ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesANSWERED PRAYER - my interview experience, jan 8, 2008
Good deal! We look forward to reading about your future adventures...
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-01-09 12:41:00
PhilippinesQuestions on Document Verification
Woody and H:

Thanks!

I have included your information within Section 4.5 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide. According to the USE website, the fax number for the Immigrant Visa Unit is (632) 301-2591. Hopefully, the website is up-to-date because that is the fax number that I supplied within the guide.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. Can anyone validate the fax number for the Immigrant Visa Unit of (632) 301-2591?

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 20 February 2008 - 11:27 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-17 12:03:00
PhilippinesQuestions on Document Verification
Great points...

I'll also post in the guide that the beneficiaries do NOT take any documents to Metrobank or Delbros when paying the documentation verification fee. Delbros will be checking with the government agencies to make sure what you are submitting is real.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-17 07:35:00
PhilippinesDelbros document verification
Please read Section 4.5 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide...

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 20 February 2008 - 11:25 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-17 22:37:00
PhilippinesAnyone Flying to Manila
QUOTE (jasman0717 @ Feb 17 2008, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
have a great trip! good.gif I am jealous, wish we were going

Me too... I love the Phil...
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-17 22:39:00
PhilippinesSURVEY:WHEN TO EXPECT VISA AFTER INTERVIEW
QUOTE (Anthony Julie @ Feb 16 2008, 10:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
More likely, one week or less after your interview. If everything went well..

Julie good.gif

Absolutely! You may also reference Section 5.1 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide, which will give you a guage for when you can expect the visa. You may also request to pick-up the visa at the conclusion of the visa interview. Some COs are kind and gracious enough to permit the beneficiary to pick it up.

Good luck...

Sheriff Uling
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-17 22:44:00
PhilippinesHow long does the medical process take @ St. Lukes'?
QUOTE (Noki @ Feb 16 2008, 09:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
let your fiancee have an early medical, but pls avoid monday and friday, many people come on these days.
I have my medical wednesday, 1st day (6 am - 10 am) and thursday, 2nd day (9 am - 1030 am).

the number of people at St Lukes varies so to be safe, let her stay in Manila maximum of 4 days, minimum 3 days.
day 1 - arrival in manila
day2 - day1 at St lukes ( im at st lukes around 530 am, im number 8, they start early as 6am)
day 3 - day2 at st lukes (since i strated early on my medical, they let me come back 9am the following day. If you start late on your day1, most likely they will schedule you after lunchtime on your day)
day4 - going back to cebu depends if she finished her medical early.

Agreed! Please review Section 4.7 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide. Plan on at least four days days (three night hotel stay) as stated above. My wife had the same schedule as above and she lived in a province an hour outside of Manila.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 20 February 2008 - 11:25 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-18 07:06:00
PhilippinesFINALLY I AM HERE IN FLORIDA......
Prove it... Hehehehehe!!!
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-17 22:38:00
Philippinesdocument verification
QUOTE (chizza @ Feb 21 2008, 11:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
ok thanks sheriff uling...another question, do u have any idea if USEM is open on Feb 25? it is a non- working holiday in PI is'nt it?
somebody here on VJ told me that the embassy is closed on feb 25, but when my bro called the embassy they said they are open on that they so it really confuses me...

hoping for ur reply again thanks!

Feb 25th is not currently listed as a non-workday for the USE nor do I see any announcements indicating that it is a non-workday, per the USE website. You can also call the USE to verify. If so, please create a thread...

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 22 February 2008 - 02:42 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-22 02:40:00
Philippinesdocument verification
QUOTE (Sheriff Uling @ Feb 21 2008, 11:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
According to the information posted on the USE website, the answer is yes. Please read Section 4.5 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide.

F1 is included in the list. Please read Section 4.5 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide, which has the direct quote and link to the USE website where the visa catagories effected by the document verification are listed. FYI: Per our VJ members, there is also a P50 processing fee on top of the P650 document verification fee making the out the door cost P700.

