my mailbox on June 08? Should I get worked up and request for another notice even though it's yet been July 08? Thank you in advance.

Hello All, It's been a while for me to post back here. My Filipina wife and I have been happily married here in the U.S. now for four years and we just renewed the then year green card (removal of conditions). My wife's daughter is an illegitimate child living with us but is stuck with her Filipino biological fathers surname. I am filing for legal stepparent adoption here in California because she wants her last name the same as her new sibling and her mother. We have no idea where or how to get a hold of the biological father to advise him of the filing for adoption. He has pretty much disappeared off the planet. In California, you must show that you viably tried to make contact with the biological father before the court will grant the adoption and name change. Has anyone used any sort of documentation to show the court they have tried the same events that I am trying to show? Salamat in advance

Hi everyone, I am a U.S. citizen by birth. I adopted my Mexican wife's biological son four years into our marriage while we were all living in Mexico. The adoption took place entirely in Mexico and my son's birth certificate now has me listed as the father. My son was issued an IR2 visa, which he continues to have to this date. I would now like to secure his U.S. citizenship. Did he become a citizen upon entering the U.S.? I am unclear on whether I must apply for his certificate of citizenship by filing the N-600 (and paying the exorbitant fee of $1,170) or apply for his U.S. passport without the certificate? Due to the huge difference in price between filing the N-600 and applying for the passport, I'd much prefer the latter. Is the certificate of citizenship a necessary next step in securing my son's citizenship? Thanks for your feedback!

Hello All - I entered U.S. at 15 years old in 2003 from Guatemala, assuming it was with IR-2 visa because that is what my permanent resident card says today. My father adopted me, a naturalized U.S. Citizen. My father (naturalized U.S. citizen) and mother (legal permanent residence) never received or applied to receive a certificate of citizenship. I am now 30 and want to get a U.S. passport. I've been given differing guidance from various lawyers, but my understanding after reading here and on state department & USCIS sites I became a US Citizen the day I entered the U.S. because I was under 18 and entered in as child of U.S. Citizen. (I also lived with my parents until I turned 18). I also infer that a certificate of citizenship is unnecessary. Am I correct? I do not have my original passport with my stamp of entry from when I was a child. I don't have a copy of the adoption decree as my parent's didn't do a good job of keeping records, but my dad is going to attempt to get a copy from the court here in the U.S. (The records are sealed, so I can not get it myself). Can I just apply for my U.S. Passport? Will an adoption decree, a copy of my birth certificate from Guatemala, a copy of my father's proof of citizenship and a copy of my permanent resident card work for documentation? If not, what other info may I need. I've traveled back and forth to Guatemala to visit my family that lives there, but used a Guatemalan passport and permanent residence card. I honestly only came across this information when I was going to apply for citizenship and was told I shouldn't apply for naturalization, as I should already have my citizenship. I began doing research and just want my U.S. Passport if that is true as I feel safer traveling abroad with U.S. documents and as a US citizen should anything happen during my travels. Also concerned under the current administration about having proof of citizenship. I really appreciate any guidance and know this is unusual as an adult to get clarification.

Hello Everyone, My wife immigrated from the Philippines 8 years ago and it now a US citizen. We have been in talks with some of our family in the Philippines about adopting one of our nephews. His parents are on board with having us go forward with the adoption. My question is how do we go forward with this? Do we need to work with an adoption agency who then will help us get a visa for our nephew or can we have the adoption done in the Philippines and bring him here to the USA. If so what visa do we need? I am just trying to get the ball rolling. Any help will be much appreciated. Thank you.

I am a US citizen. I was born in Colombia, but I was adopted when I was a few weeks old. Upon my birth I was given a Colombian name but the name was changed when I was brought to the US. I am now filling out form i-129 and I am wondering if I need to list the Colombian name that was used for the first few weeks of my life. I know my situation may be very unique but I am wondering if anyone has any idea about what I should do. Thanks

Good evening! I am looking for information and am hoping you can help me. My daughter was born in Germany and has no official father in her birth certificate. My husband is American and we live together in the states, since our daughter is 4 weeks old. I have a green card. We applied our daughters greencard twice and it got messed up twice. The first time our lawyer messed up the paperwork by applying a work permit also and she got denied. The second time the USCIS lost the paperwork. Our daughter will be 3 soon and I would love for my husband to legally adopt her. We have been waiting with the adoption process until the greencard is done and now that it got lost it would take another 14 months. At this point I was wondering if it would be easiest to screw the greencard and do adoption right away. That´s a super fast process of less than 3 months. But then what? How can our daughter get citizenship after that? Does she HAVE to have a greencard first? Could we file Birth Abroad and get citizenship through that? Our second baby will be born (in the US this time) in June and I would love to have everything figured out by then! Thank you in advance and please excuse if this is the wrong forum!

So my wife and I just adopted two of our nieces from Nigeria. The judge has given approval and they are now ours. Their parents are alive, though. What forms do I need to bring them to the States? What else do I need to look out for? How long will it take? My wife and I are citizens through naturalization.