Aila

On 4/7/2021 at 6:19 PM, Aila said:

Hi everyone, I would like to share my passport book and card timeline . Regular processing

3/2 - Passport Application (Bellingham, WA)

3/11 - Application received 

3/12 - Check cashed out

4/07 - Shipped (expected delivery 4/10, Saturday)

4/10 - Passport book received 

4/12 - Passport card received 

4/13 - Naturalization Certificate received 

Hi everyone, I would like to share my passport book and card timeline . Regular processing

3/2 - Passport Application (Bellingham, WA)

3/11 - Application received 

3/12 - Check cashed out

4/07 - Shipped (expected delivery 4/10, Saturday)

Hi to all,  

16 hours ago, JFH said:

Excellent news! Congratulations. And you are a September 2019 filer. I think you are the first September 2019 filer to get an interview apart from the random ones that seemed to bypass others. 

Thank you! This is such a long wait for us Seattle filers. Hoping that you’ll get scheduled soon. Goodluck. 

Interview scheduled for February 23 at 2:20pm

Hi guys!.  It been awhile since my last visit here. I logged in to give all an update. This after I received an email and notification that my interview has been scheduled. I checked both myuscis and egov. Both shows the same status. I don’t have the interview date yet. I’ll update on here again once I received it. 

Hope you all doing well. 

Yesterday my estimated wait time was 1 day, Today, I checked again and it says  “We are taking longer....” status. Estimated date of completion is still the same, December 2020.
 

Hopefully by December, I will get my interview schedule. 

Non-combo filer here. After my biometrics my Estimated case completion was November 2020. Estimated wait time is October 2020.
On mid August both dates moved 1 month backwards. 

On Saturday, Sep. 12. I checked my status on myuscis.com, my estimated case completion date changes to 30 days. Checked again today, it is now 26 days. 

I read from other VJ members post that some will get their interview schedule once the countdown is up but others also gets the dreaded “We are taking longer than expected to process your case. “ status. I am hoping that I won’t get that status and be US citizen by the end of this year, at least something good happen after all these pandemic. 

It’s better to ask the MODS to move your post to Philippines forum to get further answer as this is country specific and I also suggest you search on there as well. There are many other applicants that have/had done sputum testing and/or TB treatment.

Sorry to hear this but unfortunately SLEC is the only facility that is accredited by the US Department of State.

SLEC uses an advanced machines for testing TB and also follows CDC guidelines. The costs for sputum testing and TB treatment are all inclusive on the medical fee, so NO!! SLEC is not ripping you off and definitely not giving out false medical result. If he tested positive then he needs to be treated. TB kills so they are just protecting both the immigrant and the people from where they are intending to immigrate. 

Goodluck

14 minutes ago, sweet01 said:

Thanks again Aila. ? Really appreciate your thoughts. We were kind of debating about it as well but thanks for sharing your journey. I believe this is helpful to us esp. parents of US citizens children.  

You're welcome. I'm happy/glad to help. ?

1 hour ago, Sagot said:

Interesting adventure.

 

You child was born in the USA.  You completed ROB that is big to making this all simple.  You could have gotten a Philippine passport through the embassy before flying to the Phils, which is very simple.

 

For those in the Phils with a child born in the Phils to USC & Filipino citizen and having to complete CRBA, some BI & DFA employees try to push the recognition certificate but in reality it is not needed there either.  Getting the Philippine passport for the child  ASAP is important.

 

 

Hi, 

Yes you're right. I should have done it before leaving the US to save all the hassle but during that time I was unaware on how to proceed on ROB plus I was out of status under K2 visa (my mom's ROC was denied). Due to fear of overstaying we left right away. 

42 minutes ago, sweet01 said:

Hi Aila,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your child. Based on what you shared, I understand that your child was born here in the US but went back to the Phils and stayed there for quite sometime. You also did the dual citizenship with your child. I'm wondering now If do I really need to report my child's birth in the Phil consulate since I gave birth July last year? ( I'm still on ROC process via conditional PR) Do I need to make my child a dual citizen? My husband and I were also discussing about it since he just chose to be a US citizen. I'm not sure and really thinking about the dual citizenship and what are the benefits aside from staying long in the Philippines and own a house. Can you give me advice? Thank you. Would really appreciate it.

