Recent Manila DCFers, How long to hear after filing 1-130 ?

[mark99 1]

Just like to know other folks experience (RECENT) with the Manila embassy timeline. After filing the i-130 how long before hearing from the US Embassy?

[DustonB 0]

Thanks for posting this, I am wondering the same thing; planning to drop off my I-130 next week.

[John Kegley 1]

Thanks for posting this, I am wondering the same thing; planning to drop off my I-130 next week.

I filed my DCF in Manila on May 9th, and am still waiting to hear. I sent them an email and was told if I didn't hear anything in 3 months to contact them again. However, when filing I was told I would hear from them within 6 days.

[jorh 1]

My hubby filed for mine on May 11. We were asked to provide additional documents, so we went to Manila Embassy on May 15. We're also wondering when we should receive an e-mail or notification from them.

[OIF0607 0]

We filed DCF Manila. Look at my timeline below to see the expected timeframe. After two months, you can start to call the USCIS to see if your I-130 is approved. Once approved, they will forward it to the immigration office. After it has been forwarded to the immigration office, immediately fill out the DS-230 and fax it to their office for expedited results. You will still recieve packet #3 in the mail, but you will not have to do anything with it. After your DS-230 has been uploaded which takes about a week, you can call up the scheduling operator to schedule your interview date; they will verify with immigration that your DS-230 has been uploaded and schedule you. You can schedule an interview as soon as one week later. In the mean time, take your medical, and make sure you have all your documents. When in doubt if you need a document, bring it, however they will provide a list of the documents you will need. Yes you will need all the documents that you provided to the USCIS with your I-130. You need these same duplicate papers to keep in a folder in which you will bring to the states and give to the customs agent upon arrival. Do a lot of research on this site and on the net for further questions. Hope this helped.

[Bron Chase 1]

We filed DCF Manila. Look at my timeline below to see the expected timeframe. After two months, you can start to call the USCIS to see if your I-130 is approved. Once approved, they will forward it to the immigration office. After it has been forwarded to the immigration office, immediately fill out the DS-230 and fax it to their office for expedited results. You will still recieve packet #3 in the mail, but you will not have to do anything with it. After your DS-230 has been uploaded which takes about a week, you can call up the scheduling operator to schedule your interview date; they will verify with immigration that your DS-230 has been uploaded and schedule you. You can schedule an interview as soon as one week later. In the mean time, take your medical, and make sure you have all your documents. When in doubt if you need a document, bring it, however they will provide a list of the documents you will need. Yes you will need all the documents that you provided to the USCIS with your I-130. You need these same duplicate papers to keep in a folder in which you will bring to the states and give to the customs agent upon arrival. Do a lot of research on this site and on the net for further questions. Hope this helped.

Thank you for posting this information; I wasn't aware that they had to verify that the DS-230 is uploaded before they'll schedule the appointment. Can you schedule the appointment before you've paid the visa application fee? I would imagine that they give you a receipt as proof of payment at the bank. Do you just bring the receipt to the interview, or do they verify that you've paid the visa application fee before they'll schedule the interview (by asking you for a receipt number or something)? Thanks for the information; knowledge eases the mind.

- Bron (Makati)

[OIF0607 0]

Yes you can scedule the appointment before paying for the VISA application fee. You can pay that in cash to the window teller at the Embasy the day of the appointment and give the reciept to the interviewer. As far as paying at the bank first, I'm not sure because my wife called the embasy yesterday to reschedule the appointment sooner than the 18th and they said you can NOT schedule sooner, but you can schedule later. We scheduled later because we thought it would take longer for her NBI, but she rushed it and we are prepared now to interview. Anyway, the woman at the embasy told my wife over the phone something about you can only pay at the embasy now as they no longer accept it at the bank, but then again, my wife might of misunderstood; nit sure. If you want to pay at the bank first, then research it; we are just paying at the embasy. Good luck.

