ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Philippinesfilipinas in pennsylvania
You're near the Wilkes Barre/Scranton area, about an hour northeast of Williamsport. I'm guessing there are plenty around that area as there is a Fil-am store there.
jean?billMalePhilippines2011-10-31 18:19:00
Philippinesfilipinas in pennsylvania
Depends on what part of PA you will be living. it's a big state. We live near Williamsport in Northcentral PA and there are many here.
jean?billMalePhilippines2011-10-30 08:59:00
PhilippinesPassport renewal and ROM at NYC embassy
Great information! Thanks.
jean?billMalePhilippines2012-12-19 16:19:00
PhilippinesFedEx to Philippines. Can I ship to pick-up location?

Same situation here.  I shipped sensitive docs to her aunt in the city (with a physical street address) and my fiance made the trip to pick them up.  


jean?billMalePhilippines2013-06-08 05:57:00
PhilippinesLimit of wiring a money outside the US ?

We ran into this difficulting when trying to purchase property several years ago.  What worked for us was for me to transfer a portion of the funds to two of my family members here in US.  We also had two different bank accounts for different family members in PI.  Transfers (through Xoom) went through, funds were consolidated and property was purchased.  Just another option to consider and I'm sure there are more.  Good Luck.


jean?billMalePhilippines2013-07-15 11:18:00
PhilippinesSending Money To US

PNB has a branch office in NYC.  They may have one in CA as well.  We access money deposited at PNB in PI directly through them.  Of course the other international banks will have the same abilities and may be a bit easier.  PNB can still be a hassle to deal with at times.


jean?billMalePhilippines2013-10-01 18:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresUSCIS website case status
Even if it is in their system, you wont see any changes until someone actually looks at. Other than signing up for the email and text alert,which you'll get when your I-129f is aproved (NOA2), the online status update was more aggravating than anything else.
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-08-01 14:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow long???
I sent my I-129F package on Thursday, April 21st via USPS Express Mail. Looked at the USPS website on April 22nd and verified the packet was received and signed for. On Tuesday April 26th I checked my bank account online and saw the check was deposited. Viewed the check and wrote down the USCIS case number stamped on the back. Signed up for a USCIS account using this case number and saw that NOA1 date was Monday, April 26th. Never did get the email message from them. I think because I signed up for an account after the NOA1 was approved. I received the actual hardcopy NOA1 about a week later.

Hope this helps...and good luck
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-06-13 17:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-129f question # 10 HELP
My guess is that it will need to be filled in with the number or you will get an RFE asking for the number. Shouldn't be difficult to find the number though. Start by calling the immigration office. If they don't know it either, they should be able to direct you to the office that does.
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-06-28 08:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresfinal divorce decree question
He will probably need to contact the County Courthouse and request an official copy of the divorce decree. It will (or should) have a raised impression of a seal and something to the effect of "true and certified copy" written on it. It usually only takes a few days to get.

With that being said, all I submitted was the letter I got showing the case number and divorce granted with a stamp of the Judge's signature. They didn't have a problem with it. I have since gotten a true and certified copy and sent it to my fiance just in case they ask at the interview.

good luck!
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-06-28 08:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow much longer till I recieve NOA2

We are in the same boat rftomlin.Our NOA1 date is April 22.I hope we both hear some good news soon.I'm in cectral PA;where you at ?


Hey neighbor...I'm just north of Williamsport...our NOA1 was 4/26...got the NOA2 on 6/17...52 days..have no idea how and was expecting it in late July...cleared NVC on 6/22 and now waiting to hear from Manila. Seems like some are getting approved quickly, like ours, and others with earlier NOA1 are still waiting. I have no idea why and always thought they were done in order of when they were received.

Good luck to all and it will be a great day when you get the email from USCIS. (that is if you signed up on USCIS website for email notification). hardcopy came about a week later.
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-06-27 19:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresinterview on the 27th
hi there...anybody scheduled for interview on the 27th???
let's keep in touch...
id like to have my med on the 18th...so hopefully i'll have someone to chat while on a long wait...:)
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-07-01 03:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresJust Curious about the K-1 Visa Application etc.
If I understand your question correctly, you sent your I-129f package 0n 6/30 and are wondering how long until first approval (NOA1). In my case, our hardcopy NOA1 was received approximately 2 weeks after it was approved which was about 3 weeks after we sent it. It could be several more weeks depending on the workload at CSC. After you get your case number from the NOA1, you can create an account on the USCIS website and sign up for email and text notifications. However, you may never see anything happen until your package gets approved. Once you get the NOA1, count on another 4-6 months to get your NOA2. Sometimes its shorter, sometimes longer. The petition then goes to NVC which could take days to a couple of weeks. Approval at NVC results in your package being sent to US Embassy Manila and planning the medical and interview.

Check the K1 visa flowchart. http://www.visajourn.../content/k1flow and the immigration timelines for CSC and other Philippine petitions.

So far our process from package sent to interview date is 96 days. Some have been faster but many have been longer. You just never know. The more complete your info is the easier it will be but, as for timeframe, it is most likely more workload related.

Good luck in your journey and be sure to get familiar with all of the tabs at the top. There is a wealth of information already here and this site was all that we used to get to this point.
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-07-10 11:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMaybe I Should Try To Call K-1
That's fairly typical...we were in initial review up until the time it was approved for NOA2.You wont see any more action again until you get approved. I had to stop looking, it was driving me crazy. I know with all of the quick approvals it can be a little frustrating to wait, but VSC is still saying they are meeting their 5 month deadline. Which means it could be as long as 5 months, maybe sooner, and depending on the situation, maybe longer. They probably wont even take your call seriously unless you're beyond the 5 month time frame.