Hello, 

Yes my daughter is born here (US). Reporting your childs birth to Phil. Govt. is not really required its a matter of personal choice. My thought is, since my child is a dual citizen by birth she has the priviledge to aquire citizenship to both countries (USA & PHIL.). In my own opinion it's better to report your childs birth to phil. consulate at least the child can stay for as long as he/she can and live in the philippines with no problem. 

Again this is my own opinion. 

Thank you

Hello VJer’s I would like to share again my child’s dual citizenship journey.This is the last step, applying for Passport to Departure (Philippines). 

 I’ve noticed that some parents here with a child who are dual citizen/s by birth doesn’t really fully understand the process. They thought that once they applied for CRBA and as soon as their child receives a US passport they are giving up their child’s filipino citizenship. CRBA is not like you are naturalizing as a USC. Once a child is a dual citizen by brith they will always be a dual citizen FORVER!!. 

Now they ran into problems of Exit Clearance fees, overstaying fee because they though that their child is now a foreign national of the Phil. Why? per Bureau of Immigration advise… Honestly?? I think they are scamming foreigner parent/s and parents who are desperately wanting to leave the country by making them think that their child (who are a filipino-american citizen) is a foreign national and charging them with a skyrocketing immigration fees (I was quoted P100,000 for my daughter, for me that’s BS that’s why you gotta know what you’re doing). For them you only have 3 options It’s either 1.) You pay for overstaying fee, 2.) ECC fee, 3.) Apply for recognition of filipino citizen, P12,000+ fee. But on the other hand at least that there is an options that we can just pay especially if the parents doesn’t have the time to get a phil. passport but for making them think that there is no other way but to pay the immig. fee that is unacceptable. Well, If you come to think of it, how are they going to have revenue if they will tell people that getting a Phil. PP will waived all of these fees right? 

Ok enough (SORRY for the rant)… Let’s start with the PP application.

Sep. 26, 2016 - Endorsement and Applied PSA Birth Cert, for pick up on Oct. 12., and soon as I got home I tried to set an appointment online (DFA) but then I realized that the earliest date I could get was Nov. 12. That is almost 2 months waiting & another 7 working days for express processing. I cannot wait that long, I want to leave ASAP for US so that my daughter can start on her school. We didn’t qualify for the courtesy lane so I was thinking of any possible way to get a sooner appt. dates, I tried checking all Manila branches I even thought of going to provincial branches but when I tried to check DFA website again I found one available slot. I cancelled my Nov. 12 changed to Nov. 11. but I’m still not satisfied. So what I did is I kept on checking everyday and to my surprise Nov 8 slot is available, again cancelled previous appt. I continuously check daily so from Nov. 12→11→8→7→3→Oct. 28 →27→24→then finally to Oct.17, 2016 appt. at DFA Aseana!!! Perfect!!! ???. 

Oct. 12, 2016 - picked-up expedited PSA Report of Birth Certificate (this is what it looks like)

Oct. 17, 2016 - Our appt. was 8-9am but we arrived 6:15am and there were already people lined up outside but the guard haven’t started letting people in so I decided to eat breakfast at McDonalds across the street. I don’t mind being the last person in line at least we’re not hungry especially that I have my daughter with me. So when I saw that the guard was starting to let people inside we went back in line around 7:15am. At exactly 8am the Step 1 desk opens.

Step 1: Confirmed appointment checking

NOTE: DFA strictly implements online appt. only, no more walk-ins (except OFW and those who qualifies the courtesy lane).

Step 2: Document verification 

    Documents asked from us; 

1. Orig. & Photocopy of School ID (daughter)
2. Orig. & Photocopy of PSA ROB certificate 
3. Orig. & Photocopy of PSA marriage cert.
4. Photocopy of PP biopage (mother)
5. Passport (mother)
6. PRC ID

He returned Orig. School ID, PRC ID, Passport & PSA ROB photocopy to me then I was asked if my daughter is a dual citizen and if she has a US passport, I said yes. He instructed me to go to Passport Division for a stamp. I said “What stamp?” He said“ She’s a dual so they will need to interview you and put a stamp on your application if approve, then come back to me when you get the stamp”. (Oh no!! what now??). 

