K2 Child Custody

[madrigaljessica]

Hi...I'm form the Philippines. WE already filed for a K1 visa and scheduled for an interview on the 24thf of Feb. My precious marriage was already annulled and we have included my daughter from my previous marriage n d petition. My concern is we don't have an agreement with the custody coz' we never communicated since the separation. I only communicate with my in-laws. Will they be requiring for a court decision re the child custody during the interview and Immigration? I'm thinking of a notarized letter from the father attached are the valid IDs of me, father and the passport of my daughter and have it notarized...You think this will suffice? please help...I just don't want to have any problems regarding this during the interview and (if God permits we get the visas) during our departure with the Immigration officer. Thank

[angela_ann2002]

Hello again! I think the US embassy is not asking for a certification for child custody, because we were once experienced your situation, they never asked any parental custody from your previous husband, I was annulled too and I've got 2 minor kids. As far I can remember on our first interview, they just asked me a picture of their baptismal record of my kids from the church where they were baptized, and of course we don't have it on that time.. who would thought that will asked for it, so they advised me to provide that pictures and health records of my kids.... they told me they want to proved that they were my own kids, if you can't provide those documents then they're going to go for DNA test... As I've said before you will only need a DSWD clearance for your child in our airport before leaving the country.... So if I were you, I'm going to prepare all those docs in case their going to ask for that, so no more hassle on your part... Goodluck!

[madrigaljessica]

HI..thanks for the info. I will make sure to prepare those documents. U said something about pictures on the baptismal, do i need to prepare those as well or just the Baptismal Certificate? And with regards to the Child Clearance from DSWD? When did u have your interview? Coz' when I called DSWD and checked their website, it says that as long as the child is travelling with one of the parent, no need for the clearance.... So, I'm just concern if this is a new rule of I was just misinformed... Hope I can get some answers about this? And just to verify they never asked any documents from you for your 2 kids on the Immigration? Thanks

[angela_ann2002]

Hi! About our experienced at the US Embassy Manila... I thought I was already provided all our documents as well as I'm prepared in case of any questions or whatever... my fiancee even flew to Manila to support us on our interview date... we were very confident the time.. because we knew everything's ok, all our documents were authentic... our relationship, communications, (emails, phone bills) pictures, his passport with 7x visit in the Philippines, but when we were called.. ( I forgot what window).. the officer talked to us and looked at our papers and he said... I can't give a visa at this time... my fiancee.. freaked-out.. he said.. Why & What" the officer said like this.. " Sir, you were dealing to the most fraudulent country in the world" I stopped him and I'm the one who talked to the officer and I asked why...he said he needs a photograph record of my kids and previous medical record, I said I've got their baptismal certificate but he said no...I was confused then I asked him again... I said.. do you mean a picture form the baptismal book from the church and he said yes.. and he also said that if we can't provide it then we go to DNA, so we left.. we can't do anything at that time.. you need to follow and provide that they were asking... my fiancee left the country without us... anyway, so I went to the 2 churches were my kids baptized, got my cam.. asked their permissions.. the 1st church, no problem but my cam wasn't enough to get the right angle and it should be readable, so I went looked for a professional photographer... but the 2nd church.. I had a hard time convincing the parish priest what I need.... the priest said to get the consul and bring him there..... I thought it was a deadlock... but I never gave up and tried and tried to convinced him, finally he agreed, I called my photographer and took all the shots we need then I went to my kids pediatrician to get their medical records and a letter from her stating that my kids were on her care since birth and she knew that my kids were my own kids, I even chased the midwife who gave birth on my eldest, and she moved in Virginia USA, my fiancee called her up and asked for a letter from her about it....she mailed it from my fiancee and mailed it back to me... so the next interview date ( I forgot again) I thought again... that this time everything's will be just quick and smooth... 1st window... reviewed all my papers, photograph and letters from the doctor.. then she said to wait again to be called... then I was called but it was not to a window instead to a room... one on one to an immigration officer...I was just standing waiting for her questions to ask... but she just kept on looking at my papers... then suddenly she stood up.. sat again.. stood up.. sat again... then one guy talked to her and finally she asked me.. she asked me if what window I was fist called and she asked me how many visa I'm asking... finally I got our visas... This is what I think... with all those experiences at the embassy.. their were looking for some flaws to your documents... even everything were all provided for they're going to look for something......my advice to you is just be prepared, don't be nervous... feel free to ask if you think you don't understand what they need.. be patient too.
About the DSWD clearance... we been out of the country 2x (Malaysia and Australia) before coming here in the US, I provided that clearance I thought it can be used over and over again.... but I was wrong... I ****d/forged my ex-husband signature but going out of the country their took it way from you, the second time.. I've got only a photo copy of that clearance we were stopped and I argued to the immigration officer....because I thought you can used it over and over again and also I said they can checked that we been already out of the country... he allowed us to go so I got another one...this time I have a friend working in DSWD, so I just talked to her and provide me a clearance... You know... that's what they said.. just one parent is allowed minor to travel.... but they will still look for that clearance.... so if I'm were you... just get that clearance to be on the safe side.... a photocopy of your ex passport would be fine to show.. just tell them that going out for a tour not to immigrate.... I hope these experiences will get some pointers for your visa interview... the truth my experiences dealing with the embassy and immigration is like a nightmare... but luckily we already overcome this hurdle and we are now US citizen.. finally.... no more immigration appointments! Good luck and if you think I missed something on all your questions and concerns. Take care!

[madrigaljessica]

ei, thank you soo very much...really appreciate it. I'll follow ur advice... I hope u won't mind if i will have follow-up questions in the future... I'm so happy for you that you are finally with ur spouse and kids too... Wish u luck God bless

[angela_ann2002]

Hello! You're welcome! And I really want to help, give advice as much as I can to my fellow Filipinos who are going through this kind of situation. Sorry if I narrated all my stories, I want people to learn thru my experiences...my husband never thought that these would be very, very hard... Also I advised you to save all your documents, photo copy everything because you're gonna need it again and again until your naturalization is done! Thank you very much and feel free ask and I'm more than willing to help! Good luck!