Sorine & Jim

Yes you need to send a copy of your divorce papers. Also take a copy to the interview as I was asked for a copy during our interview.

Yes

They must be at the interview.

And Passport photos are cheap so why not take extra to be safe...

Better be safe then told to come back the next day..... Or next week or next month...

In November it was 3 at St Lukes and 2 during the interview.

I think you are going to hear from a lot of people -- lawyers are a waste of money... You can complete the entire process yourself... This entire process is easy if you can take your time.. Plus everything you need to know can be found on this WEB site.

During POE you both can go through the non-immigrants/visitors line.

There will be no issues....

Stay together......

Everything you need to know to do it yourself can be found on VJ.

It's a big/long process but I found it to be pretty easy and fun.

Yes, they have to get there skin test results / checked. After the skin test comes back neg they will receive there shots.

When they are done - they will be told "Thank you, your file will be sent to the embassy"

My personal experience is dates do not matter. By the time I collected / filled out all my paper work and then sent it to the Philippians to have it signed by Sorine our dates on the forms spanned almost 3 months.

Jim

Stand tall

OK I messed up

Life ends

I was on --- Now I am off again.

Premium -- BP needs all the money they can get....

Fast or Slow ??

I read an MSN that it is coming back on line but mine still does not work!!!

Is anyones skype working?

Yes - send copies of all pages of your passport.

I am flying over to get her so I will make sure the CBP at the POE gets the packet. Also going to try and talk the CBP into stamping her I194 with early work release so she can work right away.

Sounds like the CFO at the Manila airport is nothing special, so that is good to hear.

My to-do list before she gets here:

Install “coded” thermostat so I don’t come home to a house with the heat set on 85F.

Hide motorcycle keys (She thinks she can ride my motorcycle but I keep telling her there is a big difference between 125cc and 1200cc)

I am so excited!!!

Jim

That is correct, the US Embassy in Manila does not send out a packet. Everything you need is on their WEB site, it even states on the web site that they no longer send out "packet 3"...

I can't help you on instruction on setting up your interview as they just changed to a on line scheduling system. From what I have read it does not sound to hard to do.

Jim

Well it’s almost time however I feel I am missing something! Maybe I am getting this feeling because everything has gone so smooth so far.

Am I missing anything?

 K1 VISA

 Entry packet and X-ray (do not open)

 CFO

 Air plane tickets (POE – Detroit)

 Winter coat, boots and gloves – this will be something new for her…..

What is the process for the CFO at the airport? Last time I was at the airport I saw there was a CFO office and counter. Do we need to check in there? Or do we just pick up our tickets and exit through customs?

Only 20 days to go…

Jim

I would also think your processing time has a lot to do with “who” has your packet. If your packet is assigned to the person who calls in sick twice a week or the office slacker who spends more time talking about football then working, it’s just going to take longer. And don’t forget they do work in a government building so that means no smoking. So if a “smoker” has your packet simple math tells me it will take 5 times as long.

I asked the officer the same thing at ORD last month and he told me if you are traveling stay together. So when I come through next month we will get in the shortest line....

Some embassy do dont send out packets. Check your embassy web site.

I used PO Box numbers on all of our forms for both Sorine and I, we had no problems.

When Sorine had her medical examination at St. Luke's, 2 months ago, they did ask her about her 4 tattoos. She just told them it was art and they made no big deal about it.

The scar she has on her forearm is what caused us the most issues. Spent 3 hours explaining to a "head doctor/shrink" that she cut it on coarl while swimming.

Oh - she now has 5 tattoo. We got matching tattoos last month.

Jim

I little bit of info that may help.

The instruction packet will tell you that you need forms; DS-156, DS-157 & DS-156K.

However you will also see on their web site they are now using from DS-160 in place of the 156 & 157. HOWEVER when we had our interview last month they were still using the 156 & 157.

We were even given instructions at BDO Bank when we paid our interview fee that the blue receipt needed to be attached to the DS-160. Got to the interview and they did not want the DS-160. Luck for me I filled them all out......

Long story short ---- FILL OUT AND TAKE ALL 4 FORMS.

Better save then sorry.

Jim

US Embassy in Manila does not send out a packet anymore, you need to get on their web site and print all the information you will need.

Jim

About 1 month