Texsinbad

The purpose of my post was to try to assure late filers--not to suggest that people file late, but all I get is harassed.  That is another reason we don't post much.

Everybody's situation is different.  My wife NEVER had to worry about anything. 

This will be out LAST post.

Goodbye and good luck to everyone.

We don't post much, but do read many topics about people worried about filing late.  I doubt that there are many who have filed later than us.  We got married within the 90 days, which was the end of 2013.  We didn't file the AOS until 2/5/19--over 5 years later.

We had the Green Card interview in Tampa, Fl on 5/2/19, and was approved.  They did ask why we waited to file so late, and we told them the truth, "we didn't have any reason to file sooner, but now, my wife wants to visit her family in the Philippines later this year".  

So, if you are filing late, you probably don't have to worry too much.

The interview was only a few questions, but our situation is different.  We have been together going on 8 years and married going on 6 years.  Obviously, ours is a real marriage.  They didn't ask for any documentation relating to joint accounts like banking, utilities, title to our home, letters from relatives or friends, or anything like that.  We showed them about 40 pictures of us, friends, and relatives from the time when we met until now.  They did ask where and who was in the pictures.

At the end, they said that we were approved and that it would take 2-3 weeks to receive the Green Card. 

Good luck to future filers. 

Yes, we got married within the 90 days.  As I said, there have been reasons we haven't filed before, and there hasn't been any good reasons to do it until now.  Now, we want to do it so that she can go back to the Philippines to visit her family.

So, we will get everything together, including a new medical exam, and file for the AOS.

For a variety of reasons, we have not filed for AOS, and it has been about 4 years.  We are now getting everything ready to file and were wondering if there had been any other late filers and any problems they may have encountered for filing late?

Thanks

Recently moved to Clearwater, Fl and my wife was wondering if there are other Filipinas in this area.

Thanks,

Dan and Leann

My fiancée and I arrived together in Dallas, Tx, which was our POE. All during the flight, my fiancée was so worried about any questions and kept saying "I hope that don't send me back".

At Immigrations, I went in the line for US Passports and she went into Immigrants line. After a few minutes, an Immigrations Officer asked me if I was alone, and I told him no, that my fiancée was in the other line for K-1's. He took me to be with her.

After going through and having her fingerprints taken and handing in her visa package, we went back to the Immigration's area to wait to be called. We were there about 2 hours, and my fiancée is very worried. We were finally called and went up to the window. I was asked a couple of questions--where or how did we meet and where would we live. That was it. NO questions for my fiancée at all. Here she had been so worried and they didn't ask her anything.

I have read questions asking whether to travel with your fiancée or not. From our experience, it is much easier if you travel together. Not only at Immigrations, but waiting and transferring in other airports.

For us, we went from Manila to Tokyo, layover of 4 1/2 hours, Tokyo to Dallas with another 4 1/2 hour layover, and then Dallas to Corpus Christi.

Good luck and merry Christmas to all.

After waiting for 19 days, my fiancé went back for her appointment. Her mother had to come from Mindanao to Manila even though we had a notarized letter of Parents' Consent to Marry signed by her father and mother.

The counselor grilled and hammered them individually and together for 2 hours about our age difference and my previous marriages. The counselor was extra hard on the mother and kept asking questions about being with an old man who had been married several times before. The counselor also kept telling stories about how bad foreigners were.

My fiancé said that her mother almost cried during this, but both my fiancé and her mother were firm on us being together. So, after 2 hours, my fiancé got her certificate and sticker.

We just want to wish those going to the CFO good luck. Like most things in the Philippines, what is the most important is who will be the counselor. This counselor my fiancé had was very hard on age difference, past marriages, and foreigners in general.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, but we hope to hear from others who were denied about their experience.

As for going to Cebu, we were told that the information is centralized. Meaning both CFO's are sharing the same information. If she went to Cebu, they would see that she had went to Manila.

As for going to another ASEAN country, I have read stories on other forums that the CFO sticker is NOT required, BUT depending on who is checking at the airport, they may say it is required, and there is nothing you can do about it. There are even people who got on the plane, and then had to get off before it took off. CFO sticker not required is no assurance of being able to go to another ASEAN country.

In my opinion, some CFO counselors are playing God by playing with people's lives and futures.

Fiancée was denied CFO because of age difference and my previous marriages even though she had her visa approved and we have lived together for over a year and a half here in the Philippines.

She went back to Manila CFO on October 30th, but they told her that she had to make an appointment with the same counselor by email. She sent an email that day, but still no appointment 13 days later. Not sure if or when she will get one since this counselor told her she was a mother and would NEVER let her daughter be with an old man.

If anyone has been denied CFO and had to go back, please tell us about your experience or PM us.

Thanks

My fiancée visa arrived 8 days after her interview, but since she was denied at the CFO, it doesn't matter. We expected other problems like RFE for wrong size passport photos; disapprove my waiver request (had 2 previous I-129F petitions; problems with the Visa Interview, but never problems with the CFO.

Short story was that my fiancée was bullied by the counselor about our age difference and my previous marriages regardless that we have lived together for over a year and a half in the Philippines. My fiancée is shy and hesitant about confrontations.

She is trying to get up the courage to the CFO and try again, but is concerned that the outcome will be the same. Our lives and future are in limbo because the counselors at the CFO want to play God and control other people's lives and future.

For those who haven't been to the CFO, be prepared to have your relationship severely questioned and challenged.

Being questioned is one thing, and being attacked is another. The counselor had her mind made up before she started.

Yes, my fiancée and I had discussed some "hard" questions, but since she had a fairly easy Visa Interview, she was not mentally prepared for being attacked so hard and relentless.

