We made history: USCIS Manila had one of their first.

[SilentOdyssey 6]

USCIS Field Director Thomas Curley remarked that I was their first Deaf American to do Direct Consular Filing at USCIS Manila.

To share my experience at US Embassy on August 20 which was so memorable and thrilling, I first want to start with our appearance 2nd floor with America Citizen Service Window 11 yesterday morning. My wife and I are Deaf and, we brought our 3 years old Fil-Am son; our Consular Report of Birth Aboard was mail-in appointment, which gave us easy opportunity to write in note to request our CRBA interview be held in sign language.

After passing through security house we took Lane #4 leading to Door #4 of NOX (New Annex Building). Opened 2012 the first person we encounter, aside uniformed Embassy guards, was young Filipina Embassy receptionist. It seems they were expecting us, if not, without fanfare. I noted to her that I want to do my petition schedule beforehand, shown time booked indicated my USCIS appointment letter, so I try not to do the interview first. She immediate telephoned upstairs and then quickly escorted us to elevator and to ACS Window 11. Filipina Consular told us to go over at USCIS window and come back when I'm done.

We went to Window 25, the only place where USCIS Manila maintain their contact with public. Since we assumed they have arrange special accommodation, we were seated in the front for good of 35 minutes or more of eternally, until one of Embassy police informed in post-it note that ACS wanted us back to Window 11. They brought in African-American Sign Language Interpreter beside Filipina Officer. At first he teased us, scared my wife and me, believing he's just a Signer, when he started in fingerspell with "h-i"much slow. To our thought; oh no our CRBA will take too long, and this mean I might not make it for DCF at USCIS, I winced to myself. (FYI, they opened M-F 8 a.m. to 12 noon and appointment via INFOPASS is almost a mandatory).

More to shorten the story of how CRBA and US Passport was approved, I asked our American Consular permission to call up USCIS and to transfer ASL Interpreter and meet us there. To his surprise he said USCIS had never asked him to appear (this is why our 9 a.m. was no-show on Window 25). Arriving at the end of north most section of the building, with ASL Interpreter standing leeward of Filipina USCIS Officer began to leave her post (same one as we first saw hours ago), retreat to hand the window to the Field Director of USCIS Manila came forth and heralded his welcome. "Welcome to United States Citizen and Immigration Service. We want you to know we are best USCIS all around. We are glad you are here...." Bit of bravo but anyway. I could hear him announcing his deep America voice (I got my brand new hearing aid on) with smile of signature American greeting. I thank him and asking him whether he is [Field] Director and his name is Tom? He admitted he is. I informed how appreciative I'm coming to meet him. The Director even introduced this ASL Interpreter's name as Jeff B.

Replacing to same USCIS Filipina Officer she took my I-130 Petition while my wife was seat, busy making our hyper-active son happy. The Officer applied white-out, saying it should be my Philippine address, not U.S. Address, which I dutifully making amendment. Gave me a Consent form to fill out, which I guess it is novel way to help my petition to reach NOA2 (Notice of Action 2) in shorter span of time, I believed, for quicker approval. Provide it has my signature and Philippine contact # to authorize them to do in singular sheet to various places, e.g. FBI, to do background check lot faster than to drag I-130 wholly. She asked me if I want to put down my email address which I did added. Next she did was doing putting a short request slip for the cashier and clipped together whole of my petition and gave back to me for the cashier to see. At Window 15 my USCIS payment was done with stapled receipt to the slip then back. I checked on whereabouts of my wife and our son before heading back. I espied that Field Director appeared putting himself out of view until my quick submission was done. I resubmitted my petition through the window. The slip with stapled receipt was handed back to me.

On my effort to gather all folders and loose papers back to tote bag, Tom came forth to the window, joining together with Interpreter Jeff and began to chat with my wife upon their return. I learnt bit later, on leaving NOX building, that they two--Tom and my wife--was sharing stories of his and our boys. Both same age and temperament, Tom told her his best way for discipline on his son was to drop on surface to make violate noise of disapproval as to pound "heavy books" down. Tom went on saying he avoid punish his children physically, resort only to discipline verbally.

As for me, my record-held as "Longest Deaf American living in the Philippines" will be coming to end, when I fly off "Pearl of Oriental Seas"next week. My living other side of the world since 2007 to present date stem up with countless of friends, an experience I earn than ever in my lifetime, was worthwhile. I will humbling return as tourist instead of being her resident. Philippine people has their own destiny that guide into pathway they want to mold where there's no room to enter her society. So now I have mine, and I'm bring my family together for new homeland, to the land of the free and the brave. Good-bye, I shall not return as you knew me as before; rather, I will return as a visitor. However, I will remain with Visajourney.com, a wonderful place where we can be grand and learning D.I.Y, at the same time without breaking the bank.

