How long do we have between I-I29F approval and interview?

[gtewks 1]

Once the Philippine consulate receives the approved I-129F... How long can we wait before scheduling the interview? and/or how far out can the interview be scheduled?

[Caryh 5,206]

You can set up your interview as soon as you have the M number. They usually only release a couple months at a time, so you can't schedule too far out. Although you can wait to schedule up to 6 months, and longer if you keep in touch with the embassy.

[russandraquel 86]

Once the I-129F has been assigned a case number by the National Visa Center (like MNLXXXXX...), you can use that case number to create your interview. You can actually call the national visa center with your USCIS case number, names, and date of birth, and they will tell you the MNL number over the phone.

Follow the directions in Hank_ and Greenbaum's signature and you will have all of the information you need. I followed the information from early on, and now we are at the "issued" stage waiting for Visa in hand.

[gtewks 1]

So if I'm understanding correctly,

We have 6 months to make the interview...

[russandraquel 86]

Yes, but Keep in mind your I129F approval expires (I think in 4 months). It is very important to contact the embassy regarding an extension.

[gtewks 1]

Ahhhh see that's the kind of info i need..

So there is a short period where the interview needs to be scheduled (not necessarily completed,,, but scheduled)...

Is this correct?

My fiancee lives in "nowhere".. they can't get mail at the home.

How is she contacted to let her know that it's time to schedule the interview (and any paperwork they might send)?

Is this done by mail?

Or

Is it something I can find out online through my immigration account or some other way?

[russandraquel 86]

No Philippines mail is required in the process.

You will need to ship your I-134 with a real signature by DHL or other courier. Other than that, everything can be sent electronically.

[Caryh 5,206]

Go to the Manila embassy web site. The instructions are on there for paying her interview fee at a bank then scheduling the interview online. It is extremely rare for the embassy to mail out instructions, although once in a blue moon you hear about them doing so. I did the scheduling for my wife as her internet really sucked back then, but she physically had to go to the bank and pay the interview fee. A couple days after the interview can be scheduled, but you can wait it out once you've paid the fee.

[russandraquel 86]

As Caryh pointed out, you can physically pay the fee at the bank. Alternatively, if your fiancee has a BPI savings or checking account, you can register that account online and pay the fee online. I logged into her account from my connection in the states and paid the fee with her account. Four hours later, she had her interview scheduled.

Having a BPI savings account is very handy for this process, as it enables you to transfer money for the medical and everything else through services like Remitly...much cheaper than western union or moneygram, and your fiancee will not be carrying huge rolls of cash. (I think it helped my fiancee hang on to her money a little bit better too!)

[gtewks 1]

What specifically is a BPI account?

I started an account for her a few months ago, but don't know if it's BPI or not.

[Caryh 5,206]

What specifically is a BPI account?

I started an account for her a few months ago, but don't know if it's BPI or not.

Bank of the Philippine Islands, I believe it stands for. Not all accounts are accessible via online banking. They have some really strange banking practices in the Philippines.

[russandraquel 86]

What Caryh said is correct.

As a side note, in Philippines, it seems quasi-communist...Things like BPI and 2GO are technically private companies, but the way that official organizations use them almost exclusively seems rather strange.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Once the Philippine consulate receives the approved I-129F... How long can we wait before scheduling the interview? and/or how far out can the interview be scheduled?

Once you have your MNL# there is nothing to wait for it is ROCK n ROLL time!!

You can pay your visa fee at BPI, schedule your interview and complete your medical.

If you want to delay your interview for a couple months no issue there, appointment calendar only shows about a month down the road, but you can wait for the next month to appear if you so choose.

For details follow the flashing arrow in my signature below

If you are on a phone here is link to get you started : http://visaconnection-philippines.com/index.php/2-visa-process/3-usem-k-1-visa

[Hank_ 9,174]

Yes, but Keep in mind your I129F approval expires (I think in 4 months). It is very important to contact the embassy regarding an extension.

No need to contact the embassy on extending the petition, they will do that automatically for up to a year (4 months at a time)

[gtewks 1]

If you want to delay your interview for a couple months no issue there, appointment calendar only shows about a month down the road, but you can wait for the next month to appear if you so choose.

Yes, this is the real point. I expect approval of I-129F to happen around sept to Nov.

BUT

We want to do some traveling around the Philippines (possibly neighboring countries) until maybe Jan.

So I was hoping to put off the interview until then. At which point we do the steps and come back to the USA.

So I just wanted to ensure that we can hold off that long without screwing things up.