Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Philippines	Free calls to PI from AT&T and Verizon (Typhoon Related)	Joan called home tonight. A google search brings up a whole page of sites reporting this!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-11-14 00:37:00
Philippines	Free calls to PI from AT&T and Verizon (Typhoon Related)	Check this out!   http://www.wtva.com/...fnvGpQ.facebook	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-11-13 23:26:00
Philippines	Embassy experience. Hope this help	Great news...congratulations...really good point about the bittersweetness...good luck to you.	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-11-17 14:13:00
Philippines	BPI Receipt Number Not Accepted	We received the mysterious letter...AFTER Joan arrived in Hawaii....! It is a cool souvenir and nothing more. Regarding BPI payment, ours took about 18 hours on a weekday.	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-11-17 14:08:00
Philippines	Checklist for Interview	Here is how we did it...no problems! Note that some of the required DS forms have changed...   (From a previous post)   Hi,   I know that we each have our own way of organizing the materials for the interview and CFO (in the Philippines), but this is how Joan and I organized ours. Hopefully it will make it easy to find the papers when asked for them. There are five 9X12 envelopes with originals and two photocopies of the contents separated by paper clips?easy to hand over each set of documents or photocopies on demand. UPDATE: The two copies were a waste of space and weight! Here is what we have:   Envelope 1 (CFO?Philippine specific)   Registration form?two copies Copy of my passport (bio page) Copy of my birth certificate Collage of photos from my three visits?three copies (3, not photocopied 2 more times) Notarized Parental Advice Copy of Joan?s parent?s letter to me accepting my request for her hand in marriage (in Tagalog and translated by Joan into English) 1x1 and 2x2 passport style photos Joan?s Passport and copies of her bio page Joan?s Cenomar and copies Joan?s Postal ID and copies My 1040 (ITR) cover sheet with SS# X?ed out (proof that I am singe) Joan?s NBI in case they ask for it.   Envelope 2 (Embassy forms)   BPI Visa Receipt Appointment Confirmation from website NVC letter NOA1 NOA2 DS-156?2 copies DS-156K?2 copies DS-157?2 copies DS-160 Part 1 (and 2 but part 2 is not needed?the whole form printed)?2 copies (only 1 needed) Joan?s Birth Certificate Joan?s NBI Joan?s Cenomar Notarized Parental Advice Joan?s Police Clearance (not required because Joan has not lived outside of the Philippines, but she wanted to get it) 3 2x2 photos (no photocopies)   Envelope 3 (Copy of original I-129F packet including original receipts)   Only one copy of this packet   Envelope 4 (Embassy financial packet)   I-1134 2012 W-2 2012 ITR (1040) Last 4 pay stubs Letter from bank (statement of deposits) Proof of employment   Envelope 5 (Embassy proof  of on-going relationship?maybe we will bring one copy to the CFO!)   Collage of photos my last trip to the Philippines (photos from my first two trips and our engagement are in the I-129F envelope) Xoom money transfer receipts Evidence of over 15,000 emails Letter to a Congressman from a different state Letter from that Congressman to USCIS (never sent because the NOA2 came first) Letter to my Hawaii Congresswoman asking for an inquiry (just as the NOA2 came) New Fiancé Letter of Intent New Fiancée Letter of Intent Letter from our Hawaii State Senator to USCIS Sample emails spanning from NOA1 to now   I think we are READY!!!!!!!!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-11-21 11:23:00
Philippines	documents needed for embassy interview	UPDATE: The two copies were a waste of space and weight!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-11-21 11:24:00
Philippines	documents needed for embassy interview	Here is how we did it...no problems! Note that some of the required DS forms have changed...   (From a previous post)   Hi,   I know that we each have our own way of organizing the materials for the interview and CFO (in the Philippines), but this is how Joan and I organized ours. Hopefully it will make it easy to find the papers when asked for them. There are five 9X12 envelopes with originals and two photocopies of the contents separated by paper clips?easy to hand over each set of documents or photocopies on demand. Here is what we have:   Envelope 1 (CFO?Philippine specific)   Registration form?two copies Copy of my passport (bio page) Copy of my birth certificate Collage of photos from my three visits?three copies (3, not photocopied 2 more times) Notarized Parental Advice Copy of Joan?s parent?s letter to me accepting my request for her hand in marriage (in Tagalog and translated by Joan into English) 1x1 and 2x2 passport style photos Joan?s Passport and copies of her bio page Joan?s Cenomar and copies Joan?s Postal ID and copies My 1040 (ITR) cover sheet with SS# X?ed out (proof that I am singe) Joan?s NBI in case they ask for it.   