Got any ideas on this one?

[garya505 2]

I have a friend who has a GF in another country. He wants to meet her in person so he can file a K-1. He can't get a passport because he owes back child support, and she can't get a US VISA to come here to visit. We're looking for ways for them to meet but there appears to be none.

Got any ideas?

[L_n_O 3]

He pays off his child support and then gets a passport? =)

Sorry, don't think there's any other way to get there other than the obvious or a little row boat for himself

[Dan J 277]

Until January 1, 2008, US Citizens can enter and return from Canada without a passport by land or sea. If he travels by air, he has to have a passport. It should be easier for his fiacee to get a visa to visit Canada.

Though he really should do something about the back child support. Passport isnt the only thing thats restricted.

[alexandra8886 0]

Until January 1, 2008, US Citizens can enter and return from Canada without a passport by land or sea. If he travels by air, he has to have a passport. It should be easier for his fiacee to get a visa to visit Canada.

Though he really should do something about the back child support. Passport isnt the only thing thats restricted.

long wait for 2008..Plus, the filipina will also have a hard time getting a visa for visit Canada Visit..

better pay the child support & have passport..

then travel in other asian country like thailand..hongkong is good too..

[pushbrk 12,876]

I have a friend who has a GF in another country. He wants to meet her in person so he can file a K-1. He can't get a passport because he owes back child support, and she can't get a US VISA to come here to visit. We're looking for ways for them to meet but there appears to be none.

Got any ideas?

Yes, pay the back child support first. What are we, children here? He's going to spend thousands on travel and the visa process instead of taking care of his kids? Not with help from me. Not sorry.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Substitue travel and new wife expenses before past child payments let him be the man and dad first then move on to new adventures...

[Queen Jenn 0]

Yeah, really. Take care of the kids you've got before you go trotting off to a foreign country to spend money on a new girlfriend. Maybe he'll have to learn PATIENCE and wait until he has enough money to pay the child support and then get a passport. I agree it's going to be difficult for the filipina to get to Canada. Or anywhere for that matter. It's just a tough place for a person to get a travel visa.

DUDE - PAY THE CHILD SUPPORT!!!!!!

[K.Robert 0]

I just delt with this myself.

I am paying current child support plus 20% on arrearages or past due child support

My past due was quite large and a hold was placed on my passport renewal.

As I understand the law anyone owing more than $2500.00 in past due child support has his or her social sent to Dept of Family Services.

Dept of State runs a check against the list and will not issue or re-new if your social is on the list.

The intention of the law was to serve as a collection remedy for those who do not pay child support.

The idea being if your not paying child support and want a passport you need to make "suitable" arrangements with your county child support enforcement agency.

The problem is that anytime your past due goes over $2500.00 your social gets sent to Dept of Health Human Services AUTOMATICALLY and your county child support enforcement agency must release it at the county and state level before it is released at the federal level.

This is one PITA.

To further complicate things some (my) county enforcement agencies require a lare or complete payoff of the back support.

This is not in keeping with the intention of the federal law, but this is whats happening.

What I did was have work give me a letter that a valid passport was required for my job and then had my attorney present the letter to the Child Support Enforcement Agency.

It took 4 weeks to clear everything up.

My advise is work through a attorney.

If you friend is paying current support plus xx% in past due support the attourney should be able to reach an agreement with the Child Support Agency.

If your friend is not paying child support than shame on him.

There is also a box on the 129f where you can explain why you have not been able to meet in person. In theory being denied a passport would not be cause to deny a 129f petition.

Edited May 30, 2007 by K.Robert

[L_n_O 3]

Edited May 30, 2007 by liz_legend

[garya505 2]

Yeah, really. Take care of the kids you've got before you go trotting off to a foreign country to spend money on a new girlfriend. Maybe he'll have to learn PATIENCE and wait until he has enough money to pay the child support and then get a passport. I agree it's going to be difficult for the filipina to get to Canada. Or anywhere for that matter. It's just a tough place for a person to get a travel visa.

DUDE - PAY THE CHILD SUPPORT!!!!!!

Well, we all know he should pay off the child support first, but that wasn't the question was it? The the overdue child support was from many years ago, and due to a lot of financial problems over the years he just never was able to pay it off before. He's paying it down now but it's a large amount and it will probably take him like 2 or 3 years to finish paying it off. Do you think his GF will wait that long?

So, back to the original question. How can they meet?

Until Jan 1, 2008 US citizens can go to Mexico and Canada without a passport, right? Can a Philippine citizen get a tourist VISA to Mexico?

How about any other US territories? Puerto Rico?