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 22 February 2008 - 02:10 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-22 02:08:00
Philippinesdocument verification
According to the information posted on the USE website, the answer is yes. Please read Section 4.5 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide.
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-22 02:01:00
PhilippinesABOUT CFO
Please read Section 6.2 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide.
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-22 01:34:00
PhilippinesABOUT CFO
Please read Section 6.2 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide.
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-22 01:33:00
PhilippinesCalled up Delbros
My question for the USE is why doesn't the visa application fee cover document verification anymore? Not to mention the price has increased from $100 to $131. If the USCIS was doing this to normalize the cost of doing business and to provide a better service, what's the USE's explanation and end result of the cost increase? It doesn't make any sense to me, and I don't understand why more folks are NOT disturbed by this...

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 23 February 2008 - 04:40 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-23 01:33:00
PhilippinesLeaving tomorrow to California
Good deal... What's even better is that it will be getting hotter soon... Welcome to Cali...
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-23 01:40:00
Philippinesdocument verification fee
QUOTE (jasman0717 @ Feb 22 2008, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I still don't understand what the heck document verification is. blink.gif When Claudeth had her interview she paid the DELBROS people 250p to deliver the package to Mindanao and that was it.

Document verification should be covered within the visa application fee PERIOD. If not, why have the fee and what is the visa fee supposed to cover. Somebody is about to become very rich gaming the system! mad.gif It's completely unusaual, unfair, and most of all unnecessary. Some folks "members" are passive about document verification because it's here now and we get that nobody wants to wait another two to four weeks. That doesn't mean that document verification is valid or fair. I'm convinced that it's a scam that somebody is getting rich gaming the process in a scare tactic to exploit money from good people because folks are already separated for long periods of time.

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 22 February 2008 - 04:11 PM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-22 16:06:00
PhilippinesSLEC
QUOTE (joemaria @ Feb 21 2008, 06:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
1) You cant pay your medical fee at SLEC in advance.

2) She needs her "real" passport not a renewal receipt coz they will stamp the date of her medical and her PDS number and they'll keep it and send to US embassy together with her medical result.

GOODLUCK!!!

Agreed! Has anyone ever read or received a PM about anyone who has "pre-paid" the medical exam because I have not? I also recommend that you follow the mainstream as far as the process is concerned by having your beloved renew the passport ASAP before attempting to take the medical exam. However, please call SLEC directly and let us know what directions you are given. Then post a second PM if you are able to execute any direction that is given outside the normal process.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - Or at least send me a PM so that I can make amendments to the K1 Visa Guide.

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 22 February 2008 - 01:59 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-22 01:57:00
Philippineswhat is AR?
For a list of commonly used acronynms [CLICK HERE]. However, this is primarily a list of acronyms without definitions.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 26 February 2008 - 02:05 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-26 02:03:00
PhilippinesUS embassy phone numbers
QUOTE (bliss @ Feb 26 2008, 03:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
anyone there who has embassy's numbers aside from their call center numbers?please...so we can check our visa status to them.thanks.

Please check my signature block... Hope this helps you...
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-27 01:22:00
PhilippinesNo vaccine?
[CLICK HERE]

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 27 February 2008 - 11:17 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-27 11:17:00
PhilippinesTips for request for visa pick-up
I have a few suggestions:

* Sing the star spangle banner upon entering the CO’s office
* Give the CO a lot of flattering compliments
* Carry a large sums of cash for Bribery
* Cry immediately after the first question to get the sympathy approval

jest.gif

Honestly, there is no secret on what to do in order to have the priveledge of picking up the visa (it's a 50/50 shot depending on the CO). I do agree to wait until the CO states that you are approved. In some cases, the beneficiary may have to ask if they are approved and possibly indicate that you plan on leaving for the states immediately in order to sway the decision in your favor.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-28 16:01:00
Philippinesdocument varification USEM Manila
Please review Section 4.7 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide concerning document verification and PM me any suggestions.
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-15 12:39:00
Philippinesmedical result
If your score is above 72%, then you passed.... hehehehe...
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-29 16:49:00
Philippinesbest time to pick up packet 4 at SLEC
They write Tue - Thur because Mon and Fri are busy days, according to the previous post, the early morning would be best.

