foxyroxy

just an additional expense is the CFO seminar that your girl needs to undergo - P400 - sticker and P250 - certificate

my interview date is April 23, 2008! Good luck to all April interviewees!!!

Just called and they said they had 2 appointment dates for me. They told me to pick, April 22 or April 16. I just kept the 22nd because thats what me and my fiancée was planning for.

hi EricC,

i just called the Philippine call center # 19091017878 but the answering machine said that today is either a US holiday or a Manila holiday and that they are closed. it said i should call again. it definitely isn't a holiday here in manila. is it a holiday over there?

i called the call center again and this time i got connected and i now have an interview date! Woohoo!!! April 23, 2008 Wed 7:30am!! apparently i called too early, the call center must have been closed yet.

What time did you call? They just opened 30 mins ago.

i was just too excited...i called them too early hehe!! i now have an interview date april 23!!

Just called and they said they had 2 appointment dates for me. They told me to pick, April 22 or April 16. I just kept the 22nd because thats what me and my fiancée was planning for.

hi EricC,

i just called the Philippine call center # 19091017878 but the answering machine said that today is either a US holiday or a Manila holiday and that they are closed. it said i should call again. it definitely isn't a holiday here in manila. is it a holiday over there?

I AM APPROVED! thank you God and my VJ family i am so happy!

so what happened? I will not break it down detail by detail because previous posts here abt interview experiences are all correct! i'll just give some tips anyhu..

1. if you are scheduled 630am - come to USE as early as 430am, the guards open the gate for 630 appointments around 430am.

2. if you are scheduled 7am - come at 6am or quarter to 6am. They call in 7am - 730am appointments around 6am.

3. Bring out your original appointment letter and 1 valid ID when you fall in line in the entrance.

4. do not bring any electronic items (celfon, psp, ipod, camera, etc)

5. if you have members of your family to accompany you or friends, they won't allow it except if you are sick, disabled, or old.. but if you're with a US citizen, you're VIP!

6. yes, they make you drink a little from your bottled water!

7. upon entering the building, guards will ask you to form a line (in the benches there), you must ready your DS156, 156k, and 157 forms -- these will be submitted in the ticket booth. DO NOT sign yet the forms. this will be done in front of the pre-screener.

8. come well rested... because waiting sucks! really.. aside from boredom, imagine the agony and anticipation. you must be alert all the time, numbers in the que board are in no order. and sometimes they call your name. speakers are bad. sounds like a chappy reception.

9.No need to bring your xray from SLEC

10. what the pre-screener asked will be just the same with the consul during the final interview (mostly)

bloopers:

430am - i fall in line with the 630am scheduled applicants. when the guard checked my appointment letter, its 7am. he told me to go back to the waiting area and we will be called around 6am. I said I dont want to. he was surprised and said im not allowed to stay there. i said its dark and there are too many mosquitos in the waiting area, i dont have someone with me and i feel safe there with him (being a stubborn filipina hihihi), kuya guard smiled and said OK. i can stay there standing in front of him, my call. i still have to wait 1.5hrs before i can enter the premises. I said its alright. We ended up chatting and as people started to come (still 630 scheduled applicants) I am blocking the way so he let me in! yay!

840am - at the pre-screener window 26.. the lady was nice. she was amazed with our file from NVC (the original 129f with attachments) it weighs 7lbs! yes, coz my fiance really put his time in completing our documents, he submitted all evidences we have. the lady said " i will be having muscles with this one ".. she asked for my forms, signed them, she asked questions, i answered all without sweat, ask for the affidavit of support, gave her, then she said i can have a seat, wait for my number to be flashed. I said wait! what about any more evidences? pictures? letters? she said no.. our file is huge enough! it all ok.. but i still insisted. i said mam, can u at least take a look at these coz they're nice.. i made a scrap book! plus i have like 4 other folders (emails from george, emails from me, western union receipts, phone records).. she was laughing and said "ok let me see ur scrap book".. hehehe and i showed her

10am - final interview with the consul window 28.. he looks like a mix of indian and black american. he is chubby. small. he has a beard too. he wears glasses. the booth has speakers, and he wears a headset with mic. funny thing is when its my turn, his mic is not functioning anymore. i cant hear him clearly. i have to really get my face in the window and kinda lean my right ear there. he tried to fix it but it wont work. time is running. so.. we ended up shouting at each other! for real! it was weird and funny. he asked like 3 questions only. that's it! he said "well mam everything looks good! u may take your seat and wait for ur name to be called for releasing" -- shouting.. i was shocked in happines, then i shouted "sir am i approved?" he laughed and yelled "yes you are!"

i was out from the complex around 11am they didn't even asked for my doc verification.. (as this worries me for weeks b4 my interview, and it turned out.. fine. all was fine!)

