MCGCB

Thanks everyone!

As long as the Social Security Administration has your correct name, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks! But I want to correct it coz it really sounds wrong. Any info how to do this?

Hi everyone! Im a new immigrant in California and I wanna start applying for work now, open a bank account, get a government ID. And all of theses needs my SSC. Luckily, I received my SSC 1 week after my arrival, but unluckily my name is not complete. My name is long and I understand that they have to cut it short. But they just cut it in such a way that my name would appear unreadable or wrong.

Just an example: Jonathan Andrew Lee Tan ---> Jonathan And Lee Tan (it does not seem right!)

Now I want to change it. I went to Social security office, but they could not do about this. They said its thru immigration. When I called immigration, they said its the social security. Not i dont know what to do. Guys, if you had this prob before pls give me an advise. Thanks!

Hi guys! I have just moved from Philippines to California USA last May 26,2014. I received my SS# a week after. Thats impressive! However, I do not have my greencard yet. When I was at LA airport (port of entry), an officer gave me a form that says my greencard will arrive in 6months. Is this always true for CR1 ViSA? My parents got there's in just 4 weeks last yr. I dont know if it will take long because of my VISA type or the fact that Im in a state where almost everyone are immigrants. I need my greencard on Aug. I have to receive it before then. Pls give me some info about this. Thanks!

Thanks! I called them. They cant change the sched. What they did was cancel the appointment that I made and told me to make a new one. So my new sched now is 21st 2 PM. I had to cancel my trip to leyte. Hay...

Thanks! I have a big prob regarding this CFO seminar. I went to their online appointment and I got a sched on 23 9AM. I'll be coming from tacloban and my flight is 8am. I wont be there on time. Anyone knows how to reschedule it or cancel it? Pls i need your help... Thanks!

Hi guys! Anyone here knows if it is possible to change a morning session to afternoon? I scheduled mine and it automatically placed AM session. It didnt give me choice. The appointment system is convenient but it lacks options like reschedule or what session to take. :-(

I only have to choose 1 right? I dont need the predeparture seminar, just the peer counselling? It says they will a commodate 25 slots per day.

Hi guys! Im planning to have my cfo seminar tom. I have CR1 VISA. What docs do i need to fill up online? I thought its first come first served? So its through registration and online scheduling now? Pls reply... Thanks!

Thank you!

Thanks! You are right. They told me the same thing. Its too long to fit. Nothing to worry about :-)

Hi kababayans!

I received my CR1 VISA last week. Thanks goodness! :-)

What do I do now? I have already paid the 165$ payment to UsCiS as they have instructed me to do before departure to the US.

When do I need to attend the CFO seminar? My flight to usa is in May 26. By the way, when my parents immigrated to USA they attended a predeparture seminar. Do I need to attend that too? Or is that the same as the CFO seminar?

Another question, when will I get my greencard if I arrive their in May26? My parents got theirs just 1 month after they arrived. They used F Visa (if i remember it right). they were petitioned by my fathers USC brother. I hope ill get mine as soon as possible so that I can start working soon.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Hi guys! I got my US VISA now from 2go.

In all the forms that I filled up, my given name includes my middle name. But in my VISA, it does not have my middle name.

Ex.

Phil passport data:

SurName: ABCDEFG

Given name: FIJKLM ZZZZZZ

Middle name: PPPPP

Us Visa

SurName: ABCDEFG

Given name: FIJKLM ZZZZZZ

They didnt include my middle name in my given name. Is this wrong? When I filled up the DS-269 before it says that given name includes my middle name. But in my VISA they didnt include it.

My ViSA has been issued. Thanks for all your help!

Hi everyone! My husband called the us embassy about my concerns. They said that the consular officer did not ask for anymore domicile requirements and that I only need to submit my joint sponsor's ITR 2013. Once a the requirements are complete, they will mail my passport to me with the VIsA!!! What an amazing news after a day thinking that I got denied.

