CR1 interview date scheduling?

[jsjs 10]

Can I schedule my own interview if I go to the US Embassy in Manila? My husband and I are planning on having a wedding celebration here in the philippines right around the time of the interview so that he doesnt have to take 2 trips and split his vacation days. But it will be hard getting the venue and caterer and basically the whole wedding celebration planned without knowing the specific date of the interview. We were thinking it might helps us predict when we could book our reservations for the venue, etc if we know whether or not we can choose when the interview date will be. Anyone?

[dwheels76 5,488]

Can I schedule my own interview if I go to the US Embassy in Manila? My husband and I are planning on having a wedding celebration here in the philippines right around the time of the interview so that he doesnt have to take 2 trips and split his vacation days. But it will be hard getting the venue and caterer and basically the whole wedding celebration planned without knowing the specific date of the interview. We were thinking it might helps us predict when we could book our reservations for the venue, etc if we know whether or not we can choose when the interview date will be. Anyone?

Did you already file your petition? Where are you in the process. And no CR1/IR1 do not schedule their own interview. That is done at the NVC.

You usually will get at least 20 to 45 days notice. Like since friday interviews have gone out and some are schedule as easy as August 1.

Once you are schedule you can always contact the embassy and ask for a change of date earlier (unlikely) or later (more likely).

[jsjs 10]

No not yet. We are still getting things together but we are hoping to send them out before the end of the month. as soon as possible. How long do you think the process will take?

[NikLR 13,235]

8 months to a year or more. There have been ladies from the Philippines who waited almost 2 years just for their NOA2.

I honestly don't know why.

[jsjs 10]

omg...

[NikLR 13,235]

You sound surprised?

It will likely take at the very least 6-8 months if everything is very quick for you. 10-12 months is normal. Over 12 months is a long wait.

You may have been thinking of DCF before which is possible in the Philippines but your husband would have to be legally residing in the Philippines for 6 months before you can file for DCF.

[Darnell 8,480]

Can I schedule my own interview if I go to the US Embassy in Manila? My husband and I are planning on having a wedding celebration here in the philippines right around the time of the interview so that he doesnt have to take 2 trips and split his vacation days. But it will be hard getting the venue and caterer and basically the whole wedding celebration planned without knowing the specific date of the interview. We were thinking it might helps us predict when we could book our reservations for the venue, etc if we know whether or not we can choose when the interview date will be. Anyone?

I wish I could answer you , fully,

but you've no timeline over at

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=163527

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=163527

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=163527

Drats !

In general, however, if yer visa application is taken at NVC, it is NVC that sets the interview date, not Manila IV.

No not yet. We are still getting things together but we are hoping to send them out before the end of the month. as soon as possible. How long do you think the process will take?

Where are you sending things to ?

I ask, because it makes a difference, on the answer to yer question.

[Artisan 138]

omg...

First of all you will need to be prepared for him to be in the Philippines for at least 11 days to get married there. He will have to schedule an appointment with the US Embassy and get an Affidavit in Lieu of Capacity to Marry. Then you will both need to go to your local registrar and apply for the marriage licence. You will both have to take the Family Planning Seminar. If you are well prepared you can get all of those steps done in one day. Then you will have to wait 10 days. On the 11th day the registrar will release your marriage licence and you can then have a civil wedding. The wedding must be completed within 120 days of the date of issuance to be valid.

You will need to have your CENOMAR from the NSO as well as two forms of ID. If you are 18-21 you will need signed parental permission to marry and if you are 22-25 you will need signed parental advice. Your fiance will require the affidavit I mentioned above, any divorce decrees if he's been married previously as well as his passport.

If you plan on a Church wedding you will need an additional month to complete the banns and possible dispensations from the Bishop if your fiance is not Catholic.

Once that is completed your husband will need to return to the US without you and file an I-130. This will start the process for a CR-1 visa for you. It can take upwards to a year or two depending on possible complications. Michelle and I finished our visa journey in 11 months from the time I left the Philippines to the time I brought her to the US as a permanent resident.

[jsjs 10]

First of all you will need to be prepared for him to be in the Philippines for at least 11 days to get married there. He will have to schedule an appointment with the US Embassy and get an Affidavit in Lieu of Capacity to Marry. Then you will both need to go to your local registrar and apply for the marriage licence. You will both have to take the Family Planning Seminar. If you are well prepared you can get all of those steps done in one day. Then you will have to wait 10 days. On the 11th day the registrar will release your marriage licence and you can then have a civil wedding. The wedding must be completed within 120 days of the date of issuance to be valid.

You will need to have your CENOMAR from the NSO as well as two forms of ID. If you are 18-21 you will need signed parental permission to marry and if you are 22-25 you will need signed parental advice. Your fiance will require the affidavit I mentioned above, any divorce decrees if he's been married previously as well as his passport.

If you plan on a Church wedding you will need an additional month to complete the banns and possible dispensations from the Bishop if your fiance is not Catholic.

Once that is completed your husband will need to return to the US without you and file an I-130. This will start the process for a CR-1 visa for you. It can take upwards to a year or two depending on possible complications. Michelle and I finished our visa journey in 11 months from the time I left the Philippines to the time I brought her to the US as a permanent resident.

Thanks for the reply, but we already married in the U.S., so we don't need to go through that process in the Philippines. We're a week away from having all the documents to send the CR-1 visa application. So it took you 11 months to bring here to the US? Do you have any advice for the CR-1 process or difficulties you may have faced during it that would up us so that we can get it taken care of faster without delay?

[NikLR 13,235]

It really depends on the speed at which your petition is adjudicated, which is something you have no control over. The best advice is to follow the guides and wikis. My journey took 8 months from filing to POE and at exactly 9 months since filing, I have my green card. Make sure your husband has everything he needs from you for the NVC stage before you get to it. Remember also that the more information they have about your genuine relationship at the interview the better. Also be prepared for any red flag as you may have such as previous marriages, age gaps, etc...

[Artisan 138]

Thanks for the reply, but we already married in the U.S., so we don't need to go through that process in the Philippines. We're a week away from having all the documents to send the CR-1 visa application. So it took you 11 months to bring here to the US? Do you have any advice for the CR-1 process or difficulties you may have faced during it that would up us so that we can get it taken care of faster without delay?

Just to make sure I understand, you traveled to the US then married and then you returned to the Philippines? Is that correct?

If that's the case all you need to do is have your husband file the I-130 and frontload the application with as much evidence of your bona fide marriage as possible (photos, letters, back accounts in both of your names, deeds or titles in both of your names, etc.) The whole process will take at least six months but you should be prepared for up to a year or more. Michelle and I had very few difficulties during the entire process. Most delays are out of your control and the speed by which your application is processed can vary based on the time of year, how many other applications the USCIS & NVC are handling, and what office is actually handling your case. Follow the guides here on VJ and you should be able to avoid the most common problems.