NVC Phase of CR-1 Visa - A Few Questions

[Sagot 1,548]

A few questions. For the interview date letter is the first barcoded page all that is needed? Take everything. Better safe than sorry.

My tax transcripts are 17 pages long. Can I print them front and back to save paper (and shipping weight) or should I just print on the front of the page? Print EVERYTHING double-sided.

Do I need a copy for my wife and step son or will one copy for both of them be enough? One will be enough.

Can I print the I-864s front and back or is that a bad idea? See above.

I am trying to put packets together with all the documents I am able to provide my wife with that she will need and she can just add the few documents I can't provide her with. This will make things easier for her as she isn't very computer literate and would have a hard time printing everyhting on her own. At the same time I am trying to reduce the weight of my package to reduce shipping costs.

On another note It will probably be mid to the end of March before I fly them here because I have decided to find a house closer to where I work. I currently drive an hour and a half one way then work 12 hours which I am sure my wife wont like. So I have decided to hold off on flying them here and find a place to move to first. Great idea.

I presume you have the USEM scheduling letter? If not wait until it is in your hands or you are able to read it electronically. Read the required documents list 3 times and make sure everything they specify is in your packet.

You didn't mention it earlier, but hotel reservation for the medical? Casa Bocobo is nice, reasonable price and close by.

Should not be a problem printing both sides of the paper. (head/tail so when they flip through the pages when in a file folder the back page starts at the bottom )

Yes to COPIES of the money transfer receipts.

You can also email as PDF files your transcripts and print them in the Phils .. just a suggestion.

[jg121783 3,915]

As far as the PDF idea goes there are two issues with that. First of all I don't feel comfortable having my wife print documents with personal information on them in an internet cafe. The second issue is she is not computer literate so I have to walk her through it every time over the phone. She will have to print the interview letter and medical exam regisration form as my package wont get to her in time for the medical exam. Those documents I will turn into PDFs and email them to her to make it easy for her. For the interview i basically want to send her full packages with everything she needs minus the documents in her possession which she can add to the packages. I was even going to put tabs in the packets showing where every document is then she can just put it in a folder when she gets it. I want to take as much stress off her as possible. She is kind of a shy person and I'm sure she will be at least a little nervous for the interview.

[Sagot 1,548]

Yes those are both issues for sure ...

A shy Filipina? ..

[jg121783 3,915]

You didn't mention it earlier, but hotel reservation for the medical? Casa Bocobo is nice, reasonable price and close by.

I think that is the hotel we will go with. Did you book it ahead of time with a credit card or could my wife get away with just showing up and paying cash? If I go with the credit card route will she have any issues not having me or the credit card there with her? Looks like $130 for 3 nights on Booking.com. What is a good food budget for my wife, step son and her cousin for 3 days in that area? My wife gave me a number but she always under estimates on these types of things (she hates asking me for money). Looks like the hotel has free breakfast. Is it edible or should they eat somewhere else?

[Brassballs 47]

I think that is the hotel we will go with. Did you book it ahead of time with a credit card or could my wife get away with just showing up and paying cash? Definitely book ahead of time. Also check agoda.com and trivago.com. I think rates were around $30 / night, but may be wrong on that.

If I go with the credit card route will she have any issues not having me or the credit card there with her? No issues whatsoever. Just forward her the paid reservation receipt.

Looks like $130 for 3 nights on Booking.com. What is a good food budget for my wife, step son and her cousin for 3 days in that area? Madilyn said that P500 for 3 people is more than adequate. Hotel breakfast is good and filling. Many carendiria around SLEC for lunch / dinner that are really inexpensive as compared to hotel food. There is a Pure Gold nearby to buy snacks to take to hotel if desired. Robinson Mall is also nearby to wander around at night.

My wife gave me a number but she always under estimates on these types of things (she hates asking me for money). Looks like the hotel has free breakfast. Is it edible or should they eat somewhere else?

[xmaricrisx 25]

Looks like the hotel has free breakfast. Is it edible or should they eat somewhere else?

