ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesCan I go to medical yet?
We did a DCF at the manila embassy. Our applicaton was approved and we sent in packet 3 requesting an interview date earlier this week. I am going to try and call next week to see if we can get an interview date set fast after they've had a few days to process the paperwork, which should have been received yesterday. Hoping for an interview in January (Dec would be great but not holding my breath on that one).

Question is, I have the packet 3 cover letter on the official US Embassy stationary with watermark with my MNL case #. I would like to take her for the medical in mid-December as I am going to be in Manila anyway and if I wait til January I can't go with her as i'll be back in the US. If I don't get an interview date by early december, can I use the packet 3 cover letter with my MNL case # to go to the medical and get in? I am hoping I can get confirmation on the appointment before I go to manila, but in case I don't...

Also, it seems people go really early to get good #s to be seen. If I go to st. lukes around 2 or 3am so we can be one of the first there, is it a safe area where we don't have to worry too much about getting robbed or harassed in the middle of the night?

Also what's the deal with the biometrics (fingerprinting)? how much is it and when is that done -- on interview day??
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-19 22:03:00
Philippinesdcf in december
your proof of citizenship (birth certificate or passport copy), proof of residence (copy of acr and/or leases/property documents and receipts showing you've lived here 6 months if you're not 13a), divorce decree if you're divorced, original birth certificate for her from nso, original marriage certificate, photos (particularly of wedding), i-130, g-325as for you and her - pretty much the same as what the FAQs here say except need originals for birth certificates and marriage.. affidavits are useless, and need receipts if you are using documents such as a lease to prove residency. bring anything you can think they might conceivably want that way if they ask you have it.

we live in minglanilla south of cebu - i'm heading back in december and taking her for her medical before i fly out of manila and then hoping she will be following me back in january or february

Edited by BigJohn, 20 November 2010 - 12:07 PM.

BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-20 12:03:00
Philippinesdcf in december
Be sure and take a black pen when you go there are a couple of forms they will have you flll out when you file (visa delivery form with map to where you live and permission to discuss your visa with you if you contact them by phone).

Also keep in mind that while the embassy opens at earlier for some visas, the immigration window for applications doesn't open til 8. They don't hand out priority numbers for the window until the window itself opens... but they still try to give them out to who got there first. We got there at 6:30am and we were #2. It was pretty quick though. The window is only open til noon so be sure and get there early.

Edited by BigJohn, 20 November 2010 - 05:48 AM.

BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-20 05:43:00
Philippinesdcf in december
1. not sure but guessing they would want a signed original. fyi the 864 is not required until you go for interview, so you don't have to worry about delaying your application until you have it in hand.

2. i have heard you can file those when you apply but didn't know that when we did so not sure. It is just two documents, the request for an interview and the DS-230. The request for interview requires your MNL case #, so you may not be able to file that at time of filing I don't know. I don't know why you couldn't file DS-230 or really even why DS-230 is required -- there are only a couple of minor items on the DS-230 that are not covered on the G-325.

3. just the i-130 application fee, which if I remember correctly was $355 - it's getting ready to go up to $420 tho

4. so far ours is on track to be approved in about 3 months if everything else goes ok. of course that all depends on whether all the papers are what they want and then passing the medical without having to take the sputum test.

5. refrigerator

FYI the directions on this website and USCIS website are not correct for manila embassy. Manila embassy does not follow the USCIS standards and there are a few differences. For example, you need to file an original birth certificate for your spouse, not a copy. Affidavits for the relationship are worthless they don't want them. They will be really looking at your qualification to file DCF to verify it - they do not want to let you do it if you are not on a permanent resident visa and you'll need substantial proof if you are not. I thought leases would be enough but they made me send in receipts for payments on the leases as well. If you are on permanent residency visa be sure and include a photocopy of your ACR. If not leases or proof of ownership with receipts for payment and copy of your passport showing you've been here.

Edited by BigJohn, 20 November 2010 - 05:35 AM.

BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-20 05:34:00
PhilippinesPassport Renewal: Catch-22?
Have them put the passport in her full name - first name old middle name maiden name new family name - basically her old name + her new family name. then it will match there will just be a new last name on the end :)
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-21 08:06:00
PhilippinesChanging last name on my Philippine Passport
I believe they will do it whatever combination you want, old middle name, maiden name or both.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-21 08:08:00
PhilippinesHeartbroken and deceived---need help/advice
Well, he hasn't posted in a few days... it's possible he couldn't cuz he's been in jail on a domestic charge ;) but yeah i'm putting money on it that no ticket's been purchased.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-21 10:27:00
PhilippinesHeartbroken and deceived---need help/advice
The OP is just in love and has abused spouse syndrome. Considering reconciliation he's no better than the woman who gets beaten up but tries to make it work with the man because she loves him. The OP obviously loves the girl, but it takes two people in love for a successful marriage. One thing I have learned is that no matter how much you want to, you can't make yourself love someone else. From the sound of his story to me, I'm not sure the girls original intent was to defraud the guy and scam him. I think she wanted to love him. But wanting to love someone isn't going to keep you from playing around with your ex boyfriend who you really do love. OP can love her all he wants and want her to love him back, but she is never going to love him the way he loves her, and the sooner he realizes that and moves on the better. She has proven herself to be someone who makes bad decisions and is WILLING to hurt him to get what she wants - and he is going to have only himself to blame when she hurts him more with a violence charge to stay in the country. I am surprised the OP hasn't posted the last few days... which makes me think he is still thinking/talking reconciliation. If he had revoked her status or made arrangements to put her on a plane, I bet he'd have posted by now. He is probably ashamed to post it because he knows what the consensus is here that he should do. I hope I'm wrong.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-19 21:52:00
PhilippinesHeartbroken and deceived---need help/advice
I hope she is still not chatting online back to the philippines while she waits... otherwise it is only a matter of time before someone suggests to her to call in a complaint of violence to the police and then she can stay. If you haven't put in your revocation of her green card already you are going to deserve what you get. At the point up until you found out what was going on, everything that happened was her fault. At the point that you don't prevent further bad things from happening once you know, it's your fault. She is in a desperate situation in a far away country with no relatives to help her. Desperate people who otherwise wouldn't necessarily do them ordinarily do desperate things. It may be she really does want to go back to the philippines and won't cause any problems, but if you don't take steps to protect yourself you are risking great damage to yourself to protect someone who cuckolded you.... on the day of your wedding no less. How much more disrespectful and unloving can you get? As for reconciliation, she doesn't love you or she wouldn't have done what she did. The only thing reconciliation will do is let her stay in the country long enough for her green card is permanent and she has a baby of yours, then she can take the baby and walk and get child support from you for 18 years. A domestic violence charge can follow you your whole life and prevent you from getting jobs. I hope you realize how dangerous a situation you are in. You seem to be going easy to protect her but you're the one who needs protecting. You should never have confronted her about it until you had already filed to have her sent back to the RP. I know it's hard because you loved her enough to marry her and still have feelings for her, but at some point you need to look out for yourself first over someone who is USING you.

Edited by BigJohn, 18 November 2010 - 12:13 AM.

BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-18 00:13:00
PhilippinesAfter medical at SLMD
If there had been any problems they would have told him already. The results go to the embassy. He should be good to go.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-24 00:53:00
PhilippinesGiving passpot to St. Lukes
i am of the understanding that when you go for your medical you give them our passport and they forward it to the embassy with your papers? is this correct?

we are going to do our medical on a separate trip before her interview probably and her passport is her only photo id with her married name, so we will need that for travelling. do we have to give it to st. lukes?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-24 00:56:00
PhilippinesHelping your filipina adjust to life in the US/not get too homesick
Looking for suggestions on how to keep my spouse from getting too homesick from the US. She'll be able to webcam chat with family and I'll be trying to help her find some filipino style foods, but what else?

What are good ways for her to find/meet other filipinas in our area?

My main concern is her getting homesick. She says she won't, but she's never lived away from family, much less outside the philippines, so I'm not believing that :) I've lived away from where I consider home quite a bit including in the philippines and I know how it is.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-21 10:32:00
PhilippinesSt. Lukes - Call before?
None of that stuff thanks...

Also are spouses allowed to go in and wait with the filipinas or are only the filipinas allowed in?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-28 09:32:00
PhilippinesSt. Lukes - Call before?
I need this question settled... I am pretty sure i have read here that St. Lukes is first come, first served, no appointment needed. You just show up with your papers.

My wife talked to some friend or relative who got a visa and she swears we need to call St Lukes in advance before we go because of what her friend/relative told her.

