Nathan Alden, Sr.

Interesting. Well, it seems that I'm an outlier in one way or another. I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks.

You did not mention CFO. Start planning for this as soon as possible.

The medical is actually very easy to get scheduled at SLEC. We found multiple options available when we went on their website to schedule for Jaycel. If by some chance you have difficulty getting it done before the interview, they now allow you to do the interview without it and will issue her a 221(g) Refusal, pending receipt of the medical exam. It's the same if she gets flagged for sputum testing. If that happens she can go to the interview and will be refused pending completion of the medical.
 
 
I moved Jaycel to Manila in an AirBnb for the 3 weeks it took to get everything completed (Medical, interview and pickup of visa at the LBC Mall of Asia branch) It worked out great. Then she went home to say goodbye to her family for a week, went to Cebu to get her CFO and then departed Manila for the US a couple days after that. 
 
 
We filed our ROM at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco in December. Monthly we have been emailing the DFA to get the transmittal details of them sending it to the PSA and have been getting the runaround. Just yesterday we finally got someone to tell us what is going on. This is what they said:
 
We apologize for the delay of the transmittal of your Report to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Please be informed that we are still waiting for the new original sets of registered reports from the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco as the initial reports we have received were photocopies.

Thank you for your understanding.
 
So the consulate sent the photocopies of the reports and kept the originals when they were supposed to send the originals and keep the photocopies... (Gotta love that Philippine Bureaucracy)   

PSA doesn't really take 7 months to process a ROM.  They just tell you that so you won't hassle them.  1-2 months to process it after the consulate finishes is more typical.
 
AFTER the SFO consulate returns the original stamped ROM to you, you can check the progress towards being sent to PSA by emailing oca.crd-us@dfa.gov.ph .  In the email, ask if the "Transmittal Details" for you ROM are available yet and attach a PDF scan of the stamped ROM you received back from the consulate.
If they reply with the "Transmittal Details"
 
(1) REFERENCE NUMBER
(2) DISPATCH NUMBER
(3) DISPATCH DATE
(4) TRANSMITTAL DATE
 
It means PSA has it and if you can get someone competent at PSA (?) they can issue the ROM.

I feel that changing her full name will be an issue in the Philippines.  I do not think it would be easy. In marriage she would ordinarily drop her middle name, change her maiden last name to her middle name, and assume her husband's last name.  Alternately, she could only take your surname. Or, she could even drop her name entirely and become "Mrs husband's full name". There is also a ruling that she could retain her full maiden name "as-is".  It is not just custom, it is actual Philippine law.  I do not personally know of any option to change her name otherwise, other than the almost non-starter Philippine court process.  Anything requiring any kind of court process in the Philippines takes ALLOT of time, money, risk, and a really sketchy lawyer.
 
According to Article 370 of the Civil Code of the Philippines............
https://amslaw.ph/philippine-laws/civil-law/civil-code-of-the-philippines(4)
 
ARTICLE 370. A married woman may use:
(1) Her maiden first name and surname and add her husband’s surname, or
(2) Her maiden first name and her husband’s surname, or
(3) Her husband’s full name, but prefixing a word indicating that she is his wife, such as "Mrs."
 
If she is planning to assume her married name within the norms of Philippine law it will be incredibly helpful and many times easier and cheaper if she can change her Philippine passport BEFORE her interview. The US will issue the visa, the green card, the social security number and every other US document derived from those in whatever name is in the passport she brings the day of her interview.  If you are trying to accomplish a name change that is outside the norms of Philippine law then just wait until she gets to the US but be aware that changing a green card once it has been issued with a different name is costly and time consuming. (though probably far less costly and time consuming than doing a nonconventional name change in the Philippines)
 

After a ton of research last night, I determined that the better thing to do is enter the country under the 30-day visa exemption, then apply for an extension, and then continue that process as long as necessary.

Since I filed my I-130 petition electronically in mid-June, my "wait time" (scare quotes because who knows the ridiculous database query they're using to generate that number--or maybe it's just RNG?) has gone from 16 months to 18 months to 5 months. We're talking about a 20-day span.
 
Sorry for your frustration, OP. I decided to move to the Philippines to be with my wife to survive these insane wait times. I'm in the process of selling everything here, even my car, and taking my cash there. Sure, the quality of life isn't as good at the US, but at least we can, you know, love each other in person. Thanks, US immigration! 👍

They changed the minimum age for the SRRV during Covid because of abuse of Chinese nationals working in illegal POGOs. It is 50+.
 
If you are staying for just a year or two it might be easier just to renew your tourist visa periodically. 
 
 

Ok, now I got it. I would suggest sending the packet via DHL

Note that foreigners cannot own property in the Philippines, no matter what their visa is.  You can buy a Condo no matter what visa, or you can use your money to buy property for a Filipino.  Don't expect to find work.  Plan to enjoy life together.
 
