Camie

I feel terrible because we already got our interview date last February when our case was still in Queens but we literally just moved to Brooklyn and had to update our new address and they canceled our interview I guess because they moved my case to Brooklyn as well and now I'm back to waiting in limbo 🙃

Anyone else in Brooklyn still waiting?!

So I’m a June 2018 filer and a few weeks ago we got our interview date for March 28. We moved filed from Queens but moved to Brooklyn. About 13 days ago USCIS had a system maintenance and a few minutes later my case status changed back to “ready to be scheduled” which I found weird and a week later we got a notice saying they canceled our interview. I’ve read somewhere on here that sometimes the system glitches and we should still go to the interview date just in case.

My question is, since we moved to Brooklyn is my interview scheduling affected by that? The floor indicated on my notice is 9 which is queens but I moved to BK so maybe my move got me pushed back? I’m hoping not but if anyone has had the same

experience some insight would be appreciated! 

Thanks!

Haven't been on here for a while but thought I'd come and give an update.

Received an RFE letter asking us to submit a new I-864 with a joint sponsor because USCIS just ignored my own self-employed (online) income even though I my income is what supports me and my husband right now. LOL SUCKS. Currently trying to find a co-sponsor because we've asked some relatives and a lot of them just can't do it. Running out of options here.

1 minute ago, ineedadisplayname said:

I am on my phone now, but if you google uscis local office locator and provide your zip code it will tell you your local office.  I am curious, where it says your green card application is at the NBC? 

On my case status checker! 

“As of August 20, 2018, we completed our review of your fingerprints and are working on your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Receipt Number MSCXXXXXXXXXX, at our National Benefits Center location.”

That’s why I was confused/wondering. Did yours say this too? Or did it say local office?

16 hours ago, ineedadisplayname said:

It doesn't matter anymore which month you are in....

The speed of the process is depends more on your local office except for the EAD and AP which is processed at National Benefit Center

How do we know our local office? Is it where we did biometrics? My green card just says it’s at the National benefit Center 😐 

1 minute ago, Mark_712 said:

From what I have read here it’s 7-10 days after the approved interview though with USCIS yrmv

In that case it seems to be moving fast for you guys! This is great and gives me hope. Good luck ❤️

4 minutes ago, heenakumthekar33 said:

No I would also prefer the EAD first! But guess they’re processing green cards faster.. whatever happens should hopefully finish fast!!! 

Hi! Would you know what the average time is between interview and getting the green card?

I feel like my case is getting delayed even further because for one I had to reschedule my biometrics last July because I was going to be out of town, but USCIS never sent me an actual rescheduled date. EVER. So last month I went to the local office to ask if I could just do a biometrics anyway and they accommodated me with zero questions. I'm kind of worried and bracing myself for an RFE though, because while I'm earning money right now (my work is online, as a blogger/vlogger/influencer), I still dont have a EAD... So I don't know how USCIS will look at that. Honestly I couldn't just stop work, especially since a lot of my clients are outside the US anyway. and while we've saved enough to go beyond the poverty line, they might still require us to have a co-sponsor because my husband and I moved here from the Philippines with no money whatsoever, so no tax history, etc. It sucks. Oh, not to mention another medical is probably also necessary because it's expiring this month. I just wish they'd give me the heads up already so we can get on with working on our case and send them the necessary documents. lol

4 hours ago, Maria & Lester said:

based on my knowledge if you get marriage outside of the USA, you have to apply spouse visa and it takes 2 years to get approval.

From what I know spousal is faster in general. The visa itself can take about a year, but once you arrive in the US I believe you get the green card asap as well, so in the end spousal visa route is actually faster!

Hey everyone! Seems like the processing times are taking longer now.

My husband and I were finally able to save up enough money to apply for the AOS. I'm a little worried because I'm now out of status due to waiting so long to apply but we really didn't have a choice because we couldn't find a co-sponsor, so we saved up instead. Hopefully that wont be an issue :|

 I hope everyone gets their notices soon!

Hi all! I need some advice or just clarification for AOS I-864.

Here's a brief history on our situation: My US citizen husband and I moved from Manila (we both resided there and also applied for K-1 from there) to NYC last October and got married in December 2017. Since then, he has gotten a part-time job (part-time because he is also currently studying theater) but unfortunately his earnings do not meet the poverty line requirement for I-864. However, I'm self-employed. My work is online, meaning I earn money from content I create on YouTube, my blog, social media and most of my clients are mostly from the Philippines, UK/Canada/Australia/US -- which means I'm not really breaking any laws by continuing my self-employment status (I made this clear during my K-1 application and during the embassy interview, the consul even brought it up making a joke that due to my line of work, I for sure wouldn't be on welfare lol) -- My question is: since my husband's income isn't meeting the requirements, can we use his + my assets combined when filing for AOS? We have a joint bank account that we applied for after getting married with assets that reach the I-864 requirement but I'm not sure if this would be considered because half of those assets are from me?

