Manileña Heart

Thanks so much sweet cakes

Thanks SOOOO much to everyone who replied. I will start reading up on all the steps. My husband has already included me in his insurance so that's a great start. Around how much would all these processes cost? It's good that some of the docs are free though:)

Bring a cardigan or jacket of you get cold easily like me. And eat a hearty breakfast before u come in coz it took me at least five hours before I got out of there

Praise God for our memorable wedding and thank u VJ friends for helping us through all the stages up to this point in the K-1 process What's next on my to do list? Change my SSN and apply for AOS and EAD right? Am I missing something else? BTW we are based in Texas and I already got back our marriage license with the signatures from our county office. I think that's what they have here, license instead of certificate. Thanks and God bless in advance to everyone

Thanks sooo much sis!

I-94 is electronic now, sis. You can retrieve it from here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

Print-out a copy of this for your SSN application, and save it as pdf for future use (i.e., AOS, etc).

Thanks so much everyone! Sweet cakes, i don't have an I-94 yet, do I just download that and fill it up? Thanks!

Applying for the I-765 or EAD before AOS is not practical, as this will expire once your I-94 expires. So just file for your EAD and AP with your AOS (Yes, this is after the wedding).

For SSN application, you only need to fill-up the SS-5, print it out and bring to SSA with your passport and I-94.

If you have lots of ink to spare, also a good idea to print this out: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

- as some of the SSA clerks are not so knowledgeable. Emphasis on K1 being a "legal alien allowed to work".

SSA office locator: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

Thanks Greenbaum, sweet cakes and hank I saw on the VJ SSN guide that I should also download the I-765 "application for employment authorization." Doesn't that come after the wedding?

Greenbaum I should do this after the wedding right? Thanks!

Yes, it looks up to date. I would recommend also, complete the ROM Report of Marriage and then change your passport to your new married name. Both can be accomplished either at the Philippine office that serves your state or search on their website for an outreach. Keep in mind the ROM has to be completed before you can change your passport. You can do the ROM by mail, but the passport needs to be completed in person.

Hi all! I'm about to start all the steps required from the stage of SSN, is this link still updated? Thanks so much! http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

Thanks Greenbaum and Hank!!!

Hi VJ Family! Praise God and thank u SO MUCH to each and everyone who's been soooo helpful to me in our k-1 journey so far. I've been here in the US two weeks now. I'm ready to do SSN

Hi all, is there a megalink/Bpi ATM inside the old NAIA airport, within the departure area? Thanks!

Congrats RedPepper! God bless I'm sure you will shine in your work

Hi To our wonderful VJ family I have a handful of seashells that I've kept as souvenirs over the years from different beaches I've been to. Can I bring them with me to the US? Thanks so much everyone

Thanks Greenbaum! Already have my CFO certificate

If you have your visa in hand then you can begin the CFO process.

You will need:

• Two (2) valid identification cards (IDs) with photograph;
• Duly completed guidance and counseling form;
• If married, original and photocopy of marriage contract on security paper from the National Statistics Office, or Local Civil Registry Offices; or original and photocopy of marriage contract duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate (if married abroad)
• Other documents as may be required by the counselors; and
• Payment of P400.00 counseling fee.

Requirements for Registration

• Original and photocopy of Passport;
• Original and photocopy of visa
• Original and photocopy of Immigrant Data Summary for US-bound emigrants (except for K visa holders);
• Original and photocopy of Confirmation of Permanent Residence for Canada-bound emigrants;
• Original and photocopy of Certification of Eligibility for Japan-bound emigrants;
• Original CFO guidance and counseling certificate;
• Duly completed emigrant registration form; and
• Payment of the authorized registration fee.

More information can be found here: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348&Itemid=918

Wow that's an easy set of docs to bring, thanks Hank!!!!

You need to bring the CFO certificate and passport plus copies of your BIO page and visa, along with picture ID;

Hi my VJ family,

Praise God I received my visa yesterday !!!! thanks so much for all your help

I already have my CFO certificate, can you pls tell me what requirements I need to bring to get the CFO sticker? Thanks so much!

