Minors and drug use

[Harmon-y 32]

I put my I-130 for my stepdaughter about 5 months ago. While we have been waiting, I have told her several times she can not smoke marijuana (I got nervous that she kept posting stuff pot related stuff in her facebook pictures) and if she ever has that she must stop immediately. I told her they will test her for drugs etc etc and that if she had or was she couldn't come to the US. But she told me and her father she wasn't smoking. Okay....

So long story short her mom just called us and said she smokes a lot AND lies AND is with an abusive, cheating boyfriend. My husband is at a loss; obviously very afraid for his daughter and feeling like he can't do anything to help (he cannot travel to El Salvador).

From a solely legal standpoint, is there anything we could do to bring her here? I would think no; even if we spend the money to get her to her medical, she will fail. And if she can't stop smoking long enough for us to petition her, she will not make it the one year without drugs required for the visa. I just want to know if we have to give up until she learns to straighten up and fly right?

[Harmon-y 32]

At this point, I am not sure I could handle her even if she gets a visa...

[Angel012110 19]

Well I Feel for Your Situation as my Sister is Very Similar to your husband's daughter but the only difference is my sister lives here. All I Would Suggest is the Mom in El Salvador Needs to get her on A Straight Path for a couple of months so you guys can petition for her and she can come to the US. She might not like it but she will definitely see that in this country she can have a future and her dad will be able to Help her out. My husband is from el Salvador and I know how things are down there. Have Faith and Try to Help her, She Might not appreciate it now and you will go through some ####### to get her here but in The Future She Will Appreciate what you guys have done. Maybe even she stops smoking when she gets here and one plus at least is she'll get away from that abusive boyfriend. Best Of Luck to You in whatever you guys decide!

[Harmon-y 32]

Thank you for your response. Because her boyfriend is a gangster, her mother has told my husband that "she is afraid to say anything". Honestly, I have no idea what she is doing as a mother at this point... I understand the gangs can and will kill you if they want but shouldn't she have thought of that before she let her daughter run around??

My husband called her and told her she has to stop smoking if she wants to come and stop doing drugs all together. So I think we are going to keep moving forward as though it will be okay just so we can show we are holding up our end of the deal and hope/pray that she makes the right decision. She could have a future here and if she choose to keep going down the path she is, she will not have a life maybe even literally. I can't imagine having to make those kind of decisions at 13...

What happened to your sister?? Did she change??

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Your Stepdaughter is only 13 and doing drugs already?

[Harmon-y 32]

Yes - that is the reason I am so worried! She is so young and is already doing stuff that is very dangerous! I guess in El Salvador the teenagers grow up a lot faster - but when I was thirteen I was so crazy Christian I didn't even look at boys! I have no idea how to help this girl or what to say; she is on a whole other wavelength than I was.

[Ryan H 3,834]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Bringing Family Members of US Citizens to America forum.