sillygirl

Hi all! Need some advice...

how did you answer the questions below?

for DS-156:

22. When Do You Intend To Arrive In The U.S.? (Provide specific date if known)

and DS-157:

18. Have You Made Specific Travel Arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location

Say I already have a booking, is it okay to write it there?

I know the US embassy's advice is not to make travel plans unless you have your visa but my fiance booked a flight already but made sure there is enough time from the interview date to the flight date.

We put specific dates since we already had tickets. It ended up taking longer than we expected to get the visa and the dates/tickets had to be changed. We had allowed for 10 days after the interview.

hi! thanks for the reply. i'll do the same thing.

No. Its surprising bcz thats the my nick name and my family calls me by this name so i was very surprised that ooops someone knows me personaly.

Hey gugu, what will be the prize for LuzyC? She guessed ur name! And your name starts with "R" also like Rapunzel....

Hi all! Need some advice...

how did you answer the questions below?

for DS-156:

22. When Do You Intend To Arrive In The U.S.? (Provide specific date if known)

and DS-157:

18. Have You Made Specific Travel Arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location

Say I already have a booking, is it okay to write it there?

I know the US embassy's advice is not to make travel plans unless you have your visa but my fiance booked a flight already but made sure there is enough time from the interview date to the flight date.

for DS-156:

and DS-157:

22. When Do You Intend To Arrive In The U.S.? (Provide specific date if known)

We already have date for my travel flights so I put it in there

18. Have You Made Specific Travel Arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location

I printed out my summary trip and I included it upon my submission, so I put there see attached doc

--

Sillygirl,

Sorry I wasn't able to reply last week I'm terribly busy tying some loose ends in the office and packing up my stuff. The night before my flight I need to do some last minute repacking because my Uncle told me that the box of my wedding gown will not be allowed as my hand carry, so I transferred it in my luggage (bummer!). Anyway, I'm already here. I got here Friday afternoon. Yesterday I did some drive test.. trying to get used to with the traffic rules and regulation... I started cooking my own rice yesterday too my mom must be proud of me . It turn out good . Anyway,catch up with you later... gtg.

Brit

hi brit! thanks for the info.

nice to know that u made it there and is "cooking."

Hey guys...

I am actually in Dubai..

I have just been approved and I am waiting for my file to get to UAE right now... so I dont know how long that will take but I am hoping I will get me interview soon,.. and I guess I will be the first to know how it goes/.. I ll be sure to let you know

Congratulations on your approval! Hope you get an interview date soon.

Ready4One & Matt5121, i have a feeling will definitely be a shorter wait there in UAE compared to the wait in the Phils.

One of my colleagues in UAE made an appointement for a tourist visa and she was interviewed after two weeks! Here in the Phils, the waiting time for that is four-six months.

Maybe i should have waited it out there in UAE.

Hi all! Need some advice...

how did you answer the questions below?

for DS-156:

22. When Do You Intend To Arrive In The U.S.? (Provide specific date if known)

and DS-157:

18. Have You Made Specific Travel Arrangements? If YES, please provide a complete itinerary for your travel, including arrival/departure dates, flight information, specific location you will visit, and a point of contact at each location

Say I already have a booking, is it okay to write it there?

I know the US embassy's advice is not to make travel plans unless you have your visa but my fiance booked a flight already but made sure there is enough time from the interview date to the flight date.

First of all congratulations to all that got their approvals today!! So happy for all of you and wish you all the best in the future. May the rest of your journey fly by so very fast so you can be reunited with your significant others.

Has anyone here(either yourself of Fiancee) interviewed in UAE before? My Fiancee and I are wondering if there is anyplace we could find a format or guideline so she will somewhat know what to expect. Just figured I would take a shot in the dark and see if anyone has been through it or knows anyone that has gone through it. Thanks as always.

Hi! I considered having my interview in UAE. I tried emailing the US Embassy / Consulate there regarding the documents that they will require so that i can prepare them in advance. I waited more than a month for their reply but i never got any. Waiting and worrying at the same time. LOL

I hope you find someone who can be more helpful. Goodluck guys!

Now that would have been a serious "neener, neener"!!

ROFL

I checked online and got this message saying:

Receipt Number: WACXXXXXXXXXX

Application Type: I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status:

This case has been approved. On August 31, 2006, an approval notice was mailed. If 30 days have passed and you have not received this notice, you may wish to verify or update your address. To update your address, please speak to an Immigration Information Officer during business hours.

Thank you very much. Best wishes to those who are still waiting, especially those in March, April and May!

Yey, congratulations!

Guess that means no more venting now huh? I will miss that.

Congratulations!

Case Status

Receipt Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Application Type: I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status:

This case has been approved. On September 1, 2006, an approval notice was mailed. If 30 days have passed and you have not received this notice, you may wish to verify or update your address. To update your address, please speak to an Immigration Information Officer during business hours.

Congratulations! That is awesome news.

Meesa needa visa...

Sigh.

Who has the popcorn now? Kez, my turn?

can i have some?

i'm lost...

VJ is really addictive! it sure beats day time drama shows.

sillygirl - Is that the call center number? I called the Manila Embassy direct at 011-63-2-528-6300 then dial 0 for the operator and ask for the Immigrant Visa Unit, which handles K1 Visas. DO NOT ASK FOR NONIMMIGRANT VISA! The best time to call is at 0730 (Manila Time). Cheers!!!

