momoaz

Here is my interesting story today about my Civil Surgeon experience with my Filipino wife today. We have all the paperwork done and ready to file AOS with about 30 days left on her K-1 Entry. I read and re-read the I-693 Instructions and the FAQ as well as the Section 6.0....AFTER MARRIAGE - ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FAQ here on VJ. I called a Civil Surgeon (found off USCIS web site) to make an appointment and they saw me same day that was nice. However here in Phoenix I knew I would be in for problems since they typically do AOS for the southern border and other types of immigration where no physical has been done yet. I told the scheduling at the time I just needed the CS to inspect my wife's medical record and inform them they were complete from the St Lukes Medical she had in Manilla in Sept and fill out his form for us. No Physical was needed since it was done within the same year. They got us right in and proceeded to run us through the whole process for complete I-693 physical and after I tried to explain the form to them a few times I just gave up and we went with the flow. We paid, waited and then did the preliminary physical stuff and then when we got to the needles for blood and TB I showed the assistant the ST Lukes Vaccination Record again and told them they were all done. She was puzzled. We stopped there an went into "waiting for doctor mode". One Hour later when the doctor arrived into the exam room he admitted they have never seen this K-1 adjustment before and did not know how to proceed. Not trying to tell the doctor what the process was, (they don't like that) I told him all we needed was a vaccination record review, the filling out of the forms again and his witness to her signing it and seal it up in his package. I told him the instruction were to fill out part 2 and he was done but the I-693 instructions didn't specifically spell this out so he wasnt going for it.

They refunded our money and told us they would call us back after they did some research. I left a Page 1 filled out of the I-693, the instructions, the St Lukes Vac Report and will wait a few days for them to call.

Anyone else have this problem?

Anyone in Phoenix go through this and want to recommend a Civil Surgeon that they used?

FOUND IT. NOA2 is actually I-797C for us. above her name is an A number. AXXX XXX XXX. Yay on to the next piece of this fascinating puzzle. Thanks VisaJourney.

I am in the same boat I am looking for the "A"number A# on our NOA2. The closest thing we got to a NOA2 is a National Visa Center Notice with the "NVC NUMBER" on it. Ours is MNLXXXXXXXXXX. To add to the confusion we have no real number on the I-19 where there is a series of boxes but there is a number printed above it and a word in small letters stating "Admission Nmber". Next piece of confusion is the number on my wifes Visa page in her passport. Right below MY name on HER visa is 9 digit number starting with A....AXXXXXXXXX. Unless I hear otherwise I am putting the MNL number from the Manilla Embassy as the A number. BUMP

My experience with AP and attorney. Yes they are great at filing the paperwork but I think they have as little result of getting info out of the embassy as us. We have used a lawyer through the entire process in the PI and the lawyer even has a counterpart in the PI to help there. I contacted them 2 days after we went on AP and that was almost 4 weeks ago now and they haven't even replied to me so I think they get no answers from the embassy also. If anyone has a different experience please let us know. Everything the attorney did in respect to contacting me was at least 12 days later than the official notices.

I waited 2 weeks and then emailed. 24 hours later a reply. We can not discuss the Consul's processes. If your a US citizen go back to work and try not to think about it. If your a Philippine citizen please go home and go slowly crazy. We will reply when we reply. So we are waiting. Since any additional requests for anything usually takes 30 days I would suggest you expect 30-40 for the notification and then another 10-15 for printing and mailing. I feel your pain. I made the original post

With the way people tend to answer questions under pressure do you really want to make the wrong answer from a moments notice with an immigration officer at your POE? Don't be crazy and even think about it. Have a celebration with family so if asked you can call it what it is a celebration of our relationship.

you can catch hawaiian airlines manila to portland if you pick the right day its under $600. Use Cebu or PAL to get to Manila and Alaska airlines shuttle from PDX to SEA its cheap too.

This is why I started this post. Good news for us if we have MikelanNida case. More painful if we are stuck in AP hell for 3 months like jameugiekaxavilon. I will be praying for you jameugiekaxavilon and hoping I see it in the next few weeks.

it was a lady interviewer and we were both there for the interview. I listened for the word approved but never heard it. She said your ok but we need to fix something on our end. I took that for approved. Our AP paper had no additional requirements on it they were all crossed out. Just the line at the bottom that said wait to be contacted and try not to pull all your hair out while waiting.

Thanks for the info peeps. I did call after 1 week and they said wait and would not say what it was waiting for. I emailed again this week (week2) and no reply yet. I will call them or email every week until I get confirmation of shipment. I only started this thread because I see a few other people like jameugiekaxavilon have had the same result but they have been delayed longer than me and was trying to get a reference for this next timeline of waiting.

We had our interview Sept 22 and although we think we were approved (they kept all paperwork and passport) and said we didn't need to submit any additional paperwork. They would contact us in a few weeks. We have still not gotten any notice or confirmation of Visa processing to delivery. If anyone in Manila is still in Administrative Processing and suffering like us with no explanation of why or is past this final snag could you please replay with your interview date and shipped date if it has happened yet

Here is ours

Interview Sept 22

Visa Shipped XXX

thanks

Bryan

Yes it was bad. Roxas Ave was underwater maybe 3.5 feet and its on the other side of the embassy from the bay. To make matters worse aside from the normal airline closures during a typhoon PAL striking ground workers performed a work stoppage yesterday, basically grounding the entire airline. Our hotel told us not to expect any flights to be available until Oct 1. What a mess.

