ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPAID AOS FEE, MAILED AOS, WHAT NEXT

Well...how did you know to get as far as you already have?

I recommend the guides.



JUST BEING VERY CAREFUL. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM NOT READING TOO MUCH INTO THE DIRECTIONS.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-04-22 02:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPAID AOS FEE, MAILED AOS, WHAT NEXT
I PAID THE AOS FEE ONLINE AND SENT IN THE AOS ALONG WITH ALL THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. WE ALREADY SENT IN THE CHIOICE OF AGENT AS WELL. MY QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. WILL I GET ANOTHER BILL IN THE MAIL FOR THE VISA FEE. ONCE I PAY THE VISA FEE DO I NEED TO SEND THE DS-230 AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO NVC OR IS THIS SOMETHING SHE BRINGS TO THE INTERVIEW?
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-04-22 02:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTax returns for AOS??

do i have to include the original tax returns for AOS or copies would do it?


copies of my tax return worked just fine.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-11 14:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRoughly how long will this process take
It took us around 65 days from i-130 file to NOA2.
Total time for us so far from filing the I-130 to getting the July 2nd 2010 appointment date is around 6 months.
Good luck.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-15 02:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresdid anyone get the e-mail for an interview for july??
wahooo, got e-mail today. Our interview date is July 2, 2010 at 8:30 am
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-15 03:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresdid anyone get the e-mail for an interview for july??

I'm waiting for an email too. :) I've been checking my inbox multiple times a day. :lol:



Aloha



I called NVC since my case was completed on May 28th 2010. The operator told me that the embassy in Manila was back logged and we were unable to get scheduled this month. She also told me that NVC schedules the interview on the 2nd week of every month and to call back on the 2nd week of July. Since Manila was so back logged she was not able to even predict when appointments will be available. NVC phone number is 1-603-334-0700.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-10 22:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIncorrect name on Passport

In the Philippines, the maiden name is always the middle name, its a common practice ...unlike here where the middle name is really your middle name and not the maiden name...:hehe:


Thanks for the info. I talked to my wife and she had the option when she got ther passport and is a common practice to keep the maiden name as her middle name.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-16 15:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIncorrect name on Passport

Wow i thought they typically give a 45 day notice before the interview date. You only have few weeks!

Lucky!


Yes, very surprised, very short notice but we will gladly take it.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-16 15:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIncorrect name on Passport
eeks, We finally got our appointment letter the other day and it's for July 2nd. As I was reading the letter, I noticed that NVC had used an incorrect middle name for my wife. They used her maiden name as her middle name. So I frantically called NVC and the operator told me to look at my wife's passport and lo and behold the Filipino passport agency used her maiden name as her middle name. It's too late to get a new passport now or to get it fixed. Remember guys to really scrutinize your paperwork and it's really a good idea to have another set of eyes to look over everything.

Question: Will this cause any problems, I just have this thought of her getting turned around at the POE.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-16 12:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHusband is now complaining to ombudsman
USCIS phone number is 1-800-375-5283
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-24 14:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresABOUT TAX

Sponsor making annual income $12000,he has a co sponsor making good income. my question is still sponsor need to file taxes or no?

of course
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-27 03:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHealth insurance

is there anyone had this problem before?
okay here is the story

Im already in US and my husband wanted to put me in his insurance. Ive got my social security number last week. So my husband went to his HR to ask to put my name in his insurance. They said that He should put my name 30 days after married but my hubby said he cant bec im not here yet.... which is right.. so they said AGAIN we have to wait till december to open enrollment and ofcourse my hubby said NO he cant..its a long waste to wait.. there is so many things can be happen within 6 months....so then they asked my hubby if im already a US citizen, and he said not yet just a temporary citizen but after 2 yrs YES i will be... and then they asked for documents saying that im legally resident here.. So i gave my visa and my SSN... but still they are not happy with that.. so my hubby went to Union and the Union said we have to wait after 2 yrs so that im already a US citizen! what the !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im really pissed! they got my SSN so now what????????????????????? I talked to people how they put their spouse in their insurance and they said just get a form and give a SSN..which we did but his company is sooo greedy and stupid!
can somebody help me pls!



