Help! Documents for the interview seemed to have lost in transit sent through USPS

[reya 0]

Fiancé and I are kinda stressed at this point. We have the Manila case no. since last month and I could have gone through my medical and scheduled already my interview. However, when he sent me the documents I need from him, I was surprised to find out when he sent it through USPS and not through fed ex or UPS as I thought before. He sent all originals including the deed to his house and now he feels really stupid why he did that. So 4 weeks had passed and I haven’t received anything yet. I didn’t schedule the interview before because i wanna see what he sent. Honestly, he hated documentation so im not quite sure if what he sent me are all good. Im getting impatient but instead of getting pissed some more I was telling him maybe we need to have a plan B: build another set. I hope you guys can enlighten me with my questions:

1. Has anyone sent documents through USPS to Manila (First Class) and how long did the recipient get it? I’ve read that there are some which are stolen at PH customs but this aint a package of goodies just really important documents, well who knows?

2. He sent the NOA1 & NOA2 hardcopy, even if I won’t have them we should still be fine since we already have our Manila case number right? I also have the original letter from the embassy anyway with my Manila case no.

3. He still has one copy of the employment letter, printed on the company letterhead but it looks like it was electronically signed and then printed out, is this ok?

4. Can the free transcript requested from IRS be submitted in lieu of the 1040 and W2s? Ive read it takes a long time to get an original copy of w2?

5. We won’t have a copy of the supporting documents anymore from the original package for the petition like receipts of the hotel (during his visit to me in Manila), engagement and wedding ring, etc. I told him we should still be ok since he has a stamped passport and we still have a copy of our domestic flights when we spent a vacation in Bohol. The rest can be reproduced, pictures, hotel vouchers, etc. are we still good?

6. If the original package he sent me didn't arrive this week, we agreed to build another set. My petition is valid until August, is it wise to go with the medical now without having the exact date of the interview? until when is the medical valid prior to the interview? I am looking into a 2-week gap before but now i don't really know.

Thanks for your time and hope you can enlighten me over this matter. I just hope the postman would come knock right now so i can forget all about these questions i asked above. =(

Edited June 19, 2012 by reya

[hcfrey 6]

Fiancé and I are kinda stressed at this point. We have the Manila case no. since last month and I could have gone through my medical and scheduled already my interview. However, when he sent me the documents I need from him, I was surprised to find out when he sent it through USPS and not through fed ex or UPS as I thought before. He sent all originals including the deed to his house and now he feels really stupid why he did that. So 4 weeks had passed and I haven’t received anything yet. I didn’t schedule the interview before because i wanna see what he sent. Honestly, he hated documentation so im not quite sure if what he sent me are all good. Im getting impatient but instead of getting pissed some more I was telling him maybe we need to have a plan B: build another set. I hope you guys can enlighten me with my questions:

1. Has anyone sent documents through USPS to Manila (First Class) and how long did the recipient get it? I’ve read that there are some which are stolen at PH customs but this aint a package of goodies just really important documents, well who knows?

2. He sent the NOA1 & NOA2 hardcopy, even if I won’t have them we should still be fine since we already have our Manila case number right? I also have the original letter from the embassy anyway with my Manila case no.

3. He still has one copy of the employment letter, printed on the company letterhead but it looks like it was electronically signed and then printed out, is this ok?

4. Can the free transcript requested from IRS be submitted in lieu of the 1040 and W2s? Ive read it takes a long time to get an original copy of w2?

5. We won’t have a copy of the supporting documents anymore from the original package for the petition like receipts of the hotel (during his visit to me in Manila), engagement and wedding ring, etc. I told him we should still be ok since he has a stamped passport and we still have a copy of our domestic flights when we spent a vacation in Bohol. The rest can be reproduced, pictures, hotel vouchers, etc. are we still good?

6. If the original package he sent me didn't arrive this week, we agreed to build another set. My petition is valid until August, is it wise to go with the medical now without having the exact date of the interview? until when is the medical valid prior to the interview? I am looking into a 2-week gap before but now i don't really know.

Thanks for your time and hope you can enlighten me over this matter. I just hope the postman would come knock right now so i can forget all about these questions i asked above. =(

I know a lot will go against to my answer, but ask him to scan everything and send it to you can print it out, make sure when he sign the docs before scanning to use blue pen, a lot of my friends went tru the same probs but USEM accepted scanned copies w2 1040 etc. the only original they brought with them is the docs from the beneficiary, make sure he scanned it really good but as you said he put a lot of original copies of the docs in the package if it already took few weeks go to the post office at your place or to the main post office that covers your address, they don't really deliver sometime you have to check it bring valid ID when you go there. post office here sucks they just put the packages etc in a storage area for a long time and don't even do their job.

Edited June 19, 2012 by hcdt

[jkelly07 120]

sorry to hear about the lost of your papers,i hope you made copies before you mailed them,any very important documents and paper like that. you should pay the extra money and ship it fedex or united parcel,you know it's going to get there,i hope the package shows up.

[CristiFur 15]

If he has copies of the docs that was sent I suggest to SCAN them and email it to you, then you print them out. Just have him fedex the I-134 and letter of employment so it will not be so costly. Don't use USPS for important documents it will not get there. I've sent simple cards to my Fiance and it's been six months and have not received them yet Anyways good luck..

[hcfrey 6]

If he has copies of the docs that was sent I suggest to SCAN them and email it to you, then you print them out. Just have him fedex the I-134 and letter of employment so it will not be so costly. Don't use USPS for important documents it will not get there. I've sent simple cards to my Fiance and it's been six months and have not received them yet Anyways good luck..

that's true my fiance sent me a valentines gift but OMG it is already June now but i didn't get the package yet, the post office said go to this place, then when i go to that place they will say go to this place till I gave up, I hate post office service here.