By the way, our joint sponsor does not have a 2013 ITR because she filed for an extension. We raised this concern too and they said we just submit the ITR and W2 2012. The W2 of 2013 that I submitted has proved that my joint sponsor has earned enough for 2012 to support me. So my advise to everyone out there who are having this problem-- call the US embassy to make sure. Also, if you NEED to say something during the interview with the CO pls say it even if he/she didnt ask. Because If I told her that my joint sponsor filed for an extension during the interview, she could have just accepted the ITR 2012 and my ViSA journey could been shorter.

My husband called the US embassy. they said that we can email them the proof of extension of filing from the joint sponsor and her W2 &ITR 2012 together with a letter of explanation from my husband.After that they will mail my VISA to me once the requirements are complete.

Hi everyone!

I had my cR1 immigrant ViSA interview at Manila US embassy today. After the interview, I was requred to submit ITR of joint sponsor for 2013. However, it is not available because my joint sponsor filed for an extension. What i have is W2 2013 which I submitted already. What should i do now? Do they accept that as a valid excuse? Is there any documentary evidence to show that there is an extension of filing?

By the way, the form I864 of my joint sponsor was signed feb 2013. During that time, what she had was the w2 and 1040 of 2012.

Pls advise. Thanks!

The CO didnt ask for more proof of my husbands domicile. She read the letter detailing the steps that my husband took to prove domicile. She checked the documentary evidence as well. Then she gave the letter back to me. She then told me to go back to my seat and wait for my number to be called in another window for instructions on how to procure the ITR 2013 of my joint sponsor. By the way, April 15 was the date of my interview (Philippines time).

Hi guys!

I went to the US embassy for an interview today. I dont know if I will get a US VISA or not because the consular officer didnt tell me anything. After the interview she just told me to go back to my seat and wait until my number will be called again. I did what I was told. But when my number was called, it was in another window and I didnt see her again. The guy assigned there just instructed me to submit a 2013 ITR of my joint sponsor (because what I gave them was 2012) and mail it to them using TO GO courier. I asked the guy whats the next step, he then instructed me to give my mailing address to the courier in the next window. I also asked if I need to come for another interview, he said no. Lastly I asked about my passport because they didn't give it back, he said that they will mail it to the mailing address that I provided them.

Am I gonna get a VISA after I submit the ITR 2013 of the joint sponsor? Was my cr1 Visa application denied?

During the interview (15 mins):

After the pleasantries and confirmation of my identity, the consular officer just focused her questions on 1 thing- my husband's domicile! She told me that she is not convinced that my husband is domiciled in the US. She asked me a lot of questions about how long he stayed there, where he stays there, his stay in the Philippines, his work here etc. She also mentioned that the purpose of the spouse visa is for us to be reunited, but she thinks that we are united here in the Philippines already. So I showed her my husbands letter of good faith that stated the steps he made to establish domicile. She read it, but gave me back that letter and the other proof of domicile. She didnt ask for my 2x2 VISA pictures, didnt ask for any proof of relationship (she asked me how and when we met-thats it!). She kept the Birth certificate, marriage certificate, affidavit of support from husband and joint sponsor. She didnt give me back my passport. She neither told me that I will get a US VISA nor told me that my application is denied. She just told me to go back go my seat and wait for my number to be called. Thats how my interview went.

Please post your opinions... It will be highly appreciated.

He may or may not mention that he used to stay in the Philippines until he was 13y.o. Bec its not a requirement. But it might help explain his situation so just spill the info to the USCIS.

Doesnt matter if you had the baby before marriage. your baby's birth cert can still be used as proof of bonafide marriage.

hello again.. how can we provide some proof that he is currently resides here with me. if we're living with my parents house... can they make a letter and have it notarize??? how about the fact that he was born here in philippines and just became a USC when he was 13.??

and my baby's birth certificate its written there that we're not yet married.. but our baby has his surname.. he has no work also but w'ere planning to tranfer some of his mother's money to his account to show that he has atleast an income..

