Klayzen

I don’t know how NVC pulls these numbers but here is what they sent my congressman.

As of APR-2024, the NVC is scheduling IV interview appointments for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in MANILA, PHILIPPINES for Immediate Relative applicants that were documentarily complete on or before MAY-2023.

I suppose this follows the theory that was posited here a few months back.  Back in September, they told him that they were scheduling for 6-2021.  And in January they said 1-2023.  The numbers are moving closer together… hopefully that trend continues 

Any news is good news at this point. I am cautiously optimistic but not holding my breath either.  Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of our wait.

Buy a cheap flight to Hong Kong that's refundable.  That's generally how I've done it.  I've done this directly through AirAsia - In the past I'd see tickets ~$50 (I don't even refund these anymore, I just toss them lol) but I'm sure the price has gone up lately.

I don't know if they're using the health pass stuff, I didn't need it at all but that was last year.  Definitely bring the vaccine card.  I'm not sure if you need the negative covid test, I know you don't going to the US, but I'd guess you do require one coming here.  They still have mask mandates in effect and have been talking about doing some lockdown stuff again.

Travel insurance is no longer required luckily as of May

26 minutes ago, jm1409 said:

Yeah. Can't they get transferred multiple times?

I sure hope so.  Was a bit excited that I started at Nebraska too. 😔

1 hour ago, jm1409 said:

Chatted with Emma today and they said our case is now in Potomac.

We got moved to Vermont.  Brutal

1 minute ago, Ontarkie said:

DOne

Thank you!

Could we get a mod to change the title to reflect this as the June I-130 filers thread?  Appreciate it

4 hours ago, jm1409 said:

Hmm ok then, I guess so! Are you also filing for K3?

 

We submitted ours today, and received NOA1 today. Nebraska as service center. Preparing to file for K3 next.

 

Nebraska is the fastest SC, but am fearful it will be transferred -- it seems like transferring SCs is very common from what I've seen.

I'm not filing K3 as I've heard conflicting reports of what it does and doesn't accomplish.  Fingers crossed for keeping our cases at NSC or if it gets transferred, they go to Texas.  

I also can't find it.  I guess we can use this one for now? Haha.

2 hours ago, Jordan & Jenet said:

We just went through this with the CFO, Ultimately the receipt of the ROM you get is fine to apply for the CFO and you don't need wait the current "16" weeks for PSA ROM for CFO.

 

Jordan

Thanks for the reply.  

We've gone ahead and filed the I-130 and will begin the ROM journey when we get our apostille version of the marriage certificate.

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

File the i-130 for the spousal visa immediately.  The ROM is a Philippines thing and is not relevant to USCIS.  No need to have the ROM first.  You have plenty of time to worry about the ROM while USCIS is working on your I-130.

 

Since you are both together at the same time at the same place, go to a notary and sign the form together.  Getting the form notarized by both parties is half the battle for overseas couples.  If you both go into a notary together it is one notarization of two signatures.  It can be notarized anywhere.  We got our ROM notarized in Peru.

 

If you are remaining in the Philippines you can file the ROM at DFA ASEANA Manila but they will probably require an original apostilled copy of the Utah Marriage certificate.   Alternately if you are returning to the US you can do it through the San Francisco consulate.  I "think" either way requires a CENOMAR.  it's easily ordered online from PSA.

 

The ROM is most important if your wife wants to use your name.  She needs the ROM to get her Philippine passport changed.  It will save hassle later if she can get this done before her interview but is not critical to the visa process.  CFO would also raise a fuss if there is no ROM but that is way down the road if you are just filing now.  USCIS, NVC and the Embassy don't care about the ROM so don't delay filing your I-130 over the issue.

Thank you for the detailed reply!  We will start working on the spousal visa.

Hello!

First off, a quick summary of our situation:

• We are currently both in the Philippines (Metro Manila).
• We got married via Utah County's Zoom Ceremony, as we wanted to have the certificate from the US
• We are waiting for the certified marriage certificates, but we have the digital version required for the Spousal Visa
• Now, we're trying to figure out the order of operations and steps required

The next step is to either file the Spousal Visa or the Report of Marriage at the San Fransisco Consulate.  I've heard mixed things about how long the SF Consulate takes, and I've heard varying timelines for the Spousal Visa.  I'm concerned that the Spousal Visa could be done before the Report of Marriage is complete and we wouldn't be able to do the CFO in time.  So that'd be my first question -- should I just bite the bullet and submit the Spousal Visa application ahead of the ROM while we wait for the Apostille copy of the Marriage Certificate?

Aside from this, there are many things about the ROM itself that are confusing for someone in my situation:

1. The ROM requires the application to be notarized, with the virtual wedding requiring both spouse signatures to be notarized respectively. 
2. If we are both currently in the Philippines, is it acceptable by the consulate that all notarizations on the documents are done in the Philippines, or would I have to go to the US to do all of this?  I'm hoping this isn't the case as it seems rather unnecessary.
3. The requirement of a Cashier's Check or Postal Money Order as well as self-addressed Priority Mail envelope is also a hurdle if I'm in the Philippines.  I could have my parents do this portion of it, or I could go the DFA route below:
4. The possibility to do all of this through the DFA would eliminate the cashier's check / postal money order as well as the envelope is intriguing, but my understanding is that this just slows the process down as the DFA sends the document to the SF Consulate ANYWAYS and reroutes it back to Manila 
5. I've read conflicting information about the CENOMAR document - is this necessary?  We are already married and my wife has no previous marriage.
6. I've read conflicting stories about the ROM itself -- does the CFO process require the PSA certified copy of the ROM, or will the initial copy we receive from the consulate be sufficient?
7. I have also watched some videos on YouTube (I know, not the most official sources, but there aren't many options) stating that Utah Zoom ceremonies require an extra letter NOTARIZED IN THE US stating that the Filipino citizen was not in the US at the time of the ceremony and held no US Visa - is this true?  If it is, can it be notarized in the Philippines?  😐
8. If we do go forward with the visa ahead of the ROM, would there be an issue getting the CFO stamp if we still hadn't received the certified copy / initial copy of the ROM from the consulate?

So, we're juggling some options here as well as just being overall confused about the ROM process.   I know there are a ton of questions here, but from all my exploration on this forum, there's only been one or two cases similar to mine, and there are no further updates on those threads unfortunately (and they don't answer most of the questions we have), as seen in this thread as an example: 

Any thoughts, information would be super helpful and appreciated.  I'm going to be emailing the consulate itself, but as with a lot of PH government institutions, I don't expect much help there.    I'd prefer to do everything here so that I don't have to spend more time apart from my spouse.

Thank you in advance!