Notary and Shipping Costs - Nigeria

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Nigeria has earned it's own place in immigration hell because so many have tried to slid through the law. Unfortunately we all pay the price. I have not had to file for children personally yet , but we shouldn't have to as they won't be born until after he is a USC and they won't travel until they are older maybe not until after primary school. We have helped his cousin with their papers and that involved an out of wedlock child and a birth certificate that was ammended when the chld was a teen. In that case there was no DNA. However DNA is requested un about 25% of the male initiated cases through Lagos and even in a couple of the cases by birth mothers. The cases have had mixed DNA findings, which give Lagos the fuel to decide they keep needing to verify genetics.

[Kazulie 132]

Nigeria has earned it's own place in immigration hell because so many have tried to slid through the law. Unfortunately we all pay the price. I have not had to file for children personally yet , but we shouldn't have to as they won't be born until after he is a USC and they won't travel until they are older maybe not until after primary school. We have helped his cousin with their papers and that involved an out of wedlock child and a birth certificate that was ammended when the chld was a teen. In that case there was no DNA. However DNA is requested un about 25% of the male initiated cases through Lagos and even in a couple of the cases by birth mothers. The cases have had mixed DNA findings, which give Lagos the fuel to decide they keep needing to verify genetics.

Thanks for the info!

25% is not bad. I'll take my chances. And I'll try to help our chances by submitting any and all proof of relationship that we have. Oh, and I'll pray a lot, too!

[livindadream 156]

another thing.....there are internet cafe's on every corner in Nigeria and almost all of them will have a system that can open a word document. That is not a problem at all. I've sent documents to Nigeria thru fedex who are usually cheaper than UPS or DHL but there is a minimum of one pound, so anything under that amount is still going to be charged the one pound rate, and from Boston to Lagos, it costs about 80 dollars. U can try sending it thru regular USPS but NiPost is not very reliable.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Cheapest is the US postal service. Use a method that is "insured" and requires a signature and it will arrive quickly and intact. Uninsured can get very very lost. We sent a computer ( 10 pounds) for just over $100 by USPS and had no trouble.

[Dana and Divine 61]

Okay, so now that I have found out that it costs US 50 FREAKING DOLLARS a pop to get something notarized in Nigeria, I'm on 2 plan b.

Our statements are as follows:

Two from mom stating that the boys and dad have a relationship

Two from mom stating residency between dad and they boys (dates and addresses)

One from Kid 1 stating his relationship with dad

One from Kid 2 stating his relationship with dad

Two "quit claim" letters from mom (1 for each kid)

I was going to make 2 copies of each and have ALL notarized but now there is noooooo way in hell I will at $50 a pop. Do you guys think it will be ok to just have the quit claims notarized? And can she just get these notarized the day of the interview (since she has to go to the embassy for notary) or should she do it ahead of time? Everything else would just be her signature. Is this ok?

Would it be ok for her to just sign the other documents and scan/email them to me and when I send them to NVC I can write a note that the originals will be provided on the day of the interview?

Ohhhhh this whole thing is such a headache!!!

Thanks in advance!

Can't the mother of the children take the letters that you have written to the local court along with her passport photo and just have those documents turned into "SWORN Affidavits" signed and sealed by the court judge/official? I know that cost like =N= 250 per document. That's more like less than $2 USD per document. IDK! But my friend (who I will be helping with her paperwork is also going to be going through this procedure...so I'm paying attention!)

[Dana and Divine 61]

Your step children are not pieces of property, you don't sign a quit claim deed for them. If she is relinquishing her rights as a parent that there is a form for that. The biological mother will have to sign an international travel permission form. A birth certificate is the proof of relationship, the embassy is used to Nigerians claiming all sorts of things as far a relationships to get non blood relatives included as children/siblings. Presenting too much evidence in order to avoid the DNA will almost certainly cause them to require the DNA.

If you are sending whatever as word, save down to a lower version to help ensure they don't have issues ( a mistake I make all the time between my computers as they are not all upgraded ) The lower the version the more you are apt to have no issues.

