Medical and USEM questions

[j&ana 363]

You can register on the interview sight but don't go to the interview screen. But it is not necessary to do this step an the stage of the process that you are at now. If you have your MNL#, don't wait. Time is wasting.

She will know if she is approved as they will keep her passport and hand her a slip of paper to go to a designated website to verify her deliver address. Of course, it's not unheard of that an applicant, who really wants to know if they are approved, to ask the interviewing CO.

Do you have the Embassy Letter as your checklist? Everything you need is in that list including the statement:

Do not finalize arrangements for travel to the United States, dispose of property, or resign from your job until a visa has been issued and delivered to you.

Hank and I have websites with great information, with a step by step guide that can answer all these questions saving you time. See our signature box and click on the links at the end of the arrows.

The op does not need to go to the interview website. The NVC has already schedule interview. He simply wanted to know if his wife will know after interview if they will know if her visa is approve. Yes they will know the officer will tell her or she can ask. Yes usually when they keep the passport the visa is approve but it is best just to ask to be sure

You and hank both have good info and link for the k-1visa but when you tell someone that is doing a cr-1 visa to look at your link for k-1 visa. It often times confuses them more then help them. It is almost like spamming

[Greenbaum 12,259]

The op does not need to go to the interview website. The NVC has already schedule interview. He simply wanted to know if his wife will know after interview if they will know if her visa is approve. Yes they will know the officer will tell her or she can ask. Yes usually when they keep the passport the visa is approve but it is best just to ask to be sure

You and hank both have good info and link for the k-1visa but when you tell someone that is doing a cr-1 visa to look at your link for k-1 visa. It often times confuses them more then help them. It is almost like spamming

I wished the OP would update is timeline and profile so the rest of us can see what he is trying to do. It just plain makes sense.

For his visa, yes portions will not apply but others will. In the future, I just need to slow down and determine what they are chasing before making recommendations to help.

Thanks.

[Brassballs 47]

The op does not need to go to the interview website. The NVC has already schedule interview. He simply wanted to know if his wife will know after interview if they will know if her visa is approve. Yes they will know the officer will tell her or she can ask. Yes usually when they keep the passport the visa is approve but it is best just to ask to be sure

You and hank both have good info and link for the k-1visa but when you tell someone that is doing a cr-1 visa to look at your link for k-1 visa. It often times confuses them more then help them. It is almost like spamming

Well that is kind of strong response to the effort that both Hank and Greenbaum provide to this forum, although true. The time and effort that both spend answering about 20-30% the same questions month after month is truly commendable.

I have offered to provide a Cr1/CR2 update that I hope with my wife's assistance will be ready in a month or so. I didn't take copious notes along the way so will be relying on my wife's input to fill in some of the blanks. I hope both of you stick around long enough to provide a critical review of what I remember the CR1 process to have been and make needed changes as deemed necessary.

It is difficult for any member to provide guidance when the actual visa being chased is not known. Since it seems that about 80% are K1, another 10% CR1, and the balance all others, one would likely guide the unknown to the K1 help. A while ago I saw a question from a FR2(?) and I wouldn't try answering that one at all since I have no knowledge of what it is let alone how to get it.

It would be nice if anyone going for a DCF would also provide an amended guide. We can only hope.

[j&ana 363]

I was not trying to be hard. but I have seen many questions about the cr-1 visa, then the person direct them to their link that is for K-1 visa. You and I both know it is way different.

I agree with you that valuable and good info is giving in the links provided but it is for K-1 visa. I also agree that it helps if a person provides more info or complete a timeline, but on the other hand if a person is trying to help then they should read the question fully. It may or may not have all info needed. if you need help with your update. I will be glad to help

I have wrote a couple of post on the process. the visa process I remember fairly well. the marriage process not as well. It was more overwhelming to me going to another country getting married . But after everything was done the wedding was a lot less stressful then I thought it would be

[Optimistical 0]

Hey guys,

I'm happy for any and all help. It was nice when I realized the K-1 guide wasn't directly applicable to our situation but it still has some nice info in there that I think was helpful to read over.

I think I have updated my profile and timeline to reflect IR-1/CR-1 and most of the dates so far. Is it not view-able? I'm not sure why. I tried to update it about a week ago.

We don't have any embassy letter yet - just the NVC email. I'm eagerly awaiting the embassy letter. I guess it'll come as an email once the embassy receives the visa packet from NVC?

My only concern at this point (other than passing the medical this Tue/Wed) is getting together paperwork for the USEM interview and whether I should amend taxes to show MFJ (married filing jointly). I'm gathering from the posts on here that I shouldn't amend taxes. Or maybe I should and let my wife hand-carry a copy of the amended taxes with her to the interview just to have in case they ask for them? Hm....that seems safer?

She read somewhere that she needs to take a copy of my AOS with her but I don't think I kept any copy of that - I just sent it off to NVC. What should I do in that case? Just fill out another copy of it to give to her?

