Just Paul

6 minutes ago, Shikomiro said:

If we go the i130 route, we're planning on getting married online from Utah. And have a unofficial ceremony in the Philippines in July.

You are going to want to head over the the Philippines Country threads.  She will still need a Report of Marriage to get thru the CFO process. Since you were married to a Filipina before that can make that process hard assuming one was filed for the previous marriage. Fortunately it won't hold up the USCIS portion. 

2 minutes ago, Shikomiro said:

She's in the Philippines

Not an issue other than potentially getting remarried.  If you are looking at avoiding the hassle, and since you are planning at spending time there, do what we did and look at getting married outside of the Philippines.

4 minutes ago, Shikomiro said:

12 year age difference

Also not an issue - we are 26 years

4 minutes ago, navaman said:

Thank you, that is what I was thinking, even at this stage how long does it typically take?  is it 6-12 months or more?

 

 

 

 

An example at TSC is 80% within 13 months.  https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

51 minutes ago, Shikomiro said:

In my situation, since it's pretty fast between my divorce being finalized and finding someone else

It is what it is. If you want to marry then do it and then file.  It is still important to spend as much time as possible through out the process. K1s are really stressful on a relationship.

Easiest method is to complete the NVC processing, get the consulate appointment and complete the process abroad.  She enters the US with the Visa and Stamp which is good as a green card for a year.

The answer is yes - you were included on the I-526.

Your Nationality can be a big factor in the decision. As is showing proof that have also traveled to other countries that require a Visa.

What the consulate will be looking for is that the USC has residency in the UK.  Meaning you need to show you have the correct Visa and paperwork to be there.  Having other proof that you are 'residing' in the UK is helpful but not absolutely required. For example having a drivers license helps.

1 hour ago, SalishSea said:

He sort of (ish) did, and yet chose to defer to a rando at the mall.  

Can't go wrong at the mall!

You are lucky to get a green card within 90 days.   

You can travel on the Visa stamp for the first year.   Mary and I went back to Mexico a few times before she got her card.  No problems.

It can be maddening trying to figure it out.  Generally I see those that are packet less (CCD notation on Visa) and pay before entering do get their cards faster - but not always.

The time to have asked for input and made a plan was before you did anything. 

We had a plan with a few different options not knowing if we were coming to the US.  Once we knew we were coming to the US we had everything together to get our Visa done quickly with very very little time apart.

If you have legal residency in the Philippines and have job offer to the US then you may be able to do the DCF with exceptional circumstances.

10 minutes ago, Eberechi said:

Our I-130 online form now says that it's being reviewed by USCIS, but that nothing is outstanding for now 😒. Is it a normal thing for them to say that they are currently reviewing my case but that nothing is outstanding for now?

You just wait.  You will get another Notice of Action before it is sent to the NVC.   

You should study the guide here and the forums to learn about what comes next. 

Malaysia and Hong Kong don't require visas for Filipinos with direct flights. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Philippine_citizens

USCIS forwards it to the NVC for additional processing by the consulate.  When was the I-130 filed?

Agreed, get married then request.

Mary Just went for her birthday trip and entered via Manila.  Booked tickets using her US Passport and flew Philippine Airlines. She has dual passports.   Landed Manila Terminal 1 and was sent to the foreign passport area. Leaving showed both passports.  Entered Honolulu using her US passport.

Just let the vaccines be administered at the medical.  If it unavailable then, you would be given a waiver.

If she doesn't have a good job and travel history getting a US visa as a young woman is very very hard to do.  Once she has a US boyfriend it is harder.

Other VISA options might be Canada, Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.   She can travel to Cuba but transit visa can be hard to get.

Even the consulates in PH are hard to deal with.  We didn't initially immigrate to the US.  The Mexican consulate in Makati couldn't figure out how to do her residency visa. We flew to Hong Kong and 3 hours and $36 later Mary had a Permanent Resident Visa for Mexico.

You can also send load via xoom

If you can follow the procedure in the Department of State Manual, in order, then you should have no problems.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption/Intercountry-Adoption-Country-Information/Mexico.html 

Facial - same as the US.

I believe they were working on my visit this summer.