Dave Knapp

On 9/23/2023 at 7:59 AM, Dave Knapp said:

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.  

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.  

On 9/23/2023 at 7:59 AM, Dave Knapp said:

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.  

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. 

On 9/28/2023 at 1:23 AM, SalishSea said:

Silver lining:  no ROC!

Exactly.

2 hours ago, SalishSea said:

A lonnngggggg line of people ahead of you in the queue.  Ours took 14 months in 2018/19.  ROC took even longer, 18 months.

 

This is why we always recommend to new members here that CR-1 is the way to go.  People get stuck on historical petition processing times, failing to realize that is only one step in a very long process.

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.

16 hours ago, RO_AH said:

If the supervisor was very clear, then they would tell you that she will receive another x-ray and they will make a determination from that x-ray. The way that you made it sound is that if you had sputum once you will automatically have to do it again which is not true.

 

Hopefully you make it out first.

Whatever.

On 9/23/2023 at 9:10 AM, CFS said:

 

I'm so sorry to hear that (and thanks for making the time to post here). From reading other posts on this site, I know that sometimes people are asked to go through the DS-5535 process even after being told that they're "good to go" at the interview. That said, were this the case, the Embassy should have informed you of this and let you know regarding the e-form you would have needed to fill out. 

 

The repeat sputum exam is such a headache (we've been there). Let me know if it gets to this point and you need help on how to proceed - the Embassy isn't always straightforward on how to approach this. In our case, they issued a 221(g) request for the medical but did not provide the special # we had to provide St. Luke's for them to even begin re-scheduling the repeat medical. After we finally got that figured out, it was a 6 week wait until my spouse could even go through the sputum testing. 

 

Hoping things will look up in your case. 

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.

4 hours ago, RO_AH said:

My wife was flagged for sputum testing on her medical. Everything was difficult during covid, and her visa was approved just days before the medical expired so we had to redo it. 2nd time the x-ray was clear so she did not have to do sputum the second exam. So basically the supervisor you talked to has no clue. It is not a guarantee she would have to do it again.

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. 

46 minutes ago, CFS said:

 

 @Dave Knapp - any update from the Embassy?

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.  

6 hours ago, W199 said:

Your NBI is then 6 months old. Despite the fact that the embassy and the NBI says its valid for 12 months, the embassy does not like it to be more than 3 months old. When this happens the embassy takes a few weeks to request a new one themselves to be sent directly to them. 

 

 

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

1 hour ago, W199 said:

In that case, when she went for her interview, was the NBI clearance more than 3 months old?

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. 

5 hours ago, W199 said:

Do you mean you made an appointment with the US Citizens's Services department in the Embassy?  I very strongly doubt they will or can give you any info about your case, and they probably couldn't even if they wanted to since they would need a release from your fiancée. . Or did you somehow manage to magically make an appointment with the VISA department there?  Just imagine if it was possible to go in chat with them about your 221g, everyone would be doing it. They are not going to open that door.

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?

3 hours ago, CFS said:

 

I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you're facing. Please keep us posted as I'm also in a similar situation (re-submitted documents requested through 221G via LBC on Sep. 5 and still haven't heard back). 

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

On 9/1/2023 at 3:58 AM, Chancy said:

 

Nothing from CEAC status check?  https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

 

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.

6 hours ago, W199 said:

You must have called ustraveldocs,  ..  https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-main-contactus.asp   The NVC is in NH

 

 

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. 

On 9/12/2023 at 9:48 PM, W199 said:

How did you speak to a human at the NVC, as they have disabled their customer support phone lines to focus on the backkog?

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 

On 9/2/2023 at 6:00 AM, top_secret said:

I know of quite a few persons who received their passports from US Embassy Manila recently in just 2 or 3 days.  There are always exceptions and it's not unheard of for it to take quite a bit longer but after 3 weeks you definitely might want to start following up. 

 

Other ways you can check the status of the passport at US Embassy Manila is to e-mail passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com with the subject and body of the e-mail just the passport number.  It should generate an auto-response with the passport status.  They also have a web form here https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-passportretrieve.asp where you can input the passport number and see the status..

 

If her CEAC status is "Issued" or the other status updates say it was already shipped yet she still doesn't have it, you can also e-mail LBC at ustraveldocssupport@lbcexpress.com or call the LBC hotline at (02)8858-5999 to verify if they don't have it and are experiencing some delivery issue.

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

On 3/9/2023 at 12:18 AM, seekingthetruth said:

We did our W7 at the Angeles Acceptance Agent, at RAO, in 2015.  See info below.  Call ahead and go over what you need to bring, then make an appointment to make sure the ITIN person will be there when your wife goes.  Normally only one visit is required.  The ITIN lady typed up the W7 for us.  They know what they are doing.  There is a small charge but I don't think it was much.

 

Very common that your wife will not receive the hard copy ITIN in the Philippine postal system, which is very bad.  The agent gets U.S. postal mail directly from the U.S. Embassy, and they will get a copy.  If your wife never receives it by postal mail, you can get a copy from them.

 

https://1925mcarthur.wixsite.com/raoangeles

 

IRS CERTIFYING AGENT FOR ITIN'S: WE ARE THE IRS CERTIFYING AGENT FOR THE PHILIPPINES AND CAN PROCESS YOUR ITIN REQUIREMENTS… THERE ARE SEVERAL CATEGORIES OF ITIN’S BUT ALL MUST BE FOR TAX PURPOSES… THE MOST COMMON IS FOR A JOINT TAX RETURNS; REQUIREMENTS ARE: ITIN APPLICANT MUST APPEAR IN PERSON, MUST HAVE A MARRIAGE LICENSE/ CONTRACT OF MARRIAGE, HAVE A CURRENT PASSPORT (APPLICANT) IF NO PASSPORT, TWO OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS! NATIONAL ID CARD/CURRENT DRIVERS LICENSE/MILITARY ID CARD/VOTERS ID ARE ACCEPTABLE DOCUMENTS… PROVIDE AN UNFILED IRS 1040/1040X… NOTE: SPOUSE NAME ON 1040 MUST BE SAME AS ON SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (PASSPORT/OTHER) AND CAN USE THE MARRIED OR SINGLE NAME… WE WILL PREPARE ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS ATTACH YOUR TAX RETURN AND SEND TO IRS VIA PRIORITY MAIL… DURING COVID, IT TAKES AROUND 3 MONTHS TO PROCESS… IF YOU ARE EXPECTING A REFUND, IT WILL GO TO THE ADDRESS/BANK LISTED ON YOUR IRS FORM 1040… IRS WILL MAIL APPLICANT AND US A COPY OF THE ITIN… USUALLY WE RECEIVE OUR COPY FIRST AND WILL NOTIFY YOU UPON RECEIPT… WE PROCESS ITIN APPLICATION BETWEEN 1000 -1300HRS M-F EXCEPT HOLIDAYS… IF ANY QUESTIONS CALL (045) 888-2748 OR 09495037332 AND ASK TO SPEAK TO AN ITIN REPRESENTATIVE…

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.

On 3/1/2023 at 2:14 AM, RO_AH said:

What email service are you using?

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

35 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

If your emails are corrupted, use a different email service as well.

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.