US Immigration from Philippines

My father was petitioned by my grandmother 15 years ago. Until today, we are still waiting for his petition to be approved. He has attempted several times to come to the United States to visit me and my husband, but his visa application is always denied. They immigration's major reason is for him to wait for his petition from my grandma to be approved.

Since I will be applying for my citizenship in few years from now, should my father withdraw his petition from his mother and wait for me (as her daughter) to sponsor for him to come to America? I think it would take many years if we would wait for his mother's petition.

I hope someone can give me an advice about this situation. If my grandmother should withdraw her petition for my father, what are the steps to process this? Hope anyone here could help me! Thank you!

Hello,

I just wanted to share that after two years of waiting, our case was finally approved yesterday by U.S. Embassy Manila. We were one of those couples contemplating between switching from K-1 to CR-1. I posted about this here:

and here:

The last post was back in November 2021, and we were about 1-1/2 years in the process.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who gave their advice and their words of sympathy and encouragement. Being in this forum really helped us get through the long wait.

For couples just starting out on this journey and are choosing between K-1 and CR-1, I advise you to read all the comments on both posts and encourage you to go the CR-1 route (if we were to do it all over again, we would definitely choose CR-1). But of course, it all depends on your own unique circumstances and what feels best for you.

Also, regarding the long waiting time, it was really stressful for us because of the uncertainty of when it would happen, so my advice is try to immerse yourself in projects, hobbies, or any productive activity to distract you and to while away the time--this actually made the wait easier for us, and when our interview letter came, we were pleasantly surprised. Then everything seemed to go much quicker afterwards, from scheduling my interview and medical to procuring the required documents to the actual medical and interview. I'm actually still in a bit of shock and can't believe that the interview's done.

Interview - Check. Now moving on to the next stage, the CFO.

This is a hard subject to find any information on...

What is the best path for my wife and I to take in getting her kids (9 & 12 years old) to the U.S.? She has been in the U.S. and a 10 year green card permanent resident since 8/5/20 (married in the Philippines 4 years ago) and we finally got a chance to get her kids passports in the Philippines and are now looking to start getting them here to the U.S. Do we need to start the immigration process for them just like we did with her, or would they become citizens when she does next year or is it faster for me (U.S. born citizen) to adopt them (something I plan to do at some point anyway)?

Thanks ahead for any info...Jo

My filipina wife has been in the US. since 8/5/20 (also her 10 year green card "since date") and we are looking to start gathering information to apply for her citizenship next year (from what we understand). After reading on here we are a little confused on the "90 day rule". Can she actually apply 90 days before 8/5/23 or will she need to wait until at least 8/5/23 to apply for her citizenship test/hearing? Thanks ahead for any information...Jo

Trying to figure out how to play out FIL IR5 with expiring medical.

Both parents went for Medicals in late January with Interview scheduled last week in January

Both popped for Sputum with March 24th as return for results date

MIL got call Feb 24 and in treatment for 6 months

FIL passed March 24th, Medical shows expiring June 24th now

FIL Interviews first week in April, receives 221G for AKA NBI on corrected birth certificate name (original was missing letter in last name)

Responds to RFE April 25th

Status changes to Issued April 27th, no LBC package

Status changes back to Ready May 10th

Status changes to Refused May 16th

LBC package comes with 221G and returned passport now for Different middle initial on marriage certificate (Both mother's names swapped on marriage certificate so it's showing his Mother in law as his mother and middle initial of her last name). 221G requests New NBI with "U" name and letter of explanation.

Respond with new NBI and letter (upload to CEAC and delivered via LBC)

Passport returned along with blank letter (only has his name and address, nothing else) May 27th via LBC

May 29th he goes to embassy, talks to guard, someone came out and spoke with him and took his passport and said they would be in touch as it was an error

Wife calls several times over the next week, they tell her she needs to wait a week for response.....nothing.

June 13th, wife calls embassy, explains still refused, no further 221G or instructions after last blank letter and medical expires in two weeks. Also requests new Health Case Number so he can redo medical

June 14th Embassy calls FIL says they are sending an new 221G for NBI AKA full middle name (last one requested just "U" middle name) and he should receive this week, he mentions medical expiring June 24th

June 16th embassy calls FIL again and says don't wait for LBC to deliver 221G, send new NBI AKA and letter ASAP so they can issue visa

So FIL is supposed to receive the new NBI AKA tomorrow (Friday).

Does it make any sense to send it in this weekend via LBC? If they get it Monday or Tuesday the very best case would be a visa issued Wednesday that expires Friday. He still needs to do CFO PDOS and be on a plane by Thursday to enter on June 24th, an impossible task as I see it.

Better to wait for new Health Case Number and repeat medical?

What if he sends everything in Monday and they issue a visa Wednesday that he can't possibly use? Is that a complete "do-over" to get it re-issued?

His PD is July 2019 so this has been an agonizing process compared to wife's 7 month CR1 back in 2015