Hello crise,,,, i have read all of their responses regarding your concern,,, but based on my personal experience,,i Believe on the saying that "in every rule there's always an exemption" i had the same situation as you,, my child was abandoned by her father as well, but the hardest part is,, she bears her father's surname naipanganak ko p xa and until she turns 1year old I loss communication with her father since then.... I am greatfull and truthfully thanking the visa officer who handled my case coz she/he didn't ask for the court order at all maybe i sent them enough evidences to prove that I raise my child alone. If you want throw me a private message to collaborate with your issues,, kasi I am very aware that it is so unfair for others to suffer and undergo police search to find the whereabouts of their child's father just to have a consent and yet i Just showed them some significant documents and passed tru but i tell u i did so much effort din.