Getting Organized for CFO and Interview

[Stevephoto 224]

Hi,

I know that we each have our own way of organizing the materials for the interview and CFO (in the Philippines), but this is how Joan and I organized ours. Hopefully it will make it easy to find the papers when asked for them. There are five 9X12 envelopes with originals and two photocopies of the contents separated by paper clips—easy to hand over each set of documents or photocopies on demand. Here is what we have:

Envelope 1 (CFO—Philippine specific)

Registration form—two copies

Copy of my passport (bio page)

Copy of my birth certificate

Collage of photos from my three visits—three copies (3, not photocopied 2 more times)

Notarized Parental Advice

Copy of Joan’s parent’s letter to me accepting my request for her hand in marriage (in Tagalog and translated by Joan into English)

1x1 and 2x2 passport style photos

Joan’s Passport and copies of her bio page

Joan’s Cenomar and copies

Joan’s Postal ID and copies

My 1040 (ITR) cover sheet with SS# X’ed out (proof that I am singe)

Joan’s NBI in case they ask for it.

Envelope 2 (Embassy forms)

BPI Visa Receipt

Appointment Confirmation from website

NVC letter

NOA1

NOA2

DS-156—2 copies

DS-156K—2 copies

DS-157—2 copies

DS-160 Part 1 (and 2 but part 2 is not needed—the whole form printed)—2 copies (only 1 needed)

Joan’s Birth Certificate

Joan’s NBI

Joan’s Cenomar

Notarized Parental Advice

Joan’s Police Clearance (not required because Joan has not lived outside of the Philippines, but she wanted to get it)

3 2x2 photos (no photocopies)

Envelope 3 (Copy of original I-129F packet including original receipts)

Only one copy of this packet

Envelope 4 (Embassy financial packet)

I-1134

2012 W-2

2012 ITR (1040)

Last 4 pay stubs

Letter from bank (statement of deposits)

Proof of employment

Envelope 5 (Embassy proof of on-going relationship—maybe we will bring one copy to the CFO!)

Collage of photos my last trip to the Philippines (photos from my first two trips and our engagement are in the I-129F envelope)

Xoom money transfer receipts

Evidence of over 15,000 emails

Letter to a Congressman from a different state

Letter from that Congressman to USCIS (never sent because the NOA2 came first)

Letter to my Hawaii Congresswoman asking for an inquiry (just as the NOA2 came)

New Fiancé Letter of Intent

New Fiancée Letter of Intent

Letter from our Hawaii State Senator to USCIS

Sample emails spanning from NOA1 to now

I think we are READY!!!!!!!!

[Robb&Ann 101]

Good luck Steve & Joan!!

[jacabatic 5]

Seems like you got EVERYTHING! good luck!!

[Stevephoto 224]

Good luck Steve & Joan!!

Salamat!!

[Stevephoto 224]

Seems like you got EVERYTHING! good luck!!

Thanks!!!

[Stevephoto 224]

DS-160 Part 1 (and 2 but part 2 is not needed—the whole form printed)—2 copies (only 1 needed)

Sorry...I meant DS-230 Part 1! Too many numbers!!!

[Hank_ 9,173]

Sorry...I meant DS-230 Part 1! Too many numbers!!!

Was almost going to say something.....

For the embassy you do not need the NOA1 or NOA2, they won't want a copy of the NVC letter either. Nor will the embassy want to see a copy of the I-129F they have the original.

[Stevephoto 224]

Was almost going to say something.....

For the embassy you do not need the NOA1 or NOA2, they won't want a copy of the NVC letter either. Nor will the embassy want to see a copy of the I-129F they have the original.

Whew! Got that change in before I got scoldings! Thanks for the other corrections...Joan wants me to bring the NOAs and NVC so they go in the packet! We will use the photos that were in the copy of the I-129F if needed...otherwise I think we are set...I am more concerned about the CFO than the interview at this point, but both are still looming large...

[Hank_ 9,173]

Ya we used photos from my previous trip at the embassy also.

Ya know I truly believe that CFO is getting totally out of control, its touted as an educational seminar for those immigrating yet its become this hairy monster instead. Whomever is in charge over CFO should be taking a closer look at what is going on and realign a few buttheads.

[Robb&Ann 101]

Robb & I just had a conversation about that CFO thing... and he is now worried about it more than I worry my medical..... we will only know what will happen to us at CFO once we get there... just make sure to have everything.. I will be bringing with me the replica of our I129F and other stuffs to CFO... also, we, the beneficiaries should pay attention to the lectures too.. and do some advance research regarding the next steps... I hope CFO will be nice to us. lol. BTW CFO actually has some sort of plans regarding this PDOS.. they will make some changes in the future.. but IDK what changes really it is...but it was on TV few weeks ago.. so we have to get done with this before they make some changes...

[Hank_ 9,173]

Maybe they could shock us and actually restore CFO to what its original intent was..... EDUCATIONAL.

[davenjanet 22]

Steve:

Sounds like a really nice organizational system. When the time comes we will do something similar.

Good luck!

Dave

[Mike&Gina 7]

Congratulations Steve & Joan! "Aint" this a fun process, and further instilling the "patience" virtue?! Hahaha. Thanks for listing your file cabinet and order of documents - gives me a template to go by and how to do ours. I fly to Cebu in October (for 6 month Winter "snow-bird" stay), so I hope our NAO2 does NOT come until about September. I want to be with Gina when she flys to Manila for medicals and interviews etc.. is there any good or better time to do the CFO?? Before or after medicals or interview?? How many PESOS should I "grease" - put into, the instructors palm to ensure Gina passes??? Hahahahah, I know how the Philippines works....been there done that.....hahahah. Good luck, and God Bless us all.

[Hank_ 9,173]

You can't get into CFO so I doubt there will be "greasing"... its sad that "greasing" even happens.

Getting CFO done early is not an issue. It may be good to get the NSO birth certificate and verify all the info... typos do happen.

[Stevephoto 224]

Maybe they could shock us and actually restore CFO to what its original intent was..... EDUCATIONAL.