soulseeker

I'll be getting married on Sunday and I wanted to know what should I get first the SSS Id or apply for AOS? Please enlighten me. Thanks!

Hey....what should you do.....hmmmmm....just my 2 cents worth, this is what we did:

Got here April 14, married a month later, THEN applied for a SSN using my married name. I brought with me the filled up form, my passport, my certified copy of the marriage certificate. Was in and out of the SSS office in 45 mins. They processed my card and i got it in the mail a few weeks later.

However, it seems that not all SS offices work the same way. I know of someone who did the same thing i did...got married before applying for the SSN. Unfortunately, the people there said she should have filed for a SSN while she was single, then had the name changed after she got married. But since she is now married and doesnt have the SSN yet, she has to wait for the GC to arrive.

If i remember right, she should have been given the SSN. Like the previous poster above, I suggest you do a search of the post of a fellow member here... md young...his post about the nuances involved in getting the SSN is very helpful...sorry i just could not find the link now.

Well....hope all goes well for you both...enjoy your wedding!

congratulations!!!!!!! its good to hear that,hum....i guess we will be having our interview at detroit too bcoz it is the nearest local office from here.

Hey, for those of you going through Detroit for your interview, we hope you get Officer Lewis to review your case. He's one hell of a guy!! Good Luck!!!

At last! The process is finished....for now anyway We had our interview last Oct.12 in Detroit and the case officer assigned to us could not have been anymore nicer. We kidded him when he took my (very fresh from the mail, never been used) EAD card if he could just give us a refund for it. Fat chance! hahaha But he did say that with order comming from the President that cases like ours should be adjusted in 6mos or less, filing for the EAD did seem unnecessary....considering that my EAD only got approved after 90 days and my GC only 30 days later....Oh well......

He also did mention that with their "new" system, the GC should theorerically arrive in the mail in 2 weeks....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......well we were in luck, We got the "welcome to America" mail 1 week after the interview and the card did arrive another week after the letter came At last....the system was working with us.

Well, we just want to thank everyone on this site...its been a wealth of info and advice...and it kept us sane during the endless waiting!!! THANKS A LOT

Congrats

CONGRATULATIONS!

They did not asked us much question, just how my husband and i met. They more on evidence like, wedding pictures, joint bank account, that i'm his primary beneficiary in his insurance...etc....

Good luck

Thanks everyone, we appreciate the responses. You've all been a great help!!

Our interview is comming up soon and we're trying to make sure we got everything covered. This forum has been so helpful and i was wondering if anyone could point me to the link where the sample questions they ask at the interview were posted. I remember someone posting that link a few months ago, just could not find it again. Geeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzz....thanks in advance for all the help....just wish all this was over and done with.

I just checked my cases online this morning and to my suprise my EAD was approved.

Receipt Number: MSC************

Application Type: I765, APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Current Status:

On September 5, 2006, after approving your application, we ordered you a new card. Your card will be mailed to you as soon as it is ready.

You can choose to receive automatic case status updates, which will be sent via email. Please click here to create an account online.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you would like to see the Processing Dates for Applications and Petitions, click here.

Note: Case Status is available for Applications and Petitions which were filed at USCIS Service Centers. If you filed at a USCIS Local Office, your case status may not be reviewable online but for processing times on forms filed at that Office please, click here.

Finally i can work now . 2 down and one to go now after the AP and EAD approval. Yet again VJ's timeline was close to the date it said i would be approved by. Thank you to everybody who has read my whiney posts.

Congratulations!!!! I know exactly how you feel...I got the same email today from USCIS WoooooooooooHoooooooooooo

I wonder how long it takes them to mail it though

I think we finally have good news. My fiancee said all the papers were correct and they didn't say anything about needing more documents. She never asked if she was approved like i told her she should, so i hope she did get approved. She told me she got a pink slip and payed Delbros, so i'm thinking she did. Going to get the full details tonight She went in at 6;30am and didn't get out until after 2pm i think She said she was interviewed by a big american female hehe.

I wonder how long it will take to send the visa to Bohol. Also hope the plane tickets aren't all sold out for mid-Sept.

