Mogambi

You can get your NSO Birth Certificate online, and have it in between 3 days to 15 days,. The Philhealth card people seem to be saying can be had the same day (if you have to, just sign up for a year of Philhealth, it's p1200 and if that gets you your card the same day, awesome).

That and a postal ID and the NSO Birth Certificate should be enough I would think.j

It's also great advice to find a private company that might be able to expedite the entire process for a fee. Things can move slowly in the Philippines if you have no money. A small amount can go a long way.

I will say, using the NSO website to get the CENOMAR (you might as well get this too, they might accept this as some ID and you will still need it eventually anyway) and the Birth Certificate was so simple. 5 minutes online, stop by the bank to pay the fee, and done. We had CENOMAR in 3 days, and Birth Certificate in 12 days, because Lyn was born in the province and they had to go back to the microfiche.

Yep, most likely that is exactly what it means. Did they tell you at the interview your visa was approved? If so, then yes, the courrier has picked it up from the Embassy and you should have it soon.

But usually they tell you at the interview if the visa is approved or not. It's possible I suppose that if it was denied, they would respond with the same message. But I'm surprissed if they didn't tell you one way or the other at the embassy.

Thanks, yeah, I suspected as much. I didn't really think the requirements would be different, mostly I mean as a GC holder, it would seem like they would suspect her much less if we try to get her a travel visa to say, France or Japan. Since she will be an LPR of the US, I would just hope that maybe the burden of proof would be slightly less for her. I guess we'll find out!

And yes, getting her to be a USC is the key. The poor Filipino, has about the worst passport for international travel except maybe some countries in Africa...

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Here's something I've been wondering, maybe people here have some experience.

My fiance will arrive in the US in August. Once we are married, and she has completed the AOS, and has her Green Card, I'm curious how, if at all, it affects her ability to travel internationally.

What I mean is, let's say we can to go to Japan. For a Filipino, it's a rather complex visa for her to get. If she's holding a LPR status in the US, does that change anything for her? I assume she's not entitled to the same benefit as a US Citizen (just show up, granted 30 or 90 day visas in most countries) but is there any benefit to her being an LPR of the USA? Does it simplify her getting visas to go travel?

I'd love to take her around the world traveling, Europe, Scandanavia, but am just wondering if getting her travel visas will be easier with her having her Green Card here...

Curious anyone's thoughts.

People here are saying six months, but according to the the website listed for a re-entry visa, it's OK to stay out of the country for up to a year. This is clearly listed in the I-131 instructions. So maybe a good idea to have a re-entry permit for a stay over six months, but seems to indicate you don't need one unless you are going to be gone more than a year.

Ours took about 11 days. The courier texted my fiancé early in the morning on the day he delivered it to make sure she would be home.

Thanks all. I think what confuses me, and this wouldn't be different from a normal American wedding between Americans, is where does the name change 'happen'. Like, who is the first that it gets reported to.

I mean, OK, we get married. Then we file for Adjustment of Status, we put down her new name. But we're using her old passport. I guess that's where the 'maiden name' or 'other name' fields come into play on the forms and stuff...

I'm not going to worry about it just yet. Good to know we just file a name change with the Social Security people.

But thanks, her passport expires in 2014, so we'll just get it renewed in her new name anyway I'm sure. Curious, I've never actually seen a 'Green Card', is it like a visa that is adhered into the passport, or is something like a drivers license?

Curious people's opinion and thoughts.

After my fiance is here, we will get for her a SSN. We'll have to do that in her maiden name I'm guessing, since we won't be married yet.

OK, then we get married. And now my fiance will want to change her last name.

I'm curious the next steps.

Will we file the AOS in her NEW last name, or the one in her passport?

Will she get a new passport? What about the visa, does it need to get reissued?

I'm guessing we can just keep the old things as they were, just curious how many things we need to do in her 'new' name versus her old name....

Slightly confused on that changeover process, curious the thoughts from anyone who has done it.

