mrsartis

That is an excellent pointer and deserves a Topic Thread of its Own . So far I’ve pegged @Crazy Cat for Legendary Tales , @Mike E for Stunningly Stupid Legal Advice and you Dear Sir @pushbrk for Country Specific Gems of The Mouth

AND.....to be Filipino specific, if asked a yes or no question, make sure the first word out of his mouth is yes or no, definitely not "because".  Just answer the question.  No explanation needed unless asked.
 

It’s good that you are helping him prepare. In his case, no matter what he answers , it won’t impact…..BUT if you want to have a bit of fun ,..so he can relax about his interview:
 tell him to listen closely to the question asked and answer short and what was asked. They will ask where his wife lives (  gives address only) . My favorite example: 
Question : What day is it ? Answer : Saturday 
not: Saturday, August 13, 4:30:PM on this cloudy day I thought would never end cause now I have knee ache again…

Not sure why you think they would ask who the petitioner lives with?  It's not relevant.  But still, I just explained why it does not impact household size.

You have your answers but just to be clear, a Consular Officer would not use a different household size than stated on the I-864, UNLESS, there was an error.  While the op's circumstances are such that since the petitioner DOES live with her adult daughter's family, they qualify as potential income combining household members, they didn't choose that incorrect option.  Not only would the Consular Office have no way of knowing who else lives in the house, they would have no justification for applying a different household size.
 
Mom qualifies.  She doesn't need any "help", BUT if she did, the family still would not combine income.  What would be proper is for the daughter and her husband to act as "Joint Sponsor" and joint sponsor's household member (either of them could be either) with a household of 3.
 
Just because you could have, doesn't mean you must or should.

Gotcha, thanks!

Thank you, I appreciate that. They also have combined assets in the Philippines aside from her income. Thank you

