US Embassy Manila Interview - K1 Visa (On Administrative Processing; Denied Co-sponsorship; Issued 221g; CO on Power Trip?)

[Hank_ 9,174]

co-sponsor was her parents no doubt and the CO was find with that.

Made a note for future reference... co-sponsor NEEDS to be family with the K-1 to even have a chance of acceptance, still just a chance.

Edited July 5, 2013 by Hank_

[DaRoq 36]

Thank you, Steve!

Thanks for the well wishes!

Thank you for sharing your experience, dear!

UPDATE:

Our Case Status on CEAC has changed today to "READY". I don't know if this was because of my call last Monday. Or the fact that Christopher contacted his representatives and a congressional aide has put in an official inquiry on our case the past couple of days. (Also, I didn't call on Wednesday, was waiting to call next week, so as not to irritate Embassy employees. Hee.)

I'm just glad that it was sent back for review, and hopefully, they'd reconsider his assets and savings too.

The fiance also learned today that his employer just granted him life insurance benefit worth 1-year of salary. Benefits count too, so this should put us above the 125%. Again, we'll be preparing additional paperwork just in case we get contacted for more evidence of current sustained income, and this time with his pay stubs reflecting his pay raise as CS Manager.

Still hoping for the best!

This is good to know, but does that mean we should put total compensation?

Edited July 5, 2013 by DaRoq

[Tahoma 2,292]

HUGE UPDATE!!!!!!!!

It's 3:36am. I'm WIDE AWAKE. Christopher woke me up with a phone call and told me to check my email and it was from the Congressional Aide.

Subject: Good News

Hi Chris!

I just got off the phone with my contact at the Department of State. She said that she spoke with the Manila consular office. They told her that they had reviewed the additional information you sent in, approved it and will be issuing the visa soon (if not already).

Let’s hope it is smooth sailing from here on out!

Kate ____________

Constituent Services

THIS IS THE BEST. NEWS. EVER. <3

^^^ Congratz guyz!

co-sponsor was her parents no doubt and the CO was find with that.

Made a note for future reference... co-sponsor NEEDS to be family with the K-1 to even have a chance of acceptance, still just a chance.

^^^ Her father was the joint sponsor. However, I've seen Manila cases here on VJ which were approved with a joint sponsor who was not a family member.

[Mrs.Presson 16]

^^^ Congratz guyz!

Thank you, Tahoma!

[Natsukiii 35]

Congratulations! I'm happy to hear that everything worked out. God bless!

Justin

[Mrs.Presson 16]

Congratulations! I'm happy to hear that everything worked out. God bless!

Justin

Thank you, Justin! I'm still on Cloud9. Still can't believe the outside push from his representative worked! (Just like RobertDski said.) <3

~Erika

Erika, have Chris contact his Congressperson, House of Representative person and see if she/he can intervene. At this stage, you may need an outside push- it really can't hurt. RobertD

Also, Thank you RoberDski for making this suggestion.

[RobertDski 3]

I'm thrilled. You seemed so heart-broken, glad the magic worked. We are waiting for our packet after our NOA2 arrived but ours is pretty easy-we have been married 2 years+ and have a baby, so..it has gone easily so far. Overjoyed for you-Praise God, you'll be going home.

[caefie19 0]

Hello everyone. I have a question here regarding our interview date here in Manila US Embassy, it took very far from what we expected. I paid all the fees that we needed to for K1 and K2 last December 12-13, 2013. When I made an appointment for the interview it all shows that the appointments are available on APRIL 2014. I don't know if this happens all the time that we have to wait for like 4 months for the interview. I am hoping that we can have much earlier appointment on January 2014 so that we can celebrate our son's 7th birthday in Disneyland. is there any possibility that appointments can be earlier than this? Please help me. Thank you very much.

[Mrs.Presson 16]

I'm thrilled. You seemed so heart-broken, glad the magic worked. We are waiting for our packet after our NOA2 arrived but ours is pretty easy-we have been married 2 years+ and have a baby, so..it has gone easily so far. Overjoyed for you-Praise God, you'll be going home.

Wow I'm sorry I wasn't able to say thank you for your reply! Better late than never, I guess? How are things coming along? Is your family here in the US with you now?

Hello everyone. I have a question here regarding our interview date here in Manila US Embassy, it took very far from what we expected. I paid all the fees that we needed to for K1 and K2 last December 12-13, 2013. When I made an appointment for the interview it all shows that the appointments are available on APRIL 2014. I don't know if this happens all the time that we have to wait for like 4 months for the interview. I am hoping that we can have much earlier appointment on January 2014 so that we can celebrate our son's 7th birthday in Disneyland. is there any possibility that appointments can be earlier than this? Please help me. Thank you very much.

Hi caefie19, I think that is the case for everyone else at this point. April 2014 are the next available slots for interview. I know someone who's trying to book their interview date too.

Best bet would be, try to call US Embassy Manila? Best of luck to you! I hope you guys can grant your son's birthday wish.