ACR card must be applied for by tourists, between day 44 and day 58, whether you want it or think you need it or not.  You won't get that second extension without applying for it.  Enjoy

A little off topic, but you can own through inheritance, if your wife dies first.  Not a pleasant thought, buy your non-Filipino heirs cannot inherit the property when YOU die.
 

I decided to have a bit of fun with this by editing the browser DOM:
 

It's like trying to give you weather forecast prediction for tomorrow based on average temperature on the planet...
 
The methodology used for this number is simply wrong and doesn't account for human factor (e.g. officer Joe put the file in the bottom drawer while trying to clear the desk for I-485 interview and forgot about it for few months).

Yea, extending is cheap and easy but if you don't bother and just show up at the airport overstayed its a potentially significant fine.  There was an overstayed Vietnamese tourist at NAIA just last week who made quite a public controversy protesting her fine.  Errr,,,, umm,,,, if you do get fined it's best just to pay. 
 

Just gotta make sure to extend it before the 30 days and not just show up at the airport like my friend did. You will get hit with a penalty.

Very interesting. See, this is why I love asking VisaJourney these questions! There's an answer somewhere if I dig deeply enough. 😊

You just go down to the immigration office and pay for an extension.  It's a standard service . I seem to recall it being $40/$50-ish a month but it's been a while since I paid.  These days they even have tourist visa extensions online though I can't personally vouch for that.  https://e-services.immigration.gov.ph/  There's plenty of foreigners living in the Philippines defacto permanently by continuously extending tourist visas and doing a quick turnaround trip every 3 years.

About that...Try never. You have a better chance of winning powerball than her getting a B-2

Estimations on website are just estimations. They're largely inaccurate. You can roll a dice and get a better prediction.

There is only one clinic that is authorized by the U.S. Embassy of Manila to perform medical examinations to fulfill visa requirements, and that’s St. Lukes Medical Center. They also provide medical exam services for other embassies (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, and and more) which might play a role in interview availability.

I shouldn't have used the term "apostilled version" as that is not accurate, but, in essence, yes. According to the most recent checklist:
 

 
The new checklist has significantly relaxed requirements compared to the incorrect version on the main page. Both versions differ significantly from what the DFA claims they want if one were in Manila filing directly. It's super confusing.
 
Whenever I see the term "original" in relation to a vital record like a birth certificate, I always substitute it in my mind with "certified copy." They seem to be used interchangeably depending on who wrote the language in these things.

Thank you VisaJourney!!!
 

@Nathan Alden, Sr. That other thread I referenced I have a screenshot of an email I received from the consulate where they say only 1 signatory is required. I submitted mine with just my notarized signature and they accepted it. I received the receipt and packet back about a month later with a note saying it is now processing. You do not need BOTH notarized signatures, only one or the other is sufficient. This eliminates having to worry about sending it back and forth to the Philippines to get your wife's notarized signature. Just have it notarized with your signature and send in the rest of the required forms. It'll save you some time.
 

There are so many discrepancies between the two lists that I decided to email a question to the Consulate General. We'll see how they respond. It's likely others will notice these discrepancies so I'll report back here once I learn something.
 

 

 
 

Even before (2022), not needed.  Since you are filing at SF, that is your guideline.  No need to refer to other consulate.  PCGSF checklist is as of May 22, 2024, so it is recent.  My experience with them has been good.  They answer my emails, they sent email confirming receiving our application.

@Nathan Alden, Sr., Compiled all your Qs in 1:
Did the Filipino spouse fill it out first and then mail it to the US for completion and further mailing to the San Francisco consulate? In other words, is my logistics assumption in the OP correct?
For anyone else looking at that cover letter, note that current DFA requirements indicate that five copies must be provided, not four.
How did you calculate the return postage on the self-addressed stamped return envelope?
Can you post your Affidavit of Explanation, too? We're in the same situation because we performed a Utah County's Zoom wedding from the Philippines.
Who did you make the cashier's check out to? Do you know if the fee is still $25?
 
 
-  Well, I (the wifey :)) filled out all the information.  I gave hubby instruction to sign in front of Notary.. to have it notarized.  (My side on form was not yet notarized at that time)
- Still 4 copies, refer to https://pcgsanfrancisco.org/civil-registry/  >> Under Report of Marriage
-  SEEMS the Requirement has changed, requiring the marriage license/cert from Utah be now Apostilled.  Refer to website, it will answer all your Qs.
- USPS Priority Mail.  Fixed Price.
As per site section 😧
4. Processing fee of $25.  Fees should be made payable to the “Philippine Consulate General” in Money Order or Bank Draft. Cash, personal checks and credit/debit cards are not accepted.  All Fees are non-refundable. 
 

 
https://pcgsanfrancisco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ROM-CHECKLIST-AS-OF-2024.05.22-PDF.pdf