Can I adopt my wifes daughters

[edwardteresa4ever 18]

I Am wondering if anyone has Adopted their wife's children once the kids have their AOS, which in our case should be this summer.

Does anyone have any experience with this. We would like to make this happen sooner than later.

Thanks

Eddie & Teresa

[LA and CF 9]

I Am wondering if anyone has Adopted their wife's children once the kids have their AOS, which in our case should be this summer.

Does anyone have any experience with this. We would like to make this happen sooner than later.

Thanks

Eddie & Teresa

thats actually a very good question, we had been told that we had to wait a year before being able to do that, but i'm curious to know if anyone has an good answer to that.

best wishes

[ppihtr123 68]

Not yet but I am waiting to get them over here! I have started looking into my state's laws on the topic. I am not sure yet if it is best while they are in LPR status or wait for naturalization to complete. IMHO the sooner the better but I am in search when it would be best given their current immigration journey.

[edwardteresa4ever 18]

Not yet but I am waiting to get them over here! I have started looking into my state's laws on the topic. I am not sure yet if it is best while they are in LPR status or wait for naturalization to complete. IMHO the sooner the better but I am in search when it would be best given their current immigration journey.

We are all here in the US obviously, kids are in school etc., etc. Just wondering when we can get busy on doing this, It may very well be independent of Immigration?? We don't want to start only to be told we need to wait and then have to duplicate efforts, as you know our lovely government is all about duplication and nothing about efficiency

[Grant PDX 183]

I adopted my ex-wife's child from her previous relationship. Adoption is handled by the state, so there is minimal contact with the federal agencies on areas surrounding the adoption. The ONLY immigration impact comes after the adoption when you apply for the child's passport. Ours was easy, I've heard if the easy process doesn't work you apply for naturalization so there can be some touch with immigration again, but it's unlikely. I can only speak to how it works in Oregon, but I believe most states would be similar.

In our case, we had all been living together and AOS was completed on both mother and child. We did the adoption after about 2 years of marriage, but I think a year would have been enough. To process the adoption there were two possibilities: post in OUR local paper for a period of about a month, or, have the father sign off on his parental rights. Both are totally legal paths, both end up with basically the same result. Because my wife was traveling to the Philippines during the process we had the attorney draft up papers and my wife was able to secure the signature of the birth father on that trip. That made the process pretty simple.

We would have been fine either route. One thing I feel safe against now is, if the birth father ever does try to get involved, I have papers showing he's signed off on his parental rights. If he is ever able to come to the US, or tries to keep the child in the Philippines by hook or by crook, I can get my child back. While either scenario is unlikely, in the remote possibility that it could happen, I'm protected.

Once the adoption was complete I was able to order Oregon birth certificates for my son. It shows as birth abroad or something like that, but it does have my name as the father on the birth certificate and it is a State of Oregon birth certificate. I can order copies from Oregon just as if he were born here. I sent a copy of his birth certificate and my birth certificate as part of his passport application and he received a US passport, getting citizenship through his parent/child relationship with me. When his mother naturalized later he was not part of her package, since he could already demonstrate his citizenship.

I would highly highly highly recommend adoption, and sooner than later as long as the downsides don't concern you. There are downsides for both parties, and I'd be happy to share those if you wish.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Ah Oregon and Hawaii both do those "after the fact" birth certificates, even if a person is born in another country...

[Grant PDX 183]

My son's birth certificate clearly states birth abroad.. I think most states do the same with adoptions... Including Hawaii

[Hank_ 9,174]

.... are you sure