Daughter being held for ramsome

[jim_julian]

We have the 129 package all together and are looking forward a bit to the next challeges. One of them is lao po's 17 year old daughter. Lao po has been divorced 8 years. The first four the daughter lived with her father's mother, he lived in same apartment. The last four daughter has lived with lao po. All school fees, health insurance etc has been paid by lao po for all 8 years. The daughter, by choice, has not seen her father in the last year or so but he still has custody from the divorce.

 

Lao po has contacted him to change custody and get him to sign a notary document that he has no objection to daughter going to America. She would be a K2 follow to join as soon as she graduates from high school (that timing works). He is demanding 200,000 RMB for his consent. (I guess he believes the rich Anerican stereotype)

 

We have contacted some people in the family who work in the courts and they have recommended a lawyer. A preliminary phone conversation with the lawyer states that lao po and daughter can go to court, tell their story, and make a request to change custody and have permission to go to America. The court will then issue a summons for the father and, after hearing him (if he shows), is very likely to rule in lao po's favor.

 

Sounds OK but does anyone have direct experience with a similar situation?

 

The age of emancipation is 18 in China so she can do what she wants when she turns 18 but that throws the K2 into limbo and probably creates another difficult situation.