Jimmyzr1

1 in 10 or 1 in 17 is not true, according to my wife, who just failed X-ray along with about 80% of the others. She said there were 3-400 also there for the start of her sputum tests.

My wife took all of the precautions, including an X-ray 1 month prior, which she passed, she took vitamins, exercised, milk x 1 week and other meds. Went to medical, got flagged for sputum, along with about 80% of the others, she said. had to go back 2 weeks later for the 4 days, including the day off for holiday and just finished today. She now has to wait until July 1st to go back, if nothing shows up negatively. Then she has about 1.5 months after that date to get in the US, along with her son.
 

My wife had the Sinovac and she had no problems getting approved. 

We were notified in the morning that showed case in Manila. At 2:30am that night, was able to access and schedule interviews for Ir-1, Ir-2.

Yep.  My wife entered the US only 30 days prior to out 2 year anniversary.  Now, after having been through the complete absurdity and hassle of an I-751, I wish we had waited.  

You should probably have another 9 or 10 months wait, if anything like the rest of us.

I just was able to schedule both Visa interviews as well.

We just booked our medical's, (Ir-1/Ir-2) earlier in preparation.

Those who received auto-expedites.  In the previous mass expedites, the whole system gets hit all at once, Philippine parts get jammed up and break down, and those who move quickly hold the advantage.  If you got an expedite, book Saint Luke's now, create your http://ustraveldocs.com/ph account now, and as soon as your case status is "Ready" start trying to schedule.  Don't wait for an e-mail from the embassy with instructions. If it's "Ready" you can proceed as soon as it lets you. If you get "case number not found" try again later.
 
Any CR's yet? 

I have also received an auto expedite notice today, my case was DQ'd on June 26 2023. My case is now an IR1 since we got legally married at the very end of 2021 and I filed my petition in April 2022.
 
I was one of those early 2021 K1 filers who aborted my fiance visa case and switched to the spousal visa once I learned about the insane 2-3 year backlog for K1 interviews at USEM Manila. At the time there was no backlog for spousal visa interviews, so it made total sense to drop the fiance visa case even though I was already 8 months into that whole process. 
 
Little did I know that I would be encountering ANOTHER interview backlog from USEM...one which I never would have had to deal with if my case had been DQ'd just one month earlier. Just maddening. But I am relieved that this one didn't turn into another 3 year ordeal like it did for the K1 visas.

My husband's CR1 and got DQ in May. Still no IL.
If they're pushing for CR1s to convert to IR1s first, a lot of May DQs will be skipped then. example is my husband, he'll only be converted to IR1 on June 🥲 and I know a couple more who got DQed in May but won't be IR1 till a bit later
Defeats their statement of doing FIFO accd to DQed dates
 
Btw, does anybody know if the beneficiary arrives exactly on the 2nd yr anniv date, will the GC still be automatically converted or do they have to wait for at least one more day?
Asking for a friend

If you are in a US city that has a LBC office then that is by far the best option.  It costs us like $12 and gets delivered in like 4 or 5 days with full tracking.  If you are not in a US city that has a LBC office, I would probably go with DHL.  I previously had a poor experience with UPS in the Philippines and probably won't try them again.  I haven't personally tried FedEx there so no real opinion good or bad.

Of course you know that the happiest place on earth is located in central Florida.

I said I would do this, so here it is.  I've copied the text and pasted it into this post.  I'm also attaching the word document of it (Word 97 because it's .doc).
 
Please make sure you personalize these.  It isn't meant to be sent as-is.
 
1 to YOUR representative in the U.S. House ("congressman")
1 to EACH of your TWO senators ("senator")
Feel free to cc the embassy 😉 (Dearest MaryKay...)
 
I just hope it helps get something going for us.  This site has been so important to me: understanding the process, making choices, my mental health, all of it.  I want to help where I can, too.
 
pth
 
--------------------------
Greetings, ______________:
 
