net2684

Our POE was Chicago IL, this past Saturday... If you know enough good if not, it was a blizzard... Flight was delayed almost two hours! Got luck not to be diverted unlike a few other flights... Learned that when he says cold he really means it! Wore a lite blouse and lite jacket with open toed shoes! Oh yes, changed into a sweatshirt and walked right past husband... Then car was stuck, got help pushing that out... Then a three and half hour drive home that is little less then two... But made it home safe and sound unlike many other vehicles we passed.

Best case for us was pick up at POE which is Chicago, then drive home, two hours. Would rather not have to rush to next terminal and miss flight because of delay at immigration.

They didn't ask for our support documents either

Sorry Rissa I have no idea about that.

I know Rissa was January 14th for interview, and mine was the 9th. If you fall inbetween i hope you hear about visa pick up this week, cause then everything is back to normal for visa delivery with 2Go and you can breath a sigh of relief that the visa will be coming, just need patience and faith!

No idea on UID number, I used my MNL**********. That worked perfectly on 2Go for our documents. I would think as it's the government they would like to keep things as streamlined as possible. We didn't hear anything till Wednesday/Thursday last week on 2Go, but they were out delivering it the next day, which was available at the mall for pickup. We did not get a text from 2Go, only saw it on the website.

Just checked this morning, says it is out for delivery. Since we sent ours to the mega mall instead of mall of Asia, we should see a text either later today or tomorrow that we can pick it up.

Just check CEAC and it still says issued. Went to the 2Go website entered the MNL number and it says they have our documents! Getting ready every body, looks like the hold up for visas should be getting cleared up! We had our interview January 9th and 2Go got the visa packet January 22nd.

? I would hate to think 2Go would have our visas and not send us a text message they are ready for pickup... ?

Checked on CEAC, case updated from 15th to 19th. Still says issued, we called 2go and they just reopened, said best to call again tomorrow for update, since embassy was down also. Just have patience. We have our bags packed, bills paid in full. So nothing to worry about beating left behind in philippines when we leave. Will update tomorrow with if we have any changes!

Agree with Bob, ours was 9th January and hopefully when we call this morning 2Go will be open once more.

Hank, you did say make a small cut to remove passport and page from visa packet but leave the do not open envelope in package to keep it from tearing. Would it be advisable to do that when you go to CFO for sticker rather then do this before hand?

My husband did not mind being in Naga. His only problem was his butt started getting sore after the flight and then the 8 hour bus ride! He preferred the quiet of the country and just having a city close enough for sights and new things. He also said living with us was like camping in the woods when he was younger. I guess some foreigners do only go after women and then leave them, but as my husband said, this day and age of technology, you can not hide who you truly are from those around you for long. Better to enjoy life and keep loving forward. He still likes watching cartoons ☺️ Guess that's taking things with a grain of salt...

Agree BlueBlood, easy for us to seek shelter here in the USA when tornado comes since it's drilled into us, but there is not only wind but then flooding. Thoughts and prayers go out to all of you with loved ones dealing with the typhoon right now! Don't let it get you down, but keep moving forward!

Between, do not judge time frame right now for us that finished our interview. Just heard from sister that pope visit shut down Manila for five days. Maybe not all but seems all goverment stopped and that they only started services to clear out people for travel as the airport also shut down. Then there is the typhoon going through. Seems an ill omen after getting such great news, but what can we do? We feel bad for those who have interview schedule and typhoon will mess up travel and pray you all are as safe as we since we made it through the worst.

Take care everyone!

Congrats to you all! It's a nice way to start a new year with a positive experience rather then a negative. ☺️

No visa in hand yet. Status was updated last night when we checked so this morning will be calling 2GO to see if they have our visa. We tried our case number/passport number but both came up with error message. Best hope they just recieved and haven't entered into system yet. Still with 7-10 days waiting, plus pope visiting we were thinking earliest would be on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Will post when we do get the call though!

Sorry for delay, here is what happened at our interview. For CR1 peeps, not sure if same for others:

Embassy Interview

January 8th:

0900:All day sister very worried about going to Embassy early, and should bring cell phone. So argued that we were told not to bring cell phones, and that it would delay us from getting interview.

2300: Got dressed to go to Embassy. did not sleep at all! To worried about interview!

January 9th:

0000: Told sister was heading out to Embassy, and carried shoes, and wore flip flops, wanting to keep shoes clean for interview.

0100 : Arrived at Embassy via taxi. Saw two guys talking to guard, and was worried thinking we came to soon. Guard asked about reason for being at embassy. The guard said you would be third in line, but there is an old man with his family who is sitting over there so you will be fourth in line. Also it was raining, so good thing brought umbrella. Vendors were selling umbrella and pens.

Guard reminded us to eat all food and water or throw it out. No electronics, no anything to be brought in. But inside Embassy some food and drink available. Guard shared saying they let a person in with water bottle. They were denied visa, and throw the water at consulate, water was actually acid!

0300 : More people were arriving now, US Citizen got advantage over NON US Citizen, so placement in got pushed back. The line Immigrant is different from NON Immigrant. So they separate us.

