Bio Father refusing to allow C.R. Passport.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Congratulations on having 2,502+ postings on the VJ Forum. You must be very active on here...however, your posting did not help me whatsoever. I'm wondering why you bothered to post???

Buena Suerte con todos,

Franc

Franc -

The little whistly smiley is for "sarcasm".

In this case, I understood John perfectly. Just use your imagination. He was just trying to lighten things up a bit.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Thanks for your input. I will consider what you have said...although:

1) I have never heard of adding a child to a mother's passport. To my knowledge, all persons MUST have their OWN Passport from the country of their citizenship. I went through this one other time with a woman/daughter from Colombia...BOTH of them needed their OWN Passports. Same here in the USA....everyone needs their own Passport.

2) Fundamentally, I do not agree with bribes. Things must be done for the correct reasons, not financial gain. Additionally, the "permission letter" does not allow the children to have a K-2 Visa. Whether anyone gets a VISA is a decision made by the U.S. Government through the Visa Petitioning Process which we all are going through at this time. Thus, the "permission letter" allows the child/children to leave that country AFTER they have been granted a VISA by the USA.

Best Wishes to You,

Franc

Adding the child to the mother's passport is likely a country specific protocol. What happens in the Ukraine has little to do with Costa Rica.

Other than the 'bribe'. Read around and you'll find this as 'modus operandi' in many cultures. I can understand your aversion to it but, well, that may just be the way things are done in your fiance's country. You may need to decide if you want to stand on principal or get the job done.

[Married2aTico 0]

Jeremy - Thanks very much for the heads up on getting the passport and permission together. We will definitely go this route. My husband is now in the U.S. with me - any idea on what type of permission he needs to sign so his daughter can go alone with her mother to get the passport and permission?

Franc - Women do have LOTS of rights in Costa Rica. Men there must pay any court-mandated child support by the appointed date each month. If the money is not deposited, the mother simply needs to go and file a claim at the local courthouse. Then the father must present proof of payment or is subject to arrest. Also, women can periodically (once a year, I think) apply for a raise in child support. If the father has not made a salary filing (I forget the CR terminology for this), the judge can order the highest amount allowed by law.

I tell you all this because these are tools your fiance can use to "negotiate" with the child's father. 1. She could go to court any date and file for all the back child support and he could and in jail. 2. If he wants to be difficult, she can have his support raised (and probably still file for sole custody, as these are two separate issues).

Good luck!!!!

[Fandango 1,439]

Just wanted to add that it's probably worth getting both authorizations done at the same time, namely signing the passport form AND the permission letter.

^ I agree with this completely

[FrancElsie 6]

UPDATE:

Apparently the PASSPORT hurdle has been jumped. They are picking up the boy's Passport next week. Now...onto the "permission to immigrate" letter from the father. They (my fiancee' & the father) made an agreement that she'd let him off the hook for child support (which he doesn't pay anyway) if he allows the child to immigrate. I am drafting some sort of document for her to use and have notarized there in Costa Rica. I think the problem is solved...for now!

Franc

[christeen 966]

Although I understand the fundamental disagreement with paying a sum for the signature... However, if it means that your fiance and her son cannot come live with you then you have a "fundamental" problem since it seems that without approval, you do not get to live here in the USA with your fiance and her child... So unfortunaly, practicality sometimes have to override fundamental disagreements... But that is YOUR choice. As far as termination of future financial obligations from the bio-dad... I am not sure that $100 a year or even $432 a year if he paid in full, is worth the hassles of arguements... Sign off and start your new lives together... But leaving it entirely up to her is good since ultimately it is her decision, however some indication as to what your thoughts are to her might help firm her mind about this decision... Perhaps a nice "dont worry babe, I will take care of you" might give her some reassurance...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello VJ'ers,

Just got off the phone with my (very upset) fiance'. She told me that the biological father of her son is refusing permission for her son to get a Costa Rican Passport. He needs this Passport because without it, there will be no U. S. Visa. She had an appointment in the local city near where she lives for next week...19th of March. Initially, he had agreed IF she would sign a legal document relieving him of any future financial responsibility for the boy. No problem with that because he doesn't pay anything anyway....or rarely does. (He's supposed to pay $36/month.) Any ideas about this from you experts in this realm?

Thanks,

Franc

Bribery. We exchanged a permission letter for a release of all child support, past, present and future.

UPDATE:

Apparently the PASSPORT hurdle has been jumped. They are picking up the boy's Passport next week. Now...onto the "permission to immigrate" letter from the father. They (my fiancee' & the father) made an agreement that she'd let him off the hook for child support (which he doesn't pay anyway) if he allows the child to immigrate. I am drafting some sort of document for her to use and have notarized there in Costa Rica. I think the problem is solved...for now!

Franc

Bribery is always productive. especially in third world and developing countries (and really cheap too)

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks for your input. I will consider what you have said...although:

1) I have never heard of adding a child to a mother's passport. To my knowledge, all persons MUST have their OWN Passport from the country of their citizenship. I went through this one other time with a woman/daughter from Colombia...BOTH of them needed their OWN Passports. Same here in the USA....everyone needs their own Passport.

2) Fundamentally, I do not agree with bribes. Things must be done for the correct reasons, not financial gain. Additionally, the "permission letter" does not allow the children to have a K-2 Visa. Whether anyone gets a VISA is a decision made by the U.S. Government through the Visa Petitioning Process which we all are going through at this time. Thus, the "permission letter" allows the child/children to leave that country AFTER they have been granted a VISA by the USA.

Best Wishes to You,

Franc

1. In Ukraine all children can be in their parents passport until age 18. That you have never heard of it is an indication of your knowledge (or lack thereof) not evidence that the practice doesn't exist. Best not to base decisions on ignorance and best to make suggestions of all possible avenues to be investigated.

2. Worng again. Many, if not most, countries require the US consulate have the letter before issuing the visa. There are a few exceptions to this, but by far, most consulates require it. If you will be successful I hope you will read up on this for the country you are going through.

2a. Bribery worked, didn't it?

Told you.

Make sure the letter grants permission to leave for furute visits also. Make it as open ended as possible.