martinbr

I am looking right at this copy that was sent to me by my wife. It has CFO stamped all over it with her showing that she has completed this seminar. The only thing is that she took this on 09/22/09. Is there a expiration date on this certificate? By all rights, they should have stamped her passport right after she completede seminar. So if they didn't stamp her passport i assume she has to take the seminar all over again.

martinbr

Ok, maybe she just needs to go to the cfo office and get the sticker for her passport. I will find out more when I can call over there. This sounds like something that can be handled the day of her flight.

martinbr

I am looking right at this copy that was sent to me by my wife. It has CFO stamped all over it with her showing that she has completed this seminar. The only thing is that she took this on 09/22/09. Is there a expiration date on this certificate? By all rights, they should have stamped her passport right after she completede seminar. So if they didn't stamp her passport i assume she has to take the seminar all over again.

martinbr

a better link straight to the seminar page: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=329&Itemid=78

The seminar is at 10am sharp. Tell her to show up early to register. Make sure she has everything they require...including the package she had at her interview. They may ask for items she needed for that.

Take a deep breath Martin. We're here to help.

From what I have heard, the PRISM seminar is easier to attend than the St Mary's seminar.

I can't believe she waited until the last minute to tell me this. This is not communicating. I am very upset about this. I might have to change the flight date and then pay a huge penalty on top. So, what your saying is that this is another counseling session that she has to take on top of the guidance counseling she took in Cebu? She has a copy and sent me one that states she has completed the guidance counseling seminar with her photo on it with a certificate number. Sounds like I have to call them tonight on there time to try to get this situation straightened out.

martinbr

She may be talking about her CFO sticker???? She has to attend the CFO seminar to get the sticker. She won't be able to leave the PI without it.

How long does this take to get? She already attended some guidance counseling class in Cebu about 6 months ago. Is this something different?

She drops a bomb on me at the last minute about this. Here flight is scheduled for next tue. and she tell me that Mon is some sort of holiday, so she won't be able to go to embassy untill the 26th the day of the flight. Her flight is at 10:00pm. Can she get this done that day? Please help...

martinbr

Congrats and hope your stepchild will follow very soon!

Now my wife is telling me that she has to go to the embassy and get something stamped in her passport or visa? Does anyone know anything about this. My wife couldn't give me a very good answer about this. Plus the storm that they are having over there is playing havoc with the phone lines. I am getting very bad reception on my wireless. My wife lives in the Visayas.

martinbr

Yes, it's been 3 years since I got married and my wife is scheduled to come over to step on american soil for the first time in her life. I am so happy and nervous at the same time. So in about a week I will see her after not seeing since 08/09.

She is coming without our stepchild in which I immigrated both at the same time, she did not pass her medical. They area suspecting TB, but from what I have been reading is that it could be a false/positive. She went medication back where they live, but I guess it doesn't matter. She would have to go for treatment at ST. LUKES to make it count. Our stepchild will stay with her aunt until we can get her up to Manila for awhile. The child didn't even do a sputum test because they couldn't stay up in Manila for a couple of months.

So my new journey begins in my latter part of my life with the woman I love. Man, this has been a trying experience. Anyway, I'm happy but will be happier when I have her in my arms. Will upgrade timeline as soon as she gets here. Thanks to everyone's help so far in this journey.

martinbr

Your timeline indicates that your wife has an immigrant (CR-1 or IR-1) visa, so you are correct, all she will need to begin working when she gets here is her social security number. When she enters, she should get an I-551 stamp on her passport which indicates that she is a permanent resident and is the same as a green card.

I had some money come in that I have been waiting for to get a ticket for my wife to get here hopefully in the next couple of weeks. I really don't want to wait any longer. It's been another year since I have been away from her. This is kind of a make or break deal here. I might not have the money for awhile to get my wife here and then her visa will expire. Maybe with the two of us together we can come up with a plan on working to get here daughter here. The economy is not going to pick up any time soon as I was hoping so with the two of together, we can work it out.

martinbr

How about you stop hijacking someone else's thread and create your own topic for these unrelated (off topic) questions?

Reaaly, thank you. This is the first time I encountered this. It's very rude.

martinbr

Hello, my wife has her visa now. She has had it since 06/28/10. But my dilema is that I have been out of work for 13 months with no job in sight. I am renting a room in a three bedroom house which has three other people already. I really need to get her over her before her visa expires in Dec. But I am deathly scared that it will make my situation even worse!