Envelope 2 (Embassy forms)   BPI Visa Receipt Appointment Confirmation from website NVC letter NOA1 NOA2 DS-156?2 copies DS-156K?2 copies DS-157?2 copies DS-160 Part 1 (and 2 but part 2 is not needed?the whole form printed)?2 copies (only 1 needed) Joan?s Birth Certificate Joan?s NBI Joan?s Cenomar Notarized Parental Advice Joan?s Police Clearance (not required because Joan has not lived outside of the Philippines, but she wanted to get it) 3 2x2 photos (no photocopies)   Envelope 3 (Copy of original I-129F packet including original receipts)   Only one copy of this packet   Envelope 4 (Embassy financial packet)   I-1134 2012 W-2 2012 ITR (1040) Last 4 pay stubs Letter from bank (statement of deposits) Proof of employment   Envelope 5 (Embassy proof  of on-going relationship?maybe we will bring one copy to the CFO!)   Collage of photos my last trip to the Philippines (photos from my first two trips and our engagement are in the I-129F envelope) Xoom money transfer receipts Evidence of over 15,000 emails Letter to a Congressman from a different state Letter from that Congressman to USCIS (never sent because the NOA2 came first) Letter to my Hawaii Congresswoman asking for an inquiry (just as the NOA2 came) New Fiancé Letter of Intent New Fiancée Letter of Intent Letter from our Hawaii State Senator to USCIS Sample emails spanning from NOA1 to now   I think we are READY!!!!!!!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-11-21 11:19:00
Philippines	US Embassy Manila Interview - K1 Visa (On Administrative Processing; Denied Co-sponsorship; Issued 221g; CO on Power Trip?)	Keep the faith Erika...it will happen for you...	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-07-02 20:56:00
Philippines	Question	And thank you for your service!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-12-19 23:45:00
Philippines	Welcome to America my love!	Thanks everyone! We are relieved and happy. Addendum: Joan said that the first person to check the paperwork also looked for the cd from St. Luke's. One person did not have it and went home.	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-06-06 19:37:00
Philippines	Welcome to America my love!	1 week to go for me! You're welcome. GO EKY!!!!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-06-06 19:30:00
Philippines	Welcome to America my love!	Thanks everyone! You are next Eky! (Joan sends maraming salamat to you---and I am so happy that you and Joan were together for the CFO!)	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-06-06 00:53:00
Philippines	Welcome to America my love!	I posted this as a review but wanted it here too in case reviews don't pop up" "I don't see any problems. Your visa is APPROVED! Congratulations!" Those beautiful words brought an 8 month journey to a close. Well, not a close, but a transition. Anyone who has been through the Fiancée visa process--or any visa process I imagine--knows that it is/was a long frustrating journey full of fear and uncertainty. The final step was wonderfully anti-climactic by comparison,. We were in the 7:30AM tie slot for our interview at the embassy. Joan was up at 1:45 to get ready...I agreed to a 3:00 wake up call! We had instant noodles and bread and butter for breakfast and were in the taxi by 4:20AM! The embassy is a five minute taxi ride from the hotel so we pulled up at 4:30...to find an incredibly large bunch of people already waiting! Turns out that there were 6:15 and 6:30 time slots for tourist and other types of visas. The K-1 line was actually very short. We were the third in line. What looked chaotic at first was actually very well organized. There are plastic seats for rent for P30 (about 75 cents usd). It was soooo worth it even with a P20 tip! There was a snack and coffee stand set-up too. It was very interesting to sit and watch the sky lighten as the sun rose and Manila Bay awakened (it lived up to our nickname for it: the stinky bay!--unfortunately parts of the Bay don't smell very good!)...but we were thinking of other things so the smell faded fast. The outdoor waiting area (cannot imagine what happens when it rains--we got lucky) is about 200 feet or so from the next holding area which is about 100 feet from the embassy entrance. There were about 20 of us in line for the K-1 visa by the time we were called to go. Joan went ahead of me but came back to walk with me because the people in line held our place. I was offered a wheelchair between the next two holding areas. I accepted but the distance really was not that great--of course we did not know that at the time. The wheelchair took a while so we began to think we would be late...but it did not matter. The first line that counted was the entrance...sort of a tent set-up. Joan was asked for her appointment notice and forms (no one ever asked for the DS 230). The person checking the forms commented pleasantly that all the forms were already filled out! Then it was off through the first of two checkpoints...I just realized that I was never asked for my ID! Once you get through the first checkpoint (NO electronics!) you go to a window to be assigned a number. We got ours and proceeded to a huge waiting area but were then told to go back and get a different number for expedited processing because we had the wheelchair. You are given two copies...one gets stapled to your packet and one is given yo you to keep. "With wheelchair" was written on our number attached to our packet. We were then shown through a second checkpoint leading to the main waiting area. A greeter took our packet just past the checkpoint. Each set of numbers is processed in a different part of the large room, so the different lines outside made sense. However, once in the proper waiting area it did not seem to matter where you were