wife has her visa

[unclebilly 0]

Well my wife had and passed her interview the 3rd of Dec and had to wait for the medical to get over to the embassy and then shipped to CEBU. I arrived today to wait with her and low and behold she was waiting for me with the visa.

1. her visa said good for one year ...but it also says expires 30 may 2011???????? I guess I don't understand what happens. Will we renew it in May?

2. I was reading on her coming into the usa. I assume we can leave any time, maybe next week, the thread said something about a white copy and an I 94. What are these, where do we get them and can they be done even before we go to the airport?

3. Any international airport can be a POE.

4. Anything I am missing

[payxibka 10,045]

Well my wife had and passed her interview the 3rd of Dec and had to wait for the medical to get over to the embassy and then shipped to CEBU. I arrived today to wait with her and low and behold she was waiting for me with the visa.

1. her visa said good for one year ...but it also says expires 30 may 2011???????? I guess I don't understand what happens. Will we renew it in May?

2. I was reading on her coming into the usa. I assume we can leave any time, maybe next week, the thread said something about a white copy and an I 94. What are these, where do we get them and can they be done even before we go to the airport?

3. Any international airport can be a POE.

4. Anything I am missing

1) Her visa is good for a single entry on or before 30.May.2011. Nothing to renew as once she enters she will receive her green card within 30 days

2) I-94 not needed for an immigrant visa. I-94 is only for those arriving on a non-immigrant visa. FWIW, they are given out on the aircraft

3) Yes, any airport that accepts international arrivals will process her arrival

Edited December 16, 2010 by payxibka

[marriedtomrg 141]

1. The visa is good for 6 months; it just means she must enter the US within that time.

If you have been married 2 years or more, she gets an IR1 visa, which entitles her to a 10-year green card (she'll get it in the mail after you arrive; if she wishes to apply for US citizenship later, she may do so after 3 years); if you have been married less than 2 years, she receives a CR1 visa, which entitles her to a 2-year conditional green card (she'll get this in the mail, but she must undergo removal of conditions 90 days before her conditional status expires; they will issue her a 10-year green card after that; if she wishes to apply for US citizenship later, she may do so after her 3rd year as a permanent resident).

2. The I-94 is a long white card that is handed by flight attendants during the plane ride. No idea if she is required to fill one up (since she will be examined as a permanent resident)...but if she does, she will have to fill it up while she is in the plane and present it at the POE, and the POE officer will detach a small portion and staple it into her passport.

3. Yes, any international airport is a POE. Considering it's the holidays, prepared for longer waiting times. If you are stopping at one US international airport and taking a connecting flight, plan for 3 to 5 hours at the first POE so your wife can undergo processing with enough time.

4. She needs to secure a sticker from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) before she leaves. She can do that through CFO itself, PRISM or St. Mary's, but if I were you guys, St. Mary's (SMEF-COW) is the easiest to deal with: http://www.smef-cow-...:side&Itemid=68

At SMEF-COW, there is a Guidance and Counseling requirement she has to fulfill. Once she has her visa, she can go to SMEF-COW in the morning and attend the seminar (no appointment needed, she just has to register), and when she is done, they will issue her a blue certificate of attendance. Behind their building (within the same compound), CFO has a satellite office; she will present her blue certificate to them and pay for the CFO sticker. CFO will also issue a green certificate of completion (which looks like a large check).

Well my wife had and passed her interview the 3rd of Dec and had to wait for the medical to get over to the embassy and then shipped to CEBU. I arrived today to wait with her and low and behold she was waiting for me with the visa.

1. her visa said good for one year ...but it also says expires 30 may 2011???????? I guess I don't understand what happens. Will we renew it in May?

2. I was reading on her coming into the usa. I assume we can leave any time, maybe next week, the thread said something about a white copy and an I 94. What are these, where do we get them and can they be done even before we go to the airport?

3. Any international airport can be a POE.

4. Anything I am missing

Edited December 16, 2010 by marriedtomrg

[YuAndDan 153]

You posted this to the CR-1/IR-1 visa forum, so I will assume that is what you have.

1) CR-1 Immigrant visas tend to be set to be valid 90 days to 6 months at the most. You have this long to pack up and move to the USA, a Visa is good for a 1 time entry, it will generate a Green-card that allows permanent resident in the USA, and the green-card is used for future re-entry to the USA from trips abroad. You don't renew the visa.

2) CR-1/IR-1 are considered Immigrants and residents so DO NOT need an I-94 card, the I-94 card is only for temporary visitors like B-2, K-1, K-3, Students etc. You do not need to fill one out on the plane.

3) Yes, the first US Airport arrived at will be POE.

4) Make sure the "brown envelope" Immigrations paperwork, is in carry on baggage, not in checked baggage.

[Nataliya-Ron 7]

Congrats

You will enter in Hawaii or San Fransico or Los Angeles

than give them brown envelope UNOPENED and your on your

way in about 30 to 45 minutes after you get to the US

immigrtation officer to check your documents.

Nope thats it now just enjoy the holidays..

Good Luck !

[unclebilly 0]

Thanks, I am feeling warm and fuzzy right now....see ya all in the states next week......Merry Christmas