Jason and May

On 7/25/2023 at 6:27 PM, Mike E said:

Means more asylum seekers will die crossing illegally in the desert. 

 

I’ve been to Mexico several times in the past month. Asylum seekers using the CBP ports of entry are getting processed. And at the port I use, everybody waits in Mexico; U.S. citizen or not.

When I lived and work in Mexico, I went up north with my then girlfriend as a volunteer to provide crisis and stabilization services to refugees. I hadn't been to TJ for over 20 years. When I lived in Mexico, I lived farther south in BCS and never entertained the notion of going north. 

El Chaparral didn't look much different than the Balkans in '91-'92. Without nudging this thread into a discussion on immigration versus anti-immigration and instead just sharing my observation, what was and is heartbreaking to me are the mothers who will do absolutely anything for their children to have a chance at a better life than where they made their journey from: Honduras, El Salvador, and so on. It strikes me the comments I sometimes read or hear about, "Well, if they wanted them to be safe, they wouldn't drag them through...." That's blinders on.

Avoiding countertransference during those volunteer rotations were really difficult. I still have drawings from some of the kiddos. One of them has "[the little girl's name] and Jason BFFs" inside a heart. I see her face and smile in my mind, and I wonder if she's alive and safe. One of the striking things about those camps were that in many cases, you would see kiddos laughing and playing. The parents want that for them, and they do what they can to afford them happiness.  

I don't know what the answers are in terms of policy. That's one of many obvious reasons I'm not in politics. But I do know humanism, humanitarianism, and the thin grey line isn't so thin or grey. 

🤙🏾✌🏾

3 hours ago, Redro said:

I think I had over 10 attempts to get all the addresses saved with the ability to move to the next page. 

If I had seen this sooner, I would have suggested you write one or two addresses spanning the time period required then go back and slowly add her other addresses. 

It is a common issue for people who have lived in more than 2 or 3 homes from 16+ 

Yes, it's really pretty frustrating! 

I actually ended up doing something similar to what you mentioned here. I just entered all the addresses I had memorized and that were on the I-130A, and then I added another address and put in "Placeholder" and a span of dates that would cover age 16 years forward. Then, the next time we video chatted, we went back and edited it to add the addresses I hadn't written down, which were only two. Then we could finally save that page and move on. From that point forward, it was mostly smooth. 

I shouldn't have publicly complained as much as I did. I feel a little sheepish now. But I don't have anyone beyond VJ and one friend who lives pretty far away that would understand if I vented about immigration/CEAC. So, here I am.

Thanks for sharing your experience here! I appreciate it. It helps validate my own frustrations.  

2 hours ago, ShazShaz said:

Still struggling? Perhaps you can pre-populate the "answers" on a Word document and then "copy paste" it unto CEAC for a faster entry when saving. The sample DS260 can be found at https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/DS-260-Exemplar.pdf

No. We submitted her DS260 late the following following night. 

I did think about doing exactly what you suggested, but I probably type faster than I switch screens, copy, and paste. And by the time I typed those old addresses over a couple of times, I had them memorized anyway. 😂

Using Chrome instead of Safari did seem to help, but it still crashed several times. At least the times the site went down later, we were past the long page of addresses and social media, and so we had saved our progress most of the time. 

19 minutes ago, Adventine said:

@Jason and May the problem is that anyone can read VJ, even without an account. Don't underestimate scammers who might try to impersonate you or your fiancee. There might also be "friends" and family who are secretly envious of your fiancee's impending move to the US, and who might try to mess up her immigration process. There are also random internet trolls who like to mess people up for fun, just by using info they can find online. 

You make some very good points I hadn’t considered. My immediate thoughts are always more along the lines of trolls and generally people at large. 

The bigger and perhaps more pertinent issues surrounding immigration, scammers, and the like actually hadn’t occurred to me. (Though, it probably should have.)  

Thank you for bringing that up. I really do appreciate it. It’s a good education and reminder. 😬🤙🏾

1 hour ago, milimelo said:

~Attachment with full name removed. Do yourself a favor and don't have all your beneficiary's PII out on the web.~

I don’t feel uncomfortable with her full name on VJ, or I wouldn’t have posted the attachment. In terms of personally identifiable information, a name is rather unconcerning for either of us. Though, after 18 years as a sex offender agent, I understand your school of thought. 

That said, as a mod, I appreciate your thoughts, and thank you for attempting to look out for her wellbeing and share your thoughts on internet safety and decorum. 

