J_d_Petitioner

My Dad used to smoke a lot but quit a couple of years prior to getting their medical exam at St. Lukes, so they deciced to get checked with a local hospital to get a hint of what could expect. They did his x-ray, smear, sputum, and skin test. He also did the treatment as advised by his doctor due to spots seen in his x-ray, even though his smear and sputum results were both negative. This was all done 5 months before their St, Lukes visit.

Of course, St. Lukes had him do everything all over again, except for the treatment due to negative results, but they still asked for a certificate from his local Doctor verifying that he has completed his 6-month treatment with them.

To me it sounds like at the interview step that if something is not quite right with the paperwork they will interview but if the paperwork is in order, they just need to see if your Mom and Dad are still breathing. Then it's a matter of formality in completing the visa and then sent to them. What a great experience. Good Job.

I agree!

Thanks!

Thanks! I just had my interview this morning and got approved. When I checked the ceac after, it says ISSUED. Does that mean I can expect it to be delivered this week? Thanks!

My parents visa were ready for pick-up on the 4th business day after the "Issued" date which is also their Interview date.

If you have yours delivered, it will be within 7-10 business days. Most got theirs sooner though.

I'm glad everything worked out. VJ is a terrific place to learn and when your finished your process you become the teacher of that process.

I have but one question. What was the CFO interview like for your parents. Who did they interview and sample of the questions would be great.

Thanks for sharing and good luck.

My parents said the only question asked was their parents' maiden name. They both sat at the table with one interviewer and no other questions were asked.

They only took one ID for both of them. Submitted photocopies of the required documents. They have the form already filled up because I instructed them to before they went there.

My parents finally have their visa in hand. Got their CFO stamps. All bags are packed and ready to fly out this Friday! I'd like to share their timeline from their Interview date until visas were picked up at the Mall of Asia 2GO Branch. No issues and everything went smoothly for them. The only snag in the entire process was the Sputum test.

2/18/2015 Wednesday - Interview at 6:30am. My parents arrived there at a littlle after 4am and they were #30. At 6am, the first 30 numbers were called. They did fingerprinting, initial Interview, oath-taking, and final interview which they were only asked 3 questions - 1. their names, 2. petitioner's name, 3. have they worked abroad in the past. Then they were told by the consul to proceed to the next step for the instruction, which they did, and was only told to just wait for their visas. No paper was given. They were done before 9am.

2/18/15 - 5pm CEAC status changed from Ready to Issued. 2Go says invalid using UID, Case number, and passport number

2/23/15 - Monday at 8am USTRAVELDOCS status changed to "Passport received from the Embassy and ready for Delivery" (not exact words, but it's the same thought). 2Go says "In Transit" using UID.

2/23/15 - 7pm 2GO Tracking activity changed to "Accepted Shipment from Embassy", but status still says "In transit"

2/24/15 - 8am received text & email from 2GO that Visas are ready for PICK-UP. Status changed to "Undelivered - On Hold PUP at 2GO Mall of Asia".

2/24/15 - 10am Visas pickedup at MOA. Opened the plastic enough to take the passport out. DO NOT TAKE anything out of the package. The people at 2GO told my parents and assisted them with it.


Thanks to all who helped and answered my questions. Y'all made this entire process easier for us. i hope i could also be of help tp anyone who are still going through the process.

Not sure about required.

Been married for 7 years and never reported my marriage to the Philippines. Never renewed my Philippine passport though, but I now have US passport.

I think it's only required if you want to get a new passport under your married name. But to travel to the Philippines with your current passport under your maiden name is not that hard. Like everyone else said, bring your GC and Marriage Certificate with you. Also make sure to photocopy them ahead of time.

One of my travels from the Philippines, they kept a copy of my docs for some reason.

2GO CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR CHECKING DELIVERY

2Go customer service hotline (+632) 5287-136 is available Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

2Go office at MOA (02)901-1404. Call after 5 pm

Thanks Greenbaum for your very useful info. I have done the tracking from USEM to 2GO except calling them. My parents did try calling the 2Go Hotline though but they charge PHP100.00.

Do you know, by chance, the hours at the 2Go in MOA? I tried searching for it but couldn't find one except for they close at 10pm.

"ACCEPTED SHIPMENT FROM CUSTOMER" is the last Scan Activity but the status still says In-Transit. That's after 2 In-transits activity from picking it up at the Embassy. It was picked up yesterday morning. Does it mean that 2GO Mall of Asia received the package and just waiting to Scan it and entered into their system for Pick-up?

