Jim&Gemz

That is my understanding.  It is treated as immediate relative instead of an adoption visa.  We adopted a child while we've been living in the Philippines and September 2020 will be the 2 years of custody for us.  There are so many things that have changed with immigration to the US including the president signing an executive order stopping all immigration temporarily.  We were looking for guidance on this also but I see you posted this in February and have no replies yet.  Maybe not many people here who've recently done this.

My fiance went 2 weeks early because her scheduled date would have conflicted with her biological time schedule (hehe). She went in on a Wednesday and they did not have a problem with her being there early. I think you just received a standard answer they've been told to give if people call. Like everyone else said though, I wouldn't try as a walk-in on a Monday.

Our interview in 11/9/2007 @ Manila

We the interview process include the Biometrics

or will that be done in the USA?

She has to have a physical before the interview. She can actually do that any time she wants up to around a month before her interview. Doing it sooner than a week before the interview is actually a good idea in case there's any delays with her medical. The only "biometric" stuff they do at the interview is photograph and fingerprints. After she arrives in the US and you apply for AOS you'll get notified to go to the local immigrations office for biometrics and interview.

You can't get a SSN in her married name till you get an EAD or AOS. I just went thru this nonsense. 4x to the social security office. It took 2 months and two weeks to get the darn card. We waited and waited and finally went back to the office and said hey, it's been over two months, where is the dam card? The guy looked it up and then called and told us DEpt of Homeland Security lost the application. WE had to use the EAD to apply then went back with the green card. They copied that and a week later it finally came. What a headache that was.

Oh it sounds like you should have printed this out and taken it with you:

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx...33;opendocument

Not all the SSA offices and workers know that a K1 can apply for an SSN without EAD or AOS.

I have to keep the air at 80 here or my wife is cold. Forget the 70,s. I can't believe all the cloths she wears and it isn't even winter yet.

Hehe yeah when Gemma arrived all she had for pants were capris. One of the first things we had to do is go buy her long pants. I can't imagine how cold she's going to be when the days only make it to the 40's during the winter. I'd think that Tampa wouldn't get too cold though. I've never checked the weather in winter there but I'd think it doesn't get below 50's there unless a cold wave is passing through. Imagine how the filipinas that have to live in the snow belt feel LOL.

Well this got me thinking after someone else pointed out that we could have problems with her EAD if her social security account has a different surname name on it than all the rest of her identity documents when we file for AOS. Now I'm wondering if it isn't just better to go through the drill to get the SSN in her maiden name then do the name change on it later.

We're in Jacksonville.

Gemma just arrived last week and is already freezing LOL. Temps are still hitting the 80's during the day but evening/night temps are dropping to low 60's. She's also not used to central A/C and I keep the temp at about 70 so she's wearing sweat suits in the house. We went to one of the asian food stores a few days ago and she was disappointed she couldn't find her favorite brand of patis. She was happy though that there were some longaniza and dried mangos.

We waited until after we were married and got Marlene's SSN with her married name. We did not have to wait to have anything from USCIS with her new name.

We used the passport with the K-1 visa, I-94, and the marriage certificate.

Yes I didn't think you'd need anything from USCIS but my original question was for any other Florida residents and if they needed the social security number in order to get a marriage license. I know some states don't require it. We'd really like to get married first then get the SSN so we don't have to go through the drill of a name change. Seems like such a waste of time and government resources.

It depends on the state. It was easier for us to get the SSN right after Claudeth arrived. If you wait until after you are married you would have to get something from the USCIS in the new name. Claudeth had to wait for the EAD so that would add several months onto the wait.

I don't understand your reply. If we get married, then get a social security number for her in her new name, we'd have to get something from USCIS in the new name? For what? Also you don't have to wait for EAD to get a social security number. One can be issued before that. If not you'd be caught in a legal document loop. You can't get married because of no social security number, you can't get a social security number because no approval for EAD, you can't apply for EAD because you're not married yet and can't file for AOS.

