Scottie Pippen

Here is our story. My wife came here on a CR-1 Visa. We found out she got pregnant (7 weeks), and since I'm still studying preparing for Medical board exams/unemployed with no health insurance, she wants to have our baby back in Korea, where she has full coverage health insurance.

Her Green card expires Sept 2015. If we apply for a reentry permit, can we come back 90 days before the green card expires to apply for the i-751?

If you read past stories here, you will see many, many people who only submitted a I-864A for the co-sponsor and got delayed because the embassy wanted a I-864.

If you are unsure, like I was, I had my dad fill out and sign both I-864, and I-864A just to be sure. It's almost basically the same form.

Also, At the embassy, they asked why I didn't file any taxes the past few years (I'm a student), they made me write a statement explaining why on a blank sheet of paper.

Just living in the same house does NOT mean you are in the same household for financial purposes, unless you are financially dependant.

yeah I am financially dependent with no income..

I-864

I just had my interview in Manila. My father helped me out, we will stay with my father in the US.

I filed a I-864, my dad filed a I-864A, which is for sponsor who is in the same household.

Our appointment was at 6:30am. When we arrived at the embassy around 5:30am there were 2 lines, one for tourist visas and one for immigrant visas. The people near the entrance had appointments at 6:15am. There was another queue of people behind the first line for appointments at 6:30am. We waited there, and entered the building around 6:30am. Outside the embassy, To enter, show your appointment letter and passport of petitioner and beneficiary. They will give you a plastic bag where you will put your passport with ID page opened, also they will give you the 2go delivery slip. When you enter the main security entrance of the embassy, U.S. citizens have a different entrance than non-US citizens. US citizens can bring electronic devices and keep them there. My wife got a number slip from the next kiosk after the main security check. When you enter the huge embassy hall, give your appointment slip to the girl at the counter.

Now here is when the fun begins. You are given a 4 digit number, ours was 6161. Numbers started calling were around 6001, but in no specific order, because the appointment slip you give also has your number attached to it. It is divided into steps. Steps 1 and 2 are interchangeable. When your number is called it will show the window where to report.

Waiting between steps TOOK FOREVER, I would say it took an hour between each step,

1. Fingerprinting - windows 43/44. Left 4 fingers, right 4 fingers then 2 thumbs together.

2. First interview with filipino officer - goes through your documents, puts everything in order. She took all our original documents, so if you want, make copies of everything.

3. Interview with US officer. Our interviewer was so nice, since my wife is from korea, she knew some korean and we were chatting about korea for some time. She knew we had a genuine relationship and our interview was finished in less than 3 minutes. Basic questions like how did you meet, do you guys fight, how many times have you been to korea etc. We showed her pictures but she said it was ok.

After that, we waited around 1 1/2 hour for the final step.

4. Delivery final Document check. The last windows they make sure all documents are in order, and nothing is missing. If everything is ok, you can go to window 69 to give your 2go document delivery paper. We chose to do pick up in 2go makati branch. They will send you a text when it is available.

We left by 11:45am, there were only a few people left in the building by that time. The majority of people doing immigrant petitions were for children and older individuals, not many married couples, maybe I spotted a handful 10 of the 500 or so people there.

It was a great experience, now off to korea for wedding ceremony and enter the united states after 5 months.

We filed our I-130 dec 21st, visa approved 4/3. Actually we were supposed to interview march 21st, but our NBI clearance took too long, we should have done that a long time ago. Anyway, no worries.

You can pay with major credit cards, I used my Bank of america debit card.

Hey Dave, another question, If you have your visa interview and get approved, can you receive the visa the same day? The physical packet?

Hi Scottie, My petition was filed Dec. 14th and approved on Jan31st. I just got my MNL case number yesterday Feb. 5th. Start calling the IV unit 02-301-2000 extension 5185 every day, they gave me my case number over the phone and the email address to send the 2 DS forms to. I will be making my interview appointment by the end of the week. Hope this helps

Hey dave i have a question.. If we have an interview and get a visa.. are we allowed to visit other countries before entering the US? i know we have a 6 month window to enter, but can we go to another country before the US? thanks

Jonathan

Wow that's great.. thanks for the info.. i will call tomorrow

I'm in the same boat.. I filed Dec 21,2012, got notice of approval today. Should I go to window 38 to get my case number? Or just wait for the mail?

Also, how can I schedule medical checkup for my wife? Is there any info about that? thanks

Sorry, I was in the middle of cooking before and didn't have time to expand on that.

To DCF in Manila, you will be required to show that you have been living there for at least the 6 months prior to filing and that you are currently living there. School records, employment records, rental agreements, etc. If you have relocated elsewhere or haven't been continuously residing in the Philippines for the past 6 months, you would file to the USCIS Chicago lockbox address described on the I-130 instructions, and if you are currently outside the US, using your foreign address as the US citizen petitioner's address is likely to produce expedited processing of the I-130, to the tune of weeks instead of months.

Thanks for the reply!

I have school records and rental records that show that I have been here for more than 6 months (From 2008-12). I have stayed at the same address for 4 years. But my current stay right now, I just came back from korea on november 15th, has not been for the past 6 months. Does it matter? Are my rental contracts enough to prove my 6 months stay?

If I apply at the lock box, can I wait for the visa in Korea?

Are you saying that If i use my foreign address, it will be a faster process than DCF?

thanks for helping me..

Hello I am an American/Philippine Dual Citizen who studied here in the Philippines from 2008-2012) I met my korean wife here while we were both studying, we recently got married in Korea in August. I am wondering if we can apply for DCF in manila?

How do we file the CR-1/IR-1?

thanks