Mrs.Presson

Track your case here! https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx
Just choose "Immigrant visa" and input your MNL Case Number.
There are 3 possible results: "At NVC", "In Transit" and "Ready" (Meaning it has been received in USEM.)
Good luck!

CFO Manila Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue
corner Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway)
Manila, Philippines 1007
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I've been reading threads here on VJ.com saying that there are only 30 slots for Fiance(e)'s and Spouses everyday at the CFO HQ. I checked the website, it said 15 in the morning and 15 in the afternoon. Though it said it's country-specific and has "allocations" of 15 slots for each countries, I didn't want to risk it. I got there at 4:15am. We were only 5 at the time, and we sat on the steps leading to the CFO entrance. I met Steve previously in a Facebook Group and learned from him that his fiancee, Joan, would be attending too. She got there at about 4:30am and immediately called her. It was about 5am when people started to show up and one lady (I suppose she owns the "mini-store" outside CFO), told us to line up by the ramp instead. This is where fiance(e)'s and spouses line up. There would be separate lines for other types of immigrants. (So make sure you tell your fiance(e)'s to line up at the ramp.) It wasn't country-specific at all. Some people in line were fiancee's of European nationals. CFO opened at about quarter to 7, but they only let the other immigrants in first. We were the last line to enter the building. Also a REMINDER: Make sure to bring 2 valid GOVERNMENT ID's. Whether it's a Driver's License, Unified ID, SSS, PhilHealth, NBI Clearance. As long as it's a goverment issued ID, you won't get turned away. One lady was turned away because she only had one "valid" ID. They should've just stated that what they want are government ID's in the first place. Make sure you have at least 2 photocopies of it, just to be sure. When I got inside, at the reception desk, I was only asked for my: Passport, 2 Valid ID's, Checked if I have my photocopy of those valid ID's, and I was given an ID with a Lanyard with a Pink "F" on it. For Fiancee, I guess? We were then told to go up the 3rd floor to fill up forms. Word of advice: Take the stairs. It's faster than the so-called elevator. LOL When you get to the 3rd floor, You'd be asked to fill up an Information Sheet. (Yes, you have to fill it up there, It's not the downloadable one on the CFO website.) Make sure you answer ALL questions/fields. Rendering this incomplete will be one of their criterias for you to be "HELD/ON HOLD" for one on one counseling. Information Needed on the Form: - Basic Information about you, the fiance(e)/spouse (Name, Address, Birthday, etc.; Your Birthplace is important too, specify which city/town/area/province) - Basic Information about your petitioner (Sometimes you are going to be asked for the Birth Certificate copy) - FULL MAIDEN NAME of fiance(e)/spouse's MOTHER - Contact person in the Philippines, specifically immediate family as in Father, Mother, Siblings. (I forgot what happened to the other one who listed her cousin. I think she was asked for her cousin's birth certificate. Which got her on "Hold" status.) - Landline Number of Petitioner. (I know, I know, most of you guys don't use landlines now. That's what was running through my mind too.) If no landline is available, Landline of Petitioner's Nearest Relative or Petitioner's Neighbor. (IKR!? Neighbor?) - Petitioner's Educational Attainment, Degree/Course, Occupation - Information on Petitioner's Divorce/Annulment/Death of previous wife or husband. You must have a copy of the Divorce Decree. (One lady was asked to show the Death Certificate of the petitioner's previous wife.) - ZIPCODES. Yes, people were given a few minutes to find out their Zipcodes. Both the petitioner and the beneficiary. Never forget to write those. So far, these are the ones that stuck out from the tedious checking of individual forms by the counselor. People were asked to show documents. It's not a specified list of documents. Just whatever the counselor wants to see. So better go there prepared! As for me, I was just asked for photos of me and my fiance, Christopher. By that time, she was already saying, If you don't fill up your forms properly, I will put you on "hold". She already mentioned 3 names that were on hold. Then she said, those of us who are "OK'd" by her, can now go downstairs to the first floor to pay at the Cashier. So we did. We paid PHP400. Roughly $10. We then went back upstairs and the counselor was still checking forms. In the end, the room full of 16 people, 10 were put on hold. Meaning, one-on-one counseling with her. Mind you, we're not all US fiance(e)'s/spouses in the seminar "Session" as prescribed in the CFO website info. At first I thought it would be 15 from US, 15 from Canada, and so on. NOPE. In the same session, some were fiance(e)s/spouses from other countries. So I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting there very early in the morning to secure a spot. So when everything was already checked, we started with the lectures. She, of course, started with the history of CFO (which is in the website). The CFO Certificate and stickers. The CFO Certificate is valid for life. It doesn't expire. So make sure you take care of it and make copies. Never hand in the original to anyone. You can show them the original, but they may not keep it. It's a HUGE hassle to get it replaced. And then explained at length who their CLIENTELE are. Meaning, they serve those family-based petition immigrants, the fiance(e) and spouses, etc. etc. Honestly, she didn't have to explain those in detail, adding up stories. Most especially going into lengths about the Filipino Au Pair Visa. This part draaaaagggggeeeed for so long. After that, Domestic Violence was discussed, which organizations to contact, who to call. (She gave her personal mobile number, she says she's the only one who does that.) She then covered what documents to bring when traveling, baggage allowances, airport fees, travel tax, embarkation cards, customs forms, etc. Showed a visa packet brought by one of the spouses, and that the IDS (for IR/CR1's) shouldn't be removed from the packet. She then proceeded to explaining what you should do when you get to the US: getting married, filing for adjustment of status, stressed on the validity of green cards, report of marraiges, amendments to passports, etc. By this time, we were done. And those "OK'd" people can claim their certificates downstairs on the First floor, and those who were "On hold" will have their one-on-one counseling with her. We got our certificates and got out at 1:30pm. We will have to go back there after the Visa is issued so we can get our passport CFO sticker. So there, good luck to everyone who are going to take the CFO Seminar. Just remember, be armed with documents. Be prepared. And go there early!

