NeonParticles

21 hours ago, top_secret said:

After you create the account and log in there is a check box to register delivery address.  That should lead you to a page where it asks your case number and everything else.  

We created an account and registered a delivery address.  We were asked to put in a case number, so we did.  There's no appointment linked to the account at all, so that was a little concerning.  I guess as long as the email address and case number matches, there should be no issue?

Hi, we're preparing our documents for our CR-1 interview on May 23rd.  I've read on this forum that we need to create a US Travel Docs account and set a delivery address, and we'll need to pay our fees there as well later on. 

However, we were only given an appointment automatically via email and never asked to create an account.  When we created an account out of curiosity today, there was nowhere to link to an existing case or anything.  So, my question is: How do we link to an existing case/appointment when it was setup for us, and how would we set a document delivery address as well as pay the visa fees once required? 

Thanks!

7 minutes ago, hiram a said:

 

 

Did your wife need CFO to change her name on her passport. My wife did.

No, we just used the marriage certificate and changed the name.  When did your wife have to? I'm a little confused about the order of how things happen here.

CR1 Spousal Visa, got interview letter today for May 23rd.

Just preparing valid IDs for each step of the process in advance.  The main issue is that we recently changed her name to her married name on her passport, so I'm concerned that her previous IDs will no longer be considered valid for the CFO.  We just want to make sure to have all our ducks in a row early on so this doesn't hold us up.

I'm having a very difficult time determining what they consider to be a 'valid photo ID', how many of them they require, etc.  The CFO site does not clarify what IDs they accept, only that they need "two valid IDs ASIDE from the valid passport".  I've read conflicting reports from users here. We currently have the updated passport and the NBI clearance.  I've read that this is all you need from multiple users, but they're all from about a decade ago.  Her other IDs are all in her maiden name, and I'm unsure of their validity now.

Does anyone have clarity on if the passport + NBI clearance will be enough to complete the CFO, or if my wife will need to rush to update a bunch of IDs she'll probably never use again... 

45 minutes ago, PsychoGF said:

Got interview date for my husband, for May 2!

Congrats to us and all of those who got the ILs!

And yes, this is actually the normal way - us getting an interview date rather than scheduling it. 

The only reason some need to schedule their own is because they were "auto-expedited". MNL embassy is trying to clear their backlogs.

But this is how things should be.

 

Finally!  Felt like we were going to wait forever.  Congrats to y'all

3 minutes ago, Andy and Let said:

When was she dq?

July 17

CR1 I just got my interview email saying my wife's interview is on May 23rd!  Is it normal that we wouldn't have to schedule it...?

6 minutes ago, Adobo said:

I am happy for everyone who got expedited. At the same time, I am here wondering when my case will move forward. I am a CR1, DQ'd in June 26, 2023 (IR1 in less than a month). I cant stop but feel betrayed by this system again. I mean I am happy for the ones who got expedited, but I thought it was first in-first out. I get it, I am CR1. Does that mean I have to wait till I get converted to IR1 before I hear something? if that's the case then remove CR1 category and just do straight IR1. Anyway.....my apologies, Im ranting....

 

It's even more baffling considering that the US government makes quite a bit of money off CR1.  

Just now, PsychoGF said:

Haven't seen any CR1s move at all. So unfair how they keep saying that it's FIFO yet there are still May DQs who haven't received any kind of update.

I got a feeling we're up soon.  This is the most movement we've seen in a while. 

23 hours ago, top_secret said:

Another grim milestone.  It has now passed 7 months since any VJ member has updated their timeline reporting issuance of a CR1 or IR1 visa by US Embassy Manila.  A gap for Philippines spousal visas that as far as I can tell is unprecedented in the entire history of this forum.

Always love being a part of history ... 

Manila is safer than most big US cities.  You'll be fine walking around just about anywhere in the day time.  Grab has just about completely eliminated the need for taxis in Manila.  Back in the day, taxi drivers would overcharge you at any chance they got, though.

4 hours ago, Vegamanx7 said:

my congressman response was in February of this year and apparently they’re on oct 22 dqs right now. So at least they’re making ground it appears

And here's what I got from my response:

NVC documentarily completed this case on 17-JUL-2023. As of JAN-2024, the NVC is scheduling IV interview appointments for the U.S. Embassy in MANILA, PHILIPPINES for Immediate Relative applicants that were documentarily complete on or before JAN-2023.

