Manila Embassy Interview

[Coco Puff 0]

Quick question to those who have gone with the interview process...When the consul ask for documents of on-going relationship or bona-fide relationship ( I know we need to present letters/cards, emails, phone call logs, etc... ); we made copies of all those documents...should we provide the copies and show the originals OR just show the original documents? If COPIES only, how many ( just average ) you will show to the Consul? Can you give the whole stack of copies?

Need your advise. Thank you!

[Ken_Maria 0]

Vic, I made our reservations directly with PAL online but if it is short notic with PAL, you will pay dearly. The I-194 can be filled out on the plane but you usually have to ask for it.

I think Mrs. Shamulus can get her CFO stamp in Manila without having to go back to Cebu? Here are a few links I use when booking flights t0/from the Philippines: Kayak.com, TravelPH, Best Travel Store, and AllCheapFares... Just remember if you buy the ticket and send her the E-Ticket, she will have to pay the 1620 peso travel tax at the airport.

PAL currently has one-way flights to LAX 24 Mar for $668 including taxes. Not sure what you final destination is? Good Luck Ken & Maria

Funny you asked that, we have got it in our hands today! We are jumping for joy, not we need to find a good deal on a flight to the US with a POE for LAX. If anyone is getting any good deals on buys tickets please PM us.

Is it better to buy in the US and mail it or will it be better for her to buy it there? I think we need to fill out the I-94 yes? She will take a boat to cebu to get her stamp there where she took her CFO. then flght out of CDO to Manila to LAX.

The soon to be Mr. & Mrs Shamulus [/size]

[Ken_Maria 0]

Coco, We provided some of each. Most were scanned copies so I could put several on the same peice of paper and they didn't say anything about them. Actually, they kind of just fanned through the proof and didn't really look at it???? Maybe it was because the documents would not fit under the security window LOL. Good luck Ken & Maria

Quick question to those who have gone with the interview process...When the consul ask for documents of on-going relationship or bona-fide relationship ( I know we need to present letters/cards, emails, phone call logs, etc... ); we made copies of all those documents...should we provide the copies and show the originals OR just show the original documents? If COPIES only, how many ( just average ) you will show to the Consul? Can you give the whole stack of copies?

Need your advise. Thank you!

[Richard&Maria 0]

Hi everyone,

Just want to let you all know that I am already here in my fiance's hometown, Deming, NM, just got here last night. I was here since March 10, 2007 and went via LAX as POE, spent a couple of days in California going around, before actually coming over here, didn't have any trouble getting in, the immigration officer whom I think is also a Filipino just asked a couple of questions and then that's it.

Goodluck to everyone who is still going on the journey, its worth the wait guys promise!!!!

Karen

Hi karen! good that everything went ok...about me...he didnt ask anything..the officer just look into my face and i was waiting for him to ask something..but he didnt..that was cool....WELCOME TO AMERICA!!!! Im so glad that we r here!

Hehehehe cool! Goodluck sa iyo Sis. GOD BLESS

Karen

Hi Karen, Maria here. Am already in WI and settled to married life. You have my number and let's keep in touch. The entertainment center at the basement is ready for you and your lovey as I promised.

Snow is melting here in WI but it is still around 20 degress so still have a chance to show off the winter wardrobe...just kidding.

Really miss you guys from VJ. Let's have a barbecue party at the summetime by our lakeside property and we can have it together with my daughter's grad party.

Have not finished unpacking so have no found your tel number yet...but feel free to call me at home.

Good luck to all VJers!

Maria

[Skeeter211 2]

Hi Everyone!!!!

Ok Sillygirl...so I am lagging here! Life has been busy and stressful, so I just haven't made the time to post. Sorry! But the good news is that I did check the appointment website and......drum roll please.......

WE'RE IN MAY!!!!!!

Mirasol has her medical on April 26th and her interview is scheduled for May 3rd. I will be arriving for the interview, but not the medical.

Which brings me to the next part of my story and the reason for my stress this week. After my honey got her annulment decree, we thought everything was set to go. Come to find out we started hearing about the embassy wanting an NSO copy of the marriage contract with the annulment annotated on it. We found this out in January during my visit and quickly started the process of gathering the requirements for the annotated marriage contract to be filed with NSO. My Fiance's mother packaged all the papers and mailed them thru LBC. I was a little worried mailing them, but we called and confirmed they recieved the documents, so I felt better and we waited for the processing time.

