yodaid764

Nikka has called DHL. No luck. According to the Embassy as of 2 FEB 09 they have switched to Air 21 as their primary courier (this is what she found out). We still cannot get through to anyone that might be albe to answer any questions. I have called the USCIS to see what they could do. They said it was out of their hands and were only able to give me the state department website. While there are numerous links to address a variety of issues, nothing is mentioned about packets from the Embassy being lost in the mail (or stolen) as far as a I can see. Grrr.

Thanks Chamoritta! I have already called Nikka and let her know. Thanks to everyone for the help so far. I will keep my fingers crossed.

Tom

does it matter that she is not in Manila for DHL/Air 21 or whoever? She is in Cagayan de Oro. WIll that make any difference?

Thanks again

Further update:

I have tried to call the Embassy number numerous times. I have entered my credit card info to get the non refundable PIN. It denies my card everytime. I have called my credit card company and explained the situation. They have put special clearance on the card to permit the transaction. STILL DENIED by the stupid automated system.

We are feeling hopeless now. Can anyone help?

Update:

Nikka has tried to call the Manila Embassy but has gotten nowhere. They told her the agency they use to mail packets is Air 21. They supplied her with a contact phone number. She has called Air 21 but they claim to have NO record of anything for her. They said they would do an internal inquiry but still we have heard nothing. SHe tried to call the Embassy again. They kept asking her for a tracking number (which she doesnt have) so they kept hanging up on her. Im going to try to call the Embassy tonight but if I get the same treatment I will have no idea what recourse we have.

Any other suggestions?

Tom

Hello all,

Things had been moving forward quite well until this last week. Nikka has been waiting for the packet from the Embassy to arrive so she can schedule her medical exam. On Saturday she recieved a phone call while at work from a courier stating they had a packet for her but they were having a hard time finding where she lived. She was very busy at work so she told them to deliver it there since it would be easier to find. they said they would get it to her Monday or Tuesday. She was too busy to get the company name or contact number. Well, here we are with it being Friday in the Philippines and nothing! She tried to call back the number of who ever called her cell phone but the call wont go thru. She called the Embassy to find out what official courier they used but when she called the number they gave her that company had no record of anything for her. I have tried to call the Embassy but cannot get through to a person. The automated message says to call a 1 900 number for inquires about visas. I try to call that and after 2 rings my cell phone says the call cannot be completed as dialed. I called my carrier (verizion) to see if they had a block on 900 numbers as a protection from people stealing my phone and calling phone sex numbers. They say I have full calling access and dont understand why it wont go through.

So here we are......soooooo close but now in Limbo with no recourse. What can we do???

ANY suggestions are welcome because we have run out of ideas.

Tom

Ok, I finally got an update:

On December 17, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

Looking at the K1 Flowchart and making a rough guess....I'm thinking we still have a good 3 months of process to go thru. I called the number to see about expediditing the process and they put in the request.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=k1flow

Thanks for the advice so far...now back to waiting.

Tom

Hello all,

It has been a while since I last posted but deployment has not been good as far as time.

After numerous delays Nikka and I were able to submit our packet. We submitted it in late August or Early Sept. However, the address that I sent it to was in Lincoln, Nebraska. That particular address was given to me by the Embassy in Manila. Sure enough, it got kicked back with a note saying it had to go to California. The process of them kicking it back took almost a month. So, we fixed a few things and sent it to California. According to the USCIS website they recieved it on 20 OCT. But here we are almost 2 months later and there is nothing new.

Since Im still deployed and have very limited access to phones, it is hard to call them to find anything out. I had my mom try to call for me but they couldnt give out much specific infomation since she was not me or my fiance. One letter was sent to my dad's house (my home of record), but he and my stepmom read over it. They said as far as they knew it didnt require any action unless I was changing my address.

So now what? For Nikka and I it is just annoying that we have nothing new. I looked up the time table about 2 weeks ago and it looks like I should have recieved some sort of notification that it has been touched at least.

I read on the forums about expediting the process for military, however I'm returning to the states in Jan, not deploying.

So, other than continuing to be patient.....what can I do?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

Don't get frustrated, it is not that difficult.

Take a deep breath.

Read the guides in this forum.

Get the paperwork together that is mentioned in the guides! (No I-134! your fiancee needs that at the interview (a while to go!))

You do need the G-325A for you and your fiancee and signed on all 4 pages!

Look at the USCIS website to where to file your I-129F. There are only two service centers processing them (California and Vermont!).

Take another deep breath. Read the guides again. Get the rest of your paperwork together (proof of having met at least once! in the past 2 years, letter of intent to marry, maybe some pictures showing the two of you together, my lawyer made me write a statement of how we met and what went on until filing (about 2 pages), so USCIS could not question a lot) ...). All explained in the guides!

Take another deep breath. Look over your paperwork again.

Start your cover letter for the documents to be sent. List everything! Check the guides! Compare your list with the guides.

Take another deep breath. Send of your application.

Your dad's address is fine. As soon as the check is cashed and you have your file number, sign up for online access and email notification, it might get you information quicker.

Sending you strength and patience.

Sib

That is a lot of deep breaths....I think I might hyperventahilate! Just kidding.

Thanks for the tips. I am meeting with a JAG tomorrow since Im stuck at Balad as there are no new flights to my FOB for a few days. Looks like fate is throwing me a bone.

