Adopted Parents

[pixelrogue1]

USA / Philippines

Hello everyone! Thank you for any assistance of direction you can provide. Looking to bring my two uncles hear from the Philippines. My uncles essentially removed me from an abusive family environment at a young age and they raised me. I am very close to them and in many ways I owe my life to the both of them. There was never a formal adoption or any paperwork, I was just pulled out from my family and raised by my uncles. My uncles are now elderly and in need of care. They are also now being subjected to same abuses I experienced as a child and they need to be removed from the environment.

My wife and I have the space and are financially stable enough to support my two uncles. My wife is American, while I am a naturalized American (org. Filipino). Have anyone seen cases like this? I can provide sworn statements, yet USCIS provisions indicate the need for formal adoption papers as part of the sponsorship. No intentions of bringing any 'immediate' family - just the two uncles.

I am here to see if I can gauge a level of confidence if you think we can make a case and bring my Uncles to America. We would not want to dive-in and take on the effort, time and expense of trying if this hasn't been successfully done in the past. Anyone with insight? Thank you so much!!

 

[Zigner]

Uncles are not eligible relatives to be sponsored.

 

[LdiJ]

Uncles are not eligible relatives to be sponsored.

I agree, but they are able to be here for up to six months at a time on a tourist visa. If they really need to get out of a bad environment that is a viable option.

However, the one potential issue is medical care. That is something that cannot be ignored with the elderly. If OP and his wife are wealthy, that might not be an issue. If they are merely comfortable enough to be able to support two elderly people, it might be a serious issue.

 

[pixelrogue1]

Correct, immediate relatives excludes uncles/aunts. They live in a house but once it as known they left the country (even w/intention to return in a few months) my family will move in and take the home (and everything inside) away from them. It would need to be a forever step, or their problems get worse when they return.

Adopted parents are acknowledged by USCIS

Petition is filed to bring your adoptive parent to live in the United States,
- Form I-130 *got it*
- A copy of your birth certificate *got it*
- A copy of your Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship if you were not born in the United States *got it*
- A certified copy of the adoption certificate showing that the adoption took place before your 16th birthday
- A statement showing the dates and places you have lived together with your parent *got it*
https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/parents/bringing-parents-live-united-states-permanent-residents

So are there ways to prove to USCIS I was adopted when an 'adoption certificate' was never issued? Has this ever been achieved? What are the chances this can be successful?

 

[Zigner]

Correct, immediate relatives excludes uncles/aunts. They live in a house but once it as known they left the country (even w/intention to return in a few months) my family will move in and take the home (and everything inside) away from them. It would need to be a forever step, or their problems get worse when they return.

Adopted parents are acknowledged by USCIS

Petition is filed to bring your adoptive parent to live in the United States,
- Form I-130 *got it*
- A copy of your birth certificate *got it*
- A copy of your Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship if you were not born in the United States *got it*
- A certified copy of the adoption certificate showing that the adoption took place before your 16th birthday
- A statement showing the dates and places you have lived together with your parent *got it*
https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/parents/bringing-parents-live-united-states-permanent-residents

So are there ways to prove to USCIS I was adopted when an 'adoption certificate' was never issued? Has this ever been achieved? What are the chances this can be successful?

Considering that, per your own admission, you were never adopted...your chances of success are zero (assuming the system works properly and weeds out such fraudulent applications.)

 

[pixelrogue1]

Uncles raised me, sent me to school..the works. So by my definition they are and always have been (will always be) my parents. There are no legal forms of such an adoption.

Considering that, per your own admission, you were never adopted...your chances of success are zero (assuming the system works properly and weeds out such fraudulent applications.)

This question is posed here for doing everything legal and proper. You seem like a smart legal minded individual Zigner, maybe a layer. Mind helping me understand your assumption of fraud? Some might be a bit more sensitive and take offense ~ and if true it would be made worse coming through a lawyer.

Anyone else familiar with similar cases, looking to sponsor a close (but not immediate) family member?

 

[Zigner]

Uncles raised me, sent me to school..the works. So by my definition they are and always have been (will always be) my parents. There are no legal forms of such an adoption.

That means that an adoption did not occur.

This question is posed here for doing everything legal and proper. You seem like a smart legal minded individual Zigner, maybe a layer. Mind helping me understand your assumption of fraud? Some might be a bit more sensitive and take offense ~ and if true it would be made worse coming through a lawyer.

Lying on the immigration forms is fraud. You KNOW you weren't adopted.

ETA: I am not an attorney, nor have I claimed to be one.

 

[pixelrogue1]

Lying on the immigration forms is fraud. You KNOW you weren't adopted.

More assumptions - no one will be lying on any forms. I am hear to ask and see if anyone have seen cases such as this in the past... but no one else seems interested in the topic so no point droning on about it here.