spidergirl

hi everyone! just need your help. my sister plan to apply for a tourist visa...what will be the first step and what are the requirements needed?? thanks so much...

Here are the Guides and Requirements.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhniv7.html

hi! i just wanna know if u are gonna send a flat rate box to the philippines containing a gift. Is the recipient need to pay tax in the port or post office where they need to pick it up? if so how much is the tax that need to pay ? I heard that it depends on the value?

pls.. someone share experience...

Please help.... thanks..

GODBLESS

If you send it via post office they will charge the recipient, i don't know how much because it depends on the size of the package and its value, and it takes forever to get there especially if you send it outside Metro Manila area and during this time. My husband sent me a Christmas gift before through Post Office, the USPS told him that it will take 2 weeks to get there, he mailed it last week of November hoping that i will get it before Christmas , and guess what? i got it end of January. Its just a little package about 12"x18" box and i paid PHP 140. From then on, he never send anything through the Post Office, theres nothing wrong with USPS, the problem is the Philippine Post Office. FedEx is the fastest, it only takes 3 days and no charge to the Recipient.

Hi to all those who have done Adjustment of Status.

By Philippine culture we use our mother's maiden name as our middle name and its the middle name I used in filling up forms for the K1 application and in my passport and all other documents upon entering the USA (SSN application, I-94, Marriage Certificate) . Now that I am married I definitely changed my previous surname to my husband's family name and by Philippine custom my previous surname is now my middle name but the system here is different because US citizens can choose their middle names and not necessarily their mother's maiden name.

My questions:

When applying for the AOS what middle name should I use? Should I follow the Phillipine system to the effect that my middle name now is my previous surname or should I retain the middle name I used in my SSN, I-94 and Marriage Certificate?

Thanks for the help.

Myla

As for me i chose to retain my mother's maiden name as my middle name and use my husband's family name as my new family name. Others follow the Filipino culture and others didn't change their name at all. You can choose whatever you want, remember that whatever name you used in your AOS application thats the name that will appear in your Green Card, so choose wisely.

I took my CFO in Manila specifically in SMEF in Quezon City. I haven't had a hard time with it, actually the counselor who interviewed me was very nice.

I guess it will not make any difference if she take the CFO in Manila or Cebu. Just be prepared because they are more concerned especially the younger ladies below 25 yeras old. And as what others said, its a case to case situation.

This is what i did when i went to my CFO. I memorized everything about my fiance, his address, work, birthday, his birthplace, parents names, thier addresses and their birthdays, i also memorized the name of my fiance's ex-wife and the date of their divorce.

It is important to memorized those things because if the counselor ask her about it, she can give them a straight forward answer without looking into the documents. It depends on how you answer the questions.

Hello, all! I plan on flying my fiance in this January 18. She has her K1 visa but still needs to attend her CFO. I went to the website and saw this:

<< 1. Original valid passport;

2. Original and photocopy of visa;

3. One (1) 2x2 or passport-size photograph;

4. One (1) valid identification card with photograph;

5. Original and photocopy of Confirmation of Permanent Residence (for CANADA-bound emigrant);

6. Original and photocopy of Immigrant Data Summary (for USA bound emigrant);

7. Original and photocopy of the Embassy Certification of Eligibility (for Spain bound C visa holders);

8. Original and photocopy of letter of approval for Work to Residence visa (for New Zealand bound emigrants);

9. Photocopy of employment contract(for immigrant workers);

10. Duly completed registration form (downloadable at www.cfo.gov.ph);

11. Payment of P400.00 registration fee ; and

12. Attendance in the PDOS or peer counseling session;>>

My questions:

Photocopy of visa? From what she told me, she received her visa in an unopened envelope that was supposed to stay unopened until her port of entry in the US in which US officials would then open it so how can she have a photocopy of her visa? I'm confused.

Also, does she get her CFO approval stamp/sticker right at the CFO? She was planning on going this week.

Please answer these questions. Thank you!

I'm planning marriage to her this January 28th, our two year anniversary!

Her Visa is attached to her passport and it can be photocopied. The sealed brown envelope is the Visa packet, it can't be opened.

She will take the counseling at either PRISM or SMEF-COW and get the sticker at CFO office. Please note that SMEF-COW at Quezon City has CFO extension Office at their compound, if you go there you don't have to go to CFO main office to get the sticker.

