miggyab

Yeah, Philly's moving really fast. See my timeline if you want specific dates. Less than 3 months from application (6/17) to oath taking (9/7).
 
Was all very smooth and straightforward.
 
I've since registered to vote and my passport application is currently being processed 

Hi there. I filed online and Philly is my field office as well. I submitted 6/17 and received my interview notice 2 weeks after. My interview is on 8/16.

Received notice of biometrics reuse on the same day my application was filed online.
 
Just had my interview last week--IO was congenial but not overly friendly. I was done with the interview in like 5 minutes. My status updated to "Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled" right after I left USCIS. That night, it updated again to "Oath Ceremony Notice Was Mailed."
 
My oath ceremony will be on the first week of September  

Hi there. I filed online and Philly is my field office as well. I submitted 6/17 and received my interview notice 2 weeks after. My interview is on 8/16.

I flew in a few weeks ago on ANA and I was able to just sit in this waiting room and register via a physical form I filled out. As soon as that was done I just paid and went on to go get the test. Thats the only difference I had not filling out the form ahead of time.
 
Jordan

That link if for OFW's that theoretically should be tested free by the Philippine Red Cross. (I say "theoretically" as there is ongoing controversy between the Red Cross and the government).  Non OFW's do not need to register with the Philippine Red Cross and wont deal with them at all.
 
Here was the procedure for non-OFW's my fiancée went through arriving on non-Philippine Airlines at T3 at the end of August. 
 

If you are flying PAL there is a link on their website to register for the test and you print out the QR code provided and it is scanned when you pay for the test (this is the first step after deplaning). If not flying PAL I’m not sure really as I couldn’t find any answers to that question and this is the main reason I booked with PAL.

I just got back from the PH (MNL-HNL) last week thru PAL, no swab test was required upon leaving MNL or arriving at HNL that time. I think HI now requires all passengers to present a swab test result 72 hours before departure so you don't have to undergo the 14 day quarantine.
 
 

I just arrived in the Philippines today to visit my wife. I posted in another forum about securing a visa first and that was less painful than expected. I flew on PAL from JFK to Manila. In New York the airport was empty and check in was fairly quick. They just ensured that I had a Valid visa before issuing my boarding pass. They also have you fill out a health declaration form you hand in at the checkin counter. I flew business class and the lounge was closed so they gave a $25 food voucher which could only be used at Hudson News since everything else was closed.
 
The flight boarded a little early and left early too. On board they announced that masks and face shields were required at all times except when eating and they handed out face shields to all passengers. I noticed only about 50% of passengers wore the face shield on board and they did not enforce it. I was surprised that business class was 100% full. The flight itself was similar to other flights I have taken with them. The food was basically the same except it wasn’t plated and still in the containers it was heated in and covered and plastic utensils and cups were used. Before landing they handed out 5 different forms to fill out. Two were the normal customs and immigration forms and the other 3 were for health and contact tracing. Upon landing we were told to remain seated as the Coast Guard would board to give us instructions.
 
I was expected chaos when deplaning and figuring out where to go for the COVID test. To my surprise it was very well organized. You first go to a booth to pay for the test which was $86. Be aware that you do have to register for the Covid test 3 days before your flight and present a QR code you receive by email. Next you go to the next booth for the test. After that it is on to immigration. A word of caution that despite having a Visa they asked for the marriage certificate and entered all that information into their system. Very few questions were asked and it was off to get my bag. The bags were all off of the carousel and ready to be picked up. Next it was off to the hotel registration desk where they ask for your booking confirmation and they take down the details. They offered a private car to the hotel which I know is more than a taxi but in light of the circumstances I thought it was best. I got in the car and was in my hotel in short order. To my surprise I got my Covid result in about 8 hours by email. Next I had to apply for my quarantine certificate. I did that online and am waiting for that. You need both the certificate and negative test result before the hotel will let you check out. I did confirm after I get that I can check out and go be with my wife in Makati for the remaining 14 day quarantine period. Happy to answer any questions you have.

Make sure you do CFO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Joke Lang.........

You didn't grasp what I was saying.   The traveler needs to bridge the discrepancy between the passport/ticket name and the green card.  My ex had to do this at the foreign airport to get boring pass as well as immigration exit control 

True, but at the foreign airport the green card is just a glorified visa basically. It gives you permission to present yourself for admission to the US. Your actual travel document is your passport. While both will be needed, the passport is the primary document, and why names should match on that. Showing a marriage certificate issued by the US ( there are 50 different styles, one for every state) and hoping the counter person knows what one is isn't very likely. But know they see passports and green cards all day long. They see the same photo on both passport and green card your good. Just to take the road of least resistance, OP should use name in the passport for travel reservations until passport is updated. 

