Kris & Liezl

You can get them taken at Walgreens.

Oh really? We tried there first, but they only had like 2" by 2". We'll check there again.

To piggy back on this topic... We were unaware we even needed to file a report of marriage form until recently. My question is about this requirement:

a. Four (4) identical colored photographs of the husband and the wife, 1.77 in x 1.37 in, plain white background, taken within six months before the date of application, (Blurred or low quality photos are not accepted).

Where can you get photographs this size, here in the United States? I know we all live in different places, but what kind of place did some of you go to get photos that meet this requirement? And if anyone in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area can answer, that would be great.

Thanks

Awesome, thannks guys!

So we now need to figure out how to renew a Philippines passport, from here. Yay! <Sarcasm>

We have received the 10-year card, what do we need to do next?

I know she needs to start working on Naturalization... But in the meantime:

1. Does she need to go to the Social Security Administration to make any updates there?

2. What kind of passport does she need to travel, now (American or Filipino)? We do plan to travel next year, and I think her Filipino passport may be expired or expiring before then.

3. Does she still need the work-authorization card?

My wife (who arrived here with a K-1 as my fiancee on 9/14/2011) will have her I-94 expire TODAY, 12/13/2011. We were married on 11/11/2011; and I mailed my AOS for her on 11/30/2011, after gathering all of the required documentation and money for fees. Per Fedex, "J. Chyba" at the courier address in Chicago signed for it one day later on 12/1/2011.

Today is 12/13/2011 and I have not heard anything from anyone. I called my bank, and the check has not been cashed. I called USCIS Customer Service and it does not show up in their system yet. Apparently, it is collecting dust in the facility where it arrived. The screen-reader at USCIS customer service would not answer the question I was asking, which is: what will be her status TOMORROW (unless by some miracle, there is a NOA1 when we get home)? What do we need to do to keep her legal, if anything? I guess I have proof I mailed it prior-to her I-94 expiration, in my Fedex delivery confirmation. Does that date they signed for it become the receipt date, or will that be when they actually begin processing? Do I need to do anything in the meantime, like file an extension?

Also, in my rush to get everything off, I forgot to include the AP form. We don't have any specific plans in the immediate future, but it would be nice to have if something comes up. Since they are not processing our packet yet, can I mail that in NOW and include a letter saying to please stick this with our our AOS packet, as we forgot to include it with the initial packet - which has not been processed yet?

Thanks to all who respond.

I also have a question about form I-864.

Part 6, Question 24, d and e... I am not sure how to answer these. I have already answered a and c. I believe I don't need to answer b because I earn more than 125% of the Federal Poverty guideline for a household size of 2. I literally have no earthly idea how I need to answer these questions.

By the way, thanks VisaSoldier, for your answer above. That already alleviated my first headache with this form.

Okay, I think we got it... I received this email from the Embassy. Not quite sure that that means, though... Like they've decided to issue her a visa, and now we need to wait for printing? Or they have already given it to 2GO for delivery.

---------------------------------------

Manila IV Correspondence Unit

We are pleased to inform you that a fiancee (K1) nonimmigrant visa was issued to the applicant on August 23, 2011. The visa packet will be delivered to the applicant’s designated address by guaranteed courier service.

Immigrant Visa Correspondence Unit

Consular Section

U.S. Embassy, Manila

1201 Roxas Boulevard

1000 Manila, Philippines

Telephone: (632) 301-2000

Fax: (632) 301-2037

/mrc

SBU

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

---------------------------------------

What is the next guide I should start looking at? Adjustment of Status and EAD?

Thanks...

Does your finace got the 221g? if not youre approved and just wait for your visa

Yes, she got that form. She went the same day, stood in line for hours, got an NBI with her corrected middle name, and mailed it back using 2GO the same day. The Embassy got that on the 8th, and they refuse to tell us what they are doing - if anything - with it now.

Mine's dated February 2011 and my interview is this week already. I live in the province and it will take 1 month to get a new NBI. I'm just praying i will get lucky and the Consul won't question the date of my NBI.

Unfortunately, I think they will. You could have committed A LOT of crimes since February 2011...

But apparently when they do tell you to get an updated one, you can go somewhere, stand in line for 6 or 7 hours and get a new NBI in the same day. My fiance claims to have done this, and mailed it to the embassy through 2GO all in the same day. However, I also think this has delayed her visa issuance. That all took place on August 4th, and to date (8/22/2011), she has NOT received her visa. I cant get anything from customer service except that her Passport is still in the Embassy. We are clueless as to what could be the hold up. Good luck.

