ProfessorUSA

NOA1 to NOA2 for us was just shy of 8.5 months.

It does happen, just slow.

NOA1 4 MAY 2012

NOA2 11 JAN 2013

Interview and approval 19 FEB 2013

Waiting on visa delivery then flight home.

good luck

engagements mean very little

they are not legal

they are just a promise

you must be engaged

if it was a few months before the divorce (mine was too)

it means nothing

I was not able to see her based on my overseas committments

so we got engaged when we had a chance to meet

different countries may have a culture that does stress this more than others

but the US embassy should not

good luck anyway

With all the bad experiences I read online about fiancée CFO seminars, I was armed with documents and ready for battle. Prepared for the worst but hoped for the best. I went to CFO at CITIGOLD near LRT Quirino station on Feb 8 Friday I'm there at 5am and I'm 25th in line already (the limit for fiancée/spouses/other partner is only 15/session). I don’t know exactly where I should go which line I should be in but at that time there was only one line, there’s no reliable person to ask, no guards yet, so I just waited. It's confusing because some people there have been there before and made to come back and they have this photocopy of old schedules that says US is MON, wed and THU, I was there on a Friday but I have a printed copy of the schedule on their website that says Mon-Fri 9am-12 and 2-5pm 15 slots/session. So some girls were saying they don’t have US sessions on a Friday so 1 girl decided to believe that and left but I stayed put and decided to just wait and ask the guards for sure because I'm already there and I'm not going to believe hearsay as it's an extreme hassle to go back. So when the guards started letting people in at 6am I was able to get in because people in front of me have different destinations like Canada, japan, Italy, others, but mostly US. The guards asked for ID and photocopy of it, visa (which I don’t have yet but its fine because I have appointment letter). They let me in and gave me pink ID.

Those with pink ID went to 9th floor and then they gave us a form to fill out. I already filled out forms online but they didn’t use it, I had to fill out the one they gave which has more personal stuff, like number of children, divorces, educational background of your petitioner. They ask for the petitioner’s highest educational attainment and what the course of study was so you have to know this as well as his mother’s maiden name they ask that and will give you a funny look if you don’t know. After filling out a form fast I went ahead to the middle aged woman in front of a computer who seemed to be interviewing people, typing on a computer and taking picture from webcam. It was the registration area. So she took my form asked me for his birthday (even though it's in the filled out form in her hand) and his mother’s maiden name. You have to know his birthday, everyone even those who were married for a long time forget the birthdays. Also the middle aged woman on the computer asked for divorce decree but didn’t look. She asked me If I have visa already I said not yet and then she asked “ then why are you here?” which was not polite at all so I responded “ I wanted to get this done early and it is allowed anyway”.

After registration for the counseling I was called in for a one on one with a counselor, a different woman (Thank God!). She was kind and not intrusive or judgmental at all (like in some others’ experiences) she asked me about how we met, when, where, how long have I known him now, how many times he visited me in Philippines, his work, his highest educational attainment, if divorced they would ask you the circumstances of it, you have to know these and she wrote them down on the form I filled out initially. I presented myself with confidence and full knowledge about the man I'm marrying and the place I'm going and she didn’t give me a hard time. I did prepare for all these questions with my fiancé by reading other people’s experiences so I won't encounter a question I'm not ready for. I actually overdid the preparation, I had NBI clearance, NSO CENOMAR, Birth certificate, 3 copies of pictures of us together, divorce papers, (because other people on VJ were asked for this) the counselor did not ask me for any of this, she did ask for a photocopy of his ID or passport and I have it. I think it is important to be ready. I believe I was lucky because the counselor was kind, you might get a different one. Then after the counselor finished the first 3 girls for the one on one she started with the orientation which was informative, I learned a lot from that, I appreciated it. The counselor Miss Mhin (forgot her surname) was genuinely concerned for the welfare of Filipinas who are going to US to get married. The orientation was pro women empowerment I believe. Because most of the girls in that session are going to US by themselves for the first time and there might be some setbacks and she just advised us to be ready, confident, strong and knowledgeable about our rights.

After the seminar we went to ground floor waited for our name to be called at the cashier to pay 400, then wait again for the certificate for guidance counseling, those who had visa already they got their stamps. We finished at 2pm. You have to eat breakfast before you go there or eat while you’re in line. Some who were married already but didn’t have their marriage certificate were made to go back and get them. So it's better to be prepared with all important documents because some are coming from the provinces only to attend that seminar and the website does not indicate every document they will ask. I did put that in the comments/suggestion sheet because that is not fair. They should be transparent with the documents they need and should not ask for those which they did not indicate in the website. Because some of us had to go through 10 hour bus rides just to attend.