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 23 February 2008 - 04:28 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-02-23 04:28:00
PhilippinesMarch 5th approved!!
Congrats!!! My apologies for the late reply...
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-10 14:45:00
PhilippinesProblem with I-134
QUOTE (Roy and Yazi @ Mar 10 2008, 12:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (MariEnMichelle @ Mar 10 2008, 06:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You'll need the original Affidavit of Support document...they'll be looking for the notarial seal by the lawyer who helped prepared it...
anyways, if it was sent as priority mail then you should be able to receive it in 3 to 5 working days. When did your fiancee send it out? Hopefully you get it before your interview...

Well, goodluck and i hope everything goes well...


just needs to be notarized by a certified Notary Public, it doesn't need to be a lawyer.

FYI - MariEnMichelle wrote "notary seal by the lawyer" because notaries are lawyers in the Phil versus here in the States, which can be anyone who is certified...

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 10 March 2008 - 02:38 PM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-10 14:38:00
PhilippinesMy mom passed her visitor's visa interview on March 7, 2008
What was her score? devil.gif
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-12 14:52:00
PhilippinesIncrease in Visa Delivery Fee
Per the Manila Embassy website (mid-page), "Once a visa is issued, it will normally be delivered to the applicant's home or office by DELBROS courier service. Starting March 10, 2008, there will be an increase in the delivery fee from PhP 135 to PhP 250 per visa packet for Metro Manila and other key cities." [CLICK HERE] The fee increase isn't much, but every penny/peso counts.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - At the conclusion of the visa interview, before leaving the CO, request to pick-up your visa (if that works for you).

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 12 March 2008 - 03:07 PM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-12 14:58:00
PhilippinesApproved K1 Petition Valid until March 19, 2008
Please review Section 4.1 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide...

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 12 March 2008 - 06:35 PM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-12 18:34:00
PhilippinesUpdates on calling the call center
Thanks... We'll stay tuned for updates...

Cheers...

Sheriff Uling
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-13 05:47:00
PhilippinesHow do we get our medical date?
Please review the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide...
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-13 15:27:00
PhilippinesDS-156 DS-157 and DS-156K
Dr. Mirage...

First and foremost, the forms are free. They can be downloaded from this website in the guides section, from the Manila Embassy website, they will be sent to your fiancée in packet 4, and/or the beneficiary can pick them up from St. Luke's.

What happens is that the bank validates the back (rear) of a blank DS 157 upon payment of the visa application fee (so it appears as if you are paying for the form, but you are not). Some banks only validate blank DS 157 forms they have in house. Others will validate a completed DS 157 form that you provide, but that is rare. So, I recommend calling the bank beforehand to inquire if they are willing to validate a completed DS-157 form.

If the bank(s) will not validate your completed form, you may either type in the information on the DS 157 post payment of the visa application fee or submit your completed DS 157 and provide the blank validated DS 157 as proof of payment. As backup, make a copy of the receipt and bring that to the visa interview as well (just in case because the folks just happened to ask my wife for it).

Hope this helps...

Cheers...

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - Please, please, please, pretty please read the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide because most of your basic questions are covered there. I'm not trivializing your very important question. On the contrary, the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide is an excellent source of information that you could potentially help shed some light on the process (a process that, at the moment, seems to be going through some minor changes).
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-13 18:46:00
PhilippinesUSEM says you can't request pick up
QUOTE (David-Mae Forever @ Mar 13 2008, 02:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (guamcouple @ Mar 13 2008, 04:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My fiancee had her interview today, we drafted a request to pick up the visa but she was told they deliver only and you cannot get it delivered. Since when did this change?