Your visa packet with your passport will be delivered by 2go, or you'll pick it up from 2Go (depending on which method you chose if it's delivery or pick-up). You will have to go to CFO carrying your passport with you, don't forget to bring the CFO certificate AND receipt. You have to present it to them and they will affix the Emigrant Sticker on your passport. You don't have to pay anything at this point.
More info on: http://mrsprsn.us/CFO

Your visa packet with your passport will be delivered by 2go, or you'll pick it up from 2Go (depending on which method you chose if it's delivery or pick-up). You will have to go to CFO carrying your passport with you, don't forget to bring the CFO certificate AND receipt. You have to present it to them and they will affix the Emigrant Sticker on your passport. You don't have to pay anything at this point.
More info on: http://mrsprsn.us/CFO

I called USCIS yesterday at work and I was #84 in line for tier 2. LOL I had them call me back though so that I don't lose my spot in the waiting line. They called me back just as I was going home from work in -20+F weather! UGH. )
Work is going great. I like it a lot. I came from working in a digital advertising firm which was really fast-paced. Having to work for a software company that's slower-paced is very refreshing. I get to be productive at my own rate and produce (better) quality output.
Regarding your USCIS account: Yeah, it happens when it doesn't have any activity. You get locked out. It happened to my husband's account. Then we were able to retrieve the password. ALTHOUGH...Yes you can definitely create a new account. That's what I did. In my husband's account, he had my case receipts added so he gets news. And I created a new account and added in the same case receipts on my USCIS account, so I get updates through email and SMS too.
I hope your hubby gets good news with the job hunt soon!
Woot woot! Congratulations!
I really hope so! I talked to an Immigration Officer yesterday and he said, it's nothing. Just a lapse/lag in the system (WOW 3 months of lag?!). That I should be ok because I have my EAD/AP and should be busy with work. That's it. LOL. How's job hunting for you going?