You should always check the spelling of your name on the certificate (mine was misspelled so I had to wait again), make sure it says valid for travel to US (not other countries) and feel it for the dry seal (it says not valid without dry seal).

Overall I didn’t have a hard time at the CFO just that I was there at 5am and finished at 2pm. I do have to go back for the sticker once I have the visa but its fine that is open from 8am-5pm not like the seminar which only has certain slot number and certain time. And my fiancé said you can get the sticker at the airport if you have complete documents but you must make appointment first, they are open on weekends up to midnight so that is helpful, but call first and ask. The counseling certificate is valid forever so don’t lose it. Always keep the original only submit photocopy when needed.

We got ours in the mail today.

States sent to consulate.

On back it is worded:

If the approval was forwarded to the department of state immigrant processing center, that center will contact you.

They need to change the wording, since there is no way I would ASSUME it went to the NVS anyway.

Since the NVS can sit on it, this is important, but then again who does assign the MNL number?

thanks

Ok even though my daughter is an attorney in St. Thomas - we are not going to risk it.

Will just go to Vegas, use the Little White Chapel and not worry.

Looking at mid to late March, wonder what the weather is like in Vegas?

good luck

Ok we are also in need of a Thailand Police clearance.

We are only at the NOA2 stage and have no documents from the embassy yet.

We have seen some folks get the clearance with just the NOA2.

Since there are stories of lost papers and many weeks to get the clearance we have decided to just go to Bangkok for two weeks (her not me I have to work lol) and apply for the clearance. She worked in Northern Thailand for an NGO for 7 months in 2011.

We may wait for the packet to arrive from the Embassy but have seen many get the clearance with only the NOA2.

Advice?

Money is not important - the flight is like 250 USD and hotels, nice ones, are around 50 USD a night. She will stay for 14 days long enought to drop off the PCC and get the approved PCC back in her hands.

We think we may have better luck, and reduce the wait (it is almost 10 months now since NOA1) by being in Thailand and taking care of this in person.

Praying this makes sense.

thanks

We got our NOA2 today also ..

maybe they are trying to catch up.

We are MAY 4 NOA1

Now to see how fast NVC is .. and the interview schedule.

Vermont filer 4 may 2012 NOA1

this is getting crazy - this causes financial and emotional hardships that are not necessary.

good luck everyone

Monday will be 5 weeks since they documented they have my RFE return information.

Maybe the 60 days is the new norm?

Maybe waiting on the new fee that starts in FEB?

Will call next week, we are so frustrated.

I have a daughter in the USVI and travel there at least once a year. You do not need a passport, try to get a direct flight from Florida, that will ease your mind.

have fun - we are planning to honeymoon there too ..

if we ever get the NOA2. sigh

8.5 months since NOA1

one month since RFE returned.

have fun

232 days since NOA1

Have no idea why this is so slow.

Appears to have only been a few NOA2s during all of DEC and up to JAN 8.

good luck

MAY 4 2012 NOA1

No NOA2 yet

RFE 2 nov - they had it all back 10 DEC 2012

sigh

MAY 4 NOA1

No approval yet, had an RFE 2 NOV, they have response on 10 DEC.

Expect this anyday, we are so stressed.

thanks and good luck

The paper I sent was not a valid copy. Turns out I did not have it. Ordered one and that took two weeks, the RFE was returned when they mailed it (unknown reason), so they had to resend it and that cost me three weeks. They have had all they need since 10 DEC 2012, still no approval. Thanks

Hello:

We are a 4 MAY 2012 filer, with an RFE, on 2 NOV 2012, for a stamped divorce record. I ordered the certified copy and sent it back to them as requested. VCS stated they have it on 10 DEC 2012.

I noticed some RFE responses are finished and the NOA2 is granted in a few days, some in 2 weeks or so. We have now passed 3 weeks, I expect the holidays slowed down the process. However, I noticed a handful of NOA2s on 31 DEC 2012.

Anyone with experience (recent) regarding this type of issue? This has taken so long now my fiance is very discouraged, she is a doctor and has turned down some work while she waits for the visa.

At some point I am getting my congressman involved and also hiring a lawyer, but would that even help? We are very disappointed in the pace of this K1. I did this before in 2000-2001 but do not think a 10 year old 129F would slow down the process. I am divorced and they have the stamped papers.

Praying for a miracle.

Thanks for your advice.

May 04, 2012.

Since this is 30 Oct and we enter the 6th month now, I expect an approval this week.

Noticed some movement in MAY already, and hope the storm has not delayed the VSC.

Just hoping and praying, it has been a long year.