Playing the waiting game now....

[marcodonaldson 0]

Hi all...I'm new to the forum, great place for info and advice first off all =) On March 30 I received the NOA1 and they said my forms are being sent to the California Service Center. Looking online my timeline for the NOA2 looks to be 5 months. Anybody else have earlier or later waiting times?

In the meantime, I want to give my fiance some information she herself can start preparing before the interview at the Embassy in Manila. She lives in the province. Our ultimate goal is to be married by the end of this year; small family wedding only.

This whole process is exciting but at the same time a test of patience...thanks in advance for your responses!

[Kish.2328 9]

Since you're from CSC (California Service Center) you might get lucky and have an approval in just a month or two, or you may not and have to wait at least 4-5 months. Those (some) who are from Vermont Service Center got approve 5-6 months since their NOA1.

Your fiancée should start preparing the following:

Birth certificate from NSO

CENOMAR and NBI (Its best to let her get a copy of it prior to her interview because it needs to be recent)

Then you should prepare the Affidavit of Support, she needs that on her interview. It should be signed and dated and needs to be recent prior to her interview.

Edited May 9, 2011 by Kish.2328

[I+H 11]

Hi all...I'm new to the forum, great place for info and advice first off all =) On March 30 I received the NOA1 and they said my forms are being sent to the California Service Center. Looking online my timeline for the NOA2 looks to be 5 months. Anybody else have earlier or later waiting times?

In the meantime, I want to give my fiance some information she herself can start preparing before the interview at the Embassy in Manila. She lives in the province. Our ultimate goal is to be married by the end of this year; small family wedding only.

This whole process is exciting but at the same time a test of patience...thanks in advance for your responses!

Our approval came in a little over 3 months, but I have seen others who filed before us that have still not gotten their NOA2s.It really just depends.

I am sure others will come along with great advice concerning your embassy, but your now you can start checking out the embassy by locating it through the "EMBASSY INFO" tab up top, if you already haven't. Check out other's reviews at the embassy to get an idea of what to expect.

We wish you both the best of luck!

[marcodonaldson 0]

Since you're from CSC (California Service Center) you might get lucky and have an approval in just a month or two, or you may not and have to wait at least 4-5 months. Those (some) who are from Vermont Service Center got approve 5-6 months since their NOA1.

Your fiancée should start preparing the following:

Birth certificate from NSO

CENOMAR and NBI (Its best to let her get a copy of it prior to her interview because it needs to be recent)

Then you should prepare the Affidavit of Support, she needs that on her interview. It should be signed and dated and needs to be recent prior to her interview.

Thanks Kish for the info! Quick question, what is the NBI? I'm sure I've read it before but I'm exactly familiar with the acronyms yet.

[marcodonaldson 0]

Our approval came in a little over 3 months, but I have seen others who filed before us that have still not gotten their NOA2s.It really just depends.

I am sure others will come along with great advice concerning your embassy, but your now you can start checking out the embassy by locating it through the "EMBASSY INFO" tab up top, if you already haven't. Check out other's reviews at the embassy to get an idea of what to expect.

We wish you both the best of luck!

Indeed, I've talked with people I personally know and the timeline really does vary. One person told me it was only 4 months, another said 5. I will look into the Embassy info. Since she lives on a different island I want to try and minimize the amount of times she needs to fly to Manila. Thanks for the info!

[chzuga 0]

Thanks Kish for the info! Quick question, what is the NBI? I'm sure I've read it before but I'm exactly familiar with the acronyms yet.

NBI CLEARANCE: Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Clearances should be in the applicant�s current name, birth certificate name, maiden name and any aliases or nicknames ever used, including different spellings of all names ever used. An official letter of explanation from the NBI is required for any notation of no criminal record, no pending criminal case and no derogatory record. NBI is located along Taft Avenue in Manila. For immigration purposes, an NBI clearance is considered valid only for one year from the date it is issued.

Also here is a Wikipedia link listing the regional offices there that your gf can check out. --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bureau_of_Investigation_%28Philippines%29

we are BOTH in the same "boat" I just put in the I-129F last March the 9th - normally, it takes around 5-6 months. I have been told that in the summer months, they are known to work faster so, we may get lucky and get approved it earlier. Let's keep our fingers crossed for that!

[Sirdaniel42 86]

Hi, it took us 77 days to get approved

I do not know what we did different from everybody else but we followed to guides from VJ to the letter.

Goodluck and succes with your journey.

[KevinF 3]

Good luck. Hope your wait is short.You probably have better odds from California. Their time frames appear to be faster than Vermont.

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

Hi, it took us 77 days to get approved

I do not know what we did different from everybody else but we followed to guides from VJ to the letter.

Goodluck and succes with your journey.