22 minutes ago, Redro said:

Best practice for NVC (imo) if they request something and you don’t have it- upload a letter explaining the situation 

Even when there is an indication about how something is not available… I’ve seen some members have issues because they follow the instructions but the reviewer clearly hasn’t… 

So, I would upload a letter explaining PCC is not available but you received the CNCC in its place… (for Jordan police check section)

I appreciate you sharing this. We will do this.  Thank you for helping out here. ☺️🤙🏾

I’m thinking once we upload her CNCC from Jordan and a letter indicating there were no criminal convictions and no prison, it will likely suffice (hopefully). Because the tab states “criminal court and prison records,” and deportation is generally a civil matter, not involving criminal court. 

Something from the consul or embassy with a wet signature stating the same sure would be helpful, though, I think. Along with some record on her deportation. 

1 hour ago, Redro said:

Write a letter explaining the situation (no paperwork exists). 

Hopefully that will suffice at NVC stage. 

Then see if you can get something from Jordan stating the same for the interview. 

Does she have any deportation orders or paperwork showing how the issue was resolved? 

I might also upload the CNCC as part of the court/prison records statement. 

 

Thank you for your input! 

The Department of State site indicates PCCs are unavailable for Jordan, so, my understanding is a PCC is not required. We’ll see what NVC says though. 😬

For the “prison/court records,” we are trying to get whatever the equivalent of the police report might be from Amman to show why she was in jail. I am hoping we can also get something that indicates the resolution of her issue, if possible. She said she never went to court, and the CNCC would I think be sufficient evidence there was no criminality. 

A woman at the Jordanian consulate has been (somewhat slowly) working with May to try to get a police report. But since May’s phone was stolen, they have been unable to talk via phone. Someone from the Jordanian consulate just called her mother for May yesterday, but her mom is in Pasig right now. Evidently her mom told the woman May was not with her at the moment, and the woman said, “Have her call me next week.” I asked May, “Who called your mom?” She said, “The consulate,” which became circular questioning. “Yes, but who called your mom? How will you know who to call?”

That part of marriage and this process is frustrating…. Why would Mom not ask for particulars for the call back for Pete’s sake.  Why? Because it’s not Mom’s business and she didn’t want to get involved in something not her business. 😐

About as inconvenient as things can get at the moment. I’m sending her a new phone Saturday. 

I think while waiting for her Qatar PCC, we will write a letter clarifying there are no prison or court records because she was never in court and never in prison, as her removal from Jordan was not criminal in nature, as evidenced by her certificate of no criminal conviction. And also while awaiting her Qatar PCC, we will continue to try to get something official that indicates why she was in jail and the issue of her deportation. There must be something; but trying to get someone to understand what you’re looking for and why you need it has been like sorcery. It’s like mind boggling to them how to obtain documentation. 😵

So many OFWs are deported from Jordan yearly for overstays, surely some of them must be immigrants to the U.S. at some point. I don’t understand how they navigate this process. Maybe they don’t check yes to being arrested. We just wanted to be as transparent as possible to avoid issues down the road. 

3 hours ago, Evan757 said:

Have you tried using a different browser?

Yes. Chrome has been marginally better than Safari. The site still crashes, just not as frequently as with Safari, it seems. 

Hi all, 

We finally were able to submit May's DS-260 tonight. Because she was in jail in Jordan due to an overstay in 2018, we checked yes to the question on the 260 regarding whether you've "ever been arrested for any offense or crime" or convicted even if later pardoned, etc.

We now see in the civil document requirements that court and prison records are missing. I'm assuming they must be uploaded before her NVC file will be reviewed, and I'm assuming this was triggered by us checking yes to that question...? However, there are no court or prison documents, and she has her certificate of no criminal conviction from Jordan, which she will upload under the police certificate tab (PCCs are indicated by the DoS as unavailable, so we're going with the CNCC).  

So, I'm unsure whether this civil document category is going to be problematic and her NVC file will just sit indefinitely because we have no records to upload for prison or criminal offenses...? 

Any feedback on this? 

Well, attempt number 5. Today's attempt comes to you during a two-hour gap between sessions on a 13-hour day. Still trying to enter all addresses my 32-year-old wife has lived at since she was 16, along with all phone numbers and every social media account. CEAC crashes when I attempt to save or move to the next page. Every. Single. Time. I now have...24 minutes until my next session starts, and I'll be in session until 8:30, and then up at 5 tomorrow and back at it. 

I see why VJ-ers have amazing things to say about CEAC and the ease with which they work their way through it. 

I'm not usually an impatient or angry person, but my blood is nearly boiling at the moment. 

