AKF2015

23lbs sound excessive but I guess every one would have different items to include. I would just provide exactly what they asked you and make sure everything is labeled in order, and are correct. I organized our packet with these documents, got approved without interviews or RFEs.

Meeting once in person within 2 years of filing the visa is perfectly. I (was 26F) met my now-husband (was 22M) in Formspring (like a Q&A platform). He visited me 3 months later in September, were together for only 2 weeks. We filed for the K1 visa in January the next year, petition was approved in June. I didn't want to leave just yet so I did my interview in August, got approved in August and was in the US in October. So we were reunited literally 1 year after he left the Philippines (Oct 2) and I arrived Oct 2 the year after.

On 5/3/2021 at 10:23 AM, JeffAtl said:

How have I invested that much money??? Gifts to her and her son, attorney's fees and more attorney's fees to come.  I covered all trips for both of us, engagement ring, lawyer in Ukraine as well.  It never ends.  So yeah, I will be $20k into this plus my increased expenses for whatever they need when they get here, which is hard to fully calculate.  Car for her, cost of wedding, day trips to show them around, English lessons (expensive), etc.  I mean, its a lot if you do it properly.

Well we did it properly, but my neither my now-husband nor me had to spend close to $10k even. Granted, I was never married so there was no divorce nor children from previous relationships. He spent around $3k all in (including my plane ticket) until I got to the U.S. He visited me once but it was a planned trip before we even met (I travelled around Asia so I offered to go with him if he decides to visit the South East) so I wouldn't count that as part of our expenses. We filed the paperwork ourselves, I think that saved a lot of expenses and I arrived almost exactly a year since he left the Philippines. Then I got my green card 6 months later. All subsequent expenses we treated as "home expenses" so I just included it in our annual budget, I also did all the paperwork from the Adjustment of Status through my citizenship.

I do know someone who went through an agency and they keep paying and paying - 3 years later his fiance's petition is still pending. Best of luck! I hope the process goes smoothly for everything! 

On 4/28/2021 at 11:38 AM, JeffAtl said:

See, and thats part of the problem for us.  The strain is incredible and I'm investing tens of thousands of dollars.  Its not stopping by a long shot.  I'm just very concerned as to whether we really have a strong enough foundation.  I know thats off topic in a way, but it makes me extremely stressed and nervous.

I'm just curious as to how you've invested that much money? Like, what expenses cause such steep price?

I guess I never updated, I filed on March 13th and I received my card on the end of March

On 3/18/2018 at 8:13 AM, Jeffrey&David said:

I don't think any one thing will determine the decision. It is the full review of everything.  Joint bank accounts help I am sure as it shows a commingling of funds and that is one type of proof, but if you other proofs other than that, they can still a pattern that you are living your lives together as a bona fide couple. 

Well I guess we shouod be fine..we got everything together. Added my name to the lease, and had loans and utilities in both names. Thanks!

8 hours ago, francais_usa said:

Great evidence! 

 

For 10, try tax transcripts rather than returns.  You can request them quickly online and get it without any wait.  

 

For the bank statements, do every single month rather than every three months since you opened it almost a year after marriage - the more financial comingling you have, the better!  

I wonder if that would be a problem since we don't have a joint bank account. I've heard of a lot of others who were able to get approved with no RFEs. We don't plan to have joint bank accounts. Everything else, we have joint...

What do you ,mean long or short term ??? I don't understand u .on what you are trying to ask me

I can say my fiancé never received any packets so we took things in our own hands so we downloaded from the web and he followed all the steps doing his ds160 and doing all the doctors and even the second visit and his police clearances and background check ok still nothing sent to him So we then made a interview it was August 14. And when he went they looked at his passport but gave back and only asked for my bank statements and his and doctors envelope that doctor gave him and also the police reports after that he sat and he was called and then he was handed a letter saying its pending and being sent to the NVC for review , he didn't even have a sit down interview my fiancé said it was like 5 minutes and didn't ask any questions or say anything to him my fiancé even asked the lady who gave him the letter what it met and what does it all mean the lady said nothing and called the next person to her window he brought all our proof of our relationship with him but they didn't ask or want any . So now when I search his visa it's now says administrative processing ??? So what is long or short help I'm confused my petition for the k1 ends sept 28 that's why we had to do things because they never gotten with him and time was going by to fast so explain yourself what do u mean

It means that your fiance might go through a short term or long term background check - and it all depends in the USEM. No one can really tell how long it will take because if they need more details they will check on it or eventually contact you/your fiance if they have to. And what do you mean that your petition is expiring? If your NOA2 is expiring, that should be fine as long as you have already filed the visa itself then it's an ongoing process.

Other than that I don't know because we're from different countries so there might be a variation in procedures.

@ EVERYONE - thanks for all the replies. Yep I did get my visa a few days later! I was just really worried because I wasnt told anything. LOL Thanks!

Ur gud no worries... window 5 usually wer u can get ur 221 g wait till next week ur status will definitely change n ull be getting ur visa with in a week or 2.... congratulations!!

Yay! thank you very much!

I'm just really anxious and I don't know what to think :3 Salamat again!