Our approval time was similarly short. I do not think we necessarily did anything different to anyone else. Lots of people file a 'correct' package (no RFEs) and still have along wait for approval. I think it is a combination of having a 'simple' case (with us) (no previous filings, no children involved,no previous marriages, sufficient proof of meeting and relationship, no 'red flags' etc), using the CSC as the waiting times are shorter at the moment, and luck of the draw!

Congratulations on being approved so quickly though! With us, the AOS was also very quick to be approved,I hope it is the same for you.

OP-

As another poster said...it's a good idea to have your fiancee get things organised while you wait. Good luck!

Edited May 9, 2011 by Helen Louise Pile

[Maleman 5]

Once you have received your NOA2, wait about 10 to 15 business days, and then call the Phil embassy to see if they have received your K-1 packet. If they have, then your goal here is to set an appointment. Remember to set an appointment date in advance, allowing time for her medical to be scheduled. You do not have to wait to be scheduled for a medical appointment once you have a copy of your approved NOA2, letter from the NVC, and an email from the embassy stating that you have an interview date. The other concern is never assume you will fly through the medical. The medical seemed far more difficult than the interview in our case. My fiancée then, now wife, got caught up in hold during her medical screening. So, this is something to think about. A large number of Filipinos incur various reasons to get held up in during their medical.

[dindo and patty 20]

Hello...I just filed for K-1, too on April 1, 2011 and it is through California Service Center. Get your Fiancee to join the Pretty Ladies (VJ) on Facebook. It is a group of Filipinas who are either going through the same process or have already gone through it. They are very helpful and provide a plethora of information regarding the process. Good luck!

Hi all...I'm new to the forum, great place for info and advice first off all =) On March 30 I received the NOA1 and they said my forms are being sent to the California Service Center. Looking online my timeline for the NOA2 looks to be 5 months. Anybody else have earlier or later waiting times?

In the meantime, I want to give my fiance some information she herself can start preparing before the interview at the Embassy in Manila. She lives in the province. Our ultimate goal is to be married by the end of this year; small family wedding only.

This whole process is exciting but at the same time a test of patience...thanks in advance for your responses!

Edited May 9, 2011 by dindo and patty

[marcodonaldson 0]

I will say these last couple days have allowed me to absorb a ton of info from VJ. I am soooo thankful I came across this website. To give a quick update, I'm in the process of gathering copies of my apps and proofs of relationship so I can mail them to my fiance sometime late June/early July. I'm crossing my fingers we get our NOA2 early August, as projected.

For those familiar with the Philippine process, would it be possible I schedule her medical exam and embassy interview within the same time frame of her being in Manila? Reason being is she is from Aklan and works as an elementary schoolteacher. I would hate to have her make multiple trips. Not to mention me pay multiple plane tickets. I also saw that there is an NBI office on her island in Iloilo City. She will be going there anyway later this month to obtain her passport. Can she also have her criminal background check there?

Thank you to all for your help!!

[lovelyjoy 13]

For those familiar with the Philippine process, would it be possible I schedule her medical exam and embassy interview within the same time frame of her being in Manila? Reason being is she is from Aklan and works as an elementary schoolteacher. I would hate to have her make multiple trips. Not to mention me pay multiple plane tickets. I also saw that there is an NBI office on her island in Iloilo City. She will be going there anyway later this month to obtain her passport. Can she also have her criminal background check there?

Yes it is possible and some have done it before to schedule a medical and interview within the same week, AS LONG AS there won't be any problems with her medical exam esp the TB test. It might take a few more weeks/months before she can get the medical result (they will require for a culture test of the sputum and medication) and schedule an interview at the embassy. Encourage your fiancee to take good care of her health.

Are you referring to the NBI clearance or police clearance? She can get both in the province so she doesn't have to fall in line at the Manila office. I've heard lines are shorter in the provincial offices.

[marcodonaldson 0]

Hello...I just filed for K-1, too on April 1, 2011 and it is through California Service Center. Get your Fiancee to join the Pretty Ladies (VJ) on Facebook. It is a group of Filipinas who are either going through the same process or have already gone through it. They are very helpful and provide a plethora of information regarding the process. Good luck!

Hi all...I'm new to the forum, great place for info and advice first off all =) On March 30 I received the NOA1 and they said my forms are being sent to the California Service Center. Looking online my timeline for the NOA2 looks to be 5 months. Anybody else have earlier or later waiting times?

In the meantime, I want to give my fiance some information she herself can start preparing before the interview at the Embassy in Manila. She lives in the province. Our ultimate goal is to be married by the end of this year; small family wedding only.

This whole process is exciting but at the same time a test of patience...thanks in advance for your responses!

thanks a million! i sent her the link on facebook...anything for outside support and advice for the both of us is greatly appreciated!