THIS NUMBER HAS NO SURCHARGE! SO FOR USCs IT'S WHATEVER YOUR LONG DISTANCE RATE IS...

Does that mean it's cheaper to call that number?

sillygirl - Is that the call center number? I called the Manila Embassy direct at 011-63-2-528-6300 then dial 0 for the operator and ask for the Immigrant Visa Unit, which handles K1 Visas. DO NOT ASK FOR NONIMMIGRANT VISA! The best time to call is at 0730 (Manila Time). Cheers!!!

Yup, that's the call center number. They are charging 55pesos per minute but it won't be a long call. When i called, it only took me 3-5mins tops and i got all the info that i wanted like when the embassy got the packet (even though i already know that even before i called), when they mailed it out and my interview date.

Oh and the first time I called, i got the same line about it being 120days blah blah blah. I think that's their standard answer to querries. I waited 4 days before calling again (can't stand the suspense ) and i got the date!

Hope you guys get your interview date soon!

Goodluck to Windchaser's finacee on her interview tom!

and to Brit, have a safe trip!

hi silly,

what 1-800 number you are referring to? i would like to call them so I would know my interview date.

take care,

tam

Hi! Made an error there. it's not a 1-800 number.

but here's the number that i called: 1-909-101-7878. They will ask for your MNL case number so have it on hand when you call. Goodluck!

Be sure to post when you get your interview date!

I would really like to hear from anyone who opted to pick it up at the embassy personally. It's either that or I will have it delivered to my cousin in Manila or have him go down to Delbros and get it. We are tenatively planning on going to Cebu then Ozamiz after the interview to say our goodbyes, then back to Manila to hopefully get the visa handed to us

Yeah, it would be nice... My fiance was thinking of the same thing. Picking up the visa before he goes back to US (that is if we get approved).

I read on one of the posts here that you can actually pick it up the following day... i just can't find that post.

biggamer & sillygirl - I am hoping that "stormyrain" actually meant five months. I know that my four months has felt like four years and these four weeks have felt like four months. Good greif! LOL!

I know how you feel!

hey, have you tried calling the 1-800 number and check for your interview date? I called them after about the same time (3-4 weeks after they received my packet), that's how i got my interview date.

Waiting for notification and for the packet to get to me takes soooooooo long. I got the packet more than a month after the embassy mailed it and i live just 2hrs away from Manila!

Here's to more waiting!

what do you think if i register my birth now and get a certificate?

Hi! I know how it feels about not being able to produce the embassy required documents. But don't worry too much.

It's possible (i'm not sure what country you're in) to have your BC registered late. Just find out what documents you need to file a late registration.

Then make a copy of the complete set and bring it with you to you interview (together with your registered BC).. they can be your supporting docs for the late registration.

My BC was registered late also.

Or if it's not possible, the link that Shalz gave will help you.

Stay positive!

hey, brit! it's almost sept 1. how does it feel?

hmmm didn't know they stick it outside the envelope...i'm assuming it's in another envelope right? cuz i find it strange that they would mail something of such importance in plain view. I'll make sure she knows not to open the envelope. thanks roy!

I'm not sure if they stick it outside the envelope, but she will surely receive a sealed envelope and she must not open that.

If she plan to go to the CFO seminar (it's a requirement, otherwise she won't be let out of the country!) before she goes for her interview, she will need her original passport for that.

She can also attend the CFO seminar after she gets approved, that way, she can get the certificate and the sticker stamped on her passport the same day. Just make sure she attends the 10am session to get everything done in one day. They won't give her the sticker unless she has her visa already.

Best of luck to you guys!

in my case the suspense stage has already expired, its been almost 5 years since my husband has submitted the petition, everytime we call the manila embassy they always tell us to wait for their notification when an appoinment date will be available for me, i am almost losing hope but i keep on praying for strength to be able to stretch my patience. the paper works we submitted were completed last february we are now waiting for an available interview date. thanks for all the information you have shared it makes me feel a lot better to know that there are others who more or less are in the same situation that i am in. Good luck to all and God bless!

5yrs??? How come it's taking that long? I'm a little confused. What petition did you file?

ok, here's hopefully a simple question for ya.

my fiancee has to fly to Manila to do her interview. From what i've heard from a few threads, the consular officer keeps the passport and sends it back to my fiancee with the visa, am i correct? If so, how does my fiancee travel back home without it? wouldn't she need it for ID purposes? also, wouldn't she need it to fill out any customs and immigration forms on the plane ride over? lemme know if I'm not making any sense. thanks for any inputs

Her passport will already be surrendered to St. Luke's at the time of her medical, so she won't even have it with her when she goes for the interview. Make sure she has copies of her passport already when she goes for her medical.

Uhm... where is your fiancee flying from? If it's anywhere from the Phils, she won't be needing to fill out any customs or immigration form. Her passport is not really necessary as it's only a domestic flight and she can use other IDs for that.

However, if she will have her passport & visa documents delivered to the province, that will take a lot longer than having it delivered to a hotel or wherever she is staying in manila.

Hope that helps.

We would be happy to meet you there in Manila. Maybe you can stay at the same hotel. We will only be there 3 days, September 24, 25 & 26. We will be leaving for Valencia City on the 27th, and will return to Manila on October 2nd to spend the night. Our flight leaves Manila at 8:05am on the 3rd. Monday September the 25th is a free day for us, no specific plans. Tuesday 26th is her Interview date.

Hi! We are also booked at Bayview from Sept. 27-29. It would have been great if our dates matched.