Good luck and I'm sure you will be getting good news soon.
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-07-11 18:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures2 years of relationship

I have a little problem. I am communicating with my fiancee for about 2 years. I really want to bring her to USA. I already prepared the K-1 package. I have not sent them because I think there is a problem.

We do not have enough proof of our relationship. We were not thinking about saving emails and stuff like that. I delete my emails as soon that I finish reading them. She does the same. I do not keep too much chat history in yahoo,...etc.

After we found out the requirements back in March, we started to save as much as possible, phone bills, Western-union receipts, yahoo chat, emails etc.

So we only have proof from March onward, and the photos we took when I visted her in the Philippines in June. I took few photos of us, her family, and few friends. And saved all receipts including engagement ring receipt, receipt with her name and my name in the same location, and travel tickets.

Will that be enough or should I forget and not send the K1 and wait a year or so ? :( :(

:help:


hi there...:)
just got back from my interview...got the pink slip...:)
u should be fine, they're not so particular with it...in my case,
the only proof of relationship they asked from me are our pictures together...
showed them two pages of my scrapbook with our pics in it and that was it...no sweat...:)
u can have her print out some of your emails,chatlogs,receipts just in case!!!

goodluck and godbless!!!
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-07-26 22:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTotal overall costs for this journey (K-1)?
the $350 visa fee will be paid when you have set up an appointment for your fiancee's interview...so that's going to be after your petition is approved [NOA2].
the medical appointment should be done a week before the interview.


jean?billMalePhilippines2010-08-08 22:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTotal overall costs for this journey (K-1)?
you need to get ready for the visa fee which is $350 and for her Medical exam at St Lukes which is $213.35...

goodluck and godbless...?
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-08-08 22:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIntroduction and question re: divoorce decree's
There's lots of good info in the guides section and that little search bar helps alot too. Can't say we would have been so fortunate if it weren't for following the advice given here. We prepared a lot for the interview. She printed copies of emails, chat logs, receipts for things i sent, etc. All she was asked for was 2 pics of us together. Better to have it and not need it I kept telling her. She was kind of pissed that she carried all of that for nothing. hahaha

I'm leaving 8/28 to go back over for 2 weeks and she will be coming with me on 9/10. Won't be long now! :)

Good luck with the paperwork. You'll be an expert in no time at all.
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-08-19 21:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIntroduction and question re: divoorce decree's
I just sent a copy of my divorce decree with my I-129F petition. It was never questioned. I went through the trouble of getting a "true and certified copy" from the county registrars office and sent it along with other paperwork to my fiance for the interview. They never asked her for it.

I guess I would say you could try but sometimes they ask for different things. The only thing it will cost you is time if they want the true and certified copy.

Good luck!
jean?billMalePhilippines2010-08-19 19:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisa Denial
Check out our timeline as well...we met 12/09, I visited one time for 2 weeks in 3/10, file the I-129f upon my return to US. We were one of the lucky ones in that our approvals were very fast. We could have done the interview a month earlier but I was budgeting on a longer process. :) I did nothing but follow the guides on this forum. Jean put together a huge packet of evidence for the interview and all they asked for were a couple of pics. Its best to be prepared with as much as you have and everything should go smoothly.

Good luck and best wishes!
jean?billMalePhilippines2011-04-09 09:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresk1 Visa

Do we need to have a new and notarized letter of intent for the interview? Notarized letter of intent letters are not necessary.

Does the divorce papers have to be the original or can it be copies? You actually need a certified copy, meaning you will need to request one from the authority that granted it. In my case, I had to write a letter to the County Recorder in the county in which our divorce was sealed. There was a minimal charge for this but you will then get an official copy with a seal on it.




jean?billMalePhilippines2011-12-17 09:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDuring visa interview
We never mentioned one thing about how we "first" met. The only thing I described for the app (as per advice on VJ) was how we met in person within the 2 year time frame. It was basically a story of my flight over, where we stayed, and flight back with respective boarding passes and receipts referenced to legitimize the story. I believe there is a sample in the k1 guide.

Good luck.
jean?billMalePhilippines2012-01-02 17:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresManila Hotels - Pay by credit card from USA for Fiancee
We used Agoda as well and I had to send Agoda a copy of my credit card since I was purchasing for someone other than myself and would not be staying. The hotel itself did not ask for anything other than the voucher mentioned above.
jean?billMalePhilippines2012-01-04 16:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiancée Letter of Intent-Embassy Address-Cebu
The only embassy you should be dealing with in the Phils is in Manila. The consular office in Cebu is more like an extension office and doesn't process paper work nor conduct interviews.

Good luck.
jean?billMalePhilippines2012-01-15 07:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresconfused what to answer q.11 in form I-134 affidavit of support
Agree with above.

Checked "intend"

Wrote "I will be marrying first name/last name within 90 days of her arrival in the U.S. following the issuance of a K-1 visa. I intend to provide room and board and all necessary support on a permanent basis."

Good Luck and be sure to check the "example forms" tab above. We had a quick approval and most of my answers were verbatim of what was written in the samples.
jean?billMalePhilippines2012-01-28 06:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswhat do i drink before medical

Sorry...Just had a good laugh.  Was reading this aloud to my Pinay wife (Nursing student) thinking she would think it funny too.  Only she confessed to drinking milk every day before medical for the same reason.  LOL.  I should have known since her mother often wonders how we can live in a place with all the vampires...Pennsylvania. :) HAHAHA!


jean?billMalePhilippines2014-02-18 18:11:00