Andy&Jiezel

To request an expedite you need to call USCIS and send in your evidence. I am sure for humanitarian reasons it might get approved. A congressman can;t expedite nothing.

California cases have been going to Nebraska. Did you mean you sent to lock-box in Phoenix or did you send your petition yourself directly to CSC?

Anyway call NVC now to request expedite.

I sent it to CSC, since I live in California. Do I call the NSC or NVC, since I only got NOA1?

They were sure fast in cashing the checks I sent them

I submitted my I-130 to the California Service Center, but just received noticed that it's been transferred to the Nebraska Service Center. Anyone else had this happen? I live in California.

I've also asked my congressman's office to assist with expediting my I-130 and not sure how this will impact it. My wife and step daughter (and her family) lost everything in flooding from Super Typhoon Koppu (Lando). They live in Nueva Ecija where President Acquino declared it a state of calamity. In addition, I just find out my wife is pregnant.

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for their advice!

I got some good news about applying for the marriage license. My fiance's brother has a friend who works at City Hall and they'll have the marriage license already encoded, so all we need to do is show up at City Hall and sign it. I emailed copies of my birth certificate, divorce decree and will email them the Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage' after my USEM appointment. No need to attend pre-marriage seminars either. We still have to wait ten days, but Mayor will perform civil ceremony and we can have the marriage certificate expedited through NSO. My fiance said no need for "expediting fee", just bring them some JCO doughnuts and they'll be happy.

Now just hoping all will go as well with USCIS and NVC.

Thanks everyone for your help! I hope that I understand correctly...I have to file seperate I-130's for both my soon to be wife and her 5 yo daughter. Fortunately, she is only one listed on her daughters BC, so there won't be any problems with that. I'm hoping my CR-1 and CR-2 go through smoothly and quickly like some of the other members. It looks like about 5-8 mo's through the process without RFE's.

I just got married last week here in Davao. I am American and she's Filipino.

I am 60 (Divorced) and she's 35 (single).

Nobody asked anything about family planning seminar? I guess it doesn't apply to younger than 30 years. There is an age limit.

What age is your wife?

I'm guessing you meant older than 30 years?

My fiance is 31 yo, so I'm hoping we are not required to attend seminars or have to wait the full 10 days for marriage license, as it will put it too close to time I have to return to US.

Thanks!

When we spoke to the lawyer we did discuss the family planning seminar, and we didn't really want to sit through that and the lawyer told us there was a way around going to it and getting the license rush processed so we just went with that. I was surprised because I was expecting to go through the seminar and wait a lot longer for the license, but it was very quick with the lawyer getting rush processing approved.

After we did the civil ceremony and gave the signed license back to the lawyer, I think we got the marriage certificate in 2-3 weeks. I honestly don't remember exactly how long.

How did you find lawyer? My fiance's sister was married by lawyer, hoping we can use same lawyer in her hometown. They live in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.

The marriage certificate was NSO issued? I've read the USCIS requires the NSO issued marriage certificate.

Many thanks!

There are ways around it. We hired a lawyer when I was there, got to skip the pre-marriage seminar and got the marriage license fast tracked. It took just a few days. Whether you want to do that or not it's up to you. I think the lawyer charged us 3500 php.

Thanks so much, I think this is the best way to go forward with getting married. Having to wait 2 weeks for the marriage license puts it too close to my return date.

It also says that it usually takes 1 - 2 months to get the CEMAR from NSO. How long did it take for you to get it so you could file I-130?

Thanks!

Rizza&Dennis,

Thank you so much!

Hi,

This is a list of documents I read are needed to get married in the Philippines, but I don't know if as foreigner I'm required to attend the pre-marriage seminars. The only thing I saw for foreigners was just the "Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate Legal Capacity to Marry" and copy of my passport page.

1. Birth Certificate
2. CENOMAR
3. Pre-marriage counseling certificates by DSWD
4. Cedula (1 original, 2 copies)
5. At least 2 valid ID's

6. Passport photo

7. Marriage license application (form 90) from LCR office

I'm going to Philippines in September to get married and want to make sure I didn't miss anything. If anyone could tell me what we need, I'd greatly appreciate it!

I'm confused. Your profile says your chasing a K-1 visa but your filling and asking questions about a I-130 (IR1 visa) which is for someone who is married (married in the Philippines) and filing for a visa for their wife to join them in the USA.

I'm sorry, I didn't see that and will fix it. I thought you might have read my story

Beside that you will need any divorce papers if you had ever been married before. Also you should order cenomar for you. They may ask for that from you. It will just show no record found since you have never live there.