I called today and the Embassy was closed. Sorry she will probably have to reschedule

We had our interview today at the Manila Embassy. I travelled to go with my fiance from the States. We did fine with the Consul but we were told there was a small thing to fix at "their" end and we were to sit for additional instructions. By watching the people at Window 73 I wasn't sure what our outcome would be. When our turn arrived were told there is an Administrative Review pending and there was no more papers needed for us to submit. We got an AR paper with a line crossed through the additional requirements and were told it should arrive soon. I asked for a time frame and he said maybe a week. I was pretty sure he was trying to make me feel better. The fact that they did not give my fiance's Passport back to us is a good thing. Keep that in mind if you have problems and don't get enough answers there. The bad news is I have read many posting and this problem is seldom fixed in 1 week. I have only 2 weeks away from work and hate the thought of my fiance traveling without me but I'm pretty sure it will happen that way in 3-6 weeks. I will hope for the best and keep everyone posted. I intend to call the Embassy Monday and every day I am still here to see if it was released to 2go. If anyone here has the correct number to call I would appreciate it. I know it's in some postings if no one has it handy.

thanks all for your support.

Our interview was today and asking for pickup wasn't an option I could ask for in our case. The interview went well and while we were not informed of approval we were told by the consul "there was something to fix on their side of the paperwork before the visa could be issued". So we got sent to window 73 to be informed we were under Administrative Review. The form had all requirements crossed out so we needed to supply nothing additional. The fact that they kept all the paperwork and my fiance's passport means it is surely approved. The bad news is I have read where this can take 3-4 weeks to get it shipped out. Sadly I cant stay that long so I will most likely be traveling home alone

Our interview is Sept 23rd. I was told you your request for pick up must be "meritorious" and the decision is made by the Consul. The only "meritorious" reason I could have in my case is that I traveled from the States to accompany her on the interview and have to return to work soon. Wether this is deemed meritorious or not I do not know. I plan to ask provided the interview goes well and I am allowed in on the interview at some point. I will update this thread as soon as we have our interview.

Followup....found out she has a Philhealth card but still no reply from CFO email. Any advise out there would be appreciated.

I am sorry you have had such a difficult journey. I want you and all other readers out there to know not all of us Americans are like that. Going against what many people say I gave my fiance money in the Philippines. I asked her to quit her 11 hour a day job and I put 2 years income in a bank account in her name I had no access to. I explained to her I could deposit but not withdraw and that money was for her to live on in case I turned out to be a bad man. It's still there and will be there in case she can not adapt to life in the US so we are all not like the man you fell in love with and gave your life to.

On behalf of us good guys I apologize and while as my fiance says "it is very hard to reach your country" I hope you get what you desire and are happy.

The people I have read about here, the truly good people and the crazy ones, all found this place and I am grateful for it and the information good and bad, it brings to all of us

Thank You VisaJourney and I'll have a good thought for you Laura2011

momoaz

I read the requirements at the CFO website for the seminar is 2 picture ID's. My fiance does not have a GSIS card, no Postal ID, no SSS card, but does have an expired Student ID and her Passport. I am hoping they will be usable. I have emailed the CFO and PRISM for clarification but have not gotten a reply. Anyone who thinks they have the answer or knows of an acceptable ID we can get in 2 weeks please chime in. Also an earlier post of this "Parental Advise" is interesting. Anyone know if it is required? I love the thought of traveling 12 hours in the province to get a document from her mother (whom I have already met) and try to get a document notarized when she doesn't even have any ID. Oh how we love Philippine paperwork.

Update from what I have found the best case is to not go against the system and have 2go deliver it. I believe pickup at central 2go office in Pasay is quickest. I got no firm answer from anyone including the email question I sent to the Embassy. I think I will have it held at Pasay and we will fly up from Davao when its there. That costs more but if we have the 1st part of the CFO done we need only go back and get a sticker then we can fly out that week.

16 days. waited 1 extra beyond the 15 and called. they said it was done in 13 days and already shipped to the embassy

yes once in 2 years should be ok. I have seen mine in the PH two times in 6 months and will go again in about 7 weeks.

I wouldn't leave the Mainland. If a flight from Hawaii has problems and has to divert your screwed. Its just not worth it. I have to be careful here in AZ. An accidental day trip to Mexico can leave my wife stranded in another country all alone. There are plenty of places to go in the Mainland US.

I was planning to fly out from Phoenix to attend our interview. It is nice to hear you got special treatment. We have already walked through the whole process in Manila. St Lukes, and then at the entrance of the Embassy to ask questions. I was hoping to ask for a pickup of the Visa (if approved) at the Embassy providing it is "meritorious" as per the Embassy website. Maybe we could save a few days and go straight to a CFO class after pickup and save another trip back to Manila. I will let everyone know.

Well thank you for that insight to the web page delay! I was guessing this might be the case. Also I'm glad to see I'm not the only one looking at that web site daily. Again Congratulations!