I am collecting unemployment which is barely getting me by. By the time my unemployment check comes, I am flat broke. But I am older and that might be the reason I am not getting hired with even a very tight market. But I am thinking that my wife who is filipina might be able to get a job easier than myself. Where I live in the S.F. bay area is predominatly asian, hispanic and filipino.

But this might be the only chance to get her here. The only thing I would have to do is get her a social security number and she be good to go. Is this correct.

I have been holding off as long as I can. As you can see by my timeline this immigration process has been going on for 3+ years. It is kind of a make or break situation. Anyone else been in this situation. I am not asking for a answer just maybe your experience if you were in this kind of situation bringing your loved one over when it was your time.

thanks,

martinbr

If I remember your past posts, I can distinctly remember members telling you that your wife's daughter HAS to be treated at St Luke's. If she is treated by a family physician, she will still need to take the entire battery of meds at St Luke's DAILY, which will prolong the entire process an additional 3 to 6 months. I don't mean to sound rude, but you have asked, and many knowledgeable members have told you what your wife's daughter would need. Your wife is good to go. I would make every effort to get her daughter treated properly post haste! If she is beinig treated at St Luke's, I apologize, but from your post, it doesn't look that way.

My wife has expressed interest that she wants to leave her daughter with her aunt for now and she want's to come over here to the U.S. If that's the case, well have to start the petition process all over again for the child at another date. This is totaly ridiculous that they expect everyone to have treatment at there hospital when some people live hundreds of miles away. But that is the way it is. I can't do anything about. I am not a rich man to keep the child up in Manila so she could have treatments. No, your not being rude, so thanks for the information. btw, I did call St. Lukes and they confirmed everything that you mentioned. I was just not aware of since I was going my wife's information from what she told me.

Martin

If I'm not mistaken, St. Luke's usually informs the USEM about the results of the medical and the interview date is canceled automatically. Another interview date will be set within 3 to 6 months (depending on the duration and the outcome of treatment). Also her treatment has to be done at the doctor's office daily until she has her next medical exam. Have you asked St. Luke's about it?

No, I haven't asked St. Lukes yet. I have to call them.

Thanks,

martinbr

Hi there.

What visa did your wife and her daughter apply for? Depending on what kind of TB her daughter was diagnosed with, it may not be a complete denial...they are just giving her time to be treated (3 to 6 months) before she can be pronounced medically fit to be given a visa.

You may want to complete your timeline so other members can help you better.

K3 and K4 visas are no longer available so if you want your wife to immigrate, it will be for permanent resident visa. IR-1 is for spouses of US citizens who have been married 2 or more years, and CR-1 is for spouses of US citizens who have been married for less than 2 years. At the end of the application process, your wife will receive a 10 year green card if she applied for IR-1 and a 2 year conditional green card if she applied for CR-1.

Both applications kick off with the filing of an I-130 petition. You can view the timelines here on VJ, click on Processing Times (in between Example Forms and Embassy Info), or visit the USCIS website to see how long the processing times are in the different offices. Depending on which state you live, then you identify the Service Center that will process the I-130.

After re-reading your post, it is unclear to me if you are thinking about having her come over on a visitor visa...was that your intention?

No, she has her visa. My wife has a IR-1 visa. Because she passed her interview. So the step child is going for the IR-2 visa. I was married in the phillipines in 2007. So I need to get here over here in the next few months. She says she wants to come over and be with me. Her child will still at her Aunts house until she goes back.

My wife's daughter's appointment was originally scheduled for June 28th. St. Lukes said that she needs to take medication until the TB was treated. So since she DID NOT pass the medical, how long does she have before going back to Manila for interview? I would imagine it would be six months from the original appointment. Can anyone shed some light on this?

martinbr

Kaye and Rick

Hello, I wrote awhile back in this forum about my wife having a visa and the time validity on it. If I got my wife to come over in the six month period of the visa how long is the visa good for? I take it should would have to get her green card while she was here. Is this correct. Could you please give me a idea how long it takes to get a green card in the U.S. if she came her?

I have some money coming in so I can pay for her plane fair. Although I am just renting a room, she could stay with me until she got her card.

