Don0

Thank you for starting this thread! Will be sending on the 22nd and I'm glad you are a CR1 too! 😁

On 3/20/2022 at 6:15 PM, da95826 said:

You can provide a narrative in your cover letter that explains your address history explaining that you and your spouse lived at each specific address during each time period. As long as you and your spouse live together at each address it does not matter USCIS that you lived at more than one address. 

 

You should plan on providing a cover letter that summarizes your evidence you enclose with the i751 application and explaining any special circumstances like moving, or any special living arrangement (living with family or special living arrangements like utilities are included in rent).

 

Thank you! I will do this!

On 3/20/2022 at 6:55 PM, iwannaplay54 said:

Same with ours HOWEVER in the past renters insurance then homeowners/flood was in both our names.  Forgot to add that.  Used that one for 3-yr N-400 in addition to the list above.

Something as simple as your fishing licenses are “official” documents with your names on matching addresses.
 

The list I gave you is a good one, everything is solid co-mingling evidence. 

On the address change, we never explained anything like that.  I faithfully updated, she faithfully updated.  They had a record (somewhere) of address changes but never asked about it.

Thank you for the list and the tips!

7 hours ago, iwannaplay54 said:

We included kiddos birth certificates, matched drivers licenses, matched car insurance, matched health insurance, matched lease/mortgage, beneficiary info life/retirement, matched credit cards, matched bank accounts, matched cell accounts (matched meaning joint or both listed on the account).  We even tossed in his/hers car registrations - even though each of us own one they’re registered to the same address and under joint insurance.

 

Lease had everyone in the condo listed, mortgage was joint, deed was joint as well, forgot that.

That’s everything an “average” couple would have.  Most “bills” are sent to one or the other and are rarely “joint”.

 

Hope that helps.

Thank you so much! Yes, most bills are to my husband's as he is the one working. 

7 hours ago, da95826 said:

Joint Tax transcripts for each year of marriage

W2 / 1099 from each of you for each year of marriage (have common address on them) even old addresses are good as long as your spouse live at the address at same time

Copy of state issue IDs or Driver's licenses with common address (Current and old)

Any state or local documents with your common address (School, state tax, car ownership)

Get an affidavit from your current or past landlord, building supervisor, relative, or employer that you live with your spouse and children.

Common Insurance (health, car, life)

Nice! Thank you for this. Maybe you happen to know, do we need to give an explanation on the change of address?

5 hours ago, Mike E said:

* List each other as beneficiaries on your life insurance, 401k, and other individually held financial accounts 

 

* did you have usps informed delivery since entering the USA? If so, show samples, at least one for every  3 months, showing that mail was addressed to each of you (or preferably both of you on the same envelope) that shows you were both being sent mail to the same address.  

Hi! Oh yeah, he listed me and my son as beneficiaries. I forgot about that! Thank you!

Yes we did. I can provide those too. But the only mail that has both our names is the bank statements. Wouldn't it be redundant? 

Hi VJ community! I hope you're all doing fine. I'm looking through the threads for evidence, formats amd such and I feel like we lack evidence?

I am filing this May and am starting to list what we can send as evidence. But we so far only have our child's documents (bc, baptism, passport, etc.) And a joint account which we only save to and tramsactions are more for rent in checks. We dont pay the utilities or have mortgage or have properties under both our names. We do have some files with the same addresses (we moved to another city last year). We do have a lot of pictures though and some trips. Aside from these, I dont know what else to give them.

Can anyone share more stuff we can maybe give as evidence? Thanks a lot!

Hi everyone! I would just want to ask if anyone could share their experience on how long it took til they receoved their extension letter from the date of filing? And how long further were they asked for biometrics if you weren't waived? 

I was looking through the spreadsheet timeline and it didn't have these dates or headings. I am asking since I plan to go home to my home country before my GC expures but come back with it already expired (it expires on august 2022). So I was wondering on the dates I can receive the extension letter before travelling. I also wouldn't want to miss a biometrics appointment!

Any info would help!

54 minutes ago, Joyoussinger said:

I never get paper bank statements so, in order to submit them,  I downloaded them from my bank's website. I sent one statement for each quarter and included every page of each statement I sent. A letter from your bank won't suffice, because USCIS wants to see your transactions, to be sure they reflect financial comingling.

