Questions about which embassy to use?

[TravandLhen 23]

I am getting ready to file a K1 next week and I have a question that maybe someone can help me out with, maybe you had the same experience and can share their story with me.

My fiancé is from the Philippines. She has been working in Dubai for over a year now so I know already I need to file through Dubai. She does have her Resident Card to show proof she is a legal resident. My question is which Embassy will she have to go through for the interview and stuff. I know there is a Embassy in Dubai and also one in Abu Dhabi?

Anyone know if her working in Dubai the past year and not being in the Philippines if it will make this process longer?

Thanks for any input. Have a great day!

Travis

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from K1 Process to Phil. Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is country-specific~

[Brassballs 47]

I'm not expert so someone else feel free to correct me.

I believe since she is Filipina, with legal residency in PI, even though currently residing in Dubai, paperwork would flow through Manila. Only requirement from Dubai would be a clean police report.

Even if interview would be / could be in Dubai all of the documents required by USCIS would be of Philippine origin and NSO originals.

Interesting question. Waiting to see other responses to possibly correct me.

Jim

[VOL 425]

I'm not expert so someone else feel free to correct me.

I believe since she is Filipina, with legal residency in PI, even though currently residing in Dubai, paperwork would flow through Manila. Only requirement from Dubai would be a clean police report.

Even if interview would be / could be in Dubai all of the documents required by USCIS would be of Philippine origin and NSO originals.

Interesting question. Waiting to see other responses to possibly correct me.

Jim

It can be where she is working

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Here is the website for the US Embassy in Dubai. I believe she will file there in UAE so she does not have to go back and forth to Manila. Others will chime in and correct me if I am wrong. https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-AE/niv

If she is still there then she will need a police background record.

Police Records

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

Police certificates may be obtained by any person, regardless of nationality, by personally appearing at the Central Police Headquarters located in the emirate of residence or former residence. When appearing to request a police certificate, the applicant should provide recent photographs, a letter from the requesting authority, the date of residence in the emirate, and their passport.

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

If she goes, please have report back here to this thread so others can learn from her experience.

Edited March 11, 2015 by Greenbaum

[TravandLhen 23]

Thank you for the info so far. I will pass this onto her. I will update as often as I get info in.

[manilaraf 28]

Wouldn't you be able to know where things happen once the NVC assigns a case number? Would her case get an Abu Dhabi or Dubai case number? Or even if she's an OFW working in the UAE, the case would still have an MNL prefix and USEM would handle the case?

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Let me correct something. You guys will still file to NVC in the USA but you must request which Embassy you'll use. Again, I suggest UAE Embassy not Manila unless she is planning on moving back to the Phil in about 3 months, then you will ask for USEM Manila. If she selects UAE, She can't fly on her visa to the USA through the Philippines, but travel on her current documentation then once in Phil travel on the USA visa.

I'm not a 100% sure so chime in if someone has had a different experience.

[TravandLhen 23]

She is definitely not going back to the Phillipines anytime soon, so I will be using the UAE embassy for filing, so she can do all her medical and interview there. I know the Phillipines is usually pretty quick with interview turnarounds, I hope UAE is just as quick.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

She is definitely not going back to the Philippines anytime soon, so I will be using the UAE embassy for filing, so she can do all her medical and interview there. I know the Philippines is usually pretty quick with interview turnarounds, I hope UAE is just as quick.

Head on over to the UAE thread and stay in touch with both Phil and UAE threads. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/97-middle-east-and-north-Africa/

Also, here are other's experiences for UAE: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=United+Arab+Emirates&cty=&dfilter=5

Further information for the Police Certificate.

You can approach this in two different ways.

1. If you have a smart phone download the Ministry of Interiors app

- search for UAE - MOI in your app store

- Select Criminal Status under the Police tab

- Login/Register and apply for one (translated to English)

- Typical wait time is 2-5 business days later via Empost Courier

2. OR, go to either a police station which issues the clearances or a MOI service center

- There is a MOI service center located in Marina Mall (note this doesn't open until 3pm and is only open until 7pm)

- You pay the fee (show your Emirates ID) and you are given a receipt to collect the certificate 24 hours later from a police station

- The only police station I know that does this service for sure is Al Shabiya Police Station (located on Al Sada near the Dusit hotel) - I originally went to Khalifa City A police station and the officer muttered Al Shabiya and maybe Yas Island

- It looks like you can do the entire process at Al Shabiya (cutting out the Marina Mall visit) but it was chaos, given I had a receipt the officer took it and with in 30 seconds I had my certificate

- The certificate will be in Arabic so you will need to take it to be translated etc.

The experience of some is that the app is the better way to go because the certificate sometimes is delivered in 2 days fully translated, otherwise you need to stand in lines and then you still will need to have it translated.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

She is definitely not going back to the Phillipines anytime soon, so I will be using the UAE embassy for filing, so she can do all her medical and interview there. I know the Phillipines is usually pretty quick with interview turnarounds, I hope UAE is just as quick.

BTW, report back here on your processing and update us on your progress and what you did to achieve your visa. Your information would be good for others contemplating your same path.