Hi Mr/Mrs Happy - we are pretty much in the same boat - no letter, no nothing but like Mrs P, just happy we have the EAD now so he can look for work.
Congrats to everyone with the good news - glad to see that for my fellow October filers that some cases are moving quickly! Good luck to everyone with job interviews too!

It was the same thing for me.. even though we changed the address and I already got my EAD sent to my new address, they sent the Interview Waiver Case letter to the old address. Weird.

Sorry it has taken me ages to get back, but the interview was easy.
We got to the office about 15min early. Walked in and security ran our bags, (they made fun ovof how much stuff I brought Lol) walked into a room with rows of chas and a small tv on the wall, no clock which I hated bc our phones were off. Put my interview notice into the slot in the wall. Then, we sat down and waited for our attorney... Just a few min later a man opened the door and called our name ( I panicked a little bc the atty wasnt there yet) and I asked him if I could wait for her, he said sure and closed the door. A couple of min later she showed up and the man popped back out and we walked to the room.
He asked litterally nothing about our marriage, asked to see a few originals and only asked my hunny his name and what he did for a living. Lol. Asked me my name, my parents names, and our kids names, a couple of other questions and boom done. Handed me a paper that he just had on the desk and said your 10 year gc is approved and it will be mailed to you in 30days.
I couldnt believe it! So I said "this is the happiest day of my life!" And my atty says "what about your wedding, your kids?! (With a smile) and I was like well yea, but THIS is going to give them a better future so can go to school and.get a great job and help my hubby support our family. I was on cloud nine! Lol
When we walked back into the waiting room we were all smiling so big so I gave everyone in there a fist pump in the air. Lol im sure they thought I was nuts. Haha. So happy. Approved on 12/30 and received GC on 01/04!
After being here since 1994, married for almost 8 years and 4 kids later. Im finally a LPR. Thank you all for your help and for going through this process with me...Kept me sane through a lot of it. Lol. Good luck to you all and I wish nothing but the best!!

yay! Congrats!! that's awesome that it was pretty quick...
sounds like the old USCIS system which is not good with the status changes...hopefully you get the card soon and all is good!
this is true!
Just noticed we are on page 28 - us October filers are a chatty bunch.

Congrats to all of you guys who got their cards! You make the rest of us feel hopeful that we'll get notifications for interviews soon!

I was able to find my insurance through www.ehealthinsurance.com. They have lots of different plans to choose from. I was approved for the first health insurance I applied at and everything worked out just fine.

I was just going to do the same Mrs P...happy holidays to you and my fellow October filers! All the best to everyone in 2014 especially for some quick processsing for all!!

Yup. It's the approval notification/case update. I got my SMS/Email/USCIS Website approval on 11/27/2013, valid from 11/27/2013 and it expires 11/26/2014.

I want to express my appreciation for this information,,I managed to get 3 certified copies
of her Birth Certificates inside of a week from Manila
Thanks!

Same here. Nothing here that's really in line with what I do back home. There's a handful, but I think I'm still under qualified lol. I do hope it's gonna be good for us job hunters this January. And yay, congrats to your husband!

First I'd like to say CONGRATUATIONS to Mrs. Presson and Chris for their perseverance during a very difficult time. I love how a "plan" comes together as it did whey you took the recommendation of RoberDski. I am so happy for you guys. It's just boggles my mind when I see things like this happening where the ruling and playing field is never level. It's hard enough to meet all the "red tape" as it is but do disregard your own rules - oh vay. I am very happy for you guys.
Gods speed for the rest of your travels.

