JoSteph

1 hour ago, Ayrton said:

Did you move and filed a change of address online?

Thanks for your comment. No, we didn't move. We called USCIS today and they say, it's over crowding right now that's why our interview was cancelled. 

Hi all, hope all is doing good. 

Ive been worried about my AOS case status Interview that was Cancelled. I was thinking maybe it's because of Covid-19? We sent our AOS Packet on June 11,2020.  My older K2 and I got our biometrics done last August 28, 2020. Then the update says.....

"""On September 15, 2020, we cancelled or descheduled the interview scheduled for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status Receipt Number xxxxxxxxxxxx. We will notify you by mail if the appointment is rescheduled , a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you.""""

Does anybody here got similar update like mine? I didn't get any Interview Letter by mail or email. I live in Nashville, TN. 

My younger K2 is still waiting for his Biometric Schedule Appointment. His notice date was August 30,2020. 

Thanks in advance! 

4 hours ago, Ayrton said:

It's pretty much a fact that the I-944 wasn't made thinking of K1 immigrants. It makes sense for people that have a background in the US. Unfortunately k1 didn't get exempted so you need to provide what they ask. The only thing that k1 shouldn't be able to provide is the credit history, because of course, no SSN. But a lot people got a letter from a credit bureau stating they didn't have a credit history, so you should be able too.

 

Yes, the K1 is approved according to the qualifying sponsor, but the immigrant is not on the hook for the rest of it's life. So they still need to prove that they won't become a public charge.

Like you said, it's pretty much a fact that the I-944 wasn't made for K-1 immigrants.  My point exactly.  The form and the questions asked are more redundant and asinine than anything I've ever filled out for immigration.  It is clear they didn't think it through - They allow men and women in this country to qualify to bring in their spouse or fiance, the standards are very low.  The income which qualifies is barely over food stamp qualifying pay.  Yet they allow them to bring in another human being with a promise that they will be responsible for 10 years if their spouse/fiancee ever decide to request public assistance.  Many do go onto milk the system, so they should fix immigration on that side of the equation.  Raise the bar to sponsor a new citizen.  Post a bond, make 2x the minimum, but once qualified, forget the foolishness that comes from then qualifying the spouse.  Most would not qualify from an education, language, income history or asset standpoint.  Then add the fact that they could not possibly have a credit rating in the US yet and you wind up with a trip back to qualifying the sponsor all over again.

The most amazing question on the application relates to income from illegal activities.  I can't imagine the intelligence deficit of someone who is involved in illegal activities deciding to declare that they do indeed make XXXX dollars per year from selling drugs, stealing cars, robbing banks, etc.  They are by definition, liars, cheats, thieves and robbers and the government hopes to get them to answer honestly when asked if they make any money illegally?

This is the end of my rant, sorry to go on, but this form will go through major revisions, I am quite certain of that.  It just won't be in time for our journey.

5 hours ago, Ayrton said:

The 944 is for the immigrant to fill out. So your wife and her 2 children (if they are K2) will fill one form each.

Thanks, I get that, what I'm having trouble wrapping my head around is the fact that a K-1 Visa is approved based on the resources of the sponsor.  Now with the new rules, once the innocent spouse comes here on his/her spouses promises to take care of them, the government changes gears and says - ok applicant, why should we let you stay here?  Show us your degrees, your SSN, your credit history, your assets.  Give us your bank statements, your debts.  We want to decide if you should be allowed to stay here now that you are here based on your husband/wife's financial strength, prove to us that you are qualified -- Oh and by the way, you can list your wife/husband's income, tax returns, assets, liabilities, too, but we want to qualify you before we say yes to giving you a SSN, Adjustment of Status, EAD.  

Really not a well thought out part of the immigration experience.

The new ruling on I-944 is anything but clear.  I haven't found a resource showing whether I as the sponsor of my wife and her 2 children, fill it out or whether she fills it out - It is logical to think that I as the sponsor would fill that form out since it is my income and my assets that qualify me to be a sponsor -- This I-944 is intended to keep people from staying here and becoming dependent on the government, I applaud that as I know many immigrants who have moved here and live off of welfare, medicaid, public housing etc.

Any seniors here who can shed some light?

