DCF Manila

[matteo66062 1]

I am a US Citizen and Missionary with the Salvation Army in the Philippines. I filed form I-130 on August 29,2012 at the Embassy in Manila. Paid 420 USD. It wasn't as easy as I thought. I have a probationary residency visa from the Philippines and 6 months of bills showing my residency here, A Filipino Driver's License and A Radio Communications License issued by the Filipino Government. All issued over a year and a half ago. I have lived here continuously for 19 months. Still it wasn't enough! Finally I remembered I had receipts from Feb 2011 of when I bought my motorcycle and finally they agreed that day to let me file. Just a heads up to anyone planning a DCF filing, bring EVERYTHING you can with your foreign residence address and your name!

Just want to know if anyone else has filed I-130 in Manila and how was the processing time? The lady at the window where I filed said to expect the packet in 2 or 3 months.

God Bless,

Matthew

Edited September 11, 2012 by matteo66062

[Joshuaching 11]

I am a US Citizen and Missionary with the Salvation Army in the Philippines. I filed form I-130 on August 29,2012 at the Embassy in Manila. Paid 420 USD. It wasn't as easy as I thought. I have a probationary residency visa from the Philippines and 6 months of bills showing my residency here, A Filipino Driver's License and A Radio Communications License issued by the Filipino Government. All issued over a year and a half ago. I have lived here continuously for 19 months. Still it wasn't enough! Finally I remembered I had receipts from Feb 2011 of when I bought my motorcycle and finally they agreed that day to let me file. Just a heads up to anyone planning a DCF filing, bring EVERYTHING you can with your foreign residence address and your name!

Just want to know if anyone else has filed I-130 in Manila and how was the processing time? The lady at the window where I filed said to expect the packet in 2 or 3 months.

God Bless,

Matthew

The USCIS unit at the US Embassy in Manila have less petitioners to process compared to CSC, VSC, or Texas. Therefore, on the average they are 2 to 3 months faster compared to filing in the US. After the USCIS processing, they all go to the NVC in New Hampshire where everything's evened out among all the immigration service centers. If your paperwork got there first, naturally it would come out first.

[loveydovey 2]

I am a US Citizen and Missionary with the Salvation Army in the Philippines. I filed form I-130 on August 29,2012 at the Embassy in Manila. Paid 420 USD. It wasn't as easy as I thought. I have a probationary residency visa from the Philippines and 6 months of bills showing my residency here, A Filipino Driver's License and A Radio Communications License issued by the Filipino Government. All issued over a year and a half ago. I have lived here continuously for 19 months. Still it wasn't enough! Finally I remembered I had receipts from Feb 2011 of when I bought my motorcycle and finally they agreed that day to let me file. Just a heads up to anyone planning a DCF filing, bring EVERYTHING you can with your foreign residence address and your name!

Just want to know if anyone else has filed I-130 in Manila and how was the processing time? The lady at the window where I filed said to expect the packet in 2 or 3 months.

God Bless,

Matthew

The Lady on that window was being a biaaatch to me. she was asking me for so much stuff to prove residency, I have been in the Philippines for like 8 years straight. school records werent enough for her.. she was asking me for other bills/statements, which i did not have because we were living with my mom... hmp!

so I sent my stuff in a Lockbox instead. i have my NOA1. still waiting for the NOA2.

[matteo66062 1]

The Lady on that window was being a biaaatch to me. she was asking me for so much stuff to prove residency, I have been in the Philippines for like 8 years straight. school records werent enough for her.. she was asking me for other bills/statements, which i did not have because we were living with my mom... hmp!

so I sent my stuff in a Lockbox instead. i have my NOA1. still waiting for the NOA2.

Yes, they were strict on that too, I had my 13a Residency Visa in hand plus letters, bills, all the works. The icebreaker was I bought a motorcycle when I first arrived and had a notarized bill of sale. They allowed me to file with that. I just received the notice of approval today.Took ten days to arrive Phil Mail. We live just outside Manila in the Rizal Province. It was actually approved on Sept 18, only 14 days after I filed. It states paperwork has been sent to Manila. That seems extremely fast. Just trying to figure the next step.

[matteo66062 1]

The USCIS unit at the US Embassy in Manila have less petitioners to process compared to CSC, VSC, or Texas. Therefore, on the average they are 2 to 3 months faster compared to filing in the US. After the USCIS processing, they all go to the NVC in New Hampshire where everything's evened out among all the immigration service centers. If your paperwork got there first, naturally it would come out first.

Got my Notice of Approval today. Was actually approved Sept 18 only 14 business days after I filed (Filed Aug 29,2012 in person in Manila). It says paperwork is being sent to Manila and she will be receiving information at our house here where we both live. Any advice on the next step? We already have her NBI, separate police clearance, original birth and marriage certs. Just trying to figure when to get the medical.I know being here in the Phil and DCF is a different process, so I'm having a hard time finding answers. This is going fast so far.

God Bless

[MHikoPI 1]

Yes, your case is going great! You should receive a letter with instructions for getting the interview started. It has a form DS2001 which says that you have all your docs ready, your wife signs this. You send it by fax, email, or deliver it yourself. Im doing mine by email. After they receive this they will tell you how to setup interview. Not sure about this part on how to set interview, but it seems easy to do. When you have the date available and an appt letter, you can start setting up your medical exam at St Lukes, this can be done online too. In your statement about your docs you have, do you have your i-864 (affidavit of Support)done?

