srg3037

On 3/26/2022 at 12:00 AM, Steve2022 said:

...  Still no answer from the Embassy inquiry form, but I called the NVC today and asked if I should expedite.  The agent said I should, that the Manila Embassy/Consulate is not processing "routine" visa interviews.  Whatever that means.   It doesn't really sound right to me.  Maybe I should call back Monday and ask again.   Is IR1 routine? 

 

I got an MRI last week and it is worse than we thought.   But at this point, we have already waited over 90 days since DQ.   So has anyone else gotten a CR1/IR1 interview letter recently, and when was your DQ?   I have a feeling that if I were to file for an expedite, it would make me have to schedule the appointment online myself, and I'm reading that there might(?) be no slots.  In other words, it could mess everything up if I file the expedite.  Are there slots for expedited CR1/IR1 available?   Thanks. 

For sure you should expedite through the NVC.  In my case after being told all documents were completed it sat at NVC stage to send to the Embassy for over 3 months.  I decided to request for it to be expedited and within 4 days of the request it was approved.  A week later it was showing as Ready at the Embassy and I was lucky to be able to secure a visa interview date.  A 6 weeks later my daughters have their IR2 in their hands.  

12 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Did you request/receive an expedite from NVC?   I ask because with immigrant visas NVC will get an interview date for you BEFORE they transfer your case file to the embassy.    If you case file is at the embassy you may have to call to get an interview date as the online system has been very restricted as of late (since the beer virus got in full swing).   Try the online system first if that doesn't work then you know your answer    

Yes I requested an expedite at NVC stage after I was DQ'd as it was sitting for 4 months stuck at NVC.  They approved the expedite request in early Feb and has been at Ready status since Feb 7th.   I have available appt's spots open if I log onto USATRAVELDOCS for mid late March I just was not sure if that was the proper avenue to schedule because the generic status says NVC will send you an appt letter/notification.

Hello everyone, as the title indicates my daughters' IR-2 cases both show as Ready at the US Embassy in Manila.  I created an USTRAVLEDOCS account for both to create a passport/visa return address.  My question is can I also schedule an interview for them online through the same website?  Or do I need for the Embassy/NVC to schedule it.    From searching I have seen a mix of answers.  I wanted to know what the prevailing opinion was.   

On 1/29/2022 at 11:53 PM, IWander said:

I don't lump all IR visas into on bucket.  2 to 3 month wait before the pandemic was probably the norm for IR1/2.  Having a 1 month expectation during the pandemic is well...,. If you want the real story for Manila, go to the Philippines regional forum where others similarly situated can advise.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding  but we are in the Philippines regional forum, this is where the original thread was posted.  Anyways it seems like the everyone has had a different experience and it changes month to month.  For some it was month, some 3 and some longer.  I'm at 3 months and some are telling me that is longer than most.  I will put in a expediated request since my daughters' living situation was essentially destroyed in Super Typhoon Rai last month. 

On 1/29/2022 at 11:26 PM, Steve2022 said:

THANK YOU for your detailed answer!  I think that based on this, we will not expedite.  Do you have a spreadsheet of the data you compiled? 

 

Fast for what kind of visa?   Other people are saying that longer than 1 month would be slow for an IR1.   You can't lump all IR visas together because it is my understanding that they are prioritized differently.  

 

They have lumped all the different IR cases into one category, which makes the information less useful.

 

I would personally still expedite.  It is just an email to NVC, it cant hurt and it is easy to draft as long as you include the information they require.   I was originally told it would only take a month to get an interview date and I'm now at 3 months.   In hindsight and also because of the effects of the typhoon I should of expedited sooner.  

I would love to see what anyone else has scene with IR1/2.   I know for top_secret they have said it took a month but maybe that is not the norm.   It certainly has not been the case for me.  

My two children's cases were DQ's on November 8, 2021 for IR-2 visas.  My status still shows at NVC and have not received an interview letter for either.   I'm kind of at a loss as well because it seems people have been getting quicker interviews.  

This is what the US Embassy at Manila says for IR-2 status, that cant be right can it?  

Immigrant Visa (IV):  The Embassy is processing immigrant visas across all categories. However, with significant backlogs in most categories, wait times for interviews are lengthy for all but immediate relatives (IR-1 through IR-5).  It is not possible to provide precise wait times as facilities, staffing resources, and local conditions all affect capacity and scheduling. As of December 31, 2021, most IR visa cases being scheduled for interview were documentarily complete at the National Visa Center in December 2020. Most K visa cases being scheduled were documentarily complete in August 2021. Most current employment-based cases being scheduled were documentarily complete in March 2020. Most current family preference cases were documentarily complete in August 2019.

1 hour ago, Chancy said:

 

Do you mean the email that says "Documentarily Qualified"?  It has to be those exact words for the cases to be lined up for interview.  Based on my own experience and reports from others online, since mid-2021, interview scheduling of IR1 and IR2 cases at the US embassy in Manila takes around 3 weeks from DQ date.  You should be hounding the embassy for your children's visa interview if their cases had been DQ-ed in 2020.

