visaopt

Hank:

Thank you for your detailed instructions. My fiancee has her Manila case number. I will follow your instructions below, to schedule the medical at St. Luke and the US embassy interview.

To everyone else dealing with the sputum test and culture test:

My fiancee know several friends who did their medical at St. Luke, and was asked to do further tests, because a problem showed up on their chest x-ray. They were asked to do a - 3 day sputum test and culture test. My understanding is the culture test will take 2 months to get the results. My fiancee is concerned that she may be ask to do the same test.

I originally plan to schedule the medical and interview for November 2012. But given this concern about the potential requirement to do the sputum test and culture test, I am now thinking it may be smarter to schedule the medical as soon as possible now, and schedule the US embassy interview for November. This way, if the medical requires a culture test, the results of that test should be available by November, and if no problem, would be right on time for the embassy interview to proceed. But if the culture test is bad news, as in my fiancee needs the 6 months of treatment, then I can re-schedule the embassy interview. What do you think? Or is there a better plan to deal with the potential of additional tests and delays from St. Luke?

After you go online and schedule your interview at the embassey print out the confirmation page and use that for St. Luke's. You do not need the NVC letter (they state IF available)

And you can't schedule your interview until you have your MNL # :

For the NVC:

Check on your embassy case number:

Give them 7 - 10 days before calling. Call after 4:45 PM eastern time for shorter wait times K1's are not tracked through the AVR, ever. They are processed like an immigrant visa, but they are NOT immigrant visas, so they fall into a completely different class of their own. Therefore you need an operator. To get there:

1-603-334-0700 Operator assistance is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 12:00 AM (Eastern Time)

Press 1 for English

Press 5 for an operator

NVC CONTACT INFORMATION:

Website: www.immigrantvisas.state.govwww.immigrantvisas.state.gov

E-mail: NVCInquiry@state.gov (I found NVC to be very quick responding to emails)

REQUIRED SECURITY INFORMATION:

You are required to provide the following security information with each inquiry to receive a case specific response:

* NVC Case Number or USCIS Receipt Number (Place in the subject line of the e-mail).

* Petitioner's name and date of birth.

( NOTE: If the visa petition is employment-based, include the employer's company/organization name instead of the petitioner's name and date of birth. )

* Principal Applicant's name and date of birth.

Manila Embassy:

After NOA2 AND YOU HAVE YOUR MNL # (don't need to wait for the letter from the embassy )

Once you have your MNL # you can take your passport and required visa fee (in Php) to BPI and pay your visa fee. The embassy website states that within 4 hours of paying at BPI you can schedule your interview appointment but most times it seems to take about 24 hours.

http://www.ustraveld...paymentinfo.asp

When scheduling online with the embassy you need to include the "XX" at the beginning of the passport number, your passport number IS your receipt number (normally).

Priorty Date; this is the date the NOA 1 was accepted.

Make sure to print two copies of the interview confirmation page as you will need one for St. Luke's and the other (maybe, they might mail the interview letter) for the embassy.

(open all of these links then save them to your bookmarks so you have them for easy access)

Embassy Letter:

http://photos.state....3__rtf2_005.pdf

(Tagalog) http://photos.state....2__rtf2_007.pdf

(The DS-156 can be difficult to complete sometimes, if you have issues try a different browser.)

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

Embassy (Manila) Phone Number (and email)

(632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185 (local number: USEM 3012000 loc 5184/5185 call them around 3-4:30pm)

** (214) 571-1600 or (646) 254-3546 (these are USA numbers)

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

In order to serve our visa applicants more efficiently, we have created this new e-mail address: IVMNLAppointments@state.gov , for early appointment requests and visa scheduling issues. Please note, however, that early appointment requests will be approved on a case to case basis (i.e., aging out cases, or in cases involving personal or medical emergencies), and only if visa interview slots are available.

For other immigrant and K visa concerns, please send an e-mail to IVManilaReplies@state.gov

.

To enable us to electronically sort the messages and provide better, more timely responses, you should follow the instructions below.

The subject line of your email should indicate the visa applicant's last name, first and middle name (ex. DOE, John James), case number/USCIS receipt number, visa category and priority date.

Messages should be limited to 500 characters or less. The mail size should not be more than 15 KB.

