CR1 is DQ, current wait time for interview in Manila?

[Elle Worth 23]

7 minutes ago, top_secret said:

 

 

That has happened before when there were mass expedites.  I don't think anyone ever came up with anything better than just keep trying.  It seems they release more appointments periodically on a random schedule. 

Thats true! ill just keep trying One more thing, so when i filled up my daughter's profile to schedule the appointment i accidentally just put her first name and last name , forgot the second name. I hope thats ok. Or should i make another profile?

[top_secret 2,456]

50 minutes ago, Elle Worth said:

One more thing, so when i filled up my daughter's profile to schedule the appointment i accidentally just put her first name and last name , forgot the second name. I hope thats ok. Or should i make another profile?

 

 

For most things in the US, first and last name alone is fine.   I don't think it would be a problem 

[spicynujac 27]

3 hours ago, top_secret said:

 

 

The scheduling website is a mess but it but that's what they have.  Once you are expedited, whether you requested it or not, NVC is done with your case and the embassy has it.   So NVC will not be scheduling any interview and you are on your own to get the scheduling done.

 

Hmm I asked this question recently in the forums and got the answer that fiance visas are self-scheduled, but marital are not... So kinda confusing.

But either way I planned to manually schedule our interview if possible.

 

Anyway, we are not able to register at the https://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ site (which redirects here https://portal.ustraveldocs.com/?country=Philippines&language=English )

 

We tried using multiple devices in both US and Phil and get the cryptic error message:

 

"The country you are registering for is no longer active."

Our CEAC status has been "ready" for 24 hours (though that shouldn't matter--account creation doesn't ask for any immigration data, just an email address and name).

 

 

Edited December 14 by spicynujac

[top_secret 2,456]

15 minutes ago, spicynujac said:

Hmm I asked this question recently in the forums and got the answer that fiance visas are self-scheduled, but marital are not... So kinda confusing.

But either way I planned to manually schedule our interview if possible.

 

Anyway, we are not able to register at the https://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ site (which redirects here https://portal.ustraveldocs.com/?country=Philippines&language=English )

 

We tried using multiple devices in both US and Phil and get the cryptic error message:

 

"The country you are registering for is no longer active."

Our CEAC status has been "ready" for 24 hours (though that shouldn't matter--account creation doesn't ask for any immigration data, just an email address and name).

 

Normally spousal visas are scheduled by NVC.  Only expedited cases are self scheduled.  But US Embassy Manila is using the expedite system for normal cases.

 

That is the "old" site.  Following the link from ustraveldocs.com/ph will get you to the new site but the embassy also still has links to the old site further down the same web page that they never updated.  Try going to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/en/immigrant-visa and then start signing up from the GREEN "Visa Login" button and NOT following the link on the very same page that says "I do not meet any of the conditions listed above, and I wish to schedule an immigrant visa appointment. "  That link is wrong but then this is government IT work.

Edited December 14 by top_secret

[tw8 6]

Just a random thing I thought I would share here. St. Luke's website is trash. Make sure you put your details in correctly. If you go to edit them after your appointment the system changes the dates of the birthday and passport information in the background when save an update. It's a pain in the butt. I ended having to cancel and start over as the date of birth isn't something you're supposed to be able to change.

[Elle Worth 23]

On 12/14/2024 at 12:42 PM, top_secret said:

 

 

For most things in the US, first and last name alone is fine.   I don't think it would be a problem 

Thank you! I was able to schedule but then i accidentally put for the biometrics and consular interview IR 1 instead of IR 2. What should i do? PLs help

[Elle Worth 23]

On 12/14/2024 at 12:42 PM, top_secret said:

 

 

For most things in the US, first and last name alone is fine.   I don't think it would be a problem 

Hi! Thank you for all your help! The customer service sent me this to fix the application. Copy/pasting here. DO you know where to find this on the dashboard?Please be informed that for you to correct your visa category on the online profile, you need to select "close and start" option on your dashboard for you to redo the process, but please take note that starting new application will close the opened one and your scheduled appointment will be cancelled.

 

 

[spicynujac 27]

On 12/14/2024 at 3:00 PM, top_secret said:

 

That is the "old" site.  Following the link from ustraveldocs.com/ph will get you to the new site but the embassy also still has links to the old site further down the same web page that they never updated.  Try going to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/en/immigrant-visa and then start signing up from the GREEN "Visa Login" button and NOT following the link on the very same page that says "I do not meet any of the conditions listed above, and I wish to schedule an immigrant visa appointment. "  That link is wrong but then this is government IT work.

Big thanks for all the help... this part of the process is quite opaque and your insight is quite valuable... I consider myself pretty skilled with tech stuff (I build my own computers and do some light programming) and I was totally stumped by the confusing and vague instructions at this step.  For example, the *old* site requires you to register with an *email address*.  The *new* site asks for an *account name*... if you use your email address, it gives a vague "one of your fields is incorrect" error (without highlighting the field).  Turns out, you CANNOT use an email address for your account name on the *new* system.  haha.. typical government I guess.

 

Anyway, The first 3 weeks in January are now available for appointment scheduling!  
We are grabbing one but I have a couple of issues.

 

1) My partner is convinced (mostly from "They Saids") that a PSA Marriage Advisory is required (she showed me a screenshot of someone who took notes at her interview on what others were being asked for and someone was asked for PSA marriage advisory and PSA marriage certificate).  Are these two documents required for someone with Utah marriage certificate?  Or is Cenomar + Apostilled Utah Marriage Certificate (+ NBI clearance, etc. ) sufficient?

