Where can we meet?

[Robb&Ann 101]

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.

Aware of it or not, if you have an arrears that state hasalso obtained a support order of some form.

[san diego 407]

This is incorrect for Mexico. As a US citizen you can ravel on your DL up to 50 miles into Mexico absolutely legally. You can also return carrying your either Birth or Naturalization Certificate back to US. I traveled back and force into Tijuana and back into San Diego every day just on naturalization certificate as I did not have passport - I was making Russian visa for 2 years at he moment. No problem and totally legal. Now, regarding Mexico: while my fiancee and I were waiting for NOA1, I rented apartment in TJ and commuted very day to work o San Diego. NO PROBLEM. I highly recommend meeting in Mexico. It is extremely easy to get Mexican visa in Russia. I recommend this route.

In fact, before traveling without passport, I approached CBP officer (2010 summer) at the Border and asked if Natur./ certificate good enough to travel back. He said : "absolutely"

[Robb&Ann 101]

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.

The support order is typically considered currently active until all arrears are paid in full. Additionally there is typically interest on arrears.

It is many times also necessary to file in court that the order has been fulfilled.

[Robb&Ann 101]

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.

Typically the state will not release the passport unless the full amount is paid. They can make exceptions and will do so if you can prove that travel is required, such as travel is required by an employer or employment will be terminated. But they will still usually expect a lump sum payment of the majority of the arrears.

[Robb&Ann 101]

Since March 1, 2010, all U.S. citizens – including children – have been required to present a valid passport or passport card for travel into Mexico. While documents are not routinely checked along the land border, Mexican authorities at immigration checkpoints approximately 20 to 30 kilometers from the border with the U.S. will often conduct vehicle and document inspections and will require valid travel documents and an entry permit or Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM). All U.S. citizens entering by land and traveling farther than 20 kilometers into Mexico should stop at an immigration checkpoint to obtain an FMM, even if not explicitly directed to do so by Mexican officials. Beyond the 20-30 kilometer border zone, all non-Mexican citizens must have valid immigration documents (FMM, FM2, FM3 or FME) regardless of the original place of entry. Failure to present an FMM when checking in for an international flight departing Mexico can result in delays or missed flights as airlines may insist that a valid FMM be obtained from Mexican immigration authorities (Instituto Nacional de Migración, INM) before issuing a boarding pass.

This is why they offer the passport card anymore. Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean all accept that card or book. But All require it now.

[Robb&Ann 101]

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.

Even if you meet. You still cannot obtain a K-1/K-3 visa with $20,000 in arrears. Even if you manage get away with fraudulently getting married here on a tourist visa. You cannot sponsor her for a GC or AOS with $20,000 in arrears.

THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO CLEAR UP THE ARREARS (important text, not yelling)

[AmyWrites 593]

Maybe the Dominican Republic?

[Kevo 69]

In fact, before traveling without passport, I approached CBP officer (2010 summer) at the Border and asked if Natur./ certificate good enough to travel back. He said : "absolutely"

They also told a young Marine it was ok for him to take/declare his antique shotgun after crossing over into Mexico.

I wouldn't trust what any border agent or USCIS employee tells you...find out for sure on your own.

[jdba 22]

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.

I think it mostly matters who you owe the money too. If you only owe your EX and not the state you can try to get her to drop it. My son's father was over 15k behind and I dropped it. All I had to do was write a letter to the judge explaining why I wanted to drop the amount owed. It took about 3 mo's to get it dropped.

[san diego 407]

They also told a young Marine it was ok for him to take/declare his antique shotgun after crossing over into Mexico.

I wouldn't trust what any border agent or USCIS employee tells you...find out for sure on your own.

I DID travel back on naturalization certificate at least several dozen times.. It is legal and no questions asked.

[Kevo 69]

I DID travel back on naturalization certificate at least several dozen times.. It is legal and no questions asked.

Just sayin', I wouldn't trust them. You might have got lucky and got an agent that knew the right answer (or guessed it right).

[Robb&Ann 101]

I DID travel back on naturalization certificate at least several dozen times.. It is legal and no questions asked.

Isn’t it pointless to squabble about if someone can sneak in and out of the country?

Say they meet, then what? The support arrears still stops the K-1/K-3, AOS, and GC dead in its tracks.

[Kevo 69]

And plus rules for travel change all the time...could be different now than from summer 2010.

[san diego 407]

Isn’t it pointless to squabble about if someone can sneak in and out of the country?

Say they meet, then what? The support arrears still stops the K-1/K-3, AOS, and GC dead in its tracks.

I crossed the border ABSOLUTELY LEGALLY. Anyone can cross US Border on Naturalization Certificate or with Birth Certificate. You need passport ONLY to travel abroad, not to cross the border back into US. In fact, permanent residents don't even take passport with them raveling to Mexico, only GC! This is the law that you can cross the Border with PROOF of your legal presence. It can be multiple documents mentioned above. US Passport is only one of the proofs.

They will meet in Mexico and can file for K1, this is what I am recommending. He travels on his proof of citizenship (whatever it is), she travels on Mexican visa to Mexico, they meet, file or K1.. What else??

Edited January 3, 2013 by san diego

[belinda63 3,038]

Child support arrears has nothing to do with the ability to file for family immigration. I successfully did it while I was allegedly more than $5,000 in arrears. No questions were every asked at any point in time about child support. No credit report is run, nothing. The only issue is where they can meet.

Being lazy and not wanting to read, have you already applied for and been denied a passport? Just because they say you have a block does not mean they have actually filed the paperwork to block you.