When i got married over there i had a copy of cenomar record for me. I can not remember if I actually needed it or not but it is better to have something you do not need then not have it

good luck on your marriage

I don't know how USC can get CENOMAR, that's what I thought the "Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" is for. I know to bring divorce decree from previous marriage for USEM - Manila appointment and will have both those documents for civil marriage ceremony.

How long did it take for you to get CENMAR to file with I-130 after you were married?

On the I-130, I don't know how to answer question '21. If filing for your husband/wife, give last address at which you lived together. (Include street, city, province, if any, and country)'

I've never lived abroad, so we've never lived together (I'm USC, she's Filipina) that's why I'm filing I-130 so we can be together.

Greenbaum:

Thanks for the replies. I've previously read those links, but they don't have enough information that I need. I'm hoping someone who's gone through my situation could help me out.

I'm just trying to make sure the process will go through smoothly and quickly

Thanks!

Are there any other requirements besides "Legal Capacity to Marry" document that I need to fulfill for getting married there in Philippines?

Hello!

I'm need some advice and a guide on CR-1/2 process.

First a little about my situation to make sure I'm doing everything the best way possible.

In July 2014, I applied for K-1 Visa for my ex-fiance and was received by US Embassy in Manila in November 2014. In December 2015, I was told by ex-fiance that she became pregnant by her Filipino boyfriend (hence ex-fiance). I since have a new fiance, we met and got engaged in June 2015. I actually knew her before my ex-fiance. I know she truly does love me, even after I broke her heart last year when I got engaged to the ex-fiance. I met her family and have their blessings and know she doesn't have any boyfriends. She has a 5 yo girl from Filipino bf that left her while she was pregnant. So I guess God brought us together at the right time.

I am going back to Manila this September to get married there in Philippines. I have already scheduled appointment at US Embassy in Manila to get "Proof of Eligibility for Marriage". We are going to have civil ceremony for marriage.

Since the K-1 Visa package with ex-finace is at USEM - Manila, I already emailed and DHL them last month, informing them to withdraw my K-1 Visa petition with ex-fiance. I don't think the K-1 Visa will impact my CR-1/2, other than making sure to include documentation of withdrawing K-1 Visa petition with I-130 filing.

It wasn't real clear reading though the CR-1 guide/wiki and forums how to petition spouse with child. Could someone point me out to an easier guide/wiki for completing the CR-1/2 process for USC marrying Filipina with child?

Also what are timelines from filing I-130 to getting CR-1/2 visa's? I've heard from some that it has been as fast as 5-8 mo's, depending upon whether there are any RFE's.

Thanks so much!

I had a similar thing happen. Make sure you write a letter to the embassy stating that you wish to withdraw your petition. I emailed mine to the relevant embassy. I would email it and if they do not respond to your email follow it up with a letter in the mail. Your petition will be returned to the NVC and then routed to the service Center that originally processed your petition. From the time I submitted my request to withdraw my petition until I got notice from uscis was about 7 months. You will also want to send a copy of the letter via mail to the NVC and the uscis service Center that originally processed your petition. Make sure that after your petition is returned by the embassy to call uscis periodically (I called about once a month) until they put in a service request to close my case.

Submit your request to withdraw first. Then the new filing form will ask if you have filed before. I would suggest attaching a very brief note staring the perticulars of the first application including the date you sent communication to withdraw.

Thanks Kastrs,

I've actually got an appointment at the US Embassy in Manila on September 14th to get 'Proof of Eligibility to Marry" in Philippines. Originally we were planning to get married in Philippines, until I saw it is an average 16 mo's to wait for IR-1 Visa. If true, I just might use my appointment there to submit my cancellation of existing K-1 Visa, have it notarized and follow up as you suggest. I'll probably send copies to both USCIS and NVC once I return just to make sure

Hello,

In July 2014, I applied for K-1 Visa (my first filing) for my ex-fiancé and was received by US Embassy in Manila in November 2014. During this time I discovered she had a Filipino boyfriend (hence ex-fiancé). Lesson learned and I have done the due diligence on my new fiancé. I actually knew her well before my ex-fiancé, have met all of her family, did background check, etc.

I'm not sure when the 1-year clock began on the existing K-1 Visa, I haven't yet contacted the US Embassy in Manila. I'm not sure on the process for cancelling an existing K-1 Visa and any restricting on filing a new K-1 Visa.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Does anyone know if there is a way that I can pay the MRV fee here in the US for Manila embassy? I don't have BPI or Bancnet account and don't want to wire cash.