4 hours ago, gregcrs2 said:

Lying to CBP can end very badly!  

Well at 2am when Philippines shuts down trapping your family - you think of all kinds of crazy ideas - Thankfully the government re-considered and is cancelling the seminars but issuing stickers which are required for travel so we are still on for travel Tuesday - HOPEFULLY.

1 hour ago, JoSteph said:

Hi everyone - I can't imagine anyone who is dealing with immigration is asleep right now.  - My fiancee was scheduled for her CFO seminar on Monday the 16th of March - she has her US VISA - but Philippines requires a seminar (you guys know this) - CFO - website just announced cancellation of all services starting Monday the 16th -- except for people who have to pick up their stickers from previous seminars - Knowing the Philippines like I do, it is not very likely that any government official will try and be helpful to my fiancee when she goes there on Monday to see if they can waive the seminar in this crisis situation and issue her sticker since she is stuck in Manila - (travel ban in place domestically, starting tomorrow the 15th) - she cannot leave Manila and provinces can't travel to Manila - 

 

So my crazy idea is this:  SENIOR MEMBERS ESPECIALLY WELCOME TO ADVISE. - Last year, my fiancee traveled to meet me in Costa Rica for a month long vacation and she had no problems getting out of Manila - just a quick interview with immigration -  I thought - maybe I could buy her a ticket to Costa Rica -- Interestingly enough - her flight would connect in Houston, TX before departing for Costa Rica - she has a 10 hour layover in Houston where she would be required to go through immigration before boarding her United Airlines flight for Costa Rica - she would of course have her bags with her as she goest through immigration because she has a 10 hour layover - they always give you your bags when you switch airlines internationally with long layovers -- so did I mention that she would be connecting in Houston, TX?  - So my idea would be for her to go through immigration and when she goes through - she shows them her fiancee visa and she tells the immigration official that we routed her through Houston and I am there to pick her up -  

 

I know the US government only cares about her US Visa - the CFO sticker is a joke and a money maker for Philippines -- I'm thinking we can possibly take advantage of the situation by doing this -- IDEAS????

*** My fiancee and 2 sons flew to Manila from Iloilo last night to beat the domestic travel ban - her CFO appointment was set for Monday the 16th - now the CFO office is closed so - I'm trying to find out if I just rebook her on flights going to Costa Rica - which she has been to before with me - - I can purchase round trip tickets and my theory is to have her get off the plane in NYC - and take a domestic flight from there to Nashville - The only hiccup is that when she tries to get on the plane in Manila she has to go through immigration and they will ask her destination and she will say Costa Rica - -purpose of trip vacation - they may or may not look at her flights to see what her route is and if they see that United States is a transfer point - then see that she has a valid and current K1 Visa - they will say "nice try" but you have to have a CFO sticker -- to which she could say - I have to have a CFO sticker to go to Costa Rica? -- I don't know - my brain is telling me that it won't work - but my heart is hoping that they will just let her fly since her stated destination is Costa Rica and she has many stamps on her passport including Panama, Costa Rica, England, Thailand, Singapore -- ????

Hi everyone - I can't imagine anyone who is dealing with immigration is asleep right now.  - My fiancee was scheduled for her CFO seminar on Monday the 16th of March - she has her US VISA - but Philippines requires a seminar (you guys know this) - CFO - website just announced cancellation of all services starting Monday the 16th -- except for people who have to pick up their stickers from previous seminars - Knowing the Philippines like I do, it is not very likely that any government official will try and be helpful to my fiancee when she goes there on Monday to see if they can waive the seminar in this crisis situation and issue her sticker since she is stuck in Manila - (travel ban in place domestically, starting tomorrow the 15th) - she cannot leave Manila and provinces can't travel to Manila - 

So my crazy idea is this:  SENIOR MEMBERS ESPECIALLY WELCOME TO ADVISE. - Last year, my fiancee traveled to meet me in Costa Rica for a month long vacation and she had no problems getting out of Manila - just a quick interview with immigration -  I thought - maybe I could buy her a ticket to Costa Rica -- Interestingly enough - her flight would connect in Houston, TX before departing for Costa Rica - she has a 10 hour layover in Houston where she would be required to go through immigration before boarding her United Airlines flight for Costa Rica - she would of course have her bags with her as she goest through immigration because she has a 10 hour layover - they always give you your bags when you switch airlines internationally with long layovers -- so did I mention that she would be connecting in Houston, TX?  - So my idea would be for her to go through immigration and when she goes through - she shows them her fiancee visa and she tells the immigration official that we routed her through Houston and I am there to pick her up -  

I know the US government only cares about her US Visa - the CFO sticker is a joke and a money maker for Philippines -- I'm thinking we can possibly take advantage of the situation by doing this -- IDEAS????