**Rant over**

Thanks for listening. ✌🏾

9 hours ago, Evan757 said:

No and I'm not sure why. I guess I need to contact the Embassy (we have to upload additional documents)

Man, I’m sorry. That is really frustrating. From what I’ve read, not many folks have been like, “I had an awesome experience with CEAC! It’s an amazing system.”

Which is crazy, because for a few hundred bucks, we can virtually walk on the moon and fight aliens, but the State Department cannot roll out user-friendly software or maintain servers. Although, immigration is the redheaded stepchild who gets the PS2 while their rockstar brother gets a PS5 at release along with everything else he asks for.

😑☺️🤙🏾

I recently learned the super awesome--like really incredible--thing about CEAC is when you and your spouse are doing her DS260, getting her to recall every address she's lived at since 16 years old and all her social media account information, CEAC will just drop the connection and disconnect you. 

It's so amazing redoing it over and over. I can't believe we've missed out on this joy ride all these years. 

🙄🤣

13 hours ago, Evan757 said:

Is anyone having difficulty uploading documents to CEAC? I keep trying and it hasn't let me over the past day.

I just uploaded my AoS documents to CEAC with no issues. Fortunately. 

Has it worked for you yet? 

20 hours ago, Mike E said:

I think that is a good idea.

 

In my case i did not have  of working in building where the county clerk works.

 

So after vitachek cheated me, I played hooky from work: book a same day round trip airline ticket to the county seat, flew in, got 3 copies of the decree with wet seal, and flew back. 

I’m glad you suggested that. I went over today, and they provided me a copy with a seal and signature.

Man…. I thought the $32 bucks was a lot today for a certified copy…I’m glad I didn’t have to catch a flight to go get it! 😬

2 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Then the copies provided to parties are original copies aka copies of the original from the clerk of the courts. Any wet and/or raised and/or embossed seal on the copy you got from the clerk of the courts?

It’s funny you mention that about the seal. My wife said the same thing. There could have been, and maybe I misplaced that copy along the way. This was 13 years ago. The copy I have now has no watermark, embossment, or stamp. 

I work in the county building. I’ll step over tomorrow and ask about this. Maybe they can provide a new official copy, if they do in some manner mark it. 

25 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Does the clerk of the courts also have the original?

The clerk of court's office is the only entity who has an original. The original civil document is the property of the court. Copies are distributed to the parties. 

Hi all, 

My wife and I are preparing the last few pushes for her visa, and we're getting documents in order for her embassy interview. She says she is required to bring an original copy of my divorce decree from my previous marriage. In Wisconsin, we don't get original copies. The original copy stays with the clerk of courts, and we get a copy, which is what my wife has in her possession. 

My understanding from reading through the forums is that with the exception of the original AoS documents I submit through CEAC, only the beneficiary's original civil documents are required...? But I could be mistaken. 

Any VJ members who were previously married and their current spouse had their interview at the Manila embassy? What original documents pertaining to you was your wife required to present? 

Thank you, 

Jason and May

7 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

When I clicked the link, there was a notification:  CEAC will be down for server maintenance from Saturday, July 15 xxx hr to Satuday, July 15, xxx hr.   

 

I didn't notice the times and when I continued I could not return to that notification page.

 

Late last night that page popped up for me, too. It allowed me to continue and do what I needed to do, though. Which was nice. 

51 minutes ago, top_secret said:

CEAC can exemplify just about every type of website bug known to mankind.   It is almost like some deranged parody of a failed defective web site.  But ordinarily it actively fails simple tasks and screws things up in real time.  The current "off line totally", with no explanation, warning or even the most basic "check back later" page seems like a yet a new escalation of failure.  They may have reached the next level.

It was kind of weird. Later tonight, now, when I went to the site, I got a message about maintenance, but then it let me log in and pay the fees. Weird. 😕 

We received the email today notifying us of the NVC case creation. I've been trying off and on over the course of the day to check the case status and see if we can set up the CEAC account and pay the bills. I continually get an error notice stating the server dropped the connection. In checking the VJ forums, it looks like this is a pretty routine issue, or at least CEAC being down/not working properly has been an ongoing and routine issue? 

I've attached a screenshot of the error message. (I get the same message via Safari and Chrome.) I'm using the URL https://ceac.state.gov/iv. 

19 hours ago, top_secret said:

Situations like that you just pragmatically resolve and move on. There is little more you can do.☹️

 

One thing I see from time to time that is worth consideration in the Philippines is that someone who grew up and spent their entire life in some small provincial town may have no idea what things are like "in the big city" even in their own country.  Kind of like if someone grew up on a farm in Kansas they might not fare so well in Washington Park Chicago.  The average foreign tourist may be more alert.   There are also those that know very well they could safely walk through even the most dangerous dark alleys but don't realize that is only because they never had anything worth taking from them before and once they do have anything worth taking, their dark alley status would change.

