Living in San Antonio, Texas - From Phillippines - Visa issues - Emotionally abusive backer

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RehtCav

Registered Users (C)
Hello, I love my girlfriend, we live in San Antonio, Texas. Please help us.
She is a legal resident and was petitioned here by her father who is a citizen that has been in this fine country for 10 years. He is verbally and emotionally abusive to Shan. She is at a suicide risk if she has to go back to that house. She's staying with me and my mom right now, she came here on Friday. I'm 20, turning 21 in April of this year, Shan is 18 turning 19 on June 11th. She's been here since June 27, 2009. Me and my mom aren't rich, but we're willing to support her and CAN afford to. He's not a stand up guy, he told her to go back to his house or go back to the Philippines, where she came from. He also threatened to decline paying for her older sisters, who already have their visas but are still in the Philippines, if she doesn't go back. However, even if she goes back he probably won't pay for her sisters. We're certain about that.
She's going to San Antonio College, so am I. She got a 4.0 last semester, is passing her classes with flying colors this semester, never been arrested, no criminal record, never done drugs, and doesn't drink. She's a good girl.
What can we do? I can afford to support her but we can't afford a lawyer. What do we need to do? Where do we turn? She can't go back to that house but she can't go back to the Philippines, she can stay here, but how do we arrange it? how do we make that happen? How do we fight him?
 
RehtCav said:
Hello, I love my girlfriend, we live in San Antonio, Texas. Please help us.
She is a legal resident and was petitioned here by her father who is a citizen that has been in this fine country for 10 years. He is verbally and emotionally abusive to Shan. She is at a suicide risk if she has to go back to that house. She's staying with me and my mom right now, she came here on Friday. I'm 20, turning 21 in April of this year, Shan is 18 turning 19 on June 11th. She's been here since June 27, 2009. Me and my mom aren't rich, but we're willing to support her and CAN afford to. He's not a stand up guy, he told her to go back to his house or go back to the Philippines, where she came from. He also threatened to decline paying for her older sisters, who already have their visas but are still in the Philippines, if she doesn't go back. However, even if she goes back he probably won't pay for her sisters. We're certain about that.
She's going to San Antonio College, so am I. She got a 4.0 last semester, is passing her classes with flying colors this semester, never been arrested, no criminal record, never done drugs, and doesn't drink. She's a good girl.
What can we do? I can afford to support her but we can't afford a lawyer. What do we need to do? Where do we turn? She can't go back to that house but she can't go back to the Philippines, she can stay here, but how do we arrange it? how do we make that happen? How do we fight him?
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There should be several free legal services providers in your area. I suggest that you or your GF contact any of them to discuss her situation. When you say "paying for her sisters" are you referring to their airline tickets?

Here's a list of legal services providers: http://www.justice.gov/eoir/probono/freelglchtTX.htm. These are just a handful in your area and the organizations listed deal with immigration law but many of them should deal with domestic issues and how it will relate to your gf's immigration concerns.

Here's another one: http://www.trla.org/sections/offices/?of=03
 
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RehtCav said:
Hello, I love my girlfriend, we live in San Antonio, Texas. Please help us.
She is a legal resident and was petitioned here by her father who is a citizen that has been in this fine country for 10 years. He is verbally and emotionally abusive to Shan. She is at a suicide risk if she has to go back to that house. She's staying with me and my mom right now, she came here on Friday. I'm 20, turning 21 in April of this year, Shan is 18 turning 19 on June 11th. She's been here since June 27, 2009. Me and my mom aren't rich, but we're willing to support her and CAN afford to. He's not a stand up guy, he told her to go back to his house or go back to the Philippines, where she came from. He also threatened to decline paying for her older sisters, who already have their visas but are still in the Philippines, if she doesn't go back. However, even if she goes back he probably won't pay for her sisters. We're certain about that.
She's going to San Antonio College, so am I. She got a 4.0 last semester, is passing her classes with flying colors this semester, never been arrested, no criminal record, never done drugs, and doesn't drink. She's a good girl.
What can we do? I can afford to support her but we can't afford a lawyer. What do we need to do? Where do we turn? She can't go back to that house but she can't go back to the Philippines, she can stay here, but how do we arrange it? how do we make that happen? How do we fight him?
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You are talking about 2 problems - one is immigration problem, the other is family / social issue. I do not know how to deal with a complex family question like this, so will stick to immigration side - what visa is she on? You said legal resident - I do not know if that is a visa or green card. Can you clarify? What visas will her sisters have? Who has the passports and documents? Are they with him by any chance, or is just his lack of sponsor support you are worried about?
 
