jannapalmer

Sorry for the confusion, so you just can't do DCF at the embassy? But beneficiaries of petitions can still interview at the embassy?

I am not up to date with the whole immigration situation in the Philippines. I heard that USEM visa center has permanently closed. Can I still petition my parent who lives in the Philippines, file I-130 online? Would it even be processed? Or would it just get stuck at the  NVC? Anyone who has recently done this?

He will fill up I-864 as well, since he's your co-sponsor. I-864A is filled up only by a person who wants to add up his/her income to the primary sponsor.

Hi! I got my driver's license in Fl. The thing here is, you'll have to take an online course first about alcohol & substance abuse, road signs and basic traffic rules..it comes with a test in the end. Once you pass that, you can go to the DMV and take the written exam (on a computer). It's kinda hard especially if you have no background at all with driving. They will ask for your social security and passport/visa or green card for this. Once you pass that, you take the actual behind-the-wheel driving test. Pass that and you get your driver's license right after

I don't know enough about your relationship but if you're gonna go through the CR1 route - if/when you decide to get married in the Philippines and file the petition at the US Embassy in the Philippines, the major requirements they look for are proof of marital relationship/Co-mingling of finances AND for the US citizen a minimum of 6 months of residency in the Philippines

Also, be aware of traffic rules especially when you're driving in Metro Manila, particularly EDSA, like don't drive in yellow lanes or take service roads etc.. coz those police/traffic enforcers can be brutal with fines especially if they see you're a foreigner. Like when my USC husband would drive and get pulled over for some reasons, they would never give you a ticket but they would ask for as much as 6k. So better yet, find someone you trust, a local, to drive you around.

Greenbaum is right, he has to meet the requirements. Plus, they really look at the income tax. Actually, that's all they look at. Everything else is just supplemental documents. When I went for the interview, I brought my co-sponsors' pay stubs, W2s, employment stuff for recent past 3 years but the consul only looked and cared for the recent 1040.

Yeah. My husband at that time also has an ACR card that says tourist. He didn't become a permanent resident. And they allowed it for the filing of petition.

I'm already an LPR, I have a green card.

Option1: wait 3 years and petition them

Option2: ask my US citizen uncle to petition his brother and his wife (my parents)

Yup definitely do DCF if you've lived in the Philippines for at least 6 months. Get married and file a petition. It doesn't matter how long you've been married, what matters is how long you were in the Philippines. My husband filed the petition less than a month after our wedding. Our visa was approved and we were able to fly to the US in 2 months. Barring unnecessary circumstances, DCF is almost always the fastest route. My husband was also unemployed that time, just receiving military pensions. So yeah, get a really good co-sponsor (our co-sponsor was earning like $110k annually). The embassy don't have any issues with that.

Anyone heard about the Philippine embassy's Consular Outreach Program in Jacksonville this coming weekend?

It's announced on their site and I already sent an appointment request last July, but I didn't get a response so I assumed I didn't get a slot. But they still hasn't posted anything on the website like updates or the list of people who got the slots coz they said they're gonna announce that...

You are far! Boynton Beach, Palm Beach county! It's like 2 hours from you

Aww, but it's not that far. We always drive to Orlando and Tampa. There's neat Asian market in Orlando that you might wanna check out

I'm in Lake Placid, Highlands county. You?

Hi! I just moved to the US last month.It's been nice so far, and yes I do miss speaking in my native language sometimes. I'm from the Philippines as well.

Particularly highlands county?

Thanks for the responses guys. First off, I dont need to report my marriage coz I have CR1 visa. I got married in PH. PH consulate in US says all I need to do is renew my passport to be able to use my married name and everything else follows. I just present my marriage certificate.

But to do that, I have to come in person to the embassy which is in LA or DC.

YES I know too well I could have done this before we even file for a petition. BUT Philippines sucks when you want to do things fast, I couldn't get an appointment from DFA soon enough and at that time we have a deadline to follow - which is get to US in time for my sister-in-law's wedding. Which we got to do last week, we had a double wedding here in FL.

Anyways, thanks for the suggestion Greenbaum, I'll look out for when the consulate would do the outreach in Jacksonville and I might take the 3 or 4 hours drive there.

So since there's not one embassy in Florida where I'm currently at..all the others are just so far away and we can't make a big trip yet as we're still trying to get settled.. is it okay to just keep using my maiden name for now? or would it have any bearing once the time comes that I have to remove conditions? My passport is still in my maiden name, as well as social security and driver's license..

since you're doing DCF, after the petition is approved you will receive an email with MNL case number. Once you get this, you could proceed to scheduling your interview and filling up ds-260 online. You can now also schedule your medical, just make sure it's at least 1 week before the interview.

With regards to the fees,

Php 11,300 for the medical, which you pay at St. Lukes

$325 visa processing fee that you pay on the day of the interview at the cashier in the embassy

Got it. 2GO texted and my visa will arrive today.

Superr duperr thanks Hank for all the help! I wouldn't have done it without all your tips and advice, you're a gem!

I see. I guess I'll just set aside money for the travel tax just in case. Am I the only one required to pay that at NAIA or my USC husband also pays for that? or is it already covered in his exit clearance?

Hopefully we get here tomorrow!

btw, Hank my flight itinerary indicates $86 tax and fees.. does that mean travel tax is already included in my ticket?

yup same here

called them today... after an hour the status changed to ISSUED

same here! hopefully it'll be good news for us soon!

hmmm.., We passed our interview on May 18.. still no visa

CEAC status is administrative processing last status update is May 24

The CO told us that we passed and just wait for our visa 5-10 working days and today is the 10th working day.

Should I try to call them?

You could call them to follow-up on it.

Thanks. I guess I'm just worried that we might not make it there on our desired date.. we really wanted to be there in my sister-in-law's wedding..