philippines waittime How are K-1/2 Visas from, Philippines going?

[COUSA 8]

Preparing to go to CDO, Mindanao. Found a $900 r/t Den-NK-Manila flight for next month, Wanting to get the Person--Person part completed, so we can start paperwork ASAP.,

I haven't been on here in awhile, but in just looking it seems there has been a slowdown in processing times. Are K'1/2 Visas still making it through ok is my main question? I meet the 125% as of now and should still after March 1, 2019, unless the 125% goes up $7k   

Another question, is St. Luke still the ONLY place to receive Health Approval?

Thanks for your help. Let the fun begin I suppose

[payxibka 10,045]

26 minutes ago, COUSA said:

Preparing to go to CDO, Mindanao. Found a $900 r/t Den-NK-Manila flight for next month, Wanting to get the Person--Person part completed, so we can start paperwork ASAP.,

I haven't been on here in awhile, but in just looking it seems there has been a slowdown in processing times. Are K'1/2 Visas still making it through ok is my main question? I meet the 125% as of now and should still after March 1, 2019, unless the 125% goes up $7k   

Another question, is St. Luke still the ONLY place to receive Health Approval?

Thanks for your help. Let the fun begin I suppose

K-1 are interviewed on Thursday only.  4 - 6 week wait for interview is typical.  SLEC is the only clinic 

[martinzl 91]

I can't say for certain what the situation is today but my now wife and I went through this process in 2017 so I doubt much has changed.  She is also from CDO. As far as I know, St. Lukes is still the only place for medical so you may want to try to time the medical to your appointment for the visa interview in order to avoid 2 trips to Manila. The time it took us between filing I-129 and getting petition approved was about 4 1/2 months.  Then she files the visa application with the embassy and get an interview date.  This should not take long. Follow the procedures outlined.  The visa fee is paid in US$ but if I recall the medical can be paid in pesos. As for the medical, they start seeing people around 7AM but you need to start lining up outside St. Lukes around 4:30, so you, or your fiancee, may want to consider staying near St. Lukes. We got to St. Lukes around 4:30 AM and there was already 20 or more people in line.  There will be places open across the street for food or last minute photocopying etc... Like a cottage industry.  Results should be available the next day. We were able to make a vacation out of it by doing the medical several days before the interview and traveling around in between.  Depending on your appointment time for the visa interview, you want to get there early.  The times are not individual times.  For example, we had 6AM, the same as many other people so you want to line up early.  If the other reply is correct that visa interviews are only on Thursday, I can't remember when ours was, you can try to do the medical on the Monday before the interview, if possible. Also, don't forget, your fiancee will have to attend the half day class the government requires before allowing her to leave the Philippines. These classes are held in Manila and Cebu and I think you need to reserve a place.  We timed this with her departure but someone told me you can do this even before you get the visa.  That I cannot verify as we waited until her visa was approved. Good luck. 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Philippines regional forum.

[Hank_ 9,174]

17 hours ago, COUSA said:

Preparing to go to CDO, Mindanao. Found a $900 r/t Den-NK-Manila flight for next month, Wanting to get the Person--Person part completed, so we can start paperwork ASAP.,

I haven't been on here in awhile, but in just looking it seems there has been a slowdown in processing times. Are K'1/2 Visas still making it through ok is my main question? I meet the 125% as of now and should still after March 1, 2019, unless the 125% goes up $7k   

Another question, is St. Luke still the ONLY place to receive Health Approval?

Thanks for your help. Let the fun begin I suppose

 

Some has slowed down with visas, but nothing dramatic.

 

USCIS    http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/i-129f-petition-process.html

 

USEM    http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/k-1-visa-application.html

 

St. Luke's is the only place for the medical

 

http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/medical---slec.html

[pamawemo 78]

Our K-1 was just approved last Thursday. I submitted my I-129F May 25, 2018 so the time from application to approval was 8 1/2 months. We could have had it done in 7 1/2 months but were held up by required police clearances from Singapore and Hong Kong. 

 

Medical at St. Lukes is a 2-day process. First day is exam, x-ray, labs. Second day is vaccinations and pick up packet for embassy interview. You can pre-register online but appointments are first come, first served.

 

CFO is required and you need to register online for a spot before attending.

 

payixbka is correct. As of now, Interviews are only done on Thursdays. Read Hank's links - great step-by-step info.

Edited February 18, 2019 by pamawemo

[John & Rose 7,239]

On 2/17/2019 at 10:03 AM, COUSA said:

Preparing to go to CDO, Mindanao. Found a $900 r/t Den-NK-Manila flight for next month, Wanting to get the Person--Person part completed, so we can start paperwork ASAP.,

I haven't been on here in awhile, but in just looking it seems there has been a slowdown in processing times. Are K'1/2 Visas still making it through ok is my main question? I meet the 125% as of now and should still after March 1, 2019, unless the 125% goes up $7k   

Another question, is St. Luke still the ONLY place to receive Health Approval?

Thanks for your help. Let the fun begin I suppose

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

 

Those number are not the I-864P Poverty Guidelines used by USCIS  and not what the embassy uses.   

 

 USCIS is still using the 2018 I-864P guidelines and have not released an update for 2019.   I would expect the new I-864P will be released 1 March same as last year.

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

Edited February 18, 2019 by Hank_

[John & Rose 7,239]

Thank you for the clarification.  I saw the government released the 2019 poverty levels and I assumed it went across the board.  There I go assuming again!

[Hank_ 9,174]

57 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Thank you for the clarification.  I saw the government released the 2019 poverty levels and I assumed it went across the board.  There I go assuming again!

Give away was it was showing a 250% list and weekly amounts that the I-864P doesn't.    I'm willing to bet the I-864P 100% & 125% numbers will follow what you posted, but we have to wait until USCIS posted the new I-864P, until then the 2018 guideline is valid.