PWB

12 hours ago, RUJEN said:

My better half had her interview om 02-24-22 and the lady Consulate said she was approved !!!

She said the Consulate was very friendly and asked just the basic questions except for one,

She asked how many rooms were in my house.

26 months from 129F to approved, a very long time but well worth it.

IT would not have been possible without all the fine people here on VJ.

Thanks to all that helped along the way..........

Congratulations, take your victories when you can because the race has just started.  Waiting 26 months has prepared you for the next step in the process, AOS.  We are at 16 months and waiting on the interview and no end in sight.

14 hours ago, Letspaintcookies said:

Houston is one of the LFOs with a two year wait time isn't it?

Not sure,  don't know how you can verify that.

13 hours ago, rafaeltostado said:

How long did it take to receive it since you applied?

About 7 months.

2 hours ago, rafaeltostado said:

wow, this is terrible news because we are also in Houston.   We filed in July and still have not heard anything.  I was hoping to hear something soon but I guess not.  We still have not even received my wife's work permit. 

Sorry for the bad news but USCIS has been telling us that we are in the INTERVIEW STREAM for the last two months.  There needs to be more consistency in the AOS process since we all pay the same money for the same product.

1 hour ago, rafaeltostado said:

Have you received a work/travel permit yet?

Received Parole for travel but since my wife will never work we did not apply for EAD

We are over 8 months and counting for interview, our interview location will be Houston.

This process is surely a play on your emotions and wallet.  God willing she will be here soon.  That's the plus side of this.  The down side is you will start the AOS process and get in line again for more disfunction and stress.   Best of luck to you and your family.

My advise would be to research sputum protocol here on Visa Journey,   Sputum testing will delay your appointment by at least 8 weeks and maybe longer. 

The problem we had with SSA was their computer reflected that my Wife did not have legal residency.  The SSA agent working our case was quite simply horrid.  Could not read a visa, did not understand the I-94 and just used HLS as a scapegoat.  What we did was call the National Level of the SSA and reported our problem.  They we able to get the local office to issue her card, but even though we were married they would only issue the card under her maiden name. We got the number and that's what is important and will fight the battle with SSA after she gets her Green Card.  Sorry to say SSA is no different than all the Covid crazy government agencies.

2 hours ago, DE CS said:

Wow. I am sorry that this happened and hope that you are able to rectify it. It sounds painful. However, was it the translation that the consulate took issue with in this instance? On the face, it sounds like the consulate has very specific rules to establish the authenticity of a copy of an original, and this judgement was independent of the accuracy of the translation. In other words, an accurate translation of a document does not imply the document's authenticity. In our case, we were fortunate to have original documents with translations.

The major issue was they wanted original documents, which I made copies of and had translated and  notarized.  Can you imagine send an original Birth Certificate, or Death Certificate then have them lost in the process.

2 hours ago, iwannaplay54 said:

~$50 to get a birth certificate translated and we paid a few more dollars to get it overnighted back.

You seem to have been snookered

2 hours ago, iwannaplay54 said:

~$50 to get a birth certificate translated and we paid a few more dollars to get it overnighted back.

You seem to have been snookered

Several documents required 12 copies of each document.  I agree with you it was an outrages requirement on the behalf of the Philippine's Government.  I just refused to send originals of documents through the mail.  By the way immigration is a "snookering" process.

We spent over $500.oo to translate and notarize documents requested for Report of Marriage to the Philippines Consulate in Houston only to have them deny our application because they would only accept originals.  

One thing  for sure the Philippines will always keep you guessing.

My recommendation is to research the AOS process as much as possible before you take any action.  This AOS is a new ball game, by that I mean there is a wealth of information on the 129-F but not so much on the EAD.  We made some mistakes by trying to hurry the process.

You should call the Social Security Administration and explain what has happened.  This way you should be covered from future retaliation.  We experienced problems with SS and it took the involvement of upper level administration to correct it.  We are all learning how difficult it can be dealing with SS particularly if you are not doing it face to face and  even then they make mistakes.

Not clear on requirement for insurance before interview.  If you are talking about AOS interview don't worry that thing is more than a year down the road.  We are at 14 months and still waiting on interview.

1 hour ago, brightfuture78 said:

I see. Thanks for explaining. St. Luke's really needs to lose their contract with USEM. Too much incompetence. 

The problem here is Center for Disease Control, CDC.  The same people who have  created all the confusion on Covid policy are in charge of establishing procedures for the Embassy to follow.  

22 hours ago, brightfuture78 said:

I'm confused by your scenario. I don't understand how your fiancé/spouse failed again after completing the 8 weeks. My understanding is if 8 weeks pass and there is no bacterial growth in the sputum samples, she would proceed to immunization and be done. I'm baffled by the "failed again" part of it. Are you saying they found TB growth in her sputum sample and made her give another sample and wait an additional 8 weeks? Even that doesn't make sense.

Medical expired due to covid lockdown.  So new physical and new sputum testing.   

We went though the sputum protocol as well.  She failed because of the mysterious white line, completed the 8 weeks and went back to St. Lukes, failed again went through 8 more weeks.  At the completion of the second 8 weeks they said she was clear but the paperwork was lost.  The embassy tried to get her to take a 3rd test and  I wrote my State Senator and the paperwork was found and visa issued.  Once in America CDC makes you do follow-up testing because you have failed TB testing.  Results for that test were negative.  After all the Government involvement we went to a well respected Pulmonologist and he determined that she never had TB and all this mess was just poor protocol on the part of St. Lukes. So glad you had the resolve to endure this process.

For what it is worth our journey also started in 2018 and each year thereafter you realize things do not get easier.  After the 129F process, after marriage, and the start of the dreadful AOS process you realize how horrid this broken system inflicted upon us by USCIS really is.   Far too repetitive, too degrading, lacks of clarity etc etc.  The options are not good.  You just go on with life and try not to let the bitterness inflicted upon us to destroy you. 

Can feel your pain.  For us SLEC was a nightmare.  They have a well deserved reputation for customer care.

Lots of advise given here, some not very accurate.  If you apply for Social Security before the 1-94 expires you may get a card but it will be issued in the name that appears on the passport.  At least that is what happened to us.  We are now being told that until we receive the Green Card no name change can take place.  Hard to get reliable information from Social Security, I think they are still locked down.

12 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Exactly where do you think a post asking a specific question about entry requirements for Manila or the Philippines belongs?  Is there a more relevant area than the Philippines regional forum?  In this case, @Adventine has provided you with an outstanding answer.

Not going to argue with you since you have the overwhelming power to censor me for life.

13 hours ago, glazierguy said:

Seems for years no matter what I post, someone always feels the need to move it!

 

I don't claim to be the most knowledgeable but when interesting topics get moved by the key board cops I can never find the "Forum" they are talking about.  

For so many of us SLEC was a horrid experience. We went through Sputum Protocol twice and the USEM tried to send her a third time.  On the positive side as soon as we pointed out the mistakes she got her visa within a week.  Sounds like you have the right attitude, best wishes and enjoy the holidays.