Thanks for the interest in our case for those who sent us E-mails.

Congratulations!!! That was quite a long wait for you guys. I remember because your timeline was just a few days ahead of mine when your initial interview sched got posted. I'm happy its finally over and you can now start another chapter in this looooooooooooooooooooooong process they are subjecting us to.... I noticed that you are from Michigan....i know its a big state but if you happen to be in the West Michigan and your fiance would like to have a fellow pinay to talk to or chat with from time to time as she makes the transition over here, feel free to email me and I could email back our contact details.

Anyway, we wish you both the best...May You be Blessed Always!

my fiance's visa appt is at 6:30 am and he wants to know what time should he go for his visa interview. his sister, who recently had her immigrant visa appt. and is already in the US, told him she went to the embassy at 4 am for her 6:30 am interview.

i told him, i don't think it's necessary for you to go there that early. maybe try to get there a little before 6 am but 4 am is too early. am i right? he's already staying at the hotel across the street so i don't think it's a big deal but i just want clarification. i want to tell him that i'm right.

Yeeeeeeeeeep. 4am is way too early. The guards at the embassy gate usually let people in an hour before their scheduled interview. My interview was scheduled at 8:15am and i showed up there at 7:30. Did not have any problems with lining up or getting in on time. So I agree with R & W, be there 5:15-5:30am, that way your fiance does not have to wait to long outside. Good luck!

I got my I-485 NOA on July, 1st with the notice date of June 28th. It has been two weeks already but still no letter for biometrics appointment. My friends got appointment letters within 7-10 days after the notice day, the same I see on the timelines of this forum members. Should I start to worry that my mail got lost somewhere?

Hey, i got my NOA 1 June 23 and still no biometrics appointment. I was starting to panic too! But just as the others have posted, i guess we just have to be patient.....but geeeeeeeezzz ....i know what you mean when other people we know have gotten their appointment letters in just a few days.... =(

Hello...I came here on a K1 visa and will start filling for AOS...

1. Re: G-325A, In the lower portion of the form, there's a block that says, " This form is submitted in connection for: [] naturalization, []status as permanent resident, [] others (specify) "

I was wondering if i'd be right to check [] others (then put) AOS.......OR should it be [] status as permanent resident (as i am adjusting to become one....???)

2. RE: I-765, #15. Current Immigration status.....do i just put K1 or K1(currently filing to adjust status??)

................... #16. © (9) (right?)

geeezzzzz....seems to be pretty stupid questions...hope someone can help so i can quit over analyzing...

1. Status as Permanent Resident

2. #15 K-1

#16 © (9)..... (u are right!)

Hope somebody will correct me if I'm wrong.

Good luck for the rest of your immigration journey!

Princess

Hey, Thanks A Lot Princess! appreciate the response

Hello...I came here on a K1 visa and will start filling for AOS...

1. Re: G-325A, In the lower portion of the form, there's a block that says, " This form is submitted in connection for: [] naturalization, []status as permanent resident, [] others (specify) "

I was wondering if i'd be right to check [] others (then put) AOS.......OR should it be [] status as permanent resident (as i am adjusting to become one....???)

2. RE: I-765, #15. Current Immigration status.....do i just put K1 or K1(currently filing to adjust status??)

................... #16. © (9) (right?)

geeezzzzz....seems to be pretty stupid questions...hope someone can help so i can quit over analyzing...

Hi all,

Just got off the phone with my hubby and he was APPROVED!!!

He said he saw the green and white sticker even before his interview with the consul... GOD IS REALLY AWESOME!!!

Good luck to those with upcoming interviews....

Cheers,

Andrea

Congratulations!!! Woooooo Hooooooo

Hey, I need help. I'll be doing the CFO thing soon and I was wondering what was the easiest way to get to SMEF-COW place....I'm not very familiar with the Aurora Blvd area. I was looking at the Location Map they have online butttttttttttttttt....hmmm...lolol....obviously cant imagine any of the landmarks.