Step 3: Passport Division (Interview/Investigation Area) We waited for 15 minutes until her named was called. 

    Lady: Where was your daughter born, US? Is the father a dual? 

    ME: Yes Seattle, Washington; He’s not, I am filipino citizen when I gave birth to her 

    Lady: “Ok she’s dual citizen by birth with filipino mother ”;  Does she has a US passport?

    ME: Yes (but she didn’t look at it)

    Lady: Ok everything is good, she has ROB cert.,that’s good, we will keep the original (she gave me back my PSA marriage cert.)

    Lady: Ok I will be back then returned with our papers

    Lady: Ok you’re all good, you can go back upstair (2nd floor) 

PS: Step 3 is for applicants with special cases only (like ours). 

back to Step 2: He signed our application and gave me a receipt and proceed to next step. 

Step 4: Cashier. Present the receipt and I paid P1200 for rush processing (7 working days). 

PS: After payment get a number and wait for your number to appear on the screen. (we waited for 30mins.)

Step 5: Encoding. biometrics, picture taking and signature

Note: no jewelries, no earrings, no showing of teeth (smiling is ok), no headband, no eyeglasses, no colored contact lenses. 

Step 6: Delivery (optional) 

PS: They said that there’s a dress code but I’ve seen people wearing slippers, open toes shoes/sandals, sleeveless, shorts & also there’s one lady wearing a tube top so yeah I don’t know. Electronics, Food and drinks are allowed inside. 

Oct. 26, 2016 - arrived in DFA Aseana, 2:30pm. Phil. PP released after 45mins. waiting.

Finally my daughter is officially a Dual citizen!!!

Dec. 2, 2016 (Departure NAIA) 

Travel tax: paid P1620 and P810 for my daughter 

PS: We’ve waited for this long before leaving because my husband was undecided as to whether he will come to Phil. to spend Christmas and New Year and we’ll fly to USA together. But oh well he changes his mind. 

Dec. 02, 2016 (Arrival) - POE: SEA 

Hello, I have waited until we arrived here in US before I share my daughters dual citizenship experience (just to be sure).

Daughter born in USA, 2007

Left for Philippines 2011-2016 (1yr free balikbayan stamp, so possible overstaying fee from 2012-2016)

When we left the US I never thought and didn’t know about reporting her birth to Phil. Govt. I always thought that since she’s born to a filipino citizen mother she’s a dual and all good in terms of applying for Phil. passport. So when my husband decided to start on my IR-1 petition I started working on hers as well. I’ve been through a lot from Manila US Embassy→DFA office→Bureau of Immigration→NSO/PSA. I was desperate and learned all the options that I could have (legal, illegal, fastest and cheapest way). I did my research, read (laws, blogs, forums), asked my fil-am classmates on how did they acquire their dual citizenship and airport/s immig. experiences (some where born in US, acquired dual citizenship thru RA9925, some did Recog. of filipino citizen and some did Report of Birth Abroad thru DFA and some thru Phil. Consulate in US).

MY OPTIONS:

1. Recognition of Filipino Citizenship (Bureau of Immigration)
   • FEE: P12,000+
   • Processing Time: 6-12 months
   • classmates experience , took him 8 months 
2. Pay overstaying fee: We’re quoted for almost close to P100,000, this is not an option for me (whether we or not can afford it), a big no no, so I didn’t bother asking for the details and break down of prices.  
3. Report of Birth Abroad (DFA, Philippines)
   • Fee: $25, but payment must be in Peso (depends on the exchange value)
   • Processing Time: 2-4 months (according to their website) but 2 of my classmate did this and it took them 8 months from start to finish (they filled it together). So what happened to 2-4 months huh??? Lie
   • Take note that PSA birth cert. is required in applying for passport so meaning you have to wait until the child’s birth is recorded to PSA (another extra waiting time).
4. Report of Birth Abroad (Philippines Consulate General, USA)
   • FEE: $25
   • Processing Time: 6-10 weeks
     • Now I thought that this can only be done if the filipino citizen parent is presently residing in the States, so I thought we can’t do this.
     • So far this is the fastest and cheapest way PLUS we can apply for Phil. passport at the same time ONLY IF the child is present.
5. The Bad Stuffs (NO NO NO to these!!!)
   • B.I. - When I was in and out of the BI’s office they offered me an under the table process, they will worked on my daughters papers as fast as they can but with a price.
   • NAIA airport - My husbands uncle works in NAIA for almost 25yrs. he knows people from different department, a friend from immig. advised him to do the Recog. of Fil. Citizenship, uncle then gave them my contact info. so that we could discuss my situation, I was surprised when the friend said that they can waived fees by putting a different dates of departure & arrival stamp on my daughters passport/s showing that she goes in and out of PI, these sounds convincing and tempting especially if you are not going back to PI anymore but I thought that this is my child, she has a filipino root, I can’t tell the future maybe she wants to visit, maybe she wants to study there, maybe she wants to retire there. I don’t want her to face all the consequences and hate me for doing the wrong thing. I AM PRO TO HONESTY!!! Seriously!! 