I absolutely see what you're saying. 

I grew up in a very small town of around 2,500 people. When I was sixteen, my mother took me to Chicago to meet my biological father. He lived on the West Side, down from Mt. Sinai Hospital, and across from Lincoln Park--a Hispanic neighborhood. The only brown person I'd ever seen in my life up to that point was a kid who transferred to our high school for like one semester before vanishing (I think his family moved). I had certainly never heard other languages, talked with people of another ethnicity, or been afraid of a city in general. Like...we roamed the beaches in and around our small towns all hours of night and morning with zero fear. Chicago was terrifying.

After joining the Marine Corps and beginning to experience life, someone robbing me or stealing stuff out of my car when parked in broad daylight became realities. 

At any rate, in all my travels throughout my life, I'm a bit wiser, I think. My wife, for all the countries she's lived and worked in, and having lived where she has in the PI...I don't know. Part of what I love about her is her innocence, and while equally frustrating and endearing, I love her naiveté. But when she goes out by herself, it worries me. She did grow up in the provinces until she graduated high school, but she has lived off and on in Manila for many, many years. And, yet, she only takes a backpack with her when she goes out if I'm with her and I do or if I remind her to; otherwise, she loves her handbags. Ultimately, that was her downfall this time. Because those girls distracted her, snatched, and ran. And because she was in her own way trying to be cautious by taking off her jewelry to not look like a target, that certainly backfired. Or maybe not. Maybe she would have been held up at knifepoint instead of her bag snatched. Who knows. I'm thankful she's safe. 

It's much easier for me to let go than her. I'm generally a pragmatist to begin with; but she's so upset her things were stolen, and she's scared that people will come to her apartment because they have her address now. I think when you're a shy, timid person by nature, the way you perceive trauma versus the way someone else does is of course very different.  

At any rate, thank you for your comment. I appreciate you stopping by.

4 hours ago, seekingthetruth said:

Where was she in Manila?

Quiapo.

14 hours ago, EatBulaga said:

Thanks for sharing. Good advice for your wife to use backpack and to go with someone whenever in the Philippines. Might I also add to wear the backpack in the front and not on the back since I've seen warning videos about how thieves can slit open backpacks from behind to open pouches to remove items.

 

With regards to the "bad day", I've also heard of stories of how the police and street gangs coordinate "attacks" on individuals who they suspect have large sums of money or valuables. For example, if the police tries to extort from someone and don't get all that they want from that someone, then they will signal to the gang to get that someone outside or later. After the gang attack, that someone can't go back to the police or gets no help from the police because they did not pay or pay enough extortion.

 

I also have stories about Philippines customs robbing from luggages at airports or from the postal service. But I don't want to deviate too much  from this post. The best advice I got was to be unassuming so as to not be a target.

Thank you for your input. I'm glad you read the post and decided to share. 

I agree about being unassuming. When I lived in Mexico, I generally wore old shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops. Actually, I just basically lived in them. Most comfortable period of my life, I think. But at a certain point, I started working at a psychology clinic, and I needed to dress "respectable," so to speak, when I went to work. And that's the point the metro police messed with me and the attempted robbery happened: business casual work attire.... Ugh. 

To some extent, I get it: socioeconomic distress causes people to do things to survive. But victimhood is also not something I personally accept. When I've traveled, I've given money when I could to folks here and there. I think in very certain cases, it's a decent thing to do. But the dudes drinking in their truck...while probably living in poverty, they were not the elderly woman sitting on the street 5 feet from where she sleeps. There's a difference. Also, my wallet has certain keepsakes in it I'm not willing to lose. On a different day, had I not been contrary to losing more money, I might have taken those things out and handed over my wallet, or even just given them the money. It's easier and less risky. That particular day, I escalated the situation by saying no and some not so nice things. At first, they just wanted money. After I escalated the situation, they wanted my wallet. And to give me a beating for being a contrary gringo. I was in a particularly contrary mood after just handing over $5,000 pesos to two sleazy police officers. Meh. Life. 

I've never worn my backpack to the front, but when I travel I see a lot of people who do. I'm usually fairly hyper alert, though, as well, to my surroundings. It's just my nature. That said, one of these days I probably will take that thing off and find it sliced open and my stuff gone.... 😕 

Take care! 🤙🏾

Thank you all for providing input. I really appreciate it! ☺️🤙🏾