luckymom

February 28, 2009

Tinapa, laing, raw mango and shrimp paste, sinigang na hipon, bulalo, purefoods hotdog, suman at biko, puto bumbong, pritong peanuts with a lot of garlic and salt, fish ball and squid balls with spicy sauce. Yun lang po.

February 27, 2009

Hello everyone!

I am here in Rhode Island, the smallest state of USA but I lived in Massachusetts first. Not been to so many places in this state yet. I've lived in California also and been to New York and New Jersey to visit. I will post more about Rhode Island when my two boys are here so we can go around the state.

I am happy to be part of Visa Journey.

February 26, 2009

Just prove to him that he married a wonderful girl from the country that he doesn't like. Personally, the Philippines is still the best country to be with. Does your husband had a bad experience in our country? If the answer is yes, he still should not generalize. Every country has its own good and bad side. I understand your embarrassment and as a woman who's also married to a USC, I will not tolerate my husband doing that to me. Make it known to your husband that you don't like what he's doing because if you will be passive about that, he will think it's fine with you.

To the people who are thinking that we filipinas married a USC regardless of the age difference, they are NARROW MINDED. LOVE knows no age, no cultural difference, and no boundaries. This is just my personal viewpoint

February 26, 2009

Contratulations and I'm happy for you kabayan.

February 26, 2009

Hi to all of you.!

I was born and raised in Quezon Province, 220 kms away from the center of Manila, youngest of 9 children (big family huh). After High School I moved to Manila to study and work. I got married with an office mate from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija and have two wonderful kids. The marriage didn't last long and here I am in Rhode Island with my very loving and responsible husband. He is petitioning my two kids that's why I happen to run across this Visa Journey. I will be going home on March 8 via Northwest for my kids medical on the 10th and 11th and their interview on the 23rd of March. I also have a house in Dasmarinas, Cavite where somebody is renting.

I am so excited going home and starting to pack my things at this very early because of the "pasalubongs", you know how filipinos are. If someone from you out there has the same schedule, maybe we can meet somewhere in Manila (maybe at the Mall of Asia). I'm not been there but I will visit that place where people say that it's incredibly huge and updated.

I'm glad I found this forum because I learned so much about the life of my kababayans. I am also out of work because Rhode Island has the highest unemployment rate and I'm not yet driving. Regards to all of you. Keep smiling and God bless.

February 25, 2009

Hi!

I graduated Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Banking and Finance at Far Eastern University. Can I include myself? Thanks. :star: :star:

February 21, 2009

Hi!

I am looking for a case similar or close to our case, this is concerning the CENOMAR. My USC husband (my sons stepfather) petitioned my two sons. One of them turned 18 last January 2009. Do you think my son will need that CENOMAR since he is single? I'm planning to get a CENOMAR on the NSO website (just to be sure) if they will need it during my sons interview. Anyone of you who's got the same experience or some persons you know? I am worried because that might come up during their interview and I want to be prepared ahead of time.

Your reply would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

February 20, 2009

Hi! How old is your son? I will bring my two sons to St. Lukes on March 10 and 11. I am still here in Rhode Island and I will be going there on March 9. My time is limited and I want them to pass their medical asap (I'm praying too hard). They are 18 and 13 and they can't find their vaccination record. I just call them and they said they can't find it (they've been searching the whole bedroom for a week now). As far as I understood, if we can't provide their vaccination record, everything will be redone. Am I right? I am fine with that but my younger kid (the 13 years old is scared, you know kids are afraid of injections).

It seems that I have no choice but to repeat all their vaccinations huh. Are they strict with kids? Their interview will be on the 23rd of March and we hope that everything will happen smoothly. We have a return flight already (I know that it's not the smart thing but my USC husband is the one who decided on that because he said that my kids has no history of TB or anything). I am just the one who's worried all the time (you know how mom's are).

Can you give me some hints how your son had his medical. I have some ideas because I always read the website and here in Visa Journey, but it's very seldom that they have clues about medical for kids my sons age.

Thank you and good day.