16 hours ago, stech786 said:

Has anyone thought about Using Coronavirus to expedite their case, if from Asia (not China, but from all other countries)

 

 

 

We are approved in Manila, waiting for the passports and visas.=====  I tried writing to the Embassy there and pleading my case because of the growing travel bans.  They responded by acknowledging all of the compliments I gave them about how good they have been to us so far.  They said thank you for the kind words, but completely ignored my request to expedite.  I think the problem with asking for an expedited Visa because of a potential pandemic or travel ban because of health fears is this; why should you get preferential treatment over every other filer who is in the same boat?  If they expedite you ahead of those who are in line in front of you, that isn't fair to the others who will be just as affected by the same issues.  Be patient, as long as you aren't immigrating from China, you should be next in line, assuming you are next in line.

On 10/22/2019 at 3:41 AM, Hank_ said:

Do keep us posted ... 

 

Salamat ~

Thank you - we will.

17 hours ago, praisejourney said:

What was the outcome of your waiver request?

We were approved - I sent a 3 inch thick 3 ring binder with 37 separate exhibits.  I wrote a letter detailing our journey and with each point, I referenced an exhibit.  It must have worked well because they acknowledged receipt of our Response to the RFE on 9/11.  We received our NOA2 on October 9.  I tried very hard to document everything about our relationship and the trips we have taken together because the RFE seemed really focused on a doubt that our relationship was legitimate.  

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

Recent stuff I heard was that Camp Crame won't do it anymore, that you have to go to NBI    I would check out Camp Crame just the same, as NBI can be a ####### to get them to do fingerprints.

Our goal is to avoid having to go to Manila to do this - hopefully, NBI in Iloilo will accommodate our request.  Thanks again.

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

There are NO packages to wait for with the process for the Philippines, everything is online.

 

What does your fiancee need fingerprints for, does she need a foreign police clearance?

 

If you just received your NOA2 the next step is NVC .. it can take 2-4 weeks for USCIS to ship your case file to NVC, there the case file number (MNL) will be assigned (another couple weeks) .. once NVC is done the file will then be forwarded to the embassy.    You will want to contact NVC by email to request your MNL or wait for the letter to arrive in the mail.   Your fiancee will need a copy of the NVC letter/email for the medical at St. Luke's

 

Info for contacting NVC by email is in the K-1 section here:  https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/nvc.html   once the case file ships NVC will reply to your email.

 

Once you have the email/letter with your MNL#  email a copy of this to your fiancee, she will need to print out two copies for SLEC for the medical

 

https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/medical---slec.html

 

Once your CEAC status shows READY you can then proceed to schedule your interview with USEM.  Here is a link to a guide for the process.

 

https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/us-embassy-usem.html     < there is a link here to the embassy checklist for required documents.

 

 

For your questions relating to the process in the Philippines jump over to the Philippines forum:  https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/129-philippines/

Thanks Hank - very much appreciated - my question was poorly worded.  We know that no package is coming to her, but the transfers between NVC and USEM - but she worked in Singapore for 15 years and will require police clearance in Singapore.  On their portal, they require proof of why police clearance is needed.  We will use the NOA2 and the requirements list from USCIS website requiring that she get police clearance for any place lived in more than 6 months.  But she lives in Iloilo and we are not sure if she can use the fingerprints she gets from NBI - she has an appointment on the 23rd.  Some people keep telling her that she has to go to Camp Krame in Manila.  Is that true or can we use the NBI - paperwork?

6 hours ago, Soon To Be Mrs. T said:

What is the fingerprinting for?

 

And what package is she waiting for?

Thanks for responding, she worked in Singapore for 15 years so we have to have COC from Singapore - Singapore Police require fingerprints from Philippines if the applicant is no longer in Singapore.

