KeithandTan

Just now, Chancy said:

 

SLEC does not schedule visa interviews.  For IR5 cases, after clearing the medical exam, the applicant must book a new visa interview schedule via the embassy's online scheduler.

 

Thank you so much for the speedy response! 

Hello all,

My mother-in-law is near the end of a three year process to obtain the IR5 visa. She had her medical exam at St. Luke's today, didn't receive the clearance, and now has to wait for the sputum test. The earliest appointment she could book for that was May 23. Her embassy interview is scheduled for May 17th. While researching if we need to change the embassy appointment just now, I read this text on the Manila Embassy website:

In some cases, the SLMCEC will direct the applicant to engage in subsequent testing, requiring rescheduling of the original visa appointment. You must follow the guidance from the medical provider and will not be admitted if this is the case. SLMCEC does have the authority to provide this guidance to applicants; following this guidance and not appearing for your interview is the correct course of action and will not adversely affect your visa case.

Does this mean that when she is able to successfully obtain a medical clearance, SLMCEC will arrange a new interview time? Or they will inform the Embassy who will send an updated interview letter? Or is there another alternative that I'm not familiar with? 

Thanks!

Thank you again, you've been a huge help. We're going to fill out the I-130 application this evening. 

Thank you for the quick response! 

There's not any real specific concern that she wouldn't be approved, more of a general "it must be harder to process these things in the current political climate than in the past" superstitious thought process. 

Yeah, she came in for 2.5 months in 2017 right after getting the tourist visa, and five months in 2018, with a 10 month gap in between. Planning to bring her back right before delivery date in March on a 5.5 month round-trip ticket.

One follow-up question. If she is called to interview in Manila, while she's in the US visiting, can we change the interview to our local office, or just delay the interview until her return? 

Hello VisaJourney users. 

This website has been an invaluable tool for me and my wife. It helped us smoothly navigate the K1 fiancee visa process in 2010-11. Later my wife became a green card holder and ultimately a US citizen, without us having to pay a lawyer, so thank you for all your previous help. Now we are pregnant, and have decided to bring her mother over from the Philippines to help us out when the baby is born, if Uncle Sam approves. My mother-in-law received a US tourist visa less than two years ago, and has come out for a couple of extended 3-5 month stays since then. We would like to help her get a green card so she can stay long term with us. Here are my questions for the community: 

1. Are there any pros/cons to interview at the US consulate in the Philippines vs USCIS offices in the US? We live in Northern Virginia. 

2. Will the green card application put her 10-year tourist visa in any kind of risk, should she not be approved for the green card? 

Thanks,  

Keith

My fiancee had her interview at the Bangkok Embassy yesterday. She was given a pink paper that said that she can't receive the visa until she submits a police clearance from Japan. She had worked in Japan about 5 years ago, but as she worked there for less than a year, we didn't think it was necessary to obtain the police clearance. The interviewer said that it would be, and once we had it, we could drop it off at the embassy with her passport. So after the interview, my fiancee went to the Japanese embassy to request the police clearance. They took her fingerprints, copied her passport, and said they would call her in about 6 weeks. Does anyone know if she is guaranteed to receive a certificate from the Japanese embassy? We're concerned that as she hasn't been there in so long, they may not have any records of her having been there at all. On the other hand, the other police clearances that we picked up only said that she had no criminal record in those countries, so wouldn't Japan do the same thing once they verify that info?

Also, can I expect that this is the last step needed to obtain the K-1 visa? Once we submit the clearance and passport, and the embassy verifies it, are we good to go? Obviously, I won't be investing in plane tickets until we 100% have the visa in hand, I just want to know if I can mentally prepare for this to be finalized in about 8 weeks or so. Thanks guys.

When the USC lives and works in Thailand, it is very difficult to get the K-1 because of the I-134 situation. The K-1 visa is for taking your fiancee from the foreign country to the USA for the purpose of marriage. That means you need a job already with current income in the US or substantial assets (about US $91,000) in the bank or in stocks, bonds, etc...

Your offer letter is of no value. They have no value towards proving you can support your fiancee.

Whoever suggested you get a joint spoonsor was misguided because Bangkok almost never accepts a joint sponsor.

The DCF route that rsn mentioned is appropriate if you are married. You could think about marrying in Thailand and then filing for DCF. Then at a later time you could consider the job offer in the US and moving with your wife to the USA.

Thank you for the advice. I'll look up what the DCF is now, I'm not familiar with it. I just paid for packet 3, and we're nearly finished putting it all together, so I feel as though I should at least see it through. I thought that the Bangkok embassy never accepts a joint sponsor, but as you said 'almost never,' perhaps I will submit that paperwork as well and an explanation letter of why I've submitted it. Thank you again.

Ok, another issue. I posted this in the embassy & consulate section, but perhaps it would be wise to post it here as well:

Hi everyone,

I have been living in Thailand with my fiancee for three years. In compiling my I-134 paperwork, I've included my tax information which is based on my job in Thailand (and definitely over the poverty line by more than 125%). I'm also including a letter from my employer stating that I'm employed through the end of April, 2011. However, I recently interviewed for a job in the US and they have made me an offer for the beginning of 2011. IF the K-1 visa process goes successfully, I fully intend to accept this job and begin working in January (quitting my job in Thailand). I have a letter from them offering me the job, including the salary and benefits information. I would like to include this with the I-134 as its proof that I will be able to financially support my fiancee in the US in the future. My question for you guys is, should I attach a cover letter explaining this situation to the embassy? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Somebody suggested that I find a co-sponsor, and I had done that, gathered all of their paperwork, tax records, etc. only to find out that the Bangkok embassy doesn't accept a K1 co-sponsor. Do those of you with experience at the Thailand embassy believe that I'm going to have a problem with my I-134 based on the aforementioned work situation?

