CountryBoy

Just for everyones info .. K-2 visa holders under 12 years old that do not go to the PTA office and get a reduced tax certificate will have to pay the full 1620 instead of 810 if paying at the airport.

BTW .. Mylene is on the Airplane now awaiting takeoff from Manila in 12 minutes... WoOhOo

Mylene's plane is leaving Monday morning and she will be paying the PTA travel tax when she goes there .. what does she need to bring with her to get her daughters tax for 820 instead of 1640 since she is only 5 ...

Please only reply if you know for sure ..

Thanks,

CB

You are all welcome, I just hope it might help someone.

CB

If you hit "my assistant" its not hard either

Really ?? hmmm ...

actually i personally did not experience this...but while sitting down and waiting for my turn to be interviewed by the consul i couldn't help looking and overhearing a fellow k1 applicant being grilled by one of the pre-screeners...her documents were all over the window were they do pre-interview not only that she was asked a lot of questions that i cant seem to recall already...the pre-screener asked alot of evidences from her (phone call records, pictures recent and past, emails, cards/ letters almost all of it) and she was questioned of the wrong entries she've put on the forms.... the time i was waiting for my turn to be interviewed by the consul until the time i came out, she was still there being grilled by the pre-interviewer...i just hope she passed the interview....anyway, i am not sharing this to scare future incoming interviewee/s but just to remind them as what other vj users always say it is always better to be overly prepared than under prepared coz pre-interviewers in the embassy are diffrent from each other..others are lax others are strict and other are super strict....i guess im one of the lucky ones i went overly prepared and they only opted to look at the pictures me and my fiance had. i even offered him all the other supporting evidences i still have with me but he said no need to.....another thing, check and again double check the entries you put on the forms....if you dont understand what they're asking for then it wont hurt to ask around...research...BTW thanks sheriff uling ur guidelines helped me alot also to other vj users.......during the interview try to be as calm and relax as possible (i know its not easy) but do your best dont let them rattle your composure....and always smile

GOod luck to all who are scheduled to be interviewed!!!........

Thats why I plan on flying over and being with my honey for the interview. They wont pull the rough up treatment on this American or my bride to be. I cant believe guys let their gals go though this alone. The most important day and you let you gals go through it by themselves???

Not me! I plan on being there to support her and make sure no one intimidates her.

You are so much better than me, I guess I should bow to your superiority ..

Get a life and don't judge others ..

CB

Just some questions ..

Mylene's flight leaves at 7:50 a.m. on Monday and she was asking if the PTA Counter at the airport will be open in the weee hours of the morning, she is planning on going there at 3:30 a.m. and would like to pay at that time instead of making a special trip to Ermita.

Also, if she does go to Ermita to pay the tax, she wanted to know if photocopies of the passports will be accepted as she doesn't want to take the passports there due to the number of snatchers?

Does her daughter have to accompany her to pay the tax since she will be traveling too?

What other documents does she need to take? Flight itenerary?

What is the address in Ermita?

Thanks,

CB

my flight then was 6:00 am and i was there around 3:30 or before 4 at the terminal 2... paid them both pesos and dollars (not enough pesos in my pocket lol)... so base in my experience they're open 24 hrs.

Thank you so much for answering that question for me ..

Just some questions ..

Mylene's flight leaves at 7:50 a.m. on Monday and she was asking if the PTA Counter at the airport will be open in the weee hours of the morning, she is planning on going there at 3:30 a.m. and would like to pay at that time instead of making a special trip to Ermita.

Also, if she does go to Ermita to pay the tax, she wanted to know if photocopies of the passports will be accepted as she doesn't want to take the passports there due to the number of snatchers?

Does her daughter have to accompany her to pay the tax since she will be traveling too?

What other documents does she need to take? Flight itenerary?

What is the address in Ermita?

Thanks,

CB

That should be a personal choice , not a requirement.

I'm not making it a requirement by this option, just making it easier for someone to do if they are already looking at another members timeline. Put the button at the bottom of the page for all I care.

What does everyone think about putting a button on the members timeline page that says ..

<Update My Timeline>

so that when someone is looking at another persons timeline they can simply click on that button and login to update their own timeline?

CB

If ticket was purchased in the US, travel tax is not included there. Most tickets bought in the Philippines have the travel tax included in the fee.

