oakwell

A quick update from Oakwell in Manila. Mira and I just went over our docs for the 3rd time to make sure we had everything. Tomorrow is her interview and we would welcome your prayers for a successful conclusion. Congrats to everbody last week and good luck to Mike n Jennie and 2 hearts tomorrow. Maybe we will se each other in the line at the embassy.

Good luck to oakwell, MikeandJennie and 2hearts on Tuesday, Feb. 20

Many happy updates today Please don't forget to report back on visa delivery.

WHEW!!! What a week that was!!!

Thanks for the good luck PW for Tuesday. Congrats to everyone who got approved this week and thoughts and prayers for an early resolution to those couples still in AR. I'm heading out to the airport in a few hours and early Sunday I will be re-united with my baby. Allelujah, almost there.

Jinky just called me...I'm bawling my eyes out here at my work...the visa was approved!!!

:crying: :crying: :crying:

Thank you everyone for all your help, comraderie and support!

Great news Steven congratulations to the three of you. Bawling is ok, its been a long road

Good luck to everyone with upcoming interviews and congrats to all those that have been approved and are now in the arms of their sweeties!!!

I leave tomorrow for Manila. Arrive on the 18th (SUN) and our interview is on the 20th (TUES). We will be asking to pick up Visa and have plane tickets for the 27th (TUES) back to Eugene, Oregon.

It's really gonna happen isn't it? After all this wait? I can only imagine what all of you with recent approvals must be feeling. Can't wait to join you in that feeling. Almost seems too good to be true but really IT IS too good and IT IS true!!

Won't it be nice to have the same sleep schedule in the same time zone?

Won't it be nice to have holidays on the actual day instead of always the day before?

Won't it be nice to sit at the dinner table face to face to eat a meal with your spouse instead of sitting at the computer eating dinner while she is eating breakfast?

Ingat everyone!!!

Mike what airline are you on? I fly Pal tomorrow at 8:50pm from LAX. Regarding "Won't it be nice".\, I second that whleheartedly

I fly PAL out of SFO at 1030PM. Arrive about 5AM Sunday. We got interview on same day. What time is yours?

Mike

I arrive Manila 5:25am Sunday Interview on TUE is 7:30am. We are staying at the BW La Carona. We are also asking for visa pick-up. Flight back is 28th

Good luck to everyone with upcoming interviews and congrats to all those that have been approved and are now in the arms of their sweeties!!!

I leave tomorrow for Manila. Arrive on the 18th (SUN) and our interview is on the 20th (TUES). We will be asking to pick up Visa and have plane tickets for the 27th (TUES) back to Eugene, Oregon.

It's really gonna happen isn't it? After all this wait? I can only imagine what all of you with recent approvals must be feeling. Can't wait to join you in that feeling. Almost seems too good to be true but really IT IS too good and IT IS true!!

Won't it be nice to have the same sleep schedule in the same time zone?

Won't it be nice to have holidays on the actual day instead of always the day before?

Won't it be nice to sit at the dinner table face to face to eat a meal with your spouse instead of sitting at the computer eating dinner while she is eating breakfast?

Ingat everyone!!!

Mike what airline are you on? I fly Pal tomorrow at 8:50pm from LAX. Regarding "Won't it be nice".\, I second that whleheartedly

Yehey! Congrats Gary & Luz!!! Inuman na!!! I'm happy for you guys

Congrats KimTung, DocMay, Cocopuff and myself! We have our interview dates set too. Time to wake up from your slumber DaveandFleur, George& Jenny, supra, and elmasguapo!!!

I am not superstitious but after having my first interview set on February 13, 2006 and being eventually denied, the date of my second interview falls on Friday, the 13th of all dates!!! Waaaahhhhhhh! I don't like it at all So Roy, what do you think?

Congrats PW. Who cares about superstition. You got ur date and thats all that matters. Congrats to all the other couples who got good news on their April dates too.

Woot! We are approved! We just left the embassy. It's party time!!!!!!! THANK YOU GOD!!!

Congratulations Gary Luz and Robin, what sweet news. Makes your VJ party tonight even more sweeter. Good luck to Ken N Maria and Thersch. Hope they bring the same great news.

Hi all. I read so many "visa picked up" comments on approvals that I would be grateful if the approvals who picked up their visa could tell me how you requested it and to whom you requested pick up from instead of Delbros delivery? How does the Embassy notify you that the visa is ready for pick-up? If pick-up from embassy is granted do you still pay Delbors fee? Thanks for your responses

From postings we've had so far, pick up is requested from the consul after interview. More often than not, pick up is approved if the USC is present. Consul will let you know when to come back for the passport. You don't have to pay Delbros fee if pick up is approved.