Salamat Hank

- there is NO answer is my point. NO ONE knows when, exactly, the visa will be in your hands.... that is the point.

It could be in your hands tomorrow... but then again it may not arrive for 10 business days. No one knows ~

Is 15 days enough?

Thanks everyone, 10 days is just fine :)

Soooo happy, praise God and thank u to all the helpful folks in VJ . Our k-1 visa status is ISSUED as of today, Mar 7 Friday :)

For recent cases, how many days did it take for 2go to deliver the visa to a Metro Manila address? We're planning to book the tickets already Thanks so much!!

It's always a warm fuzzy thought knowing that one more couple will finally be united, congrats!!!

My visa status on the CEAC website today shows ISSUED! Woot-woot! You are right about the sequence. After the USEM interview, my visa status went into AP from Feb 18 until Feb 26 when it changed to READY. It was in READY status until Mar 4 when it changed into AP then today, Mar 5, it finally said ISSUED!

Such a relief! Looking forward to getting the text from 2Go for the visa, passport and packet pick-up then a side trip for the CFO sticker and then a mad dash to the line for the actual flight.

Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for those still waiting for their visa approval.

Wow congrats !!!! And thanks soooooo much for the helpful information and sharing it so generously

...Administrative processing normally takes 60 dys based on d website but it stil depends on d volume of cases being processed, wid regards to ur concern abt d READY status..well i just wana congratulate you coz ur abt to receive ur visa in a abt a week..it will stay on READY status for 2 dys then it wil turn to AP again for 1 day and after another day it wil be on ISSUED status so just relax by now coz ul be receiving ur visa soon...hav a happy journey:))

..anywayz just wanna inform evryone that i just picked up my visa today at our local courier and be going to US on Fri..Tnx much to evryone for sharing their own experiences and helping out:)

My VJ Family,

Praise God that our k-1 case status finally changed to READY today.

Two questions pls

1. For those who are aware of other got 221g cases, how many days do you think it will be for the status to change to ISSUED?

2. What does "Pls check your status after two business days" mean? Does that mean it will change to Issued in two days?

Thanks soooo much!!

Timeline:

Jan 16 Interview

Feb 24 Cenomar submitted by NSO to USEM

Feb 28 Cenomar with consul

( status admin processing for 34 days)

Mar 4 Status changed to READY

Also, the CEAC status update looks like this :

Case Creation Date: 04-Mar-2014

Status Updated Date: 04-Mar-2014

Your case is open. Please check your status after two business days via the CEAC launch page at https://ceac.state.gov/CEAC/.

Congrats!!!!!!!

How long did it take u to get your work permit and how long did you apply before you got a job? May I also know what job you were able to get? I'm sure you're so excited. It must bring so much satisfaction to know that you and your husband are hand in hand now in helping each other towards your future

I just got hired today! Yey! I will start my training very soon!

Hope for the best for everybody here--I am adjusting quite well.

Thanks SO MUCH for the info Raven Lotus. I've read various accounts of people calling frequently or even everyday and I've been hesitant to do that. So it helps to know that it might not be good to do that. It's so helpful to know about the 60day period too. Thanks so much again

You may have your petitioner call the Embassy but be careful not to call often as it may worsen the situation. Remember you are dealing with "Filipino Case Workers" they will do their best to not transfer the call to the Consular Officer however your fiance may email the visa unit. Last thing I heard they have huge backlogs being worked on. Tendency is even if your case is a simple one, it has to line-up or put on que to go through channels.

I know how it feels to be in the "black hole" but you gotta stretch your patience a little longer. The Embassy has 60-days window (upon received of your documents) for a case to be resolved under Administrative Processing. Hopefully they'll work faster though.

Hi Jeff@Missy, embassy verified that they got the document and turned it over to the consul on Jan 28. It's just that it's been 30 days since then Did your Petitioner fiancé tried to follow up embassy before and did it help speed up the process? Coz my fiancé wants to call too. Thanks

Sounds like your petitioner should call, maybe it got lost. Do you have the tracking number to be totally sure it got delivered? You say the Embassy picked it up I assume you mean Air21.