Congratulations!!! That seemed like a really fun interview for you! Praise God!! May He continue blessing you in this new chapter of your life together!! Pray for us who are still waiting. Thanks!

After reading the feedbacks of the people who called the USEM today I just remember what my fiancé has to say about the Filipino system, style and mentality.

1.The cab drivers in Manila doesn’t put down their meters unless if asked and some will insist to be paid by a specific amount. What’s the use of the meter? Some will give you a Manila tour so they can charge you high especially if they will notice that you aren’t from Manila.

2.Hotels has different tariff rates for foreigners as well as to some restor bar in Cebu.

3.If you dress nice the hotel, restaurant, malls staffs greets you and treats you good…make you sure you are comfortable in their place and you have everything you need. Some will just greet the foreigner as if you weren’t with them or were you invisible? hahahha

4.Calling USCIS and NVC is free of charge while USEM in Manila is charging so high.

5.And most of all, how can my friend complete her K1 processing and is already in States without having her papers verified at the NSO she was never asked to pay and she didn’t attend the CFO seminar that is required to every fiance’/fiancée. How lucky she was! Hassle free process. Ohh yes, she flew just a month ago.

my friend was interview just last thursday, march 13, and she didn't have to pay the 650 fee that everyone here is talking about. and the consul never even mentioned it. she got APPROVED. her advice is unless you have problems with your documents, are unsure of yourself and your honest intentions, then go and pay the fee, otherwise if the consul sees your sincerity and honesty, he will surely not need any more verification of your docs from NSO. just my thoughts. you can take it or leave it.

Congratulations on the interview and what a wondwerful write up. I am happy to hear they let your sis-in-law into the Embassy to assist you.

When we went to get the Affidavit of Legal Capacity to Marry the gaurds moved me to the front of the line when Meryll told them about my legs. But they would not let anyone in to assist her during her interview.

Yes I was thankful that the embassy staff were considerate enough to let my companion go inside with me. I called up the embassy a month before my interview & asked if they have express line for PWDs and the lady I talked to confirmed it. Well I was glad I was treated nicely and what I was told was true.

Thanks to all who shared in my joy & to all fellow members of this forum whose inputs are very valuable & helpful to this journey. I'm looking forward to receiving my visa soon & flying out to the US to be with my love! God bless everyone!

congratulations to all who were approved!!!

tumawag nrin kami dun pero no help.....huhuhu

hi wacky, don't despair, you're not only the one waiting...marami tayo....we also got approved in february and we also have our case number already but still no packet 4, no medical/interview dates. let's just keep on praying...as your motto says ""I know what I am planning for you....'I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you.I will give you hope and a good future." Have faith and God will work His miracles.

WOOOHOOO!!!!! Thank you Lord!!!!

Our daughter's K-2 Visa arrived yesterday via Delbros!!!! Now she can come to the states and we can be a happy family together! We will wait till July just before the next school year starts, but the visa process for our family is finally done! (Except her AOS... ) WOOOHOOO!!!!

Thanks to all those that helped along the way and to the Lord for making all things possible!

Take care!

