RhineMaiden

Hello fellow VJ member! It's me again. So I have a few questions and I'm kind of getting a little anxious. I may be being paranoid over nothing but I need your expert advise.

I'm an LPR, I petitioned my 14 y.o. daughter in the Philippines and is now awaiting her visa interview on March 6. I entered the US on a CR1 8 years ago (Feb. 2010). At the time, I decided it was best to leave her with my parents as I embark on a very significant journey that can make or break me. If it breaks - I have no problem going back home and start over. if it makes - then I am definitely to petition her thus making my life complete. So the way it ended - I was made and our marriage is stronger than ever with an added 2 more kids of our own plus a stepdaughter (also 14 y.o) on our custody. 

Now what I'm paranoid about is that I HAVE NOT been back home ever since. Thought I'd be able to, but with 5 people  in the family here, it's easier said than done. How will this impact my petition to get her? Is that a bad thing? To come get her after she gets approved for a visa will be my FIRST time in 8 years, but if for whatever reason she gets denied, I'd still go home for the first time regardless. I will not be there on her interview. I keep telling myself everything's gonna be alright considering the facts that 1] her father was NEVER in the picture since he disappeared without a trace when I was 19 and 3 months pregnant, heck, his name is not even on her birth certificate! (see attached) 2] The immigration process went okay (tho it took a little over 2 years) and we followed everything by the book 3] I'm not on the naughty list. I was sworn in at the embassy to NOT be a public burden - throughout the 8 years, we were never on any kind of welfare, not one traffic violation, I am a law-abiding, hard working, tax-paying legal permanent resident, who, throughout the 8 years only wanted to make a life with my family and be reunited with my first born that I left behind. My husband (also my co-sponsor), can't help but roll his eyes and tell me to quit being such a worry wart.

I have all sorts of evidence to show that I have supported my daughter financially, in any way I can emotionally, that thank heaven's for FB messenger- Per/minute int'l call cards are a thing of the past finally! All that and some on top of everything to raise an American family, and in case you haven't noticed, I tried my best to rhyme everything rhythmically, therefore, I think I got my point across successfully.

.....so, do I have to worry? Am I just being paranoid over nothing? Someone kick me! If I have to go through any more delays with this whole process, i'll be devastated...

10 hours ago, Sherlock23 said:

Thanks a lot for sharing the congratulatory email you received from the embassy. I am still waiting to receive a letter from them with the specifics about our case. Our case was expedited at the NVC stage earlier this month. I am not sure if they had a chance to look into the documents. The  files are now with Manila Embassy. The only correspondence from Manila Embassy we got so far, is reply from them that I can now schedule the interview. They sent me general instructions.

 

My stepson finished his medical last week and there was no problem. I am going back and forth whether I should schedule his visa interview earlier or if he needs an I-864 with an original signature to bring with him.  

 

 

 

Congratulations and It sounds like scheduling an interview is the only thing left to be done.

- So the general information from the checklist found at the website is this:

• Family-based visa applications: 

- A signed Affidavit of Support from your petitioner and any additional financial sponsors who submitted a Form I-864 on behalf of your visa application.  Applicants may bring photocopies and scanned versions of signed Forms I-864 and associated documents. (Please note that the form must still be signed; typed names and electronic signatures will not be accepted.) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/interview-prepare/required-documents.html

- But THE interview letter says this: 

"If a sponsor filed an I-864 (Affidavit of Suppport) AND provided NVC with proof of an IRS Federal Income Tax Return in lieu of a Federal Income Tax Return, you must bring the sponsor's most recent Federal Income Tax Return to the visa interview." (also shown in the attached image)

...So the way I understand it, that was the I-864 form itself that we filled up and was originally sent to NVC. The I-864 remains with them, it is already taken care of, a new form/a copy of the form/the original form, IS NO longer needed. In my letter, they asked for the ITR (I am providing the last 5 years along with the W2's) specifically.

1 hour ago, Sherlock23 said:

Hi! I have been wondering the same thing. My stepson will also be having his interview soon. Please keep us updated if the embassy asked for new I-864 even if the original was sent to the NVC. Thanks a lot.