Thanks!

Congratulations,

Have you completed DS160?? Is your I134 and supporting documents ready to ship?

Thanks!

Sent my fiance my I-134 with supporting documents and copy of I-129F package after I received NOA2 ($75 via DHL!). She is going to internet cafe to print deposit slip and pay DS160 fee @ BPI, then fill DS160 online and schedule appointment(s).

I sent her checklist for NBI, CENOMAR, CFO and St. Lukes, plus links to the online forms. First priority is to get appointment @ embassy (DS-160), then medical, NBI, CENOMAR and CFO.

I'm hoping she can get visa before end of month so it gives me two week lead on buying airfare ticket.

Checked the NVC website (CEAC) today and it finally shows my case transferred to Manila embassy.

Keeping fingers crossed and praying that my fiancee will be able to come here before Christmas.

The NVC does not process I-129F petitions for K-1 visas. It doesn't even go in their system. All they do is give a case number and away it goes to the embassy. Did you track your case using your MNL case number on the CEAC website?

CEAC website: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==

Check IMMIGRANT VISA, enter your case number.

I understand that I-129F are not processed by the NVC.

I have mny MNL case number from the NVC, but it says @ NVC and it's been 3 weeks.

I I'm frustrated since I contacted NVC several times and their response, It's in Administrative Processing. When I pressed further what this means, their response is they can't give me a timeline for processing. Only that it could take 45 days to 2 month's or longer. I have no red flags and all documentation is within their guidelines.

It upsets me when people who received their NOA2 weeks after mine and their cases are already at embassy. This is not right.

Should I contact my Congressional office to see that is the delay? I have no red flags and no missing or incomplete information. I had hoped to have my fiancee here by here birthday on 12/21/14.

I receive my NOA2 on 09/26/14 and contacted the NVC a couple of weeks later. The NVC has assigned the case number, but informed me my case is in Administrative Processing, but wouldn't give me any any additional details as to why.

I persisted in asking what specific information they are reviewing, but would not give any information. I just contacted them today on 10/29/14, well past the 30 days and they said it could take 45 days to over 2 months or more.

I see all the NVC cases received AFTER mine that have been forwarded to the MNL embassy and this is very frustrating. I'm certain there are no issues with my petition or supporting documentation. It seems they so unfair that people who applied after me are going to front of line!

What are my options to expedite this bureaucratic BS to delay my petition getting to the embassy. The NVC states it could be 45 days to 2 mo's or more to process my case. This is completely unfair and unacceptable. I've followed the rules, submitted all the correct documentation.

Would contacting my Congressional representative help or hinder my case? I see others here who submitted their initial petition in September and already have their case at the embassy!

Flustered and angered at the hypocrisy.

Best advice that I could give you is don't rush into another mistake. Especially when you still have all that drama in your current situation. How is finding another wife going to improve your situation?

Think of it from the woman's (not your ex) perspective. What if she wants to have children? Do you think it will be easy for her to come into an instant family and also deal with your ex?

You really need to consider all of these things and not let your emotions make bad decisions for you. In addition from what I read from some of the replies is that you are also at a high risk of being scammed.

Think with your brain not your heart.

Yeah, lucky for me! My NVC case is in Administrative Processing while everyone else's goes to the Embassy. </sarcasm>

+++++++++++

I have to pay first the visa fee for $265 with fix rate of P45/dollar = P11,925 (they increased the fee). Then sched my interview and fill up the ds160 online... I just got my NBI, birth cert and CENOMAR last Monday... all i need to do is find a cheaper but nice place to stay during my medical....

Yee, i have the original I134 and supporting docs (fed tax return,w2,employment cert and pay slip of my fiance.he sent it to me together witg his letter of intent, and photo copies of his passport bio and stamp...

Where did you see $265 visa fee? On the embassy web site, the K-1 instructions letter says $240.

Approved on September 26th... Fiancé called the NVC yesterday & he was told that they just assigned us the new case # on October 14th and in 20 days the case will be send to the consulate here in Manila.

I believe once you have the MNL #, you can fill out DS-160 online and pay the $240 fee @ BPI. Once you have that receipt, you can schedule an interview at Manila Embassy. However, give yourself enough time for medical and NBI. By that time the Manila Embassy will have your file

BTW - Do you have an orginally signed I-134 and supporting documentation?

I believe your fiancee will need an original signed I-134.

Before paying an attorney, try submitting a complaint with state. You need to do this anyway before any civil action could be taken and obtain a "right to sue".

Here is link for employment complaints in your state:
http://www.schac.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx