interview what to expect

[madtownguy 164]

So my fiance just finished her interview. They kept her passport which I believe is a good sign. I guess I assumed they would ask if she wanted delivery to her house or to pick up at a 2go office. Is that something they ask about or no? Didn't get much more feedback from my fiance viber quality was horrible and only got a few messages to her.

[YourHumboldtBud 2]

You fill out paperwork prior to the interview asking where you want the documents sent. Usually people select a specific address or particular 2go station in which to pick it up the passport

[TnJ 131]

When you set your appointment (online scheduling), you select the 2GO outlet nearest home that you would like to pick the visa up at, or you opt to have it delivered to the home address. Your selection is listed on the appointment confirmation notice/letter generated after the appointment is confirmed. This was taken from us at the interview as the confirmation notice is a required document. For us, the last step in the interview process was going to one last window where we confirmed our 2GO outlet selection, and we were sent on our way. This was done after the CO interview. Yes, keeping the passport is usually a good indicator of approval as long as there isn't some 221g form to deal with.

[madtownguy 164]

When you set your appointment (online scheduling), you select the 2GO outlet nearest home that you would like to pick the visa up at, or you opt to have it delivered to the home address. Your selection is listed on the appointment confirmation notice/letter generated after the appointment is confirmed. This was taken from us at the interview as the confirmation notice is a required document. For us, the last step in the interview process was going to one last window where we confirmed our 2GO outlet selection, and we were sent on our way. This was done after the CO interview. Yes, keeping the passport is usually a good indicator of approval as long as there isn't some 221g form to deal with.

Thanks I guess I did this when I set up the interview. Maybe she didn't go to that last window or doesn't really understand it. I was able to ask more questions about the interview and I'm pretty sure everything is a go. They asked her 3 questions and her answers were good. Hopefully today they will email me the approval notice. Pretty exciting getting into the final stretch of things. It will be great when this money pit called a visa will be finished. I feel like every week I'm shelling out a couple $100 for stupid trips to Manila. I'm curious for the CFO, couldn't she just fly to China and then fly to US? They don't have to do CFO for tourist trips in Asia I don't think. Since that seems to be the only hurdle left just trying to get prepared. Her flight will go through China I'm almost certain.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Congrats!! Now for a little more patience while waiting for the visa to be delivered, then CFO, airport/exit fees and everything is done.

I'm curious for the CFO, couldn't she just fly to China and then fly to US? They don't have to do CFO for tourist trips in Asia I don't think. Since that seems to be the only hurdle left just trying to get prepared. Her flight will go through China I'm almost certain.

This horse has been sort of beat to death - flying to another country before flying to the States. One thing you should think about is the visa is in her passport... the customs agents are not idiots.

CFO may be annoying but not not much of a hurdle. Just follow the info on their site and in the guide in the link in my signature below, all will be fine.

[madtownguy 164]

Congrats!! Now for a little more patience while waiting for the visa to be delivered, then CFO, airport/exit fees and everything is done.

This horse has been sort of beat to death - flying to another country before flying to the States. One thing you should think about is the visa is in her passport... the customs agents are not idiots.

CFO may be annoying but not not much of a hurdle. Just follow the info on their site and in the guide in the link in my signature below, all will be fine.

Ah yes thank you for reminding me of the visa... I guess that is why I don't hear about people doing it on here. Never having a visa myself I guess I don't think in terms of that when traveling. Surprisingly to me the approval came the same day online. They are very efficient over at that embassy hopefully they will be just as good at getting the visa mailed off to her. Do you think 3 full weeks leaving like 14th april is enough time to be safe for buying tickets? I'm hoping to find some that are refundable just in case but I'd like to get something kind of put together to not get hit with any jacked up prices booking with too short of notice. Thanks again for all your help Hank, I probably wouldn't even have an interview yet if it weren't for you. I just got notice today in mail that I could pay visa fee and schedule an interview.. The same day that the visa got approved. I also shot my first wild boar the same day as the interview so it was a pretty good day.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Ah yes thank you for reminding me of the visa... I guess that is why I don't hear about people doing it on here. Never having a visa myself I guess I don't think in terms of that when traveling. Surprisingly to me the approval came the same day online. They are very efficient over at that embassy hopefully they will be just as good at getting the visa mailed off to her. Do you think 3 full weeks leaving like 14th april is enough time to be safe for buying tickets? I'm hoping to find some that are refundable just in case but I'd like to get something kind of put together to not get hit with any jacked up prices booking with too short of notice. Thanks again for all your help Hank, I probably wouldn't even have an interview yet if it weren't for you. I just got notice today in mail that I could pay visa fee and schedule an interview.. The same day that the visa got approved. I also shot my first wild boar the same day as the interview so it was a pretty good day.

14 April may be safe, but its always a gamble until the visa is in hand, but I do understand wanting to buy the ticket early. For my wife the visa took two weeks before it was delivered (Taguig outside of Makati), lately most seems to be in the two weeks or less catogory.

I have never done a boar hunt (its on my list though), we have Javalina out here, which really isn't a pig but looks like one. I hunt those with a Stryker pistol (made by Savage), use to hunt with a S&W 629 .44 magnum but didn't have the range for "reaching out and touching them", the Stryker is chambered in .243 and that is one smokin' round and I have shot 327 yards accurate with it!