Which is right?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-28 09:06:00
PhilippinesDCF DS-230 question
PHEW!!! Must be... I was freaking out that when I call them this week to arrange the interview they were going to say 'well you didn't send in ds-230 pt II so we have to get that first'. If anyone can confirm this that'd be great.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-28 11:11:00
PhilippinesDCF DS-230 question
I keep reading about part I & II of DS-230. I filled out the DS-230 the embassy sent in my packet 3. It was one page front and back. There was part I but no part II. I sent it back filled in that way. Did they not send me pt 2/pg 3 & 4 and I just got screwed or is that the way it's supposed to be when you do a DCF through manila?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-28 09:35:00
Philippineseducate me, please!
She may not expect you to send money but she may be planning on working and sending money. Mine has made it very clear that she wants to work when we get to the US so she can help the family out. I don't mind sending a little money each month tho so she may not have to. Her mother is my mothers age,and her father is dead. My mom is retired. Her mom raised a wonderful daughter and has lived a long life and I don't think she should have to spend her last years working manual labor if we can help her out. Her mom lives with us now and plans to move when our lease is up here and we are gone. They are used to living cheap so it does not cost much to support her :) I am lucky that they never ask for money or loans unless someone is really ill and they need money or medicine, and usually it's not much. I think part of the key is making it clear up front that you are not going to support the entire family. But most of us would help our own parents (unless you have a bad relationship) if they needed it... so it is not abnormal for filipinas to want to help heir family. If you don't, and she knows you are able, she is going to think less of you that is for sure. Unless you are lucky enough to date a filipina from a family that makes a good living, this just goes with the territory. You just have to figure out how far you are willing to go and where to draw the line. My line is immediate family and keeping them from dieing/starving... beyond that it is up to them. We are going to bring her mother to the US once my wife gets her citizenship.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-28 08:56:00
PhilippinesRestaurants/Coffee Shops near US Embassy
I may have to spend some time hanging out there when my wife is at her medical. Is the wifi free?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-24 00:49:00
PhilippinesI-864 question DCF manila
I am DCF through manila. I got my packet 3 which listed what I needed to have as far as income requirements. It listed only the 864 and my income tax copies.

Someone else recently posted a link with a list of requirements and it also listed a notarized letter from your employer stating salary. It was unclear to me fromthe list whether this was just an option or a requirement. Do I need to have such a letter when my wife goes for her interview with the i-864?? or is the i-864 form and tax returns enough?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-02 09:10:00
PhilippinesStill can't get an interview
Called the embassy again today. It looks like the service center has now processed my paperwork, but she says they aren't setting interviews right now and to call back. She said they are still doing interviews for december right now.

We are going to manila on the 13th of December to get the medical done and staying until the 17th. I wonder what the chances are of being able to call that week and see if there have been any cancellations, or to just show up on the 16th and see if someone does not show up for their interview slot?? Would be great if we could get it done while we are there, although it's not a big deal if it doesn't happen til later.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-03 02:54:00
PhilippinesWhat would YOU do?
Sweet. I am going to go ahead and book the trip.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-03 00:54:00
PhilippinesWhat would YOU do?
We are DCF filers. There is no NVC/NOA2 letter.

i'm not woried about booking her flight to the US. I am talking about whether to book flight/hotel to manila for both of us to take the medical vs. just a flight for me.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-02 09:12:00
PhilippinesWhat would YOU do?
I'm trying to figure out what to do in regards to my wife's medical for our visa.

We filed DCF and have sent the DS-230/interview request to the embassy. They have received the paperwork but it is not yet entered into the system to where the immigrant visa unit can assign us an interview. We are getting the 'call us back in X days to check again' routine. I am calling back tomorrow, which will be over two weeks since the documents were received (but they've had two holiday days in that time).

The problem is I am leaving on the 17th to go back to the USA to establish residence and prepare for my wife to come. My wife REALLY does not want to have to go to manila to do the medical without me.

I was hoping that we could get an interview set before I leave then fly to manila on the 13th or 14th and do the medical before my flight out, but as of now I'm not sure when we'll get an interview set... and it's about time to go ahead and book flight and hotels to make sure we have proper arrangements.

I have the official I-130 approval letter from packet 3 on embassy stationary with my MNL case #. I am not 100% sure this will get me into the medical. I am pretty sure we will get a january interview date and I am fine risking the lost fee on that bet. The medical I believe is good for at least 2 months so if we get it mid dec that means we have til mid feb to interview right?

Should I go ahead and book the flights and hotel for us both and take a chance on not getting into the medical at all since I don't have a piece of paper with interview date??? I don't want to waste the money on tickets/medical if I can't get into the medical. If we can't do the medical it will be just me flying to manila the 17th.

