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Need help scheduling my interview at the US Embassy in Manilla

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Hello everyone !

Well the good news is that I got my MNL case number yesterday from the NVC. I excitedly raced home, and tried to call the US Embassy in Manilla to schedule my interview. I was met with a recording that said:

"press 1" if you have filed your F160

or

"press 2" if you have not filed your F160.

It is my understanding that K1 Visa Applicants need an F156, NOT an F160. I also thought this can be filed AFTER your get your Interview Date. I am stumped... how do I get through to obtain an Interview Date. I want to call Sunday night (US Time) before they send out her Packet 3, because her address has changed and I need to have them update her address before they mail it!

(Yes, I have read the K1 Process Flowchart... but step 7 only mentions calling the Embassy to see if they received your Case from NVC... it does not provide instructions on getting your interview date, or any mention of an F156.)

Any help would be appreciated... I want my interview date so I can schedule my flights... I plan on being there with her for the interview.

- Jeff

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Service Center : California Service Center

Consulate : Manila, Philippines

I-129F Sent : 2011-12-16

I-129F NOA1 : 2011-12-20

I-129F NOA2 : 2012-05-24

NVC Received : 2012-06-28

NVC Left : 2012-07-03

Consulate Received : 2012-07-09

Interview Date : 2012-08-13 Submit Review

Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 156 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 237 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.

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Hello everyone !

Well the good news is that I got my MNL case number yesterday from the NVC. I excitedly raced home, and tried to call the US Embassy in Manilla to schedule my interview. I was met with a recording that said:

"press 1" if you have filed your F160

or

"press 2" if you have not filed your F160.

It is my understanding that K1 Visa Applicants need an F156, NOT an F160. I also thought this can be filed AFTER your get your Interview Date. I am stumped... how do I get through to obtain an Interview Date. I want to call Sunday night (US Time) before they send out her Packet 3, because her address has changed and I need to have them update her address before they mail it!

(Yes, I have read the K1 Process Flowchart... but step 7 only mentions calling the Embassy to see if they received your Case from NVC... it does not provide instructions on getting your interview date, or any mention of an F156.)

Any help would be appreciated... I want my interview date so I can schedule my flights... I plan on being there with her for the interview.

- Jeff

Congratulations!

First, pay your Interview fee at BPI. Then wait about 4-5 hours and log on to ustraveldocs.com/ph to schedule.

Go to USEM website and download forms 156, 156K, 157 and complete them,

Go to SLME website and preregister for medical exam.

Go to CFO website and preregister for CFO seminar.

No packets will be sent to you from USEM.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Thanks everyone... I can see I have to pay our interview fee now at BPI... I am in the USA right now in Chicago... there is no place for me to pay this here is there?

I am assuming I need to send my Fiancee the money, and have her go to a BPI branch? She lives in Naga City, and the BPI Branch Locator does not seem to list anything near Naga or Camarines del Sur... she probably needs to get up to Manilla then?

- Jeff

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

No. There are branches in Naga / Camarines Sur. This is from http://info.bpiexpressonline.com/bpiprod/bpibranch.nsf/Branches/BPI/Camarines+Sur?OpenDocument

Branches Locator | BPI Branches

Luzon - Camarines Sur Area

886

NAGA CACERES

Caceres cor E Angeles Sts., Naga City Camarines Sur

Tel: (054) 473-8424/ 473-1407

Fax: (054) 473-8424

954

NAGA MAGSAYSAY

Magsaysay Ave. cor Catmon St., Naga City 4400 Camarines Sur

Tel: (054) 472-1154/ 238-5005/ 0917-5411663

Fax: (054) 472-1154

392

NAGA PEÑAFRANCIA

26 Peñafrancia Ave., Naga City

Tel: 811-7879 / (054) 473-9793

Fax: (054) 811-7879

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Oh, and when you call the USEM, make sure to go to the Immigrant Visa, not the Non-Immigrant Visa Dept. Yes, technically the K1 is a non-immigrant visa, but for scheduling an interview, the K1 falls under the IV Section. This is why they're asking you about the DS-160. That form is for non-immigrant visa applications.

Do the same when you want to schedule online-- the K1 is under the Immigrant Visa Section. Good luck!

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Even though the DS-160 is not required for K1 Petitions, select that option when you call. When you speak with the call center rep and give them your MNL Case number, they should see it on system.

01/12/2013: POE
02/14/2013: MARRIED ON VALENTINE'S DAY!
03/18/2013: AOS Sent via USPS Express Mail
03/28/2013: NOA - AOS, AP, EAD
04/25/2013: Biometrics

05/28/2013: RFEs for EADs and APs

06/17/2013: AOS Interviews. Approved

06/26/2013: Green Cards Received! (APs and EAD also received but not needed)

Removal of Conditions

===================================

03/25/2015: Mailed I-751

04/06/2015: NOA1

05/05/2015: Biometrics

07/27/2015: RFE

09/07/2015: RFE Response - Additional Evidence Sent

11/19/2015: Interview - APPROVED!

