manilaraf

So after some time getting the various documents needed I finally filed the I-130 at the US Embassy Manila on Thursday morning.
Here's a little After Action Report:
-The night prior to filing, I went on the USCIS Infopass website and scheduled an appointment for 820AM on Thursday, Dec 11. I made two copies just in case and brought it with me when I went to the Embassy.
-Documents I brought with me:
I-130: I printed out and made 2 copies, again just in case G-325A (me): I'm the US Citizen and petitioner G-325A (wife): She's the petition beneficiary and PHL Citizen 2x2 Photo (wife) 2x2 Photo (me) Documents showing I'm a US Citizen US Passport: (I made a photocopy of every single page, just in case) US Certificate of Citizenship: (My parents Naturalized when I was 14yo, so I automatically gained US CItizenship, and I got this instead of a Certificate of Naturalization; see Section B, Question 13 on the I-130, I marked "Parents") Documents attesting to the Family Relationship NSO Certificate of Marriage Bank Certification of Deposit: Got this from BPI showing that we have two joint accounts, PHL Peso and US Dollar Family Photos: I went through my iPhoto archive and selected a total of 86 shots from various points of our relationship; Dating/Pre Marriage, Civil Wedding Ceremony, PreNup Photo Shoot, Church Wedding & Reception, Photos together since we got married Copy of our Church Wedding Invitation Copy of our Church Wedding Massbook Documents showing that I'm legally resident in the Philippines (FYI, I'm a Dual US-Philippine Citizen) Community Tax Certificate (aka Cedula) PHL Bureau of Immigration Identification Certificate: Shows the date I'm was (Re)recognized as a (Dual) PHL Citizen NBI Clearance (yes, I'm the US Citizen. But I live and work here in the PHL, so I have one handy) Bank Certification of Deposit: For a non-joint account in my name only (my payroll account) BIR 2307: Tax Withholding Document for Apr-Jun 2014 LTO Driver's License PRC License (Physician): aka my medical license PhilHealth Card: Member and as an accredited Healthcare Provider NOT LISTED IN THE I-130 Instructions but having read about DCF Filing in general and DCF Filing at US Embassy Manila in particular I also brought: NSO Birth Certificate of my wife A Photocopy of the Information Page of my wife's PHL Passport: She was out of town when I filed and uses her Passport as her travel ID, so I didn't have the original on me, but when I filed all the USCIS Officer wanted & kept where photocopies of everything. The only original documents she asked to see were my US Passport and my US Certificate of Citizenship, but she returned these to me and kept the photocopies. Just in case I also brought: A copy of my wife's CENOMAR from when we applied for a Marriage License here in Manila A copy of my CENOMAR My Philippine Passport, Info Page My US Social Security Card. -Since I was driving in and live about 10-15 minutes away driving distance (near UST), I headed over at about 4am and parked along the Roxas Blvd service road at the foot of the pedestrian bridge that crosses to the Embassy side. (I know it was ridiculously early, but I really wanted to park close.) I crossed and was immediately accosted by the resourceful people selling black pens, giving notice of what you can't bring into the Embassy, and what line to wait in. Since, I'm Filipino by birth and look it, I asked in non-accented Tagalog where I needed to line up if I was a US Citizen seeking US Citizen Services. They said I didn't need to line up, that when the gate opened and people were started to be let in, I could just show my US Passport and INFOPASS Appointment letter to the guard and I could head straight in. I went over to the G4S Security Guard and confirmed this info, so I went back to my car and went back to sleep with my alarm set at 6:30AM.
-So my alarm goes off, and I head over to the Embassy again. By that time, they were already letting in the first of the NIV, IV, and Seamen who had early appointments. I showed my Passport and INFOPASS Letter and was told to go to the US Citizen Services/USCIS, etc line and head straight in through the US Citizens door and security check. Once past the security check (FYI, US Citizens can bring cellphones, you'll have to leave it here at the security check, but unlike the IV/NIV/etc line, they have a provision for US Citizens to leave it here.
-Once inside the compound and inside the courtyard/waiting/seating area, there was a sign posted on the door leading into the New Office Building that the door for US Citizen Services would open at 730AM, so I sat down at the USCS, USCIS, SSA, etc seating area and got comfy.
-Shortly before 730AM, the guard had us line up outside the door and when the time came we were let inside a few at a time. At the security check inside the office building, I showed my INFOPASS letter. The person said that I'd receive no number, but that my name would be called and to head to the 2nd floor, Window 25. (Please note that on my INFOPASS Letter, the location stated was Room 247, but the attendant at the gate said that's just where USCIS has their office, but that business would be conducted at Window 25. So if this happens to you, don't freak out like the person in front of me did who had the 8AM appointment).
-I went up stairs and sat in the seating area in front of Window 25. 8AM rolled around and the window opened and they call the two people who had appointments ahead of me. They were done pretty quickly, so my name was called at about 810AM.
-When I got to the window, I was greeted by a friendly female Fil-Am USCIS Officer and told her that I was filing an I-130 for my wife.
-She asked for my documents and she took the following from what I brought with me:
