Steve and Evelyn

Nope. Don't need it for filing DCF.

From my understanding it just tells them where to send the iv fee bill and Aos fee bill. And since those are taken care of at the interview....well the iv fee, no Aos fee when filed at the consolate.......

Makes sense to me.

I was thinking the same thing and on the CEAC page there is NO mention of filling out that form after I sign in with my case number, etc. Obviously the software recognizes my filing status. I shall not worry about it. Thanks for the reply!

Almost to the finish line! Best wishes and good luck to you.

Steve

So I filled out the DS-260 online form and it was accepted and I received a confirmation email. But I'm a little confused. A normal occurrence. In my reading I noticed DS-261 which I think is basically our address, choice of agent (if any) etc. when we live in the States. I started to fill it out online last night but stopped to do some other things, saved my work and today I tried to find the site through CEAC but couldn't. Reviewing the State Department information I don't see where I need this form. Do I? If I do, if someone could kindly provide the link. When I go to our account on CEAC I can't find anywhere a link to form DS-261. I'm hoping this isn't a major issue as my wife's appointment is Monday May 13th. I know the paper version was very simple and I'm thinking if need be we can fill it out when we go for the interview. I'll keep looking although for the life of me I can't remember (and forgot to bookmark the site!!) where I went to fill out that form.

Wishing everyone good luck and a speedy process securing your visa!

Steve & Evelyn

Thank you Suyene. Just an FYI for anyone else that is curious. I am an early riser so very early this morning I decided to check if appointments were available. They were! Only 5 at 6:30am but I grabbed one. So it appears the Embassy (at least this week) posted appointment openings either late Friday night or very very early Saturday morning. I now have the appointment for my wife on May 13th with all documents in our possession. She just has to go through the St. Luke's physical which I have registered for. The only problem we'll have is her vaccinations. When she was a child the doctor came to the house to administer immunizations and there is no record kept. I hope there will be a solution to this short of her getting all of them over again. She'll do the physical some time next week. Thank you again for your reply. And it is correct to keep checking regularly maybe even several times a day as maybe there is no real schedule of when appointments are posted.

Good luck to all on the visa journey!

Steve & Evelyn

Okay, so we are ready for the interview. All paperwork has been gathered, everything has been done including filling out the online DS-260. At first I was told in an email from the Embassy to email a certain address to secure an appointment which I did. The Embassy replied and asked me to schedule an appointment online which I've been trying to do. When I get to the last page in the online process there is a statement that there are no appointments available. So I call the number provided in the email and the nice CSR tells me there are no appointments available because they haven't been posted. When I asked when that will happen she can't tell me.

So, the question is does anyone know? Is there any rhyme or reason when the Embassy might post appointment openings?

I'll keep trying to schedule an appointment online but it's tedious as they make you go through the same six or seven pages on their website before you get to the area saying there are no appointments. I was hoping today being May 1st they might post the May schedule. Then I noticed it's a holiday here in the Philippines. Labor Day, so probably nothing will happen today. Does anyone know if there is a a certain time of the month when the Embassy might give us an appointment opening? I am filing CR-1 DCF through the US Embassy in Manila.

Thank you for any light you can shed on this subject. And if you have a moment, could you turn down the heat??

Best wishes,

Steve & Evelyn

Hello All!

I received in the mail notification USCIS had approved my DCF visa application for my wife. We both live in the Philippines and I have been here the required amount of time. I've emailed them twice with no response so today I called. While going through the automated answering system I heard the auto-attendant say our application would now be forwarded to the National Visa Center. I'm not so sure about that. I think it stays in Manila and and once we have filled out the DS-260 and I-864 (I think that's the number) and secured the clearances, birth certificates and all that other stuff we can get on with the interview. But we don't have the packet yet. Should we have a packet from the embassy? The application was approved on January 28th. We received the notification on February 24th.

The VJ guide on DCF doesn't really make it clear what happens in chronological order. Maybe one of you can help? Shouldn't we receive something from the Embassy? Anything?

Please help me if any of you have experienced a similar situation or have the answer as to the next step and what should happen next.

Thank you in advance for your assistance!!

Best wishes and good luck to all of you on your visa journey.

Steve & Evelyn

Good Day VJ Friends,

Our visa application was approved in five short days on January 28th. Sadly, I wasn't able for whatever reason to receive email notifications even though at the time of application at the US Embassy in Manila if I asked if I would and they said yes. I even filled out a form for that. Regardless, it took a month for USCIS to notify us! Whew!

Now the next step. I have requested a checklist for the next steps. Affidavit of support, clearances and all that stuff. Tedious but easy.

My question today is what is done when there are no immunization records available. Back when my wife was a child the doctor came to the house to administer the immunizations and he has since passed away. There are no records. I recall reading somewhere on VJ similar situations that had a solution but I don't remember the solution or what happened.

Anyone know? Obviously she doesn't want to repeat immunizations she's already had not to mention the cost. Please reply at your earliest convenience.

Best wishes and good luck to all!

