ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
National Visa Center (Dept of State)K1 NOA2 received 3/27, NVC still has no record
Whew. I contacted my congressman and days later, my file was found and sent to Manila. Salamat sa dios! Now I'm waiting for my gah to receive his package. Thanks everyone!
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-05-21 20:43:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)K1 NOA2 received 3/27, NVC still has no record
I wanted to ask for advice. I filed a K1 visa for my fiance in the Philippines last October, received NOA1 October 27, 2011 and received a hard copy of NOA2 March 27, 2012. We still have heard nothing. I e-mailed NVCinquiry and received a reply saying they have no record of my file. I also called and the gentleman I talked to said there is no record of NVC receiving my file. He advised me to scan and e-mail a copy of NOA2 to NVCresearch@state.gov, which I did last Monday, May 7 and I have still not heard anything back. Supposedly, it only takes 1-2 weeks for the file to reach the foreign embassy (Manila in our case), but I am reaching almost 2 months with nothing. We really would like to get married...we've been together nearly 5 years, engaged well over a year.

My family member advised me to contact my congressman, but what shall I write or send him? Will that really help? Thanks in advance for the advice.
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-05-12 21:51:00
PhilippinesAdvice for Last Visit to PH Before Marriage?

Well baliktad is the word that comes to mind. :unsure: :blush: But no problem, and you guys met in person before falling in love. So it should be smooth sailing.

baliktad indeed haha the tables have turned :thumbs:
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-01-14 15:58:00
PhilippinesAdvice for Last Visit to PH Before Marriage?
Just so you guys know...my fiance is a man. I'm a woman. I know it's pretty rare for a woman to file a K1 petition a Pinoy guy, but that's our situation (check out our picture). Hey, I figure we'll probably get interrogated and doubted less than some of the men bringing Filipinas do. Just a brief correction. Janjan is a he =)

Am I the only woman on her who filed a K1 visa for a Filipino guy?
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-01-13 08:15:00
PhilippinesAdvice for Last Visit to PH Before Marriage?

Bring any documents needed from you (tax transcripts, i-134, letter of employment, paystubs, letter of intent, copy of passport being USC, etc.). Don't sign the i-134/letter of intent until right before you return to the US so it'll be up to date if the information on it is still correct. If the interview is too far away from the other documents it's easy to send them however. If interview is right around the time you're there anyway, then you're good to go and won't be in a time crunch.

As somebody mention, pictures : ) Evidence of ongoing relationship needs to be brought to the interview.



Thanks so much! I figured I would need employment/tax stuff but wasn't too sure. I'm not at all worried about evidence of ongoing relationship though...I lived there for 3 years as a Peace Corps volunteer, I came home last May 2011, we talk every day, and I'm going back in March 2012. We have a LOT of evidence that our relationship is legitimate. I just can't wait to be together and married so we can move on with our lives! We both feel stuck in a rut waiting!
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-01-12 21:36:00
PhilippinesAdvice for Last Visit to PH Before Marriage?
Hi Everyone! I am going to the Philippines (Bacolod) March 15-April 30 to see palangga ko. This will probably be the last time I go to the Philippines before, god-willing, our visa is approved. We filed the I-129f in October, so I am hoping that we will hear something in the next month or two about our NOA2 and interview. Ideally, the interview can take place while I'm there.

I was wondering if any of you had any advice about paperwork I should prepare in advance and bring with me so we are ready for the next steps...the interview, medical, etc. While there, we are also planning to have a religious ceremony for his family and friends, since they will be unable to attend our wedding in the US. Any feedback or advice? Anyone else hoping to have their interviews during the same time period? Good luck and God bless to everyone who is or has waited for approval!
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-01-12 12:54:00
PhilippinesTiming Medical & Interview Appointment
Is CFO done before or after the interview, or does it matter? Is it offered in Bacolod or only in Manila? Is there an associated fee? How many days is it? I had not heard of it before, so sorry for all the questions.

