Manila Embassy Interview

[sillygirl 0]

thanks Glen. She'll be here in about 9 hrs.

wow, counting the hours now. happy for you!

[sunandmoon 450]

[

happy trip to Mari, Fel and Yazi...

They'll all be arriving in California soon.

Hey Roy, how many hours till Yazi arrives? Happy reunion with your loved ones to all of you departing for the US today.

she's just departed Davao to Manila. flight to SFO leaves at 10:30pm. 21 hrs to go.

That is great Roy! I am very happy for you and Yazi!

thanks Glen. She'll be here in about 9 hrs.

Roy, It makes me happy to sense the joy in your words! Only 5 hours now! Happy days for you are here!!!!!

I'll be heading home from work by 2pm to get ready to go to the airport. the months and months of waiting are fast approaching minutes. Eric's wait alittle shorter than mine. Mari's flight arrives one hour before Yazi.

hope those still waiting will soon experience the joy of the moment that I am now.

[sunandmoon 450]

thanks Glen. She'll be here in about 9 hrs.

wow, counting the hours now. happy for you!

Thanks. only five now.

[dims1 0]

******* SILLY GIRL'S St. Lukes step by step and Interview step by step....

First I wanted to say how excelent it was for Lorna to have the St. Lukes Step by step for her physical. She is very thankful! So am I!

Now I will give her the interview step by step and was wondering a couple of things....

1. What is the difference in the k-1 interview and the Cr-1 interview according to the step by step?

I don't think Lorna will have to fill up the ds forms and I think the Embassy already received all the forms from NVC. is that correct?

2. Lorna had to give St. Lukes 2 passport photos that they are supposed to forward to the Embassy along with medical and her passport.

So will she still need to bring passport photos to interview? How many?

3. Will she still need go to the finger scanning window?

I just want to make necessary corrections to the step by step for Lorna so it will work for her CR-1 interview....

Thanks again.

Mike

[jazzy 0]

Hi Mike,

You wont have to fill out any ds forms...you have already done that...she will just have to sign the ds-230 part II at the interview in front of consular.

She will not need any more passport photos at embassy either...I had Jasmin bring a couple anyway, but they were not needed.

Yes she will still need to get her finger prints scanned...they will instruct her for that.

Jazzy

1. What is the difference in the k-1 interview and the Cr-1 interview according to the step by step?

I don't think Lorna will have to fill up the ds forms and I think the Embassy already received all the forms from NVC. is that correct?

2. Lorna had to give St. Lukes 2 passport photos that they are supposed to forward to the Embassy along with medical and her passport.

So will she still need to bring passport photos to interview? How many?

3. Will she still need go to the finger scanning window?

I just want to make necessary corrections to the step by step for Lorna so it will work for her CR-1 interview....

Thanks again.

Mike

[jazzy 0]

Hi,

That's very odd...all you need for the name change on the passport is the NSO marraige certificate....the CFO seminar IS NOT NEEDED!! However, she can take the cfo seminar at any time...then just go back and get her stamp when you recieve the visa, thats what we did. Jasmin got a brand new passport with name change, of course that was in Cebu....but definately the cfo is not required.

Jazzy

that's interesting. my wife had her passport name changed months ago and she barely attended the PRISM. CFO would be after the interview and that's when they'll allow her to change her name? did she bring a copy of the marriage certificate?

Ouch, Fely now says they won't give her a new passport or change her name until she attends the CFO. So there's another wasted trip, 4 out of 4. I need to see what docs I need to send to her first. She's pretty much on her own here, doesn't really use the internet to find out about how to do things. This is suddenly so frustrating.

I'm not sure about the marriage cert. This is one of those cases where its hard to get a straight answer, plus she's very tired from the trip and hasn't answered my last two text messages. She knows the marriage certificate is required for a name change. The DFA website says that the CFO is required to get a passport for spouse or fiancée visas, but it does not say its required for a passport amendment. This is another example of govt. officials changing the rules as they see fit at any time. So Fely will have to go to Manila to attend the CFO, but the problem is I'm expecting the IV fee bill anytime and I don't have the money right now to send to Fely to go to Manila (she already used up the money I sent to her for her 4 unsuccessful trips to NSO and DFA). And so we'll probably have a delay while she obtains all the papers we need to send to NVC. Ugh!