My fiance' just received her NOA 2 and wanted to get a jump start on obtaining the things she can attain while we wait for her package.  She lives near Iloilo City but doesn't know where to go to get fingerprinted.  Any advice?

That is almost word for word, what the attorney I spoke with today, said.  Thank you.

I do believe we have ample evidence of a legitimate relationship.  I do understand that USCIS is doing their job and seeing the red flag of divided loyalties on my fiancee's part.  

I didn't think that a ceremony in the Philippines which was non-official would be a red-flag, but appreciate your insight.  It won't be mentioned and we won't plan on that.  The only other thing we have already done is spend countless hours on Viber, looking at photos of wedding dresses, her sharing them with me.

But with all the trips 8 weeks of time together after her breakup with her ex, plus the significant financial support I can show, sent via Remitly, plus thousands of chat messages between us since April of last year, should be ample evidence of a serious relationship.  She left the other guy because it wasn't working out, she decided that in June of last year.  The tourist Visa she applied for was legitimate. She had an invitation from the Pageant Director of the "Miss Filipina International Pageant" in Los Angeles to come as her guest.  My fiancee was heavily involved in the pageant scene in Singapore, holding my titles and crowns.  She had hopes of developing a career that would free her from the life she was living as a DW.  We thought the tourist Visa was a good idea if she was approved.  She owns a nice house in Iloilo, has and had money in the bank at the time of the application and had meaningful employment.  These were the things we thought would make it easier for her to visit me in the US and I thought it was a chance to steal her heart so to speak as I knew she was frustrated with her current relationship.  He kept her waiting to marry him for over 6 years and then at a party in May of 2018, told mutual friends in front of her that he saw no reason to get married since they were already living together.

Hopefully the evidence will demonstrate our bona fides.  But plan B would be to marry and reapply, just as you and the attorney said might have to be the way. Grrrrr.

2 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

Wow

Can you shed some light on the comment?  Any helpful advice is appreciated.

 

 

 

We applied in March and received the following RFE: Two items on the RFE are simple document fixes, but the third is giving me a little bit of concern.  The RFE included the following: "COUPLES BONA FIDE INTENT TO MARRY - As evidence of the beneficiary's intent to marry you within 90 days of her arrival in the Unites States, you submitted a statement from the beneficiary. However, beneficiary's statement is insufficient to establish her intent to marry you.

On May 28, 2018, the beneficiary applied for a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa. She indicated that she was a domestic helper for ___________ in Singapore. During the beneficiary's interview with the consular officer on June 6, 2018, the beneficiary stated the her employer, ___________, is her fiancee and had been working for Mr. ________ for six years.

The record also shows that the beneficiary lived in Singapore from January 1, 2003 to July 5, 2018 and worked for ___________________ from January 1, 2013 to July 4, 2018.

You stated in the petition that you met the beneficiary in April 2018 in the Philippines, traveled with the beneficiary to Costa Rica in August 2018 for three weeks, then traveled back to the Philippines in December 2018 to be with the beneficiary again. Although you stated you were with the beneficiary in April, 2019, her application for a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa indicated that she was engaged to be married to ________________. As such, submit additional evidence to show that you and the beneficiary have a bona fide intent to marry. Evidence of a bona fide intent may be, but is not limited to:

1. Further details on how you and the beneficiary first met and made the decision to become engaged.  

(We met in April as I was on vacation in the Philippines and she was too, we both have our passport stamps and copies of our tickets as well as my receipts from the hotels I stayed in while I was there. There was no romance and our proof of that is our chat records where we had lengthy discussions about affection and the importance or non importance of it in a relationship.  I expressed concern on a number of occasions because she had been so cautious when we spent time together in Philippines.  No touching at all, so I was concerned that she might not enjoy being touched.  She was reserved because she was living with and working for her boyfriend and she wasn't sure she was ready to consider leaving him although the relationship had soured to the point of sleeping in separate beds and living as domestic helper and boss.  Further, she had no plans of leaving him when we met.  She liked me, I liked her and that was it for about 4 months.

2. Evidence of correspondence between you and the beneficiary. (We have thousands of messages back and forth between us over the past year and a half.)

