US Immigration from Philippines

This morning my wife had her CR1 interview in Manila and she was told specifically by interviewing officer that:

Petitioner needs to have enough financially to support

Joint sponsor not acceptable because they are retired

Here is a quick overview of case details

30 year old petitioner currently unemployed but has individual brokerage account valued at $85,000 at time of interview

71 year old father as joint sponsor and 68 year old mother as household member of father, current income (going by their combined social security benefits as well as pension) of $64,000, which is decently above the minimum needed for household of 3.

My wife then was explained by a separate person before leaving about the 221G and was told the proof of domicile is about letter of intention to work and support wife. I am somewhat concerned that there is a disconnect on the specific reasoning from the interviewing officer and how that other person explained the letter to my wife. My wife felt stonewalled at the interview as she tried to show financial documents. The interviewing officer even asked who these two names were (implying that they didn't go over the overall evidence and joint sponsors i864 and i864a?).

From what I understood learning about this process, the petitioner being unemployed is not a problem as long as they have a joint sponsor and or assets that meet requirements. And I also had the understanding that social security and being retired for the joint sponsor is not a problem.

I had sideloaded to ceac a lot of evidence a week before with updated statements,and my wife had it all ready for the officer to look in person as well. They have petitioner brokerage full statement from a year ago, 6 months ago, and then the latest month as well as current balance letter a week before interview date. Current social security benefits letter were uploaded for the joint sponsor parents of the petitioner. I also had included proof of domicile (as petitioner has been in manila for almost a year now on temporary stay visiting wife and supporting her through process while waiting) with a detailed letter of intention for myself as well as my parents that is notarized that they are close with their son and allow petitioner and the beneficiary to live with them at their primary owned home as well as the secondary owned home if desired. They have petitioner valid state ID, and local bank account statement. They also have joint sponsor birth certificates and proof of domicile. Also two pdfs with extensive relationship evidence showing family pictures and the extended stay.

I have considered contacting the embassy using this page: https://ph.usembassy.gov/contact-us-visas/ in an attempt to clarify my case situation as my opinion is that the officer didn't really consider the totality of the situation as well as closely look at the documents and perhaps going by incorrect guidelines unless I am entirely mistaken on the retirement thing being a new problem for the joint sponsor. And I would also add that I believe petitioner asset amount is very close to the needed three times amount of minimum. At the very least it's close and it's not like the petitioner has nothing or plans to live in a big city.

Check out the 221g itself and give comments to provide insight. Is it possible to have a second look at this from a different officer who would hopefully go over the full evidence more closely? Do people view this also as the only option is that the petition needs to work immediately? Obviously if they toss aside the joint sponsor then it is understandable that even with that amount of assets it's not a particularly large amount over the guideline amount.. though it's obviously better than an unemployed petitioner who has close to nothing as well as not a close relationship to her parents and no reliable home. I would have thought the totality of the situation would have been enough here compared to plenty of other cases.

Thanks all.

I have seen posts that on the off chance they do check for the I-134 at the interview they have been looking to see if the 125% poverty guideline is met. I know for I-134 it only asks for 100%. 2024 and 2025 I did not meet the 125% due do taking unpaid time off for a LOA (2024) and traveling (2025), but I have more than enough in assets to cover the difference in stocks. In 2023 I took no unpaid time and just barely squeaked by the 125%, so I guess my question is, should I bother attaching my tax transcript for 2023 and is any kind of explanation necessary? Same employer and I have gotten a raise since 2023, I may be overthinking things, but I want to make sure Aye has everything she needs. TIA

So my fiancee had her K1 visa interview in Manila, Philippines on 01/20. The officer gave her verbal approval and kept her passport. The status on CEAC changed from 'Ready' to 'Application Received' the following day, and hasn't changed. She s been very sad that the friends she s made along the way on our journey had their k1 visas issued within a handful of days. They didn t even see this status and now I m starting to get worried. There s no possible reason for our case to have any thing hold it up. Has anyone else had this happen?

Hi everyone, I d really appreciate your advice

I was given a 221(g) after my interview, and I m now ready to submit all my missing requirements. However, my problem is that my medical exam has already expired.

For those who experienced the same situation:

• Did you wait for an email or instruction from the embassy before submitting your 221(g) documents?

• Or did you contact the embassy first to ask what to do?

• Did anyone here submit their 221(g) requirements with an expired medical, or were you required to redo the medical first?

I m also confused if I should:

• Proactively schedule a new medical exam on my own, or

• Wait for the embassy s confirmation/instruction before doing a new medical

Basically:

• Should I submit my 221(g) documents now even if my medical is expired?

• Or should I redo my medical first and then submit everything together?

• If you contacted the embassy, how did you contact them (email or phone)?

Any shared experience would really help. Thank you so much in advance

For the U.S. Embassy in Manila it seems approval rates for the Tourist Visa (DS-160) is less than 10% after recently talking with several different people. Now, I am curious about current approval rates for the California Processing Center (NOA2). And the follow on approval rates for the K-1 interview (DS-160) in Manila for my fianc . Is this data available anywhere?