I-130: She went through it and actually made a correction with whiteout and had me fill in a mistake I made. On the second page, Section C, Question 22, she said since I was doing consular filing/processing to fill up MANILA, PHILIPPINES on the right side under "American Consular Post" G-325A (me) G-325A (wife) 2x2 Photo (wife) 2x2 Photo (me) US Passport (I gave her the entire stack, but she took only pages that had stuff on them. She set aside, but didn't return to me black pages) US Certificate of Citizenship (Before she had a chance to ask, I volunteered that I received my US Citizenship via my parents and had this with me) NSO Certificate of Marriage BPI Bank Certification of Deposit - Joint Accounts Family Photos: Out of the 86 photos I brought, she took a selection of 10 from the various categories. She was especially happy to receive photos from our Civil Wedding, Church Wedding and since our wedding NSO Birth Certificate of my wife Information Page of my wife's PHL Passport (She was satisfied with just the NSO BC, but was happy that I provided this as well) She then asked for documentation showing I was here in the Philippines legally (I told her I was a Dual Citizen and she nodded and said, "Oh, okay. So what do you have?" So I handed over: She kept: Community Tax Certificate (aka Cedula) Bank Certification of Deposit: For a non-joint account in my name only (my payroll account) BIR 2307: Tax Withholding Document for Apr-Jun 2014 LTO Driver's License PRC License (Physician): aka my medical license PhilHealth Card: Member and as an accredited Healthcare Provider She handed back: PHL Bureau of Immigration Identification Certificate: She handed this back to me since she said that officially, the US Gov't doesn't recognize the fact that I'm a Dual PHL Citizen NBI Clearance ​-At this point she was pretty satisfied with what I had and then gave me a slip to give to the cashier for payment and to come back to her when I was done.
-So I went over to the cashier and paid the equivalent of the US$420 (PHP19,320.00 at the prevailing rate).
-Once I was done with the cashier and the person at the window when I got back was done, I went up and gave her a payment receipt. She took it and handed over a form for me to fill up authorizing them to contact me via email and phone should they need to contact me for more info, or when it gets approved and kicked downstairs to the Immigrant Visa Section.
-She said that processing would take 1-2 months. (In retrospect I'm not sure if she meant 1-2 months for I-130 approval or for the entire IR-1 process. But since I'm on the VJ board, I know that it's actually significantly faster for DCF filing in Manila if you're diligent and follow up)
-And that was that. Waiting and sleeping in my car waiting for the Embassy gates to open and sitting/waiting for the US Citizen Services door at the New Office Building took longer than the actual filing process. I was done with my business at Window 25 in under 10 minutes.
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR THOSE FILING DCF @ US EMBASSY MANIL:
-You as the US Citizen petitioner can file, in person, alone. My wife was out of town for work, but didn't need to be with me. The fact that she wasn't with me didn't matter. The fact I was alone was never brought up at any point.
-You don't have to line up with everyone else there for NIV/IV or other business if you get there before the Embassy opens. You could conceivably show up when the Embassy gates open at 6:30AM or even later in the morning, just show your INFOPASS Letter and US Passport to the guard, stress that you're there for USCIS/US Citizen Services and you'll be directed straight into the Embassy Compound. Once inside, however, you will have to wait along with the other US Citizens, Permanent Residents doing business at US Citizen Services, especially if you get there before the office opens at 7:30AM
-You as a US Citizen, can bring a phone and leave it at the security gate. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE IT WITH THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE SELLING PENS AND PASSPORT PHOTOS!
-Be sure to obtain an NSO Birth Certificate for the person/persons you are petitioning. THIS IS NOT IN THE I-130 INSTRUCTION FORM! The form assumes you're filing from the States using the USCIS Lockbox system. THIS WAS THE ONLY DEVIATION FROM THE I-130 INSTRUCTIONS, but it's a big one since you'll have to get the NSO Copy. I got mine from the Business Counter at the nearest SM and got it back after about 4-5 working days. (I provided the info page of my wife's passport, but this was just icing on the cake since the USCIS officer wanted the NSO BC to begin with).
I would like to note and mention the following VJ Members and threads. Since they were very helpful when I was researching the DCF Process and the DCF Process at USEM in particular:
-jace8569's post is MUST READ: (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/448070-just-filed-dcf-manila-today/)
-KendrickPaula I would like to thank for taking the time for my questions and replying: (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/525270-dcf-filing-last-november-14-2014-super-fast/)
-BigJohn's post is where I found out that I'd need my wife's Birth Certificate: (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/278604-dcf-manila-philippines-we-did-it/)
Other helpful members' posts/threads:
-rawkus212: (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/515100-dcf-manila-approved/)
-bookworm123: (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/498046-filed-dcf-today-5-27-2014/)
-lou2565: (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/466461-my-experience-dcf-manila-philippines-11202013/)
-elginPH: (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/438180-dcf-manila-experience/)
Overall, I had a good experience filing. I had all the documents I needed and the USCIS officer was friendly & helpful, and even made small talk when going through my family pics. None of the stereotypical gruff and surly US Gov't Foreign Service worker mold. I even bought a US Embassy Manila pin on my way out. (I was tempted to buy a shirt & a mug, but I'll save those for future visits).
Hopefully Spring of 2015, I'll be bringing my wife to Opening Day at Citi Field, Inshallah. I'll be making a weekly pilgrimage to St. Jude and lighting candles as well as a monthly trip to the Sta. Clara Convent with my half-dozen eggs until this process finishes.
Wish us luck and if you ever have any questions about DCF Filing at USEM, but send me a message or reply to this post.