Do not submit documentation or attachments with your message as our system is unable to receive inquiries with attachments.

Do not send your inquiry more than once as duplicate inquiries will congest our system and delay our response time.

INTERVIEW DAY: Remember no electronics are allowed in the embassy; no cell phones, no cameras, no memory stiks. And no food.

***

St. Luke's:

http://www.slec.ph/u...l#required-docs

Have copies of passport bio page, confirmation page from scheduling interview online at embassy (or if the embassy mails a confirmation letter bring a copy of that), and of course the 2X2 photos. (copy of annulment is asked for at times)

PREREGISTER at St. Luke's website, it saves time when you arrive. http://www.slec.ph/us/registration/

CFO:

ALL exiting required to attend. There are been changed with CFO so for sure read through their website.

http://www.philembas...w_gcp_flyer.pdf

http://www.cfo.gov.p...onals&catid=140

Required documents & "OTHER DOCUMENTS" they ask for at CFO: copies of; CENOMAR, certified birth certificate, bio page of passport, visa page from passport, pictures together, from USC - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree (if been married before) are the most common. The "other documents" clause can be ANYTHING with those nit-wits at CFO.

** From the Family Code of the Philippines: it's 21-25 years old for advice and 18-21 years old for consent.

Art. 14. In case either or both of the contracting parties, not having been emancipated by a previous marriage, are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, they shall, in addition to the requirements of the preceding articles, exhibit to the local civil registrar, the consent to their marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned. Such consent shall be manifested in writing by the interested party, who personally appears before the proper local civil registrar, or in the form of an affidavit made in the presence of two witnesses and attested before any official authorized by law to administer oaths. The personal manifestation shall be recorded in both applications for marriage license, and the affidavit, if one is executed instead, shall be attached to said applications. (61a)

Art. 15. Any contracting party between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five shall be obliged to ask their parents or guardian for advice upon the intended marriage. If they do not obtain such advice, or if it be unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication of the application therefor.A sworn statement by the contracting parties to the effect that such advice has been sought,together with the written advice given, if any, shall be attached to the application for marriage license. Should the parents or guardian refuse to give any advice, this fact shall be stated in the sworn statement.

Hi all

Based on the attached CFO map, it look like there are 3 possible locations to do the CFO seminar.

http://www.cfo.gov.p...s/mapmanila.jpg

If this information is current as of August 2012, then my question to those who have already done the CFO seminar is:

Which location did you chose to do the CFO seminar?

What did you think of that location?

I'm curious, why are you calling Crusty Old Perv, a.k.a. The Patriot, "big bear"?

Hi DavenRoxy

Prior to now, I only saw this symbol, ☼ , as his online name, which is why I decided to look at his timeline, and saw the Petitioner's name is big bear. Since he now has an online name, I will use his online name, The Patriot.

Still waters run deep, and these plans were often made before your wife was even born. It doesn't mean you don't have any control, but it is nice to know what is coming down the road. If the family plans to escape poverty by having their daughter marry an American, or even if they are just trying to take advantage of a sudden opportunity, the family is not going to let this chance to improve their lives get away from them. At this point, you are not the most important person in her life, at least not until she becomes your wife, and even then, the family will always be there to lay on the guilt.

You are not the first, or the last, to be taken down the primrose path. Just be aware of the hazards if you stay on the path your wife and family have chosen for you. It's a long road, and you haven't even gotten to the starting point yet.

Big bear, I know you are writing from experience, so your words of caution, is duly noted.

That is one way to put it. At this point, she will tell you anything you need to hear, and being a woman, she always has the prerogative to change her mind, no matter what she promised before, all with the best of intentions. Just remember blood is thicker than water, and you will find out about all the dreams her family has for her to fulfill, once she arrives in America.

To rlogan, I do not know you, so I do not want to draw any premature conclusions just based on a few postings you have made on this thread. I understand many of us have different points of view, drawn from their own experiences, both good and bad. But so that I can better understand your point of view, I want to ask you to clarify some points you have made on this thread.

You stated earlier, "No secrets in marriage".

Are you saying you have complete, 100% transparent communication with your fiancee, all the time?

If your fiancee were to withhold some information from you, would you feel she is doing so because she has some secret she does not want you to know, and that she does not trust you enough to tell you?

