J.M.

NVC processing times vary widely even for people with the same NOA2. About 2 weeks after your NOA2, start inquiring using the Public Inquiry Form to see if they have received your case. When you inquire for the first time, send them your current email address and phone number to be sure they have it. It can take anywhere from a week to 3 months for NVC to receive your case. I think the delivery is made by unescorted mules or unmanned hot air balloons. Inquire weekly. It takes several days, but they will reply. Once they confirm receipt, take a week or two off from inquiring, then start asking if they have assigned a case number.

Exemplified certificate is one step above a certified certificate, typically for use in foreign countries when required. Many people send a photocopy of the certified certificate. Others (me included) sent the actual certified certificate and obtained an extra to keep. Certified is as high as you needed to go but exemplified will work just as good.

The phone numbers are legit. Just have it sent to the closest 2GO branch to you and pick it up.

No need to prove apostilled FBI background checks are a thing in the Philippines. They definitely are. They love things with stamps, stickers, and ribbons. It's just not needed for CFO.

This is exactly what others have used. I understand this is the 3rd attempt at CFO, but the first and 2nd denials were both for lack of the FBI background report. The 3rd time is a charm. CFO can be the most annoying part of the process, but at least it's the last hurdle. Good luck!

I agree that this part is not accurate. Nobody has reported any DOS authentication of FBI Background checks. I'm not sure what you mean by the "Philippine Embassy" since no Philippine Embassy plays any part in this at all.

It looks like CR-1 is currently nearly twice as long as K-1 for Brazil, which is the country involved in this post. For a brief period, a couple of years ago, CR-1 got close to the processing time of K-1, but that time has passed. There are other factors to consider besides just processing time. Every situation is different.

Perhaps some do. Not all. K-1 is viable for many situations.

I have only seen police reports requested for K-1, but that doesn't mean they won't ask for one. The FBI report is what everyone I know of has used. The statement you quoted does not mean it is only good for one day. It means the background check only covers the period before the date it was processed. Since they only take about a day to get, I would wait until close to CFO time to be sure it is current enough for them. No need for local police report No need to be apostilled. It can be emailed and printed.

Complete, submit, and pay for the DS-160. It is valid for 1 year after submission. Next, schedule biometrics and interview appointments. Schedule BOTH appointments during the same web session. If you only schedule biometrics without scheduling the interview, the biometrics appointment will automatically be cancelled. After securing interview appointment, schedule medical a week or so in advance of interview date. This is for K-1 Manila only. Other visa types/other countries have different procedures.

Very simple not to "accidentally" register to vote in Texas. From the DL/ID application: 1. Are you a citizen of the United States? If no, go to question 3. 2. If you are a U.S. citizen, would you like to register to vote? If registered, would you like to update your voter information? I understand that giving false information to procure a voter registration is perjury, and a crime under state and federal law. Conviction of this crime may result in imprisonment up to one year in jail, a fine up to $4,000, or both. PLEASE READ ALL THREE STATEMENTS TO AFFIRM BEFORE SIGNING. I am a resident of the county provided above, and a U.S. citizen; I have not been finally convicted of a felony, or if a felon, I have completed all of my punishment including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or I have been pardoned; And I have not been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote. By providing my electronic signature, I understand the personal information on my application form and my electronic signature will be used for submitting my voter’s registration application to the Texas Secretary of State’s office. Wanting to register to vote, I authorize the Department of Public Safety to transfer this information to the Texas Secretary of State.

Nothing, except for long-existing laws being enforced. People freak out when they realize their actions have consequences.

Use current legal name. No supporting evidence is needed.

I meant the last group of the three I mentioned- the group that needs to wait for an email from the embassy before scheduling. Research the process for embassy you will be using. The answer is there. What you read on VJ is often talking about other embassies. I see the Latvia flag on your profile, but I think you actually interview in Sweden. I do not have first-hand experience with the embassy in Sweden. From limited research, I think they email you instructions, which will tell you everything you need to know.

This is entirely dependent on which embassy. Many allow the beneficiary to make the appointment. Others set the appointment and let you know when it is. Still others send you an email with specific instructions, and you cannot schedule the interview until you receive that email. I think you are in the last group, but I am not positive.

Your information is saved for 30 days while you are working on the application. As long as you log in within 30 days to resume an incomplete application, the previously entered information will still be there. That's all the 30 days is about. If you wait longer than 30 days, you will probably have to start over. A completed/submitted DS-160 is valid for a year, as has already been mentioned. The DS-160 IS a non-immigrant visa application and is what you need. The DS-260 is the immigrant visa application. This is one of the few times when you will see K-1 treated as non-immigrant. Most of the time they follow the immigrant visa steps, but not this one. Fee payment methods vary depending on the country, so I cannot answer that one.

What's the big deal? If they ask for it, provide it, or abandon your plans. Most Americans are not criminals, but they still do background checks. Most Filipinos that are planning to marry a foreigner are not currently married, but they still ask for a CENOMAR from them. Most people driving cars have licenses, but police still ask to see it when you get stopped. For most cases, there will be no record. For a few, there will be a record. It's easy to get and cheap. If you learn about the Philippines, you will soon figure out that a lot of things they do don't make sense. There are a lot of things in the US that don't make sense too. By the way, marriage is a state institution. The US Government is not in the marriage tracking business. The states maintain marriage records.

EAD is Employment Authorization Document. It allows you to work while Adjustment of Status is processing. It takes around 1 to 6 months for approval. Once it is approved, you are legally allowed to work. AP is Advanced Parole. This allows you to re-enter the US after international travel. It's pretty expensive ($630 I think) and usually takes a long time (6 months+) for approval. AP is only valid until you receive your green card. Often, the green card is approved before AP, which makes the $630 fee just a donation to the government.

Over the past several months, some petitioners (10 or so) have reported being asked to provide an FBI background check for CFO. However, all of them that I am aware of were for K-1, not spousal. I doubt that will make any difference but just pointing that out. I would get one, especially if your wife has significant travel to attend CFO. At least one person was told that they could email the FBI report, which they did. Upon receipt of the email, CFO replied and said (I'm paraphrasing) "great, now hand deliver it to us."

It is not a physical sticker anymore. Now it is a digital certificate. It will be emailed to her immediately upon completion of CFO. You can print the certificate and screen shot it but also save the email. Sometimes they ask to see the email, not just the certificate, at departure.

skyscanner is always a great place to start.

Which CFO location?

Just for clarity, your fiancée was personally asked for the certified copy at CFO? Or did she just "hear" that it is required? I've never heard of that being asked for or even being given a copy of it. Which CFO location?

This happened at the Manila location. OP ran out of posts for the day but messaged me.

I understand you are having a difficult time with CFO, but in general, CFO is a breeze to get through. Typically, those that have trouble with CFO are unprepared or have something other than a friendly attitude. The one-on-one interview can be quick and easy or detailed and messy, depending on the attitude of both participants. Since I have never heard of being asked to show screenshots of family chats, I would guess something earlier in the interview led to that request. Like it or not, though, CFO is part of the process, and you have to go through it. Which location did this happen at?