They care about more than that..  They will need to show the GC to prove they will be allowed to enter the USA or they won't be able to board the plane 

All the airlines cares is that the name on your government issued ID matches what is on the ticket. Use the name on your passport for the reservation and it will make things easier. The airlines are pretty incompetent, and you start trying to convince them of a name change by showing them documents and marriage certificates it will just slow you down. The airlines are separate from CBP, so you will use your Green card to enter the US along with your passport. When my wife and I travel internationally I always use her name as it appears in her passport( She didn't change her name, as we decided it would mean she needs a new passport, and other ID's with my last name on it, and we didn't want to mess with that along with the whole immigration fiasco). So just use the name on your passport for your flight.

Show your marriage certificate showing change of name along with GC

Just carry a copy of your marriage certificate to link the names.

Thank you.
 
We were assigned to the Baltimore office.
 
We arrived about 30 minutes before our time because we left so early. We were let in about 15 minutes before our appointment; went through security then checked in.
 
We waited about 20 minutes before being called back. She asked how we met, went over the security questions on the paper (ie. guns, terrorism, previous marriages if applicable) verified our address, asked if we wanted to submit anymore evidence, we gave her our packet, she breezed through it, and that was it. She was very friendly and professional. She wasn't stern at all. I wish everyone could have such a lovely officer.

Thank you!
 
My status just updated today to Card Was Mailed to Me.
 
* 20 days after New Card is Being Produced
* 18 days after Case Was Approved

Thank you!
 
My status just updated today to Card Was Mailed to Me.
 
* 20 days after New Card is Being Produced
* 18 days after Case Was Approved

congrats!

My wife just got her biometrics appointment letter for Philly! Appointment is scheduled for 8/13/20.

We finally had our interview last July 29. IO told us that we were getting approved! 15 mins after, our case status updated to New Card is Being Produced. So happy to be done! All that's left to do now is wait for the GC to arrive in the mail.
 
Weirdly, both our field office and the NBC sent us interview notices. They arrived on the same day, each with a different interview date.
Philly field office, dated 7/7/2020, said our interview would be on July 29. NBC, dated 7/8/2020, said our interview would be on August 13.  
I talked to a Tier 2 officer, who then filed a service request with the Philly field office. They got back to me 2 days later and told me that the field office notice controls.
 
So now we're done!
 
Good luck to everyone else, and I hope people start hearing back about rescheduled interview dates!

We finally had our interview last July 29. IO told us that we were getting approved! 15 mins after, our case status updated to New Card is Being Produced. So happy to be done! All that's left to do now is wait for the GC to arrive in the mail.
 
Weirdly, both our field office and the NBC sent us interview notices. They arrived on the same day, each with a different interview date.
Philly field office, dated 7/7/2020, said our interview would be on July 29. NBC, dated 7/8/2020, said our interview would be on August 13.  
I talked to a Tier 2 officer, who then filed a service request with the Philly field office. They got back to me 2 days later and told me that the field office notice controls.
 
So now we're done!
 
Good luck to everyone else, and I hope people start hearing back about rescheduled interview dates!

We finally had our interview last July 29. IO told us that we were getting approved! 15 mins after, our case status updated to New Card is Being Produced. So happy to be done! All that's left to do now is wait for the GC to arrive in the mail.
 
Weirdly, both our field office and the NBC sent us interview notices. They arrived on the same day, each with a different interview date.
Philly field office, dated 7/7/2020, said our interview would be on July 29. NBC, dated 7/8/2020, said our interview would be on August 13.  
I talked to a Tier 2 officer, who then filed a service request with the Philly field office. They got back to me 2 days later and told me that the field office notice controls.
 
So now we're done!
 
Good luck to everyone else, and I hope people start hearing back about rescheduled interview dates!

Actually, in my case, both the field office and NBC mailed me interview notices.
 
Filed office sent me an interview notice, dated 7-7-2020, for a 7-29-2020 interview.
NBC sent me an interview notice, dated 7-8-2020, for a 8-13-2020 interview.
 
I received them both on the same day.
 
I called USCIS and talked to a Tier 2 officer, and she filed a service request with the Philly field office to clarify what the actual date was. Service request response came back two days later saying the field office notice controls, meaning our interview was 7-29.