Travel tax for Economy Class: p1620.00

Travel tax for First Class: p2700.00

Terminal Fee: p550

Security fee: p200

So if you're flying Economy, you will be needing a total of= p2370.00 and for First Class= p3450.00. You can pay the travel tax at the Philippine Tourism Authority at T. M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila (DOT Building) or at the PTA counter at the airport.

I'll ask the question again since it wan't answered originally .. does anyone know if the PTA counter is open late at night .. like 3:00 a.m. ...

Thanks,

CB

Orion44,

This reply is really long winded .. hope you can follow it ..

Can you plan the wedding for a short time after the interview? How about after receiving the visa?

I'm just thinking that if you plan it this way then everything is legit at the time of the interview and/or receipt of the visa and it still gives you time to get married in the traditional manner while she is still in country but before coming to the US.

If you have the visa in hand would it hurt anything if you were legally married in the Philippines? Is the wedding something that is planned out for a LONG TIME? Would she be willing to wait until the after the visa approval, after the plans are made, after the invitations are sent out, and until after the wedding ceremony before coming to the US?

I don't know what your work schedule or finances provide for, but if you use this route she may have to go to the interview alone (I don't even know if you are planning on attending) so you would only have to make one trip, would this be ok with her?

I know that everyone wants to come to the US very soon after the issuance of the visa, and I'm sure that you want to bring your fiancee home with you if you plan on attending the interview, but I don't think that will matter if she holds your decision not grant her wish against you for the rest of your life. To some it is a religious issue, to others it is insisted on by the family, and yet to others it is what they have always dreamed of; waiting an additional week or month to be together in the US will be worth the wait if it makes your Mahala happy.

Sorry I couldn't advise on how to explain it to her, I just hope that there is a way to make you BOTH happy.

Just a thought,

CB

cONGRATULATIONS CB... wishing u all the hapiness....BTW whats the number that you used to call the embassy when you checked on mylenes visa?...thanks cant seem to find it......sorry i know your probably busy and excited...hope you'll still find time to reply....thanks

Manila Embassy (Immigrant Visa Unit) | 011-63-2-528-6300 dial 7 (that you know the extension) 5184# .. every time that the recording says "the person on that extension is on the phone" hit the number 0 and it will immediately redial that extension so you don't have to hang up and redial... works like a charm, but you may have to use the number 0 ALOT of times as the embassy is very busy, but eventually you will get thru.

Good Luck

Just a couple of notes about Mylene's interview on July 9, 2007 .. Hopefully it will help some here ..

Mylene said that once she was inside the Embassy all of her worries went away. She spent most of her time assisting other filipinas in organizing documents and answering questions, all of which she had knowledge of from the great community here at VJ....

Submitting the DS Forms

Mylene said that organizing your DS documents in the following order is very important... She was given this information by an employee of the embassy while waiting inside to be called to turn in the forms and it worked perfectly...

1.) Appointment Letter on top

2.) DS-156k filled out

3.) DS-156 that was filled out online (with barcode and picture glued) 3 pages

4.) DS-157 with the bank validated copy, filled up (remove the stapled paper from the form and keep it)

5.) Second copy DS-156 filled out online (with barcode and picture glued) 3 pages

6.) Second copy DS-157 not validated copy

When she submitted the documents in this order, they took the documents, gave her her queue number, and told her to have a seat and wait for her name to be called .. no problems whatsoever. Other beneficiaries didn't have the forms filled out completely, didn't have the bar code version of the DS-156, didn't have their picture pasted to the DS-156, had the documents all out of order .. all of this lead to the process of sorting, correcting, and organizing by the embassy employee which made it take them alot longer.

The Finger Scan

Very simple, just wait for your name to be called, go the appropriate window, and get your fingerprints taken.

The Pre-Interview

Mylene had just completed her fingerprints and went to the restroom; when she came out her number was flashing to go to window 14 (I think). Mylene thought there was a problem with her finger scan and she was going to have to redo it or something so she cocked off some smart azzed comment to the filipino at the window. Little did she know that she was being called for her pre-interview ... lol ...

I don't know if her smart comment cought the pre-interviewer off guard or what, but he gave her a funny look and said, "Maam, I'm only asking you some questions." with a smile on his face. He then asked her for the petitioners proof of support paperwork, (this was in flexible plastic with everything suggested to include on VJ plus 5 years of tax returns - he took out the I-134 and 2006 tax return), her Japanese Police Clearance, he asked to see our pictures together (but only looked at it thru the glass and said he didn't need any of the pictures), NBI, Cenomar, Birth Certificates (for her and Ashley).