My wife's daughter did not pass her medical due to a spot that they found on her lung. It was diagnosed as mild TB. She has taken antibiotics. This was on 06/28. So I still have to find out how long her case stays open since she didn't pass her medical. Do you know how long they would keep her case open? I would imagine six months from the date set when she was to be interviewed at the embassy. Which was 06/28.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

martinbr

Actually, as she has a CR-1 Visa she could turn around and get on the next flight to the PH because she'll get the I-551 stamp in her passport.

Of course the downs to this are the child being without mom for a while & the added expense of a round-trip flight for her.

Nope, that isn't going to work. She needs to be with daughter. Plus like you have mentioned, the cost factor. They had to take a boat up to Manila the first time. I imagine it's going to be the same when we go back and get my stepchild's medical exam and interview.

Like someone mentioned, the best plan at this stage if any and it comes down to that is to get a extension on my wife's visa at the time. I am hoping it isn't going to have to resort to that.

Thanks everyone for your help as always..

martinbr

You wife/asawa will need to go to the USEM to have her visa extended if it gets close to expiring. I do not remember the fee but it is listed on the USEM website somewhere.

The other option is for her to come to the us and wait for the greencard before returning to the philippines to accompany her child.

Thank you. That is probably what I will have to do if need be. When my stepchild goes back for interview, I can have my wife's visa extended for approx the same duration of my stepchilds. That would give me a little more time to get it together here.

martinbr

Have they actually issued her the Visa? They should wait to issue it until the kid is also approved (which will happen as long as Mom is and the child passes the medical).

Yes, she has visa in her hand. I have no idea why they DID NOT reschedule her appointmet after the child underwent treatment. Apparantly they don't care. Maybe it has someting to do with how long this process has been going on.

martinbr

I have a hypothetical question regarding my wife's CR1 visa if it expires before I get my step childs approved. As you all know, my stepchild ran into a snag with the medical. That should only take a few months. The real problem is that I haven't found a job yet. I have been looking and applying online everyday for jobs. But no one is just hiring right now. A month has already gone by since she was interviewed. I take the visa starts the day that she passed the interview. So since she had her interview on 06/28 she has just a little over 5 months on the visa. What happens then if I can't get the child passed along this timeframe?

Would I have to start all over again, or just pay the fees for the medical and visa fees again? Can someone lead me into the right direction where I can aquire this information?

thanks,

martinbr

Sorry to hear about these issues. but take heart in that your wife WILL definitely be with you soon as will your stepchild.

Patience has its rewards.

I just wanted to comment on the photos of your baby. Very cute. You guys must be proud...

martinbr

Sorry to hear about these issues. but take heart in that your wife WILL definitely be with you soon as will your stepchild.

Patience has its rewards.

Thank you for your kindness. My wife is going to pick up her visa either today or tommorow. It has been sent down by air21 and they told me when I called them last night that it is waiting there for here when she gets back from Manila. I told them to hold off until Fri there to give her enough time to get back home and be there when they try to get a hold of her where she live.

take care,

martinbr

Wife is on the way back home to get her visa since she passed interview. It is waiting in Negros Occidental in which Air 21 tried to deliver once already. But my wife was still in Manila at the time. I tell you, I am not very happy with the Manila Embassy. Why they didn't wait on her interview and re-schedule at that time since my stepchild had some medical issues is beyond me. There is no way in hindsight that I would have thought to ask my wife to take this responsibility. Because that is what I was told by a official at the embassy. That they have no control over issues like this and basically it is really up to us to try to re-schedule. My wife did not speak up at the time because she either wasn't thinking or she just did not know. I tried to be as thorough as I could about this whole process, but this one slipped passed me. I did not think about it either.

So now the clock starts ticking on my wife's visa while my stepchild undgoes medication to clear up her lungs for the next time she goes to St. Lukes. Most likely in about two months. My wife originally told me six months, but found out that is in severe cases and two months for mild cases.

But if it goes past six months, my wife's visa will expire and I will have to request a replacement visa in which will cost me another $400.00 + the medical exam for my step child.

So I thought our journey was coming to a end here, but it looks like it's going to go on for sometime. I am sure I will get some flames here, but this is the way I see the situation in which occured in our immigration process.

martinbr

I am totally confused here trying to figure out what my wife should do here. My wife passed here interview but they kept her passport. They gave her no further instructions on what to do after the interview.