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE….Most of the people (phil. govt.) that I asked advised me to do OPTION 1, so I started gathering the required documents and fees. When I was about to file (May 2015) they were asking for a US Birth Cert. notarized by Phil. Consulate in US (red-ribboned). I thought my papers were complete I asked and clarify to them a million times on the required doc. but they never said about being notarized (urghh!!).. but then I realized that I misunderstood instruction #4 on the BI’s Recog. Form (totally my fault), of course It’s a FOREIGN DOCUMENT ?, anyway I talked to my husband and told him that he needs to go to San Francisco but my husband was doing 2 jobs at that time so instead we waited for SF consulate outreach visit in Wa. State (Oct. 24, 2015). He was asked where will he be using the document, my husband explained and they told him why not just do ROB they said that he can do it even if I am not present and they said that it works the same way with the recognition in terms of acquiring dual citizenship and for pasport application but since husbands flight to PI will be the next day he said that he’ll do it once he comes back. 

• • 1st Attempt: Feb. 21, 2016 (Seattle, last day of outreach visit) — husband ready to file ROB, he was sent away because of missing documents, they told him that he can just mail the whole packet including the money order payment.
    • NOTE: my husband prepared what was listed on their website and instructions per fil.consul that he talked to last Oct. 24, 2015.
  • 2nd Attempt: Feb. 22, 2016 - husband came back to Seattle Filipino Community, talked to the staff and said that the guy will just mailed the documents with the money-order payment to SF. 
  • June 2, 2016, - I tried to get a PSA B.C it came out negative (no record on file). I thought maybe it’s too early
  • July 2016 (first week) — still negative PSA BC copy. I’m starting to get worried, so I asked my husband to contact SF but no success. It’s either straight to voicemail or voicemail is full and they never called back.
  • July 9, 2016, (SF outreach visit. Everett, Wa.) - They said that they don’t have any records of our papers, they didn’t received it. (how did that happened??  We’ve waited and was confident that everything is processing and now they don’t have it?, unbelievable). So we will have to re-do it again. AGAIN!!
  • 3rd Attempt: July 10, 2016, (last day) - Husband came back brought all docs. Remember that their website was not updated and my husband was just there yesterday and brought what was told. STILL missing docs!!!?
    • Required Docs.(child born before marriage) THESE are the correct one and what we submitted on our 4th TIME!!!
      1. ROB Form
      2. Affidavit of Delayed ROB
      3. Affidavit of Admission of the Paternity (from father)
      4. Affidavit to use Father’s Surname (executed by mother)
      5. Phil. Passport of filipino citizen parent at the time of child birth
      6. NSO B.C & Green-card (not required but we included it)
      7. Notarized Affidavit of Legitimation, signed by both parents, since I was in the PI, we made 2 notarized copies of these; 1 with my husband signature and 1 with my signature
         • Items #4 & 7- I went to a lawyer and requested these and at the same time I have also thought of getting a Special Power of Atty. authorizing my husband to act on my behalf, P350 for each document. I am very ####### to things like these and I feel unsatisfied with the documents, you know how rampant fake docs. and even notary offices in PI, you can get it even from the sidewalks, RECTO MANILA is famous for these. So what I did is I went to my nearest Hall of Justice office to have my notarized documents certified, they call it Certificate of Authority for a Notarial Act (CANA), these means that the Atty. is legally allowed to make notarizations and certified by the Rep. of the Phil. (FEE: P250/document) - 2 days processing
         • The next day, docs. picked-up and sent it to my husband thru LBC (paid nearly P2,000), he received it after 4 business day.
  • July 31, 2016 (Seattle, Wa.) — Appt. was fully booked so my husband begged if they can squeezed him in and that we’ve been doing this for the 4th time. —— FINALLY!!!! All papers was accepted.
    • PS: Each time we had appointment, there is a $25 fee (whether you’re successful or not with your intended service/s, you will still have to pay).You might be wondering why it took us 4 tries, you might think that there’s a negligence in terms of collecting the paperworks. My husband was not the only person that was experiencing the same thing, there are also some other filipinos who came back and forth (some drove all the way from Oregon State, was forced to stayed extra day/s & took days off from work) because the Consulate itself failed to provide people the correct instruction/checklist on what documents are needed. Each person from the Consulate that my husband talks to required less or additional paper/s ,there is no consistency on their part and during that time the SF consulate’s website wasn’t updated yet. Compare to their new website (much much better and organized). 

