ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPlease Advice with my I-130
I think you just got caught in the Thanksgiving Holiday backup. Probably added several more days to the normal acceptance processing. I'm sure you'll get it very soon. I hope you also included a form G-1145 to your package...if you did you'll get e-mail and phone text notification when it's officially accepted. It's really nice (when it works).
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-12-09 18:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 was received and routed to the Vermont Center

Hi FRIENDS, I have great news--my I-130 has been received and routed to the Vermont Service Center for processing. They wrote on the e-mail that I will receive my official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with my Receipt Number. GOD is super GOOD!
What is our next Step? Remember am very new at this... Please let me know... So i can be one step ahead of this GAME! ;-)

nmercedes


Told you, didn't I!?

Now, your next step is to wait...until they approve you...and study up on the NVC process...maybe start getting the financial documentation for the I-864 in order.

Congrats! :dance: :dance:
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-12-10 20:23:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRecieved NOA2
Congratulations to all who got their NOA-2! :dance: :dance:
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-12-08 18:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresLetter of Accommodation

I am a US citizen living abroad and my husband and I will be moving to the US at the same time, so I needed to show arrangement for accommodations (a substitute for this could have also been a lease) since I currently am not in the US. Part of the domicile requirement proof for a US citizen living abroad using DCF.

Sorry about the confusion.


Ahh, OK...makes some sense now. A special case letter for a USC petitioning a beneficiary. I'm sure folks in that situation will find this useful.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-12-09 18:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresLetter of Accommodation
removed duplicate post...not sure how that happened.

Edited by magdasal, 08 December 2010 - 10:20 PM.

magdasalMalePhilippines2010-12-08 22:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresLetter of Accommodation
Yeah, I'm not sure what this is for...if you want to sponsor your wife, I don't see anything in the I-130 documents that even mentions a way that this could be useful. Sorry, maybe I missed something. How is this letter used and for what kind of visa?
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-12-08 22:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGot Approval

Hi VJ Family,

Letting you all know that i got my approval on December 2, 2010 after being touched on Dec 1, 2010. As i journey on to the NVC process, want to wish us all the best as we go thr this.


Congratulations :dance: :dance: :dance:

CSC is really tearing thru the September I-130s...it's amazing.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-12-03 17:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresYES, OUR IR1 APPROVED!!!
:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

Great news Loto! Happiest approval yet! Congrats!
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-12-02 06:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresG-325A Form Question

Hi!
I would say on your application put a N/A in the box for alien registration number, and on your wife's put her name at the bottom.


:thumbs:

And she has to sign her form as well, of course. Actually, on her form, she is the applicant, even if you are filing it out for her. You are just helping her fill it out...she is still required to sign it. I actually didn't print my name on the bottom of my form either...I typed it into the PDF form directly and printed it and signed it. That may not be technically correct, but USCIS didn't seem to have a problem with it.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-08 21:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRFE
One more thing...you are putting the "WAC.." letters in there is well, right? Not just the numbers. Sorry if you are, just trying to think of anything else, other than a USCIS computer issue, that might be behind these errors.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-09 16:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRFE

It's difficult waiting 3-5 days because I can't get to post office until Wednesday.. postal just left a pink slip with no info of sender.
It just showed large envelope and parcel were circled and it was described as white and hard.. I have an NAO1 and I was praying everything wasn't sent back.


Well, USCIS is a huge Government bureaucracy, so anything is possible in a small number of cases...but odds are, it's not that.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-09 13:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRFE
Sorry, I didn't realize the other fact in your case about not being in the system yet, so I do get what some of the nervousness is about. The only thing to do is get that package and see if it's from the USCIS. They pre-screen the packages for obvious, blatant errors and return them immediately if that is the case, but that usually happens before they cash the check and issue a number.

