Russ&MaryAnn

The interview lasted for only 2-3 minutes. Arrived at the USEM today, 5/30/2019 at 6:40 AM and was done  at 8:20ish. Consul never asked for any supporting docs from me but I noticed she did on the other applicants before me so I would recommend everyone to be prepared just in case. To me, the experience was fast, thorough and no stress at all as long as you know your fiancee/fiance.
 
The medical exam at SLEC is another story but I'm glad it's done.
 
Monday - Medical exam day 1
Tuesday - Shots and releasing of med result
Wednesday - My rest day, had fever but I detoxified with fresh fruit juices and antioxidants - selenium and more. By 2pm, I'm back to normal.
Thursday - Interview day Passed
Friday - CFO seminar 
Saturday - Back to where I came from and start selling my stuff😂
 
I was able to do this K1 Visa application up to interview seamlessly with Visa Journey's vast information about K1 and the people who took their time to provide steps, share their knowledge and pretty much handed everything to me in a silver platter.
 
Special thanks to Sir @Greenbaum and Sir Hank for your effort, expertise, knowledge and big help with K1 and USEM processes. 
 
Next step, I will research here about moving to US - what to bring etc., how to get ssn and AOS process.
 
POE in US - 7/18/2019
Church Wedding - 9/7/2019 - doing face to face meeting using Hangout with our parish deacon to lessen the pre-wedding seminar time, usually takes 9 months!
 

There was actually a q and a here by a former uscis employee. https://www.visajourney.com/content/adjudicator-q-and-a/

Got it, thanks for the reply 

Lord you are so good ..Blessed be your name ..we got some good news VJ March Fillers ...our NOA2 came today...
NOA1=March 11
NOA2=June 2nd
 
This journey has been filled with emotions ..I want to encourage our fillers ..Your Suddenly is on the way.
 
NOW WHERE do we take it from here ...

No one is shooting down your idea, people are merely telling you the reality of your plans.
 
I posted a similar question last month I think. I understand It’s disheartening to hear “it’s impossible” and “accusations” from people who reply, especially when you are genuinely trying to give someone a better life. But the VJ responses I got, same as what you’ve received here, offered the reality of our adoption plans. Ignore the “accusations” don’t take it personally, they’re just explaining the process and how the US will look at our case. 
 
Here’s a link to my post. I don’t know if same rules apply to your sibling, but go through it. It gave me plenty of answers. Good luck!
 
 

I would like to share my recent medical examination (ME) experience at St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLEC) at 1177 Jorge Bacobo Street, Ermita, Manila (Philippines) for CR1 - US Visa to give you a peek, knowledge and understanding of what happened to me inside. Since I am not from Manila and SLEC is the only medical facility for a US Visa ME, I emailed them for my queries and waited for their response before I filed my leave of absence at work and booked my flight to Manila. After 2 days, I got their response that female applicants may now undergo ME even during their period.
 
Though an online appointment with SLEC was not necessary (since they operate on a first come, first serve basis) I made sure to accomplish my US Immigrant Visa - Online Registration to reduce registration time. Me and my mom arrived around 4p.m. in Manila, a day before my scheduled ME and we stayed in a hotel 6 mins. away from SLEC.
 
