maxxann

5 minutes ago, Nylmaris said:

 

While I agree he just be calm and honest, He did solicited for advice so He got it.

Just now, ra0010 said:

Exactly. I am neither an IO nor an immigration attorney, but I do believe that by sending that evidence he shot himself on the foot. Maybe they do have a genuine relationship, but to the eyes of an IO that might be a red flag, and rightfully so. Yes, there are plenty of couples with a huge age gap and they were approved, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to be easy for anyone with an age gap. Every immigration case is unique.

Agree. I’m 20 years older than my USC husband. We never lived together but we visit each other once a year since I lived in Asia. I’m pretty stable of course he won’t send me money. I was never questioned about our age gap, the CO just  asked where we met, how many times we visited each other (She probably saw I entered & left the US more than 3 times and he flew out twice cause while I was enumerating the times I was in the US she was looking at her screen probably to check if I was telling the truth lol) and then she asked to look at our photos which I have a thick photo album and made sure I showed first and foremost our wedding ceremony and photos of us with family and friends. That’s all and she said approved

3 minutes ago, ra0010 said:

Most here are focusing only on the age gap. While the age gap itself might not be a huge red flag, immigration officers look at the totality of the circumstances and the broader picture, such as country of origin and “weird” money transfers. Is it fair? Not necessarily. Is it what it is? Basically yes. Take it or leave it. 
In fact, somebody had posted in VJ that the wife had gotten denied because she was constantly and regularly sending money to her family in Philippines. I will see if I can find it.

And again, saying the truth is not being mean. Quite the contrary: we are trying to prepare OP for the uphill battle. Most likely OP won’t come back and update us.

I agree with you. It’s not mostly about age gap. I didn’t read the part where the US wife sends him money, that’s actually kind of a red flag itself. I also read he submitted the money transfer receipts? I’m now actually worried for him.

On 7/5/2021 at 7:05 AM, Vaqar Malik said:

Hye guyz !! I am From Pakistan and living in Pakistan my wife is American my interview is coming after some days everything is going smooth in our case but for interview day i have a question we have a age gap relationship my wife is older than me . We have screenshots of our daily conversation we have alot of evidence but i am lil bit scared about age gap so what is the best answer to satisfied the consular... Any good advice please i will be very grateful. Thank you

I’m 20 years older than my husband who is an American citizen. He petitioned me in 2017. I was approved right then and there in my interview.

First, NEVER bring the age gap subject up UNLESS the CO does. And if the CO does, answer briefly and honestly. In my case the CO never asked me about our age gap at all.

second, solidify your relationship. It would be super helpful if you have visited her more than 3 times in the years you’re together. Emails and messages are good but it would solid to have travel together, visits, photos of both of your together AND both of you with your families or friends either her side or your side. Photos of your marriage ceremony with family will be super solid.

I don’t know if having a stable income would be important but I made sure I brought my employment stuff and bank stuff just in case. they usually don't ask but sometimes in age gap relationships they would think you married for money plus they don’t usually want to admit people who would be living in welfare in the US. This one is not so important since it is your wife who has to prove she can sponsor you.

just remember to be honest. COs know if you’re not. Goodluck

My opinion is: you should have asked for an English interpreter or an English officer for the interview and not try to answer in vietnamese when you knew you aren’t fluent in Vietnamese. They won’t take it against you if you ask for an english speaker. That alone blew it up for you when you answered “at the airport” when asked where you two met. I think the officer was referring to where you met like the first time.

I also think your first answer gave it away. You, whose stepdaughter you don’t know if she was legally married or not? Showed that you and your wife have not been speaking with each other well (or not honest to each other if she withheld that info from you).

Also no one in this forum can foresee if you will overcome the denial or not, not even a lawyer. Each case is different and each consul officer is different. One may think you’re telling the truth, one may be forgiving, one may be not buying your case. Suggest you get a US based immigration lawyer to help you step by step on how to sort of fix this or refile it. The lawyer is not cheap but you will have guidance on each step. They will represent you. That’s what you are paying them for. My husband hired a US lawyer to help us with our paperwork and with preparations since we were both busy with work and may miss anything crucial. Also, a US lawyer will have more knowledge and will tell you immediately if you need any other proof of marriage. Also the lawyer preps your wife with the interview. My husband was not interviewed.

Lastly, I’m thinking is: is your wife working and earning enough at the moment? It may be a red flag when the wife is jobless in her own country with a daughter. The officers always look out for immigrants who (they say) would need government assistance when they migrate. Also your wife has a daughter and it may also raise some flags on “chain migration.” 

Get a US lawyer to help you iron out what your mistakes were and guide you on the next step. And please please do not attempt to do an interview in a language you are not fluent on.