I can’t believe his insurance denied you. My insurance had no problem adding my wife to my policy even when she was still in the Philippines. They have no problems reimbursing me the cost of her medical treatment. All you should need is proof of marriage like your marriage certificate. I would really pressure your insurance company to add you.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-09 15:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPlease help......

this concerned is for my sister. this is the background. My sister and her american husband got married in philippines last april 2008. Until now the american husband did not file any petition for my sister becuase according to him the USCIS said they need to wait 5 years before they can file a peition.Is this true? The second reason of the american husband is that his address is just P.O box, having a P.O box address could affect the petition? What kind of petition does the american husband would file to my sister since they are married in philippines? What are the papers needed for them so they can file? The husband said he got lay off year 2004 and got back a work again 2005,,being lay off by 2004 could affect his petition too? Please anyone we need some elightenment any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance...


Looks like he has more excuse then a 50 year old virgin why not to petition your sister
1. He don't have to wait 5 years to petition. He can petition immediately after marriage and its faster if does it at the US embassy in Philippines.
2. It don't matter if he has PO box for address.
3. They only need last three years of tax forms not all the way back to 2004.
4. Tell him not to stall any more and to go file at the embassy. (it should only take around 3 months if all goes right)
5. Maybe he is hiding something???????
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-09-07 20:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmedical cost in Philippines

hello have a crazy question here how much is the medical cost at St. Luke's in Manila cost; and where can I get my wife a good hotel room close by. Thanks all John & Marie


The medical cost is 213.25 (9,363 peso). Exchange rate on 9/29/2010 is 43.9 peso per dollar.
As for the hotel I booked a room at the Lotus Garden in Manila. The hotel is real short walking distance to St. Lukes and to the Embassy. The room cost around 36 dollars a night and it includes breakfest. I booked it through WWW.AGODA.COM. I found this website to have the best deals on the hotels. If you book through them with your credit card then the hotel is prepaid and your wife dont have to worry about paying when she checks out. Just forward the hotel receipt e-mail to your wife and have her print it out when she checks in.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-09-29 06:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAnchorage Alaska customs
My wife is coming into Anchorage this October 29th from the Philippines and had some questions about the POE.
Have anyone had any expirence with POE Anchorage?
How long did it take?
How were the agents?
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-10-18 01:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresThanks
Just wanted to say a very big thank you to visa journey members and to this great web site. I could not have gotten my wife here with out you guys. To all who are waiting for approvals be patient and keep steady and it will all work out.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-11-28 20:45:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMoney Transfers
use xoom its great. Very easy, cheap and very fast.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2011-01-12 23:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMoney Transfers

I was wondering if there was anyone that new of some trusted money transfer companies so I can send money from the US to the UK and so my husband can send money to me as well..


I have used XOOM to send money to my family in Korea and the Philippines and found it very easy and very reasonable. I think I paid $3.99 for my transfer. It only took one day to receive the money in their bank accounts. Good Luck
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2011-01-12 21:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSpousal Visa (vs) Fiance Visa

We had planned to apply for Spousal Visa after we married in Thailand this November. Is we apply for Fiance Visa is it faster for my wife to come to the US where we would marry there instead with in the allotted time. The timelines are a few months apart from one another, longer for Spousal, but with Fiance she would be in the US sooner. Can some of the ones out there who made that decision for themselves please let me know their reasons and why I should go one way and not the other. Thanks



I chose to marry my wife in the Philippines. The time difference isnt that much diffeent, maybe around 2 to 3 months more for the spouse visa. The plus part of it is that once she enters with a spouse visa she has her green card with in a couple of weeks. With the K1 visa you have to adjust her status and wait for more paper work to clear. I say all in all the only plus of the K1 is that she will physically be in the US earlier. If you add the adjustment period the time line would be the same. If I had to do it all over again then I would still marry my wife in the Philippines.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-09-19 19:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresgot a mail from NVC stating CASE NUMBER

GOOD EVENING!

