No More DCF in Philippines Starting in July? USCIS?

[coa24 69]

oh man, that stinks! Hate to hear that from those who are hoping for DCF. A shame really. 

[coa24 69]

I really feel bad for those who were working hard to get their petitions in before the closure date. I know of one or two personally who were doing just that. Now they are faced with either staying in the Philippines through the whole process or leaving their spouse back in the Philippines while they work. or get their spouse a tourist visa and also file the spouse visa, etc.. Tough decisions to make because it is hard to be without the spouse for an extended period of time. This is where I feel they should give the visa applicants who have spouses preference over K-1 and others.

[payxibka 10,045]

7 minutes ago, coa24 said:

I really feel bad for those who were working hard to get their petitions in before the closure date. I know of one or two personally who were doing just that. Now they are faced with either staying in the Philippines through the whole process or leaving their spouse back in the Philippines while they work. or get their spouse a tourist visa and also file the spouse visa, etc.. Tough decisions to make because it is hard to be without the spouse for an extended period of time. This is where I feel they should give the visa applicants who have spouses preference over K-1 and others.

K1s have zero affect on the USCIS Manila office's decision to longer accept I130 petitions as that office doesn't touch k1 petitions.   

 

Why should i130s be given preference over other activities performed by that office

[George & Richelle 5]

10 minutes ago, payxibka said:

K1s have zero affect on the USCIS Manila office's decision to longer accept I130 petitions as that office doesn't touch k1 petitions.   

 

Why should i130s be given preference over other activities performed by that office

One is family. One is not. How about that? Enough reason?

 

That is not what Coa was saying though. He is talking about those married here that were preparing to file, and now they don't have that option. They either have to stay here another year or two, which is not always easy if there is a life altering event happening in the USA. Or go back to the states without their family. Not only their wife, but some have kids as well. 

 

Either way USCIS in Manila didn't really handle visa interviews etc... That is the State Department.

[payxibka 10,045]

4 minutes ago, George & Richelle said:

One is family. One is not. How about that? Enough reason?

 

That is not what Coa was saying though. He is talking about those married here that were preparing to file, and now they don't have that option. They either have to stay here another year or two, which is not always easy if there is a life altering event happening in the USA. Or go back to the states without their family. Not only their wife, but some have kids as well. 

 

Either way USCIS in Manila didn't really handle visa interviews etc... That is the State Department.

Nope.  Most of what that office does relates to services related to a USC in some fashion.  Why should USCs with a family be given priority over other USCs just because they have a family 

[George & Richelle 5]

10 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Nope.  Most of what that office does relates to services related to a USC in some fashion.  Why should USCs with a family be given priority over other USCs just because they have a family 

What? I feel bad that the option has closed, and can cause hardship on FAMILIES that need to immigrate to the states in a timely manner. The one upside is this is my last post on this forum. I feel bad for those that thought they had more time to file DCF, but didn't. Best of luck to those of you that filed already.

[payxibka 10,045]

2 minutes ago, George & Richelle said:

What? I feel bad that the option has closed, and can cause hardship on FAMILIES that need to immigrate to the states in a timely manner. The one upside is this is my last post on this forum. I feel bad for those that thought they had more time to file DCF, but didn't. Best of luck to those of you that filed already.

I feel equally bad for ALL USC s who were relying on the field office for assistance 

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

58 minutes ago, George & Richelle said:

I feel bad that the option has closed, and can cause hardship on FAMILIES that need to immigrate to the states in a timely manner. 

The immigration process is a hardship for ALL families.......If those USCIS personnel are moved to offices stateside, it will benefit ALL of us....  Now all I-130s will be processed much more equally.

[Philipperv 0]

I have appoitment on july 1, but i dont get email from them about closing, and my appointment is not yet cancel,  i just heared this news from somebody i know

[geowrian 22,337]

3 hours ago, George & Richelle said:

One is family. One is not.

I wouldn't be quite so quick to use a piece of paper as a the sole factor in distinguishing between a family or not. Some unmarried couples have lived together for years and have children. Some newlyweds have met only once after a fairly quick relationship.

 

In terms of processing cases, I-129Fs are a small fraction of family-based immigration petitions. FY2018 had ~10,000 I-129Fs submitted and ~160,000 I-130s for immediate relatives of a USC. That's less than 6% of the case loads.

I would further note that I-129Fs are processed by CSC. I-130s for an immediate relative of a USC are generally not processed at CSC (CSC handles family preference cases, not IRs).

 

So realistically, said spousal petition preference would just delay many couples being together with virtually no impact on spousal petitions.

[user555 196]

Doh! I was trying to get my application filed next week. I tried to make an appointment online at Manila's InfoPass and it says no dates are available. I thought they were shutting down in July. Not sure why they would refuse applicants two months before that date. I emailed them and asked them why there is no communication about this on their website. 

[payxibka 10,045]

58 minutes ago, user555 said:

Doh! I was trying to get my application filed next week. I tried to make an appointment online at Manila's InfoPass and it says no dates are available. I thought they were shutting down in July. Not sure why they would refuse applicants two months before that date. I emailed them and asked them why there is no communication about this on their website. 

Because they indicate that approvals can take upwards of 60 days, so apparently they decided to stop taking applications 60 before the office closure date in order to clear any backlog 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, user555 said:

Doh! I was trying to get my application filed next week. I tried to make an appointment online at Manila's InfoPass and it says no dates are available. I thought they were shutting down in July. Not sure why they would refuse applicants two months before that date. I emailed them and asked them why there is no communication about this on their website. 

The office is shutting down in July,  they need time (60 days) to complete what they have already accepted.

[user555 196]

Emailed Manila: Hello, I want to file next week but your appointment system isn't showing any dates available. I saw that you might be closing in July.

 

<MPHInquiry.CIS@uscis.dhs.gov> wrote:
Yes, we regret to inform you that all USCIS International Offices, including Manila, will be closing permanently in the near future. To assure your I130 petition is processed without delay you may mail the completed I130 petition to the USCIS lockbox in the United States. More closure information will be forthcoming on our website. You can find additional filing information on the form I130 webpage. Thank you for your understanding and please accept our apologies for any inconvenience,

 

USCIS Manila Field Office

 

My response today: Your website still claims that direct filing is an option. " If you are filing with USCIS Manila, you must submit the petition and supporting evidence in person." I want to file in person in Manila. If I mail my form to the lockbox, I am going to have a huge delay versus direct filing. Who is going to update that website and why don't you communicate with US citizens about this?

 

[geowrian 22,337]

Information on the website is for convenience, and is not always the most up to date information available. In a system where executive decisions (within USCIS, DHS, and above) can change the policies nearly instantly, there is no way to update all websites immediately. They often aren't updated quickly either.

 

There's no way to know how long USCIS Manila staff knew of the actual closing/stop-accepting-new-petitions date, let alone the web content management team. Things typically are just rumors until they happen one day. That's par for the course with government entities.