US Immigration from Philippines

Hello,

I want my mom and my sister to visit me here in the US just for a month this Fall, please help me with some of my questions:

Should they apply separately for a tourist visa?

Or is it possible that my mom be the main applicant and my sister will be her 3rd party? My mom is a senior citizen and would need someone to accompany her.

TIA

I thought I was done with all of the bureaucratic BS but that would be too easy.

I was told that the SS card usually arrives after about 2 weeks from arrival at POE. It never came so I waited. I finally called SS office to find out that sometimes that falls through the cracks (which it did with my wife). They said I would need to have her come in person, which is appointment only now due to beer virus. No problem...I made appointment and we went there today. Clerk says he can't give her a number because her visa expires in 3 days and it needs to be valid for at least 2 weeks in order for him to submit. He said I will need to call Immigration and get a 30 day extension or wait till she has her green card. I said the date on the visa only matters for when she enters it must still be valid and the visa itself is her green card until she receives hers. Once she arrived she has legal status. He agreed but said he cannot submit it in their system because of the date.

I have not called Immigration yet because I am expecting them to say...Why do you need it extended if she is already here? Which I say....GOOD QUESTION.

So any advice would be helpful. Should I wait for the green card (she entered 10/29/21)? Is there a way to follow up on or speed up the green card status? Should I call Immigration with the expectation that they will laugh at me?

Hi Folks,

It's taken us nearly 4 years but she finally has visa in hand for her and her 15 year old daughter. What documents did you bring - e.g. Original Birth Certificates, Drivers License, School records, etc. What did you wish you had brought with you?

First of all, I initially visited my girlfriend in the Philippines in October of 2018, traveled the country and with her, then came back to the US. I moved there in January of 2019, leased a couple of houses, then moved back to the US in February of 2021. We married online through Utah on a zoom wedding in December of 2021.

I am wondering if I should go to the the Philippines to consummate the marriage for the CR-1 requirements, which in Manila is starting to lockdown for unvaccinated, like myself, or stay in the US and file a K-1, K-3 Visa? If I try to go to the Philippines currently, they could shut down totally for foreign, unvaccinated between when I purchase the airfare and book quarantine hotel and actually get there. I would have to currently book a 7 night hotel, which could change to up to 14 nights.

Also, the President is not currently letting unvaccinated move in or around the city. I would have to travel an hour away after quarantine, if even allowed to travel. I have heard of others getting stuck in the quarantine hotel, saying they tested positive for covid, even though no symptoms and would either have to stay there 14 nights, or maybe get moved to a government facility.

Things there could worsen at any time. It would be pretty costly, Probably spending at least $3000, could be much more, between airline tickets, meals, covid tests for a 3-5 week stay. Altogether, the trip could get up to $4-5000, all said and done.

The main thing I m considering is which way would be the quickest and easiest avenue to get her and her son to the US during this covid (removed)? I realize the CR-1 is only one step, the K-1 or K-3 requires 2 long processes to be completed. I may also end up having to hire help with processing the paperwork as I seem to get off track or at times.

The next thing I m wondering about, is I m planning on moving, probably back east somewhere, possibly South Carolina or Florida, moving away from California. I ve heard California has long processing times, but maybe everywhere does. Are any states to file quicker than others? Thanks for any help or advice!

Hello,

So I booked a flight to the Philippines for March 29 to June 30.

I was checking on requirements and found this on United Airlines' website:

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/covid-testing.html#to_us

Does this mean that I don't need to go to a clinic to get tested on my way back to the U.S.? I need confirmation as this seems too easy to be true. I understand that this can still change in the coming weeks.

I would appreciate any input.

Thanks!