Last week we still had not heard anything and so they started following up again. Seems there was a problem (no one can tell us what it was) with the papers and they were supposedly mailed back on March 2nd. We checked LBC for tracking and nothing had been mailed. My Fiance still did not receive the returned submission even now....nor have they received the letter that states what was wrong with the submission. It seems to be lost at the moment. Here were are sitting on a May 3rd interview date and our NSO marriage contract with annotation is in the wind! We have called and called, but always get someone that says they don't know what happened and call this other person that never seems to be in the office. Grrrrrr!!!!

So I am flying her mother with a new set of papers to Manila this week and hoping to get it corrected ASAP! Please pray for us as I really don't want to go to the interview without that document. I know we have an original certified copy of the annulment decree and certification of finality that we can bring, but I fear we will be put into AR until they can verify the docs since its not NSO...or even worse to be denied over it. At this point I think we need a miracle to get the NSO copy before the interview. God has been so kind to us thus far in this process and I pray he will help us once again to get through this setback.

Any comments from people in similar situations in the past or from someone that can tell us what truly happens if you show up at the interview with only certified court copies and not NSO copies of a marriage annulment would be greatly appreciated. I am pulling hair out stressing over this issue and hope someone can give me a ray of sunshine here.

Thanks,

Scott (and Mirasol)

[w1n78 0]

congrats to soulm8z0928, Michael and Milahjean, and the rest who've been approved. we're still in AR and found more information from the good people at ext5184. apparently the procedure we are facing IS STANDARD. it just so happened that we were unlucky it's taking so long. they do validate all marriages with the NSO prior to the interview. why they haven't heard from the NSO? well you know the nightmare with them

anyways, i've contacted my local congressman back in california and they emailed the embassy an inquiry about our case. i was then forwarded the message they emailed them. i also contacted the senator but they're actions weren't as gung-ho like my congressman. seems they needed a life/death reason to expedite our case. i guess me being on leave from work w/o pay and the feeling of having your wife be 8,000 miles away isn't a good enough reason to help us try to expedite our case. looks like they're not getting my vote next election. all i ask is an attempt.

it's been 2 weeks and still nothing. we'll be heading on our 3rd week. hope to hear something soon. we're trying to keep our heads up. dims1, i got your PM, just waiting for my wife to wake up. she can better answer your questions.

for the upcoming interviews, good luck.

Edited March 17, 2007 by w1n78

[JelloShotGirl 0]

anyone have experience with San Francisco POE???? thanks!

[StarProg 0]

anyone have experience with San Francisco POE???? thanks!

I've come through SF POE several times, the immigration officers there are friendly and helpful. True I'm USC not immigrant, but I know others have reported no problems entering through SF, maybe they will also answer you.

Now the customs agents on the other hand, sometimes get a little carried away. Make sure you don't bring any porno, they're on a mission to keep it out.

[JelloShotGirl 0]

Quick question to those who have gone with the interview process...When the consul ask for documents of on-going relationship or bona-fide relationship ( I know we need to present letters/cards, emails, phone call logs, etc... ); we made copies of all those documents...should we provide the copies and show the originals OR just show the original documents? If COPIES only, how many ( just average ) you will show to the Consul? Can you give the whole stack of copies?

Need your advise. Thank you!

CocO puff I was worried too, but the proof of relationship stuff we used copies and had no problems. I read somewhere ur fiancee should have originals in case they ask for verification, but i risked not sending them to my honey cause i waited till last minite(hee hee) but anyway the copies were fine.....but please bear in mind embassy does require some original docs like birth cert, cenomar, etc check the threads, etc.

[Coco Puff 0]

Quick question to those who have gone with the interview process...When the consul ask for documents of on-going relationship or bona-fide relationship ( I know we need to present letters/cards, emails, phone call logs, etc... ); we made copies of all those documents...should we provide the copies and show the originals OR just show the original documents? If COPIES only, how many ( just average ) you will show to the Consul? Can you give the whole stack of copies?

Need your advise. Thank you!

CocO puff I was worried too, but the proof of relationship stuff we used copies and had no problems. I read somewhere ur fiancee should have originals in case they ask for verification, but i risked not sending them to my honey cause i waited till last minite(hee hee) but anyway the copies were fine.....but please bear in mind embassy does require some original docs like birth cert, cenomar, etc check the threads, etc.

