I miss my life in PHILIPPINES

[bedirisinglee 0]

I miss my life in PI...going to school at 7am riding on a motorbike, going home at 11 and go back at 1pm-4:30pm...(sigh) scolding my pupils if ever arrived to school with dirty sorroundings chatting with my co-teachers during break time...(tsismisan) waiting for salary time and most, I terribly miss my neices who were with me since the real mother abandoned them and my brother remarried and the two kids are now with grandma who is already 63yo...il not see them growing up, sleep with me, prepare their breakfast and give them baon in the morning, roaming around the village...wish i could adopt them but i dont know where to start and how much would it costs? I googled but could not find the link on how to adopt my neices...pls help and if anyone has an adopted kids here, pls share if what is the process and if possible for me to bring them over here in US. Any idea, suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks and Good Luck to all VJ Members.

[tallcoolone 102]

If you are a USC I think adopting and a adoption type visa is pretty easy deal.

I am sure you can find your answer on this forum or the net.

Good Luck......

[Jasman0717 9]

I am sure there is a way, you just need to start researching it.

[Old Dominion 26]

I believe the place to start is with the Philippine government and their policies and procedures on adoption. In some countries it takes more than a year. Once adopted, the American visa process is clearcut but of course not very swift. Child trafficking is an issue that makes it complicated.

[Jasman0717 9]

I believe the place to start is with the Philippine government and their policies and procedures on adoption. In some countries it takes more than a year. Once adopted, the American visa process is clearcut but of course not very swift. Child trafficking is an issue that makes it complicated.

My friend was in the process of adopting his step-son until he caught his wife cheating. He was so broken hearted

[cieloazul 0]

I miss my life in PI...going to school at 7am riding on a motorbike, going home at 11 and go back at 1pm-4:30pm...(sigh) scolding my pupils if ever arrived to school with dirty sorroundings chatting with my co-teachers during break time...(tsismisan) waiting for salary time and most, I terribly miss my neices who were with me since the real mother abandoned them and my brother remarried and the two kids are now with grandma who is already 63yo...il not see them growing up, sleep with me, prepare their breakfast and give them baon in the morning, roaming around the village...wish i could adopt them but i dont know where to start and how much would it costs? I googled but could not find the link on how to adopt my neices...pls help and if anyone has an adopted kids here, pls share if what is the process and if possible for me to bring them over here in US. Any idea, suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks and Good Luck to all VJ Members.

If you are still a citizen of the RP, then it should be easier. Probably the first step is to contact a lawyer in the phils. There may be some VJs here who could help with that depending on what part of the phils you are from. I think my wife knows a lawyer from the Manila area,,Paco I think.

Here is a link to the USEM info: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhadop.html

As far as cost, maybe it would qualify for the adoption tax credit? One of my friends from work was able to offset the cost of adopting two children from China using that tax credit "adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, traveling expenses (including amounts spent for meals and lodging while away from home), and other expenses directly related to and for which the principal purpose is the legal adoption of an eligible child". IRS link:http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html

Some employers also offer reimbursement for adoption costs.

The only problem I see is if you still want the children to sleep with you. I'm pretty sure your husband would object.

[rheanick 42]

Short term: why not invite them to the US for a short vacation. School is ending soon...

Long Term: adoption... sorry... no idea where to start...

I miss my life in PI...going to school at 7am riding on a motorbike, going home at 11 and go back at 1pm-4:30pm...(sigh) scolding my pupils if ever arrived to school with dirty sorroundings chatting with my co-teachers during break time...(tsismisan) waiting for salary time and most, I terribly miss my neices who were with me since the real mother abandoned them and my brother remarried and the two kids are now with grandma who is already 63yo...il not see them growing up, sleep with me, prepare their breakfast and give them baon in the morning, roaming around the village...wish i could adopt them but i dont know where to start and how much would it costs? I googled but could not find the link on how to adopt my neices...pls help and if anyone has an adopted kids here, pls share if what is the process and if possible for me to bring them over here in US. Any idea, suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks and Good Luck to all VJ Members.

[RDDIXON 0]

Start with a lawyer who has handled adoption before, because anything else you hear from anyone probably won't fit within your situation. You'll need a lawyer anyway and maybe some cash for brides to get the process finished as quickly as possible. Well connecting lawyers are expensive, but they can move things through the system faster than a cheap lawyer who doesn't have any connections. Get your check book out!

I've "heard" that if a child's parents are alive, the process takes longer, because the parents must legally surrender their children. You being in the USA better hope they don't want cash for giving up their kids. I doubt the process is easy without a well connected lawyer, but if you love them as much as you say you do, really miss them as much as you say you do, really want them as much as you say you do, nothing will stop you from pursuing it.

Good luck!

[-B&T- 1]

Hello,

I have a niece also she's 4 years old now and really wanted to bring her over in U.S. to be with me and my husband said yes to my plan but it's a very, very complicated thing to do I found out since she is my relative and not an orphan.You need to show that they lived with you in your home and prove that you provided full support for those children for at least 2 years when you were still there in Philippines You need to hire a very good lawyer if you really wanna pursue it.You must adopt them in Philippines,in the Philippine court system and how old are they? The adoption must be 100% complete before they turn 16.

Good luck to you.I know how it feels my niece calls me mama I'm the one who took care of her whe was hust a baby until I left for the US missed her so much.

[bedirisinglee 0]

Hello,

I have a niece also she's 4 years old now and really wanted to bring her over in U.S. to be with me and my husband said yes to my plan but it's a very, very complicated thing to do I found out since she is my relative and not an orphan.You need to show that they lived with you in your home and prove that you provided full support for those children for at least 2 years when you were still there in Philippines You need to hire a very good lawyer if you really wanna pursue it.You must adopt them in Philippines,in the Philippine court system and how old are they? The adoption must be 100% complete before they turn 16.