I am a U.S. Citizen/LPR/Immigrant.  I am trying to bring my wife/child/mom/stranger who promised candy to America.
Unlike many others, I am working within the boundaries of the U.S. system, including the USCIS, the State Department, and the U.S. Embassy in Manila.  We have navigated the first two, and we await an appointment from the Embassy for our final interview.
We thought that we were coming to the end of the process, and we began making plans for arrival in our heads.  Unfortunately, it has been __________ months/weeks/minutes since the National Visa Center has approved us for an appointment.  I’m not talking about the date of the interview; we haven’t even gotten word of when it will be.
Things get more complicated. 
I spend time on a website, Visa Journey.  It’s a Facebook-like site for those working through the immigration process.  Since I had heard back from (my congressman), I posted how long we were expected to wait.  Immediately, people began posting their dates.  They are all different, even though we are all waiting for the same step.
The U.S. Embassy in Manila is quite proud of the way it has trimmed the backlog of non-immigrant visas from a two-year queue to only a few months.  It seems they have done this by disregarding all immigrant visa appointment.  One person noted that NOT ONE VISA JOURNEY MEMBER HAS POSTED AN INTERVIEW DATE in six months.  It seems that nobody on the site has seen this before.
Tourism is important.  Visits are important.  But we are trying to build families here, and we are stuck in an eternal queue if they ignore the process.
It would be very supportive and helpful if you would encourage the Embassy to begin its work on immigrant visas.  Also, many of us would like to know how this decision was made (and by whom).  If there is something you need from me to do these things, please let me know.
As always, I remain grateful for the assistance you have provided in the past.  I remain hopeful that our family is united soon.  Please help.
Sincerely,
 
YOUR NAME HERE
 
Congress U.S. Embassy Manila.doc

Yes, actually I did.
I'm here in Carmichael.

No covid vaccine available anywhere in Philippines. My wife tried to get one recently and they told her no more vaccine available.

Yes, but the only ones CBP doesn't deny are all of the illegal migrants coming across our Southern border! I you're doing the petitions legally, waiting over 2 years + and paying lots of money to bring your spouse and step-child, they can and do deny entry! Such a scam of a system!

They shouldn't be prioritising family preference categories over spousal, the order for priority is quite clear - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visas-news-archive/immigrant-visa-prioritization.html
 
But those 1000 F category cases could well only be 300 or 400 principal applicants, when you include dependents in that - the person that's done the sums doesn't seem to have included spousal dependents so it's not really a fair comparison. 

Yes, but the only ones CBP doesn't deny are all of the illegal migrants coming across our Southern border! I you're doing the petitions legally, waiting over 2 years + and paying lots of money to bring your spouse and step-child, they can and do deny entry! Such a scam of a system!

Hi there, I was just inquiring about my wife's daughter who is still waiting for an interview appointment in Manila, Philippines. Her application was approved way back in Novenber 2022 and still she has no interview appointment yet. Is there a case bulletin to find her priority date or what? VERY disappointing with NVC!! We filed before her 21st birthday so I do believe she is still under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). Just frustrated it is taking this long even we know or at least they say it was due to covid back logs. By the way I did reach out to my Democratic senators here in Nevada but 3 months later NO response  so to me they are worthless and just don't care. Hope to hear from you and praying you get a response here soon and a happy new year to you!! 

I'd only use the official websites, nothing from a third party. You won't risk getting the wrong info that way. 
 
1. Yes, they are two different things. A visa is only an entry document i.e. it gets you in to the country. The visa will be valid for 6 months from the date of medical, and then once it's endorsed it acts as a temporary green card (I-551) for a year until the plastic one arrives in the mail.
 
2. Sort of. Just holding a GC for 3 years wouldn't be enough to be eligible for citizenship, there are physical presence requirements etc as well. People can get bank accounts, driving licences etc without a green card, and the I-1551 (endorsed visa) will suffice for all that, you don't need the green card for any of it. 
 
3. The IV fee can also be paid upon entry or after entry. The green card just won't be produced & mailed until it's paid. 
 
HTH.

Yes

The entire controversy about the validity of Utah online marriages in the Philippines stems from a two or three month suspension of processing ROM's for them around last November, while PSA and DFA conducted a review of their validity.  The results of their review is that they ARE 100% completely valid under Philippine law.  As long as a ROM is filed they are acceptable for anything  and everything that any other Philippine marriage is.  So now that question has been formally put to rest by DFA and PSA.   The Philippine Consulate in San Francisco has resumed processing the ROM's normally and is doing so in droves.
 
On some FB groups there are also people giving their first hand accounts of Utah online marriages going through US Embassy Manila without the slightest question in large numbers, probably daily.  It seems clear that USEM is now very familiar with them.  With or without the ROM is fine for US Visa purposes.

Fine with me.  All is well with Utah online marriages in the Philippines.

Your response to the inflammatory reply to you, Alex, is pretty mature and admirable, notwithstanding the insight.
 
Getting frustrated, particularly when you don't understand certain pieces of a particular culture, is allowed, even if it's at times misguided, because that's a completely human repsonse. Especially under stress. And this should be a place where you can vent and also receive civil feedback, which the moderators are usually pretty good about ensuring. 

Good luck to you and your fiance. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your stay and the adventure home with your love. 

Best, 

Jason