Is it fair that because the courts in the US will not enforce a Saudi Arabia child custody order a child that is born there is not allowed to visit her America mother in the US before age 18?

Answer 1

If the American mother was a citizen at the time of birth of the child than the child is a US Citizen. If the child is not a US Citizen, and a Saudi National than the mother can try to work with the child father if she wants to see the child. When the child enters the United States, after meeting residential requirements the mother can file a custody case to keep the child or petition. YES! The mother can file an immigrant petition to sponsor the child if the father permits travel.

Answer 2

This is not a question of fairness at this point but more a question of choice. Child custody is a troublesome issue in most countries and the parties should think about their legal rights before making babies. Many of today's unstable, sometimes casual intimate relationships result in the birth of children whose parents are not together in a long term committed relationship. In that case, international relationships are especially difficult when a child is involved. An individual contemplating an intimate relationship in Saudi Arabia must consider their future options under that legal system if there could be a resulting pregnancy.

If a woman has a relationship with a citizen of Saudi Arabia and a child is conceived then she should be aware of the male centered legal system that will favor the father.