3. Plans for the wedding and reception that you and the beneficiary have considered (We have made lots of wedding plans as we are planning to have a non-official beach ceremony in the Philippines so her family and friends can attend)

4. Evidence of financial support. (I have all of my receipts from Remitly where I have supported her and her 2 sons since she went home in July of last year.)

5. Subsequent trips to visit the beneficiary. (After our first meeting, we flew to Costa Rica and spent 3 weeks together there, lots of photos and receipts, I flew back to Phil in December of 2018 and spent nearly 3 weeks with her and her family, I flew back again in June of this year and spent 2 more weeks with her)

6. Any other evidence that can show that you and the beneficiary have a bona fide intent to marry."  

Any thoughts that could help us navigate this RFE question?

1 minute ago, Going through said:

Just to reiterate there will be some added scrutiny as this is your third petition, and there may be some scrutiny as to the turnaround times between prior divorce(s) and subsequent filing(s) from the timeline you gave...best of luck to you.

Thank you - I thought my timeline helped legitimize my request for waiver -   Filed first time in 2004 - married 2005 in US - divorced in 2010 --  filed in 2012 - over 2 years after divorce - the second time - we were married for 5 years as well -- divorcing in 2017 -  Filing now and hope to get married in late 2019 -- From first filing to this one is 15 years - 

My past experience has taught me that USCIS is made up of good people, doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.  One of their biggest stated tasks is to find human traffickers, drug smugglers and convicted felons who hurt women.  Based on the other responses from those seeking to offer insight on the subject, USCIS is not going to judge my failed marriages, just judge whether I married in good faith.  I think that will be the focus of their scrutiny.  

I really appreciate your feedback, do you still think the timeline will be an issue? and if so, why?  I need to hear good thoughts on the subject to prepare.

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

This is a public forum, everyone is free to comment or ask questions.  I did not offer relationship advice.  

 

Expect more scrutiny from USCIS than you’ll get on an Internet forum in any case.

Yes you are right, you have the right to say anything within guidelines that you wish to say here.  But before you say anything, ask yourself, "is this going to help the person in question?"  - If you can't answer yes to that question, you might want to check your motives for weighing in at all on the topic.  

I am done with this topic though, I got some good advice from others here.

57 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Just putting this out there, but if you could not find common ground with two previous filipino wives, what makes you think you'll be able to with a third?

No where in my question did I ask for relationship advice.  I don't want to pick a fight with a senior member, but this forum is intended to help people in their "visaJourney".  There are definitely times when asking someone such a loaded question is justified, but honestly, wisdom would dictate that a question like that is best done in private.  

If you or anyone here has advice on my question, I will accept it with an open mind, but you crossed a line.  

My marriages each lasted about 5 years.  The first was a true party girl and I'm a steady freddy - not for partying - when she got around her cousin in Houston, she started staying out longer and longer with her and eventually - I caught her - divorced - 

The second lasted 5 years as well but she was not like the first.  She was paranoid and always accusing me of being unfaithful - never could get enough counseling to help our marriage -  

So the filings were in 2005 and 2012 - 

What did you say in your letter to request the waiver (if you don't mind my asking)

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Just the facts is needed.  Conclude that you do not have any of the "special " crimes under IMBRA nor do you have a pattern of multiple concurrent petitions or a habit of filing and withdrawing petitions every few years and therefore not fitting the profile of a chronic filer.   Its what I did and I was approved. 

 

Make sure your current fiancee is fully aware as it will be asked about at the interview 

Thank you - that is encouraging - and yes - she is very aware of all these details.  We discussed that very early in the relationship because I wanted to make sure she could accept me with this past history - Thanks again.  Do you mind telling me more about how your story relates to mine?  Even in a pm if you prefer - thanks.

Good points - I felt I was guilty of TMI as well - I was trying to address the challenge that a multiple filer faces in convincing USCIS that I am not involved in trafficking.  The example that USCIS gives for why I am filing another application includes the death or insanity of my previous spouse.  Nothing like that happened, we just divorced.  I don't have a great answer as to why, at least nothing that USCIS would care to hear about.  I won't impune the character of my two ex-wives, they are not horrible people, we just couldn't find common ground and divorced.

I haven't sent the letter to USCIS - I haven't filed yet - we are filling out the forms today -