[terps76 0]

Hi,

That's very odd...all you need for the name change on the passport is the NSO marraige certificate....the CFO seminar IS NOT NEEDED!! However, she can take the cfo seminar at any time...then just go back and get her stamp when you recieve the visa, thats what we did. Jasmin got a brand new passport with name change, of course that was in Cebu....but definately the cfo is not required.

Jazzy

I wasnt required to attend the CFO as well when I had my name changed last July. However, maybe their policy changed since when I attended PRISM last Feb 19, I was able to know somebody who said that DFA asked her to attend the counselling before she can get a passport. I thought she has a special case and didnt asked for more info. But it seems like it that they do require it now since it happened to Starprog too.

[StarProg 0]

Hi,

That's very odd...all you need for the name change on the passport is the NSO marraige certificate....the CFO seminar IS NOT NEEDED!! However, she can take the cfo seminar at any time...then just go back and get her stamp when you recieve the visa, thats what we did. Jasmin got a brand new passport with name change, of course that was in Cebu....but definately the cfo is not required.

Jazzy

I wasnt required to attend the CFO as well when I had my name changed last July. However, maybe their policy changed since when I attended PRISM last Feb 19, I was able to know somebody who said that DFA asked her to attend the counselling before she can get a passport. I thought she has a special case and didnt asked for more info. But it seems like it that they do require it now since it happened to Starprog too.

I don't think they have the liberty to change the rules concerning passports without a change in their laws. I have a little more info now that Fely's awake. She says they told her specifically that she must attend the CFO for a name change. But it gets worse. She was also told that our marriage certificate is only 5 months old, and she must wait until 6 months to get the name change. I think the person she dealt with at the DFA had his own personal vendetta.

Well, at least it's only a couple of weeks until our 6 month anniversary.

[kismet 0]

By the way, for those who are granted the visa, you may file for refund of Pag-Ibig contributions and just show your visa to support your claim, plus some forms they need yu to fill up.....around one week processing...wow, some additional source of hidden wealth which I learned from my friends at Pag-Ibig.

Hope to have been of help.

Maria

Hi Maria. Thanks for the tip! Got more than 15 years worth of PAGIBIG contributions to refund.. yay! When I inquired, I was given the impression that I would have to wait till after adjustment of status to qualify for a refund since I'm on K1 ...and what they want to see is a "permanent" or immigrant visa. Were you able to file for a refund? Please tell me you did, .

And wow you guys look good in the fotos! Thanks Luzy and Steven for posting. Still kicking myself for not crashing the party

Congratulations and bon voyage all around... lots of happy happy VJ couples reuniting. Here's hoping and praying that all future interviewees will be just as fortunate.

And yay for PW! Enjoy your tryst with your therapist Anybody take on the special title of "List Caretaker" of the Manila Embassy Interview thread yet? I would gladly take on the honorable task if there are no violent reactions ... but then of course I could only take on the list-updating role and not the part of "walking K1 encyclopedia" that PW is!

And on to my long post for today .....

Daughter and I were at St Luke's last Thursday and yesterday, Friday. All went good the first day... got my shots and vaccine record, and they got my passport the second day. However, they won't give my 19-year old the vaccines (she was to have MMR and HepaB), because of hives. She has been having these rashes for a year now... consulted with a private doctor, was put on a restricted diet (no processed food no mangoes no sea food), used unscented soap, shampoo and lotion, maintained dust free environment (at least as carefully as we can), and still we're not sure what triggers the hives. Sometimes the rashes are there.. sometimes not. Doc said "maybe" its the weather. Anyways, the darn rashes chose to show up yesterday, and so they won't give her the shots. All who underwent vaccination were given a piece of paper where the side effects of the immunization are listed i.e. rashes, difficulty of breathing, etc. And the doc and nurses at st.luke's were afraid my daughter would experience these bad side effects. So, will have to get her prescription anti-histamine and make sure she doesn't have the rashes when we come back for shots next week.