Good luck to you.I know how it feels my niece calls me mama I'm the one who took care of her whe was hust a baby until I left for the US missed her so much.

It was on 2003 when real mother found a new one, left the house without any single word, abandoned my nieces whos ages that time were 3 and 1...after a year, my brother found new one also, got married and now they have one daughter(now in Manila) and the two kids stayed with me (Samar) after that...took care of them, they call me mommy since they were still young and real mother was NANNA and father DADDA. When I got married and decided to be with my husband now, it was the hardest decision I made ever...so many explanations, crying days...I came to the point that I dont wanna leave them and wanted to continue teacing in the Phil and invite my husband to joined me there...but his work is here, his life and property are here, so, I need to choose between family and him...I chose him even it broke my heart knowing that Il not see my neices every time as i wanted to be...so painful but it made me realize also that this is God's plan for me, I chose my husband so I can support them also as I like to give to them the best of everything(I cant give them everything with my $300 salary monthly less deductions when I was still in PI teaching). As a kid, they are so happy if they have new dolls, new dresses, chatting, i call them sometimes during class hours and weekends, they always asking me if when im gonna go home...I said on their graduation day (4 year from now hehe) eldest is grade 2 and grade one is youngest....but i made a promise that il go to Phil to visit them on Sept (feast day in Samar)

Il arrange everything esp the adoption...hope i can make it before they turn to 16...cant invite them also for a visit as US policy is very strict, you can invite only real kids, mother and sisters...thanks for the suggestions and idea, it really helps...now im relieved and am start imagining that one day, il bring them over here. GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

[rheanick 42]

It would be hard to bring just the kids to the US. Guess, you also need to invite your brother since he is the father your nieces. And since your nieces are quite young, it would need letter from the real mother.

Hello,

I have a niece also she's 4 years old now and really wanted to bring her over in U.S. to be with me and my husband said yes to my plan but it's a very, very complicated thing to do I found out since she is my relative and not an orphan.You need to show that they lived with you in your home and prove that you provided full support for those children for at least 2 years when you were still there in Philippines You need to hire a very good lawyer if you really wanna pursue it.You must adopt them in Philippines,in the Philippine court system and how old are they? The adoption must be 100% complete before they turn 16.

Good luck to you.I know how it feels my niece calls me mama I'm the one who took care of her whe was hust a baby until I left for the US missed her so much.

It was on 2003 when real mother found a new one, left the house without any single word, abandoned my nieces whos ages that time were 3 and 1...after a year, my brother found new one also, got married and now they have one daughter(now in Manila) and the two kids stayed with me (Samar) after that...took care of them, they call me mommy since they were still young and real mother was NANNA and father DADDA. When I got married and decided to be with my husband now, it was the hardest decision I made ever...so many explanations, crying days...I came to the point that I dont wanna leave them and wanted to continue teacing in the Phil and invite my husband to joined me there...but his work is here, his life and property are here, so, I need to choose between family and him...I chose him even it broke my heart knowing that Il not see my neices every time as i wanted to be...so painful but it made me realize also that this is God's plan for me, I chose my husband so I can support them also as I like to give to them the best of everything(I cant give them everything with my $300 salary monthly less deductions when I was still in PI teaching). As a kid, they are so happy if they have new dolls, new dresses, chatting, i call them sometimes during class hours and weekends, they always asking me if when im gonna go home...I said on their graduation day (4 year from now hehe) eldest is grade 2 and grade one is youngest....but i made a promise that il go to Phil to visit them on Sept (feast day in Samar)

Il arrange everything esp the adoption...hope i can make it before they turn to 16...cant invite them also for a visit as US policy is very strict, you can invite only real kids, mother and sisters...thanks for the suggestions and idea, it really helps...now im relieved and am start imagining that one day, il bring them over here. GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

[-B&T- 1]

Hello.keep all the receipts/records of whatever you have been sending them money,gifts etc.and all the mails from them as well and tell them to do the same.What about when you were still with the kids do you have any records of anything like bringing them to the doctor,school records showing that you are the guardian?Its a long process and really you need lots of money for pursuing it.You may want to become a US citizen also while doing the process of adopting your nieces in that way you and your husband would be able to make the process a little faster.

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

I miss my life in PI...going to school at 7am riding on a motorbike, going home at 11 and go back at 1pm-4:30pm...(sigh) scolding my pupils if ever arrived to school with dirty sorroundings chatting with my co-teachers during break time...(tsismisan) waiting for salary time and most, I terribly miss my neices who were with me since the real mother abandoned them and my brother remarried and the two kids are now with grandma who is already 63yo...il not see them growing up, sleep with me, prepare their breakfast and give them baon in the morning, roaming around the village...wish i could adopt them but i dont know where to start and how much would it costs? I googled but could not find the link on how to adopt my neices...pls help and if anyone has an adopted kids here, pls share if what is the process and if possible for me to bring them over here in US. Any idea, suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks and Good Luck to all VJ Members.

Republic Act No. 8043 is the law that applies if you want to adopt your nieces. I found this site with FAQs. I hope this helps.

http://www.helplinelaw.com/law/philippines...ten/article.php

Rocky

Edited February 2, 2009 by Rocky_nBullwinkle

[sunandmoon 450]

here's another link with some info...

http://www.gov.ph/faqs/adoption.asp

[bhajishah 4]

Oh what a sweety!! im sure phillipines missing a good teacher and person like you. have your brother sign over rights to you and then you can bring them here. we are doing the same with husbands sisters kids in pk. good luck to us both. when will you be citizen. You have to become us citizen first honey!!