Manila Embassy Interview

[Mike and Jennie 0]

Happy Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Quick question.

We are very curious and wondering about the move to the states. Just wondering about:

How many boxes you brought over?

How did you ship them?

Any problems with customs?

Did they search through it all?

Did they seize anything?

Was there a limit?

If you had done it differently, how would you do it?

Were you able to bring everything?

Did you have to pay twice for extra on plane (International and then Domestic flights)?

We would like to know your experience.

Thank you!!

Mike and Jennie

[Pinay Wife 47]

I need to send a letter requesting extension of petition approval. What's the procedure here? Send it to the Embassy Consulate IV fax?

No need to send letter. The embassy routinely extends the validity of NOA2 as long as you both remain legally free to marry.

[garya505 2]

I need to send a letter requesting extension of petition approval. What's the procedure here? Send it to the Embassy Consulate IV fax?

No need to send letter. The embassy routinely extends the validity of NOA2 as long as you both remain legally free to marry.

So I don't need to do anything at all?

Edited January 2, 2007 by garya505

[Ken_Maria 0]

Mike I ran into the same issue when moving my teenage daughter from the PI to Hawaii. We used LBC a freight company in the PI and U.S., they charge a flat rate no matter the weight, but it can take 30 days or more to get there. The average from Hawaii has been 30 days both ways. If your finacee has a lot of things to bring with her, I suggest this method as the cheapest and most reliable. I never had any custom problems with LBC packages and non of my retired friends there have either. Ken & Maria

Quick question.

We are very curious and wondering about the move to the states. Just wondering about:

How many boxes you brought over?

How did you ship them?

Any problems with customs?

Did they search through it all?

Did they seize anything?

Was there a limit?

If you had done it differently, how would you do it?

Were you able to bring everything?

Did you have to pay twice for extra on plane (International and then Domestic flights)?

We would like to know your experience.

Thank you!!

Mike and Jennie

[sunandmoon 450]

I need to send a letter requesting extension of petition approval. What's the procedure here? Send it to the Embassy Consulate IV fax?

No need to send letter. The embassy routinely extends the validity of NOA2 as long as you both remain legally free to marry.

So I don't need to do anything at all?

I didn't do anything. as PW said the Embassy will revalidate the NOA2. once an interview has been scheduled, the Embassy will revalidate the NOA2 if it should expired before the interview.

since you have your interview date, nothing to worry about.

[Mike and Jennie 0]

Mike I ran into the same issue when moving my teenage daughter from the PI to Hawaii. We used LBC a freight company in the PI and U.S., they charge a flat rate no matter the weight, but it can take 30 days or more to get there. The average from Hawaii has been 30 days both ways. If your finacee has a lot of things to bring with her, I suggest this method as the cheapest and most reliable. I never had any custom problems with LBC packages and non of my retired friends there have either. Ken & Maria

Quick question.

We are very curious and wondering about the move to the states. Just wondering about:

How many boxes you brought over?

How did you ship them?

Any problems with customs?

Did they search through it all?

Did they seize anything?

Was there a limit?

If you had done it differently, how would you do it?

Were you able to bring everything?

Did you have to pay twice for extra on plane (International and then Domestic flights)?

We would like to know your experience.

Thank you!!

Mike and Jennie

My fiancee called LBC a cpl of weeks ago and they told her that they have a limit. How long ago did you use them? Is this something new?

Mike and Jennie

[Pinay Wife 47]

So I don't need to do anything at all?

Yes, you don't need to do anything. Remember the email that the embassy sent you? There's a part there that mentions about the validity of NOA2. Here it is...

... x x x ...

We want to assure you that while an approved fiancé(e) petition is originally valid for four months from the date of its approval, a consular officer may revalidate it for an additional four months. This revalidation is routine as long as you and the beneficiary remain legally free to marry and continue to intend to do so within 90 days after the beneficiary is admitted into the United States.

... x x x ...

Hmm, maybe they should add "without need to write or request" after "a consular officer may revalidate it for an additional for months". This way, it is clear that petitioner need not do anything at all.

Edited January 2, 2007 by PatientlyWaiting

[garya505 2]

So I don't need to do anything at all?

Yes, you don't need to do anything. Remember the email that the embassy sent you? There's a part there that mentions about the validity of NOA2. Here it is...

... x x x ...

We want to assure you that while an approved fiancé(e) petition is originally valid for four months from the date of its approval, a consular officer may revalidate it for an additional four months. This revalidation is routine as long as you and the beneficiary remain legally free to marry and continue to intend to do so within 90 days after the beneficiary is admitted into the United States.

... x x x ...

I see. It didn't understand "routine" to mean automatic, but I guess it is.

Hmmm, then why does VJ have a sample letter requesting an extension?

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Steve3656...

Question: Do you know if they still require a bank account letter for the interview or is that optional.

Answer: Yes! The instructions for the I-134 state that:

"The sponsor must submit in duplicate evidence of incomeand resources, as appropriate:

A. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions where you have deposits...

.........1. Date account opened;

.........2. Total amount deposited for the past year;

.........3. Present balance.