DAY 1
04:45 am →  Me and my mom arrived at SLEC. I was approximately the 50th person in line
05:00 am →  Two guards opened the entrance door & started accepting applicants
05:35 am →  When it was my turn, I handed my organized documents to the guard. He took two (2) NVC Interview Letter, one (1) photocopy of my passport biographic/data page, four (2) 2x2 visa photos with my full name written at the back of each photo (make sure you have the neutral facial expression in your photos otherwise the guard will ask you to submit another photos/ this visa photo guide will help you ---> http://www.slec.ph/img/us_photo_guide.png), one (1) copy of the SLEC online registration confirmation and my passport
05:45 am →  The guard stamped my papers and handed them back to me with the number 14 (small rectangle green card) on top. He stamped the back of my right hand with “SLEC A”. He checked my bag and saw the bottler of water and small biscuits that I packed. I was allowed to keep the bottle of water but he asked me to leave the biscuits (since foods are not allowed inside) so I gave it to my mom. Good thing, we already ate before we went to the clinic. I was the only one allowed inside and my mom had to wait outside the clinic. But don’t worry, SLEC has a waiting area for your relatives who accompanied you
06:00 am →  Reception Counters at the ground floor started to open. They started calling out numbers & colors. I saw three different colors, mine is green, some are blue and some are red. It was pretty cold inside but I had my jacket to keep me warm.
06:15 am →  When it was my turn, I gave the receptionist all the documents and he started asking me questions (is this your first time at SLEC, complete name, date of birth, educational attainment, civil status, occupation, last country visited etc.) After that, he took my photo and fingerprint scan. Then he instructed me on what to do next, handed me my PDS form with my patient number and passport back
06:20 am →  I went to the 5th floor to pay the Medical Examination Fee at the Cashier. It was still closed when I got there. The lady guard took the PDS form, instructed me to sit at the waiting area and wait for my name to be called
06:35 am →  Lady guard called my name, gave me my PDS form. I handed my PDS from, passport and P17,025.00 to the cashier. SLEC doesn’t accept checks, credit nor debit cards for payment. The cashier instructed me what to do next, gave me my passport, receipt for the fee and PDS form.
07:12 am →  I went to the 3rd floor for the X-ray. I handed my PDS form, receipt and passport. The nurse asked me to read, sign a waiver and/or consent and fill out all items she checked. She asked me to write the date of the last first day of my period. I returned it to the nurse and waited for my name to be called.
07:20 am →  The nurse called my name, gave me my documents (PDS form, receipt, passport and radiology number), instructed to me go to radiology room, take my shirt, bra, jewelries off, wear the hospital gown and make sure my long hair is tied up. There are seats inside the x-ray changing room and I waited there for my number to be called.
07:25 am →  It was my turn, the radiographer took my documents and asked me a series of questions (full name, date of birth, educational attainment etc). She then asked me to stand in front of the x-ray unit positioned at my chest level, placed both my hands on my hips and hold the pad, roll my shoulders forward, lift my chin and take a deeeeeeeep breath, exhale and then another deeeeeep breath. That was it and I was done. She asked me to take my documents which she placed on the chair, change my clothes and go to Laboratory.
07:37 am →  I went to the Laboratory at the 4th floor for my blood and urine tests. I handed the nurse my PDS form, receipt and passport. She gave a paper to read and sign (consent/waiver document). I returned it to her, took a seat and I waited for my name to be called.
07:45 am →  It was my turn, the nurse returned my documents and asked me to scan my finger. She lead me to the laboratory room where I waited for a few minutes. I gave my documents (PDS, receipt and passport) to the nurse, she scanned my finger and took my blood sample to be analyzed for many things. She returned my documents and instructed me to go to the first door at the right side for the urine test.
08:00 am →  I drank the bottle of water I brought with me before the blood test so by this time, I was ready to pee. I handed my documents (PDS, receipt and passport) to the nurse, she asked me when was the last first day of my period and what was the time when I last peed. She gave me a clean sterile container to collect my urine sample. There was a line drawn on the cup, she instructed me to fill the cup up to that level line (do not add water if you did not reach the level line and if it exceeds just let it be) cover the container, if you get anything on the outside of the cup, wipe it off with toilet paper. After I collected my urine sample, the nurse asked me to place it on the round tray with my name on it. I washed my hands and went out of the room. She handed me my documents back and instructed me on what to do next
08:00 am →  I went to the 2nd floor for the immunization interview, I submitted my documents (PDS, receipt and passport) to the man at the immunization reception. He gave me a form to read and sign. I returned it to him, took a seat and waited for my name to be called.
08:40 am →  After the long wait, my name was finally called, I went to the reception area where the man gave me my documents back then I was lead to the immunization interview room. The doctor asked for my finger scan and she asked me a lot of questions. It was quick though.
09:00 am →  I went to the 5th floor and submitted my documents to the nurse at the vital signs counter. I waited for my name to be called. When it was my turn, she took my weight measurement, temperature, blood pressure and then asked me to go to another room where my height measurement and eye test were taken. Then they forwarded my documents to the US Counter and instructed me to wait for my name to be called.
09:25 am →  US Counter called my name, the lady handed me my documents with number 7 (Room 8) attached. She instructed me to wait outside the room.
09:40 am →  I was called by the doctor inside the physical test room, I handed her my documents and she asked for my finger scan. She asked me to sign a document stating that I have not given birth nor had any pregnancies and/or abortions. Then she asked me a series of questions (full name, date of birth, educational attainment, occupation, operations, hospitalizations, mental health etc… it was a lot of questions) and she types all of your answers in their database. She then asked me to take my clothes off (except for bra and underwear) and wear the hospital gown. She checked my throat and asked if I have other tattoos aside from the ones on my left arm. She then asked me to lie on the bed. By this time, my heart was pounding and the doctor felt it. She asked me if I am scared or nervous. I said I am scared that I will be asked to get totally naked. She smiled. Then she asked me if I have given birth, I said no. Any pregnancies…… no.. she checked below my tummy and my back and legs. And that was it. She returned my documents and instructed me to submit them to US Counter outside.
10:30am →  I submitted my documents to the US Counter and after 10 minutes, my name was called. The lady instructed me to return tomorrow at 9:00 am for immunization and collection of my medical examination result. She returned my receipt which was stamped 9:00 am at the back and my passport which was stamped and signed at the 2nd last page.
 