Thank you Ken&Maria and Jello! Yea I ask about it because we actually made a lot of copies and we do not know if we need to present all when ask. Surely we will have the originals available during interview.

Regarding POE in San Francisco...they're very nice especially the Immigration Officers. I used to work at SFO as CSR with one of the airlines and got a chance to work with them and they're all friendly. Well in contrast with Customs Officer, they are more strict especially when it comes to illegal goods. And don't forget the friendly beagle dogs with them...so an advise...do not bring anything like fruits, plants, smelly food (or to be safe do not bring any food at all) and any other things listed illegal to bring to the US. These dogs are smarter than the Customs Officers They can sniff you from a far and will stop you if they suspect you of bringing illegal goods. But overall SFO POE is better than Hawaii and LAX...its just my opinion

Coco Puff

[Jeff and Boo 0]

congrats to soulm8z0928, Michael and Milahjean, and the rest who've been approved. we're still in AR and found more information from the good people at ext5184. apparently the procedure we are facing IS STANDARD. it just so happened that we were unlucky it's taking so long. they do validate all marriages with the NSO prior to the interview. why they haven't heard from the NSO? well you know the nightmare with them

anyways, i've contacted my local congressman back in california and they emailed the embassy an inquiry about our case. i was then forwarded the message they emailed them. i also contacted the senator but they're actions weren't as gung-ho like my congressman. seems they needed a life/death reason to expedite our case. i guess me being on leave from work w/o pay and the feeling of having your wife be 8,000 miles away isn't a good enough reason to help us try to expedite our case. looks like they're not getting my vote next election. all i ask is an attempt.

it's been 2 weeks and still nothing. we'll be heading on our 3rd week. hope to hear something soon. we're trying to keep our heads up. dims1, i got your PM, just waiting for my wife to wake up. she can better answer your questions.

for the upcoming interviews, good luck.

hello win78 im sorry to hear that you are under AR now.. What are their basis for holding your visa.?. They did not even tell you why? i think that is really unfair... I wish and pray that your AR will be lifted soon..God Bless !!!!

Boo

[dims1 0]

Hi, Just a little update since today is Lorna's interview.

Well they say if something can go wrong.... it probably will! :-)

Lorna's plane ticket from cebu to Manila was for noon Sunday(yesterday) Paid about $70.00 round trip last week at their website.

Well, Sat. nite at around 11pm Lorna gets a text msg. from Cebu Pacific that her flight is cancelled!

Great! Now Lorna is going crazy cuz of this. So she called me in USA (about 8:30 am. my time) I can't believe it! What else could go wrong?

So I finally got another flight booked at PAL website for 3pm Sun.

$140.00 round trip. Jeesh!

Soooooooooo.... Now she is in Manila and will go to interview in a few hours.

Once again I ask for your prayers for a positive interview. She has a late reg. BC so I hope God works his miracles for that.

Thanks everyone,

Mike

[Kayz 0]

Hi, Just a little update since today is Lorna's interview.

Well they say if something can go wrong.... it probably will! :-)

Lorna's plane ticket from cebu to Manila was for noon Sunday(yesterday) Paid about $70.00 round trip last week at their website.

Well, Sat. nite at around 11pm Lorna gets a text msg. from Cebu Pacific that her flight is cancelled!

Great! Now Lorna is going crazy cuz of this. So she called me in USA (about 8:30 am. my time) I can't believe it! What else could go wrong?

So I finally got another flight booked at PAL website for 3pm Sun.

$140.00 round trip. Jeesh!

Soooooooooo.... Now she is in Manila and will go to interview in a few hours.

Once again I ask for your prayers for a positive interview. She has a late reg. BC so I hope God works his miracles for that.

Thanks everyone,

Mike

Best of luck on the interview!! My prayers are with both of you.

[dave_ehssa 0]

anyone have experience with San Francisco POE???? thanks!

my POE is in SFO..the guy just smiled and didnt ask questions..i just gave my docs dats all! we just had smiling communication LOL!

[Ano 0]

I am requesting your comments and guidance about a question I have on surnames in the Philippines on the DS 156 form.

Questions 18 (Other Surnames) and 19 (Other First and Middle Names Used).

Since the last name of the mother becomes the part of the name of the child, should you list the mother's surname in question 18 or 19 for your fiancée?

(Yes I used the search feature, most the results were about married surnames, and hits on name checks, LOL, so any clarification would be appreciated).

Thanks,

Robert