Dave Knapp

UPDATE. I contacted my Congressman's office on Monday October 2 via their online form...... wasn't expecting much. Got an email back from them on Wednesday saying they had filed the inquiry with the State Dept. Our daily CEAC check on Friday showed the visa as ISSUED. WOW. Shipping data was available Saturday from LBC and it was delivered Monday evening at about 7:30. Could have been a coincidence, but I don't think so. Thanks for all the support and ideas. We're flying out of the Philippines on Oct 31 and into JFK on Nov 1, with 1 day to spare.

We took the Washington DC route today. Two senators and two congressman, one in Florida from where I'm registered to vote, and one in New York where we're buying a house to live in. I played the retired military card for the first time as well. Nothing left to do. It's been 728 days since we filed. Oct 3 is 2 years.

Exactly.

That said, our CR-1 just became an IR-1 because we've now been married two years. It's been 724 days since our priority date. Everything had delays. Original interview was in April. Had to do sputum testing which took 4 months. Now, after having been told she was approved, it's under Administrative review going on 50 days. At this rate we'll make the Guinness Book of World Records pretty soon.

Whatever.

We haven't received a 221g, or anything except an email response to my wife's inquiry which stated her case review has been escalated. I don't know if that's good news or bad news. Thanks for the hug. We'll keep all informed as this progresses. If she has her passport back by Oct 17, I think we can get it together to go by Oct 31. It'll be ugly, but we could go, even if I came back for a couple days to retrieve the rest of the stuff we couldn't manage in our haste.

The supervisor was clear about their policy, which is if there's a spot on the chest Xray she will have to undergo sputum testing. She has fibrosis in her left lung. Cant miss it. Maybe their radiologist will correctly call it, but I doubt it. They tend to fail safe.

None. Spoke to Consular Officer who notarized a power of attorney for me. He gave me the numbers and email address we already had. 45 days since her interview and no idea what the issue is. Her medical expires 11/. Spoke with a supervisor at St Lukes. She will have to undergo sputum testing again. That's an additional 4 month delay. Approval after 10/17 means we travel no sooner than March of next year. Next step is congressman and senators.

I hope it's that simple. I guess it still might take months in the hopper before they get around to it.

We updated her NBI in February. It's good on it's face for 12 months, but who knows? I agree that US Citizen Services probably won't yield anything, but when I approach Senators and my Congressman I can say that I left no stone unturned.

1. Yes, US Citizen Services. 2. Applicant is my Wife, not Fiancee, and I believe she can accompany me. 3. I agree, probably won't lead to anything. 4. No 221G, only a reply to an online inquiry as to the delay which stated that her visa application was under review. 4. If I escalate this in any manner, I can say without hesitation that I did everything in my power to find out. Aiza got caught up in this sputum testing black hole and had to wait 4 months for her medical clearance for an interview. Her package has been sitting in that building for 6 months. Why now are they hesitating? The interviewer gave her every assurance that she was approved. What do you think I should do? Sit on my hands?

Can you share some further info? When was her interview? What was she told by the consular officer? When did you get the 221G letter? We've heard virtually nothing. I made an appointment at the Embassy for Sep 22 so I can get some facetime with Embassy staff, and hopefully some answers. It's a bit of an expensive gamble, but maybe I can get them off their butts and do something. I'll keep you in the loop. Thanks much, Dave Knapp

Nada. It says "ready" which I am told means that the visa was digitally generated by the State Dept and sent to Manila. No letters, no 221g, no nothing. Consular Officer said "You're approved" and gave her 2 pamphlets. Going there on Sep 22 to speak to someone. No other way to proceed except maybe an attorney, but they would have to be here in Manila, and that sector is riddled with scammers.

Agreed. But this guy was not in the US Embassy in Manila. He talked about Embassy staff as if they were not co-located. Doesn't much matter. He knew only what was in the in the "system" and that was that it was under administrative review. I just cancelled all flights and reservations. If Murphy's Law is applicable here, now that I've cancelled everything, we should get a green light from the embassy any minute.