Help me obi wan kenobi.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-02 08:50:00
PhilippinesCENOMAR
you don' want to request it TOO close to the interview date, as it takes 3-5 business days wait to get it. It is not one that you can pick up the same day like birth certificate or marriage license.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-09 01:54:00
PhilippinesMY INTERVIEW ATUS EMBASSY MANILA
So is the CEMAR the same as the marriage index you mentioned?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-07 21:37:00
PhilippinesMY INTERVIEW ATUS EMBASSY MANILA
I hope my wife gets that lady for her interview! I'm just crossing my fingers she passes the medical next week if so she'll be heading to the US in february.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-07 02:33:00
PhilippinesMY INTERVIEW ATUS EMBASSY MANILA
Congratulations! A couple questions

By cenomar I am guessing you mean the CEMAR certificate of marriage that you get when you apply for a cenomar after married?

What is marriage index i've never heard of that is it required?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-07 01:36:00
PhilippinesCENMAR question
Me either why wouldn't the NSO marriage certificate be enough??
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-09 01:34:00
PhilippinesHave we gotten lazy?
speak for yourself. I did ALL the paperwork and went with her to pick up all the supporting documents. Just cuz your kano and a few others are lazy doesn't mean we all are ;) It probably depends on the type of guy though. I am more of a control type person I feel more comfortable knowing I did it and i'm used to filling out paperwork forms and she's not. All she had to do was sign :)
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-12-09 01:40:00
PhilippinesManila Embassy Review and summary of experiences
I'm pretty sure the man is not allowed to attend the CFO seminar.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-28 09:03:00
PhilippinesManila Embassy Review and summary of experiences
Thanks for the good read.

A couple questions. What was the fee for AIR21 delivery you paid and also was there a fee for biometrics and if so what? Any other fees you had to pay that day (visa related)?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-24 00:00:00
PhilippinesDecember 2010 Manila Embassy Interview Thread
Interesting maybe I can get the embassy to give me one of your dec 8th interview spots you're giving up ;) ideal time for me for interview would be on the 16th... but i'd take earlier.

monday is a holiday here in the philippines (sunday night us time) so don't bother calling the embassy then :)
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-27 05:58:00
PhilippinesDecember 2010 Manila Embassy Interview Thread
I just called today for us and no luck. At first they said they didn't receive our DS-230 so I had to find the receipt and track it and give them the # then she said that the paperwork had been sent to the processing unit monday but wasn't in the system where she could pull it up yet. She recommended to call back Tuesday. They'll be closed tomorrow. So not sure when I'll be able to get an interview. It'd be awesome if I could get one for Dec 16th but I'll settle for just knowing the date so we can get the medical out of the way that week as planned.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-23 23:49:00
PhilippinesDecember 2010 Manila Embassy Interview Thread
I don't know if the paperwork has changed since july, but the paperwork I received was very specific that you needed to fill out and send in the interview request. Did yours not say in the packet you needed to send it in? Mine had step by step instructions of what was needed. In my experience, the embassy/government does not really care about your circumstances so you will just have to hope for the best.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-19 22:54:00
PhilippinesDecember 2010 Manila Embassy Interview Thread
That's probably the # I need. Yes, still in the philippines for now.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-19 22:26:00
PhilippinesDecember 2010 Manila Embassy Interview Thread
It's a DCF it didn't go through NVC so pretty sure I have to call the embassy directly.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-19 22:08:00
PhilippinesDecember 2010 Manila Embassy Interview Thread
What is the embassy # you are calling to get your appointment? i need to call next week
BigJohnMalePhilippines2010-11-19 21:18:00
PhilippinesHow long to get visa from embassy in cebu?
My wife just had her interview today and was approved. Anyone have any experience on how long it takes to get a visa delivered to cebu?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2011-01-12 12:15:00
PhilippinesCFO Seminar at PRISM
Thanks for the description. What is the point of the BDO cards if you are leaving the country? Do they have some easy way to deposit money overseas so relatives can access it??

The cebu version is 400 pesos so i guess they just include the photocopies. We are just going to wait for our packet to get here before she goes.
BigJohnMalePhilippines2011-01-13 14:25:00
PhilippinesCFO Seminar at PRISM
Thanks -- i keep hearing about people taking the seminar before they get their visa -- how are they doing it if the immigrant summary is required? Do they have to go back and submit it later when they get the stamp?
BigJohnMalePhilippines2011-01-12 16:11:00