PWB

Are they still processing K1 visa's that have all ready interviewed.  Our interview was February 18th and still waiting.

VISA issued on February 26, placed on hold 27th, no word on final approval since. Now caught up in this virus mess.  Hard to figure out how bad things are at the EMBASSY but it appears something is going on and it is not good.

Interviewed in Manila on 18 February 2020, problems began during initial document screening at window 37 .  They lost all paperwork from St. Lukes.  After a 2 and 1/2 hour search was called back to window and told all paperwork was complete and go to fingerprinting. After fingerprinting

went in for interview took oath and he asked just two questions.  During this time he seemed upset and fumbling through the paperwork.  I gave him my 2019 tax return and he said we were approved. I gave him my thanks and asked if it would be possible to have visa issued by February 27th.  He responded he would try his best.  On February 27 Visa was issued and mailed to wrong location.  Finally recovered package only to find no Visa.  Denied until additional information was provided.  Tried to call Embassy, could not get past call center firewall.  Issue seemed to be with NBI documentation.  They wanted NBI from previous marriage 20 years ago.  Went to get NBI and they would not issue because she just had an updated NBI issued in January 2020.  Showed them letter from Embassy and they issued NBI information as requested by Embassy and I forwarded information and passport back to Embassy through 2GO at Mall of Asia.  All attempts to talk to anyone was just a mess.  Finally got a working Email address after being sent to Mumbai India by call center.  Embassy responded to Email by sending a computer generated Visa application form. Total communication break-down.   I was to the Philippines to assist my Fiancee who has an orthopedic disability and glad that I was there but it did not help with this paperwork mess.  Made it out of Manila on the last flight from the airport and now we are stuck in this Corona mess.  This should have never happened.  Seems as if the ball was dropped   at every procedure of paper processing.  I have contacted Senator Cruz,  of Texas and he has requested information from me to help with this mess but the damage has been done. 

My fiancee just skyped that President shut down Manila no one in or out.  Waiting on details

St. Luke's was for us the most difficult part of this journey without a doubt.  My Fiance just completed the process this week and we are now scheduled for the  Embassy interview .   I can offer some advise based on what i experienced, don't  buy tickets or for that matter do any travel planning until you get St. Luke's in your rear view mirror.   My fiance got picked at random for the sputum test and for three days she went back and forth to St. Luke's.  The results of the sputum was negative but she still had to complete the 8 week culture protocol.  This was done after they told her not to worry she was negative.   Had to cancel the interview,  i had tickets already so I lost a bunch of money.  Travel Insurance purchased over the internet is not always dependable.  St. Luke's can, and does stop the visa process without any  recourse. I hope the very best for you, but if you follow the comments of others they will verify what I have said about the St. Luke's experience.  

Good for you, this is the hardest part of the process.   Best of luck

Good advise from others on the paperwork requirements as usual.  My advise would be to be patient, save some money, shop for tickets and above all else, the one thing that can bring all planning to a halt is St. Lukes  Hospital.  This has been our biggest obstacle so far.  The Sputum test will stop every thing for at least 8 weeks and there is absolutely no resource even if she tested negative like my Fiance did.   Best of luck....

If you are unwilling to fight for this country in a time of need then stay home.  Sorry but there is a price we all pay, and some have paid that price already, to be citizen of this Great Country.   

Keep your chin up, we all go through problems and challenges with this process.  Today, Jan 2 2020  is the day I was to fly to the Philippines to attend the interview  with my Fiancee, well Saint Lukes changed all of those plans with their Sputum Protocol.   Even though my fiancee tested negative she still is forced to wait 8 weeks for the culture.  I lost over $1500.00  in air travel, plus other expenses in preparation for the trip.  To keep your sanity you just have to accept all the challenges and pray to God for what you want.    

This site is loaded with good folks who have made emotional decisions only to be disappointed by a system that grinds slow and fine.  That includes myself.  Why add more stress to your life.

You are so right, just got to keep the faith.

I feel so sorry for you and that is the very reason I had planned to be at the interview with my fiance.  There is just no easy solution to this, I was criticized for buying a ticket to be there and then our interview was cancelled because of a problem with SLEC.  I really hope all works out for you, keeping the passport is in your favor and it appears that administrative processing in PH goes quickly.  Best of luck to you. 

I can accept reality, and if there physical evidence that there is something present in her lungs, than so be it.   This Visa process can paint you into many corners and you have to work your way out.  I am willing to do that.  Since I am not with her during this ordeal I can only go off of what she is saying and it does appear that a large number of people were given negative reports on that day.  I want to deal with the facts and can only hope that they are subjective.

3 minutes ago, bowens44 said:

That' how we felt too...until it happened. My fiancee (now wife)  got the dreaded call about 6 weeks into the process. She lived in Bacolod so we had to get her a studio appartment in Manila a couple of blocks from SLEC. Yes it was devasting to get the news but in a wierd way I think it made our relationship stronger, when I didn't walk away,  she Iknew I was in it for the long haul. We have been very happily married now for 4 years.  My point is that hopefully it won't happen but if it does you can through it.