I also agree that this case is more social than immigration. Her dad seems to be mad at her because of your relatioship.It seems he does not approve of it. He is disappointed because his daughter run away from home and is cohabiting with you. He is afraid of flying in more of his daughters because they could follow her- role model. Even if you help her through immigration issues, chances are that your marriage, if you ever marry, will have problems due to her Dad's disapproval. You are already planning to fight your 'father-inlaw before you even marry his daughter'!
 
She has a green card and a visa, IV category IR2, if that matters. We are ready to fight him for our relationship, but he was like this before we were together so I doubt that the reason Mufuruki2 gave is valid. I know that most parents are as Mufuruki2 says but trust me this guy is different, he wanted a glorified slave from the beginning. If she goes back to that house her mental stability could be compromised.
Our biggest worry is that she could be deported back to the Philippines by Monday if she doesn't comply with what he wants. With the documents she has now is it possible for him to deport her if he tells the US Embassy that she's not under his roof? I was told by someone that she could change backer but I don't know how.
I don't know about her sisters, we are concerned that he decided to involve them in his blackmail but we decided that she's not a living sacrifice and we'd rather she get deported than go back to his house. But she wants to stay in the US, she's studying to be a nurse, she has goals.
 
Oh and thank you Sunny808. We're looking into the links you posted. Yes, He's holding their airplane tickets. They already have their Visa prepared. We really need to talk to someone that knows about immigration this weekend, I know it's a lot to ask but her dad put Monday as the deadline. Thank you all for helping us.
 
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RehtCav said:
She has a green card and a visa, IV category IR2, if that matters. We are ready to fight him for our relationship, but he was like this before we were together so I doubt that the reason Mufuruki2 gave is valid. I know that most parents are as Mufuruki2 says but trust me this guy is different, he wanted a glorified slave from the beginning. If she goes back to that house her mental stability could be compromised.
Our biggest worry is that she could be deported back to the Philippines by Monday if she doesn't comply with what he wants. With the documents she has now is it possible for him to deport her if he tells the US Embassy that she's not under his roof? I was told by someone that she could change backer but I don't know how.
I don't know about her sisters, we are concerned that he decided to involve them in his blackmail but we decided that she's not a living sacrifice and we'd rather she get deported than go back to his house. But she wants to stay in the US, she's studying to be a nurse, she has goals.
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Based on the information you have given, I don't see a ground for deportation so deportation is the least of her concerns. Your gf is not required to live under his roof if that is what you are concerned about especially that she is already emancipated. I agree with others that it is more a domestic issue rather than an immigration issue and, without addressing about who's at fault or who is responsible, should be resolved outside the immigration realm through counseling or intervention.
 
Really? She's under his petition, he threatened that he could have her deported. Was it a groundless threat? We don't know about the petition and backer options or legalities. Are you sure??? Would you need any other info for you to be sure? Is there anyway he could have her deported?
Shan is from a broken family. She was staying with her father and stepmother but me and my mom are ready to take her in immediately, we're just worried about his threat.
 
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RehtCav said:
Really? She's under his petition, he threatened that he could have her deported. Was it a groundless threat? We don't know about the petition and backer options or legalities. Are you sure??? Would you need any other info for you to be sure? Is there anyway he could have her deported?
Shan is from a broken family. She was staying with her father and stepmother but me and my mom are ready to take her in immediately, we're just worried about his threat.
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Your gf already has her green card and the petition has already been approved. There are no grounds for her to be deported just because things become sour between her and her father. If there's anything your gf needs to know is that she can be refused admission to the US as a public charge. I emphasize "can" because she can still take steps in elminating that possibility.

Since her father is most likely her sponsor, under an affidavit of support he filled out at the time of the processing of her immigrant visa, she (and whovever may take up the cudgels for her) needs to read this article on becoming a public charge http://bit.ly/9B7720. At the minimum, she needs to get a job if she hasn't done so and refrain from getting government assistance. Of course, if she wants to stop worrying about this sponsor thing hanging over her head, she can start applying for naturalization. But with respect to deportation, the chances of that are practically nil, but of course people do crazy things like make stuff up to make another person appear to be deportable, but of course there are laws against that too.
 
I'd also add that her father can't just relinquish his responsibility to be his daughter's sponsor under the affidavit of support now that she already has her green card. I'm not sure if your gf's father can still withdraw his support for your gf's sisters before they enter the US and maybe someone else can chime in on that. He certainly is not required by law to purchase their plane tickets to the U.S.
 
Thanks SO MUCH! You have no idea how we've been feeling the past two days after we heard his threat. She's going to start applying for work asap. Thanks so much for your help everyone. If you think of anything else please do tell me. I wanna make sure our bases are covered, I don't want her to worry about this ever again. Again, I can't thank you enough. I don't know if this is really over but we'll know for sure by Tuesday. At least we have a fighting chance.
 
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