Good day everyone!

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this but I've skimmed around and can't really find straight answers so I'll ask it myself. I appreciate all your inputs in advance!

I had my interview last August 6 2015. It all went well, the consul doing the interview seem to be having fun as I told our story and all, showing pictures. He then told me "okay, everything seems great from here! You can now proceed to Step 5 and we'll send you your passport in a few days! Thanks!"

He didn't tell me if I was approved or not but I didn't ask since I don't know if I even should. When I was in the releasing counter, the lady was nice and confirmed my contact information. Then she said we will send you everything once they're ready. Now I asked her if it was approved but she said, everything looks okay from there but everything goes through "Administrative Processing" and if anything is lacking they will just let me know.

So I left with a smile since they didn't return my passport, they didn't give me a 221g letter or instructions to prepare for anything else except but wait.

My question is - does it mean it's already okay or is there a possibility of me still receiving a 221g even if they have my passport? Those that I initially asked said that it should be good to go and ready for issuance anytime.

Note : I already tracked and it's too early to tell, passport with still with consulate.

So from your experiences, I'd appreciate your comments.

Thanks!

Ahh thanks for posting this. Was wondering the same thing especially that they give very vague information, its quite annoying that I had to ask everything.

How did the psyche evaluation go?

Maybe you just used the wrong words, but you don't need to schedule it, you just prepare the documents and show up. Either way good luck and I enjoy the blog....took a look at it earlie today.

Thank you!

Thanks everyone for all the responses! I will be scheduling my medical exam within the next two weeks!

There is no packet 3 for Manila. Do you have your MNL number from NVC? I'm guessing so since your timeline says that your packet is at the consulate. Your fiance can go pay the visa fee like now. Once that's paid you can do the DS--160 online (the last page is the one needed, you can put in multiple email addresses at the end so that you both have copies, and can also just print it off at that time) and also schedule the visa appt online (you will get an email confirmation once done). That's where you'll get those two documents. Mind you some of these documents you will need later at the interview stage so in the end you may need to print more of these off, I have just decided to seperate the medical and interview journeys to avoid confusion. Interview is next week and plan to do this same thing for that,

Although there's many helpful guides....it's really hard to just find a list of what is needed. That's really the reason I made this, to help others with that as that's the most stressful part, ensuring you have the right documents.

Thanks for the response!

Yeah, I already have my MNL number we got it from the mail. However, we were instructed that I will be contacted by the local embassy, which I haven't been yet. I just checked it online and this part of what it said:

"Your case is ready for your interview when scheduled at the U.S. Consular section. If you have already scheduled an appointment for an interview, please prepare your documents as directed in your appointment letter and appear at the consulate on the appointed date and time. Otherwise, please wait until you have received interview scheduling instructions."

I haven't received the interview scheduling instructions yet, or at least I don't know if I have and just didn't know that it's that already O.o Thank you so much for taking your time in answering. It's really confusing, I've been doing a lot of research too but never came across this so I'm glad I asked too.

Ah this information is great! Thanks for sharing, I'm just waiting for Packet 3 so I can proceed. Will probably take the medical exam in a few weeks time. Anyways I noticed you mentioned the following, would like to ask for clarification:

Visa Appt Confirm Email 3 - is this the last email sent that it's been approved (sent to my fiance in US) or will this be something else?

DS-160 Confirm With Barcode Page 1 - suppose this will come along with Packet 3?

Thanks a lot!

I've heard fiance visa is faster than spousal visa too...

^^^ yep true. You can't do anything at the moment til you meet in person. Best you can do is check the requirements and prepare the documents so he can send in the petition as soon as he gets back. Also note, there are some application forms that you have to personally sign. Get those done and have him take it home so you avoid more expenses and prolonged duration by sending it to him when he's already there.

For now that's the best you can do. GL!

Wow this is horrible. You can never trust a woman when she lied to you from the very start. Now she is also endangering your life through her brother's actions! IMO I don't think it will ever work unless you let them rule your life and then you lose.

Get her out and stay away. Chances are they will hurt you and I doubt they even care about the law, consider that the child and her brother was there illegally!

What I have seen many time in Philippines.

US based companies will hire employees who have internet at their house and subcontact them, Generally pay ranges from $3 to $6 per day.

Should I file my BIR? I earn $20+ per day. I never really tried to look this up online. And thanks for the info!

Ahhh I'm glad I've come across this. My hair color ranges from pink to blue to green to blond.

Thanks everyone! Regarding tax tho, I haven't tried filing it yet because there is no definite law here requiring online workers to pay. I suppose our embassy knows about it, I hope...

Edit : Which reminds me, am I supposed to show bank statements or tax papers during my interview?

Did you indicate that it is an online position?

Unfortunately no

I simply stated that I was a "Snippet Writer". If they find it wrong, chances are I would have to resend a new biographic form?

Do you pay tax in your home country, or the USA? If you're resident in your home country, and pay tax there, then I don't see any issues.

Hi thank you for your response! No I don't pay any taxes in the US so everything is settled here. I was just concerned of the address I indicated as California (since we don't have a local headquarters here).

Thank you!