Ummm, rather than respond to a thread that is MONTHS old, and with a topic that is totally unrelated to the topic here, you might be better served starting your own thread about your situation. And yes, wait times are long now. Think.... STORM OF THE CENTURY and all that goes along with that.
ETA: I see Hank already told you the same thing, I responded to you before reading any lower. Great minds think alike, and all that...
Mrs. Presson, I am happy to read that you guys were approved and have moved on thru the process. Sorry that it happened, and while I understand why the CO did what he did, I call bull$hit on what they did to you. I know of others on here who have gotten approved who were nowhere near the 125% mark, and they used a co-sponsor. It is truly unfair and frustrating that the COs have the power to pick and choose who sneaks by on the 125% rule (which is TECHNICALLY supposed to be a 100% rule at the USEM; 125% is supposed to happen at AOS time). Sorry for the added stress, but glad you guys made it!

Congratulations! I'm happy to hear that everything worked out. God bless!
Justin

You would do better to start a new topic instead of hijacking this topic.
As for your question, the available dates are what you see. C'est la vie
(priority has been given to those that suffered loss from the typhoon, so earlier dates are ... gone. And rightly so)

I'm thrilled. You seemed so heart-broken, glad the magic worked. We are waiting for our packet after our NOA2 arrived but ours is pretty easy-we have been married 2 years+ and have a baby, so..it has gone easily so far. Overjoyed for you-Praise God, you'll be going home.

Hooray!
FINALLY! Congrats!

Hi again, all!
Glad to hear that most of your cases have updated on the USCIS website. As for me, drum roll please....Nada! Haha
I need the EAD pleaseeeeee.
Been busy with moving. And been/still sick. Hospital and other bills are piling up. I need to work sooooooon.

Great to hear that your case is moving along! i just want the EAD approved soon, I'm itching to work! )
Welcome to the 'waiting room'. LOL.
I hear ya. I have a friend that had their biometrics appointment on October 8th (she's from Minnesota) and her status for AOS hasn't changed at all. I'm from North Dakota, and both of our cases go through the St. Paul MN Field Office. The good part about it is, she already has her EAD. She got it a month after the biometrics appointment.
I-485 Processing Times in Newark NJ is stuck on April 2, 2013
I-485 Processing Times in Saint Paul, MN is stuck on April 5, 2013
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do?locale=en-US
Good luck on your RFE, you both! Keep us updated!
No worries! Just was wondering what went on with yours. I'm still waiting for my EAD. But everything's just still at Initial Review for me.

Great to hear that your case is moving along! i just want the EAD approved soon, I'm itching to work! )
Welcome to the 'waiting room'. LOL.
I hear ya. I have a friend that had their biometrics appointment on October 8th (she's from Minnesota) and her status for AOS hasn't changed at all. I'm from North Dakota, and both of our cases go through the St. Paul MN Field Office. The good part about it is, she already has her EAD. She got it a month after the biometrics appointment.
I-485 Processing Times in Newark NJ is stuck on April 2, 2013
I-485 Processing Times in Saint Paul, MN is stuck on April 5, 2013
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do?locale=en-US
Good luck on your RFE, you both! Keep us updated!
No worries! Just was wondering what went on with yours. I'm still waiting for my EAD. But everything's just still at Initial Review for me.

Trust me, 2 years ago it wasnt like that. It took me 3 month to get the noa2. My whole process was 6 month since applied until I move in. And it was almost the same for the people who applied at the same around the same date. Things changed dramatically on august 2012.
The thing is, once you are here you are responsible for the next steps of your journey, and how long it takes. Some people come here with the idea of having a fairy tale wedding, which takes time to plan...so what happens? This people wait to the very end of the 90 days, to get marry and thennnnn apply for AOS. Im tired of reading about people who spent all their budget on their wedding, leaving them without a $$$ to pay for the GC. What is the right thing to do? get marry ASAP and apply for AOS ASAP. Once you are done, you have plenty of time to plan whatever you want to do.
I know we all dream about having a beautiful wedding and a great honey moon but the fact is that we are dealing with an immigration process. You still can go on a honeymoon whenever you want as long as you have your GC.
I know is a very overwhelming process but try to think about all the things you maybe did not do in time, and might be the reason of your delays