Stand alone I-130 for stepchild(ren)

[Kazulie 132]

I would try and find whatever receipts you can or call the company that you sent money through and see what services they have for providing records of your account/transaction history with them.

YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!

I had never even thought Western Union could do this, especially since my husband isn't a member and doesn't have their card!!! I just got off the phone with them and all records for the past 5 years will be in our mailbox in 13-20 days!!!

What a relief!!! Thanks soooo much for the advice!

[Kazulie 132]

My husband's ex girlfriend and the mother of my step children's last name is the same as my husbands. They were never married. My husband says that this is common practice. That when babies become involved, the mom usually just assumes the dad's last name. No paperwork was filed on this name change.

Is this a common practice? Have any of you heard of this? Do you think this will be an issue or do the COs know this is common?

[lucy4 11]

Thanks so much Beejay! My step daughter is 12. I just received, hot off the fax, a letter from her mother saying that she gives permission for her to move to the US with her father, and myself. (She included our names of course). She also states that the daughter lived with him up until he migrated and he continues to support and provide for her. I hope this and some pics are enough.

The addresses in the caribbean dont really have house numbers etc. So basically its like her name and the village, and his and the village. Im not sure if that would suffice. I dont know if his name is on her school or medical records, but that would be a headache just to get them to locate and send to me.

Im going to try with this new letter I just received and print a few pics, and just pray for no RFE. Her name was originally on his K1 paperwork to be processed along with him, so hopefully they will see that in the system. She also applied for a tourist visa a few times, to come visit him and was denied.

[Jamaicagyaldat 1]

Hi everyone. So step-daughter at the NVC stage. Waiting for case number. Saw anothers post and am curious...my step-daughter is coming from Jamaica. Her mother is not living in Jamaica and obviously her dad is with me here in the US. Do you think I am going to need something to bring her out of Jamaica when this is all approved?

My step-daughters birth certificate has her fathers name on it (my husband.). We all have the same last name. We have lots of pictures with her over the years. Still I am wondering since she is a minor if her father can just take her out on the Visa or if we are going to have to get something from her mom. She is currently in the care of the mom's sister in Jamaica, but we financially support her with everything.

Just a thought. Anyone have ideas?

[lucy4 11]

Hi everyone. So step-daughter at the NVC stage. Waiting for case number. Saw anothers post and am curious...my step-daughter is coming from Jamaica. Her mother is not living in Jamaica and obviously her dad is with me here in the US. Do you think I am going to need something to bring her out of Jamaica when this is all approved?

My step-daughters birth certificate has her fathers name on it (my husband.). We all have the same last name. We have lots of pictures with her over the years. Still I am wondering since she is a minor if her father can just take her out on the Visa or if we are going to have to get something from her mom. She is currently in the care of the mom's sister in Jamaica, but we financially support her with everything.

Just a thought. Anyone have ideas?

That sounds similar to my situation, but since the I130 is already approved, I dont think you should have a problem. Just in case though, I would probably try to get a signed letter, or at least have all your financial proof in order. Who is taking her for her interview?

Edited July 5, 2012 by lucy4

[Jamaicagyaldat 1]

That sounds similar to my situation, but since the I130 is already approved, I dont think you should have a problem. Just in case though, I would probably try to get a signed letter, or at least have all your financial proof in order. Who is taking her for her interview?

Well both her father and I were planning to go. She is 16 and we decided to show all 3 years of tax information since we filed jointed together anyway. We make plenty of money betweent he two of us!

[lucy4 11]

Well both her father and I were planning to go. She is 16 and we decided to show all 3 years of tax information since we filed jointed together anyway. We make plenty of money betweent he two of us!

When I said financial proof, I meant the proof because you said that he financially supports her with everything. If you have receipts, or whatever. I would have that as back-up, but you will probably be fine though.

[velrich 50]

Hi Velrich, welcome to the site! There are rules about 'locking' a child's age but I don't know enough to feel comfortable answering your question. Somebody else on this thread might be able to or I would start a new thread here asking your question. There are people on this site that can give you a very confident answer - just not me

Be sure to come back here and update us on the status

Thanks Beejay. will do that.

[peace8 1]

still waiting hopefull soon i miss my family very much

[gdalicia 1]

YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!

I had never even thought Western Union could do this, especially since my husband isn't a member and doesn't have their card!!! I just got off the phone with them and all records for the past 5 years will be in our mailbox in 13-20 days!!!

