Idaho RN

I married my wife 19 Jan 2011 and filed her I-130 14 Feb 2011. After all the paperwork and fees were done she arrived in the US 1 Oct 2011. We are now doing the same for her two boys. Just found out today that USCIS has approved both of their petitions and now we will be dealing with the NVC. I would be more than happy to assist you by answering any questions you have. The USCIS website has all the forms you will need and the instructions for filling them out. You don't need an immigration atty. They are a serious waste of cash when you can do the whole process yourself.

Friend, I would make an appointment with USCIS and sit down with one of the agents and let them know the whole story. If she married you to get citizenship or a long term resident status and not for a legit. relationship then she should be outta here.

It seems like you are a generous person and are willing to go to great lengths to make things work out. Well... It did not work out and it is time to undo her safety net and send her back to the Philippines... Do you really want a person like that living in our country?

My NOA1 was 4 Feb 2011 and my wife just finished her US Embassy interview on 9/14. She will arrive in the US on 10/1. I had all my papers routed through the CSC. You should be fine.

My wife just came from the US Embassy in Manila. Her visa interview was for 0830. It seems the filipina screener conducted most of the interview. When she got to the consulate officer it took about 30 seconds and she was done! They only checked our family pictures. She had taken so many other documents with her just in case. Better to be over prepared than lacking when you need it most.

They are looking for anything that can be presented as evidence of an ongoing relationship. Pictures, cards, letters, shared finances... Here's what we did. I got my wife added to my Chase acct and took her a card with her name on it. We put both our names on a condo lease and all utility bills in her country. We save, by month, all our skype transcripts and print them out. She made a photo album of our family time together, wedding, and my airline tickets and entry stamp in my passport. We also have a shared (joint) savings acct in her country as well. She has saved every western union receipt, card, letter, and other correspondence I've sent her. So what the embassy is looking for is a collection of evidence, over time, that there is an ongoing and meaningful relationship.

Hope this helps... Good luck.

I ran into this with the AOS fee. They showed me as paid then a week later as rejected. Make sure the routing numbers of the account are correct and the type of account. I reentered all the same info the second time and it went through.

Believe it or not I just got an email from the NVC on Saturday evening. The email was to me and cc to my wife. It is the 4 page instruction email with an interview date of 14 Sep 2011. SCHWEET! Fortunately she has already gone to the doctor for her shots and should be able to complete the medical exam in 1 day. Our I-130 NOA1 date was 4 Feb 2011. The NVC got the package 27 May 2011. So it is looking like 8 months from initial filing to ready to fly to the US. We are so happy now. Thanks to God in heaven for his hand in our situation and making things go smoothly. GIT R DONE!

I got the SIF today and called the NVC. The paperwork is completed and they are waiting until the 2nd week of Aug to schedule her interview date. (Hopefully in Sep). So I am supposed to call them back on the 17th if I have not heard anything by then.

Fingers crossed...

Well folks I've got some bad news. After paying the AOS and IV fees, sending in all the required forms, and waiting for nearly a month... I get an email yesterday from the NVC saying they also need my wife's DS230 and all civil documents. HUH? The embassy website clearly states these documents will be collected on the day of the interview. So I call the NVC and they confirm that the documents are required before an interview date will be set.

Fortunately we had completed the DS 230 two weeks ago and it only needed to be printed out. So she sent a Fed Ex envelope with all the documents to me yesterday and when it arrives here I will include the email letter and cover sheet and send it to the NVC for another month of delays.

For those of you at the stage of AOS and IV fees do yourself a favor and triple check everything. Even call the NVC with the list of documents you have and see if they are going to work.

Good luck to all....

For those of you wanting an NVC case # you can call with your USCIS reciept # and you will be given a case number. For those of you wanting to know the status of your case with the NVC I can tell you this...

NOA1 - 4 Feb 2011

NOA2 - 27 May 2011

AOS and IV fees paid 23 Jun 2011

Mailed paperwork to NVC 2 Jul 2011

18 Jul 2011 - phone call to NVC. Paperwork received, checked and complete. Now awaiting an interview date at the US Embassy Manila.

Many times I have been given the standard answer of "20 business days to process the paperwork." Mine took about 16 business days.

Yes it is pitiful and painful. The waiting is the worst part. I have not seen my wife since 21 Jan 2011 when I returned to the US. So we text and skype and try to pass the months that way.