I don't know from first-hand experience, but from what I read here, they send RFE's via normal first class mail...takes a week to 10 days to get them...it's just a normal letter explaining what they need. This doesn't sound like it fits the profile of an RFE, but I'm no expert on it.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-09 13:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresRFE
Since you have solid evidence that it was accepted (case # and check cashed), I think you are getting worked up over nothing at this point. If you signed up for automatic e-mail and/or notifications you should get notified on any 'status' changes in your case, such as RFE's, transfers, approvals, etc. To get some info, why don't you sign into the USCIS tracking systems, set up your account with your case number, and see what it says:

https://egov.uscis.g...is/Dashboard.do

Otherwise, you'll remain completely in the dark and drive yourself nuts.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-09 12:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresOnly one fee generated?

Got my NVC case number, and Invoice number. Went online to the payment site, and found only the AOS fee had been generated, not the IV fee. I paid the AOS fee $88. When can I expect the IV fee to be generated? Does it depend on their receiving the email DS-3032? first?. I am the U.S. Petitioner.

Oops this may be the wrong forum I should have put this in the sub-forum.


I believe they generate the IV bill after they receive the DS-3032.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-11 19:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSIF & CASE COMPLETED AT NVC

Just an update guys: checked online and SIF yesterday. called NVC today and they confirmed that the case completed today. Pheeeeew.... what a relief. Nvc said to wait a couple of weeks for an interview date in Manila. I am assuming end of feb.


Congrats, you are on your way :dance:

Actually, I would hope you would land an interview before April though...is it really taking that long to get an interview scheduled at USEM these days?
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-11 22:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHelp please, I am really counfused now!!!

I got the same info. The weirdest thing is I sent the package for my wife and my two stepsons. I got the same email for each case number.


I think it's time for a phone call to USCIS to clear it up. May be a temporary glitch (they do seem to be having a lot of technical issues since December) or they may have things truly fouled up.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-09 21:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHelp please, I am really counfused now!!!
On first glance it looks to me like they got the wires crossed and somehow you were sent an e-mail intended for another case. Put your recipt number into the USCIS tracking site and see what it says:

https://egov.uscis.g...is/Dashboard.do
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-09 13:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat do you think is best... Emailing or mailing the DS-3032 (Choice of agent form) to the NVC?

Thanks for providing that info.

Also, when can I ask my wife to send the email? Do I have to wait until after I receive the NOA2 in the mail or can she send it out earlier? When did you guys have your partners send it?


I believe you can do it as soon as you have an NVC case number. You can call the NVC to get it or it will be sent to you.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-17 06:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat do you think is best... Emailing or mailing the DS-3032 (Choice of agent form) to the NVC?

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate the help.

What should the format of the email be? Does my wife have to actually send the DS-3032 form filled out by email or is there a certain format to follow? And to which email do I ask her to send it to?


We used this format exactly. Just filled in the information.

Format for E-Mail DS-3032
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-16 23:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat do you think is best... Emailing or mailing the DS-3032 (Choice of agent form) to the NVC?
My wife sent hers by e-mail and they processed it in a couple of days and sent us a confirmation e-mail when they finished. Really fast and easy.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-16 21:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCalifornia Service Center To Texas Service Center
:dance: :dance: :dance:

Congrats to all of you who finally made it thru this nightmare. I've been watching this thread for quite a while now and really felt for you guys. Unreal! TSC screwed this up bigtime, but thank God they are finally starting to clean up the mess they've made of your lives.

Again Congrats and best wishes for a speedy trip thru NVC.

P.S. For those of you still waiting, continued prayers for a speedy approval...now that it appears that TSC actually does approve petitions.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-01-25 20:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresneed help asap!!!

hey all


I got my papers back and ready to be sent out ... but.. question is my preparer was about to send it out with out any photo copies attached to the IV and check list package? good move?

should I make a set of copies for the IV package??? I need replies asap please I need to send it out asap as well thank you. :help:



Yes! The DOS instructions are quite clear about it. So glad you caught it:

Photocopy Requirements
You and each family member immigrating with you must also submit a photocopy of the original documents or certified copies of the documents.


Here is the official link:

DS-230 Instructions
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-02-14 21:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-134

Right, I have no dependents. Let's say for some reason they don't think I have enough money to support him....will they just request someone else (like my parents) to fill out the form or will the whole application be rejected? That's what I am concerned about?