Tim

That's why this forum is a Godsend, to double check things like that!

I was curious about the timeframe too. I sometimes work overseas on films, and was wondering how long Lyn could accompany me on her green card without it causing us trouble.

I believe so, it's only before you get your green card that you need special clearance to leave while you are adjusting your status.

I'm not sure how long you can be gone for from the US at a time.

Our CENOMAR was yellow too, as was her birth certificate from the NSO. So I wouldn't worry. Although, ours does say clear "Issued upon the request of _____________ for Passport / Travel."

But the CENOMAR is yellow from what I can tell. It's only the NBI that seems to have green or yellow copies, and it seems you want the GREEN one for NBI.

I would think your CENOMAR is fine, at least it has the word 'abroad', so it should be fine.

Tim

The man is a pig. That is not in any way an appropriate conversation to be having, when you're seeing someone, engaged, or married.

Hmm, sorry, no idea on that one. I don't know if that's true. You can't sign up for an appointment without first paying the visa fee at a BDO branch there in the Philippines. So if he is exempt, then I'm not sure how that works. Sorry just don't know enough. But if so, great for you guys!!

Not sure exactly what that is. But I'll say we never had any documents verified at all during our K1 process. We had to go to BDO I think it was, and pay the visa fee, and they need to see your passport. But that was about it.

I didn't, my fiancé did though, delivered to our condo there in Manila. The embassy dated it Feb 24, it arrived probably a week after that.

To everyone who is still waiting, please have faith. The NVC seems to be taking longer these days than most of the information out there on the internet would have you believe. My NOA2 was received January 31st, and it took until late February 24 before it arrived at the US Embassy in Manila. That was without any extra review. I guess that's pretty quick. But you read 'oh once the NVC has it, they forward it on after 2 or 3 days' and this doesn't seem to be the case at the moment.

But keep calling the NVC, even if the local embassy hasn't received your package, you can get the case number from the NVC and continuing preparing.

Sorry to anyone having to go through additional processing, but just stay strong, and have faith.

Don't forget it was a holiday weekend too, so Monday, no one working. So that's one more day. If it was shown as received, I wouldn't panic. If in another week it's not entered into the system and your check isn't cashed, then I'd try and contact them.

And yeah, a few more day is nothing. Wait until it's entered, and then be prepared to wait four or five months without hearing a thing. THAT is the hard one...

If they told you were you approved, I wouldn't worry too much. Sometimes it takes them a bit of time to do last minute organization of the paperwork etc. But certainly call them as ask. If they told you 14 days, then 37 days is too long.

Start calling them to ask where your visa is.

Oh right, sorry. I guess I did have to call NVC to get our case number before the letter from the embassy arrived.

Not surprising that some aren't getting the letters from the Embassy, with the sorry state of the Philippines postal service. But I'm quite surprised that you never received your NOA2 from the NVC with your case number. That would have sent to the same address as your NOA1, did you receive that?

It took about a month after the NVC sent out paperwork for us to get the letter from the US Embassy.

I believe if you already have the MNL#, then you can go ahead and schedule your appointment. Once you have your appointment letter you can go do the medical.

Note that you cannot schedule an appointment for the medical. It's first come first serve, and most people arrive very early in the morning. And it will take all day the first day, and several hours the second. You can pre-register though at the SLEC site, and that will make it easier when your fiancé arrives, she wont' have to fill out as many forms,

You can start online to register here to make your appointment at the US Embassy:

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/

Once you register online, you'll have to go and pay the visa fee at I think it's BDO. Once you've done that, it will take a day or so for it to appear in the system. Once it does, then you can schedule your interview. Just follow the instructions online, You will make an account and it will walk you through everything.

You can register here online at SLEC:

http://www.slec.ph/

Note that it often takes a couple of days after the medial for all the paperwork to get to the US Embassy. So I wouldn't schedule your interview the next day or anything, give it a few days after the medical, otherwise there will be a delay anyway.