From some comments here, it seems easy for others to second guess when they weren't there and don't know how difficult it can be for someone not use to speaking up.

She did try to talk to the counselor, but the counselor wouldn't listen and said she didn't have time because she had another session to do.

We appreciate everyone advice and suggestions. We won't stop, but as I said before "it is hard to change a kitten into a lion".

This counselor was very hard on my fiancée. Not just about the age difference, but about my previous marriages. She started out by asking her why she wanted to be with an old man? What about his other marriages--meaning that there must be something wrong with me. That I must be a bad or evil man. Remember, my fiancée and I have lived together for over a year and a half, and if I really was a bad man, she would know it.

What are you going to do when he is old and sick and have to take care of him? And more questions like this.

She started off attacking her and NEVER quit. With the counselor's attitude and after saying that she would NEVER let her daughters be with an old man, my fiancée NEVER had a chance.

As I also said, too bad that there other options or ways to complain this type of treatment.

Visa was approved, but CFO denied. Counselor didn't like our age difference or that I had been married a couple of times before.

Besides being the type of person who thinks she is doing good, the counselor was a mother with daughters who told my fiancée that she would NEVER allow her daughters to be with an "old" man.

It didn't matter that we have lived together for over 1 1/2 years here in the Philippines. The counselor assumes she knows what is best for my fiancée when age isn't a factor on how good a man is. A young man might not treat or be as good to her as I am.

My fiancée is also shy and hesitant and let the counselor bully her, but back home, she is so mad at the counselor and CFO for playing God deciding people's fate or lives.

She wishes people would demonstrate against the unfairness of it. She would also like to hire a lawyer to fight them.

So, back to the original question. After denial, are there any options or recourses?

Too bad there isn't a "black market" for CFO stickers.

After talking more with my fiancée, I learned that she got the VERY worst kind of counselor. A woman who thinks that she is helping or saving young women from their "mistakes".

The counselor was also a mother with daughters, and told my fiancée that she would NEVER allow her daughters to be with a old man.

I told my fiancée that she should have asked why she should be with a younger man who might lie, cheat, or abuse her when she knew how good her "old" man was after living with him for over 1 1/2 years.

Just being with someone younger doesn't mean it would be better. Age isn't a factor in how good a person is.

She will try again, but is worried about going back to Manila CFO and having the same counselor or the counselor influencing another counselor.

It is sad that the counselors pretend or play God by deciding other people's fate or lives. I am sure that wouldn't like someone else telling them who they could be with or where they could live.

If she failed once at Manila, what would be the use of going back there? It seems like they would just fail her again.

Yes, my fiancée is shy and hesitant about speaking up or challenging someone, and she needs to do better. But a shy person can't suddenly become assertive.

She knew going in they were going to question the age difference and that they would be negative about our relationship. They did bully her, but you can't make a kitten into a lion.

So, I don't know what else to do.

I forgot to clarify my post.

Our age difference will still be the same at the other CFO, but she would have a different counselor to who it might not matter as much. Plus, we have already lived together here in the Philippines for over a year an a half.

I am not sure why the counselor thought that she might be saving my fiancée when all she done was deny her from going to the United States.

The Cebu CFO is closed now, but hopefully it won't be closed forever.

After my fiancée was denied the CFO in Manila today, she was wondering if anyone has ever been denied at one CFO and went to the other CFO and got approved?

Yesterday, Oct 16th, we were so happy because she had her Visa Interview and was approved. Today was a very sad day after going to the Manila CFO and being denied. They didn't like our age difference.

I am not sure that this (Exempted from filing Form DS-160 are applicants whose cases have already been scheduled for an interview prior to October 7) is being interpreted correctly.

The way I read it is that people who ACTUALLY will have their interview prior to October 7 are exempt--NOT for those who schedule before October 7 with interview after that date.

We need to hear from people who have interviewed after October 7 to see if it was required.

Thanks for the replies.

How early do you need to go for the afternoon class in Manila?

Thinking about going next Tuesday, October 15th.

Thanks

My fiancée visa interview is on October 16th.

If any other VJers have theirs that day, sent us a PM.

Good luck to all.

My fiancée has her Visa Interview on October 16th, and was wondering if there was any other VJers having theirs done that day?

PM us if you would like to exchange numbers/info and perhaps meet there.

Thanks

I moved during the petition, but thought since I had a forwarding address, it would be ok. WRONG. My approval, NOA2 was returned. I called and changed my address on Aug 17th, and received an email showing the address change, but still have NOT received the NOA2.

I saw a post a while back (can't find it now) where someone said that they had called DOS, 202- 663-1225 to request another one be sent. I called this number and got a recording that the new number is 202-485-7600. I called the new number and listened to all of the options, but didn't hear one to speak to a person or to request another NOA.

Does anyone have any other numbers or suggestions?

Thanks

Lots of posts on the medical exam, but just a couple more comments since I have read some confusion about being early and whether 1 or 2 days.

We got there a little before 4am, and my fiancée was 3rd in line. About 4:30am, they opened the doors to let people go inside to wait after the guard checked their paperwork. BTW, my fiancée said it was very cold waiting. Lucky she had her rain jacket to put on.

Around 5pm, they started checking the paperwork again and going to pay after that. The exam part started around 6am.

As someone else said, they let the elderly go first even though it is SUPPOSE to be first come first serve.

Anyway, she was finished around 9:15am and told to come back the next day, Sep 18th, at 7:30am. She assumes that it is for her shots, but not sure. No one said whether she passed or not.

Some people have commented that if you are one of the first 10 people in line, you would finish the first day. Well, she was #3, and finished very early, but has to go back the next day.

Oh well, we were hoping some other VJers would be going on the 17th.

I am sure she won't be lonely.