 

Btw, I read this online

• Family-based visa applications: 

- A signed Affidavit of Support from your petitioner and any additional financial sponsors who submitted a Form I-864 on behalf of your visa application.  Applicants may bring photocopies and scanned versions of signed Forms I-864 and associated documents. (Please note that the form must still be signed; typed names and electronic signatures will not be accepted.) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/interview-prepare/required-documents.html

 

I sent my stepson an AOS copy that I signed again but looks like they are accepting a scanned copy as long as the form is signed. 

 

Hi! I did get a little paranoid about it but it really is about paying attention to each and every notice, every letter/email prior to the upcoming interview. I realized, had I not done the I-864 correctly, it would of not got past the NVC stage - they will have it corrected over and over if they have to, and they will keep notifying you about it, I had to correct mine once. So until it's all good to go then it's the only time the process goes forward ----- until that Congratulatory letter a few weeks before the interview arrives stating the things one MUST bring. The one you read online is the more general form of the information but in my case, I did everything by the book and exactly by what my emails stated.

Attached is that congratulatory letter I received in my mail. They asked for the specifics so that's what we are going to bring.

Moment of truth

It was the SEXUAL BEHAVIOR! 

cyberfx, you were right! 

So I talked to my daughter and I tried to be careful and keep it a casual conversation, still thinking that it really is might be a "classified" information only meant to be revealed to a consul. Here's how it went.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Me: Mom told me she was asked to step out, I can't think of any logical reason for that.

Daughter: Oh, Dr. asked if I'm sexually active.

*****she didn't even stutter***** 

Me: I see, understood why you did what you did. 

Daughter: I know you would. Can you imagine if grandma finds out that way?

Me: Uhm no, I can't. All I know is I'm going there to pick you up. I'm not coming home to a funeral.

Daughter: And I have a Culinary Institute to attend to .... I am so not planning on dying yet, mom.

Me: Arighty, that's all I needed to know.

Daugther: Can we at least visit Universal Studios when I get there?

Me: Yeah, after a visit to my Ob-gyn, sure.

Daughter: Fair enough

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So it may not be the norm, it's actually a bit misleading, or worse - illegal, but I don't know! True that it doesn't make sense to ask a parent/legal guardian to step out is part of standard procedure in SLEC, but I tried to rationalize by thinking maybe because something like this sensitive interview might create a psychological/emotional distress to the child if done with a parent/legal guardian around?  Maybe the physicians make it a point so that a minor is comfortable to disclose such information with emotional stability? 

I mean, It's a different story if I had been the one with her instead of her grandma, and if they asked for me to step out for a moment to which I would gladly comply, then by the end of it, my daughter- without doubt would simply just tell me what it's all about, even before I get the chance to ask. 

But that's us, me and my daughter. That would've been our scenario.

Other people, parent-child given the same situation during the SLEC process - I don't know, I can't say. Considering the family dynamics of the Filipinos - I can only paint pictures in my head. 

So there it is. Case closed. May this topic be a useful one for some of our fellow visa applicants and to those who's gonna go through SLEC with their minor child. I hope that some of you will see the bigger picture here than just finding out your child was asked to keep a secret during a crucial stage on your immigration process.

Thank you everyone for all your input and they are very much appreciated!

3 hours ago, cyberfx1024 said:

Like I said before I do think this is it and now that you have elaborated more about your daughter that pretty much seals the deal for me in regards to it.

 

Another note is you are more forgiving and understanding parent than I am. My oldest child and daughter is 11 right now, and I don't know what I would do if she told me something like in all honesty.

Thank you, I appreciate that. I guess I just went on IMO the more appropriate approach for today's super-fast paced, ever changing time and generation. I had her when I was 18, my two other sisters were teen moms too, 17 and 19 .. We were raised on absurd rules and strict cultures and bizarre traditions... in the end, it never proved to be effective. Our parents didn't fail, but us kids were not successful either, so it wasn't a win-win. So I am determined to positively put a win on at least one side of the table. I honestly won't raise my kids entirely the way my parents raised us. I have failed my parents. I hope my child won't fail me.