Edited March 25, 2013 by Hank_

[madtownguy 164]

Cool! My friend actually killed his hog with a knife. They set the hunting dogs out and pin them down and you jump in and knife it before he gets you with tusks. I'm going to try spear or bow next time and then do knife after that. It looks really fun but my friend has scars on both his arms from past times he hunted boar with a knife. I'm not quite to that degree of redneck yet.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I thing for a hog I would go back to my .44 and call that close enough.

[CoreyB 7]

Congrats! Looks like your in the home stretch.

Got a question for you. We got our NOA2 on March 6th. I recieved the notice of approval in the mail. Will they mail an appointment letter? I did call and talk to that very angry lady and got our MNL number lol

Congrats on your first wild hog. I have taken many with my muzzle loader, compound and recurve bows.Never knifed one yet though...

[Hank_ 9,174]

You are burning a lot of daylight, time to rock n roll...

Manila Embassy:

NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR MNL # (don't need to wait for the letter from the embassy )

(NOTE: When getting NSO certified copies of your Birth Certificate get a few extra copies for bringing to the States with you. You will need them from time to time)

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

Once you have your MNL # :

You can pay your nonimmigrant visa application fee with cash or debit card at any Bank of Philippine Islands. Before going to the bank, you must print the applicable U.S. visa application deposit slip available below on this page. Take the printed deposit slip with you to pay your fee. If you print a deposit slip in advance of the day in which you plan to make your payment, please take note of the expiration date on the deposit slip. If the expiration date passes prior to using the slip to make your payment, simply return to this site and re-click the appropriate link below to generate a new deposit slip. Bank agents will NOT accept payments based on expired deposit slips. Upon receiving of your payment, bank will issue you a receipt. Save your receipt. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

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

Select the deposit slip that matches your visa application fee from the list below. Values are shown in U.S. dollars and native currency. This page has more information about the different visa application fees.

http://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-visafeeinfo.asp

For K-1 the fee is $240

After you have paid the visa application fee, keep the BANK receipt for your records. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

If you have an account with either Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) or BancNet you may choose to pay your visa application fee online using their online bill pay services. Click on either of the links below if you are a BPI or BancNet customer and wish to make an online payment.

If you are paying for more than one applicant, please DO NOT make a lump sum payment for all the applicants. A UID/receipt number is required for each visa application fee payment for EACH applicant for scheduling an appointment. After you have paid the visa application fee, please keep the fee receipt for your records.

Receipt Format

Note: If you have a Bank of Philippine Islands receipt, your fee receipt number should be your passport number. If something other than your passport number appears in the circled area on the graphic, use that information as your receipt number. This receipt number verifies your payment and allows you to schedule your visa interview

When scheduling online with the embassy you need to use the receipt number as shown on the payment receipt from BPI.

Priorty Date; this is the date the NOA 1 was received. You will not find the priority date entered on the NOA2, you will only find it on the email/letter from NVC when you get your MNL #.

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:

(This is the Instruction Letter from the Embassy - you need to complete everything listed here)

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3224.html

In English: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction_rtf2_002.pdf

In Tagalog: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/K1instructionTag%20rtf3%20_2__rtf2_013.pdf

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

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

Information for meeting the Poverty Guidelines and using additional assets (it may be referring to the I-864 but it valid for the I-134 also):

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#22

Poverty Guidelines:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=73c63591ec04d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Embassy (Manila) Phone Number (and email)

(632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185 (local number: USEM 301-2000 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.

************ INTERVIEW DAY: Remember no electronics are allowed in the embassy; no cell phones, no cameras, no memory stiks. And no food. **************

***

St. Luke's:

(GUYS if you are in the Phils with your Fiancee before the medical NO contact until AFTER St. Luke's is completed - as in KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS)

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) (NVC Instructions Letter is for IR/CR-1 visa), 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 have been changes regarding CFO so for sure read through their website.

Update: Please check the schedule of the counseling session before proceeding to CFO because it is country-specific and the slots are limited only to 15 per session (two sessions per day) for Manila and 12 per session (only one session a day) for Cebu. It is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

CFO Online Registration Form: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/pdf/downloadable%20forms/registrationform.pdf Complete this and print a couple copies to bring to the CFO seminar, it will save you time.

http://www.philembassy.no/sites/default/files/downloads/new_gcp_flyer.pdf

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 (CEMAR and marriage certificate if married), certified birth certificate, bio page of passport, visa page from passport, pictures together. From USC (copies of) - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree (if been married before) are the most common requests. 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. (Some are posted on VJ that they were not asked for this, yet others have been asked, so be prepared)

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.

Examples (from Quezon City):

Advice of Parents: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/parentadvice.pdf

Consent to Marry: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/consenttomarriage.pdf

TRACK YOUR VISA/PASSPORT AT THE EMBASSY

State Dept. visa tracking: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx? (not updated or as accurate as the USEM website)

Here is a link for requirements for receiving your passport with the visa, there are also options for tracking the status of your visa/passport is currently. You can also change delivery options.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-passportretrieve.asp#trackingoptions

If your application was temporarily refused under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, you can now check the status of your application online.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/adminprocessing2.html

2GO CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR CHECKING DELIVERY

2Go customer service hotline (+632) 5287-136 is available Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

TRACK YOUR PASSPORT/VISA THROUGH 2GO

http://supplychain.2go.com.ph/CustomerSupport/etrace/index.asp Enter your MNL number or passport number or UID number off the embassy confirmation letter (online confirmation page by bar code).

**

Travel Fees:

Exit Fee for all those immigrating: 1620 Php (currently) Can be paid at the airport if its not included with the purchase of your airline ticket.

Airport Fee: 550 Php (currently)