jannapalmer

Glad I found out about it in time. In the email they stated CENOMAR so for anyone who does not do enough research it could cause unnecessary delays in your IV application.

Thank God for visajourney! Lol

Update: Unfortunately PAL doesn't allow in-cabin for pets.. only as checked in baggage. My poor dog's gonna stress out with the long flight, being in a strange environment and not being with me... and plus, we're most likely gonna be doing connecting flights so... it might not be a good option.

Thanks. I called NSO/PSA and said if I request it now I could get it this Friday.

Follow-up question on that... what if I still have my CENOMAR? Can I just present that along with my Marriage Certificate? To show I haven't been married before? Coz I only got married this March.. My interview is next Monday, it would take about a week if I try to get a CEMAR now..

Thanks!

Congratulations! I won't be able to attend her interview because I didn't have enough vacation to both visit her family later this year and attend. I suspect she will have built a lot of confidence by getting her CFO certificate and medical complete - hopefully she will be glowing - as I think her friends are probably sick of hearing about me. It's also nice to see stories like this that I can share with her. Thanks for sharing! Good luck! Ours is May 23, and I am hopeful to get her here for Memorial day so we have several days together without burning up too much vacation time.

My interview is also on the 23rd! Good luck!

Wow congrats! I was gonna ask how you organized your photos, but you already said it in your response. It's reassuring to read stories like this, and actually a lot of cases being approved as long as you have everything and followed the correct steps.

Maybe later on you could also post about your experience when she gets to the US and finally starting your life together there

Hi, they also required a CENOMAR from me aside from my Certificate of Marriage. It's just legal proof that you didn't have previous marriages before. Also, didn't you get a CENOMAR before you got married? I believe it's one of the requirements to get a marriage license. If you had kept that, that should be fine.

Hi, I was gonna edit my response to you coz I realized how it can be misleading but the edit/delete button was no longer available. Sorry about that. Good thing there are others who provided the right info. As for the interview, I dunno about your embassy but as far as I know there's usually a local CO or CO from your country who does the pre-screening and an american CO who does the main interview..

I don't know if it's totally off-topic (or maybe lol) I just don't know in which forum to post my question.

Here's some background details:

My USC husband petitioned me under I-130 and got approved. I've done most steps via DCF in USEM Manila and just counting down days til my interview and hopefully gets approved for a CR1 visa.

My husband and I got married March 5, 2016 but we've been living together in the Philippines for more than 2 years. So my question is..

Can I bring our pet dog with me?

I googled and found the requirements for my pet dog to travel are her medical clearance from her vet and vaccination record and/or certificate. She's fit and healthy, no medical issues. She's a 1-year and 4 months old miniature poodle.

Would you advise me to take her with me? Are there any other requirements and steps I should take? Do you know how much it would cost? Should I bring this up during my interview?

I know it sounds juvenile but I just really wanna bring her with me.. Any tips would be greatly appreciated especially if you're from Philippines and you've already flown with a dog. Thanks!

they usually give 3-4 shots:

MMR

Tdap

Varicella (if you haven't had or can't show a scar from chickenpox)

Recently, they added a vaccine for Influenza, but the doctor said it will only be available for a time so we got lucky.

aww... I see.. I'll know when my interview comes up. I'm still hoping I won't have to...

I think it just means if you're traveling together to the US by the time the visa gets approved

I see. Thanks! The reason I asked is because I'm an occupational therapist licensed abroad. Most of my colleagues here moved and work in the US now with a working visa and they had to pass TOEFL prior to taking the national board exam which is NBCOT to be eligible to work in the US.

I'm not yet eligible to practice my profession in the US as I have not taken that exam. But I'm hoping I could work at least as an assistant or aid to registered occupational therapists.

Hi! Is TOEFL a requirement when applying for a job in the US if you're from a foreign country and just moved there under spouse visa?

Oh geez, noted.