B. Statement of your employer on business stationery, revealing:

.........1. Date and nature of employment;

.........2. Salary paid;

.........3. Whether the position is temporary or permanent.

C. If self-employed:

.........1. Copy of last income tax return filed

.........2. Report of commercial rating concern.

D. List containing serial numbers and denominations of bonds and name of record owner(s)."

NOTE: Most sponsors do NOT submit anything under item "D", but the USE does't seem to mind because not everyone has stocks and bonds. On the other hand, there is a strong likelyhood that sponsors have bank account(s) and the USE may look unfavorable about a missing statement from the bank or other financial institution concerning the sponsors' deposit(s).

Ahmari & Jhen

p.s. - VJ Family please chime in...

[steve3656 0]

Steve3656...

Question: Do you know if they still require a bank account letter for the interview or is that optional.

Answer: Yes! The instructions for the I-134 state that:

"The sponsor must submit in duplicate evidence of incomeand resources, as appropriate:

A. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions where you have deposits...

.........1. Date account opened;

.........2. Total amount deposited for the past year;

.........3. Present balance.

B. Statement of your employer on business stationery, revealing:

.........1. Date and nature of employment;

.........2. Salary paid;

.........3. Whether the position is temporary or permanent.

C. If self-employed:

.........1. Copy of last income tax return filed

.........2. Report of commercial rating concern.

D. List containing serial numbers and denominations of bonds and name of record owner(s)."

NOTE: Most sponsors do NOT submit anything under item "D", but the USE does't seem to mind because not everyone has stocks and bonds. On the other hand, there is a strong likelyhood that sponsors have bank account(s) and the USE may look unfavorable about a missing statement from the bank or other financial institution concerning the sponsors' deposit(s).

Ahmari & Jhen

p.s. - VJ Family please chime in...

Ahmari & JhenThanks very much, when is your appointment and are you in the Philippines or the US

steve

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Hey Steve....

I'm here in the states.... CALIFORNIA... My lovely wife finally joined me here on 21 Nov 06 and we were married on 15 Dec 06. So we are just made it through all the madness that you are facing, and we just submitted the paperwork for the Adjustment of Status (AOS) 29 Dec 06.

Cheers!!!

Ahmari & Jhen

['my_destiny' 0]

Happy Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Quick question.

We are very curious and wondering about the move to the states. Just wondering about:

How many boxes you brought over?

How did you ship them?

Any problems with customs?

Did they search through it all?

Did they seize anything?

Was there a limit?

If you had done it differently, how would you do it?

Were you able to bring everything?

Did you have to pay twice for extra on plane (International and then Domestic flights)?

We would like to know your experience.

Thank you!!

Mike and Jennie

Hi! Happy New year too!!

I have lots of stuff to bring to the US also because I bought most of my clothes here than to buy it in the US and since Im a small lady I know for sure, it will be hard for me to buy smaller size for me there.

My fiance will be bringing with him one empty luggage and one not full luggage for his clothes when he pick me up after my interview. I can bring 2 luggage with all of my stuff and two of his luggage with my stuff and his clothes in that way we dont have to ship it there through courrier since the airlines allowed 32Kg for each luggage.

If you want to get more info/answers maybe you could join us TOO in a Fil-West Relationship site and for sure, you will have your same case there.

http://www.theworldoffilipinas.com/forum/

have a nice day!

[steve3656 0]

Hey Steve....

I'm here in the states.... CALIFORNIA... My lovely wife finally joined me here on 21 Nov 06 and we were married on 15 Dec 06. So we are just made it through all the madness that you are facing, and we just submitted the paperwork for the Adjustment of Status (AOS) 29 Dec 06.

Cheers!!!

Ahmari & Jhen

Ahmari & Jhen

Wow congratulations, I can just imagine how happy you are that she is finally here with you, the long ordeal is over. Its nice that you continue to post here and help others. My fiancee has her appointment on 2/16 and her medical on 2/9, what city is your wife from. My fiancee is from Zamboanga city

steve

[steve3656 0]

Hey Steve....

I'm here in the states.... CALIFORNIA... My lovely wife finally joined me here on 21 Nov 06 and we were married on 15 Dec 06. So we are just made it through all the madness that you are facing, and we just submitted the paperwork for the Adjustment of Status (AOS) 29 Dec 06.

Cheers!!!

Ahmari & Jhen

Ahmari & Jhen

Just checked out your photo gallery, your wife is very beautiful and I am happy that you had a lovely wedding

steve

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Ahmari & Jhen

Wow congratulations, I can just imagine how happy you are that she is finally here with you, the long ordeal is over. Its nice that you continue to post here and help others. My fiancee has her appointment on 2/16 and her medical on 2/9, what city is your wife from. My fiancee is from Zamboanga city

steve

Steve...

My wife is from Laguna on the Island of Luzon. VJ has been a huge part of life for the majority of this year (even before I became a member). I stumbled across VJ after I had researched and learned some general knowledge about the process. VJ helped to fill in the gaps and gave us the ability to learn, grow, and share with a great group of people. It's an honor for me to share what I have learned with others and continue to grow.

Cheers!!!

Ahmari & Jhen

Edited January 2, 2007 by Uling