It gets confusing, because technically the K1 visa is NOT actually an immigrant visa. It's only a visa for 90 days. Although the end ideal of the visa is immigration so it's treated as such.But yes, the DS-160 form doesn't apply for K1 visas (at least in Philippines). So just ignore that.

Also confusing is that on the requirements for the CFO Counseling they list "Original and photocopy of Immigrant Data Summary"

But this also doesn't apply for K1 visa types. Because again, technically a K1 is not an immigration visa type.

Jim, no worries, and it IS information overload.

I did as your'e thinking. Actually I went three times to the Philippines to spend a month each time with my fiance. But the second time, we spent time together gathering all the information, and getting her to sing her forms.

One idea we did, I actually had her sign several copies of the blank G-325A just in case I needed to make some adjustment or something, I'd still have a signed form from her. Just a thought.

Hang in there, we're here to help.

Tim

I have had two people now ask me how to obtain Thai Police clearance. I've decided to post here how we did it in case it's useful for others. Note that this assumes you are in Manila, and can access the DFA and the Thai Embassy there.

Procedure for obtaining Thai Police Clearance if you areliving in Manila.

Here is a brief outline of how we got our Thai PoliceClearance:

1) Get NBI Clearance from NBI Service Center

2) Get THREE full sets of fingerprints from a local policestation or NBI.

3) Take the above documents to the DFA to have themauthenticated.

4) Take them, along with other required documentation., tothe Thai Embassy.

5) The Thai embassy will keep your documents for about aweek.

6) Pick up your documents from the Thai Embassy.

7) Mail all the documents along with a self-addressedenvelope to Thailand.

8) The Royal Thai Police will send your police clearance inabout 3 to 4 weeks.

OK, so here's the detailed procedure:

Before you can apply for police clearance from the ThaiRoyal Police, you will need to have received the letter from the US Embassythat states you are now ready for an interview. Once you have this, you maybegin.

The first step is to get one NBI clearance, if you don'thave it already it, and three sets of fingerprint cards made. Really you shouldrequest at least three copies of your NBI, you will be needing them throughoutthe K1 process. You can get the fingerprint cards made at your local policestation, and possibly at the NBI as well.

Make sure that each card contains fingerprints of all ten ofyour fingers. Also it's very important that the police officer who takes yourfingerprints signs and prints his name on EACH card, and that it has the sealof either the police deparment or the NBI, wherever you had them made. Sobasically they have to be OFFICIAL fingerprint cards.

Now, you will have to take the NBI and fingerprint cards tothe Department of Foreign Affairs to get authenticated. The DFA is a terriblybusy place, and you should expect to spend some time there. You will need toleave the NBI and fingerprint cards at least overnight there to getauthenticated. You need to show ID, so bring your passport or other ID. Youwill pay a fee and get a receipt. The next day, or whenever they tell you theyare ready. The DFA is location at:

Department of Foreign Affairs

2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines.

Their website is:

http://www.dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php

Next, in addition to the authenticated documents from theDFA, you will need to gather the following paperwork to bring with you to theThai Embassy in Makati. Begin to gather the following paperwork:

1) Your authenticated documents from the DFA from the abovesteps.

2) You must write a letter, addressed to the Thai Embassy, explainingwhy you are requesting police clearance. State that it is for a visa to theUnited States (K1, etc.) This letter should also explain the dates that youwere residing in Thailand, and what your business there was (studying orworking). Sign and date.

3) You will need a current resume. On it should list youraddress, phone number, email address, and biographical data such as the namesand birthdates of your parents and siblings. Sign and date. If you worked inThailand it should list your employer and the dates you worked there. If youstudied, then list the school you attended and the course(s) you studied.

4) A photocopy of the letter that you received from the USEmbassy stating that you are entitled to schedule an interview. (You shouldnote that this process will take between 4 to 6 weeks, so you should figurethat time into your scheduling an interview).

