DJ+Ten

We are applying for USC, but the Philippines passport is already expired. Is it necessary to get it renewed before/during the USC application process?

DJ

For Filipinos who may be asking the same question...

As I recall, when a Filipino gets USC they can apply to the Philippines for dual citizenship (without affecting their USC), and regain whatever privileges are afforded to Filipino citizens. I'm not sure but I think this includes voting and ownership of property/firearms.

DJ

N-400, Part 10, Section 8 asks for "Legal Name of My Current Spouse's Prior Spouse."

I'm the "Current Spouse" of the person applying for citizenship.

In my case, the legal name of my prior spouse could be any one of four unique names and still be correct: a) Maiden name; b) Name before we married (since she had been married already); c) Name (my name) at time we divorced; d) Current name (from her latest hubby).

Which of these will avoid problems.

Thanks,

DJ

Wife's Philippine passport is about to expire.

She has already filed removal of conditions and had biometrics taken.

Nearest consulate is very far, and there are work/family issues getting there. A couple more weeks might help.

What happens if we can't get to the Consulate before the expiration date?

I dunno. I drove my car onto a ferry boat once. When we docked on the other side I still had the car. Wonder if that would work with a train? Just drive onto a drive-on rail car, then walk to the club car and relax, and drive away when you arrive at the destination. Might work equally well for a commute into town as it would travelling to a distant town.

Those ferries cost a lot. Good for touristy situations or when transporting well-compensated ibankers to their jobs, but not for much else IMO.

In that case it was a ferry to the next island in the Philippines. It was either the 2 hour ferry boat or 3 hour drive to an airport where you could fly to that island. I gotta say that security on the ferry was a wee bit easier too.

My post was addressing the fact that we don't really have the tracks, the trains, the right-of-ways to provide good nationwide passenger rail. I can get to Chicago from KC but the train doesn't go back to KC directly. Gotta make a big loop. What's up with that?

Alternative transport.

Rebuild the railways. Develop mass transit.

an english solution to an American problem. if America was england, it might be helpful. if Americans were englishmen, it might be accepted.

Besides, in most parts America just isn't densely populated enough to justify it. Mass transit works well where I live since Jersey is more densely populated than Belgium, but can you imagine commuter trains in upstate NY? It just wouldn't work. You'd have to drive miles to the station, you'd have to have parking, you'd need a rental or a taxi once you got off the train. It would be silly.

I dunno. I drove my car onto a ferry boat once. When we docked on the other side I still had the car. Wonder if that would work with a train? Just drive onto a drive-on rail car, then walk to the club car and relax, and drive away when you arrive at the destination. Might work equally well for a commute into town as it would travelling to a distant town.

I appreciate the great feedback.

Bobby_Umit

- Thanks! Based on your post and link to FAQ I found...

A spouse, or son/daughter (who is 18 years or older) of a U.S. citizen: The minimum cash value of assets must be three times the difference

...which is very clear regarding my wife, but it's not so clear about the three K-2's that accompanied her. I thought that "children" meant "biological offspring." If in fact the 3x rule applies to all four, then my assets should cover the full amount even if NO income.

- That would be an interesting interview if they mention it, "Why didn't you tell me when you walked in that you needed a extra sponsor?"

And if caught off guard like that I might not be ready with the true response: "I felt the assets and strong job prospects would cover me."

Gary and Alla -

"...they are aware of the economical situation..."

DJ-the-optimist: Good! Then they know I'll be in good shape as soon as the economy recovers.

DJ-the-pessimist: Yikes! Then they'll figure it could be years before the economy recovers and I won't be able to provide support.

"...I must suggest you line up a joint sponsor..."

I really take to heart the emphasis you have placed on the JS. But I don't know of anyone that I could get. She has two married sisters in the US but both are retired. We are curious if their pensions & social security would be allowed as income for joint sponsorship and whether those would be sufficient (since the JS must prove income alone and not combining with mine). My own family/friends etc... Maybe I could borrow a few kilobucks to pad the savings account but nobody I know would accept the full risk of a sponsor.

Here is how it looks to me at present...

Income: Eldest K-2 daughter started working today. Only 3 days/week @ $8/hr (could be some weeks of 4-5 days during summer). BTW she has 3 yrs of BSN complete, and could support the whole lot after graduating. Wife is applying for hotel housekeeping jobs. As for me ... Yes I have a professional degree and (way too many) decades of experience, and the statement that SS sends me shows almost all my years at more than adequate income. The experience and education however, means that I can't get hired to lower level jobs because they know that I would leave as soon as I got a better offer and they would have go thru the whole hiring process with another guy.

