Where can we meet?

[Bill and Tanya 18]

I am a US citizen and due to child support arrears, I am unable to obtain a US passport. My girlfriend lives in Russia, and we were planning for her to visit me, but her tourist visa was denied (214b). We would like to start petition for K1, but understand that you must meet in person. Does anyone have suggestions as to where we can meet? I have thought of Juarez, Mexico, but as unsafe as Mexico is currently, I would love to hear other suggestions.

Please refrain from bashing about child support obligations, there is no current support order, and only arrears where the biological mother bilked two states for welfare for 10 years before I even knew I had a child - long story.

[Alaska2012 462]

Well what other options do you have? Chose a country where you as an American don't need a passport and where your girlfriend won't have issues getting a visa if she needs one.

Yes you do need to meet in person, and I assume you would want to do that anyway, you want to meet the person you gonna marry before you actually do it no?

[agrabs 241]

You will need a passport to go to mexico - at least to come back to the US

[CHarvey80 72]

Honestly, and without trying to be disrespectful, you should try to figure out what to do with your current situation- finding out that you have a child- and make sure that is taken care of. It's not your fault that you didn't know and whatever happened before can't be changed, but what you decide to do from know on is your responsability. If that kid is your child, then you are responsible for him/ her. Pal, you seem to have bigger issues now that meeting your russian girlfriend and getting her a visa. Kids first.

Good luck.

[BaBamSam 239]

You will need a passport to go to mexico - at least to come back to the US

^This is what I was going to say. Certain states allow for special passes or driver's license to get into Mexico (or Canada), but if you don't have that then you can't get back in from Mexico.

I believe you can go to/from the Caribbean still with just an ID and your birth certificate, though. Someone correct me if that's changed!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Are you currently on a payment plan ? Once you have been on a plan and the support arrears is below a certain level you may ask that the passport restrictions be removed.

[Bill and Tanya 18]

The child is 26 now, and as I said, there is no current support order. I have paid my support obligation since I found out. It is obvious that paying off the arrears and obtaining my passport is the logical route, however, as I do not have the $20k to do this, I am here asking for suggestions where the both of us can meet in lieu of my missing passport.

[Jahwaree 83]

You cannot re-nter the US without PP regardless where U want to visit, there is some kind of pass into Canada or Mexico

from a few states that a US citizen can obtain, call your congress person office to enquire, seem if U make payment plans

for arrears and the child is an adult they would work with you, cant you speak to the childs mother to help get you out of

that bind? If you get a PP you could meet in Mexico, Bahamas,Jamaica ,Antigua or Belize and remember everywhere has crime one

just have to practise common sense when travelling and party, eat, drink in your own hotel at nights, also upon landing in a country

register your where-abouts with your Consulate by calling and leaving your info on US citizen lines ...best wishes bro

[Xanax 349]

Your only option, I believe is to pay the 20k arrears or have your partner try again for a B2 visa from Russia (providing stronger ties to Russia).

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

child support restrictionsaccording to the government you can get your name off the list once payment arrangements have been made.

[Bill and Tanya 18]

child support restrictions according to the government you can get your name off the list once payment arrangements have been made.

There seems to be much misinformation being fed to me from the state holding the enforcement. I did contact them, and it was they who told me that I will not be removed from the list until the arrears were below $2500. I will look more into this and post my findings to this thread. I am sure there are others in this dilemma.

I will also have her try again to apply for a B2 visa. Any suggestions on what are considered strong ties? She has a 7 year old daughter, and has worked for 5 years at the same job. I am afraid I am really new to all this, so I do not know what they consider to be good evidence against immigrant intent, or how to prove strong ties to your home country.

Thanks for the insightful suggestions from those of you who provided viable comments.

[baron555 934]

I am a US citizen and due to child support arrears, I am unable to obtain a US passport. My girlfriend lives in Russia, and we were planning for her to visit me, but her tourist visa was denied (214b). We would like to start petition for K1, but understand that you must meet in person. Does anyone have suggestions as to where we can meet? I have thought of Juarez, Mexico, but as unsafe as Mexico is currently, I would love to hear other suggestions.

Please refrain from bashing about child support obligations, there is no current support order, and only arrears where the biological mother bilked two states for welfare for 10 years before I even knew I had a child - long story.

You NEED a US passport to be able to return to the US from wherever you travel. You and your fiance can visit together wherever she can obtain a visa to travel to, or in Russia itself.

She would need to travel to other countries and return to Russia to show that she will do that, return. After that then she might be able to obtain a visa to travel to the US.

She should begin that process and for you do whatever you can to get a US passport; I don't see how child support requirements deny you from obtaining a US passport but I'm sure there is more to the story.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Get her to get a Schengen Visa (for Europe) and make a couple of short trips to Europe, then re-apply for the tourist visa.

Maybe get a couple of free lawyer consultations in regards to you getting a US passport, since you have a payment plan in place for the child support.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am a US citizen and due to child support arrears, I am unable to obtain a US passport. My girlfriend lives in Russia, and we were planning for her to visit me, but her tourist visa was denied (214b). We would like to start petition for K1, but understand that you must meet in person. Does anyone have suggestions as to where we can meet? I have thought of Juarez, Mexico, but as unsafe as Mexico is currently, I would love to hear other suggestions.

Please refrain from bashing about child support obligations, there is no current support order, and only arrears where the biological mother bilked two states for welfare for 10 years before I even knew I had a child - long story.

You are going to have other problems to care about first.

If your passport is being withheld because of child support issues that is going to be held against you in the filing of your affidavit of support. They are basically going to "deduct" any and all child support owed from your annual income, which could (probably) put you below the minimum needed to sponsor her. If child support issues are casuing your passport to be withheld then there IS an order someowhere and they WILL inform your fiancee of this at her interview even if you have a co-sponsor.

You may want to line up a co-sponsor.

You cannot enter or the United States after leaving without a passport or enhanced drivers license, Mexico would be your only choice with an EDL and then only by ground transport.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Get her to get a Schengen Visa (for Europe) and make a couple of short trips to Europe, then re-apply for the tourist visa.

Maybe get a couple of free lawyer consultations in regards to you getting a US passport, since you have a payment plan in place for the child support.

He can check, but even with a payment plan in place, until the arrearage is below a certain amount (I think it is about $2500 but could be wrong about the amount) the restriction on his passport remains in place.