Then your parents can be a co-sponser if, for some reason, you don't meet the 125% of the poverty level and they do. Very simple. As long as you (or your co-sponser) can meet that very low 125% level, no worries.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 18:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-134

I am stressing out over this form! I am 24 and am living at home (so I don't have a mortgage or any property of value) I make about 32K a year and have only a few thousand in savings. Is this enough for the Affidavit of Support?


You make 32K a year? Then that's well above the 125% poverty level required...you're fine. Just get the documentation together and no worries.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 17:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSigned and Dated g-325a attachments
For some strange reason, I can't edit posts. Anybody else seeing that?
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 19:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSigned and Dated g-325a attachments

Gotcha. Anything that is a form or is attached to a form should be an original. My next question is, in what cases can we provide copies?


Pretty much anything other than a form.

There have been vigorous debates I've read here about affidavits being originals...but people I trust, who have made it through with no problems, have had not problems with copies of these as well.

I would, however, advise you to make sure that copies of anything you submitted with the packet, with an official signature on it, be available in original form for your fiancee, so she can present it during the interview, if asked for it.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 19:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSigned and Dated g-325a attachments

Gotcha. Anything that is a form or is attached to a form should be an original. My next question is, in what cases can we provide copies?


Pretty much anything other than a form.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 18:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSigned and Dated g-325a attachments

In the I-129Finstr.pdf it says:

Copies. Unless specifically required that an original document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary legible photocopy may be submitted. Original documents submitted when not required will remain a part of the record, even if the submission was not required.

Nothing I have read specifically specifies that a form needs to be original. Where does it say that?


I hate to say this, but that is common knowledge. Sorry. With all forms requiring a signature, the signature must be original. I don't have a citation to prove it any more that I can prove that the IRS requires original signatures on your tax forms.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 18:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSigned and Dated g-325a attachments

Hi, I forgot to ask my fiancee to sign her work history attachments for the g-325a document before leaving from Mexico. Is it okay if she signs and dates and faxes it to me? That would not be an original signature, but a copy. Is that ok?


Technically, no, they require original signatures on all for the 'forms' in the packet, including form attachments. Ask your fiancee to get an original signed version into the mail (or Fedex or whatever) to you asap. They may or may not catch it, but they probably will. Well, you do have 30 days from the time they catch it and notify you of an RFE to get the correction back to them.

Good luck! And don't stress over it.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 17:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed to take a class to come from the phils

Yeah, it's called the CFO Seminar and your filipina significant other will need to get a CFO stamp on her passport to leave the country. It's a requirement of the Philippines Government, not the US, so you won't see anything about it in any of the visa application documents or requirements. Actually, unless your intended already has a passport, she will not be able to get one without attending this seminar. But for those who already have a passport, it may not be readily apparent.


Here is the official website for the CFO:

Philippine Govt CFO Website
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 17:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed to take a class to come from the phils

There is a seminar you are required to take before you can leave the Philippines and go abroad. It is about informing you on your rights abroad. You must take this seminar or they will not allow you to fly out of manila. Found this out the hard way, my girl did not attend the class. I never seen any mention of it in all the visa papers i filed for my fiancee. When you go for your interview at the consulate, ask about it.


Yeah, it's called the CFO Seminar and your filipina significant other will need to get a CFO stamp on her passport to leave the country. It's a requirement of the Philippines Government, not the US, so you won't see anything about it in any of the visa application documents or requirements. Actually, unless your intended already has a passport, she will not be able to get one without attending this seminar. But for those who already have a passport, it may not be readily apparent.

Edited by magdasal, 06 September 2010 - 05:14 PM.

magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-06 17:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresUSCIS case status update

The updates are what VJ refers to as 'touches.' All petitions have their own bar-code and each time your petition is moved that bar-code gets scanned which registers as an update. Some people will get many of these during their Initial Review, where as others won't get any. Your petition will remain in Initial Review until it has been approved and you receive your 2nd Notice of Action.