1 hour ago, Ontarkie said:

I never even thought of sex, my mind went straight to drugs.

 

A minor is not to be questioned without a parent and should never be told to keep it a secret. Secrets are never a good thing to keep from a parent and having another adult and I don't care if he's a doctor it send's the wrong message to a young girl. 

 

I'm starting to believe it's the sexual activity now and that I agree with Hank, it would be very awkward with grandma around (considering she's not as open minded as I am). But if it's drugs, then she would've not passed the medical exam.

I will update when I get to talk to her and get this resolved once and for all. I haven't talked to her at all since they got home from SLEC, it was an exhausting day and she went straight to sleep. I only got to talk to my mom for a short time where she told me about that secret meeting, so yeah, definitely need to talk to my daughter.

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

You are the first to ever mention the "secret session" with a doctor and minor child.  I know I would not be happy regarding this and would probably end up on a lot of lists at SLEC ...  

 

For sure I don't think it is right.

Lol! I'm honestly just confused right now, but I really don't wanna jeopardize anything so I'm holding my breath for now until her visa is approved.

1 hour ago, Ontarkie said:

Is there any chance they just didn't want your mom to know (maybe the doctor didn't realize she was the legal guardian) and if you called they would give this information? 

 

I'm sorry if I'm causing you to worry more. I don't even know you or how things are done there and I'm steaming. 

 

 

No worries. It really is just a matter of waiting a few more days for me to find out. Her visa interview is March 6. It's good that she passed the medical exam and no need for a 2 month long delay had she failed the IGRA (a couple of ladies they got to know were not as fortunate), if so then that would be a whole different story and I will insist on finding it out. I doubt they didn't know that my mom is her legal guardian, only parents and legal guardians can accompany minors to SLEC with no questions asked, otherwise additional documentations from me and the chaperon must be provided.

3 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

 

I was thinking this as well and maybe asking if she is or has been sexually active. I know she is 14 but you know as well as I do that it happens in Pinas. That is my biggest bet about that whole thing. 

Well, for a little insight, the topic of sex is openly discussed between me and my daughter, yes, we have that kind of mother-daughter relationship. 14 is way too young, I know, but with all honesty I will say it right here right now that yes, she has been sexually active, to one partner - her boyfriend of almost a year now. The  amount of courage that took her to call me to confide about it,  the way I see it, she only gave me the RESPECT I deserve for educating her about engaging in such an intimate behavior. I only felt nothing but relief... relief that I don't have to deal with suspicions, snooping around, anxiety and full blown panic attacks and of course, the most dreadful moment of finding out that I ended up with a pregnant teenager! She is well aware of the protections, the responsibilities and consequences etc.. She knows she's not in any way ready to raise a child, I am pleased that she took the responsibility to tell me, finding it out in any other way would only make me feel that I somewhat failed as a parent, specially in today's world and generation where temptations and awful decisions are just a text, snap and tweet away..... and she doesn't eat TIde Pods, so it's +1 more parent point for me  

I haven't talked to my daughter yet, she's still asleep, but I will soon ... and if this SLEC secret is indeed what you think it is, which actually is very possible, matter of fact it makes a whole lot of sense to me that this might actually be it!! so thank you!

2 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Completely understandable.

I tend to worry about everything and don't like the idea that a doctor told her to keep a secret. I don't know how you haven't called the clinic freaking out, a doctor keeping secrets from a parent is not smart. 

 

I hope someone familiar with them can help calm our fears. 

I absolutely thought about it, but then it also came to me that it IS SLEC, a center where they process hundreds if not at least close to a thousand applicants a day and for a sad fact that a lot of Philippine agencies (like this one) would fail big time when it comes to client satisfaction.  My complaint would most likely be picked up by an evasive staff who'd just top if off with "ok, we will investigate, bye!" .... that, or I'll be given the eternal run-a-round instead, they're very good at it.

