bolero_pa

Thanks, everyone. Very helpful. I was confused because some of the law practice websites have incorrect information. For example, I read tips, like the one below, which made it seem like if your green card has the code "CR1", then you do need to file the I-751. However, our green card has "CF1", which seemed not to require the I-751 (untrue). Also, I swear I read on another site which I can't find now, that even if the green card expires, it's not a problem. Anyway, we're all set now and thanks. We'll file the I-751.

From a law firm website:

"TIP:

You can check whether you have conditional residence by looking at the front of your green card. If your card has the letters “CR1” under the “Category” heading, then you have a conditional green card. You can also check the expiration date on your green card to see if you were issued a 2-year or 10-year green card."

One thing I noticed is that the USCIS appears to be allowing an additional 48 months beyond the expiration of green cards. This is for those who have filed on time the I-751:
https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-extends-green-card-validity-for-conditional-permanent-residents-with-a-pending-form-i-751-or
 

Apologies. I fear this has been asked 100,000 times. I've been reading VJ and and any site I can find. Do all those whom are K-1 married and with 2-year green card need to submit the I-751? Our 2-year green card expires this coming December. I think we need to submit an I-751, but some sites suggest it's unnecessary.

One more stupid question. One site says we need to wait 3 years before submitting the N-400, but another site says it can begin after 2 years and 9 months. 

All of this seems simple, but there's no site with a the extremely simplified outline my simple mind requires. Every process is cluttered with too many details.

Thanks so much!

I've been through a divorce with a Pinay and now married again to another Pinay. There are a few things at play and I'm probably bringing nothing new to the table. In the Philippines kids stay at home until adults. Even after they have kids. The maturity thing is probably somewhat a factor. Also with her kids still in the Philippines she's likely hourly thinking about them, missing them, and kind of wanting to go back. So her threatening to leave (which is my biggest concern) is more "acceptable" with this in mind. One other thing to think about in terms of your own kids accepting her. They want you to be a happy person, not depressed and lonely. What sort of role model will you be if you're single and depressed, not trying to be happy? The last thought is, it's really all about you and your fiancé. You need to make sure she knows that you and her are the team. The core of the team. You obviously share the same values. That's the key. I did the same thing. Had a kid from a previous marriage and my wife did as well. A mini-Brady bunch. It works well. Just takes time and lots of communication and reassurance that she is your priority in life.

I’ve successfully navigated two K1 visas. I wouldn’t switch. It’s always about patience. Assembling a new packet, all the forms and fees, and in the end it only complicates everything. 
 

Also, getting married in the Philippines is never a good idea, especially for women. With no legal avenues for simple divorce, women are screwed. Best avoid Filipino bureaucracy as much as possible as it’s always a nightmare. 

On 12/27/2021 at 11:55 AM, Jorgedig said:

I'm surprised you never came across this piece of crucial advice in your year here on VJ.  It is said again and again that the first thing to do after stepping off the plane is to apply for an SSN.

I've visited the site on numerous occasions and never seen it, mainly bc it's not listed on our personal K1 timelines as a to-do? Why not add it there then EVERYONE will see it and deal with it properly.

57 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the Social Security Numbers subforum.

There lies the rub

I dunno. I'm fairly observant and diligent. Filed everything myself. Missed it. My bad, but would have this in the timeline or on a checklist somewhere more prominent.

Thanks. Been using this site on and off for 10 years and never actually saw that page.

I wish somewhere in the K1 process it mentioned making an appointment with the Social Security office to get an SSN. Evidently immediately upon landing in the US with a K1 visa the fiance can and SHOULD go get an SSN. As it stands we got married and then filed for I-485 Permanent Residence and I-765 (Employment Authorization). These take 5-6 months and included SSN creation, however that's six months without being able to obtain things that require and SSN, like bank account, driver's license, etc. It's too late now for us, but if your fiance lands here, immediately visit the Social Security office with your unexpired I-94 (Department of Homeland Security Arrival/Departure Record).

"Alien number". I always love that.

Nice photo. You'll be able to reach the high shelves, and she the low. LOL

I presume (hope) you don't have to do the CFO thing.

With CEAC stuff and basically everything I always called the embassy in MNL. Actually it's the "US Visa and Information Services", some sort of call center, but they provide decent advice on what to do.
They are open 6pm to 2am pacific time M-F (or actually sort of Sunday through Thursday our time)
US Visa and Information Services

1-703-520-2235
Once connected you listen a few messages, then press, 1, 2, 1, 2

Then you listen to about 8 minutes of music, then they call cuts off.

About 1 in 10 calls get through, but that's what I did about 500 times over the past 18 months.