3 hours ago, Hank_ said:

 

If you can be in SG without a visa (from SG) to enter and have a ticket for onward travel (and your U.S. visa) I would believe you should be OK ..   IMHO

Technically yes but airlines in the Phil would ask for return ticket before issuing you a boarding pass (they immediately suspect you of planning to TNT) but yea maybe if you can show them your flight to the US, your CFO cert ... maybe they would not question.

I did try going thru Japan last year and I was getting a visa from SG but they didnt allow me because they said the return flight should be from SG-JPN-back to SG. So since you are going thru SG immigration, you should know SG is very strict in letting people through. 

1 hour ago, chris86 said:

Hey guys, late update. I sent the packet back the day after my last response here. Received the repacked packet after two days. It still has a tore on it, though smaller, and they doubled the plastic pouch containing it haha.

 

Now I'll just have to wait for another month for my Lola's B2 interview. My visa expires on June 20, planning to fly around April or May. Not sure if I can ask this here though but here it is... Is it adviseable to book a one way to SG then another one way direct from SG to California(port of entry)? My concern is that if we go to SG and stay there for a couple of days because we have a relative there that our exit might get questioned. Any thoughts guys? Thanks!

During layovers the airport you are departing from to the US still checks your visa to enter the US but having said that, I think might not be advisable since when you exit from here, you get checked for your visa and the CFO certificate...

also, I used to work in SG before going to the US and all departing to asean countries (without a visa) the airlines require a return ticket. I know that because everytime I came home, I need to show my work pass/visa to the immi officer. If you dont have, you are considered traveling as a tourist and you NEED to have a return ticket. They will never issue you a boarding pass without a return ticket.

but i suggest you ask an immi lawyer for this. I am just speculating based on my own experiences.

7 hours ago, Hank_ said:

 

I think you will be fine, just protect it so it doesn't tear further.  Keep it in the original plastic, keep it all in your carry-on bag when flying to the States.

To be honest, Hank, I went to the USEM a week before my flight and brought it for resealing. Yea, I was too worried about it. 

BUT just like Hank said before, the immigration officer just took the envelope without even inspecting it and tore it open. I am living here now for 5 months, got my green card too. 

18 minutes ago, DeeDeeAO said:

Hi. My husband and I are going through the visa process in Hong Kong. We were told that we need to send a police report from Hong Kong to nvc. However, it seems the hong  kong police only sends police reports directly to the embassies / consulate. How do we get a copy to send to nvc along with other documents? Thanks 

Unfortunately you can’t have a duplicate copy of the HK police cert. We were also asked by the NVC of that police clearance in a letter they sent to us stating that we are lacking that document. I called HK police in Wanchai & asked for the tracking number. Trace the tracking number & we printed out the tracking notice that it was already sent to the US embassy in Manila and we informed NVC. 

Yup you pay federal taxes only, not state taxes since youre outside the US. Yes you will pay double tax. This is the reason why my spouse just took me to the US instead of him moving to Singapore where I worked.

On 8/8/2018 at 4:31 AM, Hank_ said:

They are K-1, NVC does not schedule the interview for the k-1.  The K-1 doesn't complete the DS-260.

Sorry I thought they were IR or CR like mine. If K1 then I am not the person to answer the question.

On 7/22/2018 at 11:07 PM, Lucy&Jason said:

When you applied for your Hk police clerance @maxxann did you schedule your interview right away in USEM? If not, how many weeks did you wait before scheduling your interview? Thank you so much.

The completing of police clearance is BEFORE the NVC schedules your interview. It is submitted simultaneously with the DS260

On 6/9/2018 at 6:23 AM, Reynalie santos said:

Hi, sir ma'am i am reynalie santos  i was applying my police clearance of no conviction From  hongkong last may 7,2018 how could i know if they will sent it, to the relevant consular authority they say it just it takes 4weeks ,its been 4 weeks already but i dont see yet the result of my certificate ,any one can help me for this matter please i need your help thanks alot for who can read my notice and God bless to all of us !!!!!!

You will NOT receive the certificate. The HK police will mail it directly to the US Embassy in Manila. Email the USEM to confirm they received it. Be sure to write your name, case number on the subject line. 

When you get an email confirmation, print the email & bring it along with you to your interview. This happened to me, I got an email confirmation & printed it & brought the print with me to my interview. True enough the USEM has not included (or maybe forgot) to include the HK police CNCC in my file & the Consul looked for it. Good thing I have the confirmation & showed it to the Consul. And it's all good. The Consul said they'll look for it & include it. I think they found it, they didnt give me any slip and I got my visa.

6 hours ago, Hank_ said:

5 months!!  WoW!  Why so long for the consulate in Singapore?   That is crazy.    But you got it done .. all is good.   

Yea, after I lodged the report, they gave me my copy with a slip of instructions how to get from psa. It says 5 months but in the website it says 6.

https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/consular/marriage/report-of-marriage/

But yea, if I had lodged it earlier, I would have not had the panic attack of getting it but I was busy & I didnt know I needed to do it within a year of marriage so yea.

