Filed DCF (I-130 for IR-1) at US Embassy Manila - AAR

[Greenbaum 12,258]

manilaraf, on 25 Feb 2015 - 7:32 PM, said:manilaraf, on 25 Feb 2015 - 7:32 PM, said:

Just some updates.

Wife had her medical at SLEC on the 24th & 25th. (Tuesday & yesterday).

Arrived at 6am. Out by 1030 the first day. Prepared all her paperworks for her ahead of time (SLEC Online Reg, DS-260-just in case, Interview Appointment Confirmation, NOA3-just in case, Passport, 2x2s, etc). Stupid guard was asking for the NVC letter, and in straight Tagalog I'm explaining to him the DCF process and I showed him the Appointment confirmation & NOA-3, so apparently to stop me badgering him, he let the wife in.

2nd day, arrived at the appointed time of 9am for vaccines (Thank God). Wife got the Do Not Open Envelope, CXR CD, Vaccine paperwork at 530pm. I know it won't probably do any good, but once we get done with this I'm writing my US Senators, Congressional Rep, the Ambassador, the DCM, and the Medical Director of St Luke's (I've actually met him in the course of my work a few times) about the inordinate amount of waiting time for what's an obviously healthy checkup.

Anyways, that's done at least. Interview is schedule for late next week.

.

Just when you think things are going fine you run into a low information guard. Jeesh.

What would have happened if a quiet reserved Pinay were to try and enter and got that BS from the guard and she didn't have the information, such that you had, to refute his logic. She would return home and she would have to make the trip all over again once she is up to speed.

Well, anyway you got through the medical. Keep burning the petrol.... you're almost there.

Edited February 26, 2015 by Greenbaum

[oshinwalls 1]

Hello we're from Cebu and we need help with dcf. My hubby is the us citizen and he's filing one for me. There's not enough information posted on the embassy website, good thing you guys posted very helpful timelines.

Anyway, we are here in cebu, can we mail all our requirements to the uscis in manila or it's better to just go there and su mit it in person? If so, can you help us how to get or where we can get an infopass? And only my husband can go inside or my baby and I can go with him too?

Your response will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[manilaraf 28]

1) I have no idea about how to mail in a DCF petition (how for example, would you pay the filing fee?).

2) https://infopass.uscis.gov

3) I suppose you can all go, just make sure you specify the number of people going when filling out the appointment info on Infopass.

[manilaraf 28]

Big Update: We got approved!

Spent the last day making sure all our stuff was ready for the interview. Multiple copies of everything, just in case.

Wasn't able to sleep well or much at all last night. Woke up at 330am, left the house in Manila at about 430, got to Roxas Blvd at 5, camped out in our car until about 530. Lined up for our 630am interview time.

Having seen the lines outside when I filed DCF, I knew what to expect.

Step 1, Info confirmation & Biometrics, went quick. Step 2, prescreening took about 15-20min as the prescreener asked for our documents and sent me up to the cashier to pay for the visa fee (DCF filers pay at interview time), was easy as she asked us questions that were easy to answer, although some brought up arguments between the wife ("When did you guys first meet and get together?") which left the prescreener chuckling.

Step 3, oath taking was simple although it took a bit of a wait.

Step 4, interview went by quick. All she asked were about our jobs (MDs), our plans when we get to NY, asked for evidence about me maintaining a NY Domicile (NY Driver License, open Bank and Credit Card Accounts, Absentee Ballot Stubs, Jury Duty service confirmation, Obamacare registration, etc). After that, she handed over the domestic violence pamphlet and I knew we were home free.

I just checked the CEAC status and it already says "Issued".

Awesome. Thanks for all the help folks. Onto 2Go and CFO

[Hank_ 9,173]

Congrats!!!!!!!!! Very happy for you both!

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Congrats. What a feeling. whooo whooo

[aquafiree 17]

?✨✨✨

???????

Congratulations!

[oshinwalls 1]

Congratulations! Hanks for the reply hopefully ours will be approved too.

[manilaraf 28]

Congratulations! Hanks for the reply hopefully ours will be approved too.

Where are you currently in the DCF process? If you need any help or questions asked, just post here or send me a direct message. Cheers.

And thanks for the congrats from everyone. Thanks right back to everyone here for all your help and making this process a little bit easier.

[Darnell 8,478]

Big Update: We got approved!

Spent the last day making sure all our stuff was ready for the interview. Multiple copies of everything, just in case.

Wasn't able to sleep well or much at all last night. Woke up at 330am, left the house in Manila at about 430, got to Roxas Blvd at 5, camped out in our car until about 530. Lined up for our 630am interview time.

Having seen the lines outside when I filed DCF, I knew what to expect.

Step 1, Info confirmation & Biometrics, went quick. Step 2, prescreening took about 15-20min as the prescreener asked for our documents and sent me up to the cashier to pay for the visa fee (DCF filers pay at interview time), was easy as she asked us questions that were easy to answer, although some brought up arguments between the wife ("When did you guys first meet and get together?") which left the prescreener chuckling.

Step 3, oath taking was simple although it took a bit of a wait.

Step 4, interview went by quick. All she asked were about our jobs (MDs), our plans when we get to NY, asked for evidence about me maintaining a NY Domicile (NY Driver License, open Bank and Credit Card Accounts, Absentee Ballot Stubs, Jury Duty service confirmation, Obamacare registration, etc). After that, she handed over the domestic violence pamphlet and I knew we were home free.

I just checked the CEAC status and it already says "Issued".

Awesome. Thanks for all the help folks. Onto 2Go and CFO

congratulations ! whatcha cooking, to celebrate?

[JohnandMhay 13]

Congrats!

[dvdm 2]

yes yes congrats

[manilaraf 28]

Update: Got a text from 2Go-Mall of Asia at 3pm today saying our IV Packet was received and was ready for pickup. We were out and about today so only made it to MoA past 5pm.

Was expecting something today or tomorrow since I've been checking the US TravelDocs & 2Go tracking sites ever since I saw the CEAC status updated to ISSUED the afternoon of our interview last Thursday. US TravelDocs showed an update when I woke this morning that the wife's passport had been forwarded for shipment/delivery so I spend every other hour checking the 2Go site tracking the package. Saw that it left the Embassy and/or received by 2Go at 9am this morning. And about 20 minutes after my last check on the 2Go website, both the wife & I received the text from 2Go.

IV Packet shipped and in hand on the 3rd business day after the interview. Not bad at all.

Just spend the last 15 minutes reading up on threads and just now cut a small hole into the plastic outer envelope to retrieve the wife's passport, leaving the yellow "Holy of Holies"-"Ark of the Covenant"-"Do Not Open" envelope alone. Luckily the Immigrant Data Summary is clear and unobstructed and can be photocopies through the transparent clear plastic outer envelope.

Now on to the CFO!!!

[Hank_ 9,173]

Good news!!

Soon ... traveling time!

[guitarjam 5]

Greets!

Don't quite understand your timeline, you filed your I-130 and received the NOA1 the same day??

"Dec 11, 2014 - Filed I-130 via DCF @ US Embassy Manila

Dec 11, 2014 - NOA1:

"