 

I screwed up my subject line (and I cannot locate the edit button).   They were DQ on November 8, 2021 not 2020.  Oh you best believe if it was 2020 I would be all over NVC.   So Im at 2 months wait and you are saying it was around 3-4 weeks.  The agent at NVC said they only send them over when the Embassy requests more to be sent.    The US Embassy Manila Visa page was last updated at the end of November and they said they were scheduling IR-1/2 two cases that were DQ's in early October.   But there has been no update since that time.  

Hello,

I applied for a IR-2 visa for both of my step-children.  At NVC stage they both were approved on November 8th (documents and application were complete and got the email).  However since that time it has been sitting at NVC.  How long does it usually take before they send over to the embassy before an interview is scheduled.  Is there something I should be doing in the meantime while I wait other than figuring out the logistics for the medical and interview for my children?  Do I need to complete anything further at this website - Apply for a U.S. Visa | Home - Philippines (English) (ustraveldocs.com) ?

Thank you top_secret for that information.  I was monitoring other cases as well but wanted to get more details about what people were actually seeing because the threads about other visa wait times made me wonder.   Plus it seems with the COVID situation things change weekly this all could change.  Hopefully an interview will be scheduled soon.  The tough part will be managing all the COVID rules and regs over there as my daughters (12 and 15) are in Cebu so I need to figure out the logistics with their temporary guardian on how to best get them to Manilla, get the medical and interview completed while being half-way around the world.  

Hello all,

Our two children were approved by the NVC on November 8, 2021.  What is the current wait time for IR-2 visa interviews at the Manilla embassy?   I saw the thread for IR-5 and I'm wondering if Im in the same boat with them.  If so, I guess my next step would to expedite.  

14 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

I would try just about anything at this point. I have not seen where it has taken this long after the k1 got their GC. It sure can't hurt. 

That is what I was thinking as well.  Does my daughter have to be at the Infopass appointment?  She is going away from summer camp with my grandparents for 6 weeks.  

14 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

I guess he did not from his other comment 

That is correct I did not 😪  Part of it probably was prior to tax year 2018, a TIN would get you the full child tax credit.  However with the tax change in 2018 and to combat fraud they no longer allow you to claim the credit with a TIN and you cant go back and amend once the SSN is issued.

Let's hope they can approve my daughter's adjustment soon, otherwise this will be a costly mistake on my part tax wise since it appears I could have got her an SSN all along.  

As far as my daughter's I-485, since it has been pending 8 months since the interview is it worth going to another Infopass?   

4 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Alright, so she can get one now then, as I assume they filed for AOS/EAD many months ago.

I'm confused, how can my 8 year old daughter apply for an EAD?  They would never issue it because she is not old enough to work. 

Hello all,

I'm concerned that my daughter's I-485 my have hit some brick wall.  As the subject line indicates thankfully my wife got her green card approved in Jan '19 but my daughter's I-485 application status is still the same since the Oct '18 interview.  My wife came over on a k1 and our daughter came over at the same time on a k-2 (now 8 years old).  Filed the two I-485 applications as  I should, got an interview date for October 21, 2018 for the both of them (same time but separate letters).   When my wife's case was approved in January but my daughter's was not at the same time I was told that was normal.  In mid-March '19 I scheduled an Infopass because it was 120+ days without a decision post interview.  I was told at the Infopass (after they emailed the officer) that it would be escalated to a supervisor and I should hear back in 2-3 weeks.   I received no word so I decided to try my Senator.  I wrote a letter in mid-May and the Senator's response was the local office in Baltimore said the standard time was 11 months to 30 months and I was in that time period (I-485 was filed in June '17).      

Is this wait time still normal?  Should I schedule another Infopass?  Any other avenues?   

The other side issue is without a GC I cant get my daughter an SSN and without a SSN I cannot claim the full child credit (applied for extension).  So the difference in taxes is I owe $1,600.00 or I owe nothing (tax credit with valid SSN is $2,000 or just with a TIN is $500.00

On 1/29/2019 at 8:09 PM, Skyfaring said:

Hey! Sorry for such a late response. I had my interview on October 30th and still haven’t heard anything. I’m hoping you have had better news than me by now! 

My wife just got approved on January 18th and we had the green card in our hands on the 25th.   Our daughter however is still pending approval.  It looks like from what I have seen Baltimore is about a 3 -4 months wait after the interview if you were not approved on the spot.  

Hello all,

As the subject line indicates thankfully my wife got her green card approved and it arrived this week.  However my daughter's I-485 application status is still the same since the interview.  My wife came over on a k1 and our daughter came over at the same time on a k-2 (now 8 years old).  Filed the two I-485 applications as  I should, got an interview date in October 2018 for the both of them (same time but separate letters).    Then 12 days ago my wife's case was approved but my daughter's case status is the same since October interview.  Is this normal that they wouldn't be processed at the same time?  I thought my daughter's status has to follow my wife's since her visa/right to be her is due to my wife.    Curious what others have seen.  