Seems like they're just spitting out random dates.  Or there's a difference between IR1/CR1 timing?  We are CR1

29 minutes ago, LonelyGringo21 said:

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news (for some of you, anyway).

BUT

My congressman is the Speaker of the House now.  His office reached out to me with a communication from the NVC.  This may help people with mental timelines and expectations:

 

As of DEC-2023, the NVC is scheduling IV interview appointments for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in MANILA, PHILIPPINES for Immediate Relative applicants that were documentarily complete on or before JUL-2022.                  

 

Ugh...       

This is pretty outdated.  We have received newer messages stating as of JAN-2024 with a DQ date of JAN-2023 for example.  

My congressman also gave me an old email they received back in November with an even earlier DQ date.  Seems like they're clearing out stragglers before catching up to our cases.  Or so I hope that's the case.

9 hours ago, hiram a said:

Has anyone contacted the USEM lately about IR/CR visas. Plz post their respose

There will be no different reply, only the same canned messages they've been sending for the past year.  All we can do is wait. 

2 hours ago, Vegamanx7 said:

Doesn’t look like that mass expedite will be happening this month. Kinda depressing. Was really hoping to be with my wife this year. 

The next coping mechanism is to say they're doing it every January and June now, so... more waiting, woo.  

On 11/16/2023 at 11:29 PM, kailtan19 said:

"Hey, guys! I'm new here. My mother just received a DQ on May 8, 2023. Is there a chance for her to be included in the upcoming 'mass expedite,' if there ever will be one?

There's a chance, but honestly nobody knows absolutely anything at this point.

33 minutes ago, CDFranck said:

Yeah. That’s why i also waited for 3mos before scheduling it 😅 I decided to take the risk since some group chats / fb pages mentioned a lot of “healthy” people having issues with SLEC Xray and asked to undergo Sputum which delays the process by 2-3mos. Actually i heard 2 people there during my medical, they were asked to repeat their Xray after reaching the triage counter (the counter who releases the application form after completing all tests).. Luckily i passed the medical and got my immunizations. 
 

I just want to get it over with, so fingers crossed i get my interview before May 2024 😅🤞

When you do the medical before your interview, do they send the results in advance to the embassy or did they give you something to take with you?  Just curious as to how that process goes.  We might consider doing it soon due to the sputum scare as well.

On 11/5/2023 at 4:21 AM, CDFranck said:

We’re DQ’d Aug 4 this yr and I am scheduled for advance medical tomorrow, thinking we should hear something within the next 3-6 mos  🤞 although i hope we all receive the good news very very soon. 

Was a bit nervous to schedule medical since we have no information on when the next mass expedite will be, or if there even will be one.  So we'll be waiting for things to move forward first.

Hopefully nearing the finish line for this batch of mass expedites... fingers crossed for all of us.

I fully expected another 5-6 month wait when I saw it happen the first time.  Looks like an October/November update, which is why we haven't scheduled medical yet.  Frustrating to wait, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  A little ways to go and we'll be there.  We just need to set the next group up with the expectation that this is the new normal.

1 hour ago, Adobo said:

The I130 for my wife got approved towards the last week of May, the we got DQ'd at NVC towards the last week of June ( I think 28th as well ). Nothing yet...unfortunately.

There's some hope that this delay won't be nearly as long as the last one.  Someone posted that there was a bunch of appointments opened up in November, so crossing fingers for another mass expedite soon...

I've set my expectations for January so that I'm not disappointed, though.

On 7/22/2023 at 3:46 PM, DanielCa said:

My wife had medical done one day and they said come back the next for results. She and according to a guy with the group complained that out of 400 people 320 tested positive for TB. 80 people were cleared. Now she has to wait until September 4,5,6 to get sputum tests and then wait until November for results!! The 2021 TB infection rate is .065 per 100,000. So that’s a little over one per 50,000!! You do the math. What can you do?!!

Apparently everyone who has had TB this year got their medical done at the same time.  Ridiculous...  Now debating going ahead and having my wife take her medical now even though we're likely a few months away from the next step...

Has anyone received an expedite or been moved forward in the process from NVC since the last group? 

17 minutes ago, top_secret said:

 They need a designated phone holder.🤣😂

Literally all I'm gonna do on our interview day.  We truly are the most useful people.  

1 minute ago, Evan757 said:

Our interview is in a couple hours. Is there any way I can go into the embassy with her?

Nope.