Filing a K-1 Visa with a warrant for my arrest in the Philippines

[jhonster 23]

Yeah. That's what I said. Lol. Do you think it matters if I have a warrant for my arrest in the Philippines for criminal libel while filing for a fiance' visa to bring my fiance' to the USA?  I'm a native born American.  My fiance is a Philippine national. She's working in Hong Kong right now.

The back story (because I know people will ask).  I have a warrant for my arrest in the Philippines since 2014. It's a very long story.  But, to try to surmise, it was caused from my step daughter being held hostage in a Philippine hospital that was trying to price gouge my wife once they found out she was married to a foreigner.  After I paid their extortion bill (30,000 pesos), I posted a negative review of the hospital on the hospitals Facebook. They had an area that asked for reviews of their hospital.  The owner of the hospital who was pissed off at me (because I called the local police on him in the Philippines to try to get them to release my daughter) saw my review and then filed a police report on me for criminal libel.  YES, it's a CRIMINAL offense in the Philippines to libel someone on social media (who knew!!??). Here in the USA it would be a civil issue, not a criminal one.  At either rate.  Since I was not there to defend myself, and the piece of ####### attorney I paid $1000 to handle the situation basically took off with my money and did nothing....they issued a warrant for my arrest.  The attorney I hired was supposedly getting the case dismissed due to improper service.  He basically did nothing and lied to me the whole way.

[KULtoATL 1,551]

So just to confirm, are you petitioning your fiancee or wife? You mentioned both things in the same post so thought I would ask.

 

In terms of criminal background, you'll need to come clean about it and provide proper records when submitting the petition.

[Unlockable 7,315]

Where are you now? Are you in the US?

 

If so, you may be ok. The only thing I see is that they possibly can hold up your fiance's case.

 

Was funny reading your backstory. You should ALWAYS know what laws/rules/customs/etc of the country you are visiting/living. You made the typical American response of "it isn't like this in America". That being said, learn from it and just keep your head low during this process.

[jhonster 23]

10 hours ago, KULtoATL said:

So just to confirm, are you petitioning your fiancee or wife? You mentioned both things in the same post so thought I would ask.

 

In terms of criminal background, you'll need to come clean about it and provide proper records when submitting the petition.

Yeah, sorry for the confusion. I was married before to another Filipina, so I meant to say ex wife.  That didn't work out. We're divorced now.  I'd like to petition my new fiance'.

I remember the i130 process, and that was a nightmare.  Partially because the DACA program was approved around the same time and clogged up the whole system. I remember my ex wife having to get the police releases from Singapore, Jordan and the Philippines because they required a police release from any place she lived or worked.  But, I don't remember USCIS asking for any of this from me.  I live here in California and have never gone back since.  I'm in the process of getting their justice dept to go after the lawyer that screwed me over. And I'll have to deal with the charges now. But even in my interview with my ex, I don't remember any time or place where I had to declare if something like that happened to me. I guess I should maybe ask an immigration attorney. 

[jhonster 23]

6 hours ago, NuestraUnion said:

Where are you now? Are you in the US?

 

If so, you may be ok. The only thing I see is that they possibly can hold up your fiance's case.

 

Was funny reading your backstory. You should ALWAYS know what laws/rules/customs/etc of the country you are visiting/living. You made the typical American response of "it isn't like this in America". That being said, learn from it and just keep your head low during this process.

I was talking to a good friend of mine.  I'm part of a group of guys who are (or in my case were) married to Filipinas and we get together fairly often. My buddy said when he met his now wife, he never even went to the Philippines to meet her.  That using the K-1 process, the 1st time they met was when she arrived.  So, I assumed that this would be a better way for me this time around.....especially since I have this problem.  According to another attorney there, the 1st thing I'd have to do is post a 50,000 peso bail and then go from there. 
I live here in California and have never gone back since that happened.  I'm in the process of getting their justice dept to go after the lawyer that screwed me over. And I'll have to deal with the charges now. Because if this K-1 Visa works out for us and my new fiance', I'd eventually have to meet her family and be able to interact with them.  I'd just rather have her here ASAP and then deal with the details in the Phils. And you're RIGHT!!  And even though I wasn't in the Phils when this happened (I was dealing with this hospital situation over the phone), I had no idea that posting the truth about what happened to us on their FB page would land me in jail!  Who knew that libel was a criminal act in the Philippines!!??  So yeah, I realize now that if you're in country anywhere, you should just be a ghost as much as possible.  Just go with the flow. 

Edited September 8, 2017 by jhonster
correction

[Unlockable 7,315]

If she gets the K1 then it will be one less thing to worry about for the time being. Agree that you will eventually want to be able to go over and meet/spend time with her family so hope it gets resolved soon enough.

 

Good luck to you.