Thanks PW. I will be there with Mira on the 20th, so we will ask for pickup. Good luck to the couples on the 15th and 16th and to Burrito today. Anybody heard from Amerikano??

Hi all. I read so many "visa picked up" comments on approvals that I would be grateful if the approvals who picked up their visa could tell me how you requested it and to whom you requested pick up from instead of Delbros delivery? How does the Embassy notify you that the visa is ready for pick-up? If pick-up from embassy is granted do you still pay Delbors fee? Thanks for your responses

I suppose your wife and i were together at the embassy for the interview but with so much people in the room and I had to attend to my other two children as well, I did not really have time to look around. We arrived at the embassy at 7am and finished at 10am.

Regarding the tickets, I usually buy mine at Northwest, Atheneum Bldg, Makati and I have been able to reserve for them but will buy them only after the visa is oh hand, just to be on the safe side. I got a $748 rate for MSP to MKE for one way and $1400 for round trip. You can pay in pesos or USD.

Keep in touch in case you need some help. You may also call them at 841-8800 to ask when is the last day for option to purchase.

Maria

Maria I guess by what you said about visa in hand that you and Richard were approved. Congratulations to you both.

Interview complete. VISA approved!!!

I should hope so garya after all that preparation and numerous questions and debates. Congratulations to you both we are very happy for you. Lets hope Richard n Maria and Amerikano give us the same 2 glorious words. "Visa Approved"

Busy week for VJ's this week. I count 15 listed. Here's praying for 15 OK's. Good luck to you all. Richard & Maria, garya505 and Amerikano we are wishing you the very best today. Mira is at day 2 of her med 9am. ok so far. Its our day next week and Im leaving Friday for Manila. It's hard to believe that after all these months we are almost there. Thanks God.

Oakwell, its been nice meeting your wife at the medical exam in st lukes. Good luck on your interview.

good news Jazzy and congrats!

Mira is going for her medical on Monday, maybe they will see each other. Good luck.

I went at st lukes for my medical exam at 7.30am and was finished by 12.15pm. The long wait is at the 5th floor where physical exam is done, but its still okay though i was able to finish by lunch time. Thanks PW, jazzy, vhi and soulmate for all the info and help. The guideline made by sheriff did a lot of help too , thanks. To those who have shared their experiences, thanks too. I prepared for my medical certificate and histopath results so that everything went well.

I'll be back tomorrow for the result at 9am. Good luck to those who will have their medical exam and interview.

Yeah, she said she saw you. She will also be back at 9am Tuesday. She had a concern that they gave her the passport back. I thought they kept it? Maybe they will keep it when she goes back for the results. Is this the usual procedure? Anyone please?

good news Jazzy and congrats!

well my wife will be getting the packet 4 later today and will go to st lukes monday. 1 step closer. i just bought my ticket for feb 24. will be flying a week before the interview. redeemed my miles but still have to pay $200 for tax - geez! she also checked out prices for MNL to LAX and was quoted $680 one way. those who want to save a little money, make sure you schedule a flight that's not on the weekeend. you can save at least $50

Mira is going for her medical on Monday, maybe they will see each other. Good luck.

Bah! I am such a dumb-azz! I told Luz to print out the filled out DS 157 to take to the bank. When she came back she told me that they would not stamp the back of her form I asked what she got for the $200 and she said a receipt and a piece of paper with a stamp on it. Here is where I screwed up. I didn't ask her what was on the other side of the paper. Its a blank DS-157! Sorry guys, I'm going a bit nuts here trying to get it all in one sock.

Hang in there Gary we are all tighter than a G-String wondering if we missed something out or got something wrong. Good luck to you Luz and Robin. I'm sure everything will be fine. Heh, you still off the smokes?

What do we do now? The bank refused to do anything with the DS-157 that she took with her. Am I out the $200 for her and Robin?

I wouldn't think your out the $200. The instructions in the K1 packet has always said the bank will "validate" the DS-156 form, but the Bank has always validated the incorrect DS-157 form anyway. I believe the embassy looks for the receipt instead of the validated form due to that confusion. (something lost in translation I suspect)

Someone has their wires crossed. I did a little more digging. Here is another page from the Embassy web site.

DS-157 Form – Applicants should also complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Supplemental Application DS-157 Form. The form is provided at the bank where fees are paid. Applicants must ensure that the back of the DS-157 Form is machine-validated with check-rite. The U.S. Embassy does not validate DS-157 Forms.

Applicants whose DS-157 Form is not machine-validated with check-rite will NOT be allowed to enter the Embassy premises. The applicant will then have to book another interview appointment. Re-bookings do not require another application fee.

http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwhniv1.html

Is this just out of date info on the embassy web site or is it current policy?