 

2) At this point I'm ok with abandoning the idea of a name change and just sticking with my wife's maiden name on our documents, for the sake of expediency, BUT just in case it can still be done:

   We requested another PSA Marriage certificate today (the last time they had not yet recorded the ROM yet even though 6 months passed).  If we receive it, can we safely apply for a new Philippine passport before our interview date (turn time for new PH passport is only 2 weeks)?  The US visa scheduling requires you to enter a passport # to schedule and says that this cannot be changed, and I'm afraid of this causing problems if the numbers don't match.  Or maybe she can bring both the old and new passport to the interview?  Would we need to cancel / reschedule the interview with the new US passport #? 

 

3) Is it alright or easy to cancel / reschedule appointments?  We don't plan on actually immigrating for another 3 months when our 2 year period passes.  It would be nice to get this stressful part over with but I think we could get the passport name changed if we wait another month, unless we are going to cause more problems or risk not being able to schedule in Feb or March...

[top_secret 2,456]

On 12/18/2024 at 1:37 PM, spicynujac said:

1) My partner is convinced (mostly from "They Saids") that a PSA Marriage Advisory is required (she showed me a screenshot of someone who took notes at her interview on what others were being asked for and someone was asked for PSA marriage advisory and PSA marriage certificate).  Are these two documents required for someone with Utah marriage certificate?  Or is Cenomar + Apostilled Utah Marriage Certificate (+ NBI clearance, etc. ) sufficient?

 

There is a lot of confusion about CENOMARs, Advisory on Marriages, PSA Marriage Certificates and ROM's (Report of Marriage).  ALL applicants must have either a CENOMAR OR Advisory on Marriages.  They order a CENOMAR from PSA and depending on whether PSA has them recorded as married or not they will either receive a CENOMAR OR an Advisory on Marriages.  You can't make a choice other than by going through the long process of making sure PSA has the marriage recorded.  You get whatever PSA gives you.  Whatever PSA gives you is what the embassy wants to see.  

 

The embassy may further confuse things by asking specifically for an Advisory on Marriages without mentioning that a CENOMAR is also acceptable.  If they ask for an "Advisory on Marriages" but all you have is a CENOMAR, it is up to the applicant to somehow magically know that it means the same thing and to hand over the CENOMAR.

 

Report of Marriage (ROM) is also not a requirement. Filipinos often refer to a ROM as a "PSA Marriage Certificate" since in the Philippines it serves the same purpose.  As far as the embassy is concerned it IS NOT a PSA Marriage Certificate.  It is a Report of Marriage.  To further confuse that, the embassy has lots of instructions requiring a PSA Marriage Certificate, referring to the certificate that is issued for couples that marry in the Philippines. Those instructions do not apply to couples married overseas but since Filipinos often call a ROM, a PSA Marriage Certificate, they frequently misinterpret those instructions to mean that a ROM is required.

 

On 12/18/2024 at 1:37 PM, spicynujac said:

2) At this point I'm ok with abandoning the idea of a name change and just sticking with my wife's maiden name on our documents, for the sake of expediency, BUT just in case it can still be done:

   We requested another PSA Marriage certificate today (the last time they had not yet recorded the ROM yet even though 6 months passed).  If we receive it, can we safely apply for a new Philippine passport before our interview date (turn time for new PH passport is only 2 weeks)?  The US visa scheduling requires you to enter a passport # to schedule and says that this cannot be changed, and I'm afraid of this causing problems if the numbers don't match.  Or maybe she can bring both the old and new passport to the interview?  Would we need to cancel / reschedule the interview with the new US passport #? 

 

If at all possible, it is very advantageous to change the name in the passport BEFORE the interview.  She could literally show up the day of her interview with new passport in hand and the old canceled passport, show them to the security guard and they would straighten it all out at the pre interview document check.  If she waits, her visa, green card, and social security card will all be in her maiden name.  Social Security will not change her name until she changes her green card.  Almost no state would change state id until Social Security or USCIS changes it first.  It costs $415 and can take over a year to change the name on a green card once it's been issued.  If you already filed a ROM 6 months ago surely it must be processed by now.  Are you requesting it from PSA or talking to the consulate.? They always tell you 6 months but 3 to 4 months is more typical.  2 weeks for a new passport is more or less realistic if you pay the expedite fee.  Maybe add an extra week for holidays.

 

 

On 12/18/2024 at 1:37 PM, spicynujac said:

3) Is it alright or easy to cancel / reschedule appointments?  We don't plan on actually immigrating for another 3 months when our 2 year period passes.  It would be nice to get this stressful part over with but I think we could get the passport name changed if we wait another month, unless we are going to cause more problems or risk not being able to schedule in Feb or March...

 

You can reschedule once or twice.  There is some kind of poorly defined limit to how many times you can reschedule without involving the embassy.  If you aren't ready to move for a few months anyway it's probably better to just hold off scheduling for a while until everything else is in order.

[kevlar-lammy 0]

My wife and I were able to schedule appointments for biometrics and the visa interview in early and late January respectively. We had to reschedule once already because the website wasn’t letting us schedule the visa interview by itself after we scheduled the biometric so we had to cancel the biometric and schedule both appointments at the same time. My wife just had her medical screening and the notorious x-ray machine apparently came up with something and she has to have a flem test 3 days in a row in early January and the results will take 2 months. The lady at the clinic said that she could still go through with the visa interview, but that she would have to coordinate with the embassy after she’s been medically cleared. 

 

Has anyone else had the interview before the medical results are returned? How difficult is it to coordinate with the embassy in Manila once she’s been medically cleared?

 

Thanks!