dirtsquirter

And I'm saying that someone who is of average intelligence, and who is willing to commit some time to learning and understanding the process and it's requirements, has just as much chance of having their petition sail through USCIS as anyone who uses a professional service. Most people have the time to learn this stuff because most people start thinking about the immigration process months or years before they're actually ready to submit a petition, just as most people think about marriage long before they actually get married.

For anyone who doesn't have the time or the patience to learn the process I would definitely recommend they get some help. A visa service or immigration lawyer is bound to do better than they would do on their own. For anyone who is taking the time to develop their relationship, and can spare some time to learn about the immigration process, they can probably do just as well on their own.

Your the resident expert, so get on with having the last word - as for me, I wouldn't have changed a thing I did - and you telling me it didn't help one bit makes me sure of one thing, you probably don't know what your talking about, and are so full of yourself that you just might explode if your not careful. Happy New Year

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary. It just means that general advice may not apply to everyone. It's not derogatory in any way.

You're suggesting that using a visa service is practically guaranteed to save time. Douglas was telling you that this isn't true, and I'm agreeing with him. A visa service CANNOT do anything to make USCIS process a visa petition any faster. Your petition is going to sit in a box waiting for an adjudicator to get to it no matter who prepares and submits it. There isn't an "express lane" for petitions prepared by professional visa services or immigration attorneys.

No doubt that people who go the "do-it-yourself" route often make serious mistakes that end up costing them time. However, the same is true of visa services and immigration lawyers. There are enough horror stories from people who've used those professional services here in VJ to justify that statement.

I did everything myself. My petition was approved without any RFE's or unusual delays. My wife's visa was approved at the consulate after only four questions, and the US consulate in her country is one of the toughest in the world. There are a LOT of people who have used professional visa services or immigration attorneys who have fared much worse at that consulate.

I never said a visa service is guaranteed to save time. I said I would never have done it perfect the first time, so using the service I used saved me time. Besides, not all services are equal for sure, I just happened to find a company that I felt confident with and the results speak for themselves. My point is if you find a good service, one that keeps up to date on the process changes that are always happening, then you just may save a lot of time. " An Adjudicators job performance is based on several factors. 1) how many files (petitions) you process everyday" - this is information I got right here on this forum, from a former adjudicator. After reading that USCIS, being just like any other business, and wanting their employees to perform the best and fastest that they can, would rate job performance on the number of petitions processed - I had to believe it. I found a service that specializes in filling up paperwork for visa's from Philippines, then after researching the hell out of them, I hired them. They only send the package when it's perfect, and using all their experience as a tool, I agreed to everything they asked for. It took an extra week or so to send them everything they asked for, but they insisted and I am glad they did. Now you can sit there and tell me that when perfect packages arrive into USCIS adjudicator's hands from this certain service that specializes in doing this, with experience behind them, and most likely a track record with the people who work at these USCIS offices, (and yes, they are people just like you and me - employees who get graded on their job performance on the number of petitions processed in a day) when they scan the day's work and see the return address on the package being from the same visa service that has helped them in the past boost their number of petitions processed in a single day because their isn't a single error, they just toss it aside and say I will open up this one later - let's do the hardest one's first. You can believe whatever you want, if it wasn't for my big hurry to get the paperwork to NVC, I would have first sent it to the service I hired and they would have caught both RFE's before they happened to me. I overlooked a couple things, and that cost me time. I could have been done and approved in 4 months time. I am not complaining, I am just stating facts. Done right, and if I had just sent everything to the service I used instead of trying to save a few days mailing time, I really would have flew through this process. I hope this helps someone, I am no expert by any means, but waiting around for most of a year or more really sucks.

I am sure you will get several arguments on the use of a service... I submitted the I130 around 4/7/09 and she interviewed on 8/13/09... No fuss no muss no RFEs and

ours is not a particularly straight forward petition. So,,, YMMV. I preferred to keep the extra money in my pocket.