 

Oh you could do that? Thank you! I will try and contact our bank! 

39 minutes ago, iwannaplay54 said:

Starting from entry - Child birth certificate, joint car insurance, joint lease or mortgage, matching drivers licenses, joint mobile account info, go back for joint bank and credit card statement as far as you can and one per quarter back to entry will probably suffice.  Joint taxes, joint health insurance, beneficiary statements for life insurance and 401k from your benefits websites

 

That’s the basic package and it is the same package we put together last March for 3-yr N-400 filing.

Extras for ROC - travel records for trips together, family pics (notes on back when/where/who), any (official) documents like car registrations, etc that show both of you at the same address.

 

As to bills - we’ve been married 15 years and now both have US passports and other than the list above we haven’t had any general “bills” in both of our names ever but we have had bills mailed to us that have one or the other name at the same address.  You’ll want to clearly demonstrate that you share and have been sharing the same home and that should make this a relatively painless experience.

I will take note of these. Thank you!

Hi everyone so I'm compiling evidence for my removal of conditions and my category coming in is CR1. I arrived in the US 1 month short of our 2nd year wedding anniversary hence my conditional status. I was just wondering is I should still send evidence I sent for our previous CR1 application like wedding photos, trips together that I have already sent to USCIS before? Or should I just send photos of us here in the US? Also, for bank statements, I've read that people send one copy of every year that they had the account together or every 3 to 4 months since the opening of the account. I did not know this so we did not keep any of them. Would a bank statement and maybe recent mail from the bank suffice? 

We have a beautiful baby boy and I was hoping he is a big of an evidence for them. Lol! 

Anyways, any insight would help! Thanks in advance!

11 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Yes, of course.

Thank you! 

12 hours ago, carmel34 said:

24 month extension letters are sent between 1 and 2 weeks after USCIS receives the I-751 package, assuming that everything is correct and they accept it.  Good luck!

Wow! That's nice! Thank you! Quick question! Can I travel and come back without my extension letter as long as my gc is still unexpired?

12 hours ago, Rafagus said:

actually you can see other people's timelines in this spreadsheet:

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vonQCJgs9HODO2Y1DdSs3HNyL_FRnMfenlIeDQAUpWg/edit#gid=484030548 

Thank you for this! I have a question though. For the tab named "Biometric/Letter Status Update", is it the actual getting of biometrics? Or just an update? I probably will not have my bionetrics waived since I'm on a CR1. tric Lntter/Status Update Date

12 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

Yep

Thanks!

3 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

I filed my application and they received it Febr 1st. Text notification on the 4th, extension letter on the 12th

Hi thank you for this! Is this 2022? 

16 minutes ago, Don0 said:

Hi everyone! I've been here in VJ since 2019 and going to file for i751 this May but I want to go home to my country on June. I wanted to know a rough timeline of the process? Like how many weeks til you got the extension letter from the time you sent the packet or the time til the next update? 

 

If there is a place here in VJ where I can find such timelines, please do direct me there. I can only see the general immigration timelines. Thank you so much! 

 

P.S. Can I travel and come back within that 90 day period before my gc expires?

I just found the timelines! But I hope someone could share some specifics? Been watching vids on yt but they are mostly pre covid..

Hi everyone! I've been here in VJ since 2019 and going to file for i751 this May but I want to go home to my country on June. I wanted to know a rough timeline of the process? Like how many weeks til you got the extension letter from the time you sent the packet or the time til the next update? 

If there is a place here in VJ where I can find such timelines, please do direct me there. I can only see the general immigration timelines. Thank you so much! 

P.S. Can I travel and come back within that 90 day period before my gc expires?

5 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

I arrived on my flight the morning of November 29th around 7am.  We sat on the plane for about 45 minutes for an explanation by the Coast Guard on the procedure when we got off.  It was actually information overload if you had not read or prepared before the flight as there are alot of steps.  I had prepaid for my COVID test with the Philippine Red Cross the day before the flight from NYC.  

