Oh Dear Oh Dear Oh Dear

[Casey_03]

I have been so excited to move back to the States and getting so ready for everything ... and now it turns out I cannot leave. This is a very cruel twist of fate.

Apparently the U.S. Embassy cannot issue me the baby's birth certificate and passport to travel because I don't have paperwork proving I got divorced from my marriage 10 years ago.

And getting that paperwork would require a shitload of money and time that I don't have. Because that husband has been MIA for years and I have no way to get the paperwork now unless I travel back to this small village in Russia .... which I can't do because my baby cannot go with me ....

 

[Deleted member 28740]

because I don't have paperwork proving I got divorced from my marriage 10 years ago.

What does your marital status have to do with your right to travel? Or the passport for your child?

 

[Casey_03]

I have no idea. But that is what the embassy just told me. Without the divorce certificate, they will not issue the documents I need. They advised me to get the certificate somehow.

 

[Deleted member 28740]

You are an American Citizen? Your child is then an American Citizen. Where does your family live in the US. Have them contact all representatives from local to Senate and Congress to assist you. If you want to privately share that info I will make contact and raise hell.

 

[Casey_03]

Yes, we're both American citizens. The embassy also requires that I provide paperwork proving I have actually lived in the U.S., despite the fact that I am a citizen. It seems pretty absurd.

 

[Ka-9]

Truly sorry to hear that Casey- that doesn't sound ethical at all for them to leave you without any support. Good on you Changelling for your offer.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I am so sad about the this mess preventing you from moving. I hope that you can go to a hall of records if there is one to get the divorce papers copied for you. Please do not give up no matter how frustrating and discouraging this snaffoo is causing you grief.

 

[Deleted member 28740]

School and work records should satisfy and your birth cert. I don't understand this.

 

[Casey_03]

They said college transcripts don't count because it doesn't cover the full year (i.e. I could still be abroad during the summer months), and I don't have work records. I don't have any records; I didn't think I'd need them with a U.S. passport.

 

[Suzetig]

Did you not get a birth certificate when you registered the baby's birth? I have family members who are US citizens born abroad and they got their birth certificate as confirmation of their citizenship through the U.S. Embassy. They do know the ex-husband has no relationship to your baby? So your marital status has no bearing on you and your child's citizenship or right to travel?

Your US passport gives you right of residence regardless of whether you've lived there so I don't understand that requirement at all. Basically you could be deported tomorrow and they would need to allow you residence because you're their citizen.

For various reasons my family has had a lot of dealings with the U.S. Embassy, travel and residence processes and this sounds very far outside of any usual process. It may be worth appealing through the embassy and getting their process reviewed by someone more senior.

 

[Casey_03]

@Suzetig That is what they won't issue me -- his birth certificate. At this point I only have the Ukrainian birth certificate. Without the birth certificate through the U.S. Embassy, I can't get the passport. And i'm basically trapped here.

Yes, they do know the ex husband has no relationship to the baby. They said it doesn't matter; they require a divorce certificate for any previous divorces. It's actually written on their site, but when I first read it I assume they meant only if the marriage/divorce related somehow to the baby.

 

[Suzetig]

So your child isn't a U.S. Citizen?