February 20, 2009

Thank God for another guidance that He gave us. Thank you Ann, Aida, Pia, Eloisa for the prayers and supoort
Done with me and my son's medical! Allowed to take the Medical eventhough we have no Appointment Letter yet. Just explained to them that my interview is on the first week of March and i haven't recieved any Letter. If i will wait for the letter it might be a rush for has to take the medical and it might fall on my son's Fourth Quarter Examination. We took our two day medical last Feb. 19-20. I brought all of the necessary documents that might be needed or asked by the Physicians. My Imminization Record and Certificate from my OB-Gyne. Medical Records and Certificate from the Hospital because i just gave birth last Nov 2008 on a Ceasarian Delivery. Asked my son's Pedia of his Immunization Record and Certificate. I also brought my Prenatal book and the Record of my son which showed his 9mos treatment of Primary Complex. I have it photocopied the night before our medical, 3 copies for each. I also prepared our passport, 2x2 pics white background with printed name at the back. Just to be sure, bring 4 copies. Because my son was asked for 4 pics and 3 pis for me. I placed it all on a Clear Book to be Organized. It was so tiring on the first day because of the procedure and examination that was given. So nervous on the second day, thinking of our xray result. But when we came there, the guard stamped our receipt with "FOR IMMUNIZATION" I'm so happy because that means our xray result is fine. Actually i was so scared of my son's xray because he had a history of Primary complex. But it was already treated. Started the 6 months treatment last March 2008 and finished it last Sept 2008. His pedia told me to extend the treatment until Dec of 2008 to make sure that his lungs will be clear. We arrived there at 9:30am. Called our name at the immunization room at 11:00am. Waited for the result at the Releasing Area, ground floor. Got mine at 1pm. My son's result at 2:45pm.

Oopps... by the way. I finally get to meet Ishom and Rose of Visa Journey. They are so nice and friendly

We are just now waiting for our scheduled interview.

Goodluck to us...Thank God for anther guidance that He gave us. Thank you Ann, Aida, Pia, Eloisa for the prayers and supoort

Done with me and my son's medical! Allowed to take the Medical eventhough we have no Appointment Letter yet. Just explained to them that my interview is on the first week of March and i haven't recieved any Letter. If i will wait for the letter it might be a rush for has to take the medical and it might fall on my son's Fourth Quarter Examination. We took our two day medical last feb. 19-20. I brought all of the necessary documents that might be needed or asked by the Physicians. My imminization record and Certificate from my OB-Gyne. Medical Records and Certificate form the Hospital because i just gave birth last Nov 2008 on a Ceasarian Delivery. Asked my son's Pedia of his Immunization record and Certificate. I also brought my prenatal book and the Record of my Son which showed his 9mos treatment of Primary Complex. I have it photocopied the night before our medical. I also prepared our passport, 2x2 pics white background with printed name at the back. Just to be sure, bring 4 copies. Because my son was asked for 4 pics and 3 pis for me. I placed it all on a Clear Book to be Organized. It was so tiring on the first day because of the procedure and examination that was given. So nervous on the second day, thinking of our xray result. But when we came there, the guard stamped our receipt with "FOR IMMUNIZATION" I'm so happy because that means our xray result is fine. Actually i was so scared of my son's xray because he had a history of Primary complex. But it was already treated. Started the 6 months treatment last March 2008 and finished it last Sept 2008. His pedia told me to extend the treatment until Dec of 2008 to make sure that his lungs will be clear. We arrived there at 9:30am. Called our name at the immunization room at 11:00am. Waited for the result at the Releasing Area, ground floor. Got mine at 1pm. My son's result at 2:45pm.

Oopps... by the way. I finally get to meet Ishom and Rose of Visa Journey. They are so nice and friendly

We are just now waiting for our scheduled interview.

Goodluck to us...Ishom, Rose and Dhumanmagenta Thank you also for the prayers and support.

Hi, did they take a look at all the records you brought with you? Are these records (OB-Gyne certificate, medical records, Hosp certificate?) required?

thanks!