Reading the Embassy reviews would appear to indicate that some people actually hear the words "You're approved", while some hear something like "your case looks okay".

Seems like people who said they were told that they're approved, they received their visa within days. Meanwhile, my fiance was told her case looks good - and it's been over 2-weeks now, and no visa yet.

I'm wondering if "your case looks good" is code for something like, "we need to check into something more/delay your visa issuance/etc." or what?

Why didn't WE get "you're approved"? Our case should have been a breeze. We've known each other for a third of our lives (11.5 years). No police/arrest record by either of us. Both healthy. Why are they stalling??

Almost the EXACT same situation...

My fiance showed up to her interview with an NBI for the name she lived with for her entire life. Her middle name was incorrect on her birth certificate, and she got her corrected one less than 4 weeks before her interview. The CO said our case "looked good", but that she needed to get an NBI for her corrected name. She did. Stood in lines for over 6 or 7 hours, but she got it done in the same day - just like you.

This was on August 4th. To date, she has NOT received her visa and we have heard NOTHING from 2GO or the Embassy. In fact, this past Friday, I called the Embassy to get an update or find out what the hold up is. Unfortunately, the "screen readers" at the customer-service line can't/won't tell me anything, and refuse to transfer me to anyone who can help.

Our case is easy too - we had well-documented proof of having known each other for more than 11 years. Neither of us have any police records. She passed the Medical tests... We have no idea what could be the hold up! I have scheduled a vacation for August 31st - September 14th. I'll probably have to call in a few days to try to cancel my vacation. And at this rate, I may need to cancel her flight too.

Yes that is very true, never make flight planes until you get your visa.

Well, I didn't know that - I thought 2-weeks meant 2-weeks.

When you are told 2-weeks, you kinda figure you're safe to schedule a flight for a month out. She was interviewed on the 4th of August. It has been 2-weeks since then. My vacation is scheduled for August 31st - September 14th. On September 14th, we would be coming back together if the Embassy finishes/releases her Visa.

I don't know what the issue could be. The interviewer indicated to her that our case looked good. We have well-documented proof of having known each other for going on 12 years. She has no record. Nothing came up with Medical. What could be the hold up? The screen-readers at the customer service line know nothing - or wont say why.

She lives on Negros Oriental, her place is kinda rural. I had scheduled for her to pick-up her visa in a city, but apparently she somehow changed that to home-delivery. So that's going to ADD days... But it's still at the Embassy and we cannot find out why!

Are there cases where it takes a month or longer for spotless cases?

Any advice on how to find out what the hold-up is?

You're right...it's not reliable. It was accurate about when they picked up the visa from the printer, but over a 5 day period, it never once was updated...until 2 days after my wife received her visa. At least they get the visa there though...my wife's place was way out in the boonies and they went right to it. FedEx and DHL had a hell of a time getting anything delivered to her.

PLEASE tell me how long did it take from the interview to having the visa in-hand? We have waited right at two weeks now, and have heard nothing. I called the Embassy earlier tonight, all they can tell me is her passport is still in the Embassy - Even though we were told it took only 2 weeks. What is the REAL time frame? Two months? I need to know if I should be trying to cancel a ticket.

Finally! My fiancee went for her interview today and everything went well. She was asked to return on the 26th to pick up her visa. Thanks everyone for all your help! Already booked her ticket for the 30th of August! Again, I thank all of you guys! We'll probably have a couple months break on this and off we go for the AOS!

Good luck! My fiance was told 2-weeks for visa delivery after she passed her interview. That was on August 4th, and she has not heard anything - 2GO was supposed to text her when they're going to deliver. So I called the 214 number to try to find out what is going on. All they could tell me is that her passport is still there in the Embassy, that "the two weeks is just an estimate", and read some blah-blah I already knew off of the screen. They don't know anything except that it is still IN the Embassy. They cant tell me what stage of processing, nada. They refused to transfer me to anyone with a brain. And when I told them I had already purchased tickets because they told her 2-weeks, it was just "oh I'm sorry sir, we strongly advise people not to but flight tickets until after they get their visa". Encouraging me after the fact!?!? Well, I only got them because someone there told her she'd have it in two weeks! It all fell on deaf ears... I hope I'm not screwed with these tickets I bought.

Congratulations! My fiancee also passed her interview while I was sleeping Wednesday night! Now the wait to actually get the visa in her hands. My fiancee said they told her two weeks. So what does that REALLY mean? 3-4 weeks? Anyone who can say how long it takes from interview to having that visa (K-1) in hand?

