F&R

My husband just started his DOT last Feb 4. He supposed to have his interview this coming Monday, Feb 10. When I heard the news from him that he'll have to undergo this treatment, it broke my heart into pieces as it's gonna a long delay. But on the brighter side atleast he'll be cured and that's more important. Anyway, my question is, do I have to contact USEmbassy in Manila or the NVC from time to time just to "keep the communication" with them. Cause what I know if a certain time had passed and they haven't heard anything from anyone about case chances are they'll cancel the case. Your reply is greatly appreciated.

When my fiancee started her treatment I tried to contact the embassy to let them know about the situation and they told me St Lukes had informed them already. My fiancee just finished her treatment yesterday and believe me, those 6 have gone really fast. Now the waiting game begins again to get the final result from sputum culture. I hope that answer your question and good luck

So sorry to hear that. Did your fiancee show symptoms of active tb before the medical?

No symptoms at all..

We rented a 1 bedroom condo in one of the Robinson's Adriatico towers. It was actually a studio converted to a 1 bedroom and we paid PHP 27,000 per month. I found it online simply by searching for Condos in Ermita. The results from sulit.com.ph will help, but of course you'll have to do some diligence in your selection.

Robinson's Adriatic is actually attached to the Robinson's Mall from the outside. It's about a 5-10 minute walk to the clinic from here. Also pedicabs ply the streets in the area. There many other condo's in Ermita and Malate, but Adritico towers were the perfect location for us.

I will start my research right away, thanks for all this great information.

In addition, doing the DOT at SLEC will not burden you with any additional cost. In my wife's case she did DOT and did not have to pay anything on top of the first medical exam fee.

Just a heads up, your Fiancee will have to do the medical exam again. The first exam will have expired by then as far as the USEM is concerned. You will have to pay for the second exam.

It is good news that we don't have to pay for the treatment.

Thanks for the reply, really helpful information.

Ouch...I feel your pain...snd keep on looking forward and pray that everything fromhere on will be fine.

Thanks, I will.

Sorry to hear that your fiancee will have to do DOT. Although there will be a delay, you have to look at the positive side. It was detected and she will be treated.

A place to stay is really dependent on the budget. There are hotels in close proximity that have long term rates and I understand there are also dormitories/apartments in the area. When my wife had to do her DOT I actually rented a condo nearby. She would walk to SLEC everyday to take her medication and it was safe during the day light hours. I know firsthand as I actually accompanied her on one of my visits. There's a large mall and supermarket (Robinson's) in the area, as well as many food stands and smaller markets. Not such a bad area.

Could you please give me details on the condo you rented? Where did you find it? How much?

Thanks for your reply..

Hang in there...does st. Lukes really require that they themselves administer the treatment??? Can another hospital near her place do it instead? Just my 2cents

They have to do it themselves otherwise if she does it at a clinic in her province she said it would take up to 20 months because they have to make sure the virus is actually gone. This is a nightmare!!

I cannot answer you about the places to stay near St. Luke's coz i am not from Manila myself but i am sure someone will later.

I just want to know if St. Luke's called your fiancee at exactly 2 months for the result of the sputum culture..

Thanks

she called St Lukes after the 8 weeks and was asked to come in for the results. We were really happy because a lot of people say that if st lukes doesn't call you within the 8 weeks you most likely are negative, that was wrong in our case

Hi everyone,

I am so sad and disappointed, my fiancee just informed me about the positive result of her sputum culture which means that she will have to go through a six-month TB treatment after waiting for two long months for the culture result.

The reason I am here posting this is because I need your help to find a place for her to stay during the treatment. I am not familiar with the area around St Lukes neither she. Any help/suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, God bless your journey and I hope nobody else has to go through this.

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!

Thank you.. that gives me peace of mind, it already says "Ready".

hi again,

just wondering since i have already set interview app (online) do i still need to call the embassy and see if they recieved our packet from the NVC ?

I was wondering about the same thing. I made an appointment and then I contacted the embassy and they keep saying they don't have the application/package from NVC even tough it was sent since April 30. I am getting nervous because the interview date is approaching and nobody knows where my application is. NVC says they sent it and the embassy says they haven't received it.

Ya know I never checked with the embassy to see if they received the petition package from NVC, I only checked with NVC for our MNL #. Once we had the MNL # it was rock 'n' roll time; got the visa fee paid at BPI, scheduled the interview then off to SLEC.