Assets: I'm starting to believe that my assets are my only hope, and will handle it, especially if:

1. The 3xDiff rule applies to my wife and her three children, or,

2. Given any single full-time job in the house.

Thanks,

DJ

I too was laid off after filing AOS and before our interview. However, by that point in the year I had made much more than the required income levels. Plus my prior year tax returns were plenty. So look at your YTD earnings - are they enough?

I do not believe UI counts.

Good Luck!

My YTD was shy of the required level. So am I only required to show assets for the diff x 5?

Thanks,

DJ

After filing for AOS I lost my job. Now we are scheduled for AOS interview in a couple of weeks. Due to the economy my assets have lost value so I'm less confident about depending on them. There are five of us but so far only one part time minimum wage job in the household. Co-sponsor is out of the question.

If I bring proof of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to the interview, would that be applied as income? If so, my assets would be enough to take up the slack (difference x 5).

I saw one parenthetical note in VJ that said UI counts as income. Would appreciate a reference (e.g. USCIS) where I could confirm that fact.

DJ

Did you submit this in your intitial I-864?

- Letters from each current employer, verifying current rate of pay and average weekly hours, and pay stubs for the past 2 months;

If you didn't, you will need to. Since your job lost will affect getting this if you need them, you will either need to get a 1) co-sponsor, 2) a new job that covers the level needed, or 3) assets to cover the difference in income level to meet the poverty level needed. (unemployment counts as income).

To get a co-sponsor, they will need to fill out I-864 for the sponsorship. Same instructions when your wife filled out hers.

Assets - I-864 FAQ

DJ+Ten: In my case, I'm unemployed with AOS interview coming up in a couple weeks. If my unemployment benefits count as income, as stated above, then my assets will cover the balance (diff x 5). If not then I may have to take a job I can't afford to keep. Co-sponsor is out of the question.

Can anybody give me a souce (USCIS, etc) so I can verify that "unemployment counts as income"?

Thanks,

DJ

Thanks, everybody. I am actually a very patient person. But when I can't get a reasonable explanation for what is happening or why, and so much time is passing, I just start to reach my limit.

Brief update. Embassy sent the follow-up which is a repeat of the 2nd request. Now NSO has failed to respond in last friday's batch. I've stopped all calls to the NSO. I was calling weekly, but now I figure I might irritate them and they'll ignore my case altogether. Now that the Embassy is contacting NSO, I'll just let them handle it.

Meanwhile I really hate it that baseball season is over. Soon, Renaissance fair is going to end and Halloween is going to go by without those kids getting to experience it. It's starting to look like they will arrive here in the "dead of winter" with an abrupt climate change, and no opportunity to ease into the cold weather of the midwest.

DJ

I have a similar situation. My Fiance has three derivative K2's. She had her interview June 24 in Manila. All three of the kids had their medical exams with Mom and at the interview all three were present (but not interviewed). The two younger ones will travel with their Mom to the states (if the NSO ever gets done with the DV). The eldest will graduate with BSN in March '09 (age 19). She will follow to join in April or May, but I think her passport will have expired by that time.

What is it that we will have to do to get her passport updated?

DJ

Interview done Jun 24.

DV was done fairly quickly YAY!

DV was done INCORRECTLY has to be repeated HMMMM.

Weekly calls to Embassy ... no response from NSO.

Weekly calls to NSO ... they tell me anything I want to hear.

This is pure BS.

THIS SYSTEM IS BROKE.

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A (formerly) MARRIED WOMAN ... PLAN ON 2 TO 3 YEARS!

I had always thought that the CSC was going to be the vast majority of waiting time. But now I've waited the same time SINCE the NOA2 as it took to GET the NOA2. Checking K-1 stats for January filers, thru Manila Consulate:

Out of 35 records total...

23 I129Fs pending (20 with interview date)

12 visas approved

I'm not sure what these numbers mean. We got the I129F approved and had the interview already but no visa yet. So we don't fit either category. I'm not sure why there is not a 3rd category.

Anyway what did the 12 people have to do to finally get their visa?

Our packet has been forwarded to the NSO for document verification TWO TIMES.

On my last call to NSO, "PJ" swears he sent it back Sep 5th. But the embassy swears they didn't get it in the Sep 5 batch.

Some more analysis of the January filers going thru Manila....

I show 21 interviews, all were done already and the latest was 8/27.

The visas that got approved took from 2 to 51 days (std deviation = 16 days for the successful group).

Those still waiting for a visa range from 19 to 126 days since interview.

So how many "standard dev's" have we been waiting? It ranges from 1 to 8 times the std dev of the successful visa group.