My husband stayed at Casa Bocobo for 5 days and he said that although the food isn't 5-star cuisine, it is good enough to get you through the morning.

[jg121783 3,915]

On 12/29/2016 at 8:21 AM, Brassballs said:

On 12/29/2016 at 3:16 AM, jg121783 said:

I think that is the hotel we will go with. Did you book it ahead of time with a credit card or could my wife get away with just showing up and paying cash? Definitely book ahead of time. Also check agoda.com and trivago.com. I think rates were around $30 / night, but may be wrong on that.

If I go with the credit card route will she have any issues not having me or the credit card there with her? No issues whatsoever. Just forward her the paid reservation receipt.

Looks like $130 for 3 nights on Booking.com. What is a good food budget for my wife, step son and her cousin for 3 days in that area? Madilyn said that P500 for 3 people is more than adequate. Hotel breakfast is good and filling. Many carendiria around SLEC for lunch / dinner that are really inexpensive as compared to hotel food. There is a Pure Gold nearby to buy snacks to take to hotel if desired. Robinson Mall is also nearby to wander around at night.

My wife gave me a number but she always under estimates on these types of things (she hates asking me for money). Looks like the hotel has free breakfast. Is it edible or should they eat somewhere else?

 

On 12/29/2016 at 11:49 AM, xmaricrisx said:

My husband stayed at Casa Bocobo for 5 days and he said that although the food isn't 5-star cuisine, it is good enough to get you through the morning.

First I want to say thanks to brassballs. I checked other websites that you listed for the same room and found the reservation for $20 cheaper. I called booking.com and it sounds like they might honor that price so I might save $20 on my reservation with them. I asked them while they were on the phone how my wife could check in without me being there or having my credit card and they tried calling the hotel to find out but no one answered so they sent an email asking how that would work or if my wife could just pay cash.

 

My wife will be checking in there Monday evening Philippines time so I need to figure out how this will work soon. From the experience you two had with this hotel what do they require from you to check in? If my wife gives them a printout from booking.com with her name on it and shows ID is that good enough? I will probably give booking.com until tonight to reply to get back to me about this then I will call them agian unless you guys know how they do things at this hotel.

[xmaricrisx 25]

5 hours ago, jg121783 said:

 

First I want to say thanks to brassballs. I checked other websites that you listed for the same room and found the reservation for $20 cheaper. I called booking.com and it sounds like they might honor that price so I might save $20 on my reservation with them. I asked them while they were on the phone how my wife could check in without me being there or having my credit card and they tried calling the hotel to find out but no one answered so they sent an email asking how that would work or if my wife could just pay cash.

 

My wife will be checking in there Monday evening Philippines time so I need to figure out how this will work soon. From the experience you two had with this hotel what do they require from you to check in? If my wife gives them a printout from booking.com with her name on it and shows ID is that good enough? I will probably give booking.com until tonight to reply to get back to me about this then I will call them agian unless you guys know how they do things at this hotel.

 

The first time my husband stayed there he didn't have a reservation; he just went there and checked in, then paid with his credit card when he checked-out after 2 nights. The second time he stayed there he actually made a reservation using their website (this is because they offered a discount for booking early, and also no additional fees for early check-in and late check-out). When he arrived at the hotel, he showed them his reservation and also his ID.

 

It says on their website that the person whose credit card is being used needs to be there in person, but the reservation is in her name so I don't know how that's going to work with your wife. Perhaps you can send a copy of your credit card to her, in addition to a copy of your ID and maybe even a letter stating that she has permission to use your credit card, and that will be enough. If not, I'm sure she can just bring cash to pay for it.

[jg121783 3,915]

Just called booking.com and they called the hotel who said my wife should pay with cash and they won't charge my card for the room. Also they agreed to give me a 1000php refund because I found the room cheaper on Expedia. So it should be about $110 for 3 nights which isn't too bad. If my wife likes the room maybe it will be a good place for her to stay for the interview in a few weeks.

 

My wife and step son will be doing their medical about 24 hours from now. What time should they get there? Here are the documents she has. Tell me if I'm missing something.

