ScottMelanie

Get there very early. My fiancee got there at 5AM this past Tuesday, and there were 20 ahead of her. Luckily, on Tuesday they have 30 in the am and 30 in the pm. Still, they change their schedule without changing it online or over the phone. Also... they bring copies of your IDs as well as the IDs themselves.

My fiancee's application for a K-1 visa was approved yesterday, and we are overjoyed! So grateful.

It took us over 9 months because she had a small scar on one lung and they had to do a two month sputum test. After she passed that two month test, she was medically cleared, but the interview schedule was booked up. Anyway, her experience at the embassy was very nice. She was very well organized and had loads of evidence of our relationship. In fact, she was disappointed when they didn't want to look at all of it. They were interested in my 2011 ITR, W-2s, and the remittance receipts. The Filipina interviewer asked if she had pictures, and when Mel plopped a large album down, the lady said "thank you", and didn't ask for more. The Filipina interviewer asked Mel if she had met me, and Mel said, "Of course! I wouldn't go to America without meeting him first!"

The American Consul came next, and he was very formal, but pleasant. He asked her when we met,how I proposed to her, what she likes about me, what I do for a living and what she does for a living. That was about it. He said, "Thank you and good luck. You will be called to the next window." Her heart sunk. She thought that she was not approved and she was feeling like a failure. In a few minutes, she was called to another window and told that her visa would be sent to her in a few days. She asked, "Was my visa application approved?". The man said, 'Yes, congratulations".

Many in the VJ community helped and encouraged us. It has been challenging at times. Some people breeze through, some encounter some challenges, even if they are prepared. Although it took over 9 months, we were well prepared at every step thanks to VJ and its community. Bless you all.

Mel will be joining me soon in Hawaii. I am very lucky.

Waiting on the result of my fiancee's sputum smear test today. I am sure it will be negative, and confident that her 2 month sputum culture test results will be negative, too.

I was curious about how accurate the smear test is. In other words, if it comes up negative, how accurately does it predict a negative sputum culture test (no TB)? If if the smear test is positive, how accurately does that predict a positive culture test (TB)?

Well, I found one set of answers here from just one study smear test accuracy

It turns out that the smear test is very good at prediction when the smear is positive. A positive smear turns into a positive culture in about 96% of cases (at least in that study). Positive smear = you almost certainly have TB.

The smear test is pretty good (but not very good) at prediction when the smear is negative. In that study a negative smear correctly predicted a negative culture test result 84% of the time. If you have a negative smear, you likely don't have TB. But it is a possibility, of course. This chance of you actually having TB even though your smear test is negative depends on many factors. For example, do you have the symptoms of active TB (persistent cough, night sweats, fatigue, etc.)? If you do have TB symptoms and your smear is negative, then the possibility that your culture will turn up positive is higher than someone who does not have TB symptoms.

By the way, positive culture results usually show up in the first 30 days or less. Every day you don't receive a call after 30 days increases the likelihood that you don't have TB. Bottom line, go with the flow. If you have TB, you will be cured after 6 months of treatment. That is good, right? TB can kill you if it isn't treated. If you don't have TB, you will soon be on a plane to the USA. http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

Packages picked up on Monday, July 09, 2012

Waybill: 9325818375 - Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 13:08 - BUCHAREST - ROMANIA- Delivered

Waybill: 9325818224 - Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 08:34 - CARACAS - VENEZUELA– En route

Waybill: 9325818213 - Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 13:14 -DUBLIN - IRELAND,REPUBLIC OF – Delivered

Waybill: 9325818202 - Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 11:34 - CAIRO - EGYPT– En route

Waybill: 9325818143 - Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 15:13 - TOKYO - JAPAN– Delivered

Waybill: 9325818132 - Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 14:20 – VIENTIANE- LAO PEOPLESDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC- En route

Waybill: 9325818014 -Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 09:29 - SANTO DOMINGO -DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Delivered

Waybill: 9325818106- Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 22:08 - HO CHI MINH - VIETNAM - En route

Waybill: 9325818025 - Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 21:49 - MANILA - PHILIPPINES,THE – En route

Waybill: 9325818062 - Wednesday,July 11, 2012 at 08:05- JUAREZ - JUAREZ - MEXICO-En route

This is a few that were sent out.By adding your country of destination you might find your package. Good luck toeveryone

Thank you so much. I found mine sent to Manila. It should arrive today. Bless you.