I'm sure there are some people here from Florida that recently got married after their fiancee arrived here on a K1. Gemma just arrived last week and we're getting ready to go get a license but I read on the requirements for the clerk of the court page that she has to have her passport and I-94 and a social security card. We wanted to wait until after marriage to get the social security card so we didn't have to do the drill to do a name change.

I could have sworn that I read before on other web sites that people here on a K1 didn't have to have a social security number to get a marriage license issued in Florida. Could someone fill us in please.

Thanks!!!

Well I've been reading a few of the posts about CFO and their requirements. There definitely isn't any consistency in what they ask you to have. Gemma will take everything we have left that didn't get included in the immigration package that we can't open now. Really the only thing that is in there is her CENOMAR. Of course if they demand that I guess we're going to be out of luck as she'll have to get another copy (2 week wait). Also if they get crazy and demand some certificate of singleness for me, or transcripts of divorce then we're really hosed. That'll take up to a couple of months to get. She already has a flight scheduled for the 18th of October. If I end up having to cancel her flight to get some off the wall documents, I cannot tell you how friggin pissed I'm going to be.

The need to post EXACTLY what they require on their website so that the attendees are not surprised by off the wall demands for things they didn't prepare in advance.

I wonder how if would fly if every document we gave them said something different.

My mahal has to attend the CFO seminar next week and we have only 2 days to get it done. We were wondering if there is anyone here that has attended the seminar in Cebu recently. Our question is about how many people were there and how early did you get there. We were told by CFO there are only 15 positions a day. We don't want to take a chance on her not finishing the seminar before our departure next Thursday.

Thanks for any info you can give us!

There are some people that hang outside the US Embassy Manila that are trying to scam unsuspecting and trusting individuals into buying 2.5" x 2.5" photos for your DS-156. They have some raggedy piece of paper that says the requirements changed in the last 2 weeks from 2.0" square to 2.5". There should be some way to let embassy officials know these people are out there perpetrating a lie so they can run them off.

Don't buy them, unless you screwed up and didn't get photos for your DS-156 before you arrive for your interview.

Good luck to everyone who's interview is coming up.

Congratz guys and they must have called us right before you because we got a call from them shortly before 3:30 that Gemma's visa was ready for pickup on Friday. We picked it up this morning and have already made all her travel arrangments to return to the US on the same flights as I'm on.

We're so thankful to God that everything has gone well for us. We are staying at the Bayvew Park hotel but tonight is our last night. Too bad we haven't run into you. Best of luck to you two and we're so happy for anyone who gets their petition approved.

We had our interview today in Manila and we were approved!!!! Thank God that we're finally approved. We had a lady consulate who was very business like and not too friendly. She didn't give us opportunities to elaborate answers and in all probably asked us 10 questions. She didn't tell us if we were approved. When I asked if we could pickup the visa she said they had more security checks to do. My heart went crashing to the floor because I thought it was going to be the dreaded AR.

When we got to the window to pickup the Delbros receipt the girl told us we were approved. I asked if we can pick up the visa in person and she asked why, and said she would have to check with the consulate. A little while later she called us back and said we could pickup the visa and that they would call us when it's ready. Whew, I wiped the sweat off my head.

We're so happy now we'd like to celebrate but I've come down with a blasted cold or something. Still not going to keep our spirits down though. BTW I need to stop coming to the Philippines during the rainy season. It has rained the entire time we've been in Manila, 4 days now.

Thanks to everyone here who gave us info and encouragement. You all are great!! Hugs to you TracyTN!!!!!!!

My question is directed to those who have passed the different POEs in the USA:

Definitely "liquids" are prohibited for carry on luggages, what about for luggages to be checked in , does this also apply?

I have been to many asian countries and liquids are okay inside the luggages to be checked in, but of course USA is quite strict about it because recently my Aunt wanted to send a bottled herbal medicine to the US from the Philippines via DHL but they wont accept it, the post office refused too.

I want to bring a liquid chinese medicine that I have been using for along time now for my allergies but not sure if it will be allowed even if I check it in. It is in a plactic bottle ( like shampoo)

Your input is highly appreciated.

Thank you,

Myla

You are allowed to carry on liquids if you follow the TSA rules for 3-1-1. This includes in or out of the Philippines. They are on the list of countries that allow this practice now.