Edited December 16, 2013 by Mrs.Presson

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello everyone. I have a question here regarding our interview date here in Manila US Embassy, it took very far from what we expected. I paid all the fees that we needed to for K1 and K2 last December 12-13, 2013. When I made an appointment for the interview it all shows that the appointments are available on APRIL 2014. I don't know if this happens all the time that we have to wait for like 4 months for the interview. I am hoping that we can have much earlier appointment on January 2014 so that we can celebrate our son's 7th birthday in Disneyland. is there any possibility that appointments can be earlier than this? Please help me. Thank you very much.

You would do better to start a new topic instead of hijacking this topic.

As for your question, the available dates are what you see. C'est la vie

(priority has been given to those that suffered loss from the typhoon, so earlier dates are ... gone. And rightly so)

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Hello everyone. I have a question here regarding our interview date here in Manila US Embassy, it took very far from what we expected. I paid all the fees that we needed to for K1 and K2 last December 12-13, 2013. When I made an appointment for the interview it all shows that the appointments are available on APRIL 2014. I don't know if this happens all the time that we have to wait for like 4 months for the interview. I am hoping that we can have much earlier appointment on January 2014 so that we can celebrate our son's 7th birthday in Disneyland. is there any possibility that appointments can be earlier than this? Please help me. Thank you very much.

Ummm, rather than respond to a thread that is MONTHS old, and with a topic that is totally unrelated to the topic here, you might be better served starting your own thread about your situation. And yes, wait times are long now. Think.... STORM OF THE CENTURY and all that goes along with that.

ETA: I see Hank already told you the same thing, I responded to you before reading any lower. Great minds think alike, and all that...

Mrs. Presson, I am happy to read that you guys were approved and have moved on thru the process. Sorry that it happened, and while I understand why the CO did what he did, I call bull$hit on what they did to you. I know of others on here who have gotten approved who were nowhere near the 125% mark, and they used a co-sponsor. It is truly unfair and frustrating that the COs have the power to pick and choose who sneaks by on the 125% rule (which is TECHNICALLY supposed to be a 100% rule at the USEM; 125% is supposed to happen at AOS time). Sorry for the added stress, but glad you guys made it!

Edited December 16, 2013 by DavenRoxy

[Mrs.Presson 16]

Mrs. Presson, I am happy to read that you guys were approved and have moved on thru the process. Sorry that it happened, and while I understand why the CO did what he did, I call bull$hit on what they did to you. I know of others on here who have gotten approved who were nowhere near the 125% mark, and they used a co-sponsor. It is truly unfair and frustrating that the COs have the power to pick and choose who sneaks by on the 125% rule (which is TECHNICALLY supposed to be a 100% rule at the USEM; 125% is supposed to happen at AOS time). Sorry for the added stress, but glad you guys made it!

Thank you! It's all in the past now. (And I bet that CO was already put in his 'place' by now. Especially with involving Congressman Cramer's office.)

But yes, it's quite unfair. And really CONFUSING. They were giving us so many answers as to what it really was. Exact words that came from the CO's mouth was 100%. My then-fiancé-now-husband asked him twice if it's 125% or 100%. He responded with 100%. The woman on the IV Unit phone call however told us we didn't make the 125%.

Everything's fine now. I'm here. Married. Already have my EAD/AP Combo card and waiting on our AOS Approval. Apart from my husband being promoted, he got his pay raise in August 2013, and he got another pay raise a week ago. We're DEFINITELY above 125% now.

All thanks to the VJ community's support, prayers and well wishes!

Edited December 16, 2013 by Mrs.Presson

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Thank you! It's all in the past now.

Exact words that came from the CO's mouth was 100%. My then-fiancé-now-husband asked him twice if it's 125% or 100%. He responded with 100%. The woman on the IV Unit phone call however told us we didn't make the 125%.

It IS 100%, I have been saying that all along (though Hank keeps pointing out that most CO's use the 125% thing). It is unfair, and if they are going to use 125%, then it should be on the USEM website as well as in the instructions. Only the I-864 mentions 125% (100% for military).

Grrrrr. But all's well that ends well. Hopefully your story and getting government involvement will make it easier for those that follow...

[Hank_ 9,174]

It IS 100%, I have been saying that all along (though Hank keeps pointing out that most CO's use the 125% thing). It is unfair, and if they are going to use 125%, then it should be on the USEM website as well as in the instructions. Only the I-864 mentions 125% (100% for military).

Grrrrr. But all's well that ends well. Hopefully your story and getting government involvement will make it easier for those that follow...

If you read the info that is related to the I-134 is it 100%, but the form is not designed for the K-1 visa and of course the embassy does not follow any rules but their own .... and they want to see 125% (even read that on the USEM website a few months back, but silly me I didn't bookmark it at the time)

[Greenbaum 12,259]

First I'd like to say CONGRATUATIONS to Mrs. Presson and Chris for their perseverance during a very difficult time. I love how a "plan" comes together as it did whey you took the recommendation of RoberDski. I am so happy for you guys. It's just boggles my mind when I see things like this happening where the ruling and playing field is never level. It's hard enough to meet all the "red tape" as it is but do disregard your own rules - oh vay. I am very happy for you guys.

Gods speed for the rest of your travels.