I just found this link to the letter we receive after we turn in the DS2001:

VJ

MHikoPI

Edited October 1, 2012 by MHikoPI

[matteo66062 1]

Yes, your case is going great! You should receive a letter with instructions for getting the interview started. It has a form DS2001 which says that you have all your docs ready, your wife signs this. You send it by fax, email, or deliver it yourself. Im doing mine by email. After they receive this they will tell you how to setup interview. Not sure about this part on how to set interview, but it seems easy to do. When you have the date available and an appt letter, you can start setting up your medical exam at St Lukes, this can be done online too. In your statement about your docs you have, do you have your i-864 (affidavit of Support)done?

I just found this link to the letter we receive after we turn in the DS2001:

VJ

MHikoPI

Thanks for that info! That is a big help on how to proceed. Yes we have the 864, however as a missionary, I have zero income for the last two years. From my understanding, I still need to fill out 864,but file 864a as well. My sister is completing 864a to accompany my 864 for combined income which will well qualify for support. Please let me know if I am wrong, but I think that is the correct way if the petitioner's income doesn't qualify.

[MHikoPI 1]

Hi Matthew, I learned that if your sister's income is enough to qualify as a sponsor, then she will fill out the i-864. But if, like you said, it has to be a combined income with yours to qualify, then she will use the i-864a.

Miko

[MHikoPI 1]

I just want to clarify my statement:

Both, you and your sister will use form i-864, if your sister's income alone can qualify for the 125% poverty guidelines. Otherwise, with combined incomes, then she will use i-864a.

Hope that helps.

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

I just wanted to clarify on the use of I-864a: it is only to be used in the case of a co-sponsor who lives in the SAME HOUSEHOLD and will combine their income with the main sponsor. If the co-sponsor lives in a different household, they file an I-864, and their income must be sufficient to cover their household plus the intending immigrant at 125% of the federal poverty guideline.

In either situation, the petitioner files an full I-864 and if they have 0 income, they report this and include an affidavit explaining their absence of income.

Edited October 4, 2012 by GlobeHopperMama

[matteo66062 1]

I just wanted to clarify on the use of I-864a: it is only to be used in the case of a co-sponsor who lives in the SAME HOUSEHOLD and will combine their income with the main sponsor. If the co-sponsor lives in a different household, they file an I-864, and their income must be sufficient to cover their household plus the intending immigrant at 125% of the federal poverty guideline.

In either situation, the petitioner files an full I-864 and if they have 0 income, they report this and include an affidavit explaining their absence of income.

Thats a big help!Yes my sister is of same household so we will use 864a then. The salvation Army has issued a letter for reasons of lack of income due to the fact I am a missionary. I actually do have a W2 for one months work in the USA in January 2011 right before I moved here to the Philippines.

We just filed I-130 on August 29 and were granted an expedited processing thanks to the help of Congressman Sam Graves, of Missouri. We got packet 3 today and faxed the Notification of Readiness and form DS 230 to the embassy. The lady I talked to in Manila today said once they received the fax, they would very quickly be setting our interview date. This is moving at a lightning pace.

Thanks again!

[matteo66062 1]

Hi Matthew, I learned that if your sister's income is enough to qualify as a sponsor, then she will fill out the i-864. But if, like you said, it has to be a combined income with yours to qualify, then she will use the i-864a.

Miko

Thanks again! We received packet 3 today and faxed to the embassy. The lady said it was actually mailed from Manila on the 22nd. We live only 22 miles from Manila in Tanay, Rizal, so about 9 days for a letter to travel here. They said and appointment would be available after they received the fax. Any idea on how long that takes?

[matteo66062 1]

I just wanted to clarify on the use of I-864a: it is only to be used in the case of a co-sponsor who lives in the SAME HOUSEHOLD and will combine their income with the main sponsor. If the co-sponsor lives in a different household, they file an I-864, and their income must be sufficient to cover their household plus the intending immigrant at 125% of the federal poverty guideline.

In either situation, the petitioner files an full I-864 and if they have 0 income, they report this and include an affidavit explaining their absence of income.

I just wanted to clarify on the use of I-864a: it is only to be used in the case of a co-sponsor who lives in the SAME HOUSEHOLD and will combine their income with the main sponsor. If the co-sponsor lives in a different household, they file an I-864, and their income must be sufficient to cover their household plus the intending immigrant at 125% of the federal poverty guideline.

In either situation, the petitioner files an full I-864 and if they have 0 income, they report this and include an affidavit explaining their absence of income.

I read your story, thanks for sharing that link.I don't even know what to say. I am happy however, you were able to find a place to be together, but I am amazed that law is allowed to stand to this day. May the Lord bless you and your family an we will most definitely add you to our prayer list.

God Bless,

Matthew

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Thank you for your kind words, Matthew. Actually, in an interesting turn of events, DHS recently announced that they will be releasing guidelines regarding the application of that law to people who were minors at the time. Very exciting stuff for us, it could have very good implications. We're anxiously awaiting the release of the new policy before we schedule a new immigrant visa interview in Seoul. There is a lot of hope right now, we're kind of excited. I'd love to move back home!!!

Wishing the best to you and your family as well!

[lovekoto 3]

Try to call them after 3 days or 5 days to inquire if they have uploaded your case in the system. I am suggesting you to sign up for scheduling online your interview date. It is much better because you can view all available slots and you can choose your desired interview date.

Have also the online registration to be brought at St. Lukes for the medical. The form is available at St. lukes' website.

Thanks again! We received packet 3 today and faxed to the embassy. The lady said it was actually mailed from Manila on the 22nd. We live only 22 miles from Manila in Tanay, Rizal, so about 9 days for a letter to travel here. They said and appointment would be available after they received the fax. Any idea on how long that takes?