TOm

Another question:

I have reviewed the guides again. As far as making 2 complete copies of the packet, I only have 1 extra passport photo (provided I can find it!). Will they accept a photocopy of the first page of my pass port instead?

Don't get frustrated, it is not that difficult.

Take a deep breath.

Read the guides in this forum.

Get the paperwork together that is mentioned in the guides! (No I-134! your fiancee needs that at the interview (a while to go!))

You do need the G-325A for you and your fiancee and signed on all 4 pages!

Look at the USCIS website to where to file your I-129F. There are only two service centers processing them (California and Vermont!).

Take another deep breath. Read the guides again. Get the rest of your paperwork together (proof of having met at least once! in the past 2 years, letter of intent to marry, maybe some pictures showing the two of you together, my lawyer made me write a statement of how we met and what went on until filing (about 2 pages), so USCIS could not question a lot) ...). All explained in the guides!

Take another deep breath. Look over your paperwork again.

Start your cover letter for the documents to be sent. List everything! Check the guides! Compare your list with the guides.

Take another deep breath. Send of your application.

Your dad's address is fine. As soon as the check is cashed and you have your file number, sign up for online access and email notification, it might get you information quicker.

Sending you strength and patience.

Sib

That is a lot of deep breaths....I think I might hyperventahilate! Just kidding.

Thanks for the tips. I am meeting with a JAG tomorrow since Im stuck at Balad as there are no new flights to my FOB for a few days. Looks like fate is throwing me a bone.

TOm

Well, I had an 8 hour layover in Manila on my way back to Iraq and stopped by the US Embassy to get some help in this situation. Wow....the employee was next to worthless and only added to my frustation.

He is now telling me I DO need the I-134 to be filed with the I-129, but that I DONT need it sworn

He handed me a FAQ sheet that was SUPPOSED to help. I noticed one major issue within minutes. Originally, I was intending to send my application to the California office based off of information i got from the USCIS website prior to my deployment. But page one of the doc he gave me says I need to file it in Nebraska (my home state), yet page 3 says I need to file it to the California address. I asked the guy which is right....he didnt know!!!

To make matters worse, my fiance forgot to sign the G-325a forms, and the passport photos we just had taken have the wrong color back ground (blue when I guess it should be white).

And now this guy tells me I also need to have a G-325a.

(I thought I read on this site you dont need the G-325a for a K-1, only the beneficiary needs it.)

Also, Nikka and I forgot to print and fill out a couple of documents (our goof up trying to sort this all out). Am I supposed to also include the 82063 and App for Alien Registraition with the I-129F packet?? I didnt see it listed on the example I-129F cover sheet of what to include, so we didnt.

All of this puts me back at least another month for filing. I am getting more frustrated and confused by the hour. I wont give up on being with her, but I hate seeing delays like this so early.

Hello all,

I am in a difficult situation and could use some advice.

I am currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This means it is never easy to get access to phones or the internet to call an embassy or consulate (or whatever organization I need to contact) to get information. My fiance is in the Philippines, Cagayan de Oro City, which is a ways away from the Manila Embassy. I just finished my mid tour leave visiting her and we tried to finalize the paper work as much as possible for the K-1 visa to get the process going. THere are a few set backs however.

My plan was this: Deploy to Iraq and begin to get some of the paperwork done prior to my mid tour leave. Go on leave to be with her, finish the paperwork together and mail off the I-129F packet to get the ball rolling. Continue to get the paper work done in order and in a timely fashion so that she has the K-1 prior to me returing to the States. Redeploy to Fort Hood, Texas around Feb 2009. Somewhere between Feb-Apr 2009, when we have our 30 days post deployment leave, return to the Philippines to have a ceremony and reception so her friends can see her get married (not a legal wedding as I am told it would violate the K-1 process), then bring her to the states to have an official wedding in my home of Omaha, Nebraska. Last, begin our lives together.

Potential Problems with this concept:

1) I dont have a home back in the states currently. I am using my dad's address as my home of record. So, for any forms where I am supposed to put an address in the states, I have used his address. Is this wrong? If so, what should I put. I closed out my appartment when I deployed.

2) The engagement ring is still on order, but will the sales reciept be sufficient for proof of engagement?

3) On form I-134, it is supposed to be sworn before some official of the embassy or consulate. But I am nowhere near any such thing. How can I get that signature? Secondly, WHEN do I file the I-134???? I have looked over the K-1 process and dont recall when this fits in (admittedly, there is alot of overwhelming information to take in so far, and I might have missed it.)

4) While visiting her this past month we tried to call the Philippines embassy and the Visa Call Center to get some answers but had no luck! The Embassy number just had a voice recording telling us to call the VCC. When we tried to call the VCC (1-909-101-7878) her cell phone would not allow the call. Nor would a pay phone. Very frustrating.

I THINK we have everything else in order, but since the I-129F is the first step in the process it is very frustrating and painful. Even more so without some local agency either in Cagayan de Oro or in Iraq to get some help from a live person. I have a friend who married a wonderful woman from Brazil and he says it is very frustrating at first, but after a certain point it is much easier.

Can anyone offer any advice?

I really do appreciate any help on this matter.

1LT Thomas J. Piernicky

Fox Troop, 2/3 ACR

FOB Caldwell, Iraq

yodaid764@yahoo.com