I may have assumed he was at NVC. We called a number in Manila, but the gentleman we spoke to continually referred to "the Embassy Staff" which made me believe he wasn't in Manila.

We check her status on CEAC and through the passport number email twice a day. We spoke today, to a Human, in the US somewhere ( NVC? ) who assured us that the embassy is reviewing her case. It's hard for me to imagine a scenario where there is an ongoing review and they don't want some kind of additional evidence. We've heard nothing from the Embassy. The real issue is that her Medical clearance was only for 90 days and it expires on November 2. That's only 51 days from now. If she isn't boots on the ground at a POE by that date, she can't go. And my guess is that the medical ####### will have to be done again. She'll have the same issue with the chest xray and it will be another 4 months to get a new medical clearance. Starting to get desperate.

My wife had her CR1 interview on August 9 and was told by the Consular Officer that everything was fine and she should receive her passport and visa in 1 to 2 weeks. It will be 5 weeks tomorrow and no passport/visa. No change of status, no updates, and no response to the 2 written inquiries that are over a week old. The one person we spoke to there said not to worry, and at that time I accepted that, but yesterday another VJ member told me they had their interview for a CR1 on August 1 and got the passport/visa back in 2 weeks. Now I'm worried. Will it help to get an immigration attorney? Are there other steps I can take ? I'm about ready to bring this to my Senators/congressman. Would it do any good to go to the embassy? Help. Thanks, Dave Knapp

No status. Nothing. A virtual black hole. tried to call 20 times Friday. Could not reach a human at Visa Services, only automated attendants that didn't give an option that connected to people. Did speak to the main operator who could not help as visa services has its own numbers and not extensions. Maybe we have to fly to Manila again although I'm not sure how to get to talk with anyone once we get there. We'll start calling again Tuesday, after the holiday.

My wife's interview was August 9. They said everything was fine and she'd get her visa in 1 to 2 weeks. It's been over 3 weeks and no status. Not through auto email. Not online. Sent an email to the Embassy 2 days ago. Still waiting a response. Anyone have current experience with this. Thanks.

The laws and dance steps are going to vary from state to state. The state you live in when you file the divorce will automatically have jurisdiction, but you can shop around in other states. I divorced my Filipina spouse in Florida while both of us were in the Philippine, using my Florida driver's License as proof of residence/jurisdiction there. It was only about $1,200 but it was uncontested and both of us needed to get docs notarized at the US consulate in Cebu. if your hubby is willing to cooperate it will be relatively easy. If not, it may be not possible. Good luck and happy trails.

Hey Everyone, We are down to the last 10 days. Aiza's interview is on Monday April 17 at 0730. My question is how early should we arrive? I'm thinking maybe 6:30. She's thinking 4:30, but that's a pretty typical Filipino "fall in Line" thing. Any thoughts, experience? Thanks. Dave

I couldn't find anything posted post-Covid, so I'm asking. The Embassy web site mentions fees from time to time. I know we paid the AOS fee and the IV fee to the NVC when we uploaded all the IR1 documents. Are there any other fees to pay besides at ST. Lukes? Thanks

You can email Jim Boyd at rao_ac@ymail.com. The fee is P2,500 plus you'll need some cash for Notary fees at the lawyers across the street. Email them and they will send you everything you need. They are only open in the am so get there by 9. They will file your taxes and submit your wife's W-7 for you. Then you give them about P200 and they will LBC the ITIN letter to you when they get it. Great people.

She uses gmail. Nothing else is messed up. I actually conquered this and am moving on. The Embassy said she didn't have an appointment scheduled. Everything that the email might have said in the garbled section can be found elsewhere, and I finally got in to UStravelDocs and set her appointment. I'm calling that a win, and taking the night off. Thanks for your concern. Be safe. Dave

Only this one to her. Everything else is good. Spoke with a lady at the Embassy today. She escalated the email issue and we should hear back in 2 days. She also "sent" another temp password. Never showed up. I think she did it through CGI or Salesforce, or whoever they are, and they have a problem. If we can schedule an appointment on the phone, I'm happy to remain locked out. Thanks for the shout.