Maebel&Andrew

I left with a K1 visa and just got my citizenship this year. I would like to know if you guys know the latest link or information on how to process the refund. I am planning to visit the Philippines next month. Any information would be helpful. I sent an inquiry through their support email too. Hopefully, you guys can help me faster. Oh, finally, what is your experience on time frame to get it all processed and received check.

I appreciate the replies! Thank you.

I have the similar question. I got married last Feb 2011. I got my green card on June 2011. My conditional status was lifted last year - June 2013. Does it mean I'm already eligible to apply for citizenship since June this year (2014)? I wasn't sure if the conditional permanent status for 2 years counted against the permanent residency. Could you please confirm? Thanks.

Thanks for your replies. I was thinking the same about waiting for the GC first. Anyways, so the SSN and my EA card work together as a work permit. Great! I'm so excited to get back to work!

Hi! I received my Employment Authorization card last week. Do I need to go back to SSA to remove the "valid for work with DHS authorization" under my SSN? After then, I am eligible to work already. Or do I have to do some more paperworks to file?

Also, it says at the bottom of the card "serves as I-512 Advance Parole". Does it mean my Advance Parole application has been approved? Also, will this suffice as proof so I can leave the country and return to the US without issues?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Maybe because AOS for those who replied were from K1? Are you coming off from K1 process? I'm following this post for reference.

Is there anyone who tried to take the medical exam and didn't bring any NVC / USEM letter with their MNL case number on it? Probably what you brought was your confirmation letter after setting up an interview sched, visa photos and your medical exam fee?

The reason I asked this bec we have not received any letters from NVC or USEM. We were just verbally given with a MNL case number by NVC on Dec 10. They said our petition has already been receive by USEM on the same date. I haven't book my interview yet since I haven't started with the medical exam. Note I already paid the fee at BPI.

Thanks for all the info on where to follow up on the case number. We did that already. We are just waiting for a reply. Anyways, we (beth&chard - another VJ'er) just thought maybe someone else tired getting in line for the medical without any MNL case but already booked an interview schedule online.

Thanks and happy holidays!

Thanks! Excellent reply! According to my fiance, NVC told him that our petition was sent to USEM on Dec 10. We'll wait after two weeks to book a schedule. Now, even without the letter from USEM, how did she go through with the medical? Aren't we suppose to show something at the St. Luke's hospital? Also, I believe our passports are to be handed over to them after the exam. Is that correct? BTW, thanks for the advice on the best time to complete the medical.

I sent an email to this address 3 days after I received my NOA2;

IVManilaReplies@state.gov

This was their reply:

Reference: (Beneficiaries Name)

Date: December 9, 2010

Dear Mr. (Petitioners Name)

This is in reply to your inquiry of December 3, 2010, regarding the visa case of the referenced individual.

We received the U.S. immigration service-approved fiancée (K1) visa petition from the State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) on December 8, 2010.

Effective December 1, 2010, fiancé(e) (K1) visa applicants should visit this website: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph to schedule a visa interview appointment. The applicant may also contact the Embassy’s Visa Information and Appointment Service at (632) 982-5555 to schedule a visa interview date. The Visa Information and Appointment Service is open Mondays through Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on U.S. and Philippine holidays.

Callers in the USA may contact the Appointment Service at (214) 571-1600 between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Applicants should have their case number, passport number, and passport expiry date (for each applicant) ready when requesting a visa appointment.

Please note that K1 applicants must pay the visa application fee of $350, before they can request a visa appointment via the online appointment website or the Embassy’s Visa Call Center. For K1 visa payment instructions, the applicant may visit a link to our website at http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html.

The applicant should follow all interview preparation instructions for K1 visa applicants located on the Embassy’s website at http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3238.html. The instructions contained on the website will provide the applicant the required documentation and procedures to follow prior to the interview date.

The applicant should compile all the required documents and complete the medical examination before the interview date (when scheduled).

We hope this information will be helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Correspondence Unit

Consular Section

U.S. Embassy, Manila

1201 Roxas Boulevard

1000 Manila, Philippines

Telephone: (632) 301-2000

Fax: (632) 301-2037

SBU

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

I received this December 9^th, that is when I started trying to schedule. I was unable to schedule until Decmeber 14^th (5 Days after they received the “Hard copy” and 13 days from the time of the electronic file transfer) Hope this gives you a time frame to work from. We have not as yet received any letter, except the NOA2.

Thanks for the reply. We'll probably do the same so we'll have something tangible (i.e. email reply) compared to a telephone operator's word on our MNL case number. We'll wait for this email and then try to reserve me a slot. OR call the embassy to know if they have our case - if that's possible.

BTW, how soon is your scheduled interview? Based on your timeline, it's Jan 3, correct? Was it the earliest date they had or your most convenient date? And did you complete the medical exam before actually setting up a schedule at USEM for interview?

or log in to the scheduling system as I did. (scheduled appointment 12/14, today's is 12/21, still no letter received by us),

Someone that has been thru this process said they never did receive a letter.

I think the embassy could reduce their call center cost and problems/worry for us if they could implement an

automated email response when files are "activated" for scheduling on line.

Hi all!

According to my fiance, who's been calling NVC almost every week to follow up on our case, the USEM already has our file. NVC also gave him our MNL case number. They said to wait for a letter from USEM. They even set a target date that I'll be getting a letter (Dec 20) but unfortunately that date already passed. So here I am now checking on other VJ folks who's probably on the same waiting state just like us and found this thread.

I'm wondering if "USEM received electronic file" means USEM already has your file and that we're pretty much on the same situation - waiting for a letter from USEM. If yes, according to this thread, I can schedule a VISA appointment already? Or at least go ahead with the medical exam? The reason I'm asking this is that my fiance and I are so ready to start on the VISA application process ASAP but this letter waiting is too much. BTW, how did you know that USEM received an electronic file?

We would realy appreciate your responses to these questions. I know that the long wait is over but knowning that it's already there and you can't do anything about it just yet really frustrates me. I really hope to be with him by January.

Thanks a lot and best regards!