So you all think my fiance will be okay to fly up to Manila for, say, one week to do his medical and interview? Then he'll go home to Bacolod to wait for his passport, wrap up stray ends, and have his despedida before flying back to Manila and out to the US.
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-05-14 21:05:00
PhilippinesTiming Medical & Interview Appointment
Hi all! We have received our Manila case number and are looking to schedule my fiance's medical and interview, but need advise on the timing. My fiance lives in Bacolod, so he will need to fly up to Manila for the medical and interview. I know that the medical results are forwarded to the embassy, so we were wondering how many days does it take? Would it be possible, for example, for him to do both the medical and the interview on one trip to Manila? Fly up on Sunday, do the medical stuff on Monday and schedule the interview that same week? Or will he need to fly up twice several weeks apart? Also, how many days should the medical take? Only one or do you have to come back one or two days later to read a skin test or something? Thank you!
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-05-14 18:17:00
PhilippinesManila DENIES K1 co-sponsors

Since it seems it might take some time before you can arrange a wedding in PH, I think Tahoma and Hank have the right idea, it might be time to put up a little fight with the embassy. What did the CO say to your fiancé about your co-sponsor? Did he get a 221g? What did it say? How much was your fiancé able to talk about your financial situation i.e. living in PH as peace corp volunteer, returned to US to find work, currently in school etc.? As Tahoma and Hank said have your mother fill out the I-864 as soon as possible and try and submit that to the embassy. I think it wouldn't hurt to have you fill out one as well and include your most current pay stubs.


Read Tahoma's post again, it seems to be your best bet. Use the weekend to gather everything. Is your fiancé still in Manila? Is he doing ok?


Thanks everyone for advice and feedback! I appreciate it so much. My fiance was issued a form saying he needs to submit proof of current sustained income, which I don't necessarily have. I am employed, but I am not working a regular schedule since I am in school full time (I'm in kind of a contingent position where I can work whenever I'm willing and able), so I don't have recent pay stubs that would help fulfill that requirement. My fiance is a very traditional Filipino in that he won't stand up to authority. When the CO said he needed current pay stubs, my fiance said, "Oh, her mother is wiling to act as a co-sponsor, and I have her documentation here" but the CO waved the package aside and said that they do not accept co-sponsors for the K1 visa. He didn't even touch or look at the documents from my co-sponsor. My fiance then felt crushed and did not go on to tell the CO to look further at my documents, which included pay stubs up through April, my tax return, my close of service letter from Peace Corps, and a letter from me discussing that I am in school and will have great earning potential next year after graduation. I will have my mom fill out an I-864. We have both already filled out the I-134. I know some people are saying it's a good idea, some say it's bad to transfer assets to my name, but my family is willing to give me cash to increase my bank accounts if it will help...anything to ensure that the visa is not denied. The bottom line is the government wants to know he will not become a public charge. He absolutely will not. I just need to figure out how to prove that to the while my income is currently pretty low...
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-06-23 20:06:00
PhilippinesManila DENIES K1 co-sponsors

Really sorry to hear this Becky. It may mean more time apart but it's a delay not an end. Are you able to get time off and return to the Philippines anytime soon?


I just went to the Philippines in March and I'm finishing a very intense accelerated nursing program at Hopkins right now so I definitely won't be able to go back to the Philippines before next August. Even if I could go there and we married, wouldn't it mean starting this horrible process all over again with a spouse visa, spending more money, and waiting another 9 months to possibly be denied again for financial reasons? Unfortunately, it seems that no option is a good option right now.
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-06-22 06:29:00
PhilippinesManila DENIES K1 co-sponsors

Marry then.

Hardly news.