It's a case to case basis... While some CO will allow you to pick-up the visa, the majority of them won't. Anyway, here's hoping that your fiancee will receive her visa soon! good.gif

--Mae

With all the changes and frenzy to part folks with their money, I wouldn't be surprised if visa pick-up becomes a priviledge that is rarely granted. Hopefully, there will continue to be some COs that permit good folks to pick up their visa. We shall see.

Cheers...

Sheriff Uling
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-13 05:52:00
PhilippinesTip of the Day
QUOTE (MariEnMichelle @ Mar 13 2008, 05:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Sheriff Uling @ Mar 13 2008, 03:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have a few suggestions on ways to ensure that you are able to pick up your visa after the interview:

* Sing the star spangle banner upon entering the CO’s office
* Give the CO a lot of flattering compliments (nice hair, cute comb over, etc...)
* Carry a large sums of cash for Bribery
* Cry immediately after the first question to get the sympathy approval and visa pick-up

:-)

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling


Ah...Mr. Sheriff...i did suggestion number 2 but didnt work...what i got was a DEDMA. But then again the consul was a 'he' and i am a 'he' and he probably thought i was gay or...anyways, got my interview approved though but my visa pick up interview denied... wacko.gif

Yeah, the guys are screwed in the process. It must have been weird at the medical exam also with all those women. I know that you received strange looks... :-)
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-14 18:05:00
PhilippinesTip of the Day
I have added a "special announcement" section in the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide. So if there is any news worthy things to note, please send me a PM.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-13 06:00:00
PhilippinesTip of the Day
I have a few suggestions on ways to ensure that you are able to pick up your visa after the interview:

* Sing the star spangle banner upon entering the CO’s office
* Give the CO a lot of flattering compliments (nice hair, cute comb over, etc...)
* Carry a large sums of cash for Bribery
* Cry immediately after the first question to get the sympathy approval and visa pick-up

:-)

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2008-03-12 14:51:00
PhilippinesTip of the Day
Can we please reserve this thread for K1 Visa tips (rhetorical question)? I'm not trying to be funky about it... If you have great news or want to share other things, please consider posting in the Manila Embassy Thread or creating your own. Thanks a bunch!

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 29 August 2007 - 03:14 PM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2007-08-29 15:13:00
PhilippinesTip of the Day
Read the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide...
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2007-08-28 14:53:00
PhilippinesTip of the Day
Phil-Am Family Members:

I have now added that "Family and/or friends are prohibited from entering the facility, unless otherwise required" to all of the applicable sections of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide mentioned below:

Section 4.3 "For the USE"
- If you are not the beneficiary, petitioner, or derivative, you will be prohibited from entering.

Section 4.6 "For SLEC"
- If you are not the beneficiary or derivative, there is a chance that you will be prohibited from entering. Some folks have been able to drag a family member or friend inside, but it appears to be the exception than the rule. I recommend calling to confirm before taking that unnecessary risk of having a friend or family member waiting outside.

Section 6.2 "For Guidance and Counseling Seminar and the CFO"
- Same comment as SLEC above...

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

NOTE: This is from all accounts that I have read on VJ and heard from my wife during her experiences. Others may have a different point of view or experiences as previously mentioned.
Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2007-08-27 01:29:00
PhilippinesTip of the Day
NBI CLEARANCE for the USE:

A NBI letter is require along with the NBI Clearance if the notation reads any of the following:
* No Criminal Record
* No Criminal Conviction
* No Pending Case
* With Derogatory Record

A NBI letter is NOT required with the NBI Clearance if the notation reads any of the following:
* No Record On File
* No Derogatory Record

Edited by Sheriff Uling, 22 August 2007 - 01:19 AM.

Sheriff UlingMalePhilippines2007-08-22 01:16:00