dcf in december

[jswalker86 0]

hello hello.

me and my wife will finally be dcf in december...... but i just want to ask a few questions now all in one post so i don't have to make a million, ha ha ha.

1. my father will be our sponsor. so he will be doing a i-864..... does he have to mail it to us once he finishes filling it out, or can he just fax/email it to us (along with the w-2 and tax return)

2. how long does it take to get packet 3? can we already fill out and submit those papers when we apply to shorten our time?

3. what do we have to pay when we go and submit the i-130?

4. how long would you guess before her visa is approved? (cr-1 visa, since we've only been married one year)

5. how do i keep my mangoes fresher longer? ha ha ha...... jk

thank you for all your help. hopefully soon i'll be the one who is giving advice and not asking for it

[BigJohn 4]

1. not sure but guessing they would want a signed original. fyi the 864 is not required until you go for interview, so you don't have to worry about delaying your application until you have it in hand.

2. i have heard you can file those when you apply but didn't know that when we did so not sure. It is just two documents, the request for an interview and the DS-230. The request for interview requires your MNL case #, so you may not be able to file that at time of filing I don't know. I don't know why you couldn't file DS-230 or really even why DS-230 is required -- there are only a couple of minor items on the DS-230 that are not covered on the G-325.

3. just the i-130 application fee, which if I remember correctly was $355 - it's getting ready to go up to $420 tho

4. so far ours is on track to be approved in about 3 months if everything else goes ok. of course that all depends on whether all the papers are what they want and then passing the medical without having to take the sputum test.

5. refrigerator

FYI the directions on this website and USCIS website are not correct for manila embassy. Manila embassy does not follow the USCIS standards and there are a few differences. For example, you need to file an original birth certificate for your spouse, not a copy. Affidavits for the relationship are worthless they don't want them. They will be really looking at your qualification to file DCF to verify it - they do not want to let you do it if you are not on a permanent resident visa and you'll need substantial proof if you are not. I thought leases would be enough but they made me send in receipts for payments on the leases as well. If you are on permanent residency visa be sure and include a photocopy of your ACR. If not leases or proof of ownership with receipts for payment and copy of your passport showing you've been here.

Edited November 20, 2010 by BigJohn

[BigJohn 4]

Be sure and take a black pen when you go there are a couple of forms they will have you flll out when you file (visa delivery form with map to where you live and permission to discuss your visa with you if you contact them by phone).

Also keep in mind that while the embassy opens at earlier for some visas, the immigration window for applications doesn't open til 8. They don't hand out priority numbers for the window until the window itself opens... but they still try to give them out to who got there first. We got there at 6:30am and we were #2. It was pretty quick though. The window is only open til noon so be sure and get there early.

Edited November 20, 2010 by BigJohn

[jswalker86 0]

oh wow, thank you so much big john for the info. so when we go there to submit the i-130, what else do i have to take there to get it started?

p.s.

where are you and your wife staying at here? me and my wife live in mandaluyong

[BigJohn 4]

your proof of citizenship (birth certificate or passport copy), proof of residence (copy of acr and/or leases/property documents and receipts showing you've lived here 6 months if you're not 13a), divorce decree if you're divorced, original birth certificate for her from nso, original marriage certificate, photos (particularly of wedding), i-130, g-325as for you and her - pretty much the same as what the FAQs here say except need originals for birth certificates and marriage.. affidavits are useless, and need receipts if you are using documents such as a lease to prove residency. bring anything you can think they might conceivably want that way if they ask you have it.

we live in minglanilla south of cebu - i'm heading back in december and taking her for her medical before i fly out of manila and then hoping she will be following me back in january or february

Edited November 20, 2010 by BigJohn