Read here about calling DOS

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/264972-shortcuts-when-checking-for-updates-from-the-nvc-and-dos/

Thanks so much!

Scott

I did call DOS. They said it's at the consulate in Montreal. But considering the people at NVC have been saying that it hadn't yet left for the consulate. And then suddenly, today on lady tells me it left on Monday. I'm just looking for some verification, because someone has to have been giving me miss information somewhere.

Could you please tell me what number you called at the DOS? Do you mean the specific Embassy number, or do you have a DOS phone number you can share? Thank you very much.

Ooooooooo. I think thats me!!! 9325814960

Great, but how did you do it? What reference number did you use? Please tell us how you did it? Thank you.

Sadly, I cannot make this work. I used the format for the reference number and inserted the date of the shipment (today) but no results. I think that they may have changed the format for the reference number. NVC did confirm that the package went out today. Anybody know the current reference number? Thank you.

Just got our case number now. NOA2 was 5 June. Happy!

Okay, so we finally got our case number last Friday and my fiance went ahead and booked his medical for July 10th. But now when I called NVC to find out if the case had been sent out or not, they told me it was in AP. Can my fiance still get the medical done if the case isn't at the Consulate by the time of the appointment? Do the medical results get sent straight to the Consulate, and if so, what if they don't have my case, but only the case number? Should we hold off on the medical? I'm really worried about how long this AP will take...

I am sorry your case is held up. What is AP, why would that happen, and how long might it hold things up for you?

The CSC filers (like me, June 5 NOA2) were screwed because the CSC fell badly behind for some unknown reason. One VJ CSC filer with an NOA2 of 30 May received his Case Number last Friday. Those of us with early June NOA2 dates should receive their case numbers in the next 6-10 days. VSC or Tampa filers are different do not experience the same delays, so if you are a CSC filer, don't compare your timeline to theirs.

Approved I-129F on May 24th, 2012

NVC received it today, June 27th, 2012. OMG I am so happy right now!

Congratulations!

Yes, many of us are in this same CSC boat. I did request help from my congresswoman, and only got this back (some identifiers removed):

Mr. XXXXXXXX : here is the response received from the California Service Center:

USCIS records indicate the I129F case WACXXXXXXXXXXXX was Approved on June 5, 2012. The I129F petition and all supporting documents will be forwarded to NVC shortly. The file has not left our facility yet. Please allow 3-6 weeks for the case to arrive at the NVC. We apologize for the delays and any inconvenience caused. Please be advised the CSC is taking every action necessary to get these cases to NVC and are aware of the difficulties caused by any delay in processing.

Unfortunately, the processing time is a matter internal to the CSC. I checked with several sources, including the CSC liaison and the XXXXXX USCIS, they are aware of the problem and the hardship being caused. However, due to the volume of applications there is no way to shorten the processing time. Also, because of the procedures followed to transfer files to NVC, single files cannot be pulled out and transferred individually. Transfers are done by batch.

I realize that this is incredibly frustrating to you, I apologize that we cannot circumvent the procedures.

We had the same situation. When my wife (fiance) came to the US, we had her initial SS Number issued under her maiden name (same format as she had in Phils, first name:mother's maiden name:father's sir name).

When we applied for our marriage license, we requested her name be legally changed to include her fathers sir name as middle name and my sir name as her last name. We married and her name was changed and this was written on the marriage license.

We then went back to SS office and had her name changed on her SS card to her new married name.

We filed AOS with her "new" name. We have never had any issue whatsoever with this name change format. Her EAD/AP and Green Card are all issued under her married name.

Typically, when you file the marriage license application, they will ask what do you want your name to be after you're married. This is a legal name change in the US.

PS: I think typically in the US, this is the same format after marriage, first name:fathers sir name:husbands sir name. Not sure why you say "Because our own customs in the USA are different".

Thank you, that was very helpful and appreciated.

I don't think it is typical for an American woman to take her father's family name as her middle name at marriage. I have never seen that done myself.

Thanks again for your kind reply.

Scott and Mel

Scott,

Did she seem willing to do anything to help you. Or just to tell you that they were backed up, just like we already knew?

Unfortunately, it seems that she is very timid. I am still waiting for the CSC reply, but she appears to refuse to ask for an explanation from the CSC. I feel we should ask our federal representatives to get answers for government inefficiencies like this. My congresswoman just appears afraid to ask whythere is a delay.