 

After filling out a bunch of forms on the plane, you then disembark and go to a waiting area for the COVID test.  I actually went to the wrong area but there were no signs.  I waited about 30 minutes for my COVID test until I showed someone my QR code and they told me I had to go another gate.  So if you do arrive with a prepaid COVID test, do not follow the masses (98% of the plane).  Go to the Red Cross area (someone will direct you) and you will get your test within 5 minutes.

 

After this part you go to Immigration.  After Immigration is baggage collection which by this time its already waiting for you.  You then need to have the Affidavit sheet checked multiple times and someone will double check your pre-booked accommodation that it is on the list.  Then you will get your transportation to your hotel from a separate booth.  I took the yellow taxi option and was already expecting problems.  Once all this is done, a Coast guard guy will take your affidavit and then your free to leave the terminal.  You can exchange money outside the door if you need or get a sim card.

 

Taking Grab is not an option and I already knew the taxis were going to give me problems.  As soon as I got in the "metered" yellow airport taxi, the guy asked for the slip of paper thats given at the taxi booth.  Never give them this paper.  They only want it so when you have problems you dont have the number to complain.  Yellow taxi meters start at 70p and before we had gone 100 meters, my meter was well over 100p.  I told the guy to turn off the meter and that I was giving him 250p.  I didnt get any pushback.  My quarantine hotel is walking distance to my condo so I know the rates down to the peso.  

 

Once at the hotel, you check in and they gave me the option to run over to 7-11 to buy anything I may need as that would be my only chance to go outside my room until my test results arrived.  I loaded up at the 7-11 and was proceeded to be overcharged on multiple items.  The lady and her colleague would scan items twice which inflated my bill 30%.  Once I paid, I asked for the receipt and then went line item by line item with them pulling the items out of my bag showing all of the things they overcharged me on.  I got a "sorry sir" but it was clearly done on purpose.  

 

In the hotel I just waited for the test results which came almost exactly 24 hours from taking the test.  I forwarded the email to the front desk and they printed out my certification that I was negative.  I was then basically free to do whatever.

 

Just FYI, the flight on PAL from NYC to Manila was jam packed.  Not a seat was available.  They have reduced this route to one flight a week.  It was 17 hours sitting in a petri dish of potential disease.  Face masks and shields required at all times.  The PAL employees made the flight as comfortable as possible.  They actually did a fine job given the circumstances.  

 

Ive been just going into the office each day but in a separate room and not around the rest of the people just in case I develop symptoms later on.  There is a reason why tourists are not allowed at this time.  All hotels only cater to quarantining.  Ive talked to some Airbnb owners to get the latest scoop and some buildings will rent short term, but many buildings have a requirement of 6 months or more lease required.  If a building allows short term rentals, a COVID test within 72 hours is needed.  For transportation within the city, grab is available, taxis, some jeepneys and buses.  Provincial travel is nearly impossible and travel permits are needed from multiple government agencies.  Renting a car will help get around some of the nonsense.  

 

Many restaurants, convenience stores, etc etc are closed or out of business.  However there is no shortage of places to eat, etc.  Masks must be wore at all times outside and in malls masks and face shields are required.  I cant complain too much on that.  They do a pretty good job and are concerned for the safety of others.  You actually get the feeling people are looking out for each other, unlike in the US where the pandemic has become a sad comedy.  Where I have the problem on requirements is on inter-province travel and not allowing children outside.  You really see NO children and in the Philippines with one of the youngest average ages in the world, its a strange feeling to not hear them running around.  Inter provincial travel would be OK if you could show a recent negative COVID test but for me to see my son, I would need to spend 2 weeks in an elementary school as my quarantine center.  I have heard the conditions are atrocious.  I have plans to meet my son in the middle of the sea in a few weeks since its easier to get him there and bring him with me.  

Thank you for sharing your experience. I believe you didn't have any problems with immigration? That's nice to hear!

So you need to choose among the listed facilities that they provided right? So if I understand correctly, once the results come back as negative, you can do what you need to do. But I have the same dilemma with the interprovincial travel. My aunt was planning to take the ticket that already has the connecting flight from Manila to Mindanao, usually just a few hrs of wait. But here is what's confusing, what would my aunt show them as her quarantine facility? They didn't even publish an out-of-Manila list. 

The best thing to probably do is NOT get a connecting flight? 