DAY 2
08:30am →  I handed my documents (receipt and passport) to the guard at the entrance and he asked for my finger scan. He instructed me to leave my passport and receipt at counter A. I took a seat and waited for my name to be called
08:45am →  I heard my name was called and I was asked to wait on the 2nd floor for the immunization. Yeap, it was a super long wait… I took my phone and played games while waiting.
10:20am →  Finally, my name was called. I went inside the immunization room where I got my four (4) shots. The first two shots didn’t hurt but the third and last shots hurt so bad. The nurse told me to avoid becoming pregnant during the first 60 days from the date I got the vaccines.
10:45am →  I went to the ground floor - counter A and waited for my name to be called.
10:55am →  yhaayy I was called. The receptionist asked me to leave my passport on counter A and wait for my name to be called.
11:00am →  Counter F called my name. I went there and was greeted by a lady nurse. She asked me a series of questions (full name, date of birth, educational attainment, occupation, inteview date, husband’s name, my medication for my asthma, my last hospitalization etc) she then asked me to check my name and date of birth which were written on the CD of chest radiograph. Then she asked me to check the details written on the Vaccination Documentation Worksheet. Then she handed me the US Dept. Of State Form (Vaccination Record) which will be presented for application of work in the USA. Then she gave me a sealed short brown envelope with the huge warning “DO NOT OPEN” written on it. This will be brought at the time of interview and only the consular officer has the right to open it. Then she stamped the 2nd last page of my passport and signed it.
 
Before you leave SLEC, make sure you have your passport, official receipt, CD, sealed brown envelope and your vaccination record (Vaccination Documentation Worksheet).
 
The whole medical examination process was exhausting yet I am so glad everything turned out well. It was such a wonderful experience. If you are about to do your medical examination. I am wishing and praying it will turn out well too. I hope this post helps.

I134 is an 8 page form
2018 tax transcripts is 5 pages.  If you were planning to send your 1040 your original is on file with the IRS, so again all you have is a copy
 
I129f original was sent to the uscis, so all you have is a copy any way.  Your submitted i129f will already be in Manila.  You don't need to provide an additional copy.  People send the i129f for the beneficiary so she can review it before the interview 
 
NOA2 - not required 

You have a divorce decree for the previous marriage and the CO is saying you need to have the recognition of divorce in the Philippines ... BULLZHIT!    That is totally not true.   That CO is new in town or incredibly stupid.   You only need to present a copy of the divorce decree (in English), it states this in the requirements.   
 
Somehow or another you will need to get the attention of those in charge at the embassy to "realign" that CO as to the visa process.
 
I know of HUNDREDS of Filipinos that have done the visa process at the embassy and presented a foreign divorce without any issues ... and their visas were issued!
 
That CO is wrong, wrong, wrong!     
 
Not sure how to reach a sane mind at the embassy, may need an attorney in the USA that has "real" immigration knowledge to shake things up.
 
Contacting the Embassy
Manila Visa Information and Appointment Service center hotlines at (632) 548-8223, (632) 792-8988.
The center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on Philippine and U.S. holidays.

Callers in the U.S should call (703) 520-2235 on its Eastern Standard Time equivalent of operation hours.
 
Skype: To use Skype to speak to a customer service representative Monday Friday from 8:00am to 8:00pm., please add a new contact to your Skype account with the Skype name ustraveldocs-philippines.
 
EMAIL:   IVMANILAREPLIES@STATE.GOV
 

Click the "reveal hidden contents" button below to see minimum, average, and maximum NOA1-NOA2 times (in days) by country of origin.  This is based on data from January-May of 2019.  Obviously, countries with a higher sample size will have more accurate estimates.
 
 
 

Mrs. T-B. attended her oath ceremony today (23 Jan 2013) and got her Certificate of Naturalization, si man. She is a citizen now, after a 5.5-year visa journey with some giant obstacles.

The story is posted in the K-1 Case Progress forum because, if you're like I was, you don't visit many of the later-stage forums or have a firm vision of the entire visa journey just yet. Indeed, I remember a buddy in my own monthly I-129F progress thread who got the NOA2 for his petition and wrote, "Can someone please direct me to the next forum?"

Some of the following might yield some perspective on "the visa journey" and perhaps help you in your visa journey.