If you do know what "Fiddle on the roof" excitement is all about, to rejoiced at prospect seeing how quickest and streamlining route does make and hearing yourself, "Hurrah, I DID it!" Then DCF is for you. Showing my spouse easy way than doing NVC route (as performed in stateside USCIS lockbox) and effort to debunking what other people telling my wife negative way, even I reassured their stories doesn't apply and know best of DCF countless times, now she finally exhaled all the way back to our hotel. I'm her hero and I can see she act out like she waltzing across the floor jubilantly. I have earn more faith from her, in very hour before and soon after my petition with USCIS was accepted.

By actual living with your spouse in other country (no matter where but) it is where USCIS has it's field office does COUNT to file directly. Window 25 located far side of those 2 photos, the northern most side of 2nd floor. As of today, active opened post of all Windows 1-14 ACS; Windows 15 Cashier; Windows 16-20? SSA; Window 25 USCIS.

[SilentOdyssey 6]

I should noted, since this post won't allow me to edit anymore, that this sign language interpreter ranked the top as one of finest American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter I ever met. No signs left uninterpretered and my wife felt, if he will be there by the time of her Consular interview with State Department her interview will have higher chance of getting approved. She understood everything he was interpreting, which is a great relief to me. He said his annual contract with US Embassy Manila runs 3 months every year, and he mentioned while the clerk left her desk that his assignment ends in October.

[bookworm123 7]

Give them a week and your petition will be approved.Glad to meet fellow dcf filers here!Dont forget to leave the signed affidavit of support forms. Our journey lasted 2 months from petition to my port of entry.Best wishes to your family!

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Wow! That is great that you had such a good experience. Good luck on your journey back to America.

[SilentOdyssey 6]

IV Unit emailed me (actually address to my wife which I immediately forwarded to her) 2 days ago, on afternoon of Sept 3rd. So, this mean her priority date now had become available. USCIS (I think) assigned her case number but never send NOA2 (Notice of Action) to either of us. Oh well. We were exciting upon hearing from US Embassy Manila.

Dear CARLSON, ROXANNE PANA:

The enclosed information is about how to apply for immigration to the United States.

Please read and follow all of the enclosed instructions very carefully. Your case is filed under your name as shown below. When communicating with this office either by telephone or letter, you must provide your name and case number exactly as shown in this letter. If they are wrong or incomplete, please inform us.

Sincerely,

Chief, Immigrant Visa Branch

From date of filing, 20 August 2014, as the letter noted to this news was about 9 business days. Next stop is totally up to her getting travel arrangement done for trip to St. Luke Extension Clinic with her sister.

[SilentOdyssey 6]

Give them a week and your petition will be approved.Glad to meet fellow dcf filers here!Dont forget to leave the signed affidavit of support forms. Our journey lasted 2 months from petition to my port of entry.Best wishes to your family!

Thanks. I actual printed and filed away AOS packet and FedEx them tomorrow. Hey, I noticed you and your entourage had arrived stateside only 10 days after consular interview approval. Is that right?

[bookworm123 7]

Thanks. I actual printed and filed away AOS packet and FedEx them tomorrow. Hey, I noticed you and your entourage had arrived stateside only 10 days after consular interview approval. Is that right?

That is true!I had my interview on a friday,picked up the visa packet at ayala on a wednesday,paid the immigrant greencard fee on thursday and flew monday morning.Theres was a last minute deal on delta so hubby grabbed it,had three connecting flights though but its worth it.Told yah it is very fast.Just had to wait for a month before the interview as schedules were really scarce and I just got lucky that someone had cancelled(i think)

[bookworm123 7]

One more thing,the case number will start wiTh MNL and you can email them to get it right away or may take a few days coz now they need to somehow transfer your case to the immig visa unit

[SilentOdyssey 6]

Without USCIS keeping us abreast that supposed NOA2 was never send, and at same time frame IV Unit gotten her case. We first learn of this from IV Unit, it means her USCIS packet is already on IV Unit desk downstairs. So, if USCIS had approved my I-130 petition few days earlier, before even bother to tell us the status doesn't count their professionalism. After all, what G-1145 eNotification is for? Do I let them to say ?

Ah-ha.

[bookworm123 7]

Yup hubby went crazy about that too.Our petition was approved june 4th,when we called june 5th they said its still in process so we called june 10th and found out it was approved a day before we called!haha Then when we asked them about the case # they said they will snail mail it and cant send it thru email(horrifying).So we told them hubby signed and consented the e-notification and thats when they gave us the case number over the phone and email.This was june 13th.So be persistent and ask for it now or monday!

[bookworm123 7]

Im sorry I overlooked the IV unit.You now have your case #.My comment didnt make any sense.Lol Everybody will be in the US in no time!