THE WAITING BEGINS: From US CONSULATE→DFA→PSA 

• • Sep. 1, 2016 - Still no record on file
    • My interview is coming up soon (Sep. 12) so I need to get a passport for my daughter ASAP, I know that there’s always a way, again I dd my research and stuffs. 
  • Sep. 26, 2016 - Since my husband haven’t had any success on reaching SF Consulate, I went to DFA Aseana office to ask if they’ve received my daughters ROB and yes they did!!!!! So I asked for 3 important info. (Transmittal#, Dispatch# and Transmittal Date) that I need then went straight to PSA main office for endorsement and BC will be ready for pick-up at PSA Sta. Mesa after 12 working days (Oct. 12, 2016)!!!!!
    • Note: PSA Main office (East Ave. QC) will be closed starting Oct. 3, 2016 for renovation and will be moved to Sta. Mesa branch 
    • Transmittal Date: Date when the DFA sent our papers to PSA
    • PS:  I just got home from PSA, my husband called and told me that SF left a voicemail and said that they have no record of our ROB packet and that they have never received it. ?????? I’m gonna die!! ??

From ROB filling (July 31, 2016) to NSO BC (Oct. 12, 2016) = 10 weeks and 3 days TOTAL

Hi. Your children are dual citizen. You can either pay for ECC or get them a phil. passport. Recognition of phil. citizenship is NOT REQUIRED. I suggest to just get them a phil. passport (faster and cheaper since you have 3 kids, not unless you're willing to pay) when I brought my US daughter (born in US) back in 2011 to Phil. She's holding a US passport only when we moved back here in the states (2016) I only applied for her phil. passport. During our departure we only paid the travel tax P1620 & P810 (for my daughter), her Old and new US passport was asked upon checked in and no issue/s or any interrogation while we pass through the NAIA immigration. 

Now to get your childrens Phil. passport, what you need is their; (we went to DFA Aseana)

*PSA birth cert. (this proves that your children are filipino citizen)

*bring also marriage cert. (if married), I was asked when we applied

*PSA birth cert. (mother)

*2 valid ID (mother). I used my PRC license and Phil. passport

* Valid ID for your children (I brought my daughters school transcript, ID, library card and most recent report card but they only asked for school ID). 

*bring childrens US passport, Yes, I was asked if my daughter have a US passport but they didn't even look at it. 

I paid P1200 for rush processing and exactly after 7 days it was ready for PIck-up. 

Now your biggest challenge here is to get an earliest DFA appt. since your children are all under 7y/o. I read on their website that minors under 7y/o qualifies for courtesy lane, meaning you can just show up to their office without an appointment but call or go to your nearest DFA office to verify before bringing your 3 babies. 

Now that I'm still seeing parents with Dual Citizen child/ren having issues leaving PI. I'll post my experience on here just to help out others. 