There is an equalivant to a notory but it requires appearing at a Nigerian court and not usually recognised by Lagos ( anything Nigerian is available for a fee) .

"( anything Nigerian is available for a fee)" :rofl: :rofl: you got that right sister!

[Dana and Divine 61]

Cheapest is the US postal service. Use a method that is "insured" and requires a signature and it will arrive quickly and intact. Uninsured can get very very lost. We sent a computer ( 10 pounds) for just over $100 by USPS and had no trouble.

I agree, the large packages I sent through USPS and requested a signature...arrived in tact...opened, but it arraived. Took about a month.

Small packages that I have sent the same way (webcam and some movies) that also required a signature...NEVER ARRIVED!

All small packages go through FedEx now. Period. Documents too!...and you are right, it is about $80 USD or my husband says =N= 11,000 to send to me. Delivery 5 to 10 days.

[Love1 2]

HI, if the documents are to be use in the United states, they have to be certified at the US embassy, US does not recognise any certified copy of a document outside the one done at the US consulate or Apostille Legalization (Not Available in Nigeria). i spend $40 to certify a copy of my passport bio-data page at the US consulate in Kuala Lumpur, as the didn't accept the notarised copy from Notary public previously sent to them. They wouldn't accept court , lawyer, notary public certified copies except from the consulates

If they documents are needed in Nigerian, then its better u certify them over there in the states and send to them in Nigeria through DHL.

[dwheels76 5,468]

HI, if the documents are to be use in the United states, they have to be certified at the US embassy, US does not recognise any certified copy of a document outside the one done at the US consulate or Apostille Legalization (Not Available in Nigeria). i spend $40 to certify a copy of my passport bio-data page at the US consulate in Kuala Lumpur, as the didn't accept the notarised copy from Notary public previously sent to them. They wouldn't accept court , lawyer, notary public certified copies except from the consulates

If they documents are needed in Nigerian, then its better u certify them over there in the states and send to them in Nigeria through DHL.

That will not work in this case since the children and mother are in Nigeria and the notarization has to take place where they can be viewed signing.

[livindadream 156]

My husband said probate court in Lagos is the best place to get notarized cuz they won't add any extra fees.

[memlaura 60]

Like I said, http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/iv/required/documents.html #9. I refuse to argue this with you for even one more post. There is proof right there that it is on a consulate's website. That is not even the site I saw it on at first, but it was the first one that popped up when I did a search for "quit claim". Took me less than a minute to find it on google, I'm sure I could find many more sites if I chose to continue looking. The fact that you insinuate that I think of my step children as "property" disgusts me and I will not go on with this matter after this post.

And a QUIT CLAIM is NOT "relinquishing her rights as a parent" as you suggest above. It simply is permission to let her child under 18 immigrate to the US.

I have ZERO problems with a DNA test if that is the last resort. And that's basically what the rules say....it is used as a last resort! What I DO have a problem with is automatically giving a DNA test just because you are from a fraud country. If there is significant proof, it should be used.

My main goal is to shave 3 months off this process and to save $1500 if it's unnecessary.

Have you gone through the child petition process?

I am not going thru the process for kids and my question is curiousity soley.. I dont understand why they would request a DNA from you to prove that the childrens mother is okay with them leaving Nigeria to come to US ( I know this probably sounds like a stupid question to you) I just dont get how the 2 would be connected you proving they are not your children still does not mean that the biological mother is okay with them leaving... Either way I wish you all the best in getting your family here...

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I am not going thru the process for kids and my question is curiousity soley.. I dont understand why they would request a DNA from you to prove that the childrens mother is okay with them leaving Nigeria to come to US ( I know this probably sounds like a stupid question to you) I just dont get how the 2 would be connected you proving they are not your children still does not mean that the biological mother is okay with them leaving... Either way I wish you all the best in getting your family here...

They would ask for DNA to prove HE is the father . The bio mothers agreement to let them leave is a separate thing . They aren't connected other than by the post.

Edited July 6, 2012 by NigeriaorBust