In our case we're at 6 std dev's (and counting ). We're smack in the middle of the group still waiting. I expect that some of the longest ones are visas that were issued (or the relationship ended), but the histories were not updated.

My big burning question is this... those nine of us still waiting... were we supposed to bribe somebody to get this thing moving?

How many of you successful ones had to "grease the wheels" a bit?

DJ

I had always thought that the CSC was going to be the vast majority of waiting time. But now I've waited the same time SINCE the NOA2 as it took to GET the NOA2. Checking K-1 stats for January filers, thru Manila Consulate:

Out of 35 records total...

23 I129Fs pending (20 with interview date)

12 visas approved

I'm not sure what these numbers mean. We got the I129F approved and had the interview already but no visa yet. So we don't fit either category. I'm not sure why there is not a 3rd category.

Anyway what did the 12 people have to do to finally get their visa?

Our packet has been forwarded to the NSO for document verification TWO TIMES.

On my last call to NSO, "PJ" swears he sent it back Sep 5th. But the embassy swears they didn't get it in the Sep 5 batch.

Some more analysis of the January filers going thru Manila....

I show 21 interviews, all were done already and the latest was 8/27.

The visas that got approved took from 2 to 51 days (std deviation = 16 days for the successful group).

Those still waiting for a visa range from 19 to 126 days since interview.

So how many "standard dev's" have we been waiting? It ranges from 1 to 8 times the std dev of the successful visa group.

In our case we're at 6 std dev's (and counting ). We're smack in the middle of the group still waiting. I expect that some of the longest ones are visas that were issued (or the relationship ended), but the histories were not updated.

My big burning question is this... those nine of us still waiting... were we supposed to bribe somebody to get this thing moving?

How many of you successful ones had to "grease the wheels" a bit?

DJ

It's a full month now after Manila Embassy's 2nd request for document verification from NSO.

Today I called and Lorraine at the Embassy says "Not in Friday's batch"

I then called the NSO and PJ said "No it went out Sept 5, I logged it out myself."

Called back to Embassy and Grace said "No it's not in Friday's batch."

What's going on here?

DJ

Well it's said that Mars is 35-60 million miles from LA.

And it should take around 6-8 months to make the trip.

Manila is about 7300 (0.0073 million) miles from LA.

So far (since Jan 7 NOA1) it has been about 7.7 months, and

STILL NO VISA!

Since the Jan 24 interview it's been over 2 months.

Thank you NSO!

DJ

Why didn't I just put her in a moose costume and let her walk across the border, when I had her in Canada.

Here is the phone number of NSO Record Section 632-926-7333 look for Richard.

First, many thanks to o0pink0o for providing the number to call.

Update ...

Jun 24: Ten and the kids had their interview in Manila. She paid for Delbros delivery and Document Verification at the embassy immediately following the interview. She returned to the embassy within a couple of hours with kids birth certs (late from NSO) which had arrived at her hotel during the interview.

Jun 26: The embassy sent her package to the Civil Registry of NSO for Doc Verification.

Jul 21: Advised by phone that the embassy got the results of the DV in the prior Friday batch.

Aug 04: Embassy returned the package to the NSO for proper annotation of the marriage certificate to verify anullment.

Aug various: 3 Calls to NSO, 2 conversations with PJ and one with Rowena, giving full details on each call.

Aug 13: Finally got thru to Richard and told my tale again. He located the pkg, told me about the annotation and advised "15 business days" to complete the chore.

In each case I was as patient and polite as can be. In each case I explained about being away from Ten for more than a year and hoped/prayed that they could move the paperwork along.

Ten and I visit online daily and we are telling each other to be strong, and not to give up hope.

Meanwhile school has started here in the States, and I am feeling more and more desparate.

DJ

How can I reach the Document Verification Unit in Manila. Ten's K-1 docs have gone back there for a second time. I'd like to call and plead with them to expedite. I've been away from Ten for a full year and I'm about to lose my mind.

DJ

im sorry to hear that... me too. i've got problems with my visa. i've been waiting for my visa for 2 months and one week since my interview date. im afraid if the embassy will ask me again for another documents and it will cause us another delay again...

may i know what is the problem about your documents? is it from the NSO? good luck to us!

I believe it is a problem with one of the documents already returned by NSO. Embassy has returned the document to NSO I think. But they won't share the details with me. So I just wait until they are happy.

Meanwhile I am making my home even more ready for my new family.

Thanks to all for the concern and sympathy.

