Where do I start.

I am military and married a Filipina in Korea 2 years ago. Last november I filed her 130 at the CIS office in Seoul. It was transfered to Manila CIS for document verification in January. Now I am back in America in New Mexico and my wife and 6 month old son are in the Philippines.

I have contacted the CIS office in Seoul and they will only say it's pending on document verification. I have tried countless times calling the CIS office in Manila and they won't even talk to me. They either say they don't accept inquries or give me an extension to call that doesn't work. I have called the Senators office here in New Mexico and asked for assistance. They asked for the reciept number for my case. I was never given one when I filed at the CIS office in Korea. I was only given a reciept for payment and the number that was on it didn't work for the online inquiry.

The staffer for the senators office told me there was nothing she could do without a reciept number. She said either wait or file again. I have gone to the legal office on base and they told me the same thing, either wait or file again.

What can I do...I am beginning to shut down. I know this process takes time but, when everyone I have talked to that got a Visa while in korea it took them around 3 months, Including my best friend who Filed the same time I did.

What advice or any information to find out whats going on can you guys give me. I am to the point of desperation. Can I bring her over on some other type of visa? anything?

Please help

Jason

Just got off the phone with the USCIS 1-800 Number. He told me they couldn't do anything since the petition was filed overseas, they gave me the number to the NVC (Dept of state). Called them and they said the same thing, they couldn't do anything since it was filed overseas. They told me to contact Seoul.

I've called Seoul in the past and they won't tell me anything so I guess I am stuck

Hi,

Have you tried this number at the Manila Embassy 528-6300 extension 5184. A number of Manila VJers have talked to the lady at that extension and they all say she is very helpful. Try to explain and plead your case with her.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

I always tried that number and extension but she never there.. Try extension 5185

Take care

yogi

Jason,

Doesn't your base have legal staff that could advise and assist you with this? Servicemen (and women) marrying foreigners when on overseas assignment is not unusual.

If not, have a consultation with a civilian immigration attorney in your area. Perhaps filing a new I-130 petition with the appropriate USCIS Service Center here in the USA would be the most pragmatic solution to the impasse.

Yodrak

AMERICAN CITIZEN SERVICES:

Tel: 63-2-528-6300 x2246 or x2555, Fax: 63-2-522-3242

Email: acsinfomanila@state.gov

Hours of Operation :

Mon thru Fri 7:30am - 11:00am, Telephone inquiries 3:00pm - 4:00pm

OR

Local Address:
U.S. Embassy
Consular Section
1201 Roxas Boulevard
Manila, Philippines

U.S. Address:
U.S. Embassy
Consular Section
PSC 500, Box 26
FPO AP 96515-1000
Telephone: (632) 528-6300
Fax: (632) 523-1356

Yodrak - I have talked to legal and he suggested filing here in the US. I don't like that idea due to the fact that the 6 months we have waited already will be wasted and whats the average wait time for here in the US a year or more?

Griffin- Thanks but I have called those numbers on countless occasions and they either don't pick up or some rude filipino answers and says they don't do inquires and hangs up before i can get a word in.

Jason,

I understand. But the 6 months are gone in any event. The question now is what is going to be the most expedient way to get your wife here starting now - continue to pursue the black hole in Manilla or submit a fresh petition to your domestic Service Center?

Good luck with whichever route you chose.

Yodrak

Jason, are you using extension 2224 to reach Manila CIS? Calling the Consulate might not do anything for you if you are still waiting on the I-130.

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices...m#anchorcontact

Also, is there any chance of your family returning to Korea, or does your wife plan to apply for her visa in Manila instead?

I'm disappointed to hear that about the staffer---that shows very limited thinking on their part. They certainly *can* follow up with overseas USCIS office, but it sounds like they aren't familiar with anything other than US filed cases.

Faxing Seoul might net you a better reply also.
Korea CIS office:
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices...m#anchorcontact
Hours of Operation:
The office is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. It is closed on Korean and American holidays.
If calling from the United States, please dial 011 first.

Phone: For general inquiries in Korean or English, please call the following numbers: (822) 397-4282 or (822) 397-4548

Fax: For specific case inquiries, a fax is preferable. Our fax number is (822) 720-7419.

I would agree to file in the US, Not real sure who said to file in Korea. Seems odd to me. If you are in the military more than likely you can apply for a expidite when the case gets to Manila anyways. The wait seems to be faster than when i filed also.

Well, according to the regulations, you have to file at the consulate in the country you got married. Jason got married in Korea, so he had to file at the Seoul consulate.

I was going to go this route, like Jason, but I have chosen to try to bring my fiancee over to the US on the K-1.

Jason, I hope it works out for you and your family.

Which regulations say you must file at the Consulate where you marry? Filing is typically based on residency of one or the other partner.
Maybe you were thinking of the K-3 visa, which can only be applied for in the country where the marriage took place (unless in the US, then it defaults to beneficiary's residence) ?

The OP was posted in Korea, his wife was resident there, something went wrong in this case.

Well still can't get through to the CIS office in Manila. I still can;t believe we got Filipino nationals working US Immigration cases. Nothing against them but with all the corruption in P.I. you know it trickles down into our embassy.

Is there anyway to bring my wife over while we wait? Any exception to policies I don't Know about?

Most of our Immigration departments really don't care about one person(unless you are a worker ), that's been the problem for alot of us thru the process. It's not just Manila.

If you have a case pending for a Visa more than likely they won't let her goto the US.

Hey I'm really sorry it didn't work out going through Seoul. It appears from my own experience with them that they are not all that competant anyhow. They managed to issue my visa in my maiden name, and subsequently my green card was issued in that name too. Even though they reassured me on the day of the interview that my SS # and green card would be in my married name. Hopefully if you do file here in the US, you can find some senator that will expedite the case for you, as you have had a long enough wait as it is. Best Wishes!

Did you ever re-try Seoul? You need to find out which office physically has your I-130. I think it is Seoul. They may be able to get some action out of Manila if they're waiting on Manila (find out *who* in Manila they are waiting on--could be a phils gov't office, not the USCIS office).

kelly: errors in your visa would be from the Dept of State IV folks, not USCIS? I know, two flavors of the same dish.

Well still nothing, I can't get thru to Manila still. I have just wrote 2 more assistance letters, 1 to my other senator in California. Ant the other to the Director of CIS ( I'll proly get some generic, thanks for your concern blah blaah blah reply)

I have called Seoul many times, only thing I can get out of them is they are waiting on Document Verification from the CIS Office in Seoul. They aren't very helpful when you ask them anything beyond that. I will call Seoul again and have them put an American on the phone so I can see if they will do some type of inquiry.

hmm.
You need to get some action going---if you want to keep on this one (not a bad idea) it sounds like time to get one of your Senators or Reps involved and get them yelling down the phone for you. Or buttering up, or whatever they do.
I think your idea to get a more senior person on the line first yourself is A-1--don't delay!

The only other option is to re-file in the US and you are looking at another year before your wife gets to the US. Less appealing, if it were me.

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