Yeah, just trying to clarify for everyone out there wondering about co-sponsors. It's one of those things that is constantly being tossed back and forth and nobody really knows. Every says "I've heard", so I thought I should offer first-hand proof that they do not accept co-sponsors, even under unique circumstances.
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-06-21 22:28:00
PhilippinesManila DENIES K1 co-sponsors
I had searched and read about Manila and co-sponsors and there never seemed to be any definite answer as to whether or not they accept them. Here is the definite response: NO. My fiance went today to his interview for a K1 visa and was told they do not accept co-sponsors for K1 visas. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer there for 3 years, came home last May, started working in July while attending nursing school. My income is below 125%. My mother has a significant income and properties totaling nearly $1 million. They would not accept the co sponsor. Now our dreams are crushed. We've been together 4 years, engaged over 14 months. THEY DO NOT ACCEPT CO SPONSORS FOR K1 VISAS.
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-06-21 22:02:00
PhilippinesFollow up/wait time after 221g
Hi there! My fiance interviewed for his K1 visa in Manila on June 22, 2012. Everything went well, but the last CO issued a 221g which said we need to submit proof of current sustained income. They kept all of his other paperwork and his passport. I compiled appropriate documents and my fiance sent them via 2GO about 4 weeks ago. We never received any letter, e-mail, or other notification that they received the documents and/or are reviewing them. My fiance went to 2Go, where he was able to confirm that it was delivered, but we still received no word from the Embassy. Does anyone have any idea how long we will have to wait or how we can find out what's going on? We've been in this process a while and it's getting tiresome. On the embassy website, it says if you were issued a 221g, do not contact us...wait for us to contact you. Okay...but it seems that we at least deserve confirmation that the papers are being looked at by someone. Advice? Similar experiences?
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-08-23 20:05:00
PhilippinesMedical and Interview all in one week?

hello vjyers i am about to schedule my interview this week and planning the trip to Manila, i just wanna ask if my interview falls on a friday can i do my medical on the monday and tuesday on the same week? I live in Mindanao in the province of Davao specifically and making 2 trips isnt very practical that's why i want to know if that is ok.. thank you so much :)



Hi there! My fiance is from Bacolod, so we had the same situation -- no need to waste time and money going twice. We scheduled his interview for a Friday and he completed his medical on Monday and Tuesday. I would recommend flying up Sunday, doing medical on Monday/Tuesday, doing the CFO counseling Wednesday or Thursday, and interviewing on Friday. That way if there is any additional testing needed related to your medical you can do it Wed/Thursday...or enjoy greenhills! Good luck!
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-09-12 22:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA2 FROM USCIS
We got our NOA2 March 27. I e-mailed NVCINQUIRY@state.gov about a week ago and never received a response. I just called the 607 number and was told my case number is not showing up in the system and to scan and e-mail a copy of my NOA2 to nvcresearch@state.gov. Nothing like getting this far and having your case stall and/or disappear from their "system"...
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-05-07 20:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures221G - need to involve NVC?

you're done dealing with NVC you have to reply/answer the 221g at USEM


Ok, that's what I thought. I can't help but wonder WHY this immigration lawyer recommended sending it to both the embassy and NVC...he's supposed to know this system inside out, but he seems a bit clueless. Visajourney seems to be better than any immigration lawyer =)
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-07-05 20:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures221G - need to involve NVC?
So, my fiance had his interview a few weeks ago. It was refused and he was issued a 221g stating that I need to send proof of current sustained income. The CO told my fiance to just mail the requested documents to the embassy via 2GO, but I was told by a family friend (an immigration lawyer) that I need to send the documents through the NVC as well. He sent the following message to me:

"It seems that the reason the Embassy or the Consulate refused to look at the papers Jan brought is that they are ONLY allowed to consider what they receive, as approved, by the National Visa Center. You need to correct the situation with the NBC and they will direct the Consulate in Manila. The Visa Center is no out of the game and this information DOES go directly to the US Consulate. You must earn a minimum of $28,000.00 per year or your co-sponsor must earn a minimum of $35,000.00 per year if there are no other 'household members'..."

Anybody else have advice or knowledge about this? I figured I could just mail the paperwork to my fiance who could send it to the embassy via 2GO. Involving the NVC does not seem necessary since they already forwarded the case to Manila and he already had his interview, where they kept all of his paperwork and his passport.