Scott

Congratulations!! Am so happy for your family...your sharings regarding the SLEC and interview experience of you stepdaughter have given us so much hope. Thank you for generously sharing them with us. God bless you and may your happiness be truly complete soon!

thanks to everyone

hi nscarnut! dont woory,that is really a standard procedure of the US embassy(to verify documents) so hang in there.i think the document verification last for 1-4 weeks.ill pray for you ok? don't worry too much

I know of a few who got the same results bringing the "white paper" home, and told them the same thing. Delbros messing up is what worried me before but I paid my verification fee on Feb 1 and they told me they have forwarded the request to NSO on Feb 4. Going to the interview is probably the most exciting part of my and my fiance's visa journey. How ironic that I brought so much evidence of our relationship (a whole bag!!) and expected so many questions but with the pre-screening, the woman on Window 18 only asked me my:

1. NBI

2. Birth Cert

3. CENOMAR

4. Pictures? (heck it was a big album so she said, never mind! just show them to the consul)

From my fiance, his:

1. Original Affidavit of support

2. ITR photocopy

3. W2 photocopy

And on the second interview, the consul merely analyzed my papers, asked me how we met and when, and didn't even ask for the pictures. Then he said "Congratulations, your visa has been approved. Welcome to the United States! You can wait outside for your name to be called."

Sweet!

congratulations to both of you....i wish and pray my interview will be as easy as pogimaganda's interview....good luck to all those who are still in the waiting stage...let's keep on praying for each other! God bless!!

Is it okay to add SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT and W2 so that the total earnings will reach the 125% cut off? My interview will be on Thursday, and i need to know if i should present the 2007 tax with social benefit statement.....because his W2 only shows 15,000 and if the SS Benefit will be added it will sum up to 26,000.

The SS Benefit counts as the sponsor's income and like what edp333 said, appears on the tax return. If your fiance has filed his 2007 ITR and has a copy, it will be useful on your interview, otherwise, 2006 ITR is the latest year. They will know if your fiance meets the 125% Poverty Level just by looking at the I-134 and ITR. Having W2s and SS benefit statements on hand will come handy in case they'll ask you for it during your interview. And if you have it, why not include it, right?

--Mae

i am so naive about the 125% poverty level.... can you please expound on that? how would i know if my fiance meets that requirement?

Just called NVC, they sent our case to USEM today. Woohoo. I can't wait. Hope we have an early April interview so we can have our Vegas wedding in April. It is tough in my line of work to get time off after May gets here and the weather gets hotter and drier. I am so happy I am now talking about something that is only 5 weeks away.

congrats!

i wonder if st lukes is closed tmrw... its a holiday in manila???

I went there today for my daughter's medical and they are closed! To resume tomorrow, one thing that pissed me off was that I was there last week for my medical and I was informed they are open and some have schedule even. Well, charge to experience, the next time, I think I should call SLEC prior my departure from home...my daughter and I woke up at 3:30 am today to prepare for nothing

blame it on Pres Arroyo not on the SLEC....just a week ago, today was a working holiday but with our wishy-washy president, she changed her mind when the Jun Lozada hype came out...so the government declared today a holiday again...next time listen to the news....

hello to all K1 filers in the Philippines!

this is a question to anyone who can give a credible answer. Is there anyone out there who was denied outright after the interview? If you were denied, what was the reason? What did you do after that? Were you given a second chance? What is the ratio of denied K1 visas here in VJ? What are the reasons for someone getting denied?

For cases with problem documents (I also have undergone court procedures 1994 for my BC and everytime I request a copy from NSO, they still have my old BC), the NSO will not have copy of the annotated documents. For this cases, the applicant should go to the LCR and request for an endorsement letter with the new BC and the court's decision. LCR will forward these documents to NSO and will also send a copy to the applicant. When the applicant received the endorsement letter, he/she need to go to NSO (Vibal bldg, cor. EDSA not the MAin NSO in QC) to apply for the annotated document. He/she will be asked to go to the 2nd floor (or the area which her LCR is assigned), if they already have received the copy from LCR, he/she will be asked to go to the 1st floor and wait for her "unconverted copy" of the annotated document. At this point, request for more than 1 copy since their data base will not have the annotated forms. Ms. Hufana (I think she's the Asst. Director for region 3) told me annotated/problem documents usually gets into their system after 5 years or so. So this will cause problems when the applicant will try to get a copy, since they will still be getting the old documents without the annotation.

LCR don't forward documents (annotated) unless the applicant requests one, especially for those with correction of entry. Hope this info helps.

You may not have time, but it will be better to have it done while you're still in the Philippines and have your documents properly corrected and annotated, since you maybe needing it for future use. When I was at NSO, I requested for 3 copies.