Is it ok for my parents to go to MOA tomorrow morning and pick their packages up?

I have setup for their (my parents) visa packet to be picked up at the Mall of Asia. But I just realized that the number i listed in their USTRAVELDOCS is my US Number, so they probably won't get a text message once it's ready for pickup, I didn't think at that time that it will be used for tracking (right??). Are they going to send an email also?

Thanks for the inputs.

I am considering Asiana Airlines because of their very low price (half the price of other airlines I am considering - PAL, Cathay, and Korean Air).

I am just surprised (and kinda cautious) why.

Maybe they have an ongoing promo.

The other good thing about Asiana Airlines is that it has only one stopover at Incheon for 10hrs which is an opportunity for us to avail of the free Seoul City tour!

But right now I am still debating over choosing Korean or Asiana.

Asiana is rated 4 stars in Skytrax with over 600 reviews. That's pretty good. I think it depends on timing, i see United/ANA and JAL/American prices go really low and i've flew with them before and never had any issues. Low prices doesn't mean something is wrong, it means a good deal and you better act fast! ?

We flew 11feb. I bought the tickets online through Orbitz 9feb.

There were signs posted around terminal 1 saying this took affect 1feb.

JAL sent us over to the travel tax counter and there we paid 1620 php for fiancée. Me as a USC did not have the tax. Then we returned to JAL and they handed us our boarding passes. JAL stamped our tickets with that little 550 php stamp, so the usher to the terminal fee line ushered through a side door and we we skipped that terminal fee counter. Still had to stamp out with immigration of course and fiancée had to ballpen a small immigration form.

It seemed a little faster than normal.

I just purchased the ticket through Orbitz but couldn't find anywhere in their receipt that terminal fees are included. Did you?

Also, do they (my parents) have to pay the travel tax first before they check-in then? I'm wondering if you went back at the back of the line to claim your boarding passes.

It makes sense if they do, but a friend of mine petition all her kids at the same time and for some reason only 2 of the kids got their visa a week after their interview and the other one is still waiting.

Not sure what their online status though as my friend never bothered to check them.

I hope it will all work out for you. Good luck!

Yes.

Guess they would have to wait for their visas in hand then.

Thanks all for answering my questions!

Hi, I'm flying out on tues from manila to philadelphia on the east coast and i got my wife's ticket for 1,000 thru delta with a 1hr lay-over in Japan

Not bad either. $1700 for both of my parents, by the way.

Hi.. my mom went to the seminar first and sticker later if she gets approve.

Good to know! Is passport required?

Are your parents older than 60? If yes they are exempt according to CFO website. Partial explanation follows. Follow link for more information.

The following emigrants are exempted from attending the PDOS and registering in person with the CFO, provided that they are registered by a proxy:

Those who are 60 years old and above;

Those incapacitated due to permanent or long-term ailments; or

Those with mental health issues or psychologically-challenged.

The following emigrants are exempted from attending the PDOS and registering in person with the CFO, provided that they are registered by a proxy:

Those who are 60 years old and above;

Those incapacitated due to permanent or long-term ailments; or

Those with mental health issues or psychologically-challenged.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1347:for-filipinos-leaving-the-country-with-an-immigrant-visa&catid=139

No they're not 60 or over yet.

Better to wait the visas first before going for seminar and sticker,u can get same day after seminar, set appointment online at http://gcp-appointment.cfo.gov.ph

But I don't know about ur parents case for cfo

I understand the convenience of doing it at the same time. But with them being tight on time and hearing that 2GO usually inform passport availability in the afternoon, I'm thinking it's easier to do it beforehand.

Thanks for the link, by the way, I'll be looking into that.

Hi. About the CFO YOUR PARENTS are different as far as documents go i guess their marriage cert .BIRTH CERT i really don't know of anything else they fo the seminar first then after they receive their visa go back for the sticker

Thank you teddy k!

I will probably have my parents just bring all their documents and pay CFO a visit and go from there. They're just in Manila waiting for the Visa and their flight on Friday, so it isn't too bad.

My wife's interview was on February 12 issued February 13 . got text from 2GO on feb 19 she did her CFO back in jan just had to pickup sticker yesterday

Thank you tedd k!

I was looking at the CFO website and I don't see anything about the option to do seminar and later get the sticker. My parents may be in tight on time so i'd like to do this while waiting for their visas to be available for pickup at MOA.

Can you give me more info about this? Like what docs to bring to do the seminar? And how to get the sticker? I've heard you can get it from the airport also, is that true?