Now that we have approval from the US side NOA2.... I was wondering what others are doing for interviews. Going through the interview process with them??? I just returned from Cebu as I thought the process was going to take until April or May for final approval which was perfect for my vacation schedule. Now we are approved and await the medical and interview date which I am estimating February (someone please correct me if I am assuming wrong). Our NOA2 was approved November 28th after filing July 18th.

My thoughts are to meet her once she is approved in Vancouver as Philippine Airlines flies through there on the way to Las Vegas. They have a technical stop where passengers stay in Vancouver in a holding area as they do not pass into Canadian Customs unless they are staying in Canada. I figrued I can meet her there and bring her the rest of the way in through Vegas Customs.

Does anyone know anything about Las Vegas Customs? Difficult or easy?

Thanks to all VJers and Good luck to those awaiting there approval!

Your right, you may have interview on January or February. Good choice of flight plan, i took that flight too when i came here. Its a hassle free flight except for the food, lol. I haven't had a problem going through Las Vegas Customs, they are very nice and they didn't even opened my luggage. I guess you don't have to meet her at Vancouver, she will be fine, just meet her a Maccarran airport. Congrats on your approval and Good luck for the interview.

I hope they will catch the bad guys

A simple option available for those who want to share their photos here with friends, but don't want the pics to get into the hands of the wrong people.

I don't understand - you're looking for such a service, or you know of such a service?

Sorry. It's a suggestion for us to have that option here. Friendster offers the option to keep some or all of your photos you post private, while giving you the ability to decide who has permission to see those photos.

Yes i knew that because i have a friendster account. But, can we do that here in VJ?

I brought my first wife over here on a k-1 fiance visa in 1994 and we have reciently got divorced. Im planning to bring another lady over here from the Philippines on what would be my second fiance visa. Is this allowed by USA immigration? Are there any other problems with these circumstances.

You'll be fine since your last petition was 13 years ago. My husband also brought here his first wife from Thailand through K-1 on 1994. They got married and got divorced after 3 years. When he filed a petition for me last year, we didn't have any problem. I am here now in the USA and already have my Greencard.

Ann went for the CFO Seminar today. After the seminar she had to go across town to get the stamp for her visa at another office. At the second location she was interviewed. She was not expecting to be interviewed. She said the interviewer was hostile. She was asked why she was marrying me. The lady asked her about my 2 divorces. Then the woman told her that my middle name was incorrect and she could not issue the visa stamp because of the discrepancy. The woman insisted that my middle name was Flanagan (my mother's maiden name). Ann told her it was Brandon. The woman told her she was wrong. Fortunately, I had advised Ann to take all the documents that she had brought to her interview to the CFO seminar and she did. Ann was able to show her my original birth certifcate. The woman also wante to see the divorce decrees. Ann was the able to get her visa stamp and get out of there. Ann's embassy interview was less than 5 minutes and very friendly. Her CFO interview was ten minutes and unfriendly.

I remember that middle name thing, i put Clark which is my then Fiance's (now my husband)middle name,the counselor asked me what is my Fiance's Mom's maiden name and i answered Ozburn and she returned the form to me and told me to change it, she explained that i should fill out the form in Filipino way. She was very nice and i haven't had any problem, she asked me some questions and i answered it straight forward. My husband is also divorced. I guess it depends on how you answer the questions.

After my wife received her green card, we went to the local SSA office to change her name to married name. Now, as many of you know, USCIS likes to put the middle initial on the top of the card by the photo, and puts the full middle name on the bottom. The person at the SSA office refused to put her full middle name on her SSN record, saying they have to take the name exactly as it appears on the USCIS document. So, her middle name is just one letter in SSA records now. I pointed out that the full middle name is on the bottom front of the card, but she still refused to use the full middle name. My wife's middle name is her maiden name (family name) so it's important to her.

Has anyone had this experience at their SSA office?

Does anyone have a link to the SSA policy on this?

It's weird, my GC and EAD has my middle initial only and doesn't have full middle name at all. But my SSN has my full Middle name on it. If you fill out the SSA form with her full Middle Name, then their record has her full middle name, its just appear to be initial on the card.