The whole process was very fast and painless; the filipino pre-interviewer was very professional, respectful, and kind.

NOTE: Mylene commented on the way that some of the filipinas were being treated badly by the pre-interviewers. In some cases the beneficiaries were lacking evidence or the evidence that they did have was very unorganized, things like that .. the pre-interviewers were very rude to these girls ... maybe Mylene was just lucky to get the "nice guys" at the embassy, but I'd be more apt to say that she was treated so well because she was so well prepared. (I sent in ALOT of evidence with my petition initially and she had TONS more for the interview. Not only that, the evidence that she had with her for the interview ... she knew where every item was at and could pick it out within seconds upon request)

The Interview

Ashley (5 years old) was playing during the entire interview process with the CO and wasn't asked a single question. Just as a point of reference because he was the only one there, Mylene's interviewer was a black man. Mylene said that the CO never smiled during entire interview but spoke respectfully to her and was very much a gentleman. He asked her a few questions about when we met online and in person he looked at our pictures at this time he asked what I do for work, he asked to see her engagement ring, he asked about her flight to the US and when we plan to get married, he asked when my birthday was (the day her flight arrived in the US ... woohoo). He said that he had no more questions for her (this is when she should have given the request to pick up the visas in person and a copy of the flight itenerary, but she didn't .. ugh .. oh well, after several calls to the embassy made by me and a fax to the embassy made by Mylene we got it all straightened out in the end .. 2 days after her interview she had the visas in hand) She also asked if their visas were approved and he said, "Not until I get Ashleys medical and passport." (they were misplaced for a while but were found while Mylene was still at the embassy)

Releasing

Mylene was called to window 37, this is where they stapled her queue number, pink slip to pay delbros, and interview appointment letter together and gave it to her. They also returned alot of the original evidence that I sent with the I-129F petition; she asked why they were returning the evidence and they told her that they had plenty. This is also where she read the word APPROVED written on her documents.

Paying Delbros

Very simple, take the pink slip from the releasing window and pay Delbros.

Go Home and WAIT

Picking Up the Visas

Mylene was called in the morning on July 11, 2007 to be at the embassy to pick up her visas that afternoon before 3:00 p.m.. She took a seat and was waiting for someone to come to the window where she was told to report for picking up the visas, time kept going and noone came to the window. At 2:00 Mylene explained to a security guard why she was there and told him that she had been waiting for a long time but noone had come to the window, he said, "Maam, just take a seat and someone will call you. At 2:30 she went to window X and she explained it to the filipina there .. she told Mylene just to knock on the window and someone will come. Voila .. it worked Mylene had the visas within minutes.

Side Note

Other things that might have helped Mylene during the process; Mylene's middle name (her mothers maiden name) is the same as one of the people that handled her(this was discussed between them); also Mylene's last name is Luzon and some the employees were kidding her .. "Do you own Mindanao and Visayas too .. or just Luzon?"

Whatever you do, be well prepared with your documents and have plenty of evidence .. also be confident with your answers to the pre-interviewer and CO.

Good Luck,

CB and Mylene

Is the PTA booth open late at night to pay this tax?

Thanks,

CB

CONGRATULATIONS !!

Donnie, you better start cleaning house....

You have less than 5 days !!

Mylene and Ashley have a safe trip to illinois.

LOL .. that statement in itself is so funny you wouldn't believe it Roger ..

I had a cleaning crew in the house today to make everything perfect .. hehe

Thanks everybody,

CB

Thanks everyone for your help along our Journey .. I hope that our experience can help someone else here get thru the process ..

Mylene and Ashley will arrive ON my 40th birthday .. Monday, July 16, 2007 .. now how is that for a birthday present?

congrats ..

http://www.bayviewparkhotel.com/

Tel No: (632) 526-1555 local 1707 or 1759;

Direct Line: (632)526-1538 / 525-1855

Fax No: (632)521-1285 / 521-2674

Toll Free No: 1800-1888-5555

WooHoo .. Just got the call from the embassy less than a minute ago to pick her visas up before 3:00 p.m. today ..