For the NVC:

Check on your embassy case number:

Give them 7 - 10 days after receiving the NOA2 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.

LETTER FROM NVC WITH MANILA NUMBER

When you get the letter from NVC stating the MNL # , scan and email a copy to your fiancee to bring to St. Luke's

Manila Embassy:

NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR MNL # (don't need to wait for the letter from the embassy )

(NOTE: When getting NSO certified copies of your Birth Certificate get a few extra copies for bringing to the States with you. You will need them from time to time)

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

Once you have your MNL # :

You can pay your nonimmigrant visa application fee with cash or debit card at any Bank of Philippine Islands. Before going to the bank, you must print the applicable U.S. visa application deposit slip available below on this page. Take the printed deposit slip with you to pay your fee. If you print a deposit slip in advance of the day in which you plan to make your payment, please take note of the expiration date on the deposit slip. If the expiration date passes prior to using the slip to make your payment, simply return to this site and re-click the appropriate link below to generate a new deposit slip. Bank agents will NOT accept payments based on expired deposit slips. Upon receiving of your payment, bank will issue you a receipt. Save your receipt. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

http://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-paymentinfo.asp

Select the deposit slip that matches your visa application fee from the list below. Values are shown in U.S. dollars and native currency. This page has more information about the different visa application fees. (you may have to change the border from .75 to .25 for printing for it all to print on one page, also some have been asked at BPI for three copies of the deposit receipt, why I don't know)

http://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-visafeeinfo.asp

For K-1 the fee is $240

After you have paid the visa application fee, keep the BANK receipt for your records. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

If you have an account with either Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) or BancNet you may choose to pay your visa application fee online using their online bill pay services. Click on either of the links below if you are a BPI or BancNet customer and wish to make an online payment.

If you are paying for more than one applicant, please DO NOT make a lump sum payment for all the applicants. A UID/receipt number is required for each visa application fee payment for EACH applicant for scheduling an appointment. After you have paid the visa application fee, please keep the fee receipt for your records.

Receipt Format

Note: If you have a Bank of Philippine Islands receipt, your fee receipt number should be your passport number. If something other than your passport number appears in the circled area on the graphic, use that information as your receipt number. This receipt number verifies your payment and allows you to schedule your visa interview When scheduling online with the embassy you need to use the receipt number as shown on the payment receipt from BPI. You can schedule the interview online or by calling the numbers listed below.

Once you have registered you can then schedule the interview. https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/

Priorty Date; this is the date the NOA 1 was received. You will not find the priority date entered on the NOA2, you will only find it on the email/letter from NVC when you get your MNL #.

Make sure to print three copies of the interview confirmation letter/page (if you scheduled online) as you will need two for St. Luke's and the other for the embassy.

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

Embassy Letter: (This is the Instruction Letter from the Embassy - you need to complete everything listed here)

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3224.html

In English: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction_rtf2_002.pdf

In Tagalog: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/K1instructionTag%20rtf3%20_2__rtf2_013.pdf

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

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

Information for meeting the Poverty Guidelines and using additional assets (it may be referring to the I-864 but its valid for the I-134 also):

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#22

Poverty Guidelines: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Embassy (Manila) Phone Number (and email)

(632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185 (local number: USEM 301-2000 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.

IN A HURRY? Pick up your visa at MOA! -> -> http://blogs.usembassy.gov/philippines/?p=1533

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

***

St. Luke's:

(GUYS if you are in the Phils with your Fiancee before the medical NO "personal" contact until AFTER St. Luke's is completed - as in KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS)

http://www.slec.ph/us-visa-applicants.shtml#required-docs

Have copies of passport bio page, copy of NVC letter when MNL# is assigned (I added this as SLEC has been asking for this letter or a letter from the embassy that lists the assigned MNL #) confirmation page from scheduling interview online at embassy (or if the embassy mails a confirmation letter bring a copy of that) (NVC Instructions Letter is for IR/CR-1 visa), 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/

Information from the embassy about the medical: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3218.html

***

CFO:

ALL exiting required to attend. There have been changes regarding CFO so for sure read through their website.