Steve & Evelyn

Thank you for your thoughts! On the one-sheet the embassy sent me for DCF paperwork requirements I can either give them my birth certificate or my passport to prove my US citizenship. I'm giving them my birth certificate. Of course they have electronic records of my travel and will know about this trip. I can explain it and that intent was to return as soon as I completed my work in the states. My concern is if I'm denied will there be a waiting period penalty. I do like gambling but I don't want to wait a year to re-file or whatever the penalty is. And of course the additional $420 filing fee. Or they could just deny and say re-file six months after my return on September 16th. Naturally we are both anxious to go to the states where we have jobs waiting. Thanks again! Much appreciated.

Steve & Evelyn

Hello VJ Friends!

I am preparing the application for a DCF at the US Embassy in Manila. Here is the situation. I came to be with my then fiancee on January 30, 2013. I then had to return to the states for a period of time in April to take care of some personal affairs an help my previous employer with a project and returned on September 16th. We were married on November 10th. To cover my bases I have a lease in both my fiancee (at that time) and myself signed and notarized on February 1, 2013. I am concerned that my time out of the Philippines will cause a problem with the six month continuous residency requirement. If I am denied because of this does anyone know the procedure and the soonest I can re-file and the ramifications.

I also read elsewhere on this site this morning that because of the typhoon all I-130's were being expedited. Could this work in my favor? Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance for any past experiences you have had and assistance with this questions.

Best wishes & salamat po!

Steve & Evelyn

Thank you! Your timeline shows you filed several days after marriage. I saw another timeline the couple filed four months after marriage. So it appears to be a function of length of residency in the Philippines as near as I can tell. When I saw those short time after marriage I was excited at the possibility of filing soon after our marriage but it appears we'll have to wait the six months as a married couple before filing. As you might imagine we're anxious to come to the states and make some money so we can return and buy our dream home back in the Philippines. Thank you again and best of luck in your journey.

Steve & Evelyn

Hi Steve!

You have to be a permanent resident here in the Philippines or been here for 6 months in order to file for DCF at the USEM Manila. And after that you can file for I-130 which you will fall under CR-1 if you havent been married for 2 yrs or IR1 if married for 2 yrs or more. You must have proof too of your residency here in the Philippines such as lease statements, rentals, bank accounts, any will do.

Yes, people are approved in less than a month, some were even approved in a day. Just as long as you got all the requirements then you're good to go!

Hope i helped you in a way. Godbless!

Today, 04:46 PM

Hello All!

I plan on using DCF. I leave for the Philippines on Monday. I'm pleasantly surprised at some of the quick turnaround times for those filing DCF. When I was researching this method I was under the impression a married couple couldn't file until after six months of marriage. I see on some timelines that some waited four months other filed shortly after marriage. Am I missing something in my research? My fiancee tells me she's hearing in PH that some are getting approved quickly too. I have never known the US government to do anything quickly except for maybe collect taxes owed! Anyway, if anyone can shed some light on this I would appreciate it. Specifically are we required to wait six months or can we file after we are married without waiting? Any help you can provide would be much appreciated. Best wishes and continued good luck and happiness to all of you.

Steve & Evelyn

It's a long story and I've had a long day so I won't get into the details but I have divorced and am starting over with a new Filipina. This seems like the best place to pose this question as I don't see an admin area. It's probably there I'm just missing it. Is it possible to delete all of my timeline information on my existing profile? As I said, starting over with a brand new fiancee visa and want to keep my timeline information current for the benefit of the other members. Or should I just delete this account, if that's possible, and create a new account. Anyone have any efficient way of accomplishing this? Anyone that can assist me would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Steve & Evelyn

This may seem like a stupid question. My filipina wife and I have divorced. We were married for just over two years. It's time to send her in her I-751 and I am helping her with that. She obviously no longer possesses my last name and has returned to her maiden name. Should the I-751 application contain her former married name (my last name) or her now maiden last name? I obviously will include a copy of the divorce decree in the mailing to them. But Immigration has her married name in their database so I wasn't sure how to go about this. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you all and best wishes to everyone in their Visa journey!

Steve

Also is it necessary for me to sign the I-751 as well as her? Thanks!

This may seem like a stupid question. My filipina wife and I have divorced. We were married for just over two years. It's time to send her in her I-751 and I am helping her with that. She obviously no longer possesses my last name and has returned to her maiden name. Should the I-751 application contain her former married name (my last name) or her now maiden last name? I obviously will include a copy of the divorce decree in the mailing to them. But Immigration has her married name in their database so I wasn't sure how to go about this. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you all and best wishes to everyone in their Visa journey!

Steve

My wife & I will be married 2 years on September 23rd of this year. Her green card anniversary date is July 12, 2012. Our marriage will not last until July, 2012. In FAQ I read where it is possible to for her to get conditions removed via I-751 even if there is a divorce and there was no intent to simply marry to get a green card. I don't believe that is the case here. Has anyone experienced this? I only wish to help my wife even after the divorce so she might attain her goals. Can anyone share their experiences and what I might expect? Should we remain married for 2 years and will that make a difference or does it matter? There is only a couple of months to go in that department. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Steve

She would have to petition her mother when she becomes a citizen because her mother is her immediate relative. There is no mention of a Lawful Permanent Resident being able to use form I-130 for parents. You can read this on the I-130 instructions under "WHO MAY FILE THIS FORM"

And last question does anyone know if it's possible for a lawful permanent resident (my wife) for medical reasons as in this case heart problems? Obviously with all of the doctor's letters, etc. Has anyone heard of that happening. Yes I know we'll have to obligate ourselves to any costs associated with her medical condition. Just curious.