got a mail from NVC stating our CASE NUMBER... now what? what's next? :help: do i need to call the USEM now for an interview appointment or wait for a couple of days? the mail was dated March 6, 2010. any suggestions will be greatly appreciated :)




check out this link:
http://manila.usemba...niv1.html#Step2
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-03-13 01:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresgot a mail from NVC stating CASE NUMBER

GOOD EVENING!

got a mail from NVC stating our CASE NUMBER... now what? what's next? :help: do i need to call the USEM now for an interview appointment or wait for a couple of days? the mail was dated March 6, 2010. any suggestions will be greatly appreciated :)



got this from the embassey site on K visa: http://manila.usemba...v/wwwh3204.html

STEP 3: The applicant is notified: When the Embassy receives the approved petition from the NVC, it notifies the applicant of the medical examination and visa interview.

Starting March 19, 2008, those applying for K-1, K-2, K-3 and K-4 visas who have been notified by the Embassy to prepare for their interview can call 1-909-101-7878 (within the Philippines) to schedule an interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy. The cost of the 909 service is U.S. $0.98 per minute; this amount will be charged to your telephone bill.

Applicants, Agents or Petitioners calling from within the United States will also be able to use this service by calling 1-888-877-9888. The cost of the 888 service from the United States is a U.S. $18 PIN payable using a Visa or MasterCard once you have called into the service.

Applicants or their representatives must have the applicant’s Immigrant Case Number as given in the Embassy notification letter available when they call to schedule an appointment.

Callers can speak with an English or Tagalog speaking operator. The service is available to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, Manila local time.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-03-13 01:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIncreased VISA fee has taken effect!!!

The new cost is $400 (355+45) $45 is a security charge. This is what i see on Islamabad embassy's website:

http://islamabad.use...ant_visas.html#

Has anyone noticed this for other embassies?



you need to click on the link below. 400 dollars are for different visa. You are looking for a Fiance visa so just click on the link below.
http://islamabad.use...rant_visas.html

Once you get married in the US, the adjustment fee is 1010 dollars.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-03-13 01:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat is a "certified copy" of divorce decree?

Hello Vjers,

I read some conflicting notes about what the counsular needs regarding a divorce decree. I am a USC petitioner and my finace CO is Egypt. I have been divorced for 7 years and all I have a copy of the divorce decree. VSC just sent us our NOA2 but I heard the CO in Egypt requests for a "certified copy of divorce decree." What do I have to send my fiancee for her interview? And what do they mean by "certified copy"?

You assitance is very much apprecaited.

HandA



I went to the the courthouse and asked for a copy. It took two weeks and to certify it cost 10 dollars.
Make sure you get 2 or 3 copies while your there.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-03-03 10:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBirthcertificate help pls.....
yes as long as it has the raised seal. dont send it the original, xerox copy will do just fine
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-25 00:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVJ says NOA2 for date April 7th, 2010 being processed

Hello,
My fiancee and I sent in our I-129f form for K-1 Visa on 3/31/10. On April 2, 2010, I received the NOA1 hard copy date 4/1/2010. According to the VJ timeline, They are currently processing April 7, 2010. If my NOA1 is dated 4/2/2010, when will i be notified of the status? How much longer after your processing date do you get notification? The USCIS website shows the status as "initial review". Do they contact via email before they update the website? Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

Go to www.USCIS.GOV and sign up for case update. you have the choice to have it e-mailed and or text sent to your phone. I don't think they approve according to date, at this point they are doing a back ground search of the petitioner and it takes some little longer then others. Be patient, that all you really can do for now. If you have any questions you can call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 and talk to a customer service.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-06-24 15:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMaybe I Should Try To Call K-1

I am wondering if I should try to call the National Customer Service Center and see what they might tell me about our K-1 filing.....

I called 30 days after we filed with the Vermont Service Center and explained that I never received the NOA 1 they said they mailed. I did not get anywhere with that call. Was basically told that it was mailed and another one would not be sent. I was told that I really did not need the NOA 1 for any reason.

