Steve & Erma

I uploaded the W2's for 2023 and the transcripts for 2020-2023 (did our NVC last year). I have a copy of the completed 1040 without our signatures on it because I sent the one with our signatures to the IRS without scanning them like an idiot. Not like I could send them the original with the signatures. Do you think I should upload the 1040 without signatures or just not upload it?

Last year when we uploaded to the NVC, I uploaded the tax transcripts for the previous years and then my 2022 Tax 1040 Return and W2 (I had just filed). We are getting ready for our interview, and I have now since uploaded my 2022 and 2023 tax transcripts to the CEAC. Because of the numerous lists going around that state you have to have your returns, W2's and transcripts my wife wants me to upload our 2023 taxes and my W2's which I don't believe are necessary because all of the info from the 1040 and W2 is in the transcript, and they are not going to ask for them. To make matters worse I don't have a copy of the signed tax return just the filled out one without our signatures on them. We have time and I can resign them and scan them but... do I really need to? My understanding is they may ask to see a copy of any uploaded document. If I have my transcript uploaded, then I have the required document and that would be the only thing they would ask for... they wouldn't ask for the 1040 or the W2 since they have all that info in the transcript, and it isn't uploaded. I also understand that they would rather have the transcript and not the 1040/W2. Make it make sense for me. Sorry for the ramble.

Our interview was scheduled prior to 9/28 so I am not sure how this affects us. Since she has already passed her medical, I have her flying in the night before and flying out the same day of her interview. So even if this was an option, we won't have the time to pick it up. I guess it would be worth a call to them after the 28th but I think a lot of the information at first is going to be unreliable until they get the kinks out.

W199 - I have been urging her to spend lots of time with family and friends for the last two years (for the most part she has) because at some point she is going to only see them when we can get back. LBC in Sogod does take passports so we are good there. To all... thank you for the advice as always. This has been a long two years waiting through this process with a lot of frustration. We are on the final approach and there are a lot of mixed emotions, but we can't wait to start our life together in the US.

Top .. So you think the 10 days to get the passport back is more of a threat to my plan than the CFO... I tend to agree with you there. My wife had a friend who got hers in 10 days. She has another friend going through the process right now and has her interview this coming Monday. Maybe we will wait to see how quickly she gets hers. Ro... She past medical this week

I don't believe we will have any issues with our interview or the CFO as we are all prepared with paperwork and the knowledge needed... Here is my thinking... My wife has her interview in Oct 21st. She lives in the province so we figure she will have the passport back within 10 days (Oct 31st). She can schedule her CFO for Nov 4-8 (sooner the better) in Cebu and be able to fly right after. I realize the later the CFO appointment is the more jeopardy this timeline is in... Do we think scheduling a flight to the USA on Nov 10th is pushing it too much? I could push it back a week to the 17th but of course we have been apart for far too long and want to be together as soon as possible. People have told me not to book before she finished with the CFO but we know airlines are going to charge an arm and leg if I book only a few days in advance. I checked with the airline I am going with and it would be a $300 change fee which I am ok with since my brain says the ticket would be twice the amount buying it in a rush. Thoughts?

DC is death Cert showing separation from the father and no legal issues. Someone had told me I should send in extra things like support receipts like paying for his motorbike, clothes, etc. There is a place for additional info but nothing in the instructions calls out that extra information.

Filing the I-130 is pretty straight forward but I was trying to figure out what evidence I needed to add beyond what they are asking for. It asks for our marriage cert, his BC, DC from father but not much else. What other additional evidence do I need to add to show he is my stepson to send the petition in?

Last time I checked they were about 4-6 months behind for spousal visas. Anyone in the Philippines recently get their interview date and want to share their DQ date as well so we can gauge the times? Thanks

I have filed for my wife and we are currently DQ'd and waiting for an interview from Manila. We wanted to wait a bit before filing for her 17 year old son to give us some time alone here in the US together and also let him finish high school. If we wait for her to get here and file then it would be her as a LPR filling for him and that makes it a longer process if I understand correctly. If I file for him as a USC it is a shorter process I believe. Can I file for him now? If I can file for him now while she is at NVC will that hold her up any or cause any issues with her? He just turned 17 in October so we have until October of 2027 before he is 21. Thanks as always for any insight.