After my medical, I was given a brown sealed envelope containing my medical results and I was told never to open it and just hand it to the consul at the time of my interview. And then the cd of x-ray (with the instruction never to open it or tamper the case) and immunization record to show when I finally arrive to the US

But I was told at St. Lukes that I need to keep my cd of x-ray and immunization record in my hand carry to easily pull it out when they ask it from me at POE.. or I may be wrong

Thanks! I really hope so

I'm kinda anxious coz my interview is coming up and I'm scared that I committed error in filling up forms.. and it may delay our IV process..

Here's the thing:

* I-130 petition used my married name (already approved, even though passport has maiden name still)

* my passport still has my maiden name on it

* medical exam results used my maiden name coz they rely on my passport details

* CFO certificate used my maiden name coz they also use passport details

* NBI clearance indicates I'm married, has my maiden name on it but added husband surname..

but.. in filling up DS260, it has my married name on it coz it just followed the one on the petition.. although I indicated under "Other Names" my maiden name.

And I can't edit it anymore coz it has already been submitted and reviewed. I already got the email with instructions for my interview, so it has already moved from NVC to consulate.

So... do you think I'll have problems when the interview day comes and it might cause delay in my IV process coz of conflicting names? Should I worry?

I already scheduled to update my passport to my married name (IN CASE they ask me to correct the names etc..) but it wouldn't be til July... or would they ask us to file a petition again using my maiden name? God I hope not..

The vaccinations are included in the medical fee at St. Luke's so need to worry about it. Medical exam costs Php 11,300. It's okay if she doesn't have a vaccination record, they'll just give her shots like she never had them before and after she's done with medical they would provide an immunization record that she will show/bring to POE.

They would give 3-4 shots. Varicella, DPT, Flu and Measles. If she can show a scar from previous chickenpox they would no longer administer the varicella shot.

Hank is right, better bring gadgets for games coz waiting time between each step is like 30mins to an hour! It's such a loooong day.

Yup. It's half a day. But with my experience it took longer than expected coz in the CFO form that you fill up online to get a sched they emphasize being there 1 1/2 hour before session starts. I was there at 7:30 coz my session is supposed to start at 9am but ended up starting at 11am... coz the counselor came late and the individual interviews (which she also does prior) took too long. I was sooo upset. And after the seminar is done, you have to wait another hour or so for them to release your certificate.

I don't have my visa yet when I attended it and they would just consider your attendance to the seminar for the purpose of renewing/updating your passport. Coz it's also a requirement to attend the CFO seminar if you're married to a USC and wants to update your passport to use your married name.

Regardless, you still get a certificate. Once you get your visa, just go back to CFO office, show your certificate to get your sticker. And don't worry coz CFO certificate is valid a lifetime, you don't have to do this ever again.

Great! Hope to meet you soon Pree!

Just wondering if there is anyone here who are from or will be moving to Florida? specifically in or close to Lake Placid? Maybe we can keep in touch and you can share with me some tips and advice or your personal experiences in living there? I'm looking at moving there early June if my visa gets approved and there are no other problems. Thanks!

When I attended my seminar, there were some Filipinas who brought their American husbands with them, and they were not allowed inside the seminar room. They just looked so sad waiting looong hours outside.

I think, in most steps of the visa process, it's not ideal to bring the USC petitioner like during your medical exam or CFO seminar coz they won't be allowed entry.. except during the interview coz with the USC right there with you, it's added evidence of bona fide marriage or relationship.

Not difficult. It's by appointment. So check their website to schedule one.

Fee is Php400.

You need to bring orig and photocopy of your passport.

Orig and photocopy of 2 valid IDs.

Visa (if you already have it)

You can attend it before, during or after the visa process.

Before you get your visa: you attend the seminar and get the certificate after, but you come back later once you already have your visa to register and get the CFO sticker for your passport

When you already have your visa: Just show them your passport with visa, register, attend the seminar and get certificate and sticker after.

Locations: CFO Manila, CFO Cebu

Flow:

1. Fill-up form

2. Take your photos

3. Individual interviews

4. Seminar proper

5. Payment and release of certificates

You can't leave Philippines without the sticker as they will look for it.