Our DCF experience in Manila.CR1 and CR2

[verwen 33]

February 22nd, filed cr1 and cr2 petitions at Manila Embassy.

CR1 documents:

                    Info-pass letter

                    I-130
                   G-325a for my wife and myself

                   PSA marriage Certificate

                   My wife's CEMAR and my(usc) CEMAR

                   Wife's birth certificate and my birth certificate

                   Copy of bio page of wife's passport and copy of bio page and visa pages of my passport

                   Photocopy of wife's NBI clearance

                   2x2 pictures of wife and myself

        

CR2 documents:

                    I-130

                    PSA marriage certificate

                    stepson's birth certificate and my birth certificate

                    copy of bio page from stepson's passport and my passport and visa pages

                    we brought 2x2 pictures of him, but they gave them back

 

Proof of relationship: bunch of pictures( they only kept pictures from our wedding), facebook messages, joint bank account, lease agreement in both of our names.

 

Proof of my residence: tourist ACR card, bank account, and lease agreement.

 

We received an RFE on March 10th for proof of relationship between my wife and her son. Didn't see that as a requirement anywhere when we were preparing everything beforehand. Sent school records, vaccination record, school id's listing his mother as emergency contact, and some old pictures of the two of them. And a medical certificate from the hospital where she gave birth to him.

     

         May 3rd, received approval notices for both petitions and May 8th received case numbers.

 

Filled out the DS260 for both of them. Registered online at St. Lukes. And scheduled interview for them. Medical exams on July 4th were good, vaccine for stepson on July 6th. Wife had to come back on the 14th for a pregnancy test. The test was positive so she had to go to another Dr. to get an ultrasound and a medical certificate from them. Nothing showed up on the ultrasound because my wife was only two weeks pregnant. Went back to St Lukes and they wanted my wife to come back on the 17th to see their ob-gyn. I told them my wife's interview is on the 17th and they said we need to reschedule it. I got mad because we had the medical exams two weeks before the interview and they waited almost two weeks to give my wife a pregnancy test. There may have been some cussing on my part as I told them we couldn't afford to reschedule because plane tickets aren't cheap. The woman made some phone calls and told us it was ok to go to the interview then go back there afterwards and they will forward the result to the embassy.

 

          At the interview July 17th, talked to Filipino consulate and she took the documents we brought. Marriage certificate, CEMAR, birth certificate, NBI clearance, affidavit of support forms from myself and cosponsor, and supporting documents for those. Then went up stairs to pay.  Next was finger printing, then interview with American consulate. I guess it helped with me being there because he didn't ask very much, only how we met and said we were approved.

 

      The visas were in AP for a couple of days while they waited for St Lukes to send the medical results. Status changed to "issued" on July 20th. Picked up their visa packets from 2Go on July 27th!! Finally, it was over

                  

               

[Palawan1 11]

Awesome! Congrats. How long were you there at the Embassy? 

[verwen 33]

Not very long, I think when we went there for the interview it was an hour altogether.

 

[A.m.dcf 3]

Congratulations! I'm trying to go for an IR1 visa for my wife and our sons as we've been married for more than two years now I'm not able to do the CR1. 
What types of things did you have to prove regarding the affidavit of support and did they ask you for supporting documents to show income/tax returns or bank statements? 

 

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[verwen 33]

For the affidavit of support I brought my social security statement and wrote a short explanation for why I didn't pay taxes. We used a cosponsor so we brought their tax transcripts and W-2s. We brought the past three years, but they only wanted 2016s transcripts and w-2.

[A.m.dcf 3]

Thanks for sharing. I'll be using my father as the cosponsor but hes on social security as well.

[verwen 33]

Have you checked to make sure he meets the poverty guidelines?

[A.m.dcf 3]

Hi Verwen,

Thanks for the followup. Yea I'm not 100% sure. His social security is only about $1,600 a month. For the poverty guidelines is that total household income or just the income of the sponsor?

Edited August 8, 2017 by A.m.dcf

[verwen 33]

I think it is just the cosponsor's income. But might be able to do a joint sponsor, not sure though.

[A.m.dcf 3]

Than you. I'll look into the joint sponsor more.

[JefLyn4ever 4]

On 8/8/2017 at 11:49 AM, A.m.dcf said:

Hi Verwen,

Thanks for the followup. Yea I'm not 100% sure. His social security is only about $1,600 a month. For the poverty guidelines is that total household income or just the income of the sponsor?

@A.m.dcf, you should check if your joint sponsor qualifies, go to this site https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p.  If he has a household member who is willing to include his income to meet the requirements then he/she should fill up the 864A Form.  I am in a similar situation as you, my wife's mother who is the joint sponsor and her father who is a household member are also receiving SS benefits.  My wife printed out benefit verification letters for both of them to show their current income.

 

[A.m.dcf 3]

@JefLyn4ever

Thank you. Yes I think it would be better to use a family friend who is well above the poverty guidelines recommended income level. So I would be the sponsor and our family friend would be the joint sponsor. The real problem is I have to pass the threshold for migrating 4 people. My wife + 3 of our children so even if both of my parents combined their income it wouldn't come close. If you know anything about having a family friend sign as joint sponsor please pass forward any info you might have. Thanks again for the information.

[JefLyn4ever 4]

On 8/9/2017 at 10:09 PM, A.m.dcf said:

@JefLyn4ever

Thank you. Yes I think it would be better to use a family friend who is well above the poverty guidelines recommended income level. So I would be the sponsor and our family friend would be the joint sponsor. The real problem is I have to pass the threshold for migrating 4 people. My wife + 3 of our children so even if both of my parents combined their income it wouldn't come close. If you know anything about having a family friend sign as joint sponsor please pass forward any info you might have. Thanks again for the information.

You are welcome.  If your joint sponsor's income for 2017 is above $35,975 since his household size is 5 people which would include your wife, your 3 children and himself/herself then you'll only need one joint sponsor.  But if his income is not enough, you are allowed to have 2 joint sponsors.  They can divide family members amongst themselves.  But if I recall, in your other posts your family friend makes 100 grand a year so that is more than enough! Goodluck!

[A.m.dcf 3]

3 minutes ago, JefLyn4ever said:

You are welcome.  If your joint sponsor's income for 2017 is above $35,975 since his household size is 5 people which would include your wife, your 3 children and himself/herself then you'll only need one joint sponsor.  But if his income is not enough, you are allowed to have 2 joint sponsors.  They can divide family members amongst themselves.  But if I recall, in your other posts your family friend makes 100 grand a year so that is more than enough! Goodluck!

Thank you for the suggestion. Can you explain a little bit more about dividing family members between two sponsors? If I can use two joint sponsors which ideally are relatives that might be a better solution. Thanks again for taking the time on that last response, much appreciated.

[JefLyn4ever 4]

Just now, A.m.dcf said:

Thank you for the suggestion. Can you explain a little bit more about dividing family members between two sponsors? If I can use two joint sponsors which ideally are relatives that might be a better solution. Thanks again for taking the time on that last response, much appreciated.

You should look at the form I-864, there is a question on the first page, part 1, item 1. e. I am the first or second of two joint sponsors then on second page, part 3 the listing of the family members that will be petitioned.  You can read the I-864 instructions as well which will elaborate on what to fill in those fields.