Thanks again.

I do have a co-sponsor who has filled all the paperwork out and supplied me with tax records, however I was informed on this site that the Thailand embassy doesn't accept co-sponsorship, so I was not going to mail that paperwork in. Maybe I should.

You just pay them the $300 plus and they give you a receipt. She must take that receipt with her to the interview. Make at least one copy of the

receipt just in case you lose the original. If you don't have it you have to pay again. If you have the copy you can at least show that you did

pay it. That's it for more fees....for now.

Thank you very much. I had to stop at three post offices yesterday to find one that handled US visas, but ultimately I was successful. The Thai Post outside of the Bangkok Bank main branch on Silom Road took care of me.

Hi again,

This site was extremely helpful in supplying an example of a cover letter for the I-129F. I don't see anything similar for the packet 3, and it seems that I'm sending nearly as much information in the envelope. I was planning to use the same format and create a cover for packet 3, is there any reason not to?

Thank you for your time.

Keith

Hi everyone,

I have been living in Thailand with my fiancee for three years. In compiling my I-134 paperwork, I've included my tax information which is based on my job in Thailand (and definitely over the poverty line by more than 125%). I'm also including a letter from my employer stating that I'm employed through the end of April, 2011. However, I recently interviewed for a job in the US and they have made me an offer for the beginning of 2011. IF the K-1 visa process goes successfully, I fully intend to accept this job and begin working in January (quitting my job in Thailand). I have a letter from them offering me the job, including the salary and benefits information. I would like to include this with the I-134 as its proof that I will be able to financially support my fiancee in the US in the future. My question for you guys is, should I attach a cover letter explaining this situation to the embassy? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

Keith

PS: What exactly is meant by personal property on the I-134 form. I have lots of stuff back in the US that is my property and worth money. Is that what I include? Estimated prices of my personal possessions or am I way off on that?

If I understand your question correctly, you are asking whether the embassy accepts forms of payment other than the Thai post for the visa interview. I believe that they do not. The Thai beneficiary pays at the Thai post office and receives a receipt that he or she must submit to the embassy: no personal checks, banker's checks, money orders, cash, etc. are accepted as substitutes.

Thank you very much for that. I actually live in Thailand myself and will be stopping by the Thai post tomorrow to take care of the payment. I'm just a little confused as to what I say when I get in there. Am I purchasing a check from them? Do I just tell them I need to send money to the US embassy, and they'll know what to do? Thanks again.

Hi everyone,

I have another question for you guys. I am about to mail in packet 3, and I wanted to know if the Thai post is the only payment method the embassy accepts? I work near the Bangkok Bank main branch on Silom Rd., and I would like to pick up a banker's check from them, as I did for the petition fee. Do you know if this will be acceptable?

Hi again, I couldn't find this subject somewhere else, if it is, kindly direct me to it. I was just curious as to what the typical questions that are asked of people during the interview at the Bangkok embassy are. If anyone is familiar with them, I would appreciate it. My fiancee is very nervous about it (though I don't see why she should be). Thank you.

Hi again,

We're compiling our K1 visa packet 3 right now (to send in to the Bangkok embassy), and there were a few things that we were unsure of on the DS-230.

1) Section 30 asks her to list all places that she has lived for at least six months since reaching the age of 16. From 2000-2004, my Filipino fiancee lived and worked in Japan. She was there for six months at a time, flew back to the Philippines, then back to Japan to continue working. In total, she worked in four different cities in Japan. The problem is that she doesn't remember the cities she worked in or the specific dates (months/days) that she was in each city. Not only does she not have any records of her work experiences in Japan, but the Filipino embassy doesn't either.

Does anyone have any suggestions of what to write under section 30. Personally, I can't see how this would be relevant, but at the same time, I definitely don't want to lie on the form. What to do?

2) Section 32 asks her what occupation she intends to work in the United States. Eventually she does hope to find a job as an administrative assistant, but will it hurt our chances to write that? Should we tell them that she won't work in the US?

Hi,

My fiancee received the letter for the embassy appointment, and we are getting our paperwork together. We will be submitting the I-134 for a co-sponsor, but do I still have to submit financial paperwork for myself? I've been living/working in Thailand for over two years, and I haven't completed a tax return since I've been out here. I just printed up the paperwork to file it retroactively, but it's complicating since I can't obtain a W-2 out here. Basically, I'm wondering if it's necessary that I complete my taxes this year, or will my co-sponsor's (more than adequate) financial information be enough for our K-1 visa to be processed?

Thank you so much for your assistance Audy_Rob.

Neither of us have any children or prior marriages.

Also, we've both been in Thailand for around 3 years. Do we need police clearance information from Thailand? Do I need police clearance from the US as well? Or is the only police clearance involved here for her in the Philippines?

Thanks again!

Thank you so much. A follow-up question. My fiancee and I both live and work in Bangkok, though she is a Filipino citizen, we're processing at the Bangkok embassy. Does the Thailand information still apply? I would think so, right?

Hi,

I don't doubt that this information has been posted on this site numerous times, and I feel like I've seen it before, but I can't seem to track it down now. If anyone can send me a link, I'd be very grateful.

I just checked the USCIS website, and as of today, our I-129f was approved. I need to start preparing paperwork for the next phase, including documentation for sponsorship. If anyone knows where to find that info, please let me know. Thank you so much.