Are you saying your fiancee has never withheld information, or omitted information to you?

Are you saying you need to have 100% complete information, complete as defined by you, before you can make a decision whether to marry or not marry a woman?

I do agree with your statement that it is a good idea to spend time with the family, cousins, and close friends, so both can understand each other better. But I cannot uproot for months, as you did, so that is not a viable, nor realistic option for me.

To big bear, I understand you have a contrasting point of view, drawn from your experience with your wife, who has lofty dreams that resemble a fantasy punch list. So far, my fiancee has been the opposite. She has had opportunities for me to spend money on her,and she has not. The cynic would probably retort, "She has not,yet", to which I will say, "She has not in the past, and she has not, now". Only time will tell, if my fiancee become more like your wife, or not.

To all, thanks for the feedback. I talked to my fiancee last night, and told her the feedback I got from members of VisaJourney, and here was her reply:

She trust me with the most private,personal and intimate details of her life – so we do not lack trust in each other.

After she realized I have pretty big dreams for her, and have confidence in her, more confidence than she has in herself, she felt embarrassed to tell me her relatively modest and basic goals and dreams she has for herself.

While she appreciates me thinking ahead for her sake, and having confidence in her, she cannot help but think that I am not totally objective, and that my confidence in her, is based more on my love for her, than on the basis of her actual accomplishments to honestly justify such confidence she has in herself. Understanding this, I now realize that it is not enough to tell her I am confident in her, I will need to help her experience more successes in her life, to slowly help her build her self-confidence.

She also acknowledged that I am more the strategic thinker in our relationship, and she is more comfortable as the tactical thinker. That's not to say which type of thinking is best or better, but rather, given her current circumstance, of just day to day survival, she feels it is appropriate for her to tactically think, about near term issues, to accomplish one step,before she thinks about the next step.

So I will be more patient. I told my fiancee, when she is ready to talk about her dreams and goals, I am ready and willing, to help her believe in her dreams and goals, and then do what I can to help her achieve it.

i think this might have something to do with maslows hierarchy of needs, the op is on self actualization

and is more into what his purpose in life is..why is he here and what can he do to better serve humankind.

his wife might still be into survival mode or stage 1.

but although even if this is the case she still should have some dreams/hopes and such only this thing doesn't go for

everyone. not everyone has deep thoughts about their existence on earth and whatnot.

To barcardi101, thank you for thinking that I am at self-actualization, but I do not think that. Maslow's Hierarchy, may help to explain some of it, which I alluded to early in my original post. It's just that I did not put a label to it, as you did.

To all, some of you may recognize the famous Napoleon Hill quote, "What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve". One reason I asked my fiancee about her goals and dreams, is first just to see if she has already conceived goals and dreams, and if not, to help her begin conceiving some realistic goals and dreams. I agree that I need to be patient, and I will be more patient. I also agree that her current environment and circumstances may not be supportive enough, welcoming enough, and encouraging enough, for her to feel safe to dream her dreams, and that I am better off waiting until she gets to my environment, when not only will I encourage her to have realistic dreams and goals, but I will be happy to help her believe it, and then finally achieve it, just like Napoleon stated.

I am a Filipina I came from a poor family too and poverty made me strive, create goals, plans and have dreams. You can start sharing you goals or dreams to her, talk about your hobbies that you want to share with her, the kind of family you will build with her, if you want kids, how many if she wants to work or not when you have babies and stuff like that. From there she might know a little bit what to expect or how life will be then she'll start sharing hopefully. Cause for me it is important for you to know what she wants in life and same to her.

To ShawnKJuliet, different people handle adversity differently. I applaud you for not allowing your poverty to dictate your future. Some people have the inner strength to strive, create goals, and overcome their adversities, while others are so damaged by their negative circumstances, and past failings,that they do not have the inner strength any more, to pick themselves back up. This is not to offer excuses, but just to acknowledge that is reality for some.

You are going to marry this girl, but do not know her culture?

Filipinos are ephemeral thinkers. They do not think about the future. Only the day. That's why simple things for a westerner are lost in the mind of the Filipino.

Such as saving money, using birth control, getting an education, even showering and brushing their teeth. Just a different culture.