I guess the Embassy letter (when it arrives) will show everything needed for USEM? The NVC letter includes a list of docs. Maybe that is the same as the embassy letter?

Also the NVC letter says that all original docs must be brought to the interview. Does this mean I need to get a set of physical docs ready then send them from the U.S. to my wife? i.e. tax return, w-2's, birth cert, etc?

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Well that is kind of strong response to the effort that both Hank and Greenbaum provide to this forum, although true. The time and effort that both spend answering about 20-30% the same questions month after month is truly commendable.

I have offered to provide a Cr1/CR2 update that I hope with my wife's assistance will be ready in a month or so. I didn't take copious notes along the way so will be relying on my wife's input to fill in some of the blanks. I hope both of you stick around long enough to provide a critical review of what I remember the CR1 process to have been and make needed changes as deemed necessary.

It is difficult for any member to provide guidance when the actual visa being chased is not known. Since it seems that about 80% are K1, another 10% CR1, and the balance all others, one would likely guide the unknown to the K1 help. A while ago I saw a question from a FR2(?) and I wouldn't try answering that one at all since I have no knowledge of what it is let alone how to get it.

It would be nice if anyone going for a DCF would also provide an amended guide. We can only hope.

Thanks for the support Brass.

I was not trying to be hard. but I have seen many questions about the cr-1 visa, then the person direct them to their link that is for K-1 visa. You and I both know it is way different.

I agree with you that valuable and good info is giving in the links provided but it is for K-1 visa. I also agree that it helps if a person provides more info or complete a timeline, but on the other hand if a person is trying to help then they should read the question fully. It may or may not have all info needed. if you need help with your update. I will be glad to help

I have wrote a couple of post on the process. the visa process I remember fairly well. the marriage process not as well. It was more overwhelming to me going to another country getting married . But after everything was done the wedding was a lot less stressful then I thought it would be

Thank you for keeping me straight on K1 and CR1. It helps to have veterans here that can help on the different Visa's.

Having someone directed to guides, whether it's VJ, Hank's or mine helps the OP. The process's for CENOMAR (CEMAR), NBI, CFO, PSA, Passport, Police Clearances, Medical at SLEC, directions to arrive at different locations, maps of the Embassy and so on and so forth are not different for any one visa. So directing them to a website maybe should have a caveat attached, informing the OP to know that not all procedures are required for the CR1 but so many more overlap that can help them migrate the process.

Just my two cents.

Edited August 31, 2015 by Greenbaum

[Brassballs 47]

Hey guys,

I'm happy for any and all help. It was nice when I realized the K-1 guide wasn't directly applicable to our situation but it still has some nice info in there that I think was helpful to read over.

I think I have updated my profile and timeline to reflect IR-1/CR-1 and most of the dates so far. Is it not view-able? I'm not sure why. I tried to update it about a week ago.

We don't have any embassy letter yet - just the NVC email. I'm eagerly awaiting the embassy letter. I guess it'll come as an email once the embassy receives the visa packet from NVC?

My only concern at this point (other than passing the medical this Tue/Wed) is getting together paperwork for the USEM interview and whether I should amend taxes to show MFJ (married filing jointly). I'm gathering from the posts on here that I shouldn't amend taxes. Or maybe I should and let my wife hand-carry a copy of the amended taxes with her to the interview just to have in case they ask for them? Hm....that seems safer?

She read somewhere that she needs to take a copy of my AOS with her but I don't think I kept any copy of that - I just sent it off to NVC. What should I do in that case? Just fill out another copy of it to give to her?

I guess the Embassy letter (when it arrives) will show everything needed for USEM? The NVC letter includes a list of docs. Maybe that is the same as the embassy letter?

Also the NVC letter says that all original docs must be brought to the interview. Does this mean I need to get a set of physical docs ready then send them from the U.S. to my wife? i.e. tax return, w-2's, birth cert, etc?

Wait until you get an email from the USEM advising you of the interview date. In that letter there will be a list of 20 or so documents that pertain to different types of visas with a code letter associated with each one. On the following page is the secret decoder ring that tells you what each letter means. Basically you'll be looking for 3 codes: NVC already has, original must be provided, not required. That will be your guidance on what you will need to fedex to your wife. One doc that is not specifically mentioned by name is the CENOMAR which she will have to produce to avoid getting a 221g delay notice.