What a relief!!! Thanks soooo much for the advice!

I was just asking my hubby about this the other night...of course he hasn't been keeping receipts. Great idea, thanks guys!!

[beejay 123]

My husband's ex girlfriend and the mother of my step children's last name is the same as my husbands. They were never married. My husband says that this is common practice. That when babies become involved, the mom usually just assumes the dad's last name. No paperwork was filed on this name change.

Is this a common practice? Have any of you heard of this? Do you think this will be an issue or do the COs know this is common?

for Western Union. Glad that worked out

If using your husband's last name is culturally specific then the embassy might not make an issue out of it but I would try and figure out the extent to which she uses that name to figure out what you should be putting on your documents. Like, is she still currently using that name? When the mother writes her letter acknowledging support and giving her permission for the kids to move what name will she sign with? Does she currently have some form of i.d. and what name is the i.d. in? Which name was used when wiring money through Western Union? In the school records for the kids what name is listed for their mother?

[beejay 123]

Thanks so much Beejay! My step daughter is 12. I just received, hot off the fax, a letter from her mother saying that she gives permission for her to move to the US with her father, and myself. (She included our names of course). She also states that the daughter lived with him up until he migrated and he continues to support and provide for her. I hope this and some pics are enough.

The addresses in the caribbean dont really have house numbers etc. So basically its like her name and the village, and his and the village. Im not sure if that would suffice. I dont know if his name is on her school or medical records, but that would be a headache just to get them to locate and send to me.

Im going to try with this new letter I just received and print a few pics, and just pray for no RFE. Her name was originally on his K1 paperwork to be processed along with him, so hopefully they will see that in the system. She also applied for a tourist visa a few times, to come visit him and was denied.

Sounds good! We had the same problem with kids' address (and when we lived overseas during the K1), we just put as specific an address as we could get and left it at that. It's hard to know what the main focus will be for approving the petition but the fact that his daughter was living with him up until he moved and that he continues to provide financial support should carry a lot of weight so I think you are right not to stress about the school records too much.

Happy filing

[Kazulie 132]

for Western Union. Glad that worked out

If using your husband's last name is culturally specific then the embassy might not make an issue out of it but I would try and figure out the extent to which she uses that name to figure out what you should be putting on your documents. Like, is she still currently using that name? When the mother writes her letter acknowledging support and giving her permission for the kids to move what name will she sign with? Does she currently have some form of i.d. and what name is the i.d. in? Which name was used when wiring money through Western Union? In the school records for the kids what name is listed for their mother?

All of her info is in our last name. She uses my husband's last name. They were never married so I was just trying to make sure this wasn't going to be an issue.

[beejay 123]

All of her info is in our last name. She uses my husband's last name. They were never married so I was just trying to make sure this wasn't going to be an issue.

This situation does kinda concern me but it might be because I am not familiar with Nigeria...and I can occasionally panic about things. Philippines does have similar issues with names because they can get very ####### about what is put on b/c's if parents aren't married and if you add the fact that you can't divorce plus the propensity for nicknames many people end up using 'unofficial' names pretty regularly. My kid's used my husband's last name for their first few years of schooling until we had enough to send them to a fancier school, then the new school requested proof of their names and they had to switch to their mother's last name because that is their legal name. Not quite the same as your situation but I am concerned about the Service Center not being familiar with what is the norm in Nigeria and asking about it. (One of the RFEs we got (twice!) during AOS was because whoever had our file did not understand that the UAE does not have income tax and therefore no such thing as a W2). If that happens to you and the fact that she uses his name is questioned then I think you would either have to document the custom or prove they weren't married. The latter could be done if Nigeria has singleness certs or a marriage index then if RFE'd you could provide one for the mother or one for your husband or both. Hopefully it won't be an issue and it's just me playing worst case scenario.

[lucy4 11]

ooh, I have another issue Im a little curious about. Just wondering about the interview stage. The DS-230 and 864 etc, those forms are completed and mailed back prior to having the interview, correct? Is the beneficiary supposed to have a copy with them at the interview?

Heres my thing, there is no embassy on the island, and they have to travel to another country for immigration issues. I was hoping that her mother could take her for the interview and medical in Barbados. Does this mean I would have to provide them with copies of all my financials etc? Will I have to be present for the interview being that I am the petitioner?