Gary, Mira paid her interview fee at the BPI in Butuan City 2 weeks ago. They gave her a stamped receipt on the back of a blank DS-157 and a separate receipt which she asked for.

Quick question in our interview this coming march do they need a 2006 recent tax return cause i just read on another post she was put on AR because she cant provide a 2006 tax return...?? Just a question do they need it?? for march interview?

Hi maylet29,

As I understand it, the tax return and W2 are required as supporting documents for the I134 as proof of income. And as Roy pointed out. it is too early to file for the 2006 tax return... so we thought of presenting "another" proof of income, which would be my fiance's paystubs for the whole of 2006.

But this is just my fiancee and me thinking... would love to hear what others would do.

Oh. and we have the same interview date

Gen

Interesting observations. Can't see why anyone would be put on AR for not producing a tax return for 2006, the deadline is not met yet for IRS filing. But just in case, I would suggest providing your W2 for 2006 which you should have by now just in case. This is what I intend to hold in reserve in case they ask about it. As PW pointed out, "only answer what they ask and give them what they request". Don't offer anything verbally or materially.

Good luck to davidjack, binow and arch_n_cel who's interviews are today. And to anyone else not on our timeline list good luck to them too.

I may have seen someone mentioned this before but i've having a difficult time in booking a one-way ticket through PAL. The error message that I received is "Sorry. We are having difficulty in validating your credit card. You may wish to enter details of an alternative card and try again. (M009)." Has anyone experienced this situation and if so successfully how did you get around this (besides using another card)? I used my VISA card. Aloha.

The problem is not unique. It seems as though this has been an ongoing problem for at least a week. It must be some problem with their credit card authorization system. It's just not able to authorize the transaction. Somebody else posted a while ago about it and then called the booking center and were quoted a price higher than the web price! They would not book the ticket at the web price saying that was a different system.

They give a higher price than the usual online prices for the reason that they do not have available seats for the economy seats. I was gonna get PAL ticket for tomorrow but it's fully booked!(for economy that is)

That's one reason why I booked in advance and took the risk of hoping the visa is delivered in time. Anyway, good luck in your search for seats.

Can someone explain why the Consulate upon completion of the interview will not come out and say, "Your Visa is approved?" ...

Two words.... Plausible Deniability!

Heh Sheriff, is that the same as saying CYA!!

We have bad news, are case is under AR for a few reasons. I am still getting the details for her at this time. We will have too wait now, she was told a week. Not a good start!

Just think positive vic&el4ever. Ill be praying for your visa too. Hope El will be able to provide the docs or info needed by the US embassy as soon as she can.

Ingats,

Thanks for everyone's support,

Questions come up now:

Can I call the manila too ask what is needed or is it too soon?

I was told by Eldalin that they was going too review, so maybe nothing else is needed only too check something.

Wow Vic&El sorry to hear about your setback we are praying for an early resolution to your AR. It won't hurt to call, but whether they will release specifics over the phone is another matter. I do know they are obliged to put in writing the reason for the AR. Does anyone know if you can ask for the written reason immediately one is informed of AR and before you leave the Embassy?

I may have seen someone mentioned this before but i've having a difficult time in booking a one-way ticket through PAL. The error message that I received is "Sorry. We are having difficulty in validating your credit card. You may wish to enter details of an alternative card and try again. (M009)." Has anyone experienced this situation and if so successfully how did you get around this (besides using another card)? I used my VISA card. Aloha.

The problem is not unique. It seems as though this has been an ongoing problem for at least a week. It must be some problem with their credit card authorization system. It's just not able to authorize the transaction. Somebody else posted a while ago about it and then called the booking center and were quoted a price higher than the web price! They would not book the ticket at the web price saying that was a different system.

Can anyone point me to a sample employment letter for the I-134 supporting docs? What needs to be in it?

Gary, it's just a couple of lines on Company letterhead and it needs to contain, the date letter created, e.g. todays date, hire date, employment status, job title and salary. Here is a sample which is similar to the one I have. "To whom it may concern, xxx xxxx has been employed by this Company since xx-xx-xxxx. His/Her status is full time/part time and his/her job is as a xxxxxxx. His/her weekly/monthly/annual income is $xxxxx."

Signed x xxxxxxx Date xxxxxxx

Printed Name xxxxxxxxxx

Title xxxxxxxxx

I read the first post Bill and was shocked by your plight. Then I read your update and now it's not so bad. I commend you on your perseverence, it's probably the dogged Tucson spirit. Hope everything else works out well.

Cliff.

I finally got a response from PAL online booking regarding re-booking fees. $90 is the re-booking fee for flights not originating in the Philippines and $25 for flights from the Philippines.