PAGE 11

For the interview, it's best to call yourself. And you could try again soon, sometimes a slot that was previously booked opens up due to cancellation or postponement.

No appointment needed for the medical, you just walk in with your passport, pictures, and eligibility letter from the USEM (or even a copy of your NOA2).

Good luck.

Sis, kaka email ko lang sa USEM, they sent a quick reply stating:

We are pleased to inform you that fiancée and fiancée derivative (K1/K2) nonimmigrant visas were issued to you and--------on June 17, 2011. The visa packets will be delivered to your designated address by guaranteed courier service.

And I logged in sa 2go website and chat with their customer service, its still negative on there system..

Im just confused on how many days really I can have the visa in hand of they were issued on June 17, 2011.. its been days now..

I will keep posted if ma- track ko na ang visa namin.. hopefully di nawala...

My visa was issued and printed on the same date, June 17. I got the same email as you from USEM.

I tracked 2GO this afternoon and it is in-transit, ready for delivery tomorrow (though I choose to pick it up tonight--they are open til 3 am at the Domestic road office). Btw, according to 2GO, USEM sends a manifest of visa packets ready for pick up twice a day--at 10 am and 4 pm. So you might want to track just after those times.

You should have it very soon, tomorrow at the latest? Good luck.

Wonderful news! Congratulations :-)

The packet 3 contains the DS-230 right? I filled out a DS-230 Form online and printed it. Do I need to send to the embassy?

The only "packet 3" you will receive is a letter stating that you are eligible to schedule a visa interview. It will give you the numbers to call to book the appointment (632 982 5555). If you have your case number and passport, you or your petitioner can call to make the appointment. Also possible to book online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com.ph.

The letter will also direct you to the website http://Manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3238.html. This will be your main checklist of all the requirements necessary to prepare for the interview, including information on the medical, and links to the various DS forms you will need to fill up.

None of these requirements should be sent to the USEM ahead of time. Instead you bring them all with you on your interview date, except for the results of your medical, which St. Luke's will send directly themselves.

In short you're good to go. No need to wait for the letter but that's up to you.

Good luck.

how does that work?

It's basically a promotion, meant I guess to secure an immigrant's future business ::-):

You need to submit a copy of your passport, visa and CFO stamp before they can issue the ticket.

Have you heard of the "first time immigrant" discount? I learned about it on VJ.

I booked a one way ticket to SFO on PAL for $430 + taxes. In total it will be under $700. In contrast the PAL website quotes about $1100 for travel on the same date (2nd week July).

See if you can get the same deal, email Camia Briones.

camiabriones@yahoo.com

MOTIVATION TOURS AND TRAVEL CORP

G-4 CCH Bldg, 136 LP Leviste St.

Salcedo Village Makati City

tel nos : 8126051-54

Good luck.

Btw, the reasons I prefer PAL are:

- They fly direct to LAX or SFO, only 12 hours vs 16 or more with Delta or other airlines (which have stopovers at Seoul or Narita)

- Nice to do my bit for a local airline

Yes, it was the same for us, both my fiance and I received that letter of eligibility from USEM.

If she doesn't receive hers, just fax or email her a copy that she can print out and show at St Luke's for her medical.

Use your case number from NVC to schedule an interview appointment online or by phone.

Good luck.

It's very nice to hear stories like yours. This is what the journey is all about :-)

Have a great life together!

Good luck, you are almost there!

You can fill up a new DS-156 form, no problem. The hard copy of the final one is the only one they scan at the embassy so don't worry about generating more than one barcode in the process ( I had errors too and filled up the form 3X).

Good luck.

Also, regarding your original concern about changing the delivery address, they will give you another courier form to fill up when you arrive for your interview. And that's what they will follow. So yes, show up on the date that you have on your appointment paper. Maybe the system has been delayed in updating the info.

Interview June 2nd. 13 days and still waiting...