DJ

After only 4 months from NOA1 (Jan 7) the NOA2 was issued (May 7) from CSC, and things began to move so fast that we were really encouraged. We called and got a June 17 interview and soon realized we would not be ready for that date. So we rescheduled and the interview was done June 24.

I made the flight tickets for July 11, thinking that after the interview, the only further delay would be Delbros delivery to the Province of Negros Occ.

Two days after the interview, the Manila Embassy submitted the case to NSO for Document Verification (DV). Since the NSO returns the whole week's batch on Friday, it is necessary to call on Monday (if you can get thru) to get the status. On July 21 (27 days after the interview) I got thru and was told that DV was completed. Next step was "couple of days to a few weeks" for Consular Officer to execute the K1 Visa.

Now there is a new delay. On July 31, ten days after learning that the DV was complete, I learned that a document has now been declared unsatisfactory, and was "returned to the Philippine government". Details about the offending document are unavailable to me. There is nothing for me to do but wait.

I have been separated from Ten, my beloved fiance', for ONE FULL YEAR now ... and counting.

DJ

Ya. Her local Metro bank could not receive the payment so she paid the fee at the embassy, where they told her "No Problem."

Do you think that caused the delay?

DJ

yes, paying the doc verification on the day of interview can cause delay. what province is your fiancee from? this is the first time that I have heard of any metrobank not accepting/receiving delbros DV payments. What I know is that most, if not all, metrobank branches are not aware of Delbros doc verification. So if she asked how to do it and asked if they accept payments for that, they may have told her that they don't know anything about it and that they do not accept any doc verification USEM related payments. In that case, she should just follow the procedure as dictated in the USEM website on how to pay doc verification in ANY metrobank and just gave the deposit slip and the payment to the cashier and be done with it.

Well, that has been my experience before. I went to our local metrobank, asked them about DV and they told me they don't accept payments for that.. i asked some VJ members what bank form to use and the following day, i went back to the same metro bank branch, this time, I didn't ask any question from the bank people and just got a deposit slip, filled it up and gave it to the cashier with the payment and bank charge. They accepted it with no problem and then I texted DELBROS and received confirmation of payment in reply. On the day of my interview, my verification result was with embassy already and after the interview, I just waited for my visa which came less than 2 weeks.

Not everybody who paid the DV in advance was lucky to not have problem with DV.. this is partly due to the information transmittal problems between DELBROS and USEM that is why, it has been adviced on the Philippine subforum that the applicant should make necessary follow ups after paying.

As for the delivery of visa, I am from the province and i received my visa 3days after it was released to DELBROS. Again, it is necessary to make follow ups with USEM and then with DELBROS local office in the province that your fiancee is from because sometimes the visa is already in the local office and yet they still wait a few days before delivering it.

All these unecessary delays is not due to the K1 flow chart problem but caused by the inefficiency of people behind DELBROS and USE Manila. It is best for applicants/ vj members to check the Philippine subforum and read Sheriff Ulings K1 visa guide after they receive the NOA2 so that they will be more prepared for the next steps specific to USE Manila.

I do hope your fiancee has received her visa now.. if not yet, I hope she will get it soonest.

Well, her case was submitted to the NSO for DV only two days after the interview, so I am guessing that the total penalty for late (same day) payment of the fee was just the two days. The balance of the time, however, puzzles me.

Now there is a new delay. Ten days after, being told that the NSO DV was complete, I was just now notified that a document has now been declared unsatisfactory, and was "returned to the Philippine government". Details about the offending document are unavailable to me, and so...

Again. I wait.

I have been separated from my fiance' now for 1 full year.

DJ

We are advised to pay document verification fee in advance to avoid this delay.

You may experience delays if and when, the document verification fee is paid days prior to the interview.

Ya. Her local Metro bank could not receive the payment so she paid the fee at the embassy, where they told her "No Problem."

Do you think that caused the delay?

DJ

In the K-1 Flowchart, there is a suggestion that step 13 "Beneficiary Has Interview at US Embassy" is the last step before the visa is issued "...the same day or within a week... with some exceptions."

Let me list the exceptions that apply to US Embassy, Manila.

• After the interview, Embassy submits doc's to National Statistics Office (NSO) - 2 days (actual time)

NSO advises Embassy that Document Verification Process is done - 24 calendar days (actual time)

Embassy processes visa and releases passport to Delbros courier service - estimated "2 days to a few weeks" (direct quote)

... and for a Beneficiary in the Provinces ...

Delbros delivers passport to Beneficiary in "7 to 10 workdays" a.k.a. "2 weeks"

This adds up to well over 2 months. I would like to suggest that the flow chart could be revised to prepare the novice for the extent of these additional delays.