Good Luck!

oh dear! i have exactly the same problem on my BC. i already filed a petition for the correction of entry on my name in the BC in the LCRO in Cebu City. The registrar said it will take max 3 months to have the NSO file updated. Based on your experience, seems like the NSO file doesn't really get corrected until after 5 years! Gosh the system here in the Philippines really sucks!! To think that this error was also made by the clerk in the city hall and now we, the victims, have to correct the error they made and we have to suffer all the consequences!!! It really sucks!!!

I guess the only thing we have on our side now is prayers. Let us just pray for a miracle that the USE will approve our fiance visa application despite these discrepancies. Anyway we have done our part in correcting the name on the BC, so maybe they might consider that? I still prayers can move mountains......so let's jsut pray.

Congrats! we almost have the same timelines. my fiance and i also passed our docs to CSC last September. My fiance recently got a hardcopy notice from CSC that our application has been approved last Feb 5, 2008. Good luck to us!! Will be praying for you!!

I am so happy to report that we are APPROVED today. What is the next step and how long are interviews now taking? I am hoping for something in late March early April. I am wondering from people that had recent interviews, what paperwork the USC sent to the PI fiance? Thanks for your help. And congrats to all and good luck to the rest. This is an amazing feeling to have the approval.

wow! this is a great tip to us waiting in line. thanks for the tip!

roxy

My checklist

Folder # 1:

1. 2 Appointment Letter (Printed online and from packet4)

2. DS Forms

• 2 DS156 with BARCODE and PICTURE GLUED

• 2 DS 157 - 1 on-line or from the packet and 1 from the bank with a validation code

• 1 DS 156K

3. Original NSO Birth Certificate

4. NBI Clearance - for travel abroad

5. Police Clearances - Laguna and Davao

6. Original copy of Baptismal Cert

7. 3 copies of CENOMAR

8. School Records and Diplomas - Elementary, High School and College

9. Employment Certificate

10. Postal Id & old Employment Id

11. Visa Photos

FOLDER 1 - Evidence of Financial Support Documents (Green Folder)

1. (3) copies of Notarized Affidavit of Support

2. Allan’s pay stubs ( 2005-2007)

3. Copies of 2005-2006 federal income tax return

4. Copies of 2005-2006 W2s

5. Employment Letter of Allan

FOLDER 3 - Photos by Category(Green Folder)

1. Pictures in Boracay and Manila (dated and defined)

2. Pictures With family

FOLDER 4 - Proof of Continuous Relationship (Black Folder)

1. Card, Written Love letter of us both

2. Money Transfer Receipts

3. Couriers and Cargo Receipts

4. Emails Allan/ mine and emails to his mom

5. Sample Yahoo Chat logs

6. Screen Shots of YM with webcams

7. Call cards I used from calling him to USA

8. NOA1, NOA2, PACKET 3.

9. Affidavit of Bona fide Intention to marry 1 each

10. My wedding gown pictures and reciept

11. Engagement ring and wedding ring pictures

12. Receipt of our wedding ring

Folder 5 – Adie’s documents (My daughter)

1. (3) copies Authenticated and (1)Orig Birth cert

2. Baptismal Cert

3. Medical records ( Newborn Screening result, ultrasound, laboratory test, Medical chart w/ her footprints, our hospital bill/statement of account-paid.

4. Pictures with mommy And Daddy Allan

5. Visa photos

6. Baby book and Immunization book ( Separate folder)

Thanks to Beng and Carl, she let me use her checklist as guidelines. Now here are the documents that am going to bring on my interview. I hope i dont missed anything if yes please let me know.

THANK YOU GUYS......

Oh i forgot to include this ( Stamped pages of his passport, Our rountrip plane tickets to boracay, Ferry tickets, Hotel receipts/booking under my name and his name.)

Don't you guys think its too late now?

Cause what if the interview is next month and your just doing this now?

Its like trying to convince them that you did it.. but the dates doesn't sound amusing..

I mean I am going to put myself on the Consul's shoe... I would ask.. Why are your call logs so recent? Anything older?

I agree on her , this phone logs is kind of too late already if ur interview is on the way , my advice just bring all kinds of proof u have snail mails, cards , watever even the phone card and if they ask then explain the reason why u used that only , im sure if ur using that since then and save every card they somewhere will agree on u . GOODLUCK , just a tip just be honest and relax and answer as cool as u can coz most of the consul are looking on the way u react with every question .