It is slightly more complicated since I am finished a nursing program and am only employed part time. My income last year showed $9500 because I was living in the Philippines until June, so I only worked in the US from July on. I have savings of approximately $68k. One of the savings accounts has 60k in it, but it is a joint account with a family member of mine. Originally, I did not list this account on my I-134 because it was included with the family members documents which we tried to submit as a co-sponsor. We were told "Manila does not accept co-sponsors for the K1 visa" and the CO did not look at any of those documents, so it appears that I only had income of $9500 and savings of $8k last year.

I am not planning to send a letter from myself and my cosponsor (whom I share the account with), I-864 from my and from my co-sponsor, a letter from my employer, a letter from my school showing my graduation date of July 17 2013, projected income for RN, job outlook for RN, tax returns, and copies of my bank accounts including joint accounts. What are my chances here?
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-07-05 20:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresa few questions before i send out the I-129..some specific to the Philippines
2. Besides the 340$ app fee and the Aos fee,, Does anyone know what other fees i will encounter? My fiancee is in the Philippines.. whats the fee for med clearance? fee for her visa app? any others?
-You will need to pay for the medical and CFO counseling fee. I can't remember the exact price of the medical, but I think it was about $225 payable in pesos at the current exchange rate. FYI this fee INCLUDES any vaccinations she is missing, so do not have her pay to have those done in advance. She will need to do CFO counseling, which is required to leave the Philippines. The fee is currently about 600 pesos, payable in pesos. Other than that, just the cost of travel and lodging until she gets to the US.

3. My fiancee lives in a remote mt area 40 miles from Bacolod, she is living in a boarding house with no mail access.. If she gets a mailbox at the post office in bacolod, will that be acceptable to immigration or will they insist on a residential address.. I'm concerned about how unreliable the postal system is there, especially with sending all of my original documents to her.. any suggestions?
-My fiance is in Bacolod City, and the mail is still unreliable. As others have said, do NOT use the USPS. Use FedEx. I paid nearly $60 to send paperwork overnight via USPS and it didn't arrive for 2 weeks. I paid $55 extra for nothing. FedEx is also expensive, but at least it's reliable.

Edited by beckyo, 05 July 2012 - 08:02 PM.

beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-07-05 20:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCo-Sponsor Question - Need some other opinions
Speaking from personal experience: Manila does not really accept co-sponsors for K1 visas. I have a part-time job as a CNA, I am attending nursing school. My income last year was slightly below the requirements. My fiance was told at the interview they do not accept co-sponsors for K1 visas and that I would have to prove I have the proper income to support him if the visa is to be approved. As many other people suggested, do NOT quit your job and do NOT expect the Manila embassy to even look at or consider any co-sponsor papers, letters, or financial documents. You will almost certainly get a straight denial or a 221g if you do either of those two things.

Edited by beckyo, 24 July 2012 - 06:24 PM.

beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-07-24 18:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCo-sponsorship for K1 visa

If both parents are willing, no harm in bring two I-864s from each co-sponsor. Extra ammo does not hurt when it come to Manila, even though as of late they have been very good with allowing co-sponsors.



I'm just curious why you say "as of late they have been very good with allowing co-sponsors" because from my personal experience and discussions with several other people in my situation, that is not true. I didn't move back to the US until last May and didn't get a job until July, so my income was low. I tried the joint-sponsor route and here I am still in Administrative Review. My fiance was told at the interview by the CO, "we do not accept joint sponsors for K1 visas" and he was given 221g for proof of current sustained income. We sent more paystubs, letters explaining I am working part time because I'm in school, forms I-864 from me and the person willing to act as joint sponsor, etc....and sent my joint sponsor's papers (W2, bank statements, property titles, etc) again just in case if they would consider them. A few weeks ago I got another letter from the embassy asking for more bank documents and letters (things that they already have...both from the original interview and my follow up packet).

I don't want to get anybody's hopes down, but I think it's best to be realistic and honest here. Joint sponsorship is very difficult in Manila. If you do try this route, I think it's true that the petitioner (US Citizen) should REALLY be present at the interview to push for approval of the joint sponsor and to explain the financial situation, future earning potential, etc. Hope and pray for the best, but be prepared to put in administrative review.
beckyoFemalePhilippines2012-09-12 22:18:00