We had out interview on the 19th of October.  Everything went fine but the agent indicated she could not approve anything and her supervisor would need to (appeared to be a new employee as she said she worked in the IRS prior).   Appears for Baltimore if you don't get an approval within a week it takes about 2-3 months.  Anyone else from October or earlier still waiting?

For those that went through the Baltimore office for AOS.  After a patient 15 month wait my wife and daughter finally have an interview scheduled for October 19th.  My questions revolves around the completed medical examination requirement (I-693) and whether those who conduct the interview are looking for a medical even if  the INA and USCIS policy manual says it is not strictly required for K1s.

Prefer not to waste $500 if it seems like it might not be asked for.  

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume8-PartB-Chapter3.html

"4. K or V Nonimmigrants Applying for Adjustment ^[26]

K and V nonimmigrants applying for adjustment of status are not required to repeat the medical examination if the application was filed within one year of the date of the original medical examination, and:

•The medical examination did not reveal a Class A medical condition; or

•The applicant received a conditional waiver in conjunction with the K or V nonimmigrant visa or the change of status to V and the applicant submits evidence of compliance with the waiver terms and conditions. ^[27]"

Hello,

After a patient 15 month wait my wife and daughter finally have an interview scheduled for October 19th.  My questions revolves around the completed medical examination requirement (I-693) and whether my wife and daughter need to get a new one before the interview or whether we should wait afterwards if we are told we need a new one.

Wife and daughter came over on K1 visa.  They both did the required medical examination (DS-3025 form) in February 2017 prior to their K1 visa interview.   My wife and I got married after she arrived in the States, and I submitted the AOS application for the both of them on June 15, 2017 (NOA date was July 3rd).   We did not need to submit the I-693 medical examination with he AOS application as it was not required so long as the I-485 application was filed within year of their medical examination.  

The question now is whether that medical exam is still good, or do I need to schedule a civil surgeon medical examination?  My understanding was with the filing of the AOS the overseas medical's validity was extended for a year so if the interview date is past the 12 month filing date we will need a new medical exam.  

Any help is much appreciated.

You also mention K2 in the subject line.  Did your fiance arrive with her child/children?  If  so you have to file a AOS for them as well and the fees  are $750 per child and an additional $85 if 14 years and older. 

1 minute ago, Sagot said:

 

Yes.  Required.   All applicants for a visa must attend the interview.   The daughter has her passport... that is the ID

 

You paid for two visa fees correct?

Thanks Sagot.  That is what I thought.  Yup I paid two visa fees, two completed DS-160s, etc.   Everything has been so smooth due to the wonderful advice and information from this forum/website. 

Yes the passport is her ID until they take it after the interview.  They have to fly back to Cebu after the interview so I was wondering about other acceptable IDs.

Hello everyone,

Interview is scheduled for 2/21/17.   Medical and all supporting documents for both my fiancé and her daughter are completed and ready to go.  My questions is does her daughter need to attend the interview?  She is 6 years old. I have searched around and I have heard yes, it is needed to show proof of who you are.  Others have said no.  I see nothing on the US Embassy website.  Anyone know for sure?

Also when they take the passport to glue the visa into it, all my fiancé has for an ID is her TIN card (has picture).  I believe that is sufficient for ID when she files back home from Manila.  And also the birth certificate for her daughter is sufficient as ID?

Thanks for the help.

Hello everyone,

K1 petition was approved, we have our case # and are in the process of getting ready to schedule an interview. My fiance has a minor child and the name she gave me to list on the K1 petition is slightly different then what is on her birth certificate. For example I listed her name on the petition as:

Mary (first) Faith (middle) Jones (last)

but on her birth certificate it is listed as

Mary Faith (first) Smith (middle) Jones (last)

Smith is the mother's last name and Jones is the father's last name. The minor is illegitimate as my fiance and the father were not married at any point. She is the sole caretaker of her daughter.

The reason I discovered the name issue is we are in the process of applying for the child's passport. I'm guessing the name on the passport will have to match with what is on the birth certificate.

So the questions is if the K1/K2 petition states her name as Mary Faith Jones but her passport states Mary Faith Smith Jones will we have any issues? If so, how to resolve. Or is a simple explanation all that is needed.

Thank you all for any insight.

We first met through Facebook. For the question 34A on I129F (Circumstances of Meeting) I attached a statement of how we met in-person and did not include any information regarding how we were introduced. Argh I overlooked that portion. Easy enough fix.

So how are you going to respond to it? Are you going to write a letter detailing how you met? I thought you already did that when you sent your I-129F packet. I had her write a letter and me sign a letter and each of us signed it. You didn't do that?

One of the RFE's was me. I got my NOA1 on September 21st, the RFE was issued 10/19 and I received it in the mail yesterday. The RFE just asks for me to "submit information regarding the circumstances under which you and beneficiary met to establish the relationship". Easy enough response but I guess I should have just included that information to begin with.