I'll be commin from Makati, Edsa...If I were commuting should I take the MRT? Bus? where do I get off? Would it be advisable if I just brought a car? Does anyone know if there is a safe parking space inside the compound?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Hi! I'll be attending the CFO soon too and I was wondering, how many handwritten letters do you have from your fiance and visa versa? Our agency told us that we should have at least 60 letters... 30 from me and 30 from my fiance? how true is that? This is the only thing that's causing the delay since writing that much letters takes a lot of time. (we email n call, n chat so we dont really write letters but are forced, hehe)

Hmmmmmm... reading your profile signature, it appears that you haven't had your interview yet....

Here's the thing, hand written leters or any other proof of continous relationship was not asked from anyone of us who attended the CFO seminar last wed, March 22. Actually, the counsellor assigned to us was pretty laid back and individual counselling with her was such a breeze. Oh, if you or your fiance had a previous marraige, then it would be a very good idea to bring the divorce or annulment papers. I remember some people in my batch being asked to show those papers as well as whether they knew the reason for the divorce...uhm...also asked were: how many times was the person divorced...who initiated the divorce, your fiance or their Ex....

The fiance attending the CFO must know the USC's complete address, land line and cell #. Also, she will need to give the USC's Mother's maiden name. Other standard requirements, you can read about at the CFO website.

With regards to the "60 or so letters" hehe... i dunno where your agency got that number...but that would come in handy for the interview at the US Embassy. If You are not yet done with that, then gather as much docs as possible to prove a continueing relationsip. It includes but is not limited to handwrritten letters. Emails, chats, pictures of chat logs from yahoo or msn (or any server you guys use), and engagement ring reciept if you have one, pics...well you know the drill.

In my case, though i did have all of them and more..hehehe...yeep i was a bit overkill...the Embassy people didnt even ask for any of those. But i've read of some couples that were asked to supply these evidences. So just have it on hand just in case they do ask.

Hope this helps

BANG! K3/K4 approved!

CONGRATULATIONS classic!!!

wife just called from the embassy interview and were approved! i cant believe our journey is over. one of the first things i asked her was if she saw the green sticker, and she said yes. almost one year till our anniversary and wev'e had so many setbacks along the way. im so glad that it's over. i took the day off today and attended mass and i just prayed and prayed. thank you dear lord for hearing our prayers. thank you all for helping us along the way. mahalo nui loa everyone!

larry

CONGRATULATIONS Larry!!! Woooooooooooo Hoooooooooo God is Good and Faithful to those who Love Him!!

Now another chapter starts....but the great thing is, you guys will be together for the rest of the journey.

Continue Being Blessed!

Hello everyone,

My fiance went to BPI to pay for the application fee $100. The teller told him to go to internet Cafe and download the form...when he went to the cafe...they said the fee is 1,500 pesos to download DS form and the internet cafe is the one going to forward it to the Embassy......Is this sound OK? Is that how its done?

Thanks......

Caillen

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...what branch of BPI is that??! Maybe your fiance should try paying at another acredited branch. It's the first time i've heard that an accredited bank has run out of forms...besides those forms are FREE. She should not be paying anything extra, just the $100.00 USD for the application.

If that's the only bank near her area, i suggest she tell them to use the forms that Embassy sent her in her packet...how much more official do they want it anyways...those forms were sent the the US Embassy. Ask them to validate those forms instead.

If they still insist that she dowload it from an internet cafe, it might be a good idea to have her or someone pay for her application in one of the accredited the banks in Manila.

Geeezzzzzzz...i'm sorry to hear she's encountered that situation...can't help but wonder if the bank has a cut with the internet cafe...geeezzz

THANK GOD WE'RE APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all your support guys.

Blessings!

Robert & Wendy

Way to Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

Hey, I need help. I'll be doing the CFO thing soon and I was wondering what was the easiest way to get to SMEF-COW place....I'm not very familiar with the Aurora Blvd area. I was looking at the Location Map they have online butttttttttttttttt....hmmm...lolol....obviously cant imagine any of the landmarks.

