rainking

Thank you!

Yes she does. I had her get it at Clark as you suggested. Even though I have Global Entry and could have breezed through immigration and customs at JFK, I accompanied my mom in the immigrant's line. The process was quick. They opened her sealed brown envelope and stamped her in. Not a single question.

You're welcome. Happy to share my story.

And thank you also for your service. 

You da man @Sagot! I still owe you several red horses if we ever meet! 

I know we get a lot of questions here and usually never hear back once people get their visa. I think it is important to also hear about the end results of our journey here. I petitioned my mom last year (she previously had a green card that she lost due to overstay in the Philippines). That has been five years ago. She decided that she wanted to live in the US again now that she's getting older. I'm making sure she's getting her US Citizenship this time though. The petition process takes too much time, money and stress. She was married to my dad who was a USAF stationed at Clark for most of his 20 years of service in the Air Force. We did move to Georgia once for about a year sometime in his 10 year mark. Anyways, my dad retired and loved the Philippines and lived there till he passed away in 1998 and is buried at US Veteran Cemetery in Clark. I went back to the Philippines to pick my mom up after she got her visa. I stopped and saw my dad and wanted to see the former USAF Hospital where my mom gave birth to my sister and I. It has been abandoned and gutted to to its bare structure. It was an emotional site to see as I born there and went there for all my check ups / dental work growing up as a kid. I have lots of memories about Clark Air Force Base. Anyways, I figured while i was in the Philippines I would check out a few places instead of going there, grabbing my mom and heading back to NY. So I had a 24 hours layover in Incheon, South Korea (which I booked the long layover intentionally so I could explore Seoul), South Korea. As soon as I landed in Manila, I got on a flight right to Palawan. What a beautiful Island and such great people there. I then headed back to Manila which I had to work for two nights (NY time is exactly 12 hours). Then headed to Angeles City for 2 days, went to Clark and went to where my Mom lives in the province in Pampanga. It was Holy Week so got to witness the whole sacrifice, crucifixion scene. Wow! Anyways, here are some pictures. Hope these types of post are allowed. 

Me and my mom.

Me and mom and the NAIA Airport Lounge waiting for our flight headed to JFK, NY. She's enjoying some red wine as I enjoyed my last San Miguel's. 

Visiting my dad at Clark Veterans Cemetery.

Abandoned Former USAF Hospital.

Holy Week Sacrifice

Met some awesome Filipinos in Palawan who refused to let me buy them beer and bought all my red horses. The Filipino hospitality is like no other. 

Had an amazing time in the Philippines. It's the people that make it so awesome! Can't wait to go back! Thanks again VJ'ers!

7 minutes ago, Sagot said:

She must register IN PERSON at CFO either in Manila or Cebu ( and now Clark as well), she will get her sticker then.   She will need her passport with visa before she can do this.  Read the requirements on the CFO website, she will need to bring her DO NOT OPEN packet with Immigrant Data Sheet attached, and copies of same.  

 

Do keep that envelope protected, I suggest opening the plastic to get the passport out, then make copies of the data sheet, after that put the envelope back in the plastic and keep it there until POE.

Excellent! She's from Pampanga (Near Angeles City) so she'll be happy to hear that! She's burned out from all the early travels to Manila. Thanks for the other tips! I owe you a red horse. 

On 3/9/2017 at 9:02 PM, Sagot said:

Yes.

 

As the CFO websites states, attending the seminar she is exempt, but all need the sticker to exit.

She passed her interview today. Quick question: where does she go to get the CFO sticker? At the airport when she departs? Thanks!

Thanks Sagot. I knew she was exempt from PDOS due to her age but was wondering about her still needing the CFO sticker. 

Hello,

Petitioning my mom (61 years old), her medical exam is done, she goes for her interview on the 13th. Will she require a CFO sticker on her passport? Or is this just for fiancee or spouses? She had a green card previously but moved back to the Philippines and may have had it previously when she came to the US, if that matters. Thanks VJ'ers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Calamansi-Calamondin-Lime-SEEDS-TWENTY-20-Organically-Grown-Free-Fast-Ship-/112219519044?hash=item1a20cdf844:g:3IUAAOSwEzxYPIxb

8 hours ago, Sagot said:

Absolutely!!!   

 

Allow about a week after the vaccinations as your mom will not carry her medical file over, with SPUTUM St. Luke's sends it over.  

