Consular process + husband child

[54belgo]

I will be US citizen shortly (originally Belgian) and intend to marry a Belgian citizen abroad and do consular processing for him to emigrate to the US. It seems the fastest way to go.He is now Belgian but originally from Tanzania. He has a 12 year old daughter living in Tanzania still and of Tanz nationality that he wants to bring along. How do I include her in the procedure? There are several possibilities. Get her to Belgium first and obtain nationality for her (don't know if easy) but how do I include her in the papers? I am of course not the mother. Do I have to adopt her? If he waits till he is settled in the US, how long would it take for him to get her here? Anybody has any ideas how to do this? thanks

 

[phillyserb]

getting your step-daughter to the US

Hi there... i practically had the same situation facing me not long ago. Keep in mind, this is considered the "easiest", "safest" and "fastest" way. First, your future husband has to get legal custody of his daughter (according to Tanzanian law). If he doesn't you may face problems (possibly kidnapping) if you attempt to remove her from the country. Then, you must bring her to Belgium to go through the interview/application process with both of you - and believe me, the idea of getting married abroad and going via US Consulate is the best and fastest method. From there, there shouldn't be any problems.

 

[54belgo]

consular process+ husband child

Thank you so much for the info. I have more questions: First, how do you get legal custody when you are the biological father? The biological mother is actually already in the States, married to a Tanzanian and on a visitor visa.Does legal custody mean she has to sign papers that she agrees for her daughter to be removed? If she is already in the States, can you point to me what papers? Is there such a form or do i make one up? She would gladly do that, I think. Second, you seem to say that I can bring both of them at the interview to start consular process. But he is already Belgian, she might not be yet (I don't know if when the father becomes Belgian, the daughter AUTOMATICALLY becomes Belgian).Can I bring them both to the Embassy in Belgium if they are of different nationalities? Third, can I start consular process if she is "on her way" but not yet in Belgium? I guess they might need to see her.... I appreciate your experience in this matter!