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top_secret

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  • City
    San Diego
  • State
    California

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  • Immigration Status
    Naturalization (approved)
  • Place benefits filed at
    National Benefits Center
  • Local Office
    San Diego CA
  • Country
    Philippines

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  1.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: I-130 Online vs. Paper Filing from Overseas
  2.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: K1 US Citizen son
  3.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: Questions around wife's eventual visa interview
  4.    OldUser reacted to a post in a topic: N-600 for 12 y/o stepdaughter
  5. top_secret
    Today, 5/6/2025 I received two "We have taken action on your case" SMS messages. Checking online, status changed to "Actively Reviewing". Nothing under documents tab. So, it is generic activity, though I realize many cases are "Actively Reviewing" for years.
  6. top_secret
    I am assuming he has his Filipino Passport too. He should do E-Travel because he is exiting as a Filipino Citizen. He must also pay Travel Tax regardless of citizenship because he has been resident in the Philippines for more than a year. On future trips both of you would be exempt from Travel Tax once you are resident in the US.
  7.    TBoneTX reacted to a post in a topic: K1 US Citizen son
  8.    maryaaaa reacted to a post in a topic: K1 US Citizen son
  9.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: Ir2 interview for step children info.
  10. top_secret
    My wife’s daughter transferred from Philippines to California Schools. The school here had no problem at all accepting her Philippine records but they most certainly will want to check them. We used her baby book from the Philippines which had her vaccinations recorded. The most notable difference between ordinary Philippine practices and California requirements is that Varicella vaccination seems somewhat uncommon in the Philippines but is required here. If there are any missing shots, they would still let him start school and give a 30 days deadline to get whatever shots are needed. So, if any are missing you could wait until he is here. Whenever you know what city you will be moving to check online for the local school district. Many in California have online enrolment. I was able to enroll my stepdaughter before she even got here. They just said she was good to go so bring her by the office whenever she was actually here and ready to start. Also, on her first visit to her pediatrician here the nurse very carefully went through and transcribed all of her Philippine vaccinations into the California state immunization registry so there now exists a very official US record too.
  11.    W199 reacted to a post in a topic: Wife still has CFO Certificate from 2018
  12.    Edward and Jaycel reacted to a post in a topic: Wife still has CFO Certificate from 2018
  13. top_secret
    https://cfo.e.gov.ph/Re-Issuance-Revalidation-and-Amendment-with-GCP She's supposed to amend it if it was previously for another reason. They used to be able to do that online but now it apparently takes an in person visit. The paper certificates don't expire but I'd hate to have too argue that point with BI right before a flight. All newly issued e-certificates are digital only. They eliminated the paper stickers and in fact BI often specifically request to see the CFO e-mail in people's phone.
  14.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: Updating citizenship status with SSA in 2025
  15.    Edward and Jaycel reacted to a post in a topic: Updating citizenship status with SSA in 2025
  16. top_secret
    For a simple online self check if SS has you recorded as a Citizen or a PR, you can log into your ss.gov account and start (but not complete) an online dummy request for a replacement SS card. If they still have you recorded as a PR it should notify you that a personal appearance is required to continue the request. If you get all the way thru to the sign and submit page it means they have you recorded as a citizen. Bail out without clicking sign and submit if you aren't actually requesting a replacement card.
  17.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: Wait for NVC letter
  18.    RO_AH reacted to a post in a topic: Philippines Reissuance
  19.    RO_AH reacted to a post in a topic: Is the I-130 Approval Process Getting Longer Because of Trump?
  20.    Edward and Jaycel reacted to a post in a topic: Is the I-130 Approval Process Getting Longer Because of Trump?
  21.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: FORM 751
  22.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: FORM 751
  23. top_secret
    For us the e-mail was addressed to both the petitioner and the beneficiary. The NVC case creation date they list can be skewed a little bit because it is an average of all immigrant visa types that go through NVC. Spousal visas tend to be more straightforward and the cases may get created faster than the overall average. Congratulations.
  24. top_secret
    That's rough. Delivery of the new one by mail is possible but there is no way she can avoid applying in person.
  25.    Edward and Jaycel reacted to a post in a topic: Once AoS is approved, can my wife go to Mexico or will she need a US Passport?
  26. top_secret
    They return the old passport stamped "CANCELLED" on the page opposite the bio page. They should let her retain the old one still valid and cancel when she picks up her new passport in person. If it's a long trip and you want to do it by mail to avoid a second trip to pick up the new one, they 'might' allow her to mail the old one in once the new one arrives at the consulate and then they cancel the old one and mail them both back together so she is only without a passport a few days. Obviously, a bit more risk by mail then picking up in person. They won’t deliver the new passport before the old one is canceled.
  27. top_secret
    With the caveat that Philippine consulates are famously inconsistent making up and applying rules... Generally, Philippine consulates would accept a Report of Marriage and application changing passport name if filed together at the same time. ALL Philippine Passport applications require a personal appearance at the consulate so doing it concurrently eliminates the mail option for filing the ROM. If the ROM was done by mail, Philippine consulates would also generally accept the original Report of Marriage with their seal and signature for up to one year before they require only a PSA copy for changing names on passports.
  28. top_secret
    If you get started now you could almost certainly get her Philippine Passport changed before September. She just needs to file a Report of Marriage with the Philippine Consulate or Embassy that has consular jurisdiction over wherever the marriage took place and file for a new passport in her married name. You could usually file for both concurrently and new Philippine Passports are taking 2 to 4 weeks to be processed from the US. Filing for AP now would offer the greatest chance of success but risks wasting the not insignificant application fee.
  29. top_secret
    Looking at just VJ members reported timelines https://www.visajourney.com/times/ir1-spouse-visa-historical/ there seems to be a tiny improvment in processing times at most service centers over the last month or two. It's probably not enough improvement to even be statistically relevant or enough to predict any kind of trend but nonetheless is not showing any kind of increase in processing times.
  30. top_secret
    I could possibly be good news. It is at least evidence they are working on it. It would automatically be "Refused" until she completed a new medical since her last one is expired. Presumably instructions will be forthcoming.
  31. top_secret
    My wife got same day oath in San Diego. I literally saw her status change and the oath ceremony notice appear in the documents tab in her online account on my phone, in real time, while I was in the waiting room, about 10 minutes after they called her in for her interview. I had already seen the notice before she even came back out from her interview.
  32. top_secret

    VSF Global

    top_secret replied to Mark24's topic in Philippines

    If it is vfsglobal (vs vsf) then it may be linking to the ustraveldocs site which may be legit in a roundabout way. If it is vsfglobal it is a scam site. https://www.usvisascheduling.com/ is the actual legit site even though it looks like a scam site too due to the Department of State’s incompetent IT contractors.
  33.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: N-400 September 2024 filers
  34.    top_secret reacted to a post in a topic: Submitted Unsolicited Evidence - myProgress Case Estimation Went Back to Beginning?
  35. top_secret
    The major reason some folks need large book passports is if their travel pattern includes frequent visits to countries that still issue full page single entry visa stickers.
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