Is there a reason that they held on to her passport? Is it because my step child needs to be cleared first before they send the Visas to her home address?

As I have stated in other threads, that my step child did not pass medical and needs 6 months of treatment before she can go back to St. Lukes. Both of these visa applications where filed at the same time. And they both had appointments on the same day at the same time. I would imagine that my step childs interview has to be approved before they issue visas. Is this correct? I know I have been asking a lot of questions here, but I need help on this before I send my wife back home.

thanks,

martinbr

Thank you for explaining to me how this testing system works at St. Lukes. She had the 3 day sputum test done and a xray. It came back positive. I couldn't get the information out of my wife at the time because I think she was very upset about finding out the news about our step child. But now I know what she did at the hospital.

thanks,

martinbr

Thank you for explaining to me how this testing system works at St. Lukes. She had the 3 day sputum test done and a xray. It came back positive. I couldn't get the information out of my wife at the time because I think she was very upset about finding out the news about our step child. But now I know what she did at the hospital.

thanks,

martinbr

Ok, I found out that my wife had our step child tested at St. Lukes for skin test for TB. She came back positive. They did a 3 day sputum test and xray. So that is why it's going to be a 6 month treatment. They are going back to there home in Bacolod City.

My wife's interview is complete. So does the clock start ticking on her Visa? I have to send my step child back up around December to go to St. Lukes to be seen and for her appointment. I am told that I have to repay the medical fees on my step child at the time. Can someone clear this up for me about the different time tables with interviews and the validity of the Visa?

thanks,

martinbr

Martin, just to be sure you understand:

First, I don't have a problem with any of it. I mentioned it only because I remember how hurt Anna was the first time she read a post of mine on VJ where I referred to Gabby as "her son" (especially since I usually refer to him as our son foregoing the step son thing). Of course after I explained that the lack of biological relationship between him & I was relevant to the thread she understood. I just wanted to put it out there for us step parents to consider, that's all.

Second, I was talking about your last 3 threads wherein you refer to her as "My wife's child/kid/daughter". Those phrases sound distant and are a departure from how you'd previously referred to the little girl.

Finally, your explain was much more than I'd expected and shows that you are a considerate man. It's a shame that your ex-wife has taken such an approach. I'm fortunate that my daughters from my first marriage (ages 13 & 16 when I married Anna) have embraced her as their Nanay. My ex has done some "saber rattling" but it's just background noise as my daughter have lived with me their whole lives.

Ok, point taken. I will try address my step/child as that. I am sorry I have offended you or anyone else here on visajourney. That was not my intention. Thank you for the observation.

martinbr

Martin,

First I want to apologize if my mentioning this in a public post offends you, I'm simply trying to bring something to your (and other step-parents') attention.

I've only quoted three words of your original post because I'm only going to address this one phrase that you've used consistently in multiple threads here. Reviewing your threads it seems that originally you did refer to the child as "my daughter" & "my step child". I wonder what has changed?

My wife also came with a little one but I've rarely referred to him as "her child/son" and then it was only to illustrate that I'm not his biological father because the situation being commented on would be different if I was.

I know it upsets Anna whenever we have to mention that Gabby is my step son and honestly I don't think of him as anything other than simply "my son".

So, all I'm really saying is that you should feel comfortable referring to the little girl as your "step child", "Step daughter" and even just your "daughter" but probably want to avoid referring to her as "my wife's child/daughter". The hurt feelings you save could be your wife's & step daughter's...

I use step/child for the simple reason that my daughter quit talking to me 3 years ago because of this marriage and her mother meddling in my affairs. And out of respect to my daughter, yes she is my step child and that is what I feel comfortable addressing as. I am sorry that you have a problem with that, but that is the most comfortable way for me to address my step child in threads.

I love my daughter and I love my new family. There is nothing different there. My step daughter refers to me as her dad since she has never had a father that she knew about. He took off when she was a infant.

I am hoping one day that my daughter by blood will enter my life again. But I am not counting on it. She was only 15 years old when this marriage took place, and I can see in her eyes what a bazaar thing it was for me to run over to another country and get married before I could talk to her about it. She felt betrayed. But I did, and fell in love with a beautiful woman. I hope this explains my situation.

martinbr