5) You will need a photocopy of all pages of your passport.And you will bring the original to the Embassy as well.

6) You will need a photocopy specifically of your student orwork visa, if applicable. The one you used in Thailand.

7) Four visa photographs, we used the same ones for the USVisa and had no problems. Those are 2 inches by 2 inches.

8) If you studied, bring a copy of either a diploma, degree,or receipt from the school.

Basically, bring whatever documentation will help show youresided, worked or studied in Thailand.

Once you have all of the above, bring them to the ThaiEmbassy in Makati:

Royal Thai Embassy - 107 Rada Street

Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila

(632) 815-4219

Their website is:

http://www.thaiembassymnl.ph/

If you arrive when they open at 9:30 am you shouldn't haveto wait too long. Arrive at 9 is even better. Tell them you need to havedocuments authenticated so you can send them to The Royal Thai Police, explainthat you're trying to get police clearance.

They will charge you, it could be several thousand pesos. Youwill leave all the documents with them for several working days.

Return on the date that they will tell you when you drop offyour documents. Now it's possible that they will not return all the documentsto you. You might be careful to ask. They didn't return to us the fingerprintcards, so we sent our police clearance request without them (sending in the NBIinstead). But the next step is to send the following to the Royal Thai PoliceHeadquarters in Bangkok. If the Thai Embassy didn't return any of the itemslisted below, you will need another copy.

You will need to send them the following, and this documentcan also be used to help you:

http://bangkok.usemb...policeapr09.pdf

But you will need to mail the following to the Royal Thai Police Headquarters:

1) Copy of your passport. If not all pages, at least thepages showing your biographical data, the page that shows your signature, andany pages that relate to Thailand (pages that show visas, entry or exit stamps,etc.)

2) A letter addressed to The Royal Thai Police Headquarters,explaining that you are requesting police clearance. Just use the same letteryou used for the embassy, and change the 'TO' area from the Thai Embassy to theRoyal Thai Police headquarters. Again it needs to list the dates you resided,worked or studied in Thailand.

3) Two visa photos (it's possible that the Thai Embassydidn't return yours, so be prepared with two more to go to Thailand.)

4) The three sets of fingerprint cards that should have beenreturned to you from the Thai Embassy. Note that the Thai Embassy didn't giveus back the fingerprint cards, and my fiancé didn't ask. So instead, we sent inthe authenticated NBI, and it seemed to work. But try and get back yourfingerprint cards, as that is what the Thai Police request.

5) An envelope with prepaid stamps. Here I got confused atfirst because how could you get Thai postage from the Philippines. What youactually have to do is to buy FIVE International Reply Coupons (also calledIRCs). You have to get these at the main Manila post office, the smaller postoffices won't have them, and won't know what they are. They cost about p200each. You send these five IRCs along with an envelope made out to you. InThailand, they will exchange the IRCs for the proper Thai postage.

You should probably use DHL or FedEx to send this package,so you have a tracking number and can verify it was received. DHL to Thailandmight cost you p2000 or more.

Mail this set of paperwork to :

The Police Clearance Service Center

Building 24, Royal Thai Police Headquarters

Rama I, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Thailand

Then sit back and wait. In 3 to 4 weeks, you should receiveback your police clearance. Luckily it will be in English, so you will not needto have it translated.

There is one thing to note. On the link I posted, to the PDFof the US Embassy in Thailand, it doesn't say anything about 1) having yourfingerprint cards or NBI authenticated at the DFA, and 2) it doesn't sayanything about having these documents 'blessed' by the Thai Embassy first.

So it's possible that you could simply gather the documentslisted from the link and send it off. All I know is when we talked to the ThaiEmbassy they assured us that we need to follow the procedure I've listed above.

We did get our Police Clearance, so I'm pretty sure at leastif you follow these instructions, it should work for you. But if you're feelingadventurous, you might try and just sending the listed documents to the RoyalThai Police Headquarters.

If you do, and it works, please post here so we know!