Petition For My daughter In Nigeria

[benyd009 0]

I am a US citizen by naturalization and I have a daughter who resides in Nigeria with my parent. I am trying to bring her here soon. But I have a huge problem. When I came here on a fiancée visa with my ex, I never put my daughter name on any of the documents, because my parent didn’t want me to do that. I came to the States in 2005. When I applied for citizenship, her name was also not on any document either. In fact I am in the military and her name is not on any document I got, except for my second daughter I have with my ex husband. I am trying to change everything because I have missed my first daughter so much, and I want her here. I really don't know what to do or how to go about it. I am thinking of filling I-130 with an explanation why her name was ommitted in the first place or why I didn't put her name on any of my documents. Please what do I do? I am planning on going to Nigeria next year and come back to start the paperwork. Where do I go from here? Thank you guys

[Boiler 46,086]

I can not imagine anybody buying the - my Parents told me not to - line.

I would start with a visit to your local friendly immigration lawyer, multiple cases of perjury.

I am going to guess that a Lawyer is going to tell you that is a can of worms best left unturned.

[Inky 1,111]

Get a lawyer, don't even try to do this on your own.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I am a US citizen by naturalization and I have a daughter who resides in Nigeria with my parent. I am trying to bring her here soon. But I have a huge problem. When I came here on a fiancée visa with my ex, I never put my daughter name on any of the documents, because my parent didn’t want me to do that. I came to the States in 2005. When I applied for citizenship, her name was also not on any document either. In fact I am in the military and her name is not on any document I got, except for my second daughter I have with my ex husband. I am trying to change everything because I have missed my first daughter so much, and I want her here. I really don't know what to do or how to go about it. I am thinking of filling I-130 with an explanation why her name was ommitted in the first place or why I didn't put her name on any of my documents. Please what do I do? I am planning on going to Nigeria next year and come back to start the paperwork. Where do I go from here? Thank you guys

There is a reason they ask for this sort of information multiple times and one multiple documents. One extremely important reason is that it helps to establish future eligibility for immigration benefits. It would be one thing if you fathered a child and didn't find out about it until later. It's entirely different if you knew about it the entire time, and intentionally withheld the information every time it was asked for.

Whether or not you have children is not a material fact that would have affected your eligibility to get a K1 visa or to adjust status in the US, so I doubt they're going to try to hit you with a material misrepresentation charge. However, unless you are extremely careful about how this new revelation is presented to the US government then I would expect that either USCIS or the US consulate, or perhaps even both, could make an issue out of your failure to disclose this previously.

I agree with the others. Hire an attorney.

BTW, while USCIS and the US consulates concern themselves mainly with misrepresenting material facts, the US military is far less forgiving. Any concealment or failure to disclose information is considered perjury by the military, and is punishable under the UCMJ. The military doesn't tolerate deceit of any kind.

[souleymon 27]

Get a good immigration lawyer..it might take long time for ur case.

Did ur ex know abt ur Nigerian daughter

[benyd009 0]

I can not imagine anybody buying the - my Parents told me not to - line.

I would start with a visit to your local friendly immigration lawyer, multiple cases of perjury.

I am going to guess that a Lawyer is going to tell you that is a can of worms best left unturned.

If I knew it was going to be this way I wouldn't have listen to them. I knew people might not believe me when I said, my parent and my sister told me not to, but I listen to them because they are parent.

I did talk to an immigration attorney, and I was told that I would have to file I-130 and also explain why my daughter's were ommitted or why it was not includede in the first place.

[benyd009 0]

There is a reason they ask for this sort of information multiple times and one multiple documents. One extremely important reason is that it helps to establish future eligibility for immigration benefits. It would be one thing if you fathered a child and didn't find out about it until later. It's entirely different if you knew about it the entire time, and intentionally withheld the information every time it was asked for.

Whether or not you have children is not a material fact that would have affected your eligibility to get a K1 visa or to adjust status in the US, so I doubt they're going to try to hit you with a material misrepresentation charge. However, unless you are extremely careful about how this new revelation is presented to the US government then I would expect that either USCIS or the US consulate, or perhaps even both, could make an issue out of your failure to disclose this previously.

I agree with the others. Hire an attorney.

BTW, while USCIS and the US consulates concern themselves mainly with misrepresenting material facts, the US military is far less forgiving. Any concealment or failure to disclose information is considered perjury by the military, and is punishable under the UCMJ. The military doesn't tolerate deceit of any kind.

I am actually the mother. My sister took responsibilities of her when I have her, she actually became the mother, because I was in school and I have nothing. She call my sister mom, all I could do was say nothing. The fist thing I was told when I met my fiance was, not tell him that I have a daughter, because no man will ever want to be a second handed woman. Some Nigeria belive that no woman should have a child out of wedlock. It hurt to hear that, I was so convinced they were right, so I never told him then. I told him last year when we got divorced.

I just added her name to some of my military document, which stated she is not in the State, that she is in Nigeria. I went to legal yesterday before doing that.

I really do appreciate the advice you guys are giving me, because I knew it's going to be tough.

