cieloazul

WE GOT APPROVED!! AAHHHH!!! I'm SOOOO excited! I checked my mail today and got the letter I have been waiting for 6 months! We were January filers so I'm sure a lot of you will be getting approvals soon! I was so happy I was crying today! All of the stress and emotion of the past 6 months has finally been lifted.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Our case was touched on June 4, but the status wasn't updated in the system and I never received an e-mail. I think this touch was our approval because I just got the letter today (well I guess it came in the mail yesterday since today is Sunday!)

I'm soooo happy and good luck to the rest of you, hang in there, yours will come soon!

Congratulations and hope all goes quickly through NVC.

Please add one more Floridian couple to your list,,Altamonte Springs, FL,,about 30 minutes north of Mickey.

Congratulations and welcome to the USA!! From Lotery's posts here, I knew those customs/immigration agents at the POE wouldn't dare give her a hard time.

Thank you Pushbrk for your advice, as usual it is sound. We have about a five year history of the typical records so hopefully that will be enough.

According to the following link, only 200 cigs which is like 10 packs or one carton? Taxes on any addtional which would defeat the purpose? A better idea would be to save a lot more money by not smoking. At $3-$4 a pack, that's a lot of money per year even at 1/2 pack/day. I smoked a few times when I was around 6 yo but it didn't take long to figure out it wasn't a good idea.

http://nz.answers.yahoo.com/question/index...02202816AAPplPt

It probably wouldn't make a significant difference, but I noticed some women brought a carry-on along with a large purse. I'm not sure what the size limits were on the purses but some were almost as large as their carry-on.

I would bet women's propensity for shopping has something to do with too much stuff for their luggage. Just kidding but isn't it true?

Hello,

If a beneficiary has previously been included for benefits on a K1 visa application and the applicaton was canceled just prior to an interview, would that have any effect on a current application? The initial application was filed in 2002, approved and sent to the USEM but the beneficiary never scheduled an interview or medical.

Any VJs been contacted by ICE after marriage?

More than 80 arrested in Florida following marriage fraud roundup

I agree the people who answer phones are only following directions from managers who are following directions,,etc.,etc. I wouldn't give the guys answering the phones a hard time since their jobs have little if any effect on our processing times. Maybe calling, emailing and mailing your elected representatives might help some. In the end, I think we will just have to wait it out and hope (and pray if you are religious) this or the next administration doesn't do anything to delay our applications any further. The worst part of this waiting is the lack of information. Hearing my wife's beautiful voice each day makes it easier to endure.

Here are a couple of possible reasons for the delays:

Cases that take longer than an hour to complete are not provided additional resources in the office’s budget. Offices with more than the average numbers of difficult cases or offices that try to work the difficult cases thoroughly will not be adequately funded because the number of completions will be low. Meanwhile, offices that push to complete the easy cases will see their budgets grow. One field office visited by the Ombudsman has a large number of long-pending cases which require substantial adjudicator hours. However, officers at that office indicate that they cannot address the older, difficult cases without negatively affecting their productivity report to USCIS headquarters.

The Ombudsman has observed that newer cases are processed more quickly while cases more than six months old are increasingly backlogged. The Ombudsman supports the USCIS drive to maximize case completions, but attention needs to be directed at clearing older cases.

Seems like there are some motivation for the service centers to process the easier applications first since this affects their ratings/funding.

Another possible reason for the delays: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/100030.htm

George Bush's war just gets better and better.

Some info available here also: http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/gc_1192724755499.shtm#5

K3/K4 here in Orlando, FL. Waiting,,waiting,,and waiting for VSC's NOA2.

But that's not anything official... It could be just a rumour...

How you know that??

Does anyone know where to fax or email the Director of USCIS???? Something has to be done at VSC of the non processing of K3 and the CR-1 petitions. This is totally our of hand and un-acceptable. Why has the I-130 been put on back burner, and they wont process us or even tell us why?

Read the threads, Januray filers, and etc.

Its written right there, K3 and CR-1 petitions are not VSC proirity. READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When a officer form VSC tell another forum member that K3 and CR-1 are not VSC proirity, to me, that is not a rumor. Besides, its been said more then once. Also look, look at the number of K1 approvals VS. K3 CR-1 filers.

From the timeline searches available, its obvious that K1 visas are being processed more quickly than K3/CR1 categories. Apparently USCIS is supposed to be self-funding from the fees collected from applicants. This has effects on how visas are processed as detailed in the article below.

"Cases that take longer than an hour to complete are not provided additional resources in the office’s budget. Offices with more than the average numbers of difficult cases or offices that try to work the difficult cases thoroughly will not be adequately funded because the number of completions will be low. Meanwhile, offices that push to complete the easy cases will see their budgets grow. One field office visited by the Ombudsman has a large number of long-pending cases which require substantial adjudicator hours. However, officers at that office indicate that they cannot address the older, difficult cases without negatively affecting their productivity report to USCIS headquarters."