I joined VisaJourney in mid-2007. I was overwhelmed, nervous, and bewildered by the upcoming K-1 process and the voluminous information on the site. Many of my first questions were met with patient variations of "read the Guides!"

I sent off the I-129F petition to USCIS (the CSC) via overnight mail with green reply card. I was frantic when the card didn't come back for several days.

I checked on-line case status of the I-129F at least once daily. Except for me, everyone else in the May 2007 filers group had received their NOA2 by 6 months (the timeframe then). I made several calls to USCIS (waiting on hold sometimes for hours, listening to that maddening "hold" music). I finally reached a kindly Immigration Officer who determined that my file had been sitting on a transit station for some time. I asked him to please send an e-mail to the processing floor to ask someone to move the file to the next place it ought to go. A very few days later, I got the NOA2. On this site, I reported the foregoing method of loosening the stuck petition; the message was twisted and roundly mocked by a group led by a viper who still sometimes poisons this site.

Being naive, I underestimated the consular process nearly 100% and was not on the premises during my fiancee's interview. She was kicked out after about 3 minutes, without her brought evidence having been considered, with these exact words: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!"

In subsequent correspondence, the devious consulate referred to the second interview as a "marriage interview," hiding the fact that it would be a Stokes.

The Stokes interview was not even conducted by an American, but by a Foreign Service National (a local Ecuadorian employed by the consulate). A decision was not even to be made on that day. The first interview was "not enough evidence -- go away!" and the second was "too much evidence -- go away!"

I got perhaps 45 minutes of sleep on the 5.5-hour return flight. Being home was worse.

After weeks of utter torment and of calling the State Department's visa line daily, I fought through the phone lines at the consulate by insisting on speaking with an American. After 20 minutes on hold, I ended up speaking with the Section Chief of the Immigration Visa Unit. We discussed the situation and I sent him a confirmatory e-mail. Within 72 hours, the visa was approved.  My contemporaries and I, who had all been hosed by this grossly mismanaged consulate, remained angry for years afterward.

Mrs. T-B.-to-be wrapped up her business affairs and arrived through the Port of Entry without incident, but very ill with an upper-respiratory infection. Our first week consisted of an expensive out-of-pocket medical appointment + prescriptions toward her recovery.

We married by the third week and filed for Adjustment of Status (AOS). I mailed it overnight but without extra receipt confirmation. I checked on-line case status sporadically. The NOA arrived in timely fashion, and there was no interview.

Mrs. T-B.'s EAD and AP arrived in due time and without incident. We used the AP on a land border trip to Mexico. Upon our return, the CBP agent knew what AP was but had obviously never actually processed one. Parts of this were quite comical. However, having our marriage certificate with us was perhaps the chief element in our approval for re-entry. Little did we know that Mrs. T-B.'s green card was in the mail to us (and on schedule) during that very trip.

We later took a driving trip through south Texas. The CBP agents at the internal checkpoints most certainly would have given us huge trouble had Mrs. T-B. not had her green card with her. The experience taught us to keep it -- and our marriage certificate -- with her at all times.

We filed for Removal of Conditions (ROC) as soon as Mrs. T-B. was eligible. I had taken others' advice and, since AOS, had taken appropriate pieces of evidence and thrown them into a box. By ROC time, there was more than enough support of our merged financial & personal lives through the span of our marriage. I mailed the package first-class with delivery confirmation (yellow sticker). I never signed up for on-line case status. The NOAs were timely, and approval was timely and without interview.

About a week before we filed for ROC, Mini-Bone was born, made of genuine U.S. & Ecuadorian parts.

We filed for Naturalization (citizenship) somewhat after Mrs. T-B. became eligible. I mailed the package regular first-class mail and never even thought about signing up for on-line case status. The NOA2 was timely, the process was uneventful, and her interview was easy. The Oath Ceremony featured 2,272 new citizens from 126 countries.

Lessons learned and insights gained from this visa journey and from spending it as a member of VisaJourney:

1. It's not necessary to freak out over how to mail the petitions or how to assemble the packages. Just include what the VJ Guides recommend, plus what knowledgeable members before you recommend (for example, front-loading evidence for tough consulates).

2. Rely upon advice from the most knowledgeable, trustworthy VJ members. Chief among these for me were JimVaPhuong, pushbrk (who thankfully is still active here), and Kathryn41.  I read every post of theirs that I happened across, and I invariably learn something.  When he was alive, geowrian was well worth heeding, and his posts remain valuable. Jan22 is a blessing to this site.