Hey Guys,
I just want to share my own journey especially to fellow F2B applicants. I know we need patience to wait for our priority date to become current. I myself waited for 11 years. During that period, my gf gave me 2 beautiful daughters but we were never married but were living together. I had to explain to her parents my status and good thing they understood it. Ill cut short with the process that my Mom went thru to petition us and get straight into medical and interview.
Last July 31, 2015, I received an email stating my interview schedule on Sept 3, 6:15am. 2 weeks later, i scheduled for medical exam at SLEC. A day before my medica, i arrived and stayed at Hotel Soriente. It's a decent room with a room rate of P1,899 for single/double bed. Its basically less than a minute of walking and you will arrive at SLEC. On the day of my medical, i arrived at SLEC exactly 4am on a Thursday morning. By 6am the guard gave us my number which was #2. The guard will check for your passport, appointment letter and the SLEC pre registration form (if you applied for it in their website to save time) or you have to fill up a form manually if you haven't. I went inside and waited for my number to be called. Your documents will be check like your passport,will ask for 4 visa photos, appointment letter wherein they will stamp it with SLEC and will ask you to bring that document for your interview. She will ask for basic questions like your name,age DOB, name of petitioner, have u been abroad, hospitalized if ever. Then i proceed to cashier at 4th or 5th floor i forgot then after paying, I was directed by the lady guard for my vital signs then weight, eye test (snellens chart reading) then the physical exam with the doctor. He will ask you questions very fast and you have to pay attention like normal stuff (allergies, hospitalized, asthma, if u smoke, drink, drugs). Because i was honest, I admitted that i took MJ once, he proceeded if i took coccaine and shabu and i said no. After those series of questions, he asked me to get naked, he checked for lashes, tatoos, ear pierced, even will touch ur private part and your a*us as well. After that, i get dressed and he ordered that i get a psychia evaluation. By this time I was worried and regretted by being honest. After my PE, I went to have my syphilis test (they will get a sample of your blood), then you will be undergo Xray and the last step will be asking questions with your vaccines. After that, I was advised to return back 1:30pm for further evaluation. IF you will have no problems with your medical, the staff will tell you to return the following day to have your vaccines and get your sealed envelope with your medicals in it. I was down by this time and returned 1pm to 3rd floor.He said to go ground floor room N to evaluate me. The cute and beautiful nurse their said that i have to be psy evaluation since I admitted to have taken MJ. She gave me a form i have to fill it up. Just the basic questions like filling up a biodata but there will be questions there on MJ, when the last time you took, how frequent, what was the feeling, are you addicted to it... I answered them all specifying that it was only a one time deal out of curiousity. After answering it, the cute nurse gave my receipt back and i have to return a week before my interview for my Psy Eval. I pleaded if I can return back the next day since I am from a province and she said that is the only schedule of the psychiatrist and there is nothing i can do.
A day before my Psy Eval, i arrived and stayed at Topical Mansion Hotel, small room but it was a decent room, cheap one as well since i paid 1000/day. On the day of my evaluation, arrived 30 min early proceeded to room N again and saw the cute nurse. We were 5 to be evaluated and she said to go to the cashier and pay the fee of 1,058. We were on cue to be called. I was 3rd. The first to be called was a Canadian immigrant or something. He was evaluated for almost 1 and half hour, the 2nd was a K1 applicant and took her about 20 min. Now it was my turn, I was nervous but calm. The lady guard accompanied me to the 6th floor i think and there the lady psychiatrist was waiting for me. It was my 1st time seeing a psychiatrist but she was very nice. He asked my why I was to be evaluated. It was a very casual evaluation. She just asked me about the form i filled up 2 weeks ago like my bio data. She focused more on my family since I was a product of a broken family. She asked more questions on that like at what age was my parents broke up. What was the reason, how did my mom entered US and how was she able to petition me.. Stuff like that...And for the MJ, she just asked why i did it and i said out of curiosity. Thats it. She said there's nothing wrong with me and asked me when my interview is so that she can prepare her report about my evaluation. She said to return a day before my interview. Asked her if I can do my vaccines, she said i still cannot since her report is needed before i can proceed with the vaccine. She said to return back to room N (my favorite room) for further instructions. The whole evaluation took 15minutes. The cute nurse told me to come back the next day afternoon to check if my eval results are available. It was a gamble i took and the following day i returned back at 2pm, waited for 2 hours and viola! I have my psy evaluations and will proceed with my vaccines. Got 4 shots for it. After my vaccines, I proceeded to the releasing window at the ground floor and waited my name to be called. They will just ask to verify the data that they will type because it will be forwarded to the embassy. I was given the cd and my vaccine report. My sealed envelope was not given to me and they will just forward it at USEM. I felt happy because I can go home. My plan was if my result was not available, i will not go back home and just wait for my interview and follow up my results.
Okay, the final quarter lol, again arrived a day earlier and this time checked in at M Hotel Manila, it looks nice outside but inside, i dont like it. Their rate is 2000/night. I prefer Hotel Soriente. I just stayed there because it is near USEM. Exactly 430am, i arrived at USEM and was shocked to see so many people. There are 3 separate lines, 1 from seamen, 1 from 615am sched and the other is 630am sched. I only brought a plastic envelope wherein my documents will be needed like my passport,NSO BC, CENOMAR, NBI, appointment interview with SLEC stamp, DS 260 confirmation, not asked from me were police clearance, visa photos, old passport, pictures, AOS & ITR of mom, NSO BC of my children. I did not bring cellphone, my digital watch and backpack since i checked at their website that it was prohibited to bring those. But to my shock, only cellphones were prohibited. If you bring ur cp, u will have a hard time for the safe keeping. There will be vendors who will safe keep ur cp, but i dont trust them and it will be your gamble. My line of 615 was called, were lining up right before their entrance, a lady will check ur passport(she will put ur passport in a plastic), ur 1st page of SLEC stamped appointment letter and ur DS 260 confirmation. You will then proceed inside where you will be check by their security esp those with backpacks will be asked to open it, for those with only envelopes, you need to put your wallet inside the envelope. Then after that, you will go to another screening, the lady will asked for ur appointment letter (1st page), will ask questions on who petitioned u, DOB of petitioner, then you will proceed to the biometrics, then the next part will be the most important one. A 3rd screening will be given. I was screened by this fellow filipino, he asked for my NSO BC, CENOMAR, NBI. He asked questions again to the petitioner, DOB, when did she arrive in US, last time i saw her also asked for her status now. I said she is an american citizen but when she petitioned me she was LPR. He searched something with my documents (am guessing those documents he checked was the one i gave it to NVC 2 years ago, and my moms documents as well). He asked if i have something to prove that my mom now is a US Citizen. I said none. He asked for the notice of approval of out opt out, good thing i brought it (or else 221g)Again he asked how many kids I have, I said 2. He checked something at the computer, my guess is that my DS 260. He said why is it that I only have 1 kid on my DS 260, i told him that when i completed my DS260, it was 2 years ago, my 2nd daughter was only born this year. He said i need to update my DS 260, told him that i tried to edit but i cant. He reopened my DS 260 and i need it to update it. So i went out USEM and asked those vendors where i can find an internet shop, one of the vendors guided my, near my hotel, it is a private residence with a laptop and printer, there is a payment of 400 for using her laptop and printer, i thought better to pay 400 than to have my reschedule if i find a cheaper one. Good thing the owner of the laptop is very knowledgeable on DS 260. I immediately edited and updated my children have it printed and went back to the screener again. I was referred to window 38 and after a few minutes, told me to proceed to the oath taking. I read aloud the printed statement. They have 3 languages (english, filipino and visayan). After that, you will be on que again for the final interview with consul. I was amazed because most consuls know how to speak tagalog. My turn came i greeted the consul and checked my papers. He asked me again my petitioner, DOB, how & when did she arrive at US, last time i saw her, asked about my kids, how many and if they will join me on a later date. After that he said everything looks good, congratulations visa approved. He said to what 7-10 days for my visa. Gave me a small paper on the instructions on how to register for the delivery address which i already did a few days earlier thru pick up at 2go in my province. The whole final interview with consul took only 3 minutes. After that all smiles!
Sorry for the long story, i just wanted to share my experience with my fellow F2B. My journey was not smoothed, we cant expect to be smooth ride, but you just have to endure it, pray and God will help. Right now am waiting for my visa to be picked up. Next stop will be the CFO. I need to read their experiences with CFO.
Thanks.

