Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    11

    Default Foreign Adoption and Lost Green Card - Steps to Get Us Passport

    Let me lay out a timeline and then ask my question:


    2/08 Wife and I adopt 2 girls internationally (from Liberia, Africa). Children enter US under an IR-4 visa (I believe). Shortly after entering US, we receive green cards for daughters.

    8/08 Children are re-adopted in Illinois. We apply for and receive record of foreign birth in Illinois.

    As far as I understand, at the point of re-adoption the children have become US citizens under the Child Citizenship Act.

    We never bother to file for a Certificate of Citizenship or US Passports for the children.

    6/11 We have house fire and lose all original documents related to adoption and immigration, including the green cards and foreign passports for the children. I have digital copies of foreign birth certificate and foreign adoption decree (scanned in), and am ordering new certified copies of the US Adoption Decree and Record of Foreign Birth.

    My question: What do I need to do to obtain a passport for the children? According to the Department of State I need:

    (1) Evidence of the child''s relationship to a U.S. citizen parent (a certified copy of the foreign birth certificate for children born to an American or, if adopted, a certified copy of the final adoption decree);
    (2) the child''s foreign passport with INS''s I-551 stamp or the child''s resident alien card; and
    (3) the parent''s valid identification.

    Assuming that item (1) is the Illinois adoption decree and item (3) can be satisfied with our passports, I'm not sure what to do about item 2. Should I fill out an I-90? It seems wasteful to pay $450 to get a permanent residence card for a US Citizen. Moreover, there isn't an appropriate classification to check on the form I-90 for residency status.

    Does anyone have any suggestions as to what we can do?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Foreign Adoption and Lost Green Card - Steps to Get Us Passport

    Per 42 CFR 435.407(b)(12)(iv), the documentation required must show that "The child was admitted to the United States for lawful permanent residence (as verified under the requirements of 8 U.S.C. 1641 pertaining to verification of qualified alien status)".

    If you can obtain replacement passports for the children, you should be able to use the passports and proof of the loss (I expect that you have or can obtain a report documenting the fire) to obtain a replacement I-551 stamp from an immigration office.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Issues After Citizenship: First Passport After CCA Without My Green Card
    By user25 in forum Permanent Residency and Naturalization
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-25-2012, 06:19 AM
  2. Marriage: Green Card for a Foreign Military Member
    By bestpilot in forum Visas for Business, Tourism and Family
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-23-2012, 12:26 PM
  3. Other Issues: Expired Green Card, Attempt to Renter with VWP Passport
    By damian_nsx in forum Immigration Issues
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-18-2011, 10:41 AM
  4. Green Card Holder Married to a Foreign Citizen
    By allshades in forum Visas for Business, Tourism and Family
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-14-2010, 08:35 PM
  5. Legal Permanent Residency: Entering USA Without a Green Card, Only My Canadian Passport
    By AllisonDanby in forum Permanent Residency and Naturalization
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-17-2009, 06:32 AM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources