I wonder what the possibility is of my adopting the 22-year-old adult daughter of my Russian fiancé after we are married. Does anyone know if this is possible? Does she have to be in a US courtroom to be adopted or can her interest be carried forward by proxy or with a Power of Attorney. If she can be adopted, so she becomes my legal child, would this place her on a priority immigration list as a child of an American citizen?
I asked a similar question over a year ago, Frank.
The attorney said the inmmigration authorities do not like to approve these cases.
The reasoning behind it is this:
Adoption is considered a formal assumption of dependency...parental and financial dependency until the adoptee is grown, educated and hopefully prepared to lead his/her own life.
A 22 year old person is no longer considered a dependent child.
By most US standards, kids over 21 already lead lives of their own.
Check with an inmigration legal specialist, but I'd not keep hopes too high.
I'd also check the possibility to sponsor her as a student, as well.
Good luck