You can buy transformers for the appliances from the US if you want to bring them here. I've flown over several times with stuff like a blender and hot plate for the kitchen and tools like circular saw but you can buy those here, and a sawzall which is almost impossible to find here in the Philippines but great for cutting branches off of the trees. I'd bring over a jigsaw too because those are  5000+ pesos here, which is at least double the price in the US for the same cheap jigsaw. The transformers I have are 500w and 2000w. I can run anything in the kitchen off the 2000w and use the others outside. One is for the ceiling fan I shipped over from Home Depot and is in our terrace outside. They sell those here in the hardware stores though so you can just buy a ceiling fan here but a few years ago I couldn't find a ceiling fan anywhere since we live away from the big cities.

This is exactly what we did, 10 years ago. They gave me an SSN with markings and whenever i get a job, they just asked for EAD. When I finally get my naturalization, i went to back to SSA to have the markings removed. 
 
 

Here is how it is supposed to work. This worked for us.
 
As a K-1 Visa Holder you are eligible to receive a SSN upon producing a valid I-94 (unexpired). Do not wait until you only have a few weeks left until your I-94 expires to file for a SSN. Many SSA (Social Security Administration) offices will not allow you to file for a SSN if your I-94 is about to expire (generally 14 days prior to the expiration on your I-94). On the other hand, you should also not file for a SSN too soon either.
 
You should wait 2 weeks after you arrived in the US before applying for a SSN. UPDATE: It's been reported recently that you no longer need to wait 2 weeks till you are in the SAVE database that you can go the next business day. If you go too soon your record of arrival will not be in the SAVE-ASVI system yet (what is SAVE), and it will require manual verification from the USCIS. As this will add weeks to the period it takes to process the SSN, it is advisable to attempt to wait the two weeks to be safe. If you have waited the 2 weeks and they tell you they cannot verify your arrival record via the SAVE database, then personally return on another day to have them search again -- thus eliminating the manual verification (you don't want to do the manual verification as it adds so much more time to the process).
 
To apply for a SSN you will need to go to your local SSA office and bring the documents below. These documents are proof of your eligibility to file for a SSN:
 
The SS-5 form  download and complete the application (they have some at the office if you forget).
Your Passport (with the K-1 Visa attached)
Your valid I-94
Another form of valid ID (birth certificate will do nicely)
You should also print and bring the document RM 10211.530 , in the event that the agent is not knowledgeable that K-1/K-2 are eligible to receive a SSN.
 
Make sure to bring all the documents above because some offices have staff that are not aware that a K-1 Visa Holder is eligible to file for a SSN. A friendly reminder is a nice thing to have -- if not you could be turned away incorrectly
 
Once you have successfully applied for your SSN, the SSN card will come in the mail in about 2 weeks.
 
K2 visa holders must first have a work permit (EAD) to get a social security number.
 
After marriage
Carry your marriage certificate to the social security office to get the social security card in the new name. If you applied for a social security number before marriage, you can go back to the social security office after marriage and get your name changed on your social security card.
 