Exactly. Touches don't mean anything at all, except that somebody at USCIS looked at your package. In fact, it is certainly looked at far more often than that. It just gives you some very weak feedback that something is happening...though you have no idea what that something is. It's actually good that such a system is in place. After many months of no activity, a touch can give you some hope that you haven't been completely forgotten. Of course, it works the other way too..some people have only gotten one or two touches after their initial filing, then suddenly gotten approved. Kind of jarring, but a pleasant surprise. Anyway, don't get too concerned about it...if you get touches or not, it doesn't seem to mean much as far as your approval date goes.
magdasalMalePhilippines2010-09-08 21:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Visa: Should I bother?
Based on what you've described, you'll probably want to go ahead and get married and go for a CR-1. Since you'll know then what level of evidence is required. Sounds like it would be tough sledding for a K-1 based on the skimpy evidence you have and not yet meeting the 125% poverty line level. USEM doesn't often allow joint sponsors on K-1's either, so that more or less removes that option.

That was just my 2 cents...I'm sure you'll get other advice.

Best of luck to you both!
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-04-14 18:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresInterview and Plane Ticket
Depends on how likely you feel the chances of approval are. But they don't operate on anybody's timeline but their own...so if something get's delayed or the interview doesn't go as smoothly as expected, then you may be disappointed. Having said that, I'm sure people do this all the time. YMMV :) and good luck with your interview!
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-04-01 18:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresConcerned after being over questioned at the airport

Another question I have is - do they know you filed a K-1? Is it in their computer or something? If it isn't, I would just say I went on a pleasure trip and not even mention my fiance to begin with.


In my case, the officer (I can't remember if this was immigration or customs) brought it up. He specifically asked the purpose of my trip...I said pleasure...he then asked specifically if I had met a woman there...and after I said yes, it was off to the races.

My questioning only lasted about 5 minutes at the booth...but I was the only one I noticed who got that barrage of questions, so I hit a profile trigger, I'm sure. "Hrmmmm....Single guy travelling to Philippines...he must be buying a mail-order bride or something."

It was very embarrassing though, because there was a big line of people within earshot.

Edited by magdasal, 24 April 2011 - 03:54 PM.

magdasalMalePhilippines2011-04-24 15:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresConcerned after being over questioned at the airport

A similar thing happened to me when I was returning from Vietnam one time. So it's not just a MENA thing. The questioning can be tough to see if the story changes.

My rights weren't violated and I didn't feel offended. I was more worried about making my connecting flight.


Had it happen to me when returning from the Philippines to see my soon to be wife too (I'm a USC).... They gave me the third degree all about my (then) finance, how old she was, how did we meet, then the officer ended by telling me that she probably just wants to marry me to get a visa and bring her family over here. He said that's what most of them do!

I just blew it off...at least it looks like it's not discrimination.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-04-24 14:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRFE for proof or citizenship....
You did the right thing...always give them exactly what they ask for...especially when they get very specific about what they want to see, as in this case.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-05-14 09:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRFE received a couple days ago

DHL is quick but way too expensive for her. My work schedule is also really hectic this week for me to find time to send her money. She'll use LBC to get it here. Still pricey but not nearly as much as DHL and it will still be here quickly.


Actually, my wife has used LBC several times to send me documents...LBC partners with DHL for packages sent from the Philippines to the US, so they wind up being handed off to DHL once it gets to the states anyway....and we've always found them to be very fast...in some cases only 4 or 5 days.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-06-27 06:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures(^_^)
I was in the exact position you are last week...waiting for the HK police certificate to arrive at the USEM. As far as I know, the embassy doesn't notify you that they have received it. I decided to call them myself. That's the only way to really know. The first time I called they said they hadn't received it yet...so I waited a week and called again and they told me they had received it and the visa was already approved, released and at the printer.

Just keep calling until you get the good news...
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-07-31 23:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTracking Visa
This is the phone number I used to find out(Philippines only)...230-12000.
magdasalMalePhilippines2011-08-04 05:28:00