[j&ana 363]

yes you should wait to amend your taxes. The NVC should of sent your Financial packet to the Embassy. With that said you might still want to send your wife copy of the AOS packets, as stuff can get lost. I sent my wife my newer tax info alone with copy of the AOS packets for interview. she told me the officer did not even look at it. Do make sure your wife have all her original documents. As mention she will need a cenomar( although technical what she will get is a letter that says advisory to marriage). I ask my wife why it was call a cenomar instead of cemar if you are married. She told me that cenomar is just what it is call. The letter you receive is different

single ( certificate of no marriage)

married ( advisory to marriage)

Edited August 31, 2015 by j&ana

[Brassballs 47]

yes you should wait to amend your taxes. The NVC should of sent your Financial packet to the Embassy. With that said you might still want to send your wife copy of the AOS packets, as stuff can get lost. I sent my wife my newer tax info alone with copy of the AOS packets for interview. she told me the officer did not even look at it. Do make sure your wife have all her original documents. As mention she will need a cenomar( although technical what she will get is a letter that says advisory to marriage). I ask my wife why it was call a cenomar instead of cemar if you are married. She told me that cenomar is just what it is call. The letter you receive is different

single ( certificate of no marriage)

married ( advisory to marriage)

This far into our journey (13 days from traveling) I'm still learning. When my wife got the 221g at the interview, members here referred to it as CEMAR. When I asked my wife she said it was a CENOMAR. I then asked how she could get a ceNOmar when she is married to me already. Now I understand. Only in PI can 2 different documents have the same name!

[j&ana 363]

This far into our journey (13 days from traveling) I'm still learning. When my wife got the 221g at the interview, members here referred to it as CEMAR. When I asked my wife she said it was a CENOMAR. I then asked how she could get a ceNOmar when she is married to me already. Now I understand. Only in PI can 2 different documents have the same name!

yes just like the NBI clearance for notation of no criminal record. I thought my wife needed explanation. Since she has no criminal record. we had a big augment over that lucky, I have a wife that also research and knows what is going on. I did not know anything about the Cenomar but she did. I ask her how she knew. she told me thru her K-1 group. I told her you are doing the cr-1 visa she said she knew that but there are more Filipina doing the K-1 visa

yes confusing just like the NBI clearance for notation of no criminal record. I thought my wife needed explanation. Since she has no criminal record. we had a big augment over that lucky, I have a wife that also research and knows what is going on. I did not know anything about the Cenomar but she did. I ask her how she knew. she told me thru her K-1 group. I told her you are doing the cr-1 visa she said she knew that but there are more Filipinas doing the K-1 visa

Edited September 1, 2015 by j&ana

[Greenbaum 12,259]

We keep learning each and everyday about the process and it never surprises me when something changes.

For instance. After the interview they would send you to window 78 to verify your address etc. Now the interviewing CO gives you a little slip of paper and tells you to go to ultradocs and verify your address. Here is a picture of what it looks like.

Having two sets of eyeballs on your forms and documents sure does help. My wife and I went over everything together. I upload it to our dropbox account and she would look at it and verify the information. Once we agreed that it was correct, and what we thought was perfect, we would send it off. We never got a RFE, except for the NBI on a case that was 10 years old and had been dismissed by the courts but never updated with NBI. We also never had the AOS interview for the AOS/GC processing. For the NBI we knew we would have a speed bump, so we worked 2 months ahead of the interview to satisfy NBI. The local NBI took the court papers and sent them on to Manila to update her records. Damn, if it was never done. So, RFE from the interview. Went with the same information to NBI Manila and corrected her record and answered the RFE and two weeks later was approved.

So you never know what's going to pop up.

[j&ana 363]

correction on my post it should be advisory of marriage not advisory to marriage

[Brassballs 47]

yes just like the NBI clearance for notation of no criminal record. I thought my wife needed explanation. Since she has no criminal record. we had a big augment over that lucky, I have a wife that also research and knows what is going on. I did not know anything about the Cenomar but she did. I ask her how she knew. she told me thru her K-1 group. I told her you are doing the cr-1 visa she said she knew that but there are more Filipina doing the K-1 visa

Forgot about that one.

My asawa and I went round and round on that one. I had no idea there was a difference between 'no record on file' and 'no criminal record'. I told her not to leave NBI until she had the 'explanation' letter which they said she didn't need and I of course said she did. Those were some interesting Skype calls.

Just another minor pothole in the overall journey.

[Optimistical 0]

About the letter from Embassy. I think it might not arrive any longer because the email from NVC had all of those decoder codes and a list of docs.

Also about AOS I didn't keep a copy....should I fill up another form to send to her?

And about registering online I'm not sure how to do it without an embassy letter. It's been almost a week - hopefully the embassy does actually send an email (I guess it's not a snail mail letter, it's just email?)

[j&ana 363]

About the letter from Embassy. I think it might not arrive any longer because the email from NVC had all of those decoder codes and a list of docs.

Also about AOS I didn't keep a copy....should I fill up another form to send to her?

And about registering online I'm not sure how to do it without an embassy letter. It's been almost a week - hopefully the embassy does actually send an email (I guess it's not a snail mail letter, it's just email?)

You do not need the letter if you have the e-mail . the letter will say the same thing the e-mail does

Your wife needs to bring a copy of the interview letter or ( interview e-mail) to the medical

You do not need to register online that is for k-1 visa. The address that you put on the DS-260 form is where the visa will be deliver. The delivery of visa is done thru 2go.

you do not need to send your wife a copy of the AOS that is up to you. The NVC should send everything to the embassy. there is very slight chance stuff could get lost or misplace. I sent my copy of everything in the AOS packet but she told me they did not even look at any of it.