0500 : Changed into shoes, as guard started getting us all set to move into Embassy. Some vendors asking if you have cell phone they will hold onto them for 300 peso.

0600 : Two Filipinas are assisting Embassy getting information out. Needed to present Passport, DS-260, Interview Letter. When handed to them, they didn't accept DS-260, said was not right, need the DS-260 Confirmation page. Set aside since not proper form. Was not the only one who, had the wrong print out. Assistants said the page is not accepted and need to wait. Waited another 30 minutes then was told go into this line who has wrong applicant DS-260. One filipina had the wrong DS-260 and was sent to second floor for online registration. But needed to get back by 9 AM. They said ours was fine after, so no reason given. Don't know if there was someone on second floor to help those that needed proper confirmation page.

0630 : Checking bags and metal detector. Had passport in plastic from entrance. DS-260 form and Interview Letter were left outside plastic. Then moved threw door and handed passport DS-260 form and Interview Letter at first window. What they do is attach number. Our number was 6003. Same number attached to DS-260 and Letter. Window said OK mom DS-260 drop at window 39. When you go through line right after checking luggage, lady was collecting DS-260 forms. She is the one who will drop at the window. Then sit and wait for number to come up. One lady was called ahead of us, so went and talked to original lady, wondering why they are ahead as i was before them. She said, just have to wait and it will await.

0900 : Finally number appeared. One American woman said probably they were looking for files. On to window 43! Got the finger printing done. then go wait for number to appear again.

1000 : Go to window 34! Headed to screening interview. Filipino asked the questions in Tagalog/English mix. Asked name? When is your birthday? Who is your petitioner? Where and how you find each other? When did you meet each other? How long you been married? He thought we married two years since we met February 2013, but married February 2014. He was confused for a little bit but was ok. Asked if we have children, and then why we didn't have any children yet. Is this first time to USA? Where will you live in USA? Then you live in USA it will just be you two? Where does husband live? What does he do for work? Where does he work? When was the last time together? Asked for Interview Letter and passport, NSO Marriage Certificate, since the Marriage Certificate was not from NSO but local register office, so handed over NSO Marriage Certificate. Asked for NBI Clearance and put into file and stapled. Put a stamp on file and told to go back and wait. Was given back the Interview Letter but not passport. Also given 2GO form to fill out while waiting.

1030: Lady told us if you are finished with finger printing and initial interview you can go to this line when finished with these two steps. When we went to the line of window 59. Took the oath in English. After oath you do four finger print. after finger print, go to next line window 51. No longer looking for ticket number but lady at window said go to window 51. Checking DS-260 form and told to wait who are waiting for final interview. Window says INTERVIEW, no number like other window.

1100 : Line went quickly. Finally time for interview. Asked name? Who is your petitioner? What is his name? What is his work in USA? Where does he live? How old are you? When did you get married? Did you work abroad? What country? First time to USA? OK Congratulations! Go wait for window 71.

1130 : Saw my name on board and then also called my name. Went to releasing area, asked who is petitioner looked at paper work and told do not need to come back. Gave 2GO form at window 69. Asked how long 2GO will take since we were told 7-10 days, but filipina said do not know.

They did not ask for any sign of evidence of relationship. Did not ask for CENOMAR, thinking they were so tired. One filipina was asked for CENOMAR though and she did not have it... Always good to have all documents just in case.

Had our interview January 9th, told it would be 7-10 business days while finishing paperwork for 2Go to be delivered at Mall of Asia. So will update when we get our visa and maybe get a better idea if how long or short it will take.

We did CFO before interview. Now just need to go back for sticker. We are CR-1

I understand your thinking, wanting to spend a night, but your going to be her lagged, and she will be jet lagged. As other said, direct flight over, met her at POE. We will have one stop, probably japan, with the minimum layover so total flight time should only be around 19 hours. So much better then having one day stay over.

Agreed, We kept very little money on us and only took out enough for what was needed. We had a group of girls steal wallet from purse without us even knowing. Always keep purse zipper facing forward and closed. Very hard mind set and people see foreigner, they see dollar signs.

Also agree about the marriage license, though the ten days as explained to us was ten business days. Be aware of holidays since government shuts down and that day doesn't count. And be sure everything on marriage license is filled out correctly. Since one item being called US citizen for ours was incorrect, should have been American citizen.

We spent allot of time on Skype planning wedding, and also while there before the wedding doing the planning. As the others said, plan every thing ahead of time, and if it says optional, it means required. Never can go wrong with too much documentation. Can only go wrong with too little documentation.

We just went threw St. Luke's medical and that scanned letter from NVC worked just fine! Good luck!

I think I saw this in another thread question, but spouses of Filipino passport holders can stay up to a year. But you need to get that done when you first enter country. Still you should be able to go to the philippine consulate and get an extension.

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/consular%20services/conserv-visa.htm

Hope that helps

Sorry for not adding all the other info like Hank did. But yes we got our CFO done ahead of time, and now just need the visa packet showing we are approved, so it cuts down on sitting and waiting. Did plenty of that at St. Luke's... Would rather just get in and out and be happy to have completed all the tasks required!