DennisMN

I use wise.com, here is an invite if you wish for a free transfer or ignore; https://wise.com/invite/u/dennisk93 

They have a "Create a scheduled or recurring transfer" feature.

I like them because they give you the real transfer rate of the day.

Cheers.

Just speaking from our own experience.  We did the CR1 path and after we were married in the Philippines, we got our official marriage license and applied for a new Philippine passport with her married name.  It worked nice that way for us.

First, good comments from the other postings.  I am also from Minnesota so a welcome on the process.
We did the CR1 and experienced the bumps along the way, as a person we always wants things to go faster.  Looking back, we feel lucky that we were pre- COVID for leaving on our VISA.
As mentioned there is backlogs and waiting patiently will be needed. But the day does comes for travel.  I recommend CR1 for the reasons that you stated.  Also, I did my "Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Capacity to Marry" at the Cebu Consular if it is closer. https://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/citizenship-services/consular-agency-cebu/

Cheers.

Maybe a positive note: In our Visa Journey, we needed to do the sputum test for my wife. I too had thoughts of why us and the delay.  But I read up on the protocols of St. Luke and came to agree with the process.  St. Luke could improve in communication, the lack of information presented to my wife was very heart breaking and sad.  I am glad I was there to comfort and clarify, it was a good thing.  I went with her to the early morning testing for the three days.  

Fast forward, the smears and eight week cultures were all negative.  So when we did get to Minnesota, we had my local health provider test my daughter and wife for the latent TB. My wife was negative and daughter was positive (something about a neighbor had it 10 years ago).  My state of Minnesota pays for free the treatment for her.  It is a 7 pills once a week administered at home for 12 weeks.  No side effects but, a public health nurse checks her once a month.  

I am glad we did all we have done for the health of the family down the road.
 

My love one had the Mother's name on her Birth Certificate off by a letter.  It was not a problem at the Manila Embassy.

The most important is that your name the Beneficiary is correct and the same on all documents.

For historical adventure, I did begin the process to update the mother's name on the Birth Certificate for future generation.

It is long process, that begins at the Local Registry with a list of documents and requirements and then they pass it up to the PSA.

I have the same thought, and would like to hear from others.

I would have a tax prepare lead you though as you have several Federal and state forms to do.

You should have additional refund coming your way, I always look at my time and prepare cost to keep in mind.

Greetings,

First of all Bless You and your spouse.

We had to do just as you are now.

The three days of early morning sputum sampling.

Getting the "smear" test results of negative but, still need to wait for the 8 week "cultured" tests which were negative.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but feels of lost of control and a predictable time table are definitely what we felt.

St. Luke's doesn't do a good job of communication to the client.  I started out being mad at them, but I have in my reading come a 180 degrees in accepting the reasons in the protocol that they are doing.  It is very hard to accept at this time in the "Visa Journey".  It freezes all of your plans or predication to making plans.

But once cleared we were able to do things quickly for an interview, got our VISA, CFO, Taxes, and plane tickets for the kids to start school this Fall in the US.

The very best.

Thank you for sharing, I hope others who have contact with their local health departments share also.
It helps all who are soon to travel.

Congratulation on the journey.

Yes, adding to the congratulations.

Keep posting.

Greetings,

For peace of mind I ask, 

We have just noticed that the Beneficiary Birth Certificate- the Mother's first name misspelled.  

I have search the forum and have found that as long as the Beneficiary name is correct and matches everything else, it is good for the embassy interview in Manila.

Is it still the current in 2019 for misspellings of parents names is accepted on the Birth Certificate?

We will do the process at the local to begin the fix, but that will take a long time.

Thank You

Greetings,

We had the same problem of the letter, because we got "expedited processing" you do not get the letter "Approved" from NVC.

They did accept the printing of each child and wife of the email; "The U.S. Embassy has accepted this case for expedited processing. This file will be immediately forwarded to the U.S. Embassy."

Add as occupant maybe an answer.

But I think any 4th year law student, could do housing discrimination complaint or case as their "yellow" list is not complete on documents for being here legally. 

Greetings,

I see this is an old thread, did it work for you having the wrong spelling of the mothers name at the embassy?

Also thanks for the listing of steps.