DCF is for the US citizens who are residing outside the US like in the case of your husband. Your husband is eligible to file thru DCF bec he is a USC and he is in the Philippines for at least 6 consecutive months now. "Temporarily residing here". But of course the USCIS will need a proof/ documentary evidence for that.

Any document that shows that he has been here in the Philippines for 6 consecutive months will do. membership cards will do- like sm advantage card, bank accounts here, etc. (By ANY I mean all the possible documents that he can present, not just lease)

The fact that he used to live here until he was 13y.o. is not the reason why he can file the DCF. But it can help him explain why a US citizen who is supposed to be living in the US is temporarily residing in the Philippines.

To help you understand. a US citizen who is now 25 y.o. wishes to petition his wife thru dcf. He used to live in the philippines until 20y.o. then migrated to the US. he came back here like 4mos. ago and wishes to petition his wife. He CANNOT file thru DCF.

Another example: Filipino who migratd to the US since 5yrs old came back to the Phil and lived here for 7 mos. he can file DCF.

My point: its not the fact that he used to live here. Its the fact that he currently lives here temporarily for at least 6months that will make him eligible to file Thru DCF.

Immigration lawyers might give you clarification on this. If you want to get one, ask him during your first session about your chances of getting a VISA. If its low, dont pursue. They will give you flowery words that youll end up paying so much. If you want direct and sure answers, go to the US embassy and ask them. You'll know what im talking about. My advise is based on my friend's horrible and expensive experience.

You will not be allowed to immigrate to the US if you have past drug convictions. You will

not be able to enter the country anymore if the reason why you were denied a VISA previously was DRUGS. Even if that happened years ago, your name will still be in the list. You can quote me with this.

No consular officer will grant you a VISA if he wants to remain a US consular officer. He will be immediately kicked out of the position if he will let you in.

If your situation is tearing your family apart, then your wife and kid should be the one to immigrate to the country where you are-- thats the advise you will get from them.

Sorry for being direct. I dont want you to have false hopes. Drug conviction and US VISA cant be in one page. DRUG appears red in their computer monitor.

hello.. we are planning to get married maybe by april 2014. and planning to have DCF. my fiance is a pure filipino and was just citizen of US when he was 13 when he migrated. now we are living together and he's planning to stay here for one year beAcuse he wants to be with me when i give birth to our second child. will he qualify for dcf since he was born here and just migrated to u.s and bcame a usc?? AND BTW.. he has no work since he went back here last october 2013 for vacation and we're just going to have co sponsor his dad. oh forgot to tell you we got denied under k1 fiance visa. and this is our second pettion.. TIA.. ---paula.

got denied because we didnt reach the required income and they didnt accept co sponsor!! ggrrr. for IR1-CR1 they do accept co sponsor right? tia angain.

Yes, joint sponsor is allowed for CR1/IR1 Visa.

Hi! We were supposed to get k1 VIsA too, but when we went to USCIS Manila to inquire about my options they advised me to get CR1. Thats because with K1 VISA he cant have a co-sponsor to meet the income requirement. That's why we got married in civil and filed CR1 a week later. .(Church wedding will follow soon) :-)

To answer the question if your husband can file DCF in USCIS Manila, the answer is YES. That answer is based on the facts that you posted: he is a USC and he is in the Philippines since Oct 2013 (6 months). He has to present proof to that though. But proof is easy because they accept membership cards, lease of the place where he stays, bank billing statements, whatever documents that you can use as evidence that he actually have a temporary residence here. By the way, they will ask for marriage certificate to prove that you are married to him, and some evidence of bonafide marriage like joint bank account, lease that is both in your name, and you can present your 1st child's birth certificate. pls see DCF requirements posted in USCIS for more details.

It helps to be Filipino too in filing for DCF because of obvious reasons. :-)