Update: Please check the schedule of the counseling session before proceeding to CFO because it is country-specific and the slots are limited only to 15 per session (two sessions per day) for Manila and 12 per session (only one session a day) for Cebu. It is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

CFO Online Registration Form: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/pdf/downloadable%20forms/registrationform.pdf Complete this and print a couple copies to bring to the CFO seminar, it will save you time.

http://www.philembassy.no/sites/default/files/downloads/new_gcp_flyer.pdf

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348:fiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140

Required documents & "OTHER DOCUMENTS" they ask for at CFO: originals & copies of; CENOMAR (CEMAR and marriage certificate if married), certified birth certificate. Passport and copies of bio page of passport, visa page from passport, pictures together. From USC (copies of) - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree (if been married before) are the most common requests. 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. (Some are posted on VJ that they were not asked for this, yet others have been asked, so be prepared)

I have my MNL#, I paid the visa fee ($240), I have all the documents needed for the interview, and I even scheduled an interview appointment for May 28 but I am worried that I will have to rescheduled because they don't have the approved application yet.

Hi all,

According to NVC my application was sent to the embassy since April 30 but up until today the embassy keeps saying that they have not received it. Does anybody know how long it usually takes since the application leaves NVC until the embassy acknowledges they received it ? I am stressing out because it seems that nobody knows where the application is.

I will appreciate any information. Thanks

How about you hope for us July filers? We have been waiting 4 months longer...and no end in sight.

I apologize for being so insensitive, I hope everybody will get their approvals soon.

OMG I hope you get noa2! but do you mean like checking the people with the numbers close to yours?

Cuz I dont think tht has to do with anything..cuz they split applications to different ppl, they dont do them in order, and plus cuz like numbers only a few below mine are for other kinds of petitins..not fiance visas!

But still good luck! It seems like a great sign especially if your JUST now getting the change of alien number!!

I knew it, I GOT APPROVED JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO... :dance: :dance:

I am just waiting for the text and the email!!!!

I hope all the rest of December filers are next

OMG I hope you get noa2! but do you mean like checking the people with the numbers close to yours?

Cuz I dont think tht has to do with anything..cuz they split applications to different ppl, they dont do them in order, and plus cuz like numbers only a few below mine are for other kinds of petitins..not fiance visas!

But still good luck! It seems like a great sign especially if your JUST now getting the change of alien number!!

A few numbers before and after my application are K-1 Fiance(e) visa and they have already been approved. The best sign is that they changed the alien number and I'd like to think that they at least touched my application. I can't wait until Monday!!

That sounds SO SO SO promising. My fingers are crossed for you!

Thanks!! You are not far behind me, I hope you'll get your NOA2 soon too

I checked my application status and it seems that CSC approved 3 people right before me and one more right after me... I also noticed that seems that they touched my application because it says, "On April 13, 2013, your Alien Registration Number was changed relating to your I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)." I am just trying to say that they keep on working on December applications.. Hopefully, I AM SORRY FOR BEING SO SELFISH, I am next to be approved. :dance:

just hit the 6th month mark and WOW we recieved notice that we are approved!!! I still cant believe

GOOD LUCK to everyone and i wish you to have this happyness soon :-)!!!

Congrats, I am happy for you..

Did your application go to VSC or CSC? Please update your timeline

Guys after 12 hours of this message another text pop up on my fiance's cp and he called me to tell me that we are approved! Gosh I was in resort and having fun and I don't know if I will swim fast.. I will dive.. I will jump haha

It is so great!

4mos to be exact!

Congrats!! Please update your timeline

It is very stressful to check on uscis website everyday for how many times and see some updates here in vj if there's noa2 approvals under csc. Unfortunately, I read lots of topic regarding why csc is being so slow.

I am happy for "few" vj members under csc who recently got their I-129F approval. Atleast "few" of them still working on. (ugh)

I am still hoping that as days go by csc will recover from their workloads.. I hope they stop staring on cases on their tables and thinking how they will finish lots of papers and work on it, I hope they will work on it, really!

As of now I kept myself to be busy selling garage. I can earn and save money and probably help a little to my fiance.

I also make myself busy doing scrap book pictures with my fiance and our daughter.

I also start gathering documents that will be needed once noa2 comes,like nbi, bcertificate, cenomar etc.

I hope the next time I check updates here on vj I will read lots of noa2 testimonials and put mine too.

Good luck to us everyone!

I saw in your timeline that you've been waiting since January last year, is this correct? How are you doing it? How can you still post happy faces? For me it's been just a little over 3 months and it's been really hard, I cannot imagine waiting for over a year. I hope you will get your NOA2 real soon.

WELCOME TO HELL.

Well said

I checked too and in fact it is now 7.7 months...

Congrats!!

guys any noa2 updates for dec filers??

None