Has anyone else been in this situation or know someone who was able to apply this way? Any insight would be gladly appreciated!

Thank you!

5 hours ago, cherryblossoms916 said:

Hi Camie! How's your interview at USEM yesterday?

Hi! It went well! Filipino consul was concerned about my fiance never having lived in the US before despite being a citizen, but the American consul never even brought it up and they also never asked for affidavit of support. I think it helped that my fiance was with me during the interview as well.

When's your interview?

On 9/13/2017 at 9:56 PM, J&B said:

Hi all, 

 

I am unable to get a clear answer by doing a search for my question. 

 

My fiance is the USC and we both live in South Korea where we teach English. We are about to file our i-129f, but we are now unsure as to when we need to provide proof that my fiancé had the intent to reestablish US domicile. 

 

Do do we need it now or for the embassy interview part of the K1 process? 

 

Thanks all. 

I just came from my k1 visa interview at the US embassy in Manila and we got approved.

Here's our situation:

USC fiancé gained citizenship through parents. He has never lived in the US. No proof of domicile. He's simply a dual citizen who has lived in the Philippines his ENTIRE life. 

I thought these here would be HUGE issues but I think it's a case to case basis. Why? The purpose of a K1 visa is to get married in the USA within 90 days. It's absolutely useless to apply for one if you have no intentions of marrying and living in the US. So I think it's common sense that when people apply for it, that's the end goal of the couple.

For our interview, there are two steps: pre-screening with a Filipino consul and then the final interview with an American consul. The first interview with the Filipino consul, he did ask my fiancé when he was last living in the US. We said never. The consul told us lacking domicile might be a problem but we told him we're planning to migrate and leave by the end of September because my fiancé starts acting school on Oct 2. The consul tried his best to be detailed about our case in the system and was typing a lot. We were nervous because, like everyone had advised to me in this forum, my fiancé needed to establish domicile first... even going as far as telling me to have him move to the US ahead of me. 

When the American consul interviewed us, he only asked how long we've been a couple, how we met, if we live together now (yes, with his family) and that's it! He mostly asked about me, my travels, work and if I'm financially ok (I'm a blogger so I can work anywhere in the world with no issues) -- then my visa was approved! 

It's really a case to case basis. Try to gather as much evidence that you plan to settle down in the US once you get your visa. When we started our petition, our letters of intent to marry also included our plans of moving to NYC to start our life together because it's been our dream to live there. 

Proof of domicile and all other requirements are needed for AOS stage, but by then you and your fiancé will be domiciled in the US, so no problems!

Just try to be as detailed as possible, and good luck! 😄

**** I'd also like to note that the I-134 isn't an absolute requirement for the US embassy in Manila. But we prepared one anyway, and also got a family member (his aunt who is in the US) to be or co-sponsor, just in case they ask. But they didn't ask to see any financial support documents. Maybe it was because of my travel history? My work as a blogger? I don't know. So check the requirements for US Embassy in South Korea! Sometimes the I-134 isn't a mandatory requirement. They only MIGHT ask to see it.

10 hours ago, elranchero20 said:

Good morning:

Just an update on our case. There are still no slots available for October in Taiwan I will call embassy to explain situation to see if fiancée can interview on 9/25 even though she would not have medical exam results in her hand until 9/29. I hope timeslots have not been open for October I really doubt that appointments are all taken but we will see what happens. If we are not able to get appointment by October 10 I would have to transfer case to Manila. Does anyone know if she would have to pay visa fee again as well as medical exam if case is transferred to Phillipines?

Unfortunately she needs her medical results at the interview. It's absolutely mandatory and they will not allow you to proceed to interview. 

The results of the medical will will help determine if she's clear and healthy to travel to the US or if she needs further tests.

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

It isn't the embassy, it is the Dept of State, and it really isn't a bug ... not being able to edit certain vital info is more like a security feature.  It can be done with a phone call to the embassy, and waiting.....

 

I am of the the 2nd option nature.. use a different email address and create a new profile.    But in this situation I would not go there... at all.

I actually tried to use a different email but I'm guessing they based it on the same names I used when creating the account. 😒 

Oh well. Will just call them about it. Thanks !

On 9/13/2017 at 5:18 PM, Hank_ said:

Nope not a big deal on the DS-160.   Just make sure to bring the confirmation page for the new DS-160 to the interview.  As for the passport number you may want to call the embassy and ask that they clear that so you can enter the new info.  But again, not a major issue, it can be updated during the interview.  I will add contact info below.