on line. The numbers flash on a large board that tells you what window to proceed to. There is no apparent order to the numbers that flash! Our number flashed to go to a window where they took Joan's fingerprints. We were told to return to the waiting area until the next step...well the expedited processing was true because we didn't even get back to our seat when we were called to a small room to meet with the Filipino Consul. He was businesslike, but pleasant and polite. He asked me if I minded if he talked to Joan in Tagalog. In fact he translated most of what he said anyway! The interview was over in less than 5 minutes. Joan signed the one form that you are instructed not to sign beforehand and then asked how we met, how many times I had been there (he was surprised when Joan said 4 times!). He asked if she was ever married and assumed that I had been married before. He joked that I waited a long time to get married. I said yes but good things come to those who wait! He took Joan's birth certificate, cenomar, and NBI. That was it for her! He then took my tax return and I-134. Finally he asked to see photos and said "OK now go back outside and wait for your number to flash. He smiled at Joan as we left and said "Mahalo" to me as we left! I thought the Hawaiian touch was nice. So back to the waiting room...for a while...listen to the instructions of the greeters! Our number did NOT flash! The greeter was saying to move to a different part of the room if you were done with the finger printing and Filipino Consul. Joan's name was called as soon as we moved so who knows if we were called earlier! Here it was...the big one...the American Consul! I stood up to be a part of the interview and he swore us both in. He was openly friendly from the start and asked Joan if she understood more Tagalog than English and provided an interpreter right away. I think he recognized that Joan's English was ok because he asked her if we could continue in English for my benefit. He asked how we met, when I came the first time, how long I stayed and how many times I visited. He was also surprised to hear that I was on my fourth trip! He asked me where I was from and said "oh that is not as bad as coming from the continental US! He asked what I did in Hawaii. He asked Joan if she was ever married and she asked him if he meant me and said no that I had not been married...then she said that she had not been married and he asked me. I said "no" and he laughed and said "then I guess it was 'no' for both of you!" He asked Joan if she had any children and then how we got engaged...what visit? Joan said "Bohol" and he laughed. He then asked what she loved about me and why she wanted to marry me. She said because I am humble and she loves me! The consul smiled a big smile and said "I don't see anything wrong here. Your visa is approved! Go back out and wait to be called to find out how to get your visa." We were there for less than 5 minutes! The final step was to confirm how the visa would be delivered. Again Joan's name was called...no numbers flashing! The lady at this window was very friendly. I explained that I was leaving on June 11 and asked if there was any way to get the visa printed so Joan could join me. She asked if we had a ticket for her and seemed relieved when I said that we didn't. She then mentioned the CFO requirement and we said we were done with the CFO! She said that she could not promise, but she would put a note on our file and ask! I said "Thank you. That is all we can ask." She smiled and said "I think you can go now!" We were back at the hotel in time to catch the end of breakfast! We were in front of people for probably a total of 15 minutes for four windows. The process was so very easy because we were well prepared with original papers ready to go (although there was no need to weigh ourselves down with two extra copies of everything!) We did see and hear people leaving because they did not have enough documentation or originals, so be careful in your preparations. Joan and I want to offer our extreme thanks to everyone (especially Hank) on VJ and our new friends on FB for all the advice, support and encouragement along the way! It would have been a very different journey without you... Now if you will excuse us, we have to see if the champagne in the freezer is cold enough to pop yet! P.S. champagne popped!!!!!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-06-06 00:17:00
Philippines	Cheap HOTELS NEAR CFO and NAIA	Lotus Garden!!! Love that place (when they are not doing construction!)	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2014-01-11 00:57:00
Philippines	CEAC: Application Error!	Sorry, this is off-topic because Joan and I are passed the 2-year green card phase but were where the OP is last June. I just wanted to THANK all of VJ for the constant support and encouragement everyday to those who are at the scary points---and there are many of them. To Vanessamagad: Listen to the responses and get some sleep if you can... Sorry, this is off-topic because Joan and I are passed the 2-year green card phase but were where the OP is last June. I just wanted to THANK all of VJ for the constant support and encouragement everyday to those who are at the scary points---and there are many of them. To Vanessamagad: Listen to the responses and get some sleep if you can... ARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHH glitch in the system...sorry for the redundant post...	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2014-01-11 01:10:00