[Dan J 277]

Yeah, really. Take care of the kids you've got before you go trotting off to a foreign country to spend money on a new girlfriend. Maybe he'll have to learn PATIENCE and wait until he has enough money to pay the child support and then get a passport. I agree it's going to be difficult for the filipina to get to Canada. Or anywhere for that matter. It's just a tough place for a person to get a travel visa.

DUDE - PAY THE CHILD SUPPORT!!!!!!

Well, we all know he should pay off the child support first, but that wasn't the question was it? The the overdue child support was from many years ago, and due to a lot of financial problems over the years he just never was able to pay it off before. He's paying it down now but it's a large amount and it will probably take him like 2 or 3 years to finish paying it off. Do you think his GF will wait that long?

So, back to the original question. How can they meet?

Until Jan 1, 2008 US citizens can go to Mexico and Canada without a passport, right? Can a Philippine citizen get a tourist VISA to Mexico?

How about any other US territories? Puerto Rico?

A US territory will likely have the same requirement to get in as any US state.

Assuming his fiancee can get a visa, meeting in Canada, or Mexico is the best bet. I don't know what it takes for a citizen of the Philippines to get a visa to Mexico or Canada, but I would guess that its a bit easier than getting a visa for the US. Though your friend has to travel by car, as airlines already require a passport.

[TimsDaisy 0]

Yeah, really. Take care of the kids you've got before you go trotting off to a foreign country to spend money on a new girlfriend. Maybe he'll have to learn PATIENCE and wait until he has enough money to pay the child support and then get a passport. I agree it's going to be difficult for the filipina to get to Canada. Or anywhere for that matter. It's just a tough place for a person to get a travel visa.

DUDE - PAY THE CHILD SUPPORT!!!!!!

Well, we all know he should pay off the child support first, but that wasn't the question was it? The the overdue child support was from many years ago, and due to a lot of financial problems over the years he just never was able to pay it off before. He's paying it down now but it's a large amount and it will probably take him like 2 or 3 years to finish paying it off. Do you think his GF will wait that long?

So, back to the original question. How can they meet?

Until Jan 1, 2008 US citizens can go to Mexico and Canada without a passport, right? Can a Philippine citizen get a tourist VISA to Mexico?

How about any other US territories? Puerto Rico?

Will the GF wait that long? Well, are they meant to be together? Are they in love? Yes, perhaps they can't find out until they are together in person, but your first post implied that the meeting was SO - as in the specific purpose of it was - to file the K1, which means they are engaged already, right? What if the papers get stuck in admin processing? What if some other law gets passed a-la-IMBRA that slows everything to a halt (god forbid)? He should probably find out if his GF will wait that long or not. It isn't inconceivable that something goes wrong and messes things up. It is rare - but it DEFINITELY happens.

And while your question was not specifically directed at the child support issue, we aren't going to be overly-academic here when the big roadblock IS the child support issue!

If your questions are about the immigration laws of OTHER countries (not the US), then you may only get limited help here. You can try the regional forum specific to Phils/Mexico/Canada, but chances are, VJ - focused on the US system - won't get you (your friend) the exact help needed.

US territories are going to count the same. Puerto Rico won't let the fiance slip in with out a visa.

Sorry you were disappointed with the responses here, but they were honest and most likely accurate at this point, based on the information you gave.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Do you think his GF will wait that long? not being rude but arent alot of us waiting this long? theres some in MENA that are already married and waiting this long....

[KarenCee 3]

What I did was have work give me a letter that a valid passport was required for my job and then had my attorney present the letter to the Child Support Enforcement Agency.

It took 4 weeks to clear everything up.

My advise is work through a attorney.

There is also a box on the 129f where you can explain why you have not been able to meet in person. In theory being denied a passport would not be cause to deny a 129f petition.

Two things here...

One: Obtaining a passport for WORK is a different kettle of fish. Sounds like advice on ways to circumvent the law regarding passport renewals and child support back payment so he can use the passport to go meet the GF. I'm not so sure I'd advise anyone to do that cause don't you think the passport will be flagged or something because of the CS non payment issue? I do think advising this dude to speak with an attorney is a good idea.

Second: The USCIS isn't going to care one bit that you weren't able to renew the passport due to child support back payments. The petition WILL most certainly be denied. This is NOT a case for a hardship waiver, allowing one to waive the 2 yr meeting requirement.

Just MHO

Edited May 30, 2007 by KarenCee

[Minya's wife 24]

Just going one step further here, but wouldn't the back child support issue come up during the I-129F adjudication process? If not at USCIS, but perhapst ad the NVC? And if the issue comes up somewhere in the process....the petition/visa may be denied due to that. (I mean the financial status of the petitioner is brought up at the consulate stage because of the I-134, where child support obligations are reflected in on the IRS tax forms at least.)

-P