BobH

7/31/18 Just received NOA2 dated 3/15/19  also the USCIS website is not updated.

There are some funny comments in this thread.

No, I'm not a CO, but they make things pretty clear.

They don't care why you want to come, not at all.  Coming for the biggest event of your life or you just want to come is all the same to them.

Will you overstay (ghost) your visa?  One and only concern they have.  So if you have significant ties, as in you own real estate and have money, you stand a good chance.  We are currently trying based on the premise that having a very good application for an immigration visa would make it very stupid to overstay a tourist visa.  Will it work?  I have been told it will, who knows?  We will know the first part of April.

It is a $160 per person bet.  Being turned down for a B visa does NOT count as "have you ever been denied", so the fee, trouble and stress are all you are risking.

I wish you well, I hope they get it if you apply, but in my opinion unless some big financial things have changed since the last refusal, like they bought a house, I would save the $320.

Keep in mind the person making the decision does not get in trouble for refusing you, they only get in trouble if they approve you and it goes wrong.  Therefore their attitude is that you are out to illegally immigrate unless you prove otherwise.

The wait is almost over, we have her, and her daughter's, visas in hand. 2 1/2 weeks and they will be here!

I want to thank all the posters on here, reading this stuff really helps.

Interview went well. Preparation, preparation, preparation, preparation, preparation, preparation, preparation, preparation, preparation, and more preparation. She asked a few questions about my pets, my kids and my divorce. Made a comment about both my kids coming to the Philippines to meet her family and that was it.

Now I have to go buy winter coats, I have two people who think 80 degrees is cold coming to Chicago in December......

I have had a FedEx package take 4 days, I had one take 2 weeks.

In both cases even just an envelope is big bucks. I scanned her passport photos and I printed them on high quality photo paper.

The photo shop she had the pictures from printed them the wrong size. They were like 30 x 40 mm , not 50 x 50

Just in case it is requesting more proof of a relationship and/or visit, it would not hurt to make sure you document this new trip and if possible get pictures with family and all that good stuff.

Got my text today also!

You know, I was actually aware that the timeline here is not "official". It is however much more helpful that the "official" estimate of 5 months no matter if they are taking 1 month or 8. Someone has put a great deal of effort to build a system, but if the data is no good the estimates are no good.

Fortunately we are back to having a date, but unfortunately we have lost ground again. On another thread I read that we "Filipinos" should not be allowed to post because we are "expedited". Maybe we are, I don't know. Just want the approval, if there is going to be an RFE just get on with it.

We have no grand plans for the wedding, I just want a reason to put up a Christmas tree this year. I just missed the 7th birthday (but I put on a hell of a party) but at one point I was sure I would have Christmas, maybe even Thanksgiving.

Just do other people a favor and update the timeline promptly when you get new dates.

Here's hoping those guys had a good weekend and came in this morning ready to approve some applications!

W week ago my timeline estimated September 18-24, yesterday October 1-12 (I don't remember exactly) and today "There are not enough recent approvals in the timeline system to accurately approximate when your I-129f will be approved. Please see the Timeline Stats page to see recent approvals."

Yikes.

Fill out your timeline and the system here will generate an estimate of when you will get the NOA2, based on data from other earlier timelines.

Contrary to the above, right now the California Service Center is running about 2 1/2 months. They are about 80% done with June submissions.

I know, waiting is driving me nuts too.

Seriously, fill it out and keep it updated, your data will help the next couple.

Definitely not an expert on the Catholic Church here, but I would be very surprised if a priest would not welcome you taking your "vows before God" in the church.

I think your best bet is have her mother go to the priest and ask.

It was even reported in the news recently and I asked my fiancée about it.

There is a creature that lives inside some trees that comes out at night and creates mischief including impregnating young girls. The proof of its existence is that the girl is a "good girl who would not lie".

You will find a lot of people there believe in this stuff. Like I said, the ABS-CBN news ran a story recently (had to have been in the last year) and reported it seriously.

My understanding is that Terminal 1 is closed now, all international flights and most others are in the finally completed Terminal 3

I was sweating all kinds of stuff my first trip there.

1. They love Americans. Customs, Immigration in general just love to see you come to spend your money. I have been through customs 4 times now, never stopped once, just hand them the form and go.

2. Hang on to your money. The poorest American is middle class there, you are surrounded by desperate people. You are not in a great deal of danger if you are smart, but if you put your wallet down it is gone. Keep in mind it has easily a years pay for some of those people in it.

3. Let her do all the talking and negotiating. They feel they are entitled to overcharge you but she can probably handle it. Just look mean when she gets mad and remember they can understand you when you speak.

Have fun. My visits to the Philippines were absolutely the best times I have ever had in my life.

Better than the ghost that gets girls pregnant....

I have stayed at the Copacabana and the Heritage. Both are OK, Heritage is much nicer but more expensive. Quick cab ride to the embassy and Mall of Asia

You have the receipt number, you have ID proving it is your payment, the bank should reprint the receipt.

Wow, what a helpful response, all knowing one. Was that meant to be in any way helpful to the questioner or just to show your cleverness and general snootiness?

The purpose of the website is for people to ask questions and get help. What the person is asking is if they would qualify for such a visa. If you don't know the answer, be quiet.

Of course Nothing I say should in any way be construed as a breach of VJ TOS. If you misread it that way, read again and do not put any spin on it. Even your signoff says "jerk". But don't misread that.

They are going to want evidence that you have "strong ties" to the Philippines and not going to use the tourist visa to illegally enter the USA.

If you have a well paying job, a business and property you might get the visa, but it is unusual.

My Fiancée applied last year based on her daughter required her to return and she was denied. I know you have no intention of violating the law, neither did we, but there are lots who do so it makes it difficult for the rest of us.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/b1-b2.html has instructions.

I hate to be negative but you should be prepared for disappointment.

Make sure they are the right size, when my fiancée sent me hers they were small had to redo.

No help here other than Congratulations!

I'm sorry, he has no timeline, I don't see where she is at the embassy? "is it required that I have it to?", made me think he is putting together the initial package.

I would have a plan to get married. You can always change your plan, but I would investigate Bed and Breakfast wedding packages in Vermont. A friend of mine did that and his wife chewed our ears off about how nice it was.

I hired a law firm. If I had it to do over again I would not. Use the guide here http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide and err on the side of giving them too much.

What's the worst that can happen? An RFE and a delay. If that is too big a risk for you I can message you the name of my firm. It cost me a little over $1,000

If I could get the money back I would use it to visit her.

Just my opinion.

I don't know where you are on your process, but this is the best guide I have seen:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Congratulations!

You are referring to a bill from the Senate from 2013 That bill is dead and buried. That bill stood no chance of getting through the House of Representatives.

I can tell you that the chance of any kind of bill getting approved is real close to zero. The Speaker of the House said it won't happen, it won't happen.

My completely unqualified opinion is you will not see immigration reform until one party holds both houses of congress.

Any bill get's passed next month? Not going to happen.

Don't worry about that.

Senate Immigration Bill S744

What are the main changes to the family-based immigration system?

Petitions for spouses and children of Lawful Permanent Residents under the current family-based system will be considered immediate relatives, making them exempt from current visa caps and immediately eligible for green cards. There will no longer be an immigrant category for siblings of U.S. citizens, and visas will no longer be available to married sons or daughters of U.S. citizens who are over 31 years of age. These relatives would have to apply under the new point system or find another avenue in order to immigrate. The annual worldwide level of family-based immigrant visas will remain at 480,000 per year, minus the visas assigned to immediate relatives the previous year, but not less than 161,000 per year starting 18 months after enactment.