Regards,

YMMV? I don't know what that means, nor do I WANT to know what that means! Arguing over something like saving time to be with your loved one is ludicrous to say the very least. You say you did it all yourself in 4 months time - I'm impressed. I did not want to take the chance on waiting, waiting, waiting like most do here on VJ. I am a perfectionist, with great attention to detail, and even I would not have been able to get those papers perfect for USCIS the first time. SOMETHING would have been slightly off, and that's what slows things down. So the 225 bucks is the best money I have ever spent. If the OP wants to do it himself, more power to him. I for one would rather spend the very short money for the professional service - than sit in front of my computer for months on end wishing for word on my petition, and calling endlessly every day about the status. Maybe you should start a service for the folks here who need help - seems you wouldn't be lacking for customers. To the OP: an RFE is a Request for Evidence, and when that happens it just means you need to submit whatever additional evidence they request. It just slows down your case, until the evidence is received by the requesting agency and they review your case again. You also don't need to be in your wife's country, it can all be done from the US.

3 months isn't going to be enough time. After you get married in the Philippines, then you can file the petition for your wife's immigrant visa. I used a service that specializes in this, and no matter what ANYBODY says, it saved me many many many months of bullshit. Sure you can do it yourself - do you want to wait 4, 5 or 6 months for your petition to be approved? Mine was approved in 30 days. It's just the beginning, but it sure helps bring the end that much faster! Good Luck

If you are smart you will also apply for a US Passport for the child at the same time that you file the CRBA. Both will probably cost you about 10,000 pesos.

They will shoot you again if they are not satisfied with the evidence that you present. It was really kinda silly to spend the time, money and effort on vaccinations when the price is included in the St. Luke's 9,000+ php. Might as well make it complete and have a chest x-ray also, that's included in the exam at St. Luke's also.

Visa Approved - Good Bye Philippines!

That was my point when I started the Topic. You will do anything to be with her. Sell your property below value, pay all these Fees. I know a person who gave away his home because he said : I don't need it anymore. He did'nt want the bother, he was to focused on her.

But, don't tell me that Country has'nt sucked you blind for your decisions. They seen you coming and tell me you have'nt paid the price. I know your paying a Fee just to stay there. So Please. You paid for your relationship and still are. That was the Topic and my point but it is Normal.

I'm Jelous, I would love to go live with there. LOL

Not sure exactly what you mean by "sucked you blind", or having paid a price, or a "fee"? I fell in love, moved here, got married, and started a few different businesses, had a beautiful baby boy, and now it's time to go, as it's hard to earn here. I have never paid more than any average filipino for anything, in fact, I pay less for my rent - as I negotiated it down by about half. I married into a great family, they never ask me for anything, and if I was to do everything that I have done here back in the states, it would have cost me 10 times the price. I don't "pay" for my relationship, we are a team, an equal partnership, and I can't say enough good things about my wife. For example, all expats who live here are expected to hire ya ya's to care for their kids, maids for their laundry, drivers for their cars - my wife does it all herself, and at the risk of looking "bad" in front of other filam couples. Neither one of us care what others think. We will raise our own children without help from outsiders, and my wife agrees. Show me any woman who wants to marry a loafer, a bum, or a lazy man - I don't care where they are from, they all want security, and someone who will help provide and take care of their kids and be a family man, not a womanizer or a bar stool. My wife in particular is educated, has held a job for many years in a first world country, and so she knows what she wants in a man. She, like so many filipina's here, want a man who is already past the immature stage, who is done playing around, who is secure in who he is, his employment or career, and, unlike a lot of filipino men here, will treat them with the respect they deserve. The women here are much more serious than the men. Age matters not to these women. I see first hand the laziness in some of the men here, and can understand why many are drawn to foreigners. It's not all about the money. I'm sorry to get a little off topic here. So in response to your statements, yes, they may have "seen me coming", but no, I only pay the locals price. (Cost to be here per year = $7.20 USD) If you really want to live here and experience the Philippines, try shopping at the Public Wet market, on New Years eve, in the fruits and vegetables section - WOW! Now that's an experience that stays with you! As far as wanting to live here, you don't know until you actually do it, but the constant brownouts, the heat and humidity, the water being shut off if it rains to much, the total lack of clean comfort rooms, good beef, real cheese, veal, hmmmmmmm VEAL, just gets tired...