[OIF0607 0]

As for your question regarding payment, I did additional research since you had me wondering. As a K-VISA applicant, you have to pay at BPI or BANCNET before scheduling the interview. My wife is an immigrant VISA applicant and we pay at the embasy at the time of the appointment. Here is the Embasy page regarding this matter. Hope it helps... http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3220.html

[Bron Chase 1]

As for your question regarding payment, I did additional research since you had me wondering. As a K-VISA applicant, you have to pay at BPI or BANCNET before scheduling the interview. My wife is an immigrant VISA applicant and we pay at the embasy at the time of the appointment. Here is the Embasy page regarding this matter. Hope it helps... http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3220.html

Wow, a perfect answer right there! I'm doing CR-1 so I guess I'll just pay on the same day as the interview at the embassy. Thanks for the help

- Bron (Makati now; Utah later)

[pnyvibe78 0]

congrats. thanks for the information as well...i'm looking forward to filing mine in the near future. I am finishing up my nursing studies here in Manila, then I will petition and file the DCF. I'm a Dual Citizen and my boyfriend is the Non-immigrant. We are planning everything so its quicker process.

[MHikoPI 1]

Hi, this is Miko, thanks for new thred on DCF MNL. I'm filing the i130 this mo. All the docs listed on USEMBASSY MNL site are ready, but it didn't mention the i864 & i864a sponsor forms I have for support. So do I assume right that I don't need those when I submit the i130, but I will give those at the interview? I'm also glad I read something about a DS230. What is that? I thought I did a pretty good job looking thru this site but I missed that one.

A little info: I'm a USC filing immi visa for wife. We married in PI 2.5yrs ago & I hav lived here the whole time, we bought a lot, but lived n an apt, hav joint acct, and a 7mo old boy.

This forum is great cuz you guys are going thru it at the same time. I posted this question in another topic not knowing this one, sorry.

Thanks for any info, Miko

[MHikoPI 1]

Also, I forgot, the i864a from my brother in the US.. does the form need be one with original signature, or can he scan it at home and send me the PDF copy?

Thanks again, Miko

[Bron Chase 1]

Hi, this is Miko, thanks for new thred on DCF MNL. I'm filing the i130 this mo. All the docs listed on USEMBASSY MNL site are ready, but it didn't mention the i864 & i864a sponsor forms I have for support. So do I assume right that I don't need those when I submit the i130, but I will give those at the interview? I'm also glad I read something about a DS230. What is that? I thought I did a pretty good job looking thru this site but I missed that one.

A little info: I'm a USC filing immi visa for wife. We married in PI 2.5yrs ago & I hav lived here the whole time, we bought a lot, but lived n an apt, hav joint acct, and a 7mo old boy.

This forum is great cuz you guys are going thru it at the same time. I posted this question in another topic not knowing this one, sorry.

Thanks for any info, Miko

Hi Miko, good luck with your filing. Sounds like you're good to go with your proof of residency and bona-fide marriage. And you can do an IR-1 since you've been married for over 2 years. You are correct; you don't need to submit your affidavit of support information (I-864) with your I-130, you will give the AOS stuff to them later. You will need a real ink signature from your co-sponsor so have them mail that to you. Do you have your co-sponsor's tax return information and birth certificate copy yet? Your co-sponsor can scan and email those to you, but it may be easier to throw all that stuff into an envelope and send it to you. I had mine do that and I asked them to include some other documents that I intend to use as proof of re-establishing US domicile, such as a copy of my vehicle registration and insurance, letter saying that I can live with them in the US, bank correspondence in my name sent to their address to prove I have a US mailing address, etc. Have your co-sponsor put together a nice fat package of stuff for you and send it on over.

You would only need an I-864a if your co-sponsor alone doesn't make enough money to qualify. Is that the case? If your co-sponsor alone makes at least 125% of the poverty level for their household size then there is no need for a household member to fill out an I-864a along with your co-sponsor's I-864. If you are in need of an I-864a be mindful that it is a contract between the co-sponsor and that household member and they both must sign the I-864a. Is your son entitled to US citizen priviledges, or is there a need for a petition for him as well?