Hi sorry for all the Newbie questions, but here is one that is interesting... I have searched the forums and there are posts that state never ever place N/A in a form field. Now I think this may be misleading, since the current instructions I have for the I-129F state to place "N/A" where items are not applicable, and place "none" where the answer is none. So correct me if i'm wrong, but its ok to use N/A and None on the form if they are being used accurately. Right? Thanks

This is what i found from the Form I-485 Instruction, this also available on all other USCIS forms under GENERAL INSTRUCTION Topic.

3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is none,write "none."

If you are downloading forms, download also its Instructions.

OK, here goes: I have been married before. And a freind of mine (filipino) said that CFO would drill my fiance to death and try and cause problems.....is this true? I have original documents showing divorce/marriage that I sent to USCIS as well and we were approved all the way so far.

What can she expect from CFO? Is this a real problem? THANKS ~ David

I have heard of that especially if the benificiary is too young (below 25 years old). When i did my CFO, i didn't have any problem at all. I memorized everything about my then Fiance (now my husband), so when a counsilor asked me a question i have a straight forward answer, i brought along his divorce decree but they didn't asked me for it or any documents at all. I guess the outcome of the CFO depends on how the benificiary knew about his / her petitioner and how they answer the counsilors questions.

Hello fellow VJ,

Finally after a long wait for K-1 visa my girl and I got married last week. Now, it's that time again to start and prepare AOS and EAD. Anyone can help me and give some inputs on what's should we do and also some advise will be great appreciated very much.

Thanks

Ross

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Hello VJr's,

I am still waiting for my packet 3 here and I would like to ask what shipping company do the USEM use to send it to our respective address.thank you so much for the concern.....

Theres no packet 3 but you may receive a letter of receipt from the embassy through Phil Post prior to packet 4. Your Packet 4 will be delivered by DHL.

Can anyone advise if there will be a problem with the biometrics appointment if the only identification is a passport that doesn't show the new married name? I'm afraid my wife's new passport won't be in hand when she needs to go for her biometrics.

I went to my biometrics appointment with my passport (on my maiden name) and i didn't have any problem. I brought along my marriage certificate but they didn't asked for it. As long as you have the appointment letter, you'll be okay.

The K-1 Petition I-129F and I-134 was prepared with my then Fiance (now my husband) himself. I did all the Immigration interview stuff and he just supplied me the needed documents, so when i told him that i was approved he was very proud of me. As for the AOS and EAD, we both work on it together.

you'll want to be sure any electronic device you bring can handle 220V.

Right, so better buy the VCR in the Philippines when you get there.

Thank you, I will be sending the documents early next week but she can't go to manila just to pick up the packet, she lives and works in Cebu. I thought they are supposed to mail it to her?

The packet will be mailed to both of you. You can download the sample packet from the USEmbassy Website:

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwfivk1.pdf

What does Delbros Charge for their fee to send a Visa? THANKS

It depends on the Delivery Address, if you live in Metro Manila Area its PHP 165.00, outside metro manila it varies from PHP 200-300.

Is this a new requirement? Claudeth only had to have the MMR

No its not new requirements, as i have remember, i wasn't given Hepa A&B shots because the VACCINE was only given to people 18 years old and below. I was 32 when i took the medical exam, so they gave me MMR only.

After reading the other posts about St Lukes and trying to find all the info for my wife to have an early medical exam.......where do we find this??

IV Case Number:

Thanks in advance

The IV Case Number (Immigrant Visa Case Number) can be found in Letter of receipt that the USEmbassy sent you. Note the Case Number at the Bottom:

and also in the Appointment Letter thats included in packet 4. Note the Case Number at the bottom

All marriage certificates has the bride's maiden name on it. The marriage certificates is the proof that you got married and that you are legally allowed to use the name of your spouse which is stated in the certificate.

Any VJ member here who can share their waiting period upon receiving GREEN CARD in your mail???

Can you tell me How long you've waited from the date of CARD PRODUCTION ORDERED ???

Upon your AOS approval date , what E mails did you received from CRIS ???

I will be happy to received informations from you...

My Interview was 8/06/07. I got two CARD PRODUCTION ORDER emails from CRIS, it was dated 8/06/07 and 8/08/07 (kind of weired isn't it?), and then an email saying that this Application was approved dated 8/09/07. On 8/12/07 i got the Welcome letter on the mail and on 8/16/07 (10 days after the Interview) got my GC on the mail.