We stayed at Manila Pavilion casino, it was about 3000 a night, booked online through agoda, and included a great breakfast buffet. The morning we had to leave very early for St. Luke's, room service delivered a full spread of anything we had picked the night before and delivered it to our room, at exactly 4am. No extra charge. I complained about the room when we arrived, because we got one that hadn't been renovated yet, and they upgraded us for free, so that was nice. Only 2 blocks to the St. Luke's, and 4 blocks to the US Embassy. Walking at 4am isn't recommended as I had my wife and son with me, but during daylight no problem at all. We are going back next week for our interview - Good Luck!

I never felt that way at all - I sold everything I owned at wholesale bargain basement prices, quit my job, and moved to the Philippines just to be with her, then got married and had a beautiful baby boy. I don't regret a single minute, or miss a single thing I used to own back home (ok, maybe the Harley just a little). The point is, I love her more than any material thing in this world. Things are easily replaced, true love comes but once. I never did care about money, it's just a necessary evil. It's time to go back now, we have a son and I want all the best opportunity's for him, so this chapter of our lives is coming to a close. I look forward to the next.

Not sure about the numbers on your joint sponsor's form, but I can suggest you both fill out a I-864A also, this was an RFE for us, so it may just save you some time. I am a CR-1, and yours is a K visa, so I am not sure it will apply, but better to have it in your ammunition in case you need it. Good Luck

Just remember that you will need to pass through the port of entry in the USA before your medical expires. That means your process must be completed, your visa in hand, and you must have plane tickets and arrive in the states before the expiration date of your medical. This is why they tell you on the website to wait until you have an appointment at the Embassy.

If what you say is true, that you have talked to your husband "a billion times", then it's obvious he isn't going to do anything, or change anything. I know it sounds harsh, but after talking with him a billion and one times, you need to get away from these people!!! Now, before you become a human slave. What you describe isn't love. Good luck!

Why not be first? If it works, you help everybody and yourself, if it doesn't work, they probably just don't accept the interview date - and you wait just like everyone else.

Forget about going to another seminar, you already attended and paid at St. Mary's. Just go back there with your visa in hand, your pics like she asked, a positive, no nonsense attitude about the whole process - look her right in the eyes and answer any and all questions she asks and go get your sticker. Remember one thing, she is just jealous and this is the only way she can feel like she has control. Good Luck

If you read the last line, it says, and I quote - " Applicant's outside of Korea : Unavailable. She doesn't need it because she can't obtain it. Singapore is the same.

"but it irritates me when someone post some off-the-cuff "smart-@$$" remark as if this forum is a comedy stage" Yea, me to. I know a guy, his name is Billy J Bumblaster, and he is very interested in your question as he would love to come to the US and meet other guys like himself, please leave your name and contact info, he will be sure to get back to you.....

Police Records

Korean National Police Certificate (Crime-Investigation History Report: Bomjoi-Soosa Kyongreok Johoi Hoiboseo) is available to visa applicants of any nationality who are physically present in South Korea. The new KNPC now includes all serious crimes since 1945, regardless of expungement benefits under Korean law, and misdemeanors for five years, according to the Individual Information Protection Law of March 2003.