February 12, 2009

Hi to all members of Visa Journey. I just want to ask you guys if someone dealt with Mango Tours about their flight to the Philippines. I am planning to buy tickets for my trip and my two sons trip coming back here in Rhode Island. Thanks in advance for the reply.

February 11, 2009

My kids interview is on the 23rd of March. I will call the SLMEC to have their medical appointment. Thank you LORD, nothing is impossible for those who clings on YOU.

:thumbs:

February 1, 2009

NVC gave me an interview schedule 3 days after they completed my case. so just call NVC every few days.

Hello...luckymom's husband here....

Sasha, you were simply lucky to get an interview scheduled after 3 days (you called at the right time by sheer chance). I spoke with an NVC operator and she explained to me that the interviews for the following month are always scheduled on the 2nd week of the current month. For example, if your case is completed in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th week of January, or during the first week of February, during the 2nd week of February those cases will be scheduled in March. This assumes, of course, that there is no backlog that needs to be filled first. The date will depend on the backlog and the case load of the individual consulate, so there is no rule of thumb that will work for everyone.

If someone wants to obtain information about their scheduled interview, I would recommend calling NVC at the end of the second week of the month following the date of completion.

January 26, 2009

Ours took 7 months and 3 weeks from NOA1 to NOA2 - VSC is known to take longer than CSC but who is to say if either will actually meet their "target timelines" they have been saying that for a while...

Mine took 145 days from the time of filing up to the issuance of GC. I am working now on the approved I-130's of the my 2 boys in the Philippines at the NVC.

Your petition took 194 days from filing to approval. Your I-130 was approved just over a month ago. I doubt you have a visa yet, much less a green card. Please clarify.

My husband filed my I-130 (I was in the US then) May 9, 2008. He also filed the petition for my 2 boys in the Phil. same day. My status was adjusted October 2, 2008 (if my math is correct that was 145 days). My two boys I-130 was approved later (Dec. 17, 2008). They are still in the Philippines. My husband just filed for the 2 boys at the NVC last Jan. 20, 2009. Still waiting for the case to be complete (praying too hard because I really miss my boys now).

I'm going by your timeline which indicates a visa, not a status adjusment from within the US. Perhaps the timeline refers to your childrens' visas. If so, your AOS timeline of 145 days is not relevant to what a visa case would expect. It's a pretty normal AOS timeline but not anything like what a visa timeline will be.

Ooops, I made a mistake there. You're right mine was an adjustment of status not a visa. My kids are the ones who will need a visa.

January 25, 2009

Hello July filers and VJ'rs
We had the AOS interview yesterday 1/22/09. We arrived early, the interviewer (officer) took us in 30 minutes after our appt time, which is typical. She was very nice and asked very basic questions, asked for some sort of joint accounts (most current statements) since we have sent with our application some of them but by now they were old. She took one picture from our many photo albums that we took for the file. We took 4 bagpapck full of documents and photo albums.

The officer took the travel document and work permit from us, checked the passport and our Driver license. She asked me (USC) most of the questions and my wife very little. Finally, she gave us a peice of paper to check the information if it is all correct. My eyes could only look and see the word approved nothing else but my wife on the other hand said, the spelling of her name was wrong which the officer corrected it.

At the end, she printed what she gave us earlier to check on an official USCIS letterhead and said congratulations, ,you are approved and will get your 10 year GC (since you guys are married for more than 4 years now) in one week to 10 days. The paper she gave us states; do not travel outside US, if you do then you need to make an infopass to get preapproval. That is requried if the GC did not arrive and we needed to travel, otherwise it is not needed.

Good luck to all of you who are waiting... and thanks to all who supported us by answering questions and advice. Keep hope alive.

Nanny

Congratulations!!!

I am happy for you! God bless.

January 25, 2009

Ours took 7 months and 3 weeks from NOA1 to NOA2 - VSC is known to take longer than CSC but who is to say if either will actually meet their "target timelines" they have been saying that for a while...

Mine took 145 days from the time of filing up to the issuance of GC. I am working now on the approved I-130's of the my 2 boys in the Philippines at the NVC.