Excuse my above post... I was thinking this was a CR1.

Book your medical appointment 3-4 days before your interview appointment to give it time to get to them.

Your Filipina needs to request a CENOMAR from the PSA. Since she is married now they will send back an Advisory of Marriage. It basically says she is married. Not sure why they want that when you can show them your MC and your ROM to show the same thing.

Yes, just a copy of things you can't really send to them. I sent certificed copies of my BC and Divorce decrees and then our marriage cert here in the states as well. Everything else is just make a copy of it.

My understanding is that you use to be able to attend the seminar online too, but they got rid of that as well, anyone know for sure? So now everyone is going in person to the CFO for it which is causing an even longer backup. I can see the scalpers who do the PSA appointments skirting the rules and making money somehow. BTW you guys scared me for a minute... I thought I was going to have to send my physical passport to my wife. LOL

Book direct from the airlines I implore you. I booked my flight to the Philippines the first time through booking.com (which is Expedia owned) and I totally got screwed on my return flight and they wouldn't help me. Thankfully the airlines stepped in and I got lucky. Using a VPN and purchasing it from the Philippines is a better option. Look it up but there are days that are better to book your flights on and a few other rules to help you save money.

I was looking at our PSA Marriage certificate that my wife ordered and it looks like all they did was stamped the ROM we sent in with a PSA stamp. It looks identical to the ROM and even says Report of Marriage at the top. I would have assumed you get an actual marriage cert from the PSA on their form for it. Am I wrong and this is our PSA Marriage Cert or is something wrong here.

@Crazy Cat Thank you and sorry for putting it in the wrong place.

I have updated our timeline. Our case status still says actively reviewing but I found the approval letter in the documents tab like many people have seen recently. K3 did nothing but I still encourage people to send them as it costs nothing and may help. Hope everyone is doing well, and we hope for speedy approvals for you all.

Title says it all. My wife and I believe we are going to get our I-130 approved in the very near future and I don't expect (more like hope) the DQ phase will take much time because we are all ready for it. So I am wondering how long a wait it currently is for an appointment in Manila? I also see people trying to schedule their own appointments, but I thought that once you are DQ'd the Embassy is the one who sends your appointment? Is this an expedited method?

My wife is from Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte as is all of her family. She is currently just a little ways from there in Libagon. I was born in Oakland, California but, have live in the Coeur D Alene, Idaho area for most of my life.

Make sure you send them the Apostilled version of your marriage certificate. It doesn't really say that on the website but to get all the information they are asking for you need it. You can get that from Utah on their website. Had a friend not send that and he ended up having to send it twice. @top_secret hit all the rest pretty well. Good luck.

Yeah the difference is huge for my taxes. I went to an authorized agent here in my town to get her an ITIN and had my wife send me one of her ID's and then did a video call with the agent. She has my taxes done but now is having trouble re-certifying as an agent as the IRS is holding everything up, go figure. Probably going to have to file an extension just to wait at this point. There was another agent in the next own over that I tried to get it done with but she won't do it unless my wife is here in person for whatever reason. The DFA thing I am just going to get her a flight to Manila to fix that. They have an over abundance of appointments there and she has family she can stay with while she gets that done.

Yeah don't get me started on the appointments for PSA and DFA. The PSA in Maasin is new so they had time to take walk ins. We are currently trying to get an appointment with the DFA in Tacloban which has been an issue. These "brokers" who buy up all the appointments to then sell them for a profit is stupid especially when the appointments are suppose to be non-transferable.

Newly married last year and this is the first year filing with her. I have heard many people filing married joint with their spouse and simply putting Non-Resident Alien in the SSN box of the form. I was trying to go through getting an ITIN for my wife but there is an issue with the place I am trying file with and getting that done so I was thinking of opting for the NRA option. What are your thoughts? Secondly, i have been supporting my wife and step son (16) for more than half the year. The question is could I add him as a dependent and again add NRA in the SSN field? It is too late to get him an ITIN even if I could at this point. They are both my dependents and I can show through monies sent that I am supporting them. So can I do this NRA option for both of them? Thanks for any help.