I'll be commin from Makati, Edsa...If I were commuting should I take the MRT? Bus? where do I get off? Would it be advisable if I just brought a car? Does anyone know if there is a safe parking space inside the compound?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Hi...here's the direction from Baclaran to Good Shepherd Convent in QC. It's best to take the train since its faster (no traffic!! ) and cheaper rather than taking a cab from baclaran to Good Shepherd Convent...

1. Baclaran (infront of Baclaran Church) take a jeepney that says on the signboard MRT. It should take you to the MRT Pasay/Baclaran Station.

2. Take the MRT going to "ARANETA CUBAO Station". This will be at the Farmers Mall. If you're going there on the 1st session the mall will be close which means you can't use the walk way that goes to Gateway Mall which eventually leads you to the LRT2 ARANETA CUBAO Station". You have to go through it the "long way" so, after leaving the MRT Araneta Cubao Station, walk going to Araneta Center (it's advisable to walk where there's a lot of people just to be a little bit safer). The LRT2 ARANETA CUBAO Station is by Aurora Blvd. It's close to Goldilocks or 7-11 (not sure if 7-11 is still there I hardly notice it)

3. Once you're at the LRT2 ARANETA CUBAO Station, the ticket booth is not the same as that of MRT where you have to line up and give someone the money and they give you the card in return (usually that happens if you're going from end to end). There are available Ticket Vending Machines which accepts coins (1,5,10 pesos only) and bills (20 and 50 - not sure with 100 best not to give big bills such as 50 and 100 because the change given to you will be "coins") make sure that the bills you'll be using is not delapidated or else the machine will not accept it. Press the button that's labeled "KATIPUNAN". Going from LRT2 ARANETA CUBAO Station to KATIPUNAN Station is about 12 pesos or 14 pesos. You'll know if it's Katipunan Station already when you hear a recording that tells the passengers that they've reached Katipunan Station.

4. Once you alight from the train, it's best not to go with the flow of the crowd because you might end up at the wrong side of the road and would have to cross the WIDE street of Aurora Blvd. (scary ) I suggest that you ask the guard which way is it to go to the Good Shepherd Convent or if they don't know that ask them which way is it to go to St. Bridgette School. It's underground that's why you won't see which side they are. For direction purposes....Good Shepherd Convent and St. Bridgette School is at the other side not where you alighted, you have to go up the stairs/escalator and proceed to the right side (almost all passengers from that goes down that station will go up the stairs/elevators with you but will be turning left)

5. Once you're out of the station you'll be literally looking at Aurora Blvd. Go right. You'll see a big building with a statue on top, before that building there's a gate and a guard sitting next to the small gate. Go there...and when you're there...you reached your destination ask the guard where to go or what to do next...

Good Luck!!!

*** Remember the stations and don't get confused with LRT (this one goes though Taft Ave. and goes directly to Caloocan) and LRT2 (a.k.a. Purple Line - this one mostly go through aurora blvd. and it goes from Santolan, Pasig to Recto)

Ck

Hey nakashima ayumi, Rebel and ckoahou... thanks for all the feedback....geezzz that really helps. I'll follow your advice...MRT2 it is !

ckoahou, I really appreaciate the detailed instruction.. you must have guessed how great I am at directions..

Rebel, I got my visa 5 days after the interview...Had interview March 10 (friday) got Visa the next Wednesday. Hope Your visa arrives soon...I might even bump into you.

Hey, I need help. I'll be doing the CFO thing soon and I was wondering what was the easiest way to get to SMEF-COW place....I'm not very familiar with the Aurora Blvd area. I was looking at the Location Map they have online butttttttttttttttt....hmmm...lolol....obviously cant imagine any of the landmarks.

I'll be commin from Makati, Edsa...If I were commuting should I take the MRT? Bus? where do I get off? Would it be advisable if I just brought a car? Does anyone know if there is a safe parking space inside the compound?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Well, I came on here earlier to see how everyone is doing and was going to type some replies...but I got called away by an incoming TM. Know what?

Chalk up another APPROVED!! Wooohooooo!!