Cheers.

Also CENOMAR should have been in the last 6 months.

There was in the forum other discussion about the "Part 5. Sponsor's Household Size" of the Form I-864.  As I had a wife and three kids, each has their own I-864.

The numbers of the line numbers under Part 5 for my wife is different than the children's.  they all add up to our household of 5 (me, wife, 3 kids).  Now you have sister and other relations.  I am guessing the different I-864 forms did not calculate the way they wanted it.   At least  a first place to look. but not sure as many moving parts.

I would say yes to including more assets to satisfy the system.

Greetings,

thank you for posting, I have the same thing black X and Red X for the CENOMAR line.

I guess need to order one to keep the system happy.

Just to add about getting passport appointment.

It was in the realm of impossible and now it has gotten better with the second Cebu site.

Helpful things to me was this private site that was showing where appointments were available https://dfacalendar.netpinoy.com/

the official scheduling for DFA is this site https://www.passport.gov.ph/appointment

Notice the two sites now in Cebu:

Cebu (Pacific Mall Metro Mandaue, Cebu)

Cebu POW (at SM Seaside)

The second one has more availability.

no walk in, appointments are required.

You also have to pay for the appointment in advance. (Sounds like you should choose pay PHP 1,200.00 for expedited processing)

Review the https://www.passport.gov.ph/faqs_2

Look at ePayment Portal there is limited list of where you can pay the fee.

Applicants can pay the passport processing fee through any of the following Payment Centers:

• Bayad Center
• EcPay
• Pera Hub
• Robinson’s Business Center and Department Stores
• Waltermart Department Store
• 7-11
• USCC (Western Union)
• Villarica Pawnshop

Cheers.

I have had some of these same experiences, wife and three kids.

I was on expedited to the embassy but then they schedule a quick one week interview date.  We could not get there that quick, so I called

(the U.S should call (703) 520-2235) number for VISA appointments.  They said to create a separate account for each person at https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/SiteLogin?country=Philippines&language=en_US 

Each person having their own email and login to schedule their appointment at the same time block.  When you use the schedule tool at the web site you choose CR1 for the spouse and CR2 for a kid.

End story I have four "Appointment  Confirmations" for May 24 that I have printed out.

Then I sent an email to IVManilaReplies@state.gov and say

"I have submitted all fees and documents for all four petitions.

The “AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT FORM I-864” for MNLXXXXXXX for  <person> is signed and at the https://ceac.state.gov/ site."

We will see on May 24 if all is good.

Take my post as just informational.

Create an account at https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/

Direct link: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/SiteRegister?country=Philippines&language=en_US

Do the update profile and schedule.

I may be jumping over something but if you have an "Appointment Confirmation" I say you are good.

Additional note: When the new document is uploaded it can be up to three weeks for it to be looked at again.  In my experience calling does not get anything checked faster unless you are over three weeks.

Everyone has different situation, so consult a tax preparer.

My two-cents, You need to do the "green card" and "substantial presence" test:

"You are a resident alien of the United States for tax purposes if you meet either the green card test or the substantial presence test for calendar year 2018"

Review page 3.

Publication 519 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf 

Filing as "Married" or "Married filling separately" for the standard deduction.
It sound like you will file "Married filling separately"  and then NRA in spouses SSN location on 1040.

Greetings to Dmh2689xcv

I am in the same boat of a time table that you have described.  The "ASK NVC" keeps saying not in the system.

Hang in there.. 

Just to add to the conversation:  I look for others answers.

I am using an online service to produce the documents for me, I will leave un-named.

I am for my wife and three children.

Wife's 1-864 

Part 3 -1 : Yes

Part 3-29: 1

Part 5-1 : 1

Part 5-2 : 1

Part 5-3: 0

Part 5-4 : 3

Part 5-5 : 0

Part 5-6 : 0

Part 5-7 : 0

Total Household : 5

The three children look like this on their own 1-864

Part 3 -1 : Yes

Part 3-29: 1

Part 5-1 : 1

Part 5-2 : 1

Part 5-3: 1

Part 5-4 : 2

Part 5-5 : 0

Part 5-6 : 0

Part 5-7 : 0

Total Household : 5