Answers Needed

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DOES THE US GOVERNMENT EVER GRANT VISAS  TO FOSTER CHILDREN? 

I am a US Citizen.  My fiance and I have a K1 Fiance Visa and plan to go to the US soon, to marry.  We are Philippine licensed foster parents and have a two year old foster child.  We are in the process of adopting her but that will take at least two years.  We are the only parents this child has ever known and it would be severely traumatic for her (and us) to leave her with strangers when we marry in the US.  The US Embassy will not even tell us if foster children are ever approved for travel to the US.  

Does anyone know if the US ever grants visas for a foster child to accompany a foster parent to the US?  The Philippine Social Services Department has said they will give us documentation that the child is eligible to travel with us.

Edited May 24, 2017 by Answers Needed

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

no such visa

[Boiler 46,132]

If this is just a short term visit then a visitor visa would be appropriate.

[Coco8 1,042]

Foster child is not one of the definitions of what constitutes as a child. See here, http://www.visajourney.com/content/child

 

Besides, until you adopt the child, you cannot take him/her to live in another country (I understand that is your question). You should find out if the adoption can move faster. 

 

If the adoption takes longer, you might want to get married and then petition CR-1 rather than going for a K-1. The K-1 takes less time but your fiance won't be able to leave the US for several months once she enters. 

 

It seems you need to juggle a lot of timings. 

Edited May 24, 2017 by Coco8

[Answers Needed 0]

Wow!!  That was fast.  Thank you for your posts.

We understand that my fiance' would have to stay in the US for 6 months after the wedding to establish residency.  We would want to bring the Foster Child to the US on a short term visa and then we would all return to the Philippines after the 6 months.  Social Welfare in Philippines says they will authorize us to take the child to the US for a temporary stay, but we would have to return after 6 mo. to complete the adoption which would be perfect!!!
QUESTIONS
Could we get a temporary visa, perhaps a tourist visa,for the foster child for six months?  
Could we get a visa for 30 days for the foster child and then I would return to the Philippines with the baby while my wife stayed the remaining five months in the US?

We are trying to avoid leaving the child with strangers while we go to the US.

[Unlockable 7,315]

Like said, the only route is visitor visa.

 

Also, you should look into what are the requirements for adoption based on that you want to immigrate the child to the US. How long has the child lived with your wife? There may be a 2 year requirement that you live with the child in the PHL before being accepted for immigration, which seems like you would be capable of doing.

 

Have you considered completing the adoption process before immigrating to the US?

[Boiler 46,132]

More perhaps relevant what are you trying to do? Why is your future wife wanting to stay 6 months in the US? Seems odd and the Consulate may think the same.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

The only option is a visitor visa for a short visit.

 

A legal adoption that meets all the requirements including the 2 years of living together abroad may be required for you to bring her to the US as your child.  Fostering doesn't cut it since you don't have complete parental rights.

 

With child trafficking concerns and you not being her adopted parent, you may find it difficult to get her a passport.  The Philippines probably has control for taking children out of the country.