3. The squeaky wheel truly can get the grease. If your USCIS filing is grossly out of timeline, or if you have truly been wronged at the consulate, polite phone calls might yield action. (NOTE: "Grossly out of timeline" means exactly that. It does not refer to "I want my fiance(e) here NOW, no matter what. I have no patience or circumspection about the petition process, and I don't WANT any patience or circumspection!" Read the VJ forums thoroughly to see what objective factors might be influencing the processing of petitions. As hard as it can be, avoid "ready, fire, aim" reactions during this stage.)

4. Procedures, policies, and outcomes at the Manila embassy are, chances are, unique to Manila and not automatically transferable to other consular experiences. Go atop any VJ page and click "Embassy Info" and "Reviews: Embassy." Read the reviews for YOUR consulate, attending particularly to the WORST stories. Prepare accordingly. Also pay attention to general cautions offered by experienced members who did not deal with your consulate. Take offerings of "No worries -- you will be fine!" with a large grain of salt -- yes, the interview might turn out fine, but no one can assure you of this in advance.

5. Never EVER underestimate the consular phase of the process! The consular officers have 100% power over the continuation of your visa journey. Treating the consular phase casually can be like loading a revolver with 5 bullets, spinning the cylinder, and putting the gun to your temple and pulling the trigger. Bear in mind that a previously "easy" consulate's policies and procedures can change without notice if a new Section Chief is transferred in. Expect the best outcome, sure, but prepare for the worst conceivable.

6. We never got an RFE. However, an RFE is a golden opportunity to provide not just what USCIS requests to satisfy the RFE, but also to add additional evidence of bona fide relationship for the consular officer's eyes, later. Everything that you submit to USCIS goes to the consulate after the petition is approved. Front-loading (or, later, "loading along with an RFE") ensures that key information that you want the consul to see is there before the beneficiary's interview at a tough consulate.

7. There is never a disadvantage to a petitioner's being on the consular premises while the beneficiary is being interviewed. In fact, the advantages are many and distinct. Emotional support for the beneficiary is the minimum. If you the petitioner are on the premises or within range, the consul can call you in to ask questions.  Your ability to provide answers "on the scene" can ward off the issuance of a 221(g) and prevent a return trip to the consulate.

8. As outrageous as this may sound (and as outrageous as it would have sounded to me during the I-129F wait), it indeed can be a relief to return to dealing with USCIS after having dealt with a consulate. Nevertheless, to this day, if I'm on hold on a business call and the music is the same as USCIS's "hold" music, my heart begins pounding faster.

9. Like me, you'll start with close friends who post regularly and support you in public and private. Sadly, many will fall away from VJ along the way. Some of my earliest friends who are no longer around are:
StillThePrettiest - last log-in, 6 Aug 2010;
Toshtishtash - 7 Oct 2011;
Jeraly - 23 Aug 2012;
DanielParul (of incomparable support during my consulate torment) - 15 June 2010.

10. As I wrote to Captain Ewok privately tonight, I could not have negotiated this visa journey -- either procedurally or emotionally -- without the help of this site and the good people on it.

I hope that the foregoing will confer some helpful circumspection at this early stage of your visa journey, si man.

Yes exactly. I stopped watching because he’s giving misleading information. Example he stated the I130 form went from 3 to 12 pages. It’s been the same form for at least 10 years. So whenever it changed didn’t have anything to do with Trump as he implies 

Just a little info on my situation and emotional rollercoaster going threw the process as a K1. My now husband aand I went threw different emotions and started acting a little off with each other during the Visa process. It wasn't due to doubt or questioning is this really what we want? It was excited and reality of omg this is really happening then realising I'm leaving all my friends and family behind with slight fear. A few fights came out from it due to how each stage impacted us individually but after being open and honest with each other we knew it was the stress of the application. Before you jump the gun and withdrawal the application have you talked to him as to why he being different? It is a rollercoaster of emotion and it's vital to communicate with each other so there no cross wires. If you have that gut feeling after talking to your partner then yes I would withdrawal the application. 
 
Once I arrived in the US that was another rollercoaster of emotions and with communication and support we got threw it. Sometimes I would withdrawal from being home sick sometimes I was tired of being stuck at home but we got threw it we talked it out and was open with 1 another. We're now 9years married with 2 kids.. communication goes a long way. Just cause it doesn't work out for some people don't assume you'll be the same trust your gut and communicate with your partner to clear up any doubts

If an applicable field isn't accepting text for you
 
1) Try using Adobe Acrobat Reader. I do not believe that USCIS forms are tested in other PDF viewers/editors, and some of the validation scripts definitely do not work in some other programs.
 
2) Make sure you have answered any previous questions that would affect whether or not the question applies to you. You cannot put in an apartment # unless you check one of the APT / STE / FLOOR boxes, for example.