LykaMarc

Thanks for the responses. I was curious because the envelope actually says that the immigrant may not be allowed to get on the plane if the envelope isn't sealed, which begs the question, how would anyone know this prior to boarding the plane?

My fiancee received her sealed envelope with a small tear in it. We've decided that it isn't big enough to be concerned about when she arrives at the US port of entry. However, we were wondering if there is anywhere PRIOR to reaching the US port of entry when some official (e.g. Philippine immigration) or airline employee will want to examine the envelope, or are they only concerned with the passport/visa? In other words, will the yellow envelope be subjected to handling by anyone at the Manila airport at any point, or can she safely and securely stow it away in her carryon bag, to be removed only at the US port of entry?

BTW rule of thumb is if you can get a hand through the tear you must have it replaced by USEM otherwise fingers no problems.

Are you talking about my sweet Lyka's itty bitty waif-like, slender hand, or my big ol' skull crushing yam?

Hi, this may seem like an obvious question, but I'm trying to determine the best phone number to call for our particular problem (which I posted about previously).

My fiancee received her visa package from the 2GO office in Butuan a couple of days ago, and the yellow sealed envelope had a big tear along the bottom, probably from someone dropping or mishandling the package along the way. We want to avoid POE problems, and many folks here suggested that we call the embassy to arrange for my fiancee to have the envelope re-sealed. She is scheduled to depart for the US on April 9, so we need to have this fixed ASAP.

I've seen a couple of different numbers posted for the US Embassy. One is the number for scheduling or changing appointments. Another is the main embassy switchboard. And yet another for US citizen services. Can anyone give me a specific number I can call to solve our envelope problem? Thanks.

In my opinion, it's people like the OP who make things more difficult for the rest of us. Go home, dude!

Best contact the embassy and get the envelope replaced, that tear is big. You do not want issues at POE.

How will she get her passport without opening the plastic bag?

Given that her flight to Los Angeles departs on April 9, and she's arriving in Manila on April 7, how likely is it that the embassy will allow her to come in and have the envelope replaced as she waits?

Did your fiancee already get her visa/passport??

Yes, she got her text and picked up her package at the 2GO office in Butuan earlier today

Yes, that's why we are worried. The yellow envelope is torn inside the plastic. I'm wondering if I should send my fiancée to the embassy so they can reseal it

My fiancee just received her K-1 visa package from 2GO. She has not yet opened the plastic outer envelope, but noticed through the plastic that the yellow envelope is torn about 3-4 inches along the seam. It's like someone en route dropped the package, causing it to split.

We are frantic because she is booked to fly out of Manila on April 9. Who do we call? Will they let her go back to the embassy before her flight so they can reseal the envelope? I've attached a couple of pictures.

My fiancee is expecting delivery of her K-1 visa today. She already got her CFO counseling seminar certificate last December, so all she needs before she boards the plane to the US is that final CFO registration stamp.

QUESTION: How long does it take to get the registration stamp done at the CFO in Manila? I have heard that she can also get this done at the airport, but that they aren't always available. Since she will be traveling on the weekend, I am assuming that she'll need to travel to Manila on a weekday to get this done, am I correct?

That is bizarre.. Based on the 2GO tracking info, it appears likely that my fiancee's visa package will be ready for pickup today at the Butuan 2GO office. Now I am wondering if she'll get the same type of package y'all got. I'll post an update when she gets it.

Please post any info you get if and when you call the embassy.

My fiancee's visa is currently in transit. Only the UID number works for tracking on the 2GO website.

How old the cenomar of your fiancee when she had her interview last march 23?

Well, we had one that was a little over 4 months old, but my fiancée didn't want to take any chances, so she got a new one. It was only 4 days old at the interview.

Hey guys who had previous interview this march. I got question about the cenomar. I will have my interview this coming march 30 and my cenomar dated feb. 5,2015 that would be ok? Or do i have to get a fresh one? Thank you in advanced

Actually, the validity period is six months, so yours is certainly "fresh" enough. I attended my fiancée's interview last March 23. We are now awaiting delivery of the visa

Now I feel totally stupid! My fiancée's visa was approved at the interview yesterday. Today, I got worried when the status showed "administrative processing," which is why I posted this thread. But after only a couple of hours in AP status, the ceac website changed and it is now "issued." Well, I guess that answers my question.

We had our K-1 visa interview yesterday, and today the ceac website says AP. I know sometimes it's one day before "issued," sometimes it's weeks. Any idea what percentage of cases say AP at some point? Do most go directly from "ready" to "issued"?

Thank you, I was going to go through Expedia, but PAL has the exact same price, so I want it to be as easy as possible. BTW - LOVE San Antonio... Dad used to live there & always had a great time. What POE is your Fiance' coming at. I am going to meet mine at LAX & then spend a night or 2 before driving across the Mojave Desert to Vegas.

Our plan is similar. My fiancée will fly on Philippine Airlines nonstop to LAX, and I will meet her there. We will then rent a car and drive to San Diego to visit my dad for a couple of days, then fly on home to San Antonio. PAL is a bit more expensive than other airlines, but I don't want my fiancée to contend with connecting flights, etc., all by herself.

Regarding the travel tax part of your question, I just checked because my fiancée was also just approved and will be traveling to the U.S. in 2-3 weeks, hopefully.

The 1,620 php travel tax can be paid at the travel tax counter at any of the three NAIA terminals. However, at least with Philippine Airlines, if you book the ticket on the PAL website, you can opt to include the travel tax payment directly in the ticket price, thereby avoiding the additional time to go to the travel tax counter.

If your case is under 221g, that means that you need to provide the requirements that they needed and it will be resolved within 60 days. Refusal of visa is 214(b).

Thank you.

Did you able to see your fiancee for the last 2 years?

Can the USCIS or USPS be held liable for the i-290B fee incurred due to the "not deliverable as addressed, unable to forward" reason?

We filed to USCIS i-751 on Mar 2014, we received receipt on Apr 2014. On August 2014, we received biometric appointment and completed. We did not receive anything after that. We constantly called but was told to just wait and no information of any letter since the biometric. It was not until we keep on calling back around Feb 2015 and were able to speak with a USCIS rep who filed a case status update. neither these times were we told of any letter was sent. On Mar 3, 2015, an email came stating under review. And on Mar 16, 2015, received a notice of decision as denied due to reason of abandonment since USCIS supposedly issued a request for evidence on Oct 21, 2014 with which the letter was returned as "not deliverable as addressed, unable to forward" by USPS and we did not supply the requested evidences which is normally due that we did not receive it in the first place. This is exasperating to me since the address is in fact deliverable and valid. Same address as previous notices. We have not moved nor changed address. Neither were we told or notified when we called (several times) that a letter was supposedly sent nor does the USCIS website for case status check.

Due to this, we have to file a Form i-290B with fee of $630.00 which we are filing regardless.

But my questions are:

1. Can I request from USCIS a copy of the supposed returned request of evidence letter issued on Oct 21, 2014 with the USPS reason?

2. Can the USCIS be held liable for the fee if it is determined that the address was incorrect at their fault OR USPS be held liable if it is determined that it was not delivered at their fault?

3. If none of the above I can do, Is there anything I can do at all?

I'm an attorney, and I'd be happy to take your case. All I need is a $2,500 retainer deposit, and I *might* be able to get you *some* of your $630 back in 9 or 10 months, or longer. lol

We are scheduled for our K-1 interview on Monday. My fiancée's CENOMAR is dated last October. Is that too old?

Just forget everything you ever learned from drivers in a the Philippines, especially Manila! lol