 

Glad all went well!!

Thanks @Sagot! You're a very valuable resource to this forum. 

On 2/5/2017 at 8:06 PM, Sagot said:

 

Yes you need to cancel her current interview, then once everything is clear with SLEC and the SPUTUM you scheduled a new interview for your mom. iNFO BELOW.

 

And yes you should make sure to have her delivery address for the visa confirmed, but that is is done here:  

 

To facilitate a timely processing of immigrant visa applications, all applicants are reminded to register their delivery address online. Failure to designate a delivery address prior to your appointment date will result in delayed delivery of your passport and visa.

To register online, click on the “Select Document Delivery Address” link under the Immigrant Visas section of our website (http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/). Once there, click on the appropriate link to register a delivery address for the first time, or to change an existing delivery address.

If you have any question(s) on how to register a delivery address, please contact Manila’s Visa Information and Appointment Service Center at (632) 976-8500, (632) 976-8501 or (632) 976-8502.

 

Here is contact info for the embassy.

 

Contacting the Embassy (Manila)

 

Manila Visa Information and Appointment Service center hotlines at (632) 976-8500, (632) 976-8501 or (632) 976-8502.

 

 

The center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on Philippine and U.S. holidays.

 

 

Callers in the U.S should call (703) 520-2235 on its Eastern Standard Time equivalent of operation hours.

 

Skype: To use Skype to speak to a customer service representative Monday Friday from 8:00am to 8:00pm., please add a new contact to your Skype account with the Skype name ustraveldocs-philippines.

 

EMAIL:   IVMANILAREPLIES@STATE.GOV

 

Visa interview appointments can also be scheduled online here.

 

 

**Your mom may have to attend CFO also (depends on age), at the least she will have to be registerd to get the sticker in her passport.

 

 

Pre Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS)

Philippine law requires all departing Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad to attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Only emigrants aged 12 years and younger are exempted from attending the PDOS. Although this is not a U.S. Government requirement, we do make this information available to all fiancé(e) and immigrant visa applicants. An information sheet regarding the CFO/PDOS seminar is attached to the visa packet to ensure that applicants are aware of this requirement.

For additional information (registration and counseling requirements, PDOS schedule, and schedule of guidance and counseling sessions), the applicant may visit CFO’s website at http://www.cfo.gov.ph.

 

Thanks for your help thus far. Another question: her culture was negative and she goes in March 7th for her vaccinations. Can I reschedule her interview now for a date after March 7th?

She did her 3 day sputum test and came back a week later for her rapid. Rapid is negative but will have to go back March 2nd (2 months later) for the culture and vaccinations. Do I have to reschedule her interview after that? Anything else I need to do or be aware of? What's this 2go thing I keep seeing? Do I need to sign her up for that? Is that for when her interview gets approve, they will mail her passport back to her?

Yes the medication is included also.

Awesome! Thank you for the confirmation. Hoping the culture is negative so it's only a 2 month delay vs 9 months. But more importantly, I hope my mom is healthy.

Yes you will need to reschedule the interview, for now just cancel, then wait until you know the results before scheduling again... just in case.

SPUTUM testing is included in the cost of the medical, no additional charge, as it the medication if needed.

Here is info for contacting the embassy to reschedule... cancelling for the moment.

Embassy Manila’s Visa Information and Appointment Service center hotlines are (632) 976-8500, (632) 976-8501 or (632) 976-8502. The call center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on Philippine and U.S. holidays. Callers in the U.S should call (703) 520-2235 on its Eastern Standard Time equivalent of operation hours.

Visa interview appointments can also be scheduled online here.

Thank you for the information! I appreciate it!

So the sputum testing is included. What if she test positive on the rapid and needs the 6 month prescription. Is that also included? I think you answered that question already but I'm not sure if I'm following your answer correctly so just looking for clarification.

I'll make sure I call and cancel her interview. Thanks again!

Hello everyone. I'm in the process of petitioning my mom (IR-5) and she went in to do her medical exam at St Luke and now requires additional sputum testing done. From my research here, that will take two months for the culture to come back if the sputum comes back negative and up to 9 months if the rapid is positive. My questions are, she is scheduled for her interview on 1/10/2017. Do I need to reschedule that? If so, how? How much does the sputum exam cost? They didn't tell her and she didn't ask. Thanks for your help.