Yup it's normal if it looks like someone took some scissors and cut the corner off of the yellow envelope.
This allows inspection of the envelope if necessary without the need to open the envelope (from what I've gathered from VJ posts where this has happened before).
I took a razor and made an opening just large enough to get out the wife's passport. And in doing so was able to get a clear view of the Immigrant Data Summary (for IR/CR Visas) so we could make a photocopy and show the original at CFO. Again, K-1s aren't required to do that last bit.

Southcoast,
Hank has posted the pertinent PHL Law about adoptions. Scroll up to his post on 1/16-2324, If you read the portion of the Family Code he quoted, which is law here in the PHL, it specifically states that foreigners CANNOT, adopt Filipinos. Unless: 1) They are former Filipinos themselves, adopting a blood relative, 2) A non-Filipino adopting the child of a Filipino spouse, or 3) A non-Filipino jointly adopting with a Filipino spouse a blood relative.
So while your advice would work in any country except the Philippines, Hank is right that your advice wouldn't work in the Philippines since adoption by a foreigner is ONLY allowed if it is between family.
And yes it has been allowed by USCIS, my uncle adopted my cousin, who was the niece of his wife (daughter of his sister in law/jointly adopted with his wife). The sister-in-law knows that even if her former-daughter becomes a US citizen, that there is no way for her to be petitioned, since any ties are cut with the adoption.
Just saw your new post. I agree, the family should hire a family lawyer here in the PHL and an Immigration lawyer in the US. But the OP was asking about how to start. First step is finding out if it's possible. It is.

Southcoast,
Hank has posted the pertinent PHL Law about adoptions. Scroll up to his post on 1/16-2324, If you read the portion of the Family Code he quoted, which is law here in the PHL, it specifically states that foreigners CANNOT, adopt Filipinos. Unless: 1) They are former Filipinos themselves, adopting a blood relative, 2) A non-Filipino adopting the child of a Filipino spouse, or 3) A non-Filipino jointly adopting with a Filipino spouse a blood relative.
So while your advice would work in any country except the Philippines, Hank is right that your advice wouldn't work in the Philippines since adoption by a foreigner is ONLY allowed if it is between family.
And yes it has been allowed by USCIS, my uncle adopted my cousin, who was the niece of his wife (daughter of his sister in law/jointly adopted with his wife). The sister-in-law knows that even if her former-daughter becomes a US citizen, that there is no way for her to be petitioned, since any ties are cut with the adoption.
Just saw your new post. I agree, the family should hire a family lawyer here in the PHL and an Immigration lawyer in the US. But the OP was asking about how to start. First step is finding out if it's possible. It is.