Philippines	Bypass CFO? (split topic)	CFO was no big deal for Joan (very big deal for me waiting at the hotel!). Do your homework and don't worry about it...and as others have said...don't try to bypass it.	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2014-02-17 01:43:00
Philippines	Driving in Philippines. Have you done it with car rental ?	I have driven many many many times in New York City, "lived" on the freeways of Los Angeles and now drive everyday in Honolulu...been to Manila 4 times..."ain't no way" I'm driving there!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2013-09-29 17:35:00
Philippines	DONE WITH MY MEDICAL 3/27/14	Congrats and good luck the rest of the way!	Stevephoto	Male	Philippines	2014-03-27 10:39:00
Philippines	Starting Our New Lives Together....Curt & Dahlia Moving Forward !!!!	By the way....found my dress!!! I'm not into high end...waste of money "Wedding Dress".  Got it on clearance sale yahoooo... It was meant for me.....exact size.... no alteration.... because alterations cost more than the dress itself.....   Now cjmc was so stressed... he slept early tonight hahahaha...... .. I'm wondering why? Any clue?   Did you fit your wedding dress? was that okay? coz there is a belief right "pamahiin" LOL im kidding those doesnt exist anymore speacilly in america! hehe	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-08-28 06:04:00
Philippines	Starting Our New Lives Together....Curt & Dahlia Moving Forward !!!!	LOL!!!  This is hilarious! hahaha! this thread made my night and made me laugh on this stressful moment of my life. please keep us posted, and pictures are greatly appreciated.	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-08-27 11:29:00
Philippines	Case Status says Issued	Wow that was fast! Congrats niblet and congrats to everyone else who got approved!   My status is still ready, i wonder why. We tried calling but they said to just wait lol Your status is ready? Ready for interview or ready open case?	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-09-13 00:44:00
Philippines	visa status	Were you given a 221g? Or approved? Me three weeks already still ready for interview	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-09-16 01:33:00
Philippines	visa status	guys, im just gonna voice out here... its been two weeks now since we had our interview, and ceac page still says "ready". we called the consul many times and all they have to say is still under review. the first time we called, the lady mentioned that the officer that interviewed us took our files after he put an OK on it,same day. we are just worried now. does anyone here had the same experience? Ready for interview or ready open case?	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-09-16 01:12:00
Philippines	Anyone here who has been on AP for over a month but issued already?	yes.   We had a first interview on July 8th (2013), second interview on July 22nd (they seemed to find it odd that a US man with a Ph.D. would want to marry a Filipina who never went to college), and then administrative processing until last week.  The visa was finally listed as issued on Aug 29th, coincidentally 4 days after I got a senator to send in a query about the reason for the delay in approving the visa. Why did you had a second interview? Did they denied you at your 1st interview? Was your visa on hand now? Wow thats a long wait. Scares me	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-09-02 20:15:00
Philippines	HELP :(	Yes, he lives in Kailua. And yap im done with my interview. If there is anything you need to know do not hesitate to ask here, specially in the PH forum. Everyone was helpful.	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-09-30 07:24:00
Philippines	HELP :(	your fine. no need to wait for that packet.. your good to go. goodluck	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-09-30 06:27:00
Philippines	Current passport status	Finally visa on hand! Anyone here scheduled for CFO on thursday, Oct. 3? Can i see the link where you track your passport? Anyway thursday is the perfect day for CFO, I did mine last thu. I was in the line at 5:45am and made it through morning session. I am done by 10:30AM. Congrats	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-01 06:59:00
Philippines	CFO registration form question	Ok, thanks, sis! That settles things.    By the way, aside from the land line number, his mom's maiden name, university degree/s, job, and the details as required on the online form, is there any other information that I need from him?  I think thats it. Passport copy of your fiance and your pictures together.	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-02 00:34:00
Philippines	CFO registration form question	Thanks for sharing, sis. Can I know when did you attend the CFO seminar? I have been reading blogs and info about it for some time now, and they all indicated that the CFO online registration form is required there.   Yes, I have been aware that I need to know his mom's maiden name and give some land line number. The land line at work is a good suggestion.  Thanks, sis! I did my CFO last Thursday Sept 26 and I did not register online. They wont ask for that.	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-01 06:55:00