2 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

~~Moved to the PI forum, from Bringing Family of PR - The OP is asking about the medical and this can be country specific.~~

 

 

mod hat off

This has me very curious. In Canada and the US unless the child is 18 a doctor cannot ask the parent to leave or withhold medical information from a parent. When we went through the medical all my kids where examined in the same room while I was present. They were just briefly looked over, no undressing and then I was asked about their medical history. 

 

I hope you can figure out what is going on and if this was even legal to begin with. I am very concerned about your daughter not saying what happened. 

Thank you for your reply. Indeed! I'm not gonna lie and say this doesn't bother me, because it does. My daughter took a photo of the building and the sign clearly reads "SLEC" and not CIA. It really doesn't make sense why they would tell the legal guardian (my mother) to get out while they "share something secret" to my 14 year old when all along, the entire time, my mother went in and out with my daughter on every room, every doctor, every test, everything up until to that point .... so now I'm just confused but I really am trying to not stick my nose into it, at least not just yet in fear of jeopardizing her chances of visa approval.

Hi all! I am a US LPR, I petitioned my 14 y.o. daughter that is still in the Philippines (lives with my parents). Her interview date is approaching and she just finished and passed the St. Lukes/SLEC part yesterday. My  mother (also my daughter's legal guardian) and I were in touch on messenger the entire time during the SLEC process, by the time the physical exam was about to begin (where a person would fully undress to be checked a physician), the doctor asked my mother to step out of the room for a few minutes and requested to talk to my daughter alone, she was called back in during the actual physical exam. When it was done and they headed out, my mother simply asked  my daughter what is that stepping-out-of-the-room was all about, to where my daughter replied "According to the doctor, I should not disclose the information". 

I went through the SLEC process myself during my CR1 a few years back, but I can't recall at all being told of any sort of classified information. So in my daughter's case, neither I nor my Mom bothered to squeeze it out, we just let it be, and by that, I could say my daughter will genuinely retain her honesty and "innocence" in case whatever this "secret" information is most probably only and only for the consul/embassy purposes. I won't risk staining the fact.

Sooo ... what is going on? Is anyone familiar with whatever this is? Anyone went through with something similar at SLEC? Please enlighten me.

2 minutes ago, kris&me said:

Was it listed on the checklist as needed?

mine checklist said sent to embassy from NVC

So I just had a second look on the interview letter where it says:

"If a sponsor filed an I-864 (Affidavit of Suppport) AND provided NVC with proof of an IRS Federal Income Tax Return in lieu of a Federal Income Tax Return, you must bring the sponsor's most recent Federal Income Tax Return to the visa interview."

.... so I'm guessing that there is no need to try and fill up a new I-864 form and that I should just send my daughter photocopies of our recent tax returns?

Hi everyone and good day! My daughter's interview date is approaching and I am sitting here with a checklist in hand, it shows that she needs to bring I-864 Affidavit of Support, tax returns, etc., - so I am assuming they are asking for the same/duplicate docs I sent to NVC during the immigration process.

My concern is that when I submitted all the required financial documents to NVC is that I did not make a photocopy of the I-864 and I-864a (I, an LPR as petitioner and my husband as co-sponsor). So my question is, will it be OK to just fill up a new form and that would be the document my daughter will bring to her interview? Will there be any issue if so? It's not like any data has changed and that I will fill it up any different, everything has been answered with all honesty so  I really am just assuming that all I have to do is just fill it up exactly like how I did before with all the same documentations (tax returns) I used during the time. 

Thanks in advance!

2 hours ago, Penguin_ie said:

Usually, booking far ahead is cheaper. However, sometimes there are fare sales, and then June date is probably prime tourist season (schools are out...), so it is more expensive.  Also look at the days of the week; some days tend to be cheaper than others. If you have some time before deciding on dates, you can set up a Google alert that will email you when prices fall.

 

Did you already book your tickets?  There should be a flight number and times.  Just make sure the flight number and times (and date!) are the same for the ticket for your daughter.