Long story short, my mom worked the miracles. I couldn't go myself because I am in Singapore. 

Thanks Hank! All good!

1 hour ago, Talako said:

Ok, it's dumb question, but I got to ask.

 

There is question (#15) on the Philippine ROM that requests:  "Title and Office of Solemnizing Official/Accepting Authority."  Is this the licensing authority of the officiant, the Registrar of the County where the marriage is recorded, or something else?  

 

The question before asked (#14) for the "Name of Officiating/Solemnizing Authority," and I put the Officiant's name, i.e. Rev. Joe Blow.

 

This is almost the same question twice, so I'm a little confused.

 

Suggestions?

 

 

 

Title and office is the title of the solemnizer . Reverend? Chaplain? Office is where you were solemnized.

In my case, the Name of solemnizer - Ms. blah blah blah

Title and office - Registrar, Ministry of Marriages

7 hours ago, Hank_ said:

Did you  report your marriage through the consulate in Singapore where you were married?    Process takes 4-6 weeks after filing with the consulate.   

Yes, I lodged the report of marriage in Singapore a year late, just this January, that is why the marriage was not yet in the system by May. The process takes 5 months after filing with the consulate. We took our chance to get a PSA certified report, and my mom worked wonders. The PSA staff were very helpful.

You would need to go to their main PSA office at Times St quezon city. My mom did just that. My report of marriage was not yet converted into the system (Was married in singapore & it would have taken 6 months to be converted & appear in the psa) but my mom went to the Times St psa office, brought a copy of my interview letter from NVC & requested NICELY if she can have it printed on security paper. We got it 2 days later.

Also, no, they do not ask for "fees" it is different back then. Red tape or bribery is not accepted. Every one of the psa employee is surprisingly abiding this.

1 hour ago, Luk Dit Mo said:

Do the Police clearance documents for both Hong Kong or the Philippines have a date of validity (expiration) ?

 

And in what part of the CR-1 process are they needed?

 

Thanks..

Yes. both 1 year validity. Hong kong clearance will be sent direct to the USEM, so you have to be diligent to check the tracking status and get a confirmation thru email from the USEM that they have received it, print the email and bring to your interview or else you will get a slip and be on administrative processing. in my case, I had email confirmation from USEM that they have received my HK clearance but on the day of my interview the certificate was not in my file. Good thing I had printed this email "just in case" they ask for the HK police certificate. So it was a saving grace for me. Recommended you do the same.

NBI make sure you get it maybe 3-4 months before your interview.

We were asked for the clearances when we were submitting the documents checklist for NVC. 

I did our report of marriage in Singapore as we were married there. All you need to do is download the forms, they are editable, physically sign 4 copies. Bring your original marriage certificate and 4 copies of your marriage certificate and 4 copies each of yours and your spouse's passports bio page. They do not need to know if your status is adjusted or not, the ROM is only to report a marriage overseas to be registered in the PSA philippines.

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

 

I don't see any issue there.    Small tears are very common, it is the ones where you could get your hand through where it becomes an issue.   Keep it in the plastic and in your carry-on bag.

 

Do make a copy of the immigrant data sheet for CFO  (should be able to do that through the plastic)

 

Watch what happens at POE ...   

Seems like it's a common tear for packets I've seen here in the threads ...  

On 2/4/2015 at 11:54 PM, Hank_ said:

If the tear is small as it appears in your photo I don't think there will be an issue. I highly suggest you keep the plastic bag tightly wrapped around the envelope and tape it tight so the tear does not get bigger.

I just received mine today & I immediately checked for any torn areas. I too have that small tear at the corner cut of the envelope like joannamarie.g's. I didnt tear the plastic open, I just cut a hole to remove my passports (I have 2 passports. One is where my tourist visa was pasted which they had already cancelled) and I also removed the paper with the instructions of paying the immigrant fee.

I am guessing the tear is ok?

I would call CFO to clarify. It only lists there the peer counseling is for 13-19 years old.

31 minutes ago, Pianobeth7 said:

Hi,  My husband and I, both Americans, have lived in the Philippines for 11 years and have adopted a Filipino child.  He is now ten.  We filed an I-130 as we plan to move permanently to the USA and recently were granted his US visa and were told to register on line with the Commission of Filipinos Overseas.  We've registered but the website is confusing.  Do we need to go get a CFO sticker for our son to travel or is being registered online and having the barcode recept of that enough?  Thanks for your advice.

Your son needs to attend the peer counseling program seminar. After which the CFO will stamp your son's passport as a certificate of attendance. Receipt is not enough, he has to attend a seminar. 

We also answered "no."  Your wife is missing some vaccinations then yea, your answer shouldve been "no"

Besides, the medical examiner will vaccinate her anyway. And it will show in the blood culture if she has anti-bodies for whatever disease. 

Do you time travel? Sept 25, 2018 has not yet passed.