6 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

The Bureau of Quarantine publishes a list every month.  Here's the latest -- http://quarantine.doh.gov.ph/facilities-inspected-as-of-november-27-2020/

 

 

Thank you @Chancy they only publish a list for Manila?

I was wondering if someone would come in with a connecting flight to another region of the Philippines, do they need to stay in Manila then? Do they require a 14 day quarantine too? 

I've seen the news about the new travel restrictions. I can't see a new thread about it. But I have a question. They're asking for a pre-booked quarantine facility. Do they have a certain list of maybe "certified" facilities or is a hotel booking enough? 

Any help would be appreciated!

On 11/4/2020 at 11:38 PM, Abrah@m said:

This is so frustrating. My wife finally received her IR1 visa after all this time and now we are at the mercy of this CFO counseling that seems to only apply to Philippines. She could be on a plan but instead I am trying to get a response from the CFO on why they are taking so long. We have followed their steps and submitted the requested documents but we have got no reply and it’s been a few days now. UGHHHH

Hi! I don't know if you have sorted this out and where your wife is in the Philippines but I got mine just online. I didn't attend any seminar since most offoces were closed due to Covid. I paid through Landbank, and got my certificate through email after 2 days. They said the certificate can be printed out and it would be enough and it was! But please note that this was 3 months ago.

22 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

Is there a reason your grandmother can't travel on her own? Or is she too old?

Yes she is. She needs assistance going around. Is there a medical exemption for that?

18 minutes ago, payxibka said:

http://www.chicagopcg.com/forms.html

Thank you for this! I have seen the form but sadly we can't provide the requirements they're asking. 😔 no Filipino spouse or child in the Philippines for my aunt to maybe mention for the application. Her only relatives in the Philippines are her brothers. And I guess that's not part of their list.. 

By the way, I didn't see this form in the San Francisco pcg. Thanks!

8 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

BI Facebook page will tell you all you need to know. If you have any question send them a message.  They are quick to respond, or at least that has been my findings so far.

 

https://www.facebook.com/officialbureauofimmigration/

I will try messaging them. Thanks! 

6 hours ago, payxibka said:

Nothing like stating the obvious,  but that doesn't answer the OPs problem as a US passport alone will not currently allow entry into the Philippines post Covid. 

 

OP.  You need to visit the Philippines consulate website and download and apply for a visiting visa.  It's not a simple process.  

Sadly, there is no visiting visa application on their site. 😔 I've tried emailing them but still waiting for a response. Thank you!

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

This was the email they sent me after I talked to them.  I didnt get this from the website.  I happen to know someone who just applied through the Embassy in Washington and another through Houston.  The requirements are different for each.  All were taken after they talked to someone at the consulate or embassy and received the email response.

 

I saw some parts of this too! I see that most of their visas can only be given to someone who has a Filipino spouse or child or something. Would a Filipino brother do though? 😔 we just want our grandma to be back here. 

Hi everyone! I'm asking for my aunt and I really hope someone can help.

She is a US citizen who applied for a dual citizenship, however, she has not taken the oath since there was no schedule available. Now she needs to go to the Philippines to get her elderly mother (my grandmother) to accompany her back to the US. 

What documents does she need so she can travel to the Philippines? I've read posts that they need a visa, what visa would it be?

Thanks guys!

Edit: they are both US citizens.

On 10/7/2020 at 2:20 PM, Chancy said:

 

It's probably no comfort, but at least, you're not alone in this.  SSA reps being misinformed or unhelpful has been a common complaint here on VJ long before COVID.  Unfortunately, the only effective course of action seems to be to try different SSA offices until you find one with people who know how to accommodate new immigrants.  Seems other members have had more success with SSA offices in big cities or close to universities.  Good luck!

 

They always forward me to the closest one after I say my zip code.. 😔 thanks anyways! 😊

I just want to update this post. And I'm sorry if I will be ranting! SSA right now is a total chaos! They can't see my application from the DS260, they have different instructions from different offices, they have agents who don't even know what an immigrant visa is (told him IR1, CR1, spousal visa, etc. And he just tells me "I only see R1, that's for religious stuff" whatt??!!) Well, most of the agents I've talked to are either not in the mood or wouldn't even let you finish talking.

They told me they call me and probably the earliest appointment would be November.