12/15/2016: Green Cards Issued!

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You have 2 options. 1: Go to traveldocs.com/ph or 2: Just the call embassy to schedule the appt. I called the embassy for my fiance's interview. It took about 10 minutes and it was all set up. While on traveldocs.com it kept timing out on me.

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Philippines regional forum; topic is country specific.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Filed: Other Country: Philippines
Timeline

After NOA2 AND YOU HAVE YOUR MNL # (don't need to wait for the letter from the embassy )

Once you have your MNL # you can take your passport and required visa fee (in Php) to BPI and pay your visa fee. The embassy website states that within 4 hours of paying at BPI you can schedule your interview appointment but most times it seems to take about 24 hours.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-paymentinfo.asp

When scheduling online with the embassy you need to include the "XX" at the beginning of the passport number, your passport number IS your receipt number (normally).

Priorty Date; this is the date the NOA 1 was accepted.

Make sure to print two copies of the interview confirmation page as you will need one for St. Luke's and the other (maybe, they might mail the interview letter) for the embassy.

(open all of these links then save them to your bookmarks so you have them for easy access)

Embassy Letter:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction%20Packet%20_3__rtf2_005.pdf

(Tagalog) http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/K1instructionTag%20rtf3%20_2__rtf2_007.pdfhttp://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/K1instructionTag%20rtf3%20_2__rtf2_007.pdf

(The DS-156 can be difficult to complete sometimes, if you have issues try a different browser.)

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/

Embassy (Manila) Phone Number (and email)

(632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185 (local number: USEM 3012000 loc 5184/5185 call them around 3-4:30pm)

** (214) 571-1600 or (646) 254-3546 (these are USA numbers)

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

In order to serve our visa applicants more efficiently, we have created this new e-mail address: IVMNLAppointments@state.gov , for early appointment requests and visa scheduling issues. Please note, however, that early appointment requests will be approved on a case to case basis (i.e., aging out cases, or in cases involving personal or medical emergencies), and only if visa interview slots are available.

For other immigrant and K visa concerns, please send an e-mail to IVManilaReplies@state.gov

.

To enable us to electronically sort the messages and provide better, more timely responses, you should follow the instructions below.

The subject line of your email should indicate the visa applicant’s last name, first and middle name (ex. DOE, John James), case number/USCIS receipt number, visa category and priority date.

Messages should be limited to 500 characters or less. The mail size should not be more than 15 KB.

Do not submit documentation or attachments with your message as our system is unable to receive inquiries with attachments.

Do not send your inquiry more than once as duplicate inquiries will congest our system and delay our response time.

***

St. Luke's:

http://www.slec.ph/us-visa-applicants.shtml#required-docs

Have copies of passport bio page, confirmation page from scheduling interview online at embassy (or if the embassy mails a confirmation letter bring a copy of that), and of course the 2X2 photos. (copy of annulment is asked for at times)

PREREGISTER at St. Luke's website, it saves time when you arrive. http://www.slec.ph/us/registration/

CFO:

ALL exiting required to attend. There are been changed with CFO so for sure read through their website.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348:fiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140

Required documents & "OTHER DOCUMENTS" they ask for at CFO: copies of; CENOMAR, certified birth certificate, bio page of passport, visa page from passport, pictures together, from USC - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree (if been married before) are the most common. The "other documents" clause can be ANYTHING with those nit-wits at CFO.

** From the Family Code of the Philippines: it's 21-25 years old for advice and 18-21 years old for consent.

Art. 14. In case either or both of the contracting parties, not having been emancipated by a previous marriage, are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, they shall, in addition to the requirements of the preceding articles, exhibit to the local civil registrar, the consent to their marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned. Such consent shall be manifested in writing by the interested party, who personally appears before the proper local civil registrar, or in the form of an affidavit made in the presence of two witnesses and attested before any official authorized by law to administer oaths. The personal manifestation shall be recorded in both applications for marriage license, and the affidavit, if one is executed instead, shall be attached to said applications. (61a)

Art. 15. Any contracting party between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five shall be obliged to ask their parents or guardian for advice upon the intended marriage. If they do not obtain such advice, or if it be unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication of the application therefor.A sworn statement by the contracting parties to the effect that such advice has been sought,together with the written advice given, if any, shall be attached to the application for marriage license. Should the parents or guardian refuse to give any advice, this fact shall be stated in the sworn statement.

Hank

"Chance Favors The Prepared Mind"

 

Picture

 

“LET’S GO BRANDON!”

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