Immigration Resource
An American Citizen
November 14th, 2005, 12:15 PM
Can an expert give me some advice on the below situation without telling me
to "get a lawyer"?
I am an American citizen. Born and raised in the USA. My wife is a citizen
of the Phillipines who has been living and working in the United Arab
Emirates for 12 years on a work visa. Here comes the problem:
We had known each other thru the internet only since last February. We
first met in person in Hong Kong in August and then immediately flew to the
Phillipines and were married there. She was already 6 months pregnant when
we were married in August and I am not the biological father. I first met
her on the internet after the child had already been conceived. The
biological father was also an American (U.S. Naval officer) who abandoned
her. Now that our son has been born in the United Arab Emirates, I am
flying there to try and get a U.S. passport for my son. I am recognized as
the legal father by virtue of our authenticated marriage certificate and the
baby's birth certificate listing me as the father. HOWEVER.....this is the
difficult part........in order to get my son a U.S. Passport. I have
to fill out something called AN AFFADAVIT OF PARENTAGE AND PHYSICAL
PRESENCE, Proving my parentage and residence in the USA.
On the form it says: "To the best of my knowledge, I am the NATURAL father
of the following children"
My questions are:
1) Can one differentiate between "natural" and "biological", or are they
totally synonymous according to what this form requires? I am the father on
the baby's birth certificate and we have the authenticated marriage
certificate proving that the baby was not born out of wedlock.
2) The form asks where and when I first met my wife, thus proving that
there is no way I am the biological father. Again, I am wondering if
"natural" can simply mean "legal" in this case?
3) If I can't list myself being the "natural" father on this affadavit,
which is required for the U.S. Passport process, then I don't see anyway to
obtain a U.S. Passport for my son and he will be deported back to the
Phillipines from the UAE unless my wife obtains a Phillipine passport for
him. Also, if I were able to obtain a U.S. Passport for my son, it would
make it much easier when I bring them both to the USA. She would be the
only one I would have to obtain a residency visa for.
Does anyone have any advice, ideas or observations that may help me
with this confusing mess? Thanks in advance.
to "get a lawyer"?
I am an American citizen. Born and raised in the USA. My wife is a citizen
of the Phillipines who has been living and working in the United Arab
Emirates for 12 years on a work visa. Here comes the problem:
We had known each other thru the internet only since last February. We
first met in person in Hong Kong in August and then immediately flew to the
Phillipines and were married there. She was already 6 months pregnant when
we were married in August and I am not the biological father. I first met
her on the internet after the child had already been conceived. The
biological father was also an American (U.S. Naval officer) who abandoned
her. Now that our son has been born in the United Arab Emirates, I am
flying there to try and get a U.S. passport for my son. I am recognized as
the legal father by virtue of our authenticated marriage certificate and the
baby's birth certificate listing me as the father. HOWEVER.....this is the
difficult part........in order to get my son a U.S. Passport. I have
to fill out something called AN AFFADAVIT OF PARENTAGE AND PHYSICAL
PRESENCE, Proving my parentage and residence in the USA.
On the form it says: "To the best of my knowledge, I am the NATURAL father
of the following children"
My questions are:
1) Can one differentiate between "natural" and "biological", or are they
totally synonymous according to what this form requires? I am the father on
the baby's birth certificate and we have the authenticated marriage
certificate proving that the baby was not born out of wedlock.
2) The form asks where and when I first met my wife, thus proving that
there is no way I am the biological father. Again, I am wondering if
"natural" can simply mean "legal" in this case?
3) If I can't list myself being the "natural" father on this affadavit,
which is required for the U.S. Passport process, then I don't see anyway to
obtain a U.S. Passport for my son and he will be deported back to the
Phillipines from the UAE unless my wife obtains a Phillipine passport for
him. Also, if I were able to obtain a U.S. Passport for my son, it would
make it much easier when I bring them both to the USA. She would be the
only one I would have to obtain a residency visa for.
Does anyone have any advice, ideas or observations that may help me
with this confusing mess? Thanks in advance.