All the while I was thanking VJ for the heads up on taking for the medical earlier than scheduled. Thank you thank you! They did ask when our interview is.

And I have questions for those who got an annulment and was approved. Did you use your maiden name? or your former married name? Did you get your NBI clearance in your maiden name? married name?

I am using my maiden name now, and have my NBI clearance with my maiden name. However, since I used my former married name for 17 years of my adult life, logic tells me the embassy "might" ask for a clearance with the former married name. How did you do it? Can I even get 2 NBI clearances?

Thanks again guys.

Gen

Edited February 24, 2007 by kismet

[garya505 2]

Just a little update while we wait for our flight from HNL to LAX (flight 4 of 5 today):

We entered the US today in Guam. It took a about 10 minutes.

Oh, and if anyone is still asking about the xrays, don't bring your xrays to Immigration. They only want the passport and SEALED envelope. We put Florenda's xrays in the suitcase with her wedding dress.

[GaryC 7]

Hello guys! I am leaving tomorrow morning for America. I got Luz and Robins tickets the other day. They will arrive in the US on April 6! Next week they do the CFO and get copies of all their docs. Everything is ready now!!! Good luck to everyone with interviews coming up!

[2 Hearts 0]

Wow! Delbros delivered our K1 Visa fast. Maricel received it today (Saturday Feb 24th)--just 4 days after our interview date. She lives in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. We feel very blessed.

She will get her CFO sticker early next week, then take her plane flight on Mar 2nd on NWA.

Our prayers go out to all those who await their interviews, visa deliveries, ARs, new lives. Best of luck!

Many Blessings and More Power.

[Glenn & Rosemarie 0]

Wow! Delbros delivered our K1 Visa fast. Maricel received it today (Saturday Feb 24th)--just 4 days after our interview date. She lives in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. We feel very blessed.

She will get her CFO sticker early next week, then take her plane flight on Mar 2nd on NWA.

Our prayers go out to all those who await their interviews, visa deliveries, ARs, new lives. Best of luck!

Many Blessings and More Power.

Wow a fast delivery by Delbros! My wife just came here to Florida on February 7. She also took the NWA flight of Manila - Tokyo - Detroit - Jacksonville.......POE was Detroit and she say's it was a breeze................Congrats to you both and best wishes!

[vsmtghdy 2]

Wow! Delbros delivered our K1 Visa fast. Maricel received it today (Saturday Feb 24th)--just 4 days after our interview date. She lives in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. We feel very blessed.

She will get her CFO sticker early next week, then take her plane flight on Mar 2nd on NWA.

Our prayers go out to all those who await their interviews, visa deliveries, ARs, new lives. Best of luck!

Many Blessings and More Power.

Congrats to you!!! Where in Lapu-Lapu? My mother have a place in Basak, Lapu-Lapu. God Bless and Happy Trip!!!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Just a little update while we wait for our flight from HNL to LAX (flight 4 of 5 today):

We entered the US today in Guam. It took a about 10 minutes.

Oh, and if anyone is still asking about the xrays, don't bring your xrays to Immigration. They only want the passport and SEALED envelope. We put Florenda's xrays in the suitcase with her wedding dress.

Thanks for the heads up, Gary, and good luck on your last leg of the journey! Jinky's POE will be LAX this coming Friday so I'll let you know just how long she had to wait to go through immigration.

Hello guys! I am leaving tomorrow morning for America. I got Luz and Robins tickets the other day. They will arrive in the US on April 6! Next week they do the CFO and get copies of all their docs. Everything is ready now!!! Good luck to everyone with interviews coming up!

Welcome back, Gary! Hope you're completely recovered from your illness. May the next 5 weeks go by fast for you!