Thanks again!

Hi Jona how long is your mom still waiting for the visa?

Visa status was "issued" since the 2/18 which is the same day as their Interview and we're still waiting...

So I was able to book a flight through Orbitz with JAL from Manila to Dallas with a 3-hour layover in NRT for $1700 flying out on Feb 27th. Not bad huh?!

I know that we shouldn't book the flights until we have visa in hand, but I have been keeping an eye on the tickets and they're going crazy and more expensive as it's getting near. Our ideal flight date is late this week due to personal reasons. And when I saw a 1-stop flight with JAL, it's really hard to resist. Plus my parents Visa status have been "Issued" on the same day of their interview which was 02/18, so I think we should be good.

Again, thanks for all the help and ideas from everyone in this forum!

Hi everybody good day to all, just wanted to share my thoughts on this process to which i got to MOA at 10:30 to pick up my visa then off to the CFO office in PACO to which it took 3 hrs to proceed in getting the sticker but most of all i would like to thank all of my VJ friends who have helped me to get to where I'm at now HANK YOUR ALWAYS THERE FOR EEVEYBODY,,, so i as i move on i will continue to help others on their journey too

Congratulations!

Do you mind sharing your timeline? Like the interview date, issued date, and notification from 2go?

And she did CFO seminar before she received her visa? Wonder if my parents can do that too. How did she do it?

I, too, is waiting for my parents to receive their visas, hopefully early next week.

Thank you,

Jona

Does anybody have information on how fast a visa can be ready after k1 interview. I understand it can be picked up at the Mall a few business days later. Thank you for your time!

Wish it could be faster, right?

They're right. I;ve seen a lot of posts asking the same question and none of them have a definite answer.

My parents visa status says "Issued" on the day of their interview which was 02/18, it was touched on 02/19, but no luck with 2go status yet. And the USTRAVELDOCS still says, the visa is still in the embassy.

At least interview is out of the way. If you didn't receive 221g after the interview, it should be within a couple of weeks as long you don't see AP in CEAC status.

After the interview, is the consulate/embassy let you know if you passed the interview and how many days before you can receive the visa? Thank you

Any updates?

Yes! I got it already. I received it 8 days after being approved.

Will have the CFO seminar next week.

Congratulations!

Is it 8 calendar or business days?

Hi everyone my wife just had to get a new NBI IN A AKA NAME THAT SHE NEVER USED AND IT CAME BACK WITH THE REMARK. NO DEROGATORY RECORD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS

Where did she list the "AKA NAME"? In her original NBI or somewhere else (forms, etc)?

"No Derogatory Record" is good. So there shouldn't be any problem.

Yeah I have never gone through CheapOAir before. I usually use Expedia or Cheapflights for my travels both domestic and abroad, that way my card does not get flagged if I go through a International carrier's site. Which it does happen. I think DFW is one of AA's hubs so that's why it's so cheap to fly out of there. I would if I were you fly in to and out of DFW and have your asawa pick you up to drive to Austin. It can help you see more of the landscape, my asawa could not believe how big America actually is until we drove cross country from NC-California, 2 weeks after she got here.

Yes that's the plan. I am actually the one who will be picking up my parents this time.

When I flew out here almost 7 years ago, my asawa picked me up all the way in the Philippines because I was such a chicken. Hehe

Thank you!

Hi,

I did... the only member of the family who had an AP status. At least, based on the times when I was checking CEAC. Here's how our records/applications moved after the interview for your reference (also found here - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/534053-anyone-here-with-similar-case-as-mine/) -

Interview Date : Jan 13, 2014

F4 IV : Family of 5

CEAC Status as of Feb 6 - ISSUED... Yes!!!

Just to give you an idea, here's how it went (CEAC Status Movements)

As of Jan 15, wife/principal - Ready, me - AP, Kids (3) - Ready

Jan 20 - movements for my 3 kids, wife - still ready, me - AP

Jan 22 - movement/s for my wife, kids still ready, me - AP

Jan 30 - movement/s for me, changed from AP to Ready... Yehey!!!!

Feb 2 to 5 - movement/s for all of us

Feb 6 - ISSUED... another Yehey!!!

Feb 9 - with movement/s for all of us but still ISSUED

Which website we check the status?

I called 2GO awhile ago and asked if they have my Visa Packet already. It's been 3 days since my Visa Status was ISSUED and they still didn't have my Visa. How long will embassy give the visa to 2GO for delivery?

Sorry I don't have answer to your question. But mind if I ask when did you have the interview? Thanks!