 

Ya USTRAVELDOCS is screwed up in that area... only way to get around it is to use a different email address.. but you are past that moment in time.  

 

Contacting the Embassy
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
 

 

http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/k-1-visa-application.html

Thanks for the info, Hank!

I'll try asking them about the USTRAVELDOCS website still using my old passport number. For the amount of money we all pay the US embassy, I'm surprised that website still has bugs

Hi!

I've completed my DS-160 for K1 last September 5th. I went to the ustraveldocs website to schedule my interview. I'd like to note that I've previously applied for a B2 visa in 2015 so the details on my profile were applicable to my old passport. For some reason, I couldn't edit the passport number on my account and when I tried to create a new account for this k1 visa, they wouldn't let me. So I proceeded to schedule my interview anyway. When I got the appointment letter, the DS-160 number is from my old B2 visa application. Is this a big deal? I read that the DS-160 number should be reflected on the appointment letter but the ustraveldocs website is flawed in that sense it wont let you update/create a new profile for a different visa and just uses the old details from the last visa you applied for.

What do I do?

21 minutes ago, cherryblossoms916 said:

How's your medical @Camie? What time have you arrived at slec?

I'll be going to my medical around Monday  Planning to go there around 4AM

7 hours ago, elranchero20 said:

Good evening everyone:

 

Heres an update on our case. Case was sent to Taipei embassy but I need to transfer to Manila embassy. I hope to get it transferred as my fiancée will be going back to Manila on October 25. I don't think this is sufficient time to have interview in Taipei. For any of you that have had case transferred to other embassy did it take a long time. In addition, petitioner(myself) is to send evidence required by embassy to fiancée so that it can be presented at interview... Does it take long to schedule an interview? I checked case status on CEAC website and it said interview date was provided by NVC.. I find this odd and am getting nervous. I hoped to have my fiancee here after the New Year in January but now I don't know if it's possible

Why dont you think it's a suffiecient time for an interview? 

For Manila, the earliest interview dates I saw were Sept 12 onwards. Just today I scheduled my interview Sept 19, a week after my medical.

She might actually have time to do the interview in Taipei! Ask her to call the US Embassy over there

On 9/2/2017 at 9:55 AM, janet3 said:

Yes. I understand. But there was a February filer here that got in big trouble when he filed the DS 160 before being "ready" at NVC 

 

 

 

He had to reschedule the flights and interview and medical....

Whoops. I ended up filing my DS-160 before my status went to ready, although I haven't scheduled my interview and medical yet. Planning to do that when it hits ready. Haha Do you think I'll be fine?

9 hours ago, TeamSarPaul said:

Has anyone recently booked their interview at the Manila embassy? Trying to determine what dates are left...

thank you!!

I was settling my visa fee, I saw on the us embassy manila website that the earliest appointment date is Sept 12  

On 9/3/2017 at 4:28 AM, Estibaliz said:

Exactly, you need the WAC number, which is the number provided by USCIS (the MNL, LND, MDD, etc number is provided by NVC) after you filed the petition application (not the MNL... number that you get after your application was approved).

Actually, it couldn't be clearer to me: APPLICATION RECEIPT.

 

Anyway, I've seen people using any of those numbers, and no one reported an issue with the form at the Embassy

I think you are correct. I just finished filing my DS-160 and I had to give the USCIS Receipt number because the form specifically said "USCIS" and not NVC case number...

On 8/30/2017 at 10:53 AM, GInAustin said:

Contacted them about 10 times and have also got state congress office to write them.  Still nothing. 

I'm really upset that you're still waiting for your NOA2. This is ridiculous. Are you outside processing time?? Have you spoken to Tier 2 recently? Ask for a service request. I hope the NOA2 just got lost in the mail or something!!

26 minutes ago, Estibaliz said:

Yep, because 5 deals with electronic cases, that sometimes people in 7 can't see.

We called 5 first time and they told us not to call there again, probably because they knew my country doesn't do electronic cases, but it was good to at least know that

Thank you! I believe the Philippines does electronic cases. I'll try again.

On 8/28/2017 at 3:21 AM, AnJ Co said:

 

NVC got mine in 10 days.  Apparently a large batch arrived on 8/24 - on a fluke I called on 8/25 and they gave me the number.

Call just after 7am tomorrow or another strategy is about 11pm (after days work is done I presume).

 

(603) 334-0700

I hit 1 english and 7  If they don't have it, call again and do 1 and 5

 

Expeditious luck to u  

When you said "if they dont have it, call again" do you mean if NVC claims to not have our case, we should try asking a different section (dialing 5)?