GOOD LUCK

Ok just to clarify it. Naturalized USC needs cemar as well? I want to make sure before we one... thank you

If the petitioner is a filipino naturalized USC then yes. Get him a cemar too. Rhey may or may not ask for it but in case they do at least you have one.

Hi. So sorry. I should have been more precise. My husband was naturalized USC that could have been the reason why they did asked for his cemomar/cemar as well.

Same here. When i had my interview they asked for our CENOMAR/CEMAR (hubby & me). Although it was not listed on the NVC checklist and also on the embassy interview e-mail. I still brough it in and luckily I did. Thanks to VJ. I've noticed that they randomly asked CEMAR to spousal visa so it's better to just get a copy and bring it with you. It's cheap anyways.

Good luck.

HI Aila, yes I got the visa packet last tuesday. Thank you so much and Philippines Sagot for the kind assistance.

Wow finally!!! Congratulations!! Happy for you ? and you're welcome.

Good luck on your flight and safe travel. ??

Hi. I remember you. Did you finally got your visa?

Here's the direct number (+632) 552 4723 to cancel. Thats what they gave me when i cancelled mine (aug.) They will ask you reason for cancellation.

The fiancé/husband is an american by blood so I am assuming that he knows that ONLY usc can vote. But maybe yes i''m wrong he doesn't know like what you said about your husband. But you are bringing a person to marry and live permanently from a different country so it is both your responsibility to know the process and the system.

I'm sorry that these happens to you. This is a stupid mistake (no offense), an honest mistake (considering that you are new). We are from the same country and I'm sure that you know that only citizens are allowed to vote (Phil.). you should have at least assumed that its the same in USA. I understand at that time you are new and lacks knowledge to rules,laws etc. but it's not an excuse, you came to US and it's your responsibility to educate yourself about their system and culture. if it was me, even if the DMV said yes that I can vote (in spite of showing mg LPR card and NSO birth. cert.). I would have at least doubted him/her and ask my USC husband instead. Let's just say he's not there. I still wouldn't register. My rule is; be very cautious and smart when you are registering and make sure to read before signing up especially if you are disclosing your private/personal information. It's a general rule but again this is just me.

Did you even told your husband that you register to vote? Cause i'm pretty sure that he knows that you cant. What makes this worst is that you actually voted.

Like what others said these will affect your citizenship and I know that these doesn't answer your question but i hope that you'll be very extra careful next time and find a way to fix this.

Sorry and Good Luck

Our daugher is a dual citizen by birth, she have the rights to both countries (USA & Phil), this includes acquiring a passport to both country, as long as you filed the necessary documents. These includes recognition of filipino citizenship, retention/re-acquition (RA9225) and also report of birth abroad. I'' pretty much aware of my daughters dual citizneship since i've been working on hers for years now. And from what i have learned and also from experiences from my fil-ams classmates back in colleges (who's also a dual citizen) is alot of philippine immig. employees is not pretty much aware of these processes especially the report of birth abroad, because only a few filipino parents do this and that they don'5 see the importance of it especially if they are living in US permantly thats why most of them advised people to acquire recognition. When we filed report of birth abroad and as soon as she had her birth recorded here (PSA) then that makes her a legal filipino citizen.

Anyways the decision is really up to you guys. I'' just sharing. I'll update once we arrived in US soon.

Good luck ?

You should have gotten one of this when you had your shots. So you'll know what to expect.

May i ask if you guys were already married at the time of your childs birth? If not then yes your child must carry her filipina mothers surname. Not unless if you fill up a paternity consenst form to use fathers surename before you register your childs birth to your local civil registry then PSA. I just went to DFA yesterday to apply for our daughters passport she's born in US to a filipino citizdn mother and USC father (we were mot married yet at that time). My husband filled for a report of birth in US and since our daughter is born out of wedlock we had to file a affidavit to use fathers surename, affidacit of joint legitimation (to legitimize our child, because philippine govt. doesnt allow illegitimate children to carry father's surename) and affidavit of paternity. And during the interview/investigation step (DFA) we had no problem, they just asked for her original PSA copy of report of birth, school ID and photocopy of my passport biopage and askef if she have a US passport then they stamped her application and were approved to apply for phil. passport.