My Ex-Wife is living in Sao Paulo, Once she has a job, apartment, appliances, etc.. she wants our sons to come and visit her for a month in the Summer and a month in the Winter. I have full custody of our kids but I want them to have a relationship with their mom.
How safe is Sao Paulo for two young American boys? A few people I know from Brazil have told me about being robbed at knife point on buses and on the street, also you read about horror stories of tourist or people with ties to america being kidnapped and held for ransom, is this a common occurence in Sao Paulo? If my Ex got mad or angry and I couldn't reach her would ther be any help in locating and getting my sons back? (local police or social workers)
What questions should i ask me Ex about where she is living, etc... to find out if it is in a safe part of town? She will be working so what should i ask her about daycare or who will be watching my sons while she is away?
As you can tell I'm very hesitant with this idea and would much rather have her visit them here, till they are older. Any feedback from anyone who has raised kids in Sao Paulo would be appreciated, thanks.
How safe is Sao Paulo for my two sons, 6 and 3 years old?
Completely UNSAFE, but not for the reasons you're thinking about! Please read on.
Is your ex-wife a Brazilian citizen? If she is you should not even consider sending (or even bringing) your children to this country. If your ex-spouse is Brazilian then once your children arrive in this country they are considered only to be Brazilian citizens, regardless of where they were born or what other citizenship they may have, and you may never get them back home again. This country is notorious for non-compliance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and with violating many of its clauses, despite the fact that Brazil is one of the signatory nations.
If she is Brazilian, please read the following postings. I'm sure you'll reconsider completely.
I'm sure that as an American you have heard of the Sean Goldman case... just ask his father David Goldman if he'd ever allow Sean to come back to Brazil. I'm positive you already know the answer to that one!
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=266401https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=284413
Cheers,
William James Woodward, EB Experts Team
Thank you so much for the info. I was afraid of this too. The legal material that you referenced will also help a lot if she wants to fight me on the matter. She is Brazilian and she has citizenship papers already made through the embassy for my sons, they don't have US passports and after what you posted I don't plan on getting them one. This could have been a nightmare! Thank you, thank you!
Contact the US State Department and the passport issuing authority, you can have your children put on a watch list, that will prevent her from obtaining a passport for them.
http://travel.state.gov/content/childab … ogram.html
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