k1 visa inquiry issues

[Mj Ona 0]

Hello, 

 

I am originally from Philippines, I am currently working here in UAE..

 

My fiancee and I is planning to get a K1 visa where I can process every requirements in UAE philippines Consulate. 

 

My concern is this : IF I ACQUIRE AND PROCESS MY K1 VISA HERE IN UAE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DEPART FROM PHILIPPINES? OR I SHOULD DEPART FROM UAE AS WELL? 

 

thats our concern

 

Thank you, 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

You can depart from anywhere in the world to enter the US with your K-1. 

[Mj Ona 0]

2 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

You can depart from anywhere in the world to enter the US with your K-1. 

oh really? that's cool! actually thats my fear that if I get my fiancee visa here in uae i must depart from here as well.. 

 

in todays status, is it safer to apply in philiipines or in middle east?

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Frankly, the US embassy in Manila is a lot easier to deal with and they have a high rate of K-1 approvals.

[doggieandsam 765]

12 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

Frankly, the US embassy in Manila is a lot easier to deal with and they have a high rate of K-1 approvals.

no, not entirely true. if OP is living and working in the UAE, it's time consuming and expensive to travel back and forth to attend the interview in Manila.

[doggieandsam 765]

57 minutes ago, Mj Ona said:

Hello, 

 

I am originally from Philippines, I am currently working here in UAE..

 

My fiancee and I is planning to get a K1 visa where I can process every requirements in UAE philippines Consulate. 

 

My concern is this : IF I ACQUIRE AND PROCESS MY K1 VISA HERE IN UAE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DEPART FROM PHILIPPINES? OR I SHOULD DEPART FROM UAE AS WELL? 

 

thats our concern

 

Thank you, 

Yes, it is ok to depart from the Philippines. But you have to know that in doing so, you will have to pay applicable exit fees plus you have to attend a CFO there as well.

If you are working and living in the UAE, it is much more convenient to get your K1 visa processed here. You can certainly do the processing in Manila, but know that you have to IN Manila to attend your interviews and medical. if you have the time and funds to travel back and forth then go for it.

Also, it is the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi that will issue the visa (not the UAE Philippine Consulate).

I am in the process of doing my K1 in the UAE right now. I can help in case you have any questions. Good luck!

[Mj Ona 0]

Just now, iamdegie said:

Yes, it is ok to depart from the Philippines. But you have to know that in doing so, you will have to pay applicable exit fees plus you have to attend a CFO there as well.

If you are working and living in the UAE, it is much more convenient to get your K1 visa processed here. You can certainly do the processing in Manila, but know that you have to IN Manila to attend your interviews and medical. if you have the time and funds to travel back and forth then go for it.

Also, it is the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi that will issue the visa (not the UAE Philippine Consulate).

I am in the process of doing my K1 in the UAE right now. I can help in case you have any questions. Good luck!

oh wow thank you!

 

Actually, thats our major concern. because we are planning to get married in US when i get there. and if I depart from here in UAE, I wont be able to see my family at least before I leave.. 

 

ahmm, you mean if I apply the visa application here and would like to depart from Manila, I have to pay exit fees or CFO (which means what?? ) hehe! 

 

or it would be like get my k1 visa here (once granted) then take it to philippines and book a ticket from manila to us? is it possible?

[doggieandsam 765]

yeah, i thought about that as well. i dunno exactly how much the exit fees are now, but i reckon you should pay not more than 5k Php for travel tax and terminal fees. CFO is that seminar you have to attend at the Commission on Overseas Filipinos (CFO) office  for all intending immigrants. You will not be allowed to board your plane in Manila if you do not have that CFO stamp on your passport.

or it would be like get my k1 visa here (once granted) then take it to philippines and book a ticket from manila to us? is it possible?  -- yes, this is possible, but you need to pay the exit fees and attend the CFO. see above.

 

or another option is: once you get your visa, file for annual leave from your job, go home to your family for a few weeks, come back to the UAE, tender your resignation then pack up and leave from here.

 

Edited July 2, 2017 by iamdegie

[geowrian 22,335]

If she is a Filipino citizen and leaving from PH to the US, then she will need to attend the CFO seminar (and pay the ~$10 fee) and get the stamp in her passport. Without that, they will not let her board to the US on a K-1 visa.

[JE57 239]

Once you have a K-1 Visa stuck in your passport then you will not be able to fly from the Philippines to Anywhere without dedicating the better part of a day to the CFO seminar.  Also you'd need to pay travel tax.   It is perhaps possible that you would be allowed to return to work in UAE with a K-1 in your passport if you still had a valid employment contract but I would not count on that..   I would suggest process in UAE...   Go back to Philippines just before the interview and then fly back for the interview.    You can return to UAE from the Philippines and not pay travel tax as you are residing overseas.  You can apply at the counter at the airport for exemption and you don't have any concerns about CFO in that case.    

 

[Mj Ona 0]

we decided to start the visa application on Octover where my fiancee will submits side in the embassy which will take 4-5 months which will also give me time until January to come home in philippines for good and start the real process there.

 

my question is when I started the k1 visa application in philippines, do i have to to obtain a police clearance from UAE since I worked here for 2 years or just a police clearance from philippines only?

[geowrian 22,335]

39 minutes ago, Mj Ona said:

we decided to start the visa application on Octover where my fiancee will submits side in the embassy which will take 4-5 months which will also give me time until January to come home in philippines for good and start the real process there.

 

my question is when I started the k1 visa application in philippines, do i have to to obtain a police clearance from UAE since I worked here for 2 years or just a police clearance from philippines only?

It's taking 6-8 months on average right now. Things slowed down towards the end of last year (or more precisely, the workload increased considerably).

 

Yes, the beneficiary will need a police clearance from all countries where they have resided for at least 6 months.

[Goldfish_0529 38]

On 7/6/2017 at 8:55 PM, Mj Ona said:

we decided to start the visa application on Octover where my fiancee will submits side in the embassy which will take 4-5 months which will also give me time until January to come home in philippines for good and start the real process there.

 

my question is when I started the k1 visa application in philippines, do i have to to obtain a police clearance from UAE since I worked here for 2 years or just a police clearance from philippines only?

Hi there Mj Ona...as far as i know , UAE will not give you police clearance unless you are currently residing in UAE.. 

[geowrian 22,335]

I'm not too familiar with UAE's processes, but that does sound correct based on the reciprocity chart: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/fees/reciprocity-by-country/AE.html

"Available, only if applicant is physically present in the UAE."

"Not available by mail. Post recommends that consular officers waive the general requirement to obtain police certificates unless the applicant lives in the UAE."

[hardrockangel 21]

If you will move to Philippines to process your K1 application and exit from UAE..then you don't need a police clearance from UAE