Thanks all! So is it necessary to already have your passport when you go to the Medical? Or just the NOA2 and your NVC number? What is the advantage to going to the Medical WEEKS before an Interview? Unless she lives in Manila, that's TWO expensive trips... Anyway, we don't have an Interview scheduled yet, because we have a few more weeks before she gets her passport. Could she potentially go do the Medical and then go back later for an Interview, while we wait for her passport? Is there anywhere in Cebu that does the Medical? I've asked her to do some research on what would be cheaper, two separate trips there, or do everything in a one-week trip...

St. Lukes Medical Extension Clinic (http://www.slec.ph/us-visa-applicants.shtml)

Lists these required documents...

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

- Valid passport

- Photocopy of Passport Biographic/Data Page, the page in the passport that contains the applicant's photo and information

- 4 pieces recent 2x2 visa photos

- Appointment letter from the Embassy or Instruction letter from the National Visa Center (NVC), if available

- 2 photocopies of your Appointment Letter/ Instruction Letter

What is the "Appointment letter from the Embassy or Instruction letter from the National Visa Center (NVC)" and where/how do you get it? Neither the Embassy nor the NVC has sent my fiancee ANYTHING - no emails, nothing to her physical address...

Is this what she will print out when she schedules her interview??

Well, if they don't send her anything, can't I just send her all the letters I received during this process? Like would my approval work in the absence of whatever has not been sent to my fiancee?

Responses greatly appreciated...

Some people have luck just giving NVC Case# when booking medical...St. Lukes is where your medical will be right? Call & ask...it says on St. Lukes website that you should have interview appt letter/email "if possible". Click through The Medical links on embassy's website & read all that you need for interview prep. Good Luck!

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023/requirements.html

How long, from the time your case lands at the Embassy, does it take for them to send you your Interview Appointment Letter/Email? We've been waiting for over a month.

So this wouldn't be the day you went to USPS or FedEx to send/submit your petition?

I was introduced to my fiance back in 2001. We were both college students, but in different countries. I met her Aunt, who asked me several times if I would like to correspond with her niece. I finally said yes, got the address and sent my first letter. About a month later, she wrote back! We maintained this pen/email/text (and a few calls) friendship all the way to May of 2009, when she finally convinced me to visit her. Within hours of being in her presence, I knew she was the woman I had been praying for the whole time. I was there for two weeks, proposed a few months after visiting and immediately began researching how I could bring her here...

We haven't really "dated" in the true sense of the word, as we live in different countries and are both busy working adults with little time (vacation days) and money. But we're banking on the fact that they'll see our 9 year friendship + 2 year engagement and hopefully not be doubtful of the legitimacy of our relationship. If all goes well, we'll be here together in August.

Hello everyone!

I need some advice on the course of action.

According to the consulate, packet 3 was sent on 5/9 but fiancee has not received it. It has been 12 days.

My fiancee can print packet 3 forms and take them to the consulate her self.

Supposedly after packet 3 is received, packet 4 will be sent.

How can I find out if packet 4 has been sent out and the interview date?

Is this something that the DOS/NVC would know and can tell me?

I'm worried about my fiancee not getting packet 3 or 4.

Any information on this would be really appreciated.

Thanks much!

What are packets?

I'm newly 30. She is 29. We've known each other more than a third of our lives - about 11 years! We were only pen/email/text frieds for most of that, but then I met her in person the first time in 2009 - and that was it! Been engaged almost 2 years now... I met her through an aunt she has living in the States.

HI EVEVRYONE! HOW TO EXPEDITE MY PASSPORT HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES?WHERE AND HOW COULD I CONTACT THEM?

You need to contact your NSO Field Office, I would think:

http://www.census.gov.ph/data/aboutnso/fieldofcs.html

Negros Oriental has my fiance waiting 5 weeks for an "expedited" Passport. Apparently, they're experiencing a high volume of requests. Although, I've seen where some people wrote that they went directly to the Main office in Manila and got their Passport much sooner.

I-134 form in USCIS site will be expiring on May 31,2011.. does anyone here who has an idea if when this form will be updated? I cant decide to when im going to set my interview date but we want to be 1st week of june, But my city is plane away from the embassy so my fiance needs to send the papers 10 days b4 the interview date via Fed-Ex.. im getting paranoid cause we are after on our estimated date for me to arrive in US.. please anyone has any idea? Thanks

10 Days?!?! Are you sure? Any time I send something to the Philippines via FedEx, it sits in Philippine Customs for AT LEAST 2 or 3 weeks.

My NOA2 was just one page in a standard envelope - it's valid from April 19h - August 19th.

It was only sent to me (USC). My fiance received nothing, but she does live in the Philippines - mail seems to disappear there.