Your petition took 194 days from filing to approval. Your I-130 was approved just over a month ago. I doubt you have a visa yet, much less a green card. Please clarify.

My husband filed my I-130 (I was in the US then) May 9, 2008. He also filed the petition for my 2 boys in the Phil. same day. My status was adjusted October 2, 2008 (if my math is correct that was 145 days). My two boys I-130 was approved later (Dec. 17, 2008). They are still in the Philippines. My husband just filed for the 2 boys at the NVC last Jan. 20, 2009. Still waiting for the case to be complete (praying too hard because I really miss my boys now).

January 25, 2009

When your kids are ready to leave with their visas maybe you can ask your mom to apply for a tourist visa and go through the interview saying that the reason your mom needs a tourist visa is to accompany your minor kids.

I think it's better for nanay to have a visa so she can visit her "apos" more often. That's how our culture goes. Good luck and God bless kabayan!

January 25, 2009

Ours took 7 months and 3 weeks from NOA1 to NOA2 - VSC is known to take longer than CSC but who is to say if either will actually meet their "target timelines" they have been saying that for a while...

Mine took 145 days from the time of filing up to the issuance of GC. I am working now on the approved I-130's of the my 2 boys in the Philippines at the NVC.

January 24, 2009

Its the fourth day since we filed my husband petition for my two boys. I just want to know in advance (if you VJ members won't mind) if by chance we will have an RFE, how long we will know that. Is there a possibility that we can call them by Wednesday next and we will know the status (if there is an RFE) from a live operator?

Thank you for your time reading (to all who want to make comments) I would be thankful. :dance: :dance:

January 22, 2009

I guess that there's not much of you has the same case as mine. Finally, we received my 18 year old sons NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance and the DS-230 that he signed together with their 2x2 pictures. I didn't realized that they are that big now (I didn't see them for almost 18 months now). We submitted the DS-230 and the the I-864 with all the the documents needed (originals and photocopies) last January 20 via overnight mail.

If anyone of you who has the same case please feel free to respond or comment. I miss my kids so much now and I want their papers to be done the soonest possible time (I pray for no RFE's). To all my fellow mothers (Filipinos or not) if its not too much of me asking I want to hear from you all.

My best regards to all VJ members. Can someone advise me the next possible step, my kids are IR-2 by the way if I'm not mistaken.

January 17, 2009

The wording of the qualifications for using I-864W seems quite ambiguous to me. Here is what appears on the NVC site here:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864w.pdf

under the "How is this form used?" section, it says "You must use this form instead of Form I-864 with your application for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status if any of the following apply:"

1. (1)You have earned (or can be credited with) 40 quarters of coverage under the Social Security Act (SSA). If you have 40 quarters or SSA coverage, you are exempt from the requirement to file Form I-864. You can acquire 40 qualifying quarters in the following ways:
By being credited under section 213(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act with quarters worked by your spouse during the marriage or a parent during the time you were under 18 years of age; or

Working in the United States for 40 quarters in which you received the minimum income established by the Social Security Administration; or

A combination of the above.

If you are claiming credit for quarters worked by a spouse or parent, you may not count any quarter in which the spouse or parent was receiving means-tested public benefits. Include all SSA forms necessary to establish that you have or can be credited with 40 quarters of coverage.

That one is clear enough. That is not where the ambiguity lies. The second condition, however, says:

Intending immigrant is a child who will become a U.S.citizen immediately upon entry under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA). Under the CCA, some children become U.S. citizens immediately upon admission to the United States or adjustment of status to that of a awful permanent resident. For this classification to apply:
(2) At least one parent of the child is a U.S. citizen;

What EXACTLY does that mean? Biological parent, or is step parent allowed? I am a Filipino who married an American May 1, 2008. My 2 boys were fathered by my first husband (Filipino) and born in the Philippines (where they still currently reside). Is the condition above satisfied by my new marriage?

The child is under 18 years of age at the time of admission or adjustment of status;

Very clear...no problem here.