Agree, her health is the bottom line and I am committed for the long run.  Going through this K1 process makes you put logic to the side and bring patience to the forefront.

My Fiance was scheduled for a sputum test after she told  ST. Lukes at her KI Visa physical  that she was treated for TB in 2004.  She supplied them with all documentation from the treatment and they would not accept it.   Even though she had a clear X-Ray and there was no other testing that indicated a problem she was scheduled for a culture and St. Lukes told her to cancel the Embassy Interview.   When she complained the doctor said that because of the contract with the Embassy they could not take a chance and had to validate her prior treatment. I understand that  you can get falsified medical records, but when the E-Ray is clean this seems to be an overreach by St. Lukes.   Just trying to understand.  I want the best for her, but was this necessary.  I am not alone with this situation others were scheduled for sputum testing  the same day as well. 

28 minutes ago, Sarge2155 said:

Did SLEC increase the culture growing time as it used to be just 8 weeks? We waited 8 weeks exactly (this was recently this year). 8 weeks is the standard, not sure where the other 4 weeks has come from. It has been known to run 9 weeks, at the request of SLEC but 12 weeks!

You are most likely right about the 8 week period, she was pretty shaken up.

2 minutes ago, bengal17 said:

My fiance(e) had her medical exam on November 26th and she was told that day that she had to go through the 3 day sputum test. Majority in her group that day had to do sputum test. Yesterday she went back to SLEC for the pulmonary evaluation and she's cleared from the 3 day sputum test. She is going back to SLEC in January 30, exactly in 8 weeks from yesterday. Hopefully, we don't get the dreaded call before 8 weeks mark. I'm not sure about the 12 week time period though.  I feel your pain! If my fiance(e) didn't stop me, I probably would've booked her flight already. The only thing you can do now is comply. Good luck!

That sounds like the same thing my fiance(e) said.  Appears that others in her group will get tested.  Just got to wait and see what happens on the next visit at SLEC.  What do you mean about the dread call before the 8 weeks mark?  Before I purchased the tickets we went to an outside doctor knowing the results were not valid, those test revealed no problem, so I got a false sense of security.

39 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Where does she live?  Manila or farther away?

Outside of Metro Manila in a small town named Montraban.  Within 15 miles of Manila.

I realize that having the Visa in hand is the best plan.  In my case I felt it was important to attend the interview because of a few unique situations and being there was the best way to go.  My thoughts now are what happens after the review period for the culture.  Will she ever be able to get a Visa.

My fiance had her initial K1 Visa Medical Examination on December 4, 2019 and at the end of the first day she was told that 20% of applicants where required to undergo a 3 day Sputum Test  and was scheduled for the 10, 11, and 12th of December.  She was also told there there would

be a 12 week time period to develop a culture and the Embassy Interview will need to be rescheduled.  Trying to figure out what happened.   Is this random selection of 20% of the applicants indeed a fact or was something detected in the other testing.   Needless to say I am out a bunch of money on airlines tickets and other associated cost.

apellica she went to a local clinic in Montalban which is just outside metro Manila.  Cost was very reasonable and the documentation response very quick.  I have some peace of mind knowing that she passed the sputum even those the results are not official.  I booked my ticket for the interview based on that.   This is a difficult process and I am disappointed that some of the so called experts don't have a better understanding of what couples are going through.  Best of luck to you.

My fiance just completed testing from an outside clinic and was given a certificate indicating she passed all test.  Now before all the wizards start criticizing me we just wanted some peace of mind the same as you do.  I think

it is worth the effort.  All this stuff about sputum is cause for alarm after you have spent all this time and money.

Dear Supreme one, I would rather over-prepare than under.  Yeah my 129F was 287 pages long and the 134 is over 200 pages.  But, I did this on my own and no RFE and the process took less than 6 months.   As far as the house goes it is a valuable 

asset, paid for and worth over 485,000.00 USD.  Not bragging just trying to get this over with. 

Letter from Bank signed by Banking Official that states when you opened the account and total amount deposited for the past year and present balances.   I did a lot of additional things that I thought would be helpful to include;

1.  New letter of intent to marry

2.  Listing of all assets and liability

3.  Picture of my house

4.  Life Insurance information

5.  Letter from my Health Insurance Provider stating that I can add my fiance to my policy within 30 days of marriage

6.  Accounting of other money instruments.

I know all of this is not needed, in addition I will be at the interview ready to explain anything that they can come up with.    This battle is almost won and I will take no chance of defeat........

We are interviewing on the 7th of January and I will be there on the 3rd of January to go with her to the interview.  The reason I am going to be there is simply after all this time and expense I want to be there for the last requirement.  The 134 is a 

simple document but I am not taking any chances.  We have arranged for the passport to be delivered to Mall of Asia because of general mail delivery in the Philippines.  My return flight is scheduled for the 27th of January.  If you are confident your

fiance can get through the interview without you, then you sure can save a lot of money by meeting her in country after all requirements are satisfied. There is nothing easy about this process, coordinating air travel is difficult and expensive.