Philippines	Tracking US Travel Docs Website	Arrrgghhh!! I hate the weekends. We have to wait Monday or Tuesday for further news. hi. hows your visa? i just got issued today on ceac (after 1 month& 1 week) and when i tried to check it on ustraveldocs it says "no status update for my pp number" while others ive been talking to has "still with post status". I am freakin out bcuz mine says different than the others haha! Anyway you got your visa already?	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-03 06:06:00
Philippines	Tracking US Travel Docs Website	So thank God my fiancée's visa was issued today. I am happy to say I only freaked a little no major panic attacks. Now I've started trying to track her passport on the US Travel Docs website. When I enter her PP number it keeps saying "No status update for passport number submitted" I thought it should say "At post" by now. Is there another number I can try or have they just not entered her PP into the tracking system yet? I have a feeling that we will just receive a text from 2go without ever being able to track it on the travel docs website! Lol Thanks VJ for all the support! hi. hows your visa? i just got issued today on ceac (after 1 month& 1 week) and when i tried to check it on ustraveldocs it says "no status update for my pp number" while others ive been talking to has "still with post status". I am freakin out bcuz mine says different than the others haha! Anyway you got your visa already?	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-02 06:33:00
Philippines	USTRAVELDOCS: No status update available for the passport submitted	Try checking again Friday afternoon (PI time).  Ours was issued 9/26....website updated on 9/30 after 1 pm, then at 4:30 fiancee got a txt from 2Go for pickup at MOA.  She decided to pick it up the next day 10/1 then proceeded to CFO for the kids sticker.  They're on their way to LAX now.  Good luck to you! Thank you! so its mostly like 2 business days after ceac changed to issued?	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-03 11:04:00
Philippines	USTRAVELDOCS: No status update available for the passport submitted	Thanks. Good to know that im not the only one! Hehe	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-03 08:17:00
Philippines	USTRAVELDOCS: No status update available for the passport submitted	My ceac was issued for two days and when I try to check it on Ustraveldocs its says "no status update for my passport". WAS THAT NORMAL? Because others I talked to theirs has a "still with post" status.    Is this ok?? Why mine says different?	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-03 06:34:00
Philippines	From tourist visa to Fiance?	NO you cant do that dear. First it will be very hard for you to get that tourist visa. Just tell your fiance to file K1 for you.	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-01 06:21:00
Philippines	Bring birth certificate to USA	Two will be fine, as will one.  All you need is copies in the US.  No one will take an original like the PI does. Thanks Dave. How about baptismal certificate? do i need it for the wedding?	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-07 09:44:00
Philippines	Bring birth certificate to USA	Was two original photocopies of NSO Birth Certificate will be enough to bring to the US? I heard I need some for the adjustment status. Was two enough?	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-07 07:14:00
Philippines	Question about PDOS	Hello everyone! My mom had her interview Oct 3 and was approved. Yesterday I checked the status it is "ISSUED". Pretty much issued for since Oct 6 but we have not received the visa/passport yet. I have been out from Philippines since 2000 and I don't remember if I went to PDOS. Is PDOS and CFO SAME? I wanted her to be with us to celebrate my son's bday on Nov 6 so I am itching to buy her a ticket to be able to plan for her trip. Does she needs CFO sticker even if she is traveling as immigrant? Can the CFO seminar be done in a Day? We are from Davao and I will probably ask her to stay in manila for a day to do the CFO. thank you all for the help. Yes PDOS and CFO are the same. It can be done by 1 day, what others been doing, they will take the cfo in the morning then its their flight at night. How old is your mom? Coz I think if she is 60 above she is exempted from doing CFO. But everyone who is existing the country even immigrants needs to take the CFO.	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-10 10:30:00
Philippines	from AP now Your case is ready/open	Hi!!!!!! good news!!!! My visa is ISSUED this morning when i checked it again!!!!!! Hey Hank!!! my status is ISSUED now!!!!!!!! hey!!! visa is in final processing!!!! ISSUED!!!! I told ya!!! Congrats! On tue afternoon or wed you'll have your visa already.	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-03 21:10:00
Philippines	from AP now Your case is ready/open	wow im so happy for you MJandJON!!!! finally!!! your wait is over!! i really hope the next thing i see is "ISSUED".....you are helping me stay positive thanks for your reply! i sure will update you guys! I've been following timelines of people who are ap for a long time like me. And I notice that once it changed to ready open case, thats it pancit!  haha There are few recent issued status this week (people with 221g like me) seems like they are working on it.	MJandJON	Female	Philippines	2013-10-03 06:42:00