Thanks a lot guys for all your great tips. But i do think roserick and irene do have a point there. my fiance filed the I-129F last September 2007. We received the NOA1 so now we are waiting for a reply from the embassy. We have been communicating through the phone via phone cards ever since we met last April 2007. I will take your advice and just be honest with the consul. we are really trying to be more practical with our expenses thats why we use the phone cards. I just hope and pray that the consul we get is someone really understanding. thanks to everyone for all their advices!!!

hello! i would just like to know if anyone here on visajourney has ever used phone cards like the pldt budget cards or phone cards in the US as proof of relationship? my fiance and i call each other on the phone using the phone cards since it is more economical. making long-distance calls is so expensive. my fiance and i communicate through snail mail, cards, and phone calls. he doesnt know how to use the internet nor does he have a cellphone. do you think the consul would accept phone cards as proof of our relationship? hope i can get your opinon on this matter guys. thanks!

Unless you have receipts for the phone cards in your name they don't hold much weight as people can get them from anywhere and also they don't show who you called.

Best to open a international phone account and make short calls on it for the record and use the cards for long conversations.

What is an international phone account? who will open, my fiance in the US or me in the Philippines?

Fiance in the US. I used AT+T international. !8 cents a min to landline and 22 to CP.

does he need to register to use the AT+T phone line?

See if you would be interested with this phone company:

http://www.owtel.com/

they offer call logs for every call made.

I use to be a member with them.. They screwed up my bill. So i canceled.

Let me check my closet if I can still find my bills from them..

I hope I haven't shred them..

i hope you can share with me your experience with owtel. are there any other options i have to prove our long distance relationship?

hello! i would just like to know if anyone here on visajourney has ever used phone cards like the pldt budget cards or phone cards in the US as proof of relationship? my fiance and i call each other on the phone using the phone cards since it is more economical. making long-distance calls is so expensive. my fiance and i communicate through snail mail, cards, and phone calls. he doesnt know how to use the internet nor does he have a cellphone. do you think the consul would accept phone cards as proof of our relationship? hope i can get your opinon on this matter guys. thanks!

Unless you have receipts for the phone cards in your name they don't hold much weight as people can get them from anywhere and also they don't show who you called.

Best to open a international phone account and make short calls on it for the record and use the cards for long conversations.

What is an international phone account? who will open, my fiance in the US or me in the Philippines?

hello! i would just like to know if anyone here on visajourney has ever used phone cards like the pldt budget cards or phone cards in the US as proof of relationship? my fiance and i call each other on the phone using the phone cards since it is more economical. making long-distance calls is so expensive. my fiance and i communicate through snail mail, cards, and phone calls. he doesnt know how to use the internet nor does he have a cellphone. do you think the consul would accept phone cards as proof of our relationship? hope i can get your opinon on this matter guys. thanks!

OH MY GOSH!!! WE GOT APPROVED!!

NOA2 date is OCT 16!!

WARM THANKS to all of you who helped us with this USCIS process!!

MOST OF ALL, THANKS TO OUR LORD!

God bless us all and see you again on this long journey...

COngratulations!!! Good luck to the next phase!!!

hi guys...

Just want to know who will be having their interview on oct. 4 '07 (finally!)

See you there & GOOD LUCK to all of us!

Wow! Good luck to you! You have a very nice video!

Mystical -

I think this is a classic case of making a mountain out of a molehill. MANY people suffer from depression and take medication to treat it. A lot of those same individuals continue to have happy married lives.

Difference being their spouses love and support them no matter what 'mental disorder' they may have.

You shouldn't be asking advice from us.....you should go to the doctor/psychiatrist ASAP and have your wife checked. Do you really really really LOVE HER? Try looking beyond her diseases and try looking to a more positive outlook by helping her. She loves you.....have you ever thought about that? have you ever thought about what she would do if you runaway and leaver her in her depression? Why are you thinking only of yourself? Try all the possible solutions and talk to the right persons.....here in VJ we are your friends and we can only do so much. You both need professional help so go find it for the sake of saving your marriage. If that's what you want......think about it.