Applicants presently in Korea: Foreign nationals, regardless of visa status, and Korean citizens must apply in person at any local police station. The KNP checks non-Koreans according to the requestor's Korean alien registration card or passport. Korean citizens must show a Korean identity card with the Korean citizen's unique, lifetime Korean identification number, which is found on Korean national identity cards and Korean passports adjacent to the applicant's name. KNP processing is no fee and takes less than one hour. The new KNPC bears a red ink half inch square stamp on the bottom containing the Korean characters for National Police. It is issued in Korean only and applicants must attach a complete English translation, certified as true and correct by anyone competent in Korean and English, for the visa interview. A simple computer printout of criminal records is issued with the Korean annotation for information only, has no red ink stamp and is not a KNPC for visa purposes.

Applicants outside of Korea: Unavailable. http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=9223 Use this link, it should give you the answers. Good Luck!

Yea, but the Philippines' complete acceptance of "ladyboys" (to the point where they work openly everywhere and are truly an integral part of society here) and this country's determination to follow western culture just may mean a turning point in the not so distant future....

Well, I had 2 RFE's - one because of a silly oversight on my DS-230, and the other one was my I-864, we needed a I-864A to go with the original's for sponsor and co-sponsor. But we finally managed to get our papers out of NVC and on their way to Manila! I am flying to Manila next week for my wife's medical. Hope everybody else gets their interview's soon!

When you arrive in the Philippines, you have 21 days stamped in your passport to stay. Before those 21 days are up, you will need to visit Bureau of Immigration to extend your visa for another 38 days - the cost is about 3030 pesos. Before that time is up, it's back to BoI to renew your visa - this time it's for 59 days and the cost is 4830 pesos plus a one time fee of 2800 pesos for a ACR card. Every 59 days the cost is 4830 pesos and if your late you will pay a penalty of at least 1000 pesos. In US dollars it's about 70 bucks for the first 38 days, then 178 bucks for the next 59 days, including the cost of the ACR card, then it's 112 bucks every 59 days, and you must leave the country once after 16 months, and start the process over again upon returning. Or just get married and apply for permanent visa - once you get that, it's only 310 pesos ($7.20) once a year.

i never got magic jack to work to call the nvc. I had to use Skype when I was outside of the country.

Can I just download Skype and use it free? Or is this a service I need to pay for? Thanks

i'm a magic jack user and i wander if it will allow me to call NVC using it...

I would love to know how you make out trying that, I only get a dial tone after calling, it doesn't even try to connect, just goes straight back to a dial tone.

I used a visa service, it cost me about 400 bucks, and my NOA2 was back in 30 days, don't know if it was because of them, but they only specialize in filling up forms the way the USCIS wants to see them, so no RFE's, just smooth sailing. Of course, I have had a few setbacks since then, but it's from waiting for things like police clearance and missing a date on the DS-230, also my own fault for not sending in a I-864 and an I-864A, so it is slowing me down a little, but again, through no fault but my own. It's totally up to the Petitioner - How valuable is your time? Do you mind waiting months for something that could have taken weeks? I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't care, I am with my wife here in Philippines and I still want it done ASAP. If I had to do it again I would do it the same way, the money isn't that important, waiting around for 90 days only to find out your missing something or didn't cross a "t", or dot an "i" just plain sucks in my opinion...

While I agree with most of what you say. The part bolded and underlined disturbs me. No one in my extended filipino family has ever asked me for a dime, (or peso). They work hard and save every available peso to put their kids through college. To say spending all you have is filipino mentality is just flat wrong. I send money every month to my step daughter to help with her college, while she works full time at a call center and goes to college full time. Over generalizations will get you every time.

Well, while I really hate to "disturb" you, almost every foreigner I know here has problems with their extended filipino family wanting more money than they give. I should have clarified my statement to read almost every filipino spends all they have. It's a very true statement, no matter if you believe me or not. I would have to say, after living here awhile, 8 out of 10 filipino's spend what they have, and usually have a credit account at the local sari sari. I know, your family is great, and so is mine, but the fact remains that most don't save, and if they have a steady stream coming from another country, why worry?? Life is good!