Good day to everyone
I have a question that I couldn't find an answer to anywhere. And I really appreciate if someone from the community can help with advice or opinion.
This year I got naturalization and applied for passports for me and my child (11 years old).
She was born in Ukraine and is a citizen of this country and always lives with me. Her biological father, whose whereabouts I have not known for many years, therefore cannot sign his consent to a passport. He is a citizen of another country and has never been to the States.
I filled out form ds-5525 and a cover letter explaining the details.
After 3 months, I received a response from the passport agency that I should send documents such as:
Court order specifically permitting the applying parent/guardian to apply for the child's U. S. passport; or
Court order granting sole legal custody to the applying parent/guardian ;or
A court order authorizing the minor to travel outside the US with the applying parent.
But this is not logical, because, being a citizen of another state, my daughter can leave the States without any permission on her Ukrainian passport.
What could be the solution? Submit form ds-5525 again with explanation? Submit a request to the court for permission to issue a passport ( where to start, where to go? How is this possible if all the documents - birth certificate, divorce, etc. are in the passport agency? )?
You can wait until she turns 16 and apply without the permission of the other parent. But my husband is active duty in our army and we may soon leave for another country in his service. And I'm worried that then my daughter will have a problem returning to the states, because, being a permanent resident, you can be absent from the country for no more than 6 months.
Thank you in advance