Jawaree, please read up more on the Philippines board. "No criminal record" is one of the responses you hope to not get:
6. NBI CLEARANCE. Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Clearances should be in the applicant’s current name, birth certificate name, maiden name and any aliases or nicknames used, including different spellings you have used of those names. An official letter of explanation from the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record” or "No pending case”. For immigration purposes, an NBI clearance is valid for one (1) year from the date it was issued. The NBI web site is http://www.nbi.gov.ph.

Why is this topic important?

You filed a police report. Good
You need to get a replacement from the PHL Consulate responsible for your area.
You also should inform USCIS of your situation.
I agree with apple21, this is very important and your fiance needs to help you with this either by bringing you where you need to be or to shell out for public transportation. If anything, this current situation you're in needs more attention than the original K-1 visa process. The consequences of not addressing this situation are not being able to get married and being out of status.
You shouldn't be starting from scratch, if anything the visa process was supposed to weed out people unable to provide/support intending immigrants and becoming burdens on the State.
This is very important. The person you are marrying needs to be more concerned and supportive of you in your current situation. You shouldn't be relying on the kindness and compassion of complete strangers on the Internet for rides to the Police Station.

Mali, maghihitay ka ng amag kung hihintayin mo yung mga letter. Nasa USEM website yung mga instructions. Pwede mo rin iclick yung link sa Signature ni Hank_

It'll depend on the rest of your medical history. Granulomas, while they can occur as a result of past TB infections, aren't specific to only TB. But odds are Hank_'s right. To be safe and to make sure if it was from TB, that it's not active, they'll likely have you do the sputum testing.

Click above where it says "Reviews: Embassy/USCIS & POE" to read about other people's interview experiences at the embassy consulate where the interview takes place so you both know what others have been through and what to expect.

Do not let anyone else aside from the immigration officer at POE open it. No one from the airline is authorized to open it. The passport with valid visa is all the need to see. I read here on VJ a story of a poor man from Ghana who had someone from the airline open the yellow envelope because the airline person thought they were supposed to open it over the protests of the intending immigrant. Long story short, a call to the US to the petitioner and a call to USCIS at Kennedy (?) Airport later to give them a heads up on what happened and the guy was able to get through POE. Can't imagine what the guy was feeling throughout his entire flight.

Yup it's normal if it looks like someone took some scissors and cut the corner off of the yellow envelope.
This allows inspection of the envelope if necessary without the need to open the envelope (from what I've gathered from VJ posts where this has happened before).
I took a razor and made an opening just large enough to get out the wife's passport. And in doing so was able to get a clear view of the Immigrant Data Summary (for IR/CR Visas) so we could make a photocopy and show the original at CFO. Again, K-1s aren't required to do that last bit.

Do not let anyone else aside from the immigration officer at POE open it. No one from the airline is authorized to open it. The passport with valid visa is all the need to see. I read here on VJ a story of a poor man from Ghana who had someone from the airline open the yellow envelope because the airline person thought they were supposed to open it over the protests of the intending immigrant. Long story short, a call to the US to the petitioner and a call to USCIS at Kennedy (?) Airport later to give them a heads up on what happened and the guy was able to get through POE. Can't imagine what the guy was feeling throughout his entire flight.

Okay, from this point on it would be helpful to read what other DCF filers have done. Be sure to check out my personal experience so you can get an idea of what's in store for you. Click on the link in my signature.
Also, read this thread (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/541025-dcf-i-130-us-embassy-manila-please-help/page-2 ) and specifically this post (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/541025-dcf-i-130-us-embassy-manila-please-help/?p=7527489). That gentleman is roughly were you are in the DCF process. That is, USCIS-Manila approved your I-130 petition and you now have the MNL Case number.
From here, you'll need to follow the instructions here: IV Applicant Interview Preparation Instructions (English)
Before registering online at the USTravelDocs site and/or calling USEM to schedule the interview, the visa applicant is supposed to fill out the DS-260 online. Once that's done you can schedule the interview in the specified ways (in the instructions I've linked to above). With the interview scheduled and the DS-260 filled out, you can then schedule the medical with SLEC.
Before you ask any follow-up questions, definitely read my experiences as well as the two other recent cases of people filing DCF in Manila on the DCF forum, where you've posted.
And just to clarify, you filed DCF last year and received your NOA-2 last October?
To be honest, your loved one could've been in the States by now. Too bad you didn't find this forum until recently. I filed the I-130 with USEM on 11Dec2014 and my wife got her passport with IR-1 visa back two weeks ago.