To Daniel99, I hope you were just joking, and not being serious, because if your reply was serious, and that is truly how you feel, then I feel your point of view is a condescending generalization. I hope for your wife's sake, you do not truly believe that Filipinos are just ephemeral thinkers. By your rhetorical question, it sounds like you are implying that you know everything about your wife's culture. If you truly feel that way, then I feel sorry for you, since that would mean you have nothing new to learn, and nothing new to discover about your wife's culture – a pretty boring existence.

I am baffled by a LOT of things about my wife, and there is no getting to the answers, for me at least... She just tells me "that is just what I am really like", as if we just met yesterday and not after 6 years of knowing her? What she is really like is just plain confusing. She always has kept a lot on the inside veiled, and I never have been able to see clearly through that veil no matter what.

To Brijo, thank you for your honest candor. There are things that baffle me about my fiancee too, and visa versa – the joys and wonderment of learning and discovering new things about each other.

No. As a Filipina, I will never say this and that trait, behavior, characteristic, disposition or attitude is typical for a Filipina, a poor Filipina, an educated Filipina or a Filipina coming from a province.

There is no need for you to make excuses on her behalf as to why she barely has something to say about her goals and the future. Poverty has nothing to do about not dreaming or setting goals. What if she actually has not decided what to do and she doesn't know what she really wants?

To Calypso, you made a great point. Every Filipina is an individual. My fiancee told me she has some goals and dreams. She just keeps it to herself, at least for now. I hope she will eventually be comfortable enough to share her goals and dreams with me, but time will tell.

I think you probably nailed it. My fiancé also comes from a quite poor family. But she shares me that she'd like to have a job, maybe someday build a house back home in the Philippines.

Just a couple thoughts from another USC's point of view:

1) Don't forget that your fiance's hope and dreams may very well be different than your own. Much simpler. She might be shy to even talk about them, thinking they're not worth to talk about.

2) Don't push her. I find with my fiancé if I push, even gently, it often backfires and she just shuts down a bit. So just create an environment for her to WANT to share those things, it will come in time.

But just be gentle. And remember that opening up for a FIlipina is hard, at least I find it that way. My fiancé tends to hold things in much more than an American woman would.

To Mogambi, my fiancee's goals and dreams may very well be different from mine, which is one reason I asked her, instead of assume that I know her dreams and goals.

My wife is a Filipina, and has lots of lofty dreams, as have most of her friends. It seems like they have a punch list that keeps getting longer, of all the experiences they want to have, now that they have left the Philippines behind. So, we are having a hard time relating to OP's and others experiences here. I often have to bring the wife back to some sort of reality, to the needs and concerns of what is happening right now. I am the pragmatist, she is the dreamer.

To big bear, sounds like you have the opposite challenge. I certainly do not encourage lofty, unrealistic dreams, that have no basis in reality, and more befitting a fantasy punch list. My purpose is simply for my fiancee to have some goals and dreams, that is realistic enough to achieve, so she can have some successes to build her self-esteem.

It is quite impressive that you seek to understand the situation better. A true selfless act of love.

I think you already understand the root of her not wanting to "risk" any more disappointments by sharing out loud her dreams. That is a common tactic employed for self-survival when under "not-so-good" circumstances. It is quite possible that she just doesn't want to risk being letdown again with her dreams as she has experienced painful letdowns in the past. Continue being patient and just allow her to open up when she becomes comfortable and confident with her future. It may be that once she gets here in the states that she seek guidance from a counselor (either alone or as a couple or both) to help overcome "possible" traumatic experiences she has encountered or perceived.

Once again, I commend you for being man enough to show your sensitive side. It appears to me, as humble as my opinion can be, that you already understand. I wish you two the best and a life of long lived love for each other.

To all, first allow me to apologize for using the term, "Typical" in the title of my posting, as it can and have resulted in some generalizations on this thread, that simply do not enlighten, but can inflame others, who may not agree with such generalizations. The other problem with using the term, "Typical" is that it can result in an unintended comparison, between what is "Typical" and what is "Atypical". That was not my intent, so please look past my poor word choice.

To John and Mari, I wish my fiancee saw my actions, of wanting to find out her dreams and goals, like you do,as a true selfless act of love. My purpose is very simple – to ask and find out her dreams and goals, not to assume her dreams and goals are the same as mine, and if realistic and within my abilities, I will do what I can to help her achieve it.

