Bringing my daughter to US?

[AngelnSteve 0]

I'm sorry to make a post here, I've read several guides and posts but I'm still not quite clear on the process.

I'm an I-551 holder (Green Card) and have a daughter who is a UK Citizen from a previous marriage. She will be 16 years old in November. My wife is a US Citizen.

What would be the quickest (and obviously legal) way of getting her here with us?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I'm sorry to make a post here, I've read several guides and posts but I'm still not quite clear on the process.

I'm an I-551 holder (Green Card) and have a daughter who is a UK Citizen from a previous marriage. She will be 16 years old in November. My wife is a US Citizen.

What would be the quickest (and obviously legal) way of getting her here with us?

Your USC wife can apply for her as an immediate relative. She is a step-child because you married before she turned 18.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/child

[AngelnSteve 0]

Thank you, the definition of Immediate Relative threw us somewhat.

Another thing, all her info was supplied on the initial and follow up paperwork leading to the issue of my I-551. Can she be over here whilst the process is in place?

Edited September 2, 2012 by AngelnSteve

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Can she be over here whilst the process is in place?

She can visit on the visa waiver program, but she cannot live here until the visa comes through- 8-10 months on average.

[AngelnSteve 0]

Thank you.

Further to this - my daughter is currently living with her biological mother. What do we need from the mother for this progress?

[ceadsearc 516]

Thank you.

Further to this - my daughter is currently living with her biological mother. What do we need from the mother for this progress?

She will need to give permission for the child to immigrate, has she already agreed?

[AngelnSteve 0]

What form should the agreement take? Is there a specific form that needs to be signed?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

What form should the agreement take? Is there a specific form that needs to be signed?

There is not a specific form with a number like DS-xxx. Generally people provide letters that are counter-signed by a solicitor (since notaries aren't a common thing in the UK). The permission is provided at the interview in London so the officer knows this isn't some kind of abduction.

This a a sample travel letter the embassy has on their website. It's not exactly what you need but will give you some ideas of information you might want to include when drafting one. Change US passport to UK passport where applicable. Modify the wording to state giving permission to immigrate to the US to live with her father.....

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-acs/sample_letter_of_consent_to_travel.pdf

[AngelnSteve 0]

Thank you. What would be her likely status in the event of the process being accepted, visa issued and upon her arrival in the US? Would she have a Green Card as I do?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thank you. What would be her likely status in the event of the process being accepted, visa issued and upon her arrival in the US? Would she have a Green Card as I do?

It will be just like your process except proving the step-parent relationship with documentation to make the link to marrying her parent before she turned 18 so she is classified as a child in USCIS terms, rather than an unmarried daughter (which would be an adult and not able to have an immediate visa). She'll get her greencard shortly after POE.