Edited December 3, 2011 by benyd009

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

They may well demand a DNA test to establish you are indeed the bio mom.

[Noah Lot 391]

I am actually the mother. My sister took responsibilities of her when I have her, she actually became the mother, because I was in school and I have nothing. She call my sister mom, all I could do was say nothing. The fist thing I was told when I met my fiance was, not tell him that I have a daughter, because no man will ever want to be a second handed woman. Some Nigeria belive that no woman should have a child out of wedlock. It hurt to hear that, I was so convinced they were right, so I never told him then. I told him last year when we got divorced.

I just added her name to some of my military document, which stated she is not in the State, that she is in Nigeria. I went to legal yesterday before doing that.

I really do appreciate the advice you guys are giving me, because I knew it's going to be tough.

hmmmm.....fraud from Nigeria.....is anyone surprised? How does one 'forget' a daughter? How can somebody be influenced so strongly by mere relatives? Impossible. I think there is another story, one that is far different than the one we are being told.

[benyd009 0]

hmmmm.....fraud from Nigeria.....is anyone surprised? How does one 'forget' a daughter? How can somebody be influenced so strongly by mere relatives? Impossible. I think there is another story, one that is far different than the one we are being told.

Hmm fraud? I never said I forgot my daughter, all I said was I did not told my ex then, and I didn't add her name into my paperwork..There is no story to anything, and that was what happend. You are entitled to your opinion, and thanks for your input.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Nigeria is a very high fraud country. From what I have seen over the years about half the couples on here are not going to be together 2 years after getting a visa and most of those are due to fraud. So the embassy there is very very difficult. But you are right about the attitude to unmarried women having children. Do your parents support you bringing your daughter here ? Is there any record of you being the one that gave birth to her ? When you file your I130 you should include whatever you have to prove that she was your daughter but that due to custom and tradition your sister raised her to avoid the negative impact to both of you had you choosen to raise her. That now you are here you have decided to reestablish the role of mother/child because there isn't the same stigma in the US. Count on a DNA test. Good luck.

[souleymon 27]

There was fear from the OP and due to what she was advised against.

Either u choose to believe it-it shldnt in anyway relate to portraying the Image of her country of origin Bad.

I believe there r people with worse situation who r unable to seek help.This a forum where Posters seek guilds n helps n not condemnation.Lets respect countries n her citizens

[Boiler 46,086]

So Nigeria is not a very high fraud country?

[souleymon 27]

Not to the extent of commiting Suicide to cover up for some unknown deeds.

[ndu26 114]

hmmmm.....fraud from Nigeria.....is anyone surprised? How does one 'forget' a daughter? How can somebody be influenced so strongly by mere relatives? Impossible. I think there is another story, one that is far different than the one we are being told.

before you judge someone , try and investigate your information and do away with bias. Some Nigerians unfortunately have portaryed the country in a very bad light internationally but there is no denying the fact that the people are one of the smartest(check names in NASA, IVY LEAUGE colleges, WORLD BANK etc) and also someof the warmest people you could associate with.

I understand her because it my culture. though it is getting better now due to globalization but it is ANATHEMA(TABOO) to ave achild out of wedlock...and yes depnding on your family and your personality parents and siblings can influence you to do something like she just did , without knowing the repercursions in future.

right now my elder who has a child out of wedlock; The names of parents on her daughter's birth cert are my sister's (as the mother)and our deceased father ( as the father) cos my family does not want to associate with the guy who impregnated her. I am not in support as things like that could come back to hunt her...i plan to file for my sister soon and by the time their PD is current in 12years time the girl will be abt 15 and elgible to immigrate with her ...what now happens if she wants to file her real father? ( and her birth cert has my siser and our late father's name. A teenage girl i know in my neighborhhod in Nigeria had her parents become the "parents of her daughter"(by their insistence)just cos the parents feared she will miss chances of finding a man for marriage later in life( the daughter always called her aunt and called the teenage mother's parents(her grandparents) mom and dad...good thing though, last few years she has made her daughter aware that she is the real mother and so she now( the girl is about 7years) calls her mom, i dnt know if they altered the documents at birth though.

For those of us that are originally from the western world, there are cultures and customs that you just cannot comprehend ( even we from those nations do not understand some of them).

I have seen parents give away their teenage daughters( as little as 13years) to men in their 60s-70s as wife. ...That USCIS or NVC( or some of us) does not comprehend such arrangement DOES MAKE IT FRAUD.

While I understand your plight, I still think you have at least included her in your military documents.What name does she have on her Birth Certificate( if it is your parents' name you could getaway by using that as proof, if it is you sister's name( hopefully u guys are NOT identical twins, it could be tough. There is away out of it, it will very tough, emotionally engaging, costly and timeconsuming but keep faith until you get what you want...go look for an attorney that will advise you on what to do.

concentrate on amending the appropriate documents and swearing affidavits to the event, get friends, family etc to also provide affidavits to your statement and then after these are done proceed from this end.

IT IS WELL...AL THE BEST