socal,
A few things:
1) Try to update your profile as well as your timeline. Hank, Darnell, & Greenbaum were trying to help you, but without you having said that you received a packet from USCIS-Manila, they were giving you advice that may not be right for your situation. Update your profile, particularly where it one can see from your name that you're a DCF (CR-1/IR-1) case. (Like mine under my name).
2) That link that you're trying to use only works for people filing via the USCIS lockbox system in the US. As a DCF filer, it won't work for you. Nor is it presently pertinent, since you already have been approved by USCIS.

If he's your son, and you're a US Citizen, Darnell is right, you can just file a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and then once that's done, apply for a US Passport. As the child of a US Citizen, he's a US Citizen.
Read:
http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship.html
http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship/first-time-report-of-birth-abroad7.html
http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship/first-time-report-of-birth-abroad7/crba-reminder2.html

Joint sponsors have been allowed on a case by case basis in the past for K-1 visas.
Just as an aside, is there any particular reason all your posts are all in CAPS?

You're looking at the wrong contact info.
USCIS-Manila does the initial acceptance, processing, and approval for a DCF'ed I-130.
Only when it's approved does it get into the hands of Immigrant Visa Unit-Manila (the website you linked to as well as the email addresses you are sending your inquiries to).
This (the USCIS-Manila Field Office website) is the one you want: http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/philippines-manila-field-office
Phone, Fax Numbers & Email
Phone
For General inquiries in Tagalog or English, please call the following number:
(63)(2) 301-2000, extension 2224 (within the Philippines and from the US)
If calling from the United States, please dial 011 first.
Fax
(63)(2) 301-2208
E-mail
MPHInquiry.CIS@uscis.dhs.gov
Call the Phone number listed above first thing when they open Monday morning and ask for an update. And ask them to check on the status. The guy I talked to gave me the usual 30-60 day time frame response, but I asked him if he'd check any way. Made that phone call 5th of January. I-130 had already been approved on the 24th of December. Started emailing IV-Manila after that. (See my signature below or click the link)

Hmm, you will need to show income that'll put you over the 125% poverty level for your family size.
(See I-864P here http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf)
If you don't have work lined up yet, you might need to get a joint sponsor, preferably a close relative with the income to put you all over the top of the income requirements.

Actually, you guys should have been calling USCIS Manila for case updates about a week to two weeks about your case instead of waiting for the packet 3 email. From my experience, I gather that I probably would have gotten the Packet 3 email later than I did. And I believe I've read of cases where people had their I-130 approved even quicker.

They don't necessarily want photos. I was just fulfilling the I-130 Instructions (Revision 12/18/12), page 3, Section "What Documents Do You Need to Prove Family Relationship, 1J: "Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union."
Wife and I have known each other since 2001, been a couple since 2004, married since 2010. 10 photos civil wedding, 30 photos church wedding & reception, 20 photos from when we were dating, and 20+ since we got married.
You don't have to do what we did, but anything that bolster your case for USCIS that your marriage is real enough for the petition to be approved (in addition to the other stuff you're submitting) will help your case. In your case, if you have documentation or photo proof that you've known each other for 15 years, you're all set.
Yes, during the interview, the prescreener spent time looking at our photos, the US Consul none at all. The USCIS officer spent more time looking over my photos than both of the two combined at interview time.
Different strokes. I'm the type of person that likes to stack the odds in my favor.

I kept everything loose and separate. Only things I paper clipped together were multiple page items (I-130, G-325A). I binder clipped anything that was too big for a paperclip (pretty much just the photocopies of every page of my US Passport).
I didn't make a collage of photos. Just kept them loose so the USCIS Officer could flip through them at will. She kept 10 out of the 80+ I handed over (Dating, Wedding, Post-Wedding)

You do realize you are replying to a 7 year old post.

AKA "DumbAss"

The section at the top that you are reading regards line 10 of Section 7, "Total Value of Assets".
Again, Section 7 you can skip since you more than exceed the income.
I believe they only use that calculation at the top that you are reading if you need to use assets to meet the requirement, which you don't need.
If you leave Section 7 blank, they have no need to use that line & calculation that you are worrying about since you won't be filling in Line 10.