I haven't got the details yet. Poor woman was starving--she didn't sleep last night and was too nervous to eat this morning--so had to get some food in her. We talked for a little bit while she was waiting in line, and she said they were impressed with how organized all the paperwork was, and that the interviewers were very polite. So definite tip there, that ties in with what RebelHeart said: going overboard on organizing and logical presentation of material seems to help. (My final assembled 'document' was over 2.25" thick.)

I will pass on more details when they become available.

Thank you for your well-wishes and prayers, PW, R&W, Soul, JoseandHelen--they definitely helped!

And CONGRATULATIONS, too, J&H!!

PurpleDonkey, I'm so sad to hear about the AR. Have they said anything further on how long it might take them to figure out she is who she says she is and not someone else with the same name? At least...I got the feeling that is what they are doing...smack me if I'm wrong there. I pray they clear it up soon.

Andrew, I'm really curious to find out what Lira is embarassed about! Come on--share with the group.

Danoco - you asked about age? Lyra is 28 years old and I'm 34...so she's over 25, but we're not too far apart in age (which may also affect how they look at the cases).

Good luck everyone, and thanks!!!

Waiting - I can't believe they've kept you in limbo all this time! OMG! What are they waiting for? Even at the glacial speed of government, they should have figured something out by now. Heck, even the VA works faster than that!

I can't imagine wating that long.

I hope and pray they get things taken care of soon.

Congrats

CONGRATULATIONS JnLMN! WAY TO GO!!

Let me be the first to say out of the 3 from VJ who had interviews today. My wife's interview was APPROVED whooooooooooooo. Now I'm on cloud 9. I'm so excited now And my wife meet Rebelheart and she was also APPROVED too. so that was 2 out of the 3. Thank you guys for all the support, you have been great.

Jose

Congratulations JoseandHelen, Rebelheart!!!!

JnLMN, Be Blessed...our prayers go out to you today.

Purple, sorry to hear about your predicament... geeezzzzz...i know it might sound lame but at least they gave you a time frame, even if it seems unreasonably long....if it is just to verify her "single" status, then that sounds good...she should be cleared in no time.

That's great, Soul!!

So tell me: how's your excitement level now, having it right there in your hands?

Meanwhile, back in the states:

<Less than two days to go...>

Ha! Excitement level is OFF THE CHARTS!!! Kept on looking at the visa all day! lololol Yeeeeep...just had to make sure they didnt screw up with a typo error or something.. lolol

FINALLY! It's come to an end and a new chapter now begins...

Hey guys...just to give you an idea how long it takes to get the passport back...My Passport /Visa got delivered today!!

Had the interview March 10-Friday...Got a text from Delbros that it got released from Embassy yesterday March 14 ...and it's in my hands today! I live 30 kms south of manila....just 5 days wait! wooo hooo!

Good luck to those havin their interview tomorrow....Be Blessed Abundantly

Guys

I would very much appreciate it if you can ease my worries

It is regarding the NBI Clearance. I was staring at it and noticed the Right Thumb Box in the lower right corner of the NBI Clearance is blank. I didnt worry about it UNTIL I read the note in the lower right corner specifying: "Not valid without dry seal and thumb print".

When they released my NBI Clearance, I was just too happy to finally get it after a harrassing several hours falling in line under the sun. I went home immediately and never looked back.

Was I supposed to place my right thumb print on the NBI Clearance? Someone told me that the thumb print info is already embedded in the bar code above the right thumb box.

Will the embassy care about the Right thumb mark? Should I buy a black stamp pad and start putting my right thumb print there?

Information on what you did/submitted would be greatly appreciated.

with many thanks,

mac

Hey! I got exactly that same scare myself when i went got my NBI clearance. I got home and realized i forgot to have my thumb print marked on there. I freaked out and drove right back to the NBI office only to find out that i could have gotten a black stamp pad and put my thumb mark on the clearance myself...lol

So it's your call...go back to the NBI office and spend about 5 mins to get you thumb mark on it...or buy a stamp pad. Whichever is most convenient for you....just make sure you have your thumb mark on your NBI clearance.

CONGRATULATIONS andrewkonen!!!