TSA Rules for carry on liquids

You can't tell, each CO does things a bit different so the wait after the approval to receive the visa can vary considerably. Claudeth is from CDO on Mindanao and once the packet had been released to DELBROS it only took three days for delivery

Yes, take the passport back to the CFO office for the stamp. Did your fiancee do the class in Cebu?

I love Cathey Pacific. I always do the Cebu to Hong Kong to LAX route

Good luck

No Eve hasn't taken the class yet, maybe next week and yes it will be in Cebu. Cathay Pacific is very nice I do the Cebu to Hong Kong (10 hour over night layover) to JFK route, but I found a flight for Eve on Cathay that is perfect Cebu to Hong Kong (and only a 4 hour layover) to JFK. From what I've been reading if all goes well on November 5th 2 weeks should be enough time for the visa to arrive then go get it stamped.

Thanks

When Eve is ready to go to CFO she will need to have her interview appointment letter since she does not have a visa yet. When my lady contacted them the person on the phone in the Cebu CFO office, he told her to bring her entire petition package, including photos. We knew this was BS so we're just going to wait until after she has a visa now, as SLEC has already taken her passport. If Eve does go before she has the visa they will only give her a certificate proving she attended. She will still have to go back to a CFO office and get the passport stamped after she has a visa in her hand. She just won't have to attend the class as she'll have a certificate to prove she has already completed it.

If they have any locations in your area, try Forex. They're fantastic. I have shipped past the date they guarantee for Christmas and it made it before Christmas anyway. The boxes are in good shape on arrival, they even came to my house to pick them up for shipping.

I can tell you that our case sat at NVC for 6 weeks in AR. They give no details of course when you call to inquire. I wrote letters to some politicians but they forwarded them to the Department of State. The Department of State sent me a letter apologizing for my dissatisfaction with their service. It didn't do any good writing about it.

I can't say for sure but I think there is some duplication of process concerning records checking between USCIS and NVC. Typically different departments of the US Government don't trust each others work. It's too bad because it adds time to the process which is time you and you're SO will never get back.

Eventually it'll get done though.

July of 06 when we decided to get married and start the K1 visa process, I had found a list of required (and suggested) immunizations on the DOS site. I went ahead and had my sweetie get all those shots then. Poor thing she felt like a pin cushion for about a month and a half. I felt it was a good thing to get her all those shots anyway for her health because she had not had any of them. She is bringing a record from her physician of those shots. Is there a problem with SLEC accepting that? Also, the fee that is required, is that for the shots? Can she be waivered for that since she has all the shots needed?

Does anyone have a link to a list of required vaccinations? I can't find the one on DOS anymore.

I noticed the last DS forms expired July 31st and it took 10 days before any updated ones were available, including on the DOS website. My fiancee's interview is on the 2nd of October so I hope they accept the 9/30 forms. This must happen often since they're only making the forms good for a few months at a time.

Yes like I said, can't see the forest for the trees. Something I did notice though is that the forms expired July 31 and I just went to DOS web site and they are now set to expire September 30. My sweetie's interview is October 2nd. Those forms didn't get updated on the DOS web site until the last day or two so if the same thing happens at the end of September I guess she'll have to use the outdated forms?

What do most people put in item 26 of the DS-156? Intended length of stay? The visa is a 90 day visa so should you put 90 days? I wouldn't think you want to indicate forever even if it's known you're going to file an AOS after marriage.

Also what about item 27. The purpose of the trip, it's for marriage?

Sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees.

Sheriff, you're the best!! Thanks, and does that take a load of my mind.

Those of you who've followed our case know that it's taken twice as long than most cases at every stage. Since it took so long to get through NVC our NOA2 is going to expire before she ends up scheduled for an interview. Looking at the "normal" (probably won't apply to us) wait time it's about 3 months to get interviewed. This will put us mid october, about a month past the NOA2 expiration.

What do I need to do to extend this? Please no guessing, I'd like to know from someone that knows for sure because I cannot imagine having to dragging this out longer because of not knowing what to do.

Thanks to anyone who can answer this for us.