I signed up for online status monitoring and it is still in the Initial Review stage since April 15th. On Thursday July 15th it will be 3 months since they entered us into the system and no updates. In looking at how fast the K-1's are coming out of the Vermont Service Center the last few months, I am wondering if our filing got misplaced / lost. I hate to sit and wait until 5 months is up to call and find out there was a problem from the beginning and have to start all over again.

I mailed it April 9th, 2010 and they signed for it on April 10th, 2010.
They deposited my Cashier's Check on April 12th, 2010.
We went to Initial Review status on April 15th, 2010.
Since that time................Radio Silent


Dont worry, you are on track. Just be alitte bit more patient. I think you should see approval withing a week or so if all the paperwork is in order. Hang in there.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-07-11 20:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMedical Exam

:thumbs: :dance: We just got approved for the NOA2...When can she go get her medical, and what does she need to take?

she can use the NOA-2 to get her medical, but remember that the medical will expire. I think they have a 6 month expriation date on them. Please correct me if im wrong.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-07-11 20:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNOA-2 Date
Im asking for a friend.
On the NOA-2, why is there an expiration date on it?
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-07-23 11:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNOA-2 Valid date?
Can anyone tell me why there is a valid date of 4 months on the NOA-2 for I-129f?
What does the valid date mean? Does it mean that they have to arrive into the United States withing the valid dates?
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-07-28 20:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresUSA is now Arizona

Un Freaking believable, All our paperwork was perfect to my knowledge. Zheng had so much support at Guangzhou from other Visa goers and they help to verify again our paper work and evidence. The interviewer asked my Fiancee 2 questions which she answered them perfect. She speaks very good English and she tried to present my EOR letter at the interview and other sufficient evidence but they did not want to accept anything and gave her a white slip. I am very successful and have made so much freaking money in this country and paid so much taxes in this country and this makes me furious that they would treat me like sh#$%, and they treat her like sh#$%, then it is as if my country who I can’t imagine how much I have paid in taxes would not accept any of our evidence. Like most of you we have spent over a year in our relationship committed and in love and it comes down to this B.S. #######. What Freaking proof do they need with a white slip,, , no offense, I am American Indian and I did everything next to NOT being WHITE, so #######, is this why I have a WHITE SLIP, USA is still in the Freaking south, it's now USA called Arizona, can't give an American Indian a break who loves a Chinese Woman.



Wow what a temper. I understand your frusteration but for you to say these things are wrong. Its been too long, stop blaming the white man for all your troubles. your best bet would be to calm down and look over your paperwork. See if a congressman can help by writing a letter for you. You see this is why I love the US, because it don't matter how much money you make.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-07-30 19:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresboil it down

some of you have spent a lot of time reading posts of K-1 interview experiences and you might have also been through the process with your significant other- so if you can, answer this question for us...

if you had to break down the documents needed for the interview into three categories: mission critical, probably needed, or don't bother- what would you put in the respective categories?

example:

MISSION CRITICAL
photos of the two of you together
petitioner's divorce decree(s)
affidavit of support
current employment letter
2009 tax return

PROBABLY NEEDED
chat transcripts
NOA2
petitioner G325
beneficiary G325

DON'T BOTHER
copy of the I-129
2008, 2007 tax returns
letter from the consulate with interview date




her interview is in Manila, so please respond if you have any consulate-specific information.


thanks a whole lot!


its all cirtical. You never know what the consulate will ask for.
I would paly it safe and have too much then not enough.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-10-18 01:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresForms To Take To Fiance On First Visit

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

If there was a way to speed it up, Visa Journey wouldn't be needed

Being prepared is a good way to save time, read the guides

http://www.visajourn...content/k1guide

http://www.visajourn.../content/k1tips

http://www.visajourn.../content/k1flow

Good luck


I would say you need three things form her to start.

1. Passport style pictures of her, oh maybe around 3 copies (make sure they are 2 inch X 2 inch)

2. Take with you a copy of form G-325A or use the internet cafe to log into the USCIS web page and fill out the form and print it out. Make sure she signes it.

3. Copy of her biographical page of her passport. If she don't have one then you should work on that now.

If you have these things then it should make things easier.

Good luck.
Norm and GraceMalePhilippines2010-10-18 01:31:00