I am a registered nurse and the letter from your physician looks like a normal doctor written letter. The word "claims" is used to describe what the doctor heard you say. It is not a negative statement. It really is the same as the doctor writing, "Pt hit her head on a door and now claims she is experiencing dizziness and blurred vision."

It does not mean you say one thing but they see it differently.

Don't sweat the letter. It is the way doctors write.

Good luck

I submitted all required documents to the NVC 23 June 2011. I have called weekly and have been told the usual, "We require 20 business days to process paperwork.", each time I call. Well folks... today I called and they have the paperwork and I was told I now have to wait for an available appointment date then the papers will be sent to the US Embassy in Manila. Going by what others have experienced I reasoned that the interview date should be early September 2011. Whoo Hoo! GIT R DONE!

Now I will wait for the official notification from the NVC and the arrival of the pre interview package to my wife. It has been a long wait and we still have a ways to go.

Thank you all so much for the great responses. This is the information I was hoping to confirm. I have paid the I-864 and IV fees, mailed the documents to the NVC and we are waiting for the NVC to put the paperwork with our case. Then all should be ready for the documents to be sent to the US Embassy in Manila. Monday 11 July begins week #3 of the waiting for the NVC to get it all together. Fingers crossed and many prayers for this to be the week it all comes together.

Good luck to all of you with pending cases...

Good day to all. One question that we have not been able to have answered is one about the vaccinations being given during the medical exam. Does anyone know if my wife must have all required vaccinations before going to the medical exam or will they be administered during the medical exam. If during the medical exam is there an additional cost for the vaccines?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

I have done nothing since receiving the NOA2. I am waiting for the NVC to send me the AOS request and the request for DS230. It was suggested that I call the automated line and get my case number them call and speak to a human once I have it. I will be trying to make this happen this weekend.

Magical, thanks for the tip. I'll follow up this weekend then on Monday.

My NOA1 date is 4 Feb 2011. I would check the USCIS site about once a week and see the CSC processing time is goal 5 months and actual time of 5 months so I was thinking 1st week of July 2011. Got my email notification (NOA2) approval 27 May 2011 and the paper copy in the mail 4 Jun 2011.

Now I am scouring the NVC threads and trying to determine the approximate time requirements from USCIS NOA2 until NVC sends out the invoice and request for AOS and DS230 for my wife.

The waiting is the hard part. Once you read a thread about a delay of some sort it makes you feel as if you could also experience the same thing. My advice is to accept the fact that each case is unique and humans are actually involved in the process. Don't panic and think there is a problem unless you receive a notification from the NVC or USCIS. Also each embassy is different. Some process hundreds or even thousands of applicants each year and some only a dozen or so. I expect the US Embassy Manila to be flooded with requests and I don't know when to expect the interview date to be scheduled. It will be when God wants it and that's that.

Like most of us here I have not seen my wife in months. (Married Jan 19 2011 and I returned to the US Jan 21 2011). I have accepted that it is all a part of the process and will be worth it in the end. She also has accepted our long separation in true filipina fashion. So my friends, let us all support one another and continue to pass along updates as we get them.

Correct! No lawyer. Thanks to all the kind replies. I'll keep updating until she arrives. Best wishes to all...

NOA1 received 4 Feb 2011 at the California Service Center. NOA2 received 27 May 2011. Paperwork enroute to NVC. The processing time is 5 months. Ours took just under 4 months. No RFE's or anything. So for all of you thinking of hiring an attorney I would recommend against it. I just made a check list based on all the documents needed and went over it 3 times before I mailed it in. An attorney was going to cost more than airfare and I still had to pay the fees as well. I found the USCIS people to be polite, professional, and helpful when I called.

My wife and I are so excited now. The hard part is over. I am just waiting to pay the AOS and visa fees then we should be all set for her interview.

If you were Divorced I suggest that your wife should bring a copy of your Divorce decree, the counselor might ask for it. And don't forget your Wedding Photo, 1 photo will do.

WOW! I don't know how you were able to get married without it. My wife set up all the paperwork requirements before I arrived and we just attended the appointments on time. She has been to DFA and has her new passport with her married name. We were married 19 Jan 2011 and all is smooth so far.

I wish you good luck.