My filipina fiancee has an interesting question. Her middle name is presently her mother's maiden name, which is the custom in the Philippines. Philippine custom is that when a woman gets married, her middle name changes from her mother's maiden name to her father's (and of course, her) family name, and her last name becomes her husband's family name.

Because our own customs in the USA are different, I think that immigration may want to use her current middle name as her middle name on the application, however that is not correct with her culture (her present last name should become her middle name).

I understand all the above is complicated, but filipinas will understand. Do any of you have experience with this, and please tell us what you did.

Thank you,

Scott and Melanie

i was approved on June 13,2012 i got my case number on friday.

and i gave them my wifes and my emails.

My Friend,

please explain what you did. You are fortunate. Thank you.

i was approved on June 13,2012 i got my case number on friday.

and i gave them my wifes and my emails.

My Friend,

please explain what you did. You are fortunate. Thank you.

S

Anyone out there approved on or around June 5, 2012 receive their NVC case number yet?

I was also approved on June 5, but no case number yet. I visited my congresswoman's office today, and filed a request for their help. I was told that I was not the first of their constituents to ask for help regarding the slow processing of petition approval notices sent to NVC. California Service Center told them it is taking 4-6 weeks to process and send approvals to NVC at this time.

I read that one person received their case number quickly. I am happy for them, but others do seem to be waiting 4-6 weeks.

Scott

Good luck and please read and reread the guides as most all of your answers are contained within,

Dave

Just a correction to #4. The PI fee is about $233 in US dollars, paid in Pesos. It covers the examination AND the vaccinations.

Our NOA2 was 5 June, but no case number after 14 days. I called both the NVC and USCIS and asked them to tell me what they are observing. NVC guy said they are told to say that we can expect the case number in 15 business days, but he said it is taking about 30 right now. I called the USCIS, and a lady there told me that it is taking the CSC 30 days to "process" the files to send to NVC.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to speed the process up?

Thank you.

I too am stuck waiting for the NVC to receive notice from the CSC that my K-1 petition was approved 14 days ago. When I called USCIS, they insistedthat they send the approval notice directly to the embassy in Manila, and bypass NVC. Can this be true?

Thank you, this is very comprehensive and helpful. I do have a question about the CFO certificate. My fiancee is an adult (37), already has a passport and just coming on a K-1 visa. Does she really have to go through that CFO counseling and get the certificate before they will let her leave the country? She does not live all that close to either Manila or Cebu, so it is just one more trip she needs to make. I have never heard of this before.

Thank you,

Scott

Thank you very much for your kind and helpful reply! Big help to us.

Scott and Melanie

I am confused by what seems to be contradictions with the guides and what I have read from couples that had K-1 visas approved in Manila. I will list what I understand to be the case for the US Embassy in Manila for a K-1. Please correct me if you have direct recent experience:

1. My fiancee can schedule her medical exam and visa interview as soon as the NVC assigns a case number.

2. Before my fiancee can schedule her interview, she will need to pay the visa fee at a Bank of the Philippines Islands and get a receipt

3. My fiancee will not get packets (3 and 4) in the mail from the embassy, but will get emails instead that tell her what information to bring to the interview and the forms to fill out (I am also sending her a pack of documents that are my responsibility (affadavit, prood of income, etc.)

4. My fiancee will not send anything to the US embassy in advance of the interview.

5. My fiancee will have her medical exam about 10 days prior to the interview.

6. My fiancee will bring all the application related documents along with her proof of fee payment on the day of her interview.

Recent successful US Embassy Manila K-1 visa applicants.. is all the above correct? Can you please correct anything that is wrong? Please add any missing information and bless you for your help. Thank you.

Except for the nonresponsiveness of the previous petitioner, this sounds like good news, at least in regard to the USCIS phase. I hope that you recorded the name of the USCIS officer with whom you spoke, and the date & time, to keep just in case.

It has been said that the Manila embassy hands out visas like candy, so it's unlikely that your fiancee should have much problem during the eventual visa interview. She should be prepared to explain the entire situation, openly and in depth, to the consul, including the information that you just received. Others here will add their insights, and I'll defer to compelling evidence.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply

K1 petitions expire in 4 months unless the consulate extends their validity, which they will usually do. They can't extend the validity beyond 1 year. If the beneficiary doesn't respond within 1 year then the consulate will send the petition back to USCIS as abandoned. USCIS will usually close the petition.

If USCIS approved a subsequent petition for the same petitioner then the first petition is almost certainly closed. Only a bureaucratic error would leave it still open.

Very helpful. Thank you.