I-130a Spouse has never met birth father

[Tim Davidson 2]

Hello,

I am filing out the I-130 for my spouse, her biological father abandoned her mother when he found out she was pregnant. My spouse has never met her biological father and her only tie to him is that his name is listed on her birth certificate. Her stepfather raised her from shortly after birth and her entire life he has always been referred to simply as her father. Because her biologic father is listed on the birth certificate should I list him on the I-130a in the "Information about Parent 2" section instead of her stepfather? For the biological father for all unknown information should I leave it blank or should I put "unknown"?  Also should I list her step father on the additional information pages?

Thanks!

[Crazy Cat 41,919]

List the biological father's name.  List the info you know about him (biological father)......."Unknown" is acceptable for the info you don't know........

Edited May 16, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

Does her step father appear on any of her documents as her father?  Did he formally adopt her?.........If not her biological father remains her father . ..USCIS and other government bodies only accept documentation as proof.... She can only add in the additional page that she was raised by her step father and enter his name and other details.

[pushbrk 12,910]

Your spouse knows who her father is.  To enter unknown would not only be a lie, but think what it says about her mother.  Provide the known information.  Unknown could be ok about birthplace and current residence, it true.  Since her birth certificate will be required at the NVC stage anyway, why try to hide the truth?

Edited May 16, 2020 by pushbrk

[pushbrk 12,910]

8 hours ago, Sparkle Sparkle said:

Does her step father appear on any of her documents as her father?  Did he formally adopt her?.........If not her biological father remains her father . ..USCIS and other government bodies only accept documentation as proof.... She can only add in the additional page that she was raised by her step father and enter his name and other details.

For this context of US immigration, her step father's information and/or who "raised" her is irrelevant.  This is biographical, not about "feelings".  Her father is who her father is, PERIOD.

 

[Tim Davidson 2]

On 5/16/2020 at 10:23 AM, Lucky Cat said:

List the biological father's name.  List the info you know about him (biological father)......."Unknown" is acceptable for the info you don't know........

Thanks

 

On 5/16/2020 at 10:54 AM, Sparkle Sparkle said:

Does her step father appear on any of her documents as her father?  Did he formally adopt her?.........If not her biological father remains her father . ..USCIS and other government bodies only accept documentation as proof.... She can only add in the additional page that she was raised by her step father and enter his name and other details.

I had to check with her and no he never formally adopted her, very good point. She was originally born in China and when she came to Canada they never knew they could until I brough it up just now. I imagine once the US immigration process is over she will have her step dad formally adopt her as an adult. I will just put her biological father down. Thanks!

 

On 5/16/2020 at 5:48 PM, pushbrk said:

Your spouse knows who her father is.  To enter unknown would not only be a lie, but think what it says about her mother.  Provide the known information.  Unknown could be ok about birthplace and current residence, it true.  Since her birth certificate will be required at the NVC stage anyway, why try to hide the truth?

Yes, I was not insinuating hiding the truth. Simply that when listing father they ask for additional information that does not exist on her birth certificate, such as city of birth, city of residence etc. All of the known information will be entered. Thank you for your response.

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

On 5/17/2020 at 1:34 AM, pushbrk said:

For this context of US immigration, her step father's information and/or who "raised" her is irrelevant.  This is biographical, not about "feelings".  Her father is who her father is, PERIOD.

 

My point exactly Sir... You misunderstood my post

[pushbrk 12,910]

1 hour ago, Sparkle Sparkle said:

My point exactly Sir... You misunderstood my post

I did not misunderstand anything.  No need to enter step father's information anywhere.  It's irrelevant.