 

Interview letter

Passport

4 passport photos

Medical registration form

Passport photocopy

 

[xmaricrisx 25]

21 minutes ago, jg121783 said:

Just called booking.com and they called the hotel who said my wife should pay with cash and they won't charge my card for the room. Also they agreed to give me a 1000php refund because I found the room cheaper on Expedia. So it should be about $110 for 3 nights which isn't too bad. If my wife likes the room maybe it will be a good place for her to stay for the interview in a few weeks.

 

My wife and step son will be doing their medical about 24 hours from now. What time should they get there? Here are the documents she has. Tell me if I'm missing something.

 

Interview letter

Passport

4 passport photos

Medical registration form

Passport photocopy

 

 

You seem to have everything good to go  Since it is first come, first served at SLEC, the earlier she arrives the better. My husband arrived at 5am and the lines were already very long, but he would be finished by 10; However, I have read about people arriving at 9 or 10 and finishing at around 12, so really it's to your wife's preference. I hope everything goes smoothly for her and your step-son!

[Brassballs 47]

My personal recommendation would be to have a leisurely breakfast and walk over after the 5AM throng has dissipated.  Whenever she arrives she will get through on that day.  You also said a cousin is going with her.  She won't be allowed in so either stay in the hotel, explore the neighborhood or .....?

[Brassballs 47]

1 hour ago, jg121783 said:

Just called booking.com and they called the hotel who said my wife should pay with cash and they won't charge my card for the room. Also they agreed to give me a 1000php refund because I found the room cheaper on Expedia. So it should be about $110 for 3 nights which isn't too bad. If my wife likes the room maybe it will be a good place for her to stay for the interview in a few weeks.

 

My wife and step son will be doing their medical about 24 hours from now. What time should they get there? Here are the documents she has. Tell me if I'm missing something.

 

Interview letter

Passport

4 passport photos

Medical registration form

Passport photocopy

 

What a crock.  Bocobo has to have 100's of women pass through every month going to SLEC with reservations paid by fiancé's or husbands.  My wife stayed there twice with reservations prepaid by me and she only showed the paid reservation receipt when she checked in with no issues at all.

 

While there Lisa should check out Boulevard Mansion on Roxas just past the USEM.  That's where my asawa stayed when she did the interview stuff.  I think it's closer to the USEM than Bocobo.  Older nostalgic hotel than Bocobo, about the same price if I remember correctly

[javadown2 308]

2 hours ago, jg121783 said:

Just called booking.com and they called the hotel who said my wife should pay with cash and they won't charge my card for the room. Also they agreed to give me a 1000php refund because I found the room cheaper on Expedia. So it should be about $110 for 3 nights which isn't too bad. If my wife likes the room maybe it will be a good place for her to stay for the interview in a few weeks.

 

My wife and step son will be doing their medical about 24 hours from now. What time should they get there? Here are the documents she has. Tell me if I'm missing something.

 

Interview letter

Passport

4 passport photos

Medical registration form

Passport photocopy

 

Hi, my fiancée arrived really early to the medical, like around 0430am, and she was still 27th person in line! But she was done by 10am and still had to come back the next day to finish her vaccinations. She also stayed at the Bocobo hotel and I just sent her money in advance to pay cash. Like others have said only her and her child can go inside. Good luck and I'm sure she will have no problems.

[jg121783 3,915]

My wife and step son just finished their first day of the medical exam. My wife was told both of them need to return on Thursday for vaccines and my step son's skin test. They didn't say anything about her chest xray results which we are assuming were fine because they didn't ask her to return tomorrow. Is this an accurate assumption or is it possible they could wait until Thursday to tell her that she needs to do the sputum? Hopefully we are past that potential road block and only have the interview to worry about.

[Brassballs 47]

Not a Dr. and certainly don't understand SLEC's inner workings but I doubt if chest x-rays are read 'on the spot' but rather the results of overnight readings are divulged on day 2 or day 3 in your case.

 

How did the Bocobo check in go?  Was previous x-ray requested?