The DS-230 is the actual visa application. I believe that the embassy is requesting that form to be faxed to them after approval of the I-130. After that you set up your interview online, then set up your medical appointment. You'll pay $420 when you submit your I-130, $230 at the interview for the visa application, and another $223.35 at St. Luke's when you do your medical. Have your spouse do the CFO (preferrably at PRISM across from LaSalle on Taft, if you live in Metro Manila) ASAP. Your spouse will need that CFO stamp in their passport to leave the country (US Embassy doesn't tell you about that because it's a Phils requirement, not a US requirement).

I'm not sure what additional steps you must take for your son; I'll leave that for someone else to answer. Good luck!!

- Bron (Makati)

[MHikoPI 1]

Many many thanks. You brought up several things I was not aware of. You let me know I need the CFO stamp in my wifes passport. We completed the CFO n Cebu over a yr ago when we changed her name. So grateful to you for that info.

I found our DS230 form ready to fax. No prob there now.

Another good info is preparing a pc of mail addressed to my US address for domicile intent and another is the birth cert.for my brother and that his signature must be ink, not copy. I didn't understand your explanation of the I-864 issues, so let me ask if Im thinking ok: I am the sponsor petitioning for my wife. My AOS is form I-864. My last 2 yrs of income is not enough for 124% poverty, so I have a co-sponsor, my brother who prepares the i-864a. He is called a household member and the contract is between him and the US govt to provide funds for my wife should she ever try to claim benefits from the USgovt. (which I wonder how long that contract is valid??) So as long as his income is enough for all his dependents plus my wife, all is well. So the way Im thinking is that the I-864 and the I-864a is required in my situation.

Thanks for your presence on this forum. Congratulations on your successfully getting though it.

I will be scheduling an appt for my sons CRBA (child report of Birth Abroad) to get his USC and passport processed. That's when I will turn in my I-130.

Thanks again, cheers.

[Bron Chase 1]

Many many thanks. You brought up several things I was not aware of. You let me know I need the CFO stamp in my wifes passport. We completed the CFO n Cebu over a yr ago when we changed her name. So grateful to you for that info.

I found our DS230 form ready to fax. No prob there now.

Another good info is preparing a pc of mail addressed to my US address for domicile intent and another is the birth cert.for my brother and that his signature must be ink, not copy. I didn't understand your explanation of the I-864 issues, so let me ask if Im thinking ok: I am the sponsor petitioning for my wife. My AOS is form I-864. My last 2 yrs of income is not enough for 124% poverty, so I have a co-sponsor, my brother who prepares the i-864a. He is called a household member and the contract is between him and the US govt to provide funds for my wife should she ever try to claim benefits from the USgovt. (which I wonder how long that contract is valid??) So as long as his income is enough for all his dependents plus my wife, all is well. So the way Im thinking is that the I-864 and the I-864a is required in my situation.

Thanks for your presence on this forum. Congratulations on your successfully getting though it.

I will be scheduling an appt for my sons CRBA (child report of Birth Abroad) to get his USC and passport processed. That's when I will turn in my I-130.

Thanks again, cheers.

I'm not sure if there is a timeline for how recently you must have taken the CFO to get the stamp; I would look into that. It would be no good to be ready to go and find out you have to re-take the CFO because it's been longer than a year or something. Sorry about the AOS confusion. You will personally fill out an I-864 listing whatever your income is, then your brother will also fill out an I-864 listing his income. You don't need an I-864a (only needed if your brother's income also wasn't enough to qualify and you needed to add one more sponsor into the mix). Good to hear you're getting things taken care of for your son. I'm still in the process of applying myself so hopefully things will go smoothly for both of us.

- Bron (Makati)