If it helps, we just went through the CFO process (mid July 2021) and I posted a detailed summary of our experience in a separate VJ post:

Trying to keep this updated.

K1 Visa Interview was Thursday, July 8.

CFO online "office" only open from Mon-Thurs.

Monday July 12, contact made via online form to start CFO process, despite no in-hand visa.
CFO replied (same day I believe) saying they needed copy of visa prior to call.

Visa arrived in CDO Mindanao on morning of Thursday July 15.
Copy of K1 Visa sent to CFO at 12:20pm on July 15. 

10 minutes later they replied and scheduled a call for 1pm July 15.

CFO phone call lasted 40 minutes, in stark contrast to the K1 visa interview which literally lasted 2 minutes.

Told that they needed a copy of my drivers license along with copies of bills with my mailing address. 

Still yet to hear back after all these documents sent. Will see, but at least it appears to be moving quickly. Fingers crossed.

CFO likely less inclined to place as many demands on K1 visas, as those couples have already been well scrutinized and the title includes “fiancé“ rather than “tourist.”

Thanks, Flicks. Very informative. I already booked a flight three weeks from today. My thinking is that my fiancé can start the process and hopefully make contact with a person willing to conduct the interview without the visa, so that when it come she can email them and hopefully receive the certificate within a day or two. Would you advise this strategy, or would you wait for the visa? My concern with waiting is that the visa might take 10 days to arrive at which point we'd only have about a week to start and complete the CFO process, which may not even be possible.

I wonder if there is such thing as an "Expedited CFO". That would be terrific.

Thanks for replies. I'm still trying to navigate this process and more importantly the timeline. You'd expect to feel relieved and elated after a visa approval rather than burdened and uncertain. 

I've been plowing through old VisaJourney posts and the one linked below seems to indicate that the visa is not required. I have no idea about how long the online CFO process takes. Maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks. It's a big deal when you have other deadlines to consider. Just as stunning is the absolute lack of current accurate information on the process and the timeline. I think it's probably quite informal on the backend, Like maybe one the payment is received an email request is sent to the beneficiary. That email is replied to with more attached documents. Once that email is received then I suspect there is one person in charge of assigning an agent. The agent receives the email and depending on workload, makes the phone call. This has to be the system, but I've no idea how long it will take. Fingers crossed, two days?

Post which indicted visa no required in hand:

Thanks. I guess only possible to register Monday - Thursday from [07:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.]). 
 

i watched the little movie about the process. It’s out of date and talks about attending in person live orientations in Manila or Cebu. I wish there was a single location which included accurate, current,  detail information 

We're very excited. My fiancé had her interview today and the visa is supposed to be delivered in 2 weeks. There is a requirement for a CFO Certificate. I've read multiple posts here and no post seems to have all the information and certainly not current information.

Has anyone here recently completed the CFO process? Is it in person in Manila or online? Can it be completed immediately once the visa is received, or is there a waiting list? I'm hoping to purchase airline tickets in three weeks, but the concern is that there may be a backlog of CFO applicants.  The CFO interview/application requires a few documents. If it is online, how are those documents provided? Do we scan them and email the images?

Thanks for this information and any other information which might clarify this process and the timeline.

5 hours ago, Lotherest said:

Did you have a previous interview set that was cancelled?

Details in my timeline comment, but yes.

Over the past year I did a couple informal requests over the phone, but I don't think those are given much consideration. Finally, I submitted a more formal request including signed letter.

June 2, 2021 - Request was emailed to support-philippines@ustraveldocs.com and NVCExpedite@stave.gov (although the latter possibly no longer in use)
Additionally I submitted the same documents to the online web form "Immigrant Visa Inquiry Form":
https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/immigrant-visa-inquiry-form/

No follow up calls

June 15, 2021 - They informed us via email and set the Interview date of the first week of July

1 hour ago, Ken178 said:

Did you you guys get an expedite?

Yes. Good research and observation skills. Although having  started the process September 2019, and not having seen my fiancé for over 1.5 years, it certainly hasn’t the feel of anything expedited. I won’t complain further as I know others are also in this ungodly backup. My only very limited advice is don’t give up and keep trying. What’s crazy is I did this all before with my now ex-wife. It was 2010 and our timeline was absurdly fast, four or five months. The only theory that seemed plausible was our application was randomly plucked from the pile during a training session. This time it’s completely the opposite as we had interview scheduled in March 2020, just before everything shut down. It was heartbreaking. 

My fiancé has her K1 VISA interview in 2 weeks. She asked for a copy of the NOA1, which I can't locate. Is that document important or required for the interview? It would seem unimportant since all it does is provide an early notification that the application has been received. 

Thanks!

Is the German embassy open? I heard the German embassy was processing K1 type visas.