Last time I was in the US (on a tourist visa) I brought an international drivers permit issued by the AAP (Philippine counterpart of the AAA). This permit is supposedly valid for one year. When I arrive in the US on a K-1 visa, would I still be able to use this permit while waiting for a local license?

Hi,

Thanks a lot, i have gone through the links, and yes i have provided an email and the copy of the notice to NVC, but they still gave an RFE to me....What about others? has any one got past that?

I just had my interview at the US embassy in Manila last week and all the staffers I dealt with were aware that Singapore no longer issues the COC. So they did not ask me for one. This may be a case of a localized and non-official briefing.

It's been 11 days since my interview.

My fiancé called the embassy this morning and he was told my visa was approved and to wait another 7-10 days for delivery. Who knows what's going on and why some cases are delivered early and others late? After my interview the CO was unequivocal about my approval. She even offered congratulations and best wishes.

Oh well, I'll keep my fingers crossed I get it by the end of this week.

Good luck to the OP.

Hi! thats a fast medical! so just go there any day but not on a monday?

I went on a Thursday. It makes sense to avoid Mondays. Good luck.

It's much better to sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a second cup of coffee, then wander over to St. Lukes around lunch time.

So true... And after your (relatively painless) medical, wander over to Hizon's Bakeshop next door for the best ensaymadas on the planet. Old time Manileños will agree--they have been a pastry institution since 1946.

You're not the only one waiting. My interview was June 2nd, it's been eight days and still no visa. I track the 2go website daily using the MNL case number but so far no luck. It's nerve-wracking I know but hang in there :-) Let's stay positive!

Go in the afternoon! I arrived at 1 pm for my medical and was finished by 2:30

I am posting this for all those who need a Singapore Police Clearance for their embassy interview.

I worked in Singapore for 5 years, and as we know, a police clearance is required for all applicants who have lived overseas for more than 6 months. But since October 2010, the Singapore Police Force have stopped issuing this clearance to non-Singaporeans, except on appeal. The notification is posted on their website.

http://www.spf.gov.sg/epc/cert_issued.htm

Yesterday, I had my interview at the US embassy Manila. There are 2 interviews -- 1 by a Filipino staffer who puts together all the documents you need to submit (affidavit of support, DS forms, etc) and asks preliminary questions. The second and final interview is done by a US consular officer. Both of them asked me which countries I had ever worked in outside the Philippines. I told them Indonesia and Singapore. Both of them were aware that the Singapore Police Clearance is no longer available, and they did not ask me for it.

It seems this information has been disseminated to all embassy staff. But I would suggest you bring a copy of the notification from the SPF website in case anyone you speak to is in doubt.

Good luck!

My K-1 visa was approved today. We are both very happy and relieved. Of course there is still a way to go, but we wish to thank everyone here on VJ who has helped us to get to this stage of the journey!

I will post an embassy review soon. Good luck to you all!

Thanks, Tahoma!

still no luck...is this normal?

Did you try sending an email? They respond pretty fast.

I speak some French from having worked with a French company for many years, and I took lessons too. I noticed that at that time, though I was quite uncomfortable speaking French to people I knew well (such as French friends or colleagues) because I didn't want to seem stupid, I was much more comfortable and surprisingly more fluent speaking French to STRANGERS-- such as taxi drivers or hotel personnel. Obviously this was because their opinion about me mattered less.

Maybe you could encourage your wife to interact more with shopkeepers, the mailman, cashiers, etc. The conversations will be shorter and more standard, something she could practice saying every time she sees them. Eventually she will develop confidence to speak with other people whose opinion she values more.

Hi all,

I paid my K-1 visa fee (for interview) online through BPI. So I don't have an "official" receipt, just an emailed acknowledgement from the "CGI Team". The email doesn't even state my complete name and passport number.

Has anyone paid online before? Is it ok to just bring a copy of that email to the interview as proof of payment? I will also bring a printout of my online statement, showing the debit for the MRV. Will this be enough?

Thanks