From the ombudsman's page:

The Ombudsman has observed that newer cases are processed more quickly while cases more than six months old are increasingly backlogged. The Ombudsman supports the USCIS drive to maximize case completions, but attention needs to be directed at clearing older cases.

Link to the ombudsman's page which has addtional information: http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/gc_1192724755499.shtm#5

The webpage seems to be updated infrequently.

Another reason for delays may be related to the Iraq war: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/100030.htm

Another reason to love George Bush.

Hello Vjers,

I found a post the other night about the increase of Medical Fee? Can't find it anymore. Was that true? what other fees increases? anyone help me pls. My medical is fast approaching. Thanks a lot!

Vida

The medical fee and other fees are listed here: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

I think there are links on the VJ guides also.

Good luck on your medical and interview.

HEY EVERYONE WE GOT APPROVED TODAY!!!!!!!! THANK GOD

I dont know the PC dance yet, but if I was doing something resembling a dance

Congratulations!!

OMG HILKKA!! CONGRATS HONEY!!! This is Wonderful to hear!!! omg yeahhhhh

Thanks so much Danyel!! Now I'm just waiting to hear the same news from you =)

I have no idea how the I-130 process at the NVC works cause I have tried to find an official NVC site and I couldn't find one. I found something that said you pay fees, they send you something, you pay more fees and they send you something else. Then your case is moved from the NVC to the embassy and you do more papers there. However, I have no idea about fees and time lines so I'm a little stuck. Someone wanna help me please =)

The guides here on VJ are great and you'll find a link and phone number for the NVC on each of the flowcharts. Good luck.

Hi, Feb Filers

I filed K3 on 2/13 and got approved on 05/08, so i know many of your approval will come soon!! Good luck!

Congratulations!! I hope the rest of your approvals go as quickly as this one.

Congratulations and thank you for all the info on your interview. Curious though, how did you know the guy was gay? Have a safe trip and Welcome to the USA.

Congratulations and thank you for posting your interview experience. It is always nice to hear when things go so smoothly.

From what I've been told from other married guys at work, this isn't a filipina-only trait. Most of the guys learn to live with it and their training seems to be mostly complete within the first two years of marriage; the other group of guys who are divorced, never successfully completed the training process.

I think she is just trying to protect her kids because of their ex. You know in any races whether US or Philippines, some couples end up in bad separation. Some think of revenge and some wanted their kids back to them.

Trust your wife.. Talk to her, there should be things that you and her need to discuss. You should know her fears and the things from the past so you know what to expect..and She should tell everything..

We've discussed her ex some and I don't want her to contact him directly about the permission papers we'll need for our children to travel outside of the phils. Based on what she has told me and the the information in the annulment docs, the guy could be a problem. I'm not sure how other applicants have dealt with exs, but I thought it would be better if a lawyer contacted him about obtaining the notarized letter allowing travel. I wonder if anyone has been delayed because an ex hasn't wanted to give that permission? What are the recourses if that happens? This is off the original topic but I'd appreciate any advice.

Has anyone purchased software to learn a language? I'm considering Rosetta Stone's Tagalog L1/L2; is it worth the cost?

Rosetta is good, but is a little bit expensive. But if u really want to learn basic tagalog you can check the website below.

THis is a free website for tagalog language. I used to teach my husband tagalog but he does not have patience.

http://www.tagaloglang.com/

Thank you for the website. Maraming salamat po. Hopefully I'll have down some of the basics before my family arrives in the states. I know a fair amount of spanish and that makes it a little easier since a lot of tagalog words have spanish orgin.

In the Philippines, single mom has full custody of children. there should be no problem. no consent needed from the biological father. been there, done it.

Is this only in the case where there was never a marriage/annulment? If the biological parents were never legally married, the requirements for a notarized letter of permission from the biological father is waived?

Here is a link to info Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit for Indiana. http://www.ehow.com/how_2061097_get-permit...led-weapon.html

PS, if you move to Texas, you can not only get the CCW but they'll let you use the gun too.

Do you really think it'll take 3 years to reach $200/bbl? If more countries trade oil with euros or in some type of bartering agreements, the dollar will decrease in value even more. Most of the comments about the rise in oil prices from politicians don't mention the devalued dollar. Maybe it is an effort on their part not to panic the American public.

Love it I eat more though of the other kind, Balut Penoy.

What is Balut Penoy vs Balut?

A balut is a fertilized duck (or chicken) egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell.Balut are most often eaten with a pinch of salt, though some balut-eaters prefer chili and vinegar to complement their egg.

Duck eggs that are not properly developed after nine to twelve days are sold as penoy, which look, smell and taste similar to a regular hard-boiled egg. In Filipino cuisine, these are occasionally beaten and fried, similar to scrambled eggs, and served with a vinegar dip.

To know more about balut and penoy click this

There are pictures of the little chick at your link,,

I can see a PC/MAC tv commercial here. The PC guy may actually not look like an ####### in this one. I got censored the last time I used that word so I'm wondering if the british spelling will avoid the censors,, sorry,,off topic.