Please clear up my confusion. Is the K-1 Visa an immigrant or a non-immigrant visa?

[madmanmike 191]

I ask because we got an email regarding a class we thought she had to take before she can get on a plane. Supposed to attend next Monday. Now she gets an email, included below, that screws everything up, unless K-1 is a non-immigrant visa. Then supposedly, she is not required to take the class. 
 

So. K-1. Immigrant or non-immigrant? I hear different answers all the time here, especially when we are tracking the progress on CEAC. 
 

Thank you. 

[Verrou 1,961]

You should be okay. If you read the screenshot, it said fiancee visa in immigrant category. And they just wanted to differentiate it with tourist visa / non immigrant. 
 

technically K1 is non immigrant visa with a path to adjust status after arrived in the US and get married before 90 days up. But in this case, ur fiance has that valid visa for the class

[madmanmike 191]

4 minutes ago, Verrou said:

You should be okay. If you read the screenshot, it said fiancee visa in immigrant category. And they just wanted to differentiate it with tourist visa / non immigrant. 
 

technically K1 is non immigrant visa with a path to adjust status after arrived in the US and get married before 90 days up. But in this case, ur fiance has that valid visa for the class

That’s the problem. She does not have the visa yet. We were told she can take the course now and email a pic of the passport and visa when received. 
 

Technically, the K1 is a non-immigrant visa, and by this email, the course is not required. Rules change like the weather in the Philippines. 

[Verrou 1,961]

3 minutes ago, madmanmike said:

That’s the problem. She does not have the visa yet. We were told she can take the course now and email a pic of the passport and visa when received. 
 

Technically, the K1 is a non-immigrant visa, and by this email, the course is not required. Rules change like the weather in the Philippines. 

Better reach out to them and ask the question. Don’t take a chance

[TBoneTX 45,229]

The K-1 is a "hybrid" visa, a nonimmigrant visa with immigrant intent.  They are granted by the Immigrant Visa Units at the consulates.

 

To my understanding, Philippines K-1 recipients go through the CFO routine.  Don't overthink this issue.

[TBoneTX 45,229]

Country-specific thread is moved to the Philippines regional forum.

[IWander 589]

38 minutes ago, madmanmike said:

That’s the problem. She does not have the visa yet. We were told she can take the course now and email a pic of the passport and visa when received. 
 

Technically, the K1 is a non-immigrant visa, and by this email, the course is not required. Rules change like the weather in the Philippines. 

CFO is REQUIRED!!!  

[madmanmike 191]

6 hours ago, IWander said:

CFO is REQUIRED!!!  

Not terribly helpful. Just a statement with no supporting information. 

[Chancy 6,241]

10 hours ago, madmanmike said:

Technically, the K1 is a non-immigrant visa, and by this email, the course is not required. Rules change like the weather in the Philippines. 

 

Yes, K1 is technically a non-immigrant visa, but it is processed as an immigrant visa.  Hence, CEAC status is shown via the CEAC IV link up to the interview stage.  After that, CEAC status for K1 typically moves to the NIV link.

 

CFO is required for all emigrating PH passport holders, including those intending to fly out with K1 visa.  If the BI officer at the airport sees the K1 visa in the passport, they will demand to see a CFO sticker or certificate.  If your fiancee has neither, she will not be allowed to board the plane.  Unless your fiancee is a senior citizen, she must attend the CFO seminar to obtain the certificate.

 

[madmanmike 191]

1 minute ago, Chancy said:

 

Yes, K1 is technically a non-immigrant visa, but it is processed as an immigrant visa.  Hence, CEAC status is shown via the CEAC IV link up to the interview stage.  After that, CEAC status for K1 typically moves to the NIV link.

 

CFO is required for all emigrating PH passport holders, including those intending to fly out with K1 visa.  If the BI officer at the airport sees the K1 visa in the passport, they will demand to see a CFO sticker or certificate.  If your fiancee has neither, she will not be allowed to board the plane.  Unless your fiancee is a senior citizen, she must attend the CFO seminar to obtain the certificate.

 

Now THAT is a helpful post. Thank you. Even if the answer was not what I was hoping for. 😝 

Having spent quite a bit of time in the PH, dealing with immigration and visa extensions, can anyone tell me if there are ‘fixer’ services available in Manila that can streamline the CFO process after the interview and receiving the paper back?

 Having spent all this time and money to get to the endgame, I have no problem greasing the wheels if we can. 

[W199 331]

1 hour ago, madmanmike said:

Now THAT is a helpful post. Thank you. Even if the answer was not what I was hoping for. 😝 

Having spent quite a bit of time in the PH, dealing with immigration and visa extensions, can anyone tell me if there are ‘fixer’ services available in Manila that can streamline the CFO process after the interview and receiving the paper back?

 Having spent all this time and money to get to the endgame, I have no problem greasing the wheels if we can. 

Sure, there are fixes that will gladly claim to make you a real CFO certificate, but will really give you a fake one.  Then she will be offloaded when trying to board and you will be screwed and lose everything,.

 

You should just follow the email, Cancel the appointment by sending a copy of the passport and confirmation code, and then reschedule after she has the visa on hand,

[top_secret 2,394]

CFO holds all the cards on whether your fiancée can leave the Philippines or not with a K1 visa.  You have to play their game according to whatever rules they make up.  There is no way around it.  It's one of those situations where the easy way past them is to just put on a big fake smile and compliantly do whatever they say you have to do.

[W199 331]

5 hours ago, top_secret said:

CFO holds all the cards on whether your fiancée can leave the Philippines or not with a K1 visa.  You have to play their game according to whatever rules they make up.  There is no way around it.  It's one of those situations where the easy way past them is to just put on a big fake smile and compliantly do whatever they say you have to do.

One inadvertent "trick" we did was to get a tourist CFO because we wanted to meet in Canada while waiting for the K1. The tourist CFO was really easy,  They said when we get the K-1 visa in hand, all we need to do is to go to their CFO webpage and choose the "update registration" or something option and send them a copy of the VISA. Then they will update the CFO from Canada tourist to the K-1 USA status. No need to re-take the class or anything.

 

But now that they are doing away with the tourist CFO, that is no longer an option.

 

I think it is really terrible that they stopped the tourist CFO, because now you need to bring all the supporting documents when you depart and now at the mercy of the airport immigration officer whether they will offload you and ruin all your plans, tickets, hotel reservations, etc.. At least with the CFO, they let her proceed to Canada after they verified it.  And besides you still need the CFO for the K-1 so was nice to get it earlier and out of the way.  

 

[madmanmike 191]

23 hours ago, W199 said:

 think it is really terrible that they stopped the tourist CFO, because now you need to bring all the supporting documents when you depart and now at the mercy of the airport immigration officer whether they will offload you and ruin all your plans, tickets, hotel reservations, etc.. At least with the CFO, they let her proceed to Canada after they verified it.  And besides you still need the CFO for the K-1 so was nice to get it earlier and out of the way.  

 

We were under the impression that you still must attend the same course, it’s just now impossible to take it before you have the visa in hand. You still get the certification to present at departure, and I don’t think you need to have all your supporting paperwork in hand at the airport. 

Edited September 13, 2023 by madmanmike

[W199 331]

you are correct. My other comments were regarding a tourist CFO not the K1 CFO.  A tourist  CFO is when you want to travel with your fiancé as a tourist to another country even though that she will return back to the Philippines after the trip, for example, if you wanted to meet in Canada while waiting for the K1 visa.

 

at the end of this month a tourist CFO is no longer needed if you want to travel with your fiancée, but the CFO is still needed if she js traveling on a K1 visa