That makes sense! Vacation peak times! I haven't thought of that .... No Ma'am, not booking until my daughter gets an interview date, I'm planning to come along with her on her interview.  

... So I think I finally figured it out (filters filters filters!)... Those that I highlighted red, are those the flight numbers?

** sorry, Mods, kindly transfer to correct forum > Bringing family members of Permanent Residents to America **

Hi! I just wanted to make sure I'm doing everything right. I am a LPR petitioning my 13 y/o daughter in the Philippines, I am the agent/petitioner/sponsor.

Attached are two photos, 1st is of the checklist/cover sheet that me and my daughter received, I assumed hers is just a copy and that she doesn't have to do anything as of yet. The other one is a screenshot of the CEAC website which I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with.

So ... I gathered each and every document applicable, marked them off the checklist and sent it to NVC. I'm pretty sure I got everything on the list (applicable) that they asked for. My question now is - referring on the 2nd photo with red boxes: 

1. "Documents the applicant must submit" - this part is confusing me, are those the same documents I have already included on the checklist? Because the link only directs me to the CEAC VISA Steps screen, where I believe I pretty much followed every step.

2. Does she really have a part of collecting documents on her own and sending it to NVC herself? Am I missing a step here or something?

3: Collect Financial and Supporting documents - all included in the checklist, am I right?

Advise please! Thanks in advance! 

Great post! Informative and I'm sure a lot of people find it very helpful.

I'm the OP of the pinned post SLEC Medical Exam Walkthrough, I'm surprised it's still pinned, lol!! It seems nothing much has changed throughout the entire process except for the fee, understandably. I'm a little surprised though that after almost a decade, despite all the technology, the waiting part is still ridiculously long. wow!

Another One:

I'm so confused, on buying the 4th round trip separately for my daughter (MNL-ORD-MNL with the intent of skipping the return flight) How do I find/buy the exact same flight - the same return flight as mine and my 2 kids? Obviously I'm not buying a flight with her on a different airplane! Help! I'm just a noob on all this online plane booking thing!

Another question: 

I have no idea how it all works but last night, I put in my usual "1 adult, 2 kids round trip" assuming travel on March for 3 weeks and got a result of $600+ ticket per person... not bad, I actually think it's too good to be true (or is it?)

Today, same input, assuming travel for the entire month of June (depart 06/01, return 06/30) and got a $900+ result ---- so I'm like, huh?!

I always thought that the farther ahead you book, the cheaper, or is it just a myth? What am I doing wrong here? Is there some kind of a trick/formula I need to learn? 

let us bring this whole thing to the simplest form.

Annulment is VEEERRYYYYYY EXXXPEEEEN$$$$$$$IVEEE

it takes VEEEEEEERRRRRYYYY LLLLOOOOOOOOOONNNNGGGG!!! 

no sugar coating, no lies, just the hard fact. Your call.

1 minute ago, Keysmarlin said:

wife has soc sec number already kids do not

 

As I read the article, I saw these two conditions that you must comply to:

- The child lived with you for more than half the year

-  The child must be a U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico

maybe this will help tho. 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Taxes-101/Claiming-a-Non-Citizen-Spouse-and-Children-On-Your-Taxes-/INF27549.html

Unfortunately, you can't, not yet anyways. One of the definite rules I believe is that the dependent must be a US citizen or LPR with a social security number.

8 hours ago, f f said:

you can buy a round trip that is way out and call up the airline once you are here and offer to cancel it if they refund it or give you some money back otherwise just skip the return flight.

That's a thought! As stingy as I am, I sure can use a refund from the return flight! Thanks!

4 hours ago, Penguin_ie said:

You could buy her a round trip Manila-Chicago-Manila and just not use the return; many people do that as return flights are often cheaper than one ways.  Do NOT buy her a round trip Chicago-Manila-Chicago with the intent to only use the second leg- when she doesn't turn up for the first leg, the second one will be automatically cancelled.

Thanks for the really helpful input. I didn't even realized I'm actually looking at the exact same 4th roundtrip input (C-M-C) until you pointed it out! You saved my life!!