The social security card will be marked “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH USCIS AUTHORIZATION”.  That means, you need to get your EAD first before you can actually work.  Hopefully, when you submitted your AOS you included the EAD. If not you will now need to submit the paperwork for an EAD prior to working.

yay, sis thanks, I will find you on FB through Anne and Han, if it's okay with you and will request to be one of your friends, if it's okay with you, please approve me. lol, because I have other questions too about this topic, thank God that you replied, I also just realized kc na sa Hawaii is where I gave birth my son, so technically I need to report his birth to Hawaii state, will it be a problem, like do we need to go there at that consulate just to reporth his birth, we're here in NJ now and living here permanently, Hawaii is too far and costly if we will go there just to report his birth, sorry for this dumb question/thinking.
Pres

Nice on your properties, I wish I could live on the beach somewhere but my asawa wants to be close to family. Our property is in a brand new upper end development (I've heard rumors from our realtor that the owner of Cebu Pacific owns 2 of the view lots nearby in our development, but it's just what she heard from other co-workers, and this is upper end compared to local Filipinos). It will be empty for at least a few years and her family can take care of it for us. Once it's built it will be occupied full time. I honestly don't know much about the construction there but I"m sure you could do Sheetrock because it appears many places have it (hotels..etc) but really not sure. Ours of course will be concrete block with I-beams(maybe). They seem to be fairly solid if built properly so I'm not to worried about that. I'm seriously thinking of doing a full basement, but haven't heard if it's ok to do this per local building codes. 
 
There are lots of things I want to do that probable most Philippines houses don't have, American appliances, bathroom sizes and was thinking garage with garage door.

@mrsartis, my mistake. I was reading Table A. Table B is the correct one. Disregard my post below:
Your mom can file the N-400 as soon as she is eligible.

If so, then yes...it would be F-1 instead (which is a little faster than F2B still).
OP said they were F2A...I guess I missed where she said they were age 21+?
Edit: Found it now. It was a post made while I was typing another post in the same thread, and I missed it.

Agreed that they should make it more clear...I shouldn't have to read through multiple pages of anything to answer a basic question about what relationships qualify.

I will have to look at page 8 of 12 .....    

Sort of depends.   Abuse as in hard user/addict?   
 
St. Luke's would have an evaluation completed by a psychiatrist .. that would be a main factor how it would be addressed

Thanks for that.   Silly that USCIS doesn't list this on the I-130 instructions.

That's from the instructions.

"G. A father:
Submit a copy of your birth certificate showing the names of both parents. Also submit a copy of your parents’ marriage certificate establishing that your father was married to your mother. If either your mother or father were previously married, submit copies of documents showing that each of the prior marriages was legally terminated. If you are filing for a stepparent or adoptive parent, or if you are filing for your father and you were born out of wedlock, see Items D , H., and I. in these Instructions for additional information on proving your family relationship."
"H. Stepparent/Stepchild:
If your petition is based on a stepparent-stepchild relationship, you must file your petition with a copy of the marriage certificate of the stepparent to the child’ s natural parent showing that the marriage occurred before the child turned 18 years of age, copies of documents showing that any prior marriages were legally terminated (if applicable), and a copy of the stepchild’ s birth certificate."

You don't have a 30 day limitation, y'all can stay for up to a year without issue .. ask for the BB stamp in your husband passport at immigration when you arrive.
 
That isn't an issue, just so you have round trip tickets.    We fly over for 6 month stays and have no issue with the airlines..  they are aware of the BB Privilege of staying up to a year.

The US takes use/abuse of controlled substances very seriously for immigration purposes.
Nothing noted sounds like it can't be overcome. But it may take some time if they determine he is a potential user/abuser, in which case they may request drug tests in the meantime.
Expect a psych evaluation involved with the medical.

So drug use and criminal history. Just so you know, immigration is interested in criminal history  also. Be careful, because many think that because charges were later dropped, that they don't have to report an arrest history. If a person was handcuffed and put in jail, it may need to be reported.
 
A history of drug use can lead to a refusal (this is different than a straight denial). If a refusal is given, they will be given a ban somewhere from several months to a year. They must then remain clean and show evidence of being clean by having periodic drug tests. When the ban is up, they could continue with their case.

It might be wise to delay your mom's citizenship until after your siblings enter the US with the F2B. If she attends the oath ceremony, then they will be F1. I know its just a 4 month PD difference, but still: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html