I know there are people in this forum, who may have good intentions,and want to provide comments or feedback, based on their personal ideals and experiences. But I sincerely want to better understand my fiancee, a Filipina, and would most appreciate feedback from other Filipinas.

First a little background information. I am a US citizen. I come from a middle class, and large family. It's typical for my family and I, to talk about our dreams, goals, and plans for the future. My fiancee comes from a poor, and large family. She and I can talk about most any topic, from our past, to what is happening in our daily life now. But when we get to the topic of future planning, goals, dreams,aspirations, my fiancee really has no input.

She told me she rarely talks about her goals and dreams, to anyone,including her own family. She said she has some dreams, goals, but she just keeps it to herself. I know she has had some disappointments in her life – failed past relationship, to other things she has failed at, but this is a part of her life that she has a difficult time opening up to me about.

As a couple, I think it is fine that both share with each other, their goals, dreams, and aspirations, as a way to better understand each other. I do not know why she is so guarded about this topic, but if I had to guess, I would say part of the problem is she comes from a poor family, where her focus is her current life and just day to day survival, and perhaps because of that pressure, she cannot allow herself to dream, or even think about her future.

I love my fiancee very much. As I stated before, we can talk about most topics, and I would love for her to feel comfortable enough to open up to me about her dreams, goals, and aspirations.

I realize I am writing this from the perspective of a US citizen, and that I may have a blind spot. That is why I would truly appreciate some insight, from other Filipinas, especially those who have lived similar lives, to help me better understand.

Am I missing something?

Anything I should do, or not do?

Anything I should do differently?

Your sincere insight will be most appreciated.

Ok, well, I was looking for different advice. I don't only make 11k a year, that is all that is on 1099 and shows up on my IRS forms. I make 11k a year from a side job, Free House from handling my mothers properties, and I also do computer consulting but this is never reported.

What if my mother started paying me $2,500 a month (the value of my rent) and I just pay rent back to her? Is this something that I could show to UCSIS as income? Can I add the miscellaneous income from my computer consulting to my IRS tax forms and have it be counted by USCIS or will they not accept it if there is no W2 or 1099 associated with it? Does the 20K sitting in my bank account matter for any of this, will it help?

Thanks in advance

Steve M

The US government just wants assurance that your beneficiary will not become a public charge, and that you have the financial means to support her. Assuming your first choice is to proceed with the K-1 Fiancee Visa and not the spousal visa, please note that under the I-134, and looking beyond, the I-864 when you get to the Adjustment of Status step, you can use income AND OR liquid assets to qualify. But make sure the assets are liquid, and easily convertible to cash (Certificate of Deposit, Money Market Fund, Cash savings, etc.)

The recommended liquid assets to have is at least 5 times the annual income shortage. Some may argue that it is 3 time the annual income shortage. But I rather error on the conservative side, and recommend that you plan for at least 5 times, because the more liquid assets you have to compensate for your income insufficiency, the more assured the US government will feel that your beneficiary will not become a public charge.

$18,912 Current income guideline for household of two: (You and your beneficiary)

$11,000 Less your annual income, that you can document, and is verifiable

$ 7,912 Estimated annual income insufficiency

x 5

$39,560 Estimated Liquid Assets to compensate for annual income insufficiency

If you can increase the liquid savings in your bank account, you can qualify by income and liquid assets, without any co-sponsor.

The other thing to keep in mind, if you have not already done so, is have work possibilities lined up for your beneficiary. I am aware of a beneficiary who was facing an insufficient income situation, but when both sponsor and beneficiary could show that they already have a job lined up for the beneficiary in the USA, and that the beneficiary can legally earn work income after US work approval (EAD approval), the consulate approved it. I am not saying the consulate will do the same for you, but it does not hurt to show the consulate that you and your beneficiary are already thinking and planning ahead, and doing what both of you can, to assure the US government that your beneficiary will not become a public charge.

As far as creating $2500 income from your Mom, and then paying her back as rent, that is an unnecessary step, which only complicates this issue further, not only from a tax standpoint for your Mom and you, but I question whether that tactic will help, since the net income effect is zero ($2500 income, less $2500 rent). Remember, your goal is the show and to assure the US government that your beneficiary will not become a public charge. Good luck on your journey ahead!