The child is residing permanently in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. parent; and

Does that mean "if the child WILL BE residing permanently in the US" or "if the child HAS BEEN residing permanently in the US"? Since the form originates from US-CIS, I guess it could mean either one. Does anyone have a more thorough understanding of that condition?

If the child is an alien orphan child adopted abroad, the adoption was legally finalized prior to admission to the United States and both adoptive parents or the unmarried U.S. citizen parent personally observed the alien orphan before or during the adoption proceeding.
(3) You are filing for an immigrant visa as a self-petitioning battered spouse or child. If you are filing as a self-petitioning battered spouse or child using Form I-360, you are exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirements if your Form I-360 is approved and you are applying for lawful permanent residence.

(4) If the citizen parent(s) adopted the alien orphan abroad,but at least one of the adoptive parents or the unmarried parent did not see and observe the alien orphan before or during the foreign adoption proceeding, then an affidavit of support under this part is still required unless the citizen parent submits evidence that, under the law of the state of the alien orphan's intended residence in the United States, the foreign adoption decree is entitled to recognition without the need for a formal administrative or judicial proceeding in the State of proposed residence.Orphans whose adoptions are not legally finalized until after admission to the United States will not qualify for this exemption and must file a Form I-864.

This doesn't apply to me, but it seems clear enough.

Thoughts?

January 16, 2009

Thanks to everyone for your replies...

Be careful with filling DS-230: Filling the current date as "PRESENT" at the box you have to list from what date to what date you are living at your current address. This is the most RFE.

This confuses me as well. The downloadable DS-230 form is in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format and the cells for the dates have all been formatted to accept ONLY dates listed as mm-yyyy. If you try to enter the word "PRESENT" Acrobat will give you an error message and leave the field blank. The only way to enter the word "PRESENT" is to hand write it.

Once status change to paid, you can submit I-864 for the boys.

I don't think my original questions were as clear as I would have liked. We have paid BOTH fees at the same time - the AOS fee ($70) and 2 separate IV fees ($400 for each boy - $800 total) - all paid online in five minutes. ALL fees are now marked paid. My question is, should I now submit both DS-230 and I-864 (and supporting documents) ALL AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME ENVELOPE?

Then I got RFE, NVN requested to send
I-864W for my boy (exemption something). Check & double check or even call NVC or ask info from similar case

you're not sure.

Hmmmm...We will look into that! We have filled out the standard I-864, one for each of the boys and supplied supporting financial documents. The I-864W looks interesting:

1. My husband is a U.S. citizen (though the biological father is Filipino).

2. The child is under 18 years of age.

3. The child will be residing in the US permanently in the legal and physical custody of the US parent (me - though I am only a resident alien at this point in time).

Does this qualify us to use form I-864W?

January 15, 2009

My new husband (American) and I (Filipino) are trying to get my 2 boys here from the Philippines, so my husband has petitioned them as IR-1. We are done with USCIS (their I-130's were approved and handed to the NVC), and we received bills for both IV and AOS. We paid the bills online and read that it would take 2 or 3 days before we were ready for the next step. To our surprise our accounts were marked as "paid" the very next day! We have several questions:

1. We were only allowed to pay ONE $70 AOS fee for BOTH boys...Is this correct?? We had assumed that we would have to pay $70 for EACH boy.

2. Now that all fees are marked as "paid", can we submit the I-864's and DS-230's for the boys? Or do we have to wait for some other notice from the NVC before we can submit the completed forms?

3. Should we submit ALL documents TOGETHER (I-864 and cover sheet, financial support documents, DS-230 and cover sheet, 2" X 2" pictures, police report, birth certificate, and passport copy) for each boy in one envelope? That is, we plan on sending all of the above listed documents in 2 envelopes, one for each boy.

4. Can we sign the DS-230's for the boys or do we have to send them to the Philippines to have them sign the documents (one boy is 13 and the other is 18)?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sign In

Profiles

Forums

Partners

Immigration Wiki

Guides

Immigration Forms

Times

Gallery

Store

Blogs

Posts posted by luckymom