Thanks again everyone!

Steve & Grace

Your wife will first have to wait to become a PR. Then she will file for citizenship after 3 years.

Only then she may file a petition for her mom.

Mothers are immediate relatives. Not mom-in-laws.

Yikes...at the very moment I posted my reply below your reply was posted. So my wife cannot even petition until she gains citizenship? That is a ways down the road. Now that I type this I do recall the instructions saying a US citizen. I guess I thought a lawful permanent resident could petition but I guess that's not the case...thanks all for your replies---saves me a lot of time.

Best wishes,

Steve & Grace

She would have to petition her mother when she becomes a citizen because her mother is her immediate relative. There is no mention of a Lawful Permanent Resident being able to use form I-130 for parents. You can read this on the I-130 instructions under "WHO MAY FILE THIS FORM"

Thank you! Then I guess it goes without saying that my wife cannot petition for her Mother until after she has her green card? Thanks again!

Hello,

Sorry to repeat questions asked already--I seem to see a lot of that. My Filipina wife wants to bring her Mother here. We will have our interview sometime in July (still waiting for appointment day & time). We have all of our documentation and I don't expect any problems Grace receiving her Green Card. The question is which one of us is allowed to petition for her Mother's visa? Must Grace have her Green Card and petition or is it possible for me to petition for her Mother. Reading what I've read I'm going to guess the answer to my own question and say that my wife must be the petitioner since it's her mother. Could someone confirm that for me please?

Thanks!

Steve & Grace

I filed for AOS and EAD on the 12th of Nov 09. We received the EAD just last week! (no RFE's). I know not everyone will be on the same schedule but I think you have 3 weeks or so before you see it.

Be sure to sign up for an account at the USCIS website to get updates. The new website seems to be updated unlike the old USCIS website.

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do;js...gxMxfYp_bFbMvzs

Then "sign up for case updates"

Thank you for your replies. As I suspected patience is required here. I have already one everything suggested. I'll give them another three weeks and then decide my next course of action, if necessary, then.

Best wishes all,

Steve & Grace

Hello Everyone!

I've looked through the first four pages and didn't find anything that might help me. Here is my situation. We applied for I-485, I-765 and Advance Parole. We received the NOA on October 19th after filing it on October 9th. So far so good. In the town I lived in at the time of this filing the Post Office was quite strict about not delivering mail to a business box number unless the person that owned that business was the the person registered with that box number which I was. When my fiancee arrived and we married (September 23rd 2009) I informed the Post Office of same and asked them to be on the lookout for mail to her from USCIS. They said the would. Unfortunately that request didn't reach everyone and they returned the NOA which set the appointment for the my wife's biometrics. Well, that added about a month after I called USCIS and rescheduled the biometrics appointment which was delayed until December 17th 2009. In between all of this I was offered and accepted a job in another state (Alaska). I have informed USCIS of my address change for both the I-485 and the I-765 and received notification from them that my address has been changed. Where I live there is no access for an Infopass unless I was to take an expensive jet ride to the Seattle area (closest USCIS/Homeland Security Office to me). I can't afford that which brings me to the purpose of this post and is probably answered somewhere in the thousands of posts in this most marvelous website. May I take a moment to thank everyone for all of their help. Without Visa Journey I would have never been able to bring my fiancee here and marry her and enjoy the happiness I have sought for many years. That being said, the expense of the visa process, moving here and assorted other financial responsibilities make it mandatory that my wife work which she is very anxious to do.

The question is simple enough. Her biometrics were completed on December 17th, 2009. Is it too soon to expect her EAD? If it is, when should we reasonably expect to receive it? I've seen folks get their EAD in a very short time and others much longer after RFE's. Am I being overly optimistic? That Post Office glitch really put us back a month and was quite maddening. Well that's water under the bridge now and we're both anxious to have her work so she can contribute.

Thank you in advance for any guidance or personal experience you can provide.

Best wishes,

Steve & Grace

A week ago I received NOA's for both the EAD and AP applications I submitted. I did not receive the NOA for the I-485. All three applications were sent in at the same time. Should I be concerned?

This site has been very helpful assisting me and my new new wife through the morass of paperwork and I'm very thankful for those that post their experiences and knowledge here. Thank you very much!

Best wishes,

Steve & Grace

I guess I should say Grace and her friend got her pink slip---obviously! Thanks everyone!

Congratulations!

Question. Does anyone know which is the best number to check on a visa? My fiancee met someone the day of her interview. Her friend received her visa two days ago our has not shown up. Will the call center know anything? Any assistance you can provide would be most appreciated. We are so anxious to be together but we can't plan until Grace has that visa on her hand. Thank you all very much.

Best wishes,

Grace & Steven