[reya 0]

Appreciate much your concern and immediate replies. When he sent the original documents in filing the petition, he only made one set of photocopied documents which were in that USPS package together with some original ones for my interview. So if we’re going to build another set now, there isn’t much to be scanned, he would have to request again for the bank certificate/statement, employment certificate, 1040 and W2s. The first two can be requested and attained easily, but the original tax forms might take a long time, thus, im asking if the transcripts should be fine. Sending through USPS was never my option so I was kinda shocked when he said he had already sent it through that. We don’t have a tracking no. and USPS doesn’t even offer insurance for that one. I’m not sure if first class package are the ones to be picked up from the post office or to be delivered at my doorstep? I think those are for registered mail/packages? Anyway, fiance was sorry for it and there’s no point in blaming him more. There’s still a little hope on my part that the package will still arrive but I don’t wanna rely on it anymore since August will soon be approaching. I can’t wait that long but I want to do everything right. If were to build another set, he will send it through Fed Ex which should get to me in 2-3 days.

[Tahoma 2,292]

He sent all originals including the deed to his house and now he feels really stupid why he did that.

Why did he send the deed to his house?

1. Has anyone sent documents through USPS to Manila (First Class) and how long did the recipient get it? I’ve read that there are some which are stolen at PH customs but this aint a package of goodies just really important documents, well who knows?

Once the package arrived in Manila, it was turned over to the Philippines Postal Service for delivery. That can be bad news. The package may arrive some day. On the other hand, it may never arrive.

2. He sent the NOA1 & NOA2 hardcopy, even if I won’t have them we should still be fine since we already have our Manila case number right? I also have the original letter from the embassy anyway with my Manila case no.

You most likely won't need the NOA1 or the NOA2.

3. He still has one copy of the employment letter, printed on the company letterhead but it looks like it was electronically signed and then printed out, is this ok?

The employment letter should be fine.

4. Can the free transcript requested from IRS be submitted in lieu of the 1040 and W2s? Ive read it takes a long time to get an original copy of w2?

Most people submit the federal income tax return and the W-2. Some people submit the federal income tax return, the W-2, and the tax transcript. Some people submit only the tax transcript. However, if you submit only the tax transcript, the consular officer may require you to submit the federal income tax return and the W-2. You can proceed with the tax transcript but, if you want to play it safe, your fiancé should order a copy of his federal income tax return and his W-2 from the IRS. You might need it.

5. We won’t have a copy of the supporting documents anymore from the original package for the petition like receipts of the hotel (during his visit to me in Manila), engagement and wedding ring, etc. I told him we should still be ok since he has a stamped passport and we still have a copy of our domestic flights when we spent a vacation in Bohol. The rest can be reproduced, pictures, hotel vouchers, etc. are we still good?

Again, to be safe, you should have as much of the packet as you and your fiancé can reproduce. In my opinion, the most important thing are the photos. And even though the consular officers usually don't ask for more proof of an ongoing relationship, such as chats and phone calls, it's good to have it...just in case. Also, you could need some of it for your CFO seminar.

6. If the original package he sent me didn't arrive this week, we agreed to build another set. My petition is valid until August, is it wise to go with the medical now without having the exact date of the interview? until when is the medical valid prior to the interview? I am looking into a 2-week gap before but now i don't really know.

First, pay the visa fee at BPI. Then, schedule your interview. Then, complete your medical. Your fiancé has enough time to gather/FedEx/email the documents you need for the interview because your interview won't be for another three or four weeks or so.

If it takes your fiancé a little longer to put together another packet and get it to you, all you have to do is make an interview appointment before your petition expires. The Embassy automatically extends the petition if the case is active. Your actual interview can take place after the August expiration date. You simply need to set the appointment before your petition expires. Also, even if you don't make an interview appointment, you can always email the Embassy and ask for a four-month extension of the petition. The Embassy routinely grants a four-month extension. You can even get an extension of the extension if you need it. No worries!

About your medical: When you receive your visa, you will notice the visa is valid for six months from the date of your medical.

Thanks for your time and hope you can enlighten me over this matter. I just hope the postman would come knock right now so i can forget all about these questions i asked above. =(

So do I.

Best wishes for a smooth(er) and speedy(ier) visa journey!!!

[reya 0]

omg!!!! just when i said i now only have 10% of hope that the package will arrive i saw this white slip on my office

table when i got here this morning. Its the claim slip for the package!!! I immediately left for the post office and

in 20 minutes im back with our documents! thanks much for your input especially to Tahoma, i haven't actually looked

closely into the contents of the box yet, im just happy i finally got it. I will have more time later at home and I

might have some other related questions. Thanks again guys for all the info and goodluck to your respective journey

too!

[Moomin 292]

Happy it reached ya.

You might want to make a copy of the NOA2, a copy of it is needed for AOS later on. I basically sat down one day to scan every single paper of everything we had submitted, and then the passport and K1 visa.

Good luck on your journey

[bxman 13]

I sent my fiancee something thru the mail once! lol

Things move VERY VERY slowly once they arrive in the Philippines!

I'd count on 6 weeks for delivery

Also you can go to your local post office and ask them to put a check on it

We did and they were very helpful!

Good Luck!

[Tahoma 2,292]

omg!!!! just when i said i now only have 10% of hope that the package will arrive i saw this white slip on my office

table when i got here this morning. Its the claim slip for the package!!! I immediately left for the post office and

in 20 minutes im back with our documents! thanks much for your input especially to Tahoma, i haven't actually looked

closely into the contents of the box yet, im just happy i finally got it. I will have more time later at home and I

might have some other related questions. Thanks again guys for all the info and goodluck to your respective journey

too!

:thumbs:

Now you're rolling!