Visas, PTA taxes and CFO stamp today .. Heritage Hotel Sunday night .. Airport Monday morning .. St. Louis International Airport with me Monday night

You couldn't wipe this smile off of my face with a bulldozer .. good luck to everyone out there ..

(BTW .. mylene had the black consular officer for the interview, she said he didn't smile but was very kind .. be confident if you get him .. )

Success at the interview!

My fiance's interview was last Friday July 6th. I am with her in Manila staying accross the street from the embassy. Everything went smoothly and at the end of the interview I presented a letter to the CO requesting that my fiance pick up the visa in person. Today she received a call from the embassy informing her that the visa will be available for pick up tomorrow! It will be 5 days total including the weekend since the interview. We are both relieved and joyfull. Thanks for all the support from the VJ community. We will be able to make our flight home next week now!

The only thing left to do here in Manila is to get the CFO stamp after she picks up the visa tomorrow. I guess we need to figure out where to go!

Kevin and Jena

Awesome Kevin .. Congrats

To keep from hanging up and dialing over and over I just push the number 0 when the message comes up and it immediately redials the extension that you just dialed .. the last time I called I pushed the number 0 a total of 31 times but I got thru without hanging up and redialing.

Good luck,

CB

Hi, I'm not sure how helpful my answer will be.... Visa pickup is usually in the afternoon. I did not get a call nor receive a text message because they told me what day and time I can pick up the visa.

As for the CFO office, they don't have one at the international airport. She has to take the guidance/counseling program first then get the CFO sticker at the CFO office in Manila ( http://www.cfo.gov.ph/mapmanila.jpg ).

Hope everything works out for you guys timing-wise.

Mylene already attended the guidance/counseling seminar .. she just needs to get the stamp. I don't know why the embassy official would tell me that Mylene could get her CFO stamp at the international airport .. that could have really messed things up ..

Thanks sillygirl,

CB

Mylene went for her interview on Monday morning .. the guard started letting in the 6:30 a.m. appointments at 5:00 a.m. .. Mylene's interview appointment was at 7:30 a.m. and the guard called them to get in line outside the embassy just before 7:00 a.m. .. the guard looks at your appointment letter and valid ID and then he lets you go inside (you have to scan / x-ray your belongings) and it only took a few minutes to get inside and get seated after lining up.

Mylene said that your fiancee will be ok .. Show the guard the appointment letter and valid ID and she will get inside. If the window accepting the DS forms is already closed then she needs to ask the guard inside if she should go to window X or Y to turn in her forms.

Mylene was given the tip of putting the DS forms in order ..

1.) Appointment Letter on top

2.) DS-156k filled out

3.) DS-156 that was filled out online (with barcode and picture glued) 3 pages

4.) DS-157 with the bank validated copy, filled up (remove the stapled paper from the form and keep it)

5.) Second copy DS-156 filled out online (with barcode and picture glued) 3 pages

6.) Second copy DS-157 not validated copy

She put the forms in this order before going to the window and there was no delay at all, they just gave her a number .. others were taking a long time if their documents were not in that exact order.

good luck with the interview ..

CB

Mylene asked me to extend her thankfulness to everyone ..

I would like to thank everyone that has helped us thus far thru our journey as well, I don't know where you could find a better bunch of friends than right here.

Thank you all so much ..

CB and Mylene

I just got off of the phone about 15 minutes ago with Sandy at the embassy what a sweet and helpful person.

She said that since Mylene faxed her flight itenerary and my letter of request to pick up her and Ashleys visas in person that there shouldn't be a problem as long as Delbros hadn't already picked up the packets when she presents them (the intenerary and request letter) to the Consular Officer for approval.

I also asked if she could tell me the status of the visas and she said that all is complete, the visas were approved, and that the packets were still in the process of being "put together" (I assume that means the clear envelope and brown envelope).

She asked for Mylene's phone number so that she could contact her when the visas were available for pickup. She agreed that since Mylene and Ashleys' flights are leaving at 7:50 a.m. next Monday that she definately needs to pick the visas up in person.

She also informed me that there is a CFO office at the airport for stamps but she wasn't sure what time the CFO opened.

I have a couple of questions ..

For anyone that has picked up your visa in person at USEM, did they text you or call you?

Does anyone know what time the CFO office opens at the International Airport?

Thanks,

CB