AlexMiner2022

In case anyone is curious, the minors are both approved too. I went ahead and setup accounts for both to confirm as much. I really wish it was possible to add a child to the parents account on USCIS, but I will file my complaint with the trash bin. I don't think in our case setting up the minor accounts had any value, but your case may warrant it. If I needed info about their cases I would have set up those accounts without hesitation.

For sure. And we just joined the fast track club with you pal. No interview needed and case approved with approval document sent. AOS Timeline: Sent: 12/30/2023 (Elgin Lockbox) Received: 1/4/2024 (backdated to 12/29/2023) Approved: 2/9/2024 Account Status Updates: 1/4 - Case received, est. decision in 14 months 1/6 - Biometrics appt, est. decision in 4 months 1/25 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 7 months 1/26 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 5 months 2/8 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 4 months 2/9 - Case Approved, est. decision in 3 months (LOLZ) Key Dates: 1/6 - Account acceptance & biometrics notices sent 1/24 - Biometrics completed (1 week early) 1/25 - I-765 approval sent 2/8 - EAD combo card received 2/9 - i485 application approved

Indeed, I probably looked at the estimated timelines too much. It still says 3 months right now so it's buggy at best. Things progress kinda fast after last night though. AOS Timeline: Sent: 12/30/2023 (Elgin Lockbox) Received: 1/4/2024 (backdated to 12/29/2023) Approved: 2/9/2024 Account Status Updates: 1/4 - Case received, est. decision in 14 months 1/6 - Biometrics appt, est. decision in 4 months 1/25 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 7 months 1/26 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 5 months 2/8 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 4 months 2/9 - Case Approved, est. decision in 3 months (LOLZ) Key Dates: 1/6 - Account acceptance & biometrics notices sent 1/24 - Biometrics completed (1 week early) 1/25 - I-765 approval sent 2/8 - EAD combo card received 2/9 - i485 application approved

Any chance the title of this could be changed? It is a bit confusing and if I could edit it I'd change it to: Just got EAD combo card. Does that indicate any progress toward AOS approval? (USCIS account showing no issues & Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS)

She got the combo card today. Thanks for for the group... YUGE help

I needed to be in the December AOS filers thread and this was a big helpful reminder. I totally forgot there'd be a follow up for this like there was for the K1. Thank you a bunch!

Very late to this...Congrats to everyone who has come this far in the process. We are a unique bunch of folks aren't we! 🤩 Bet we have some very interesting stories and a lot more in common than most of us even realize. haha! That's another discussion. Really love being part of this place and reading all of the stories everyone has to share. AOS Timeline: Sent: 12/30/2023 (Elgin Lockbox) Received: 1/4/2024 (backdated to 12/29/2023) Account Status Updates: 1/4 - Case received, est. decision in 14 months 1/6 - Biometrics appt, est. decision in 4 months 1/25 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 7 months 1/26 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 5 months 2/8 - Interview if needed, est. decision in 4 months Key Dates: 1/6 - Account acceptance & biometrics notices sent 1/24 - Biometrics completed (1 week early) 1/25 - I-765 approval sent 2/8 - EAD combo card received Quick question --- Is it necessary to setup the online USCIS account for minors too? I haven't done this thinking if anything needs to be done they will mail it to me...If you think I'm being silly not setting this up, please tell me.

Ha ha, it sure does. Your illustrations paints a striking resemblance to the exact issues that plague most government agencies. I have to deal with Fema for work everyday and so I know how long it can take to get some of these things pushed through various depts. Guess it really is just a coin toss how long things take. I've just been surprised at the speed with what has been sent back so far. We are basically 2 months into AOS and having EAD already in hand with the account pointing to the interview as the next step. Biometrics are done and no documents have been sent out. This just had us a little optimistic I suppose. but it is starting to sounds like we're being a little more than naive about it.

This makes a lot of sense to me. ]I'm def trying to connect dots that may not even be there, you nailed it. I suspected there was no relevant link between things, but would have bothered me not asking more. Thanks for the straight forward response.

My fiancé was just issued her EAD card. She already completed biometrics and from what I can see the case is just going through the standard review process. Okay, now the reason for this post. To find out if anyone else has received the combo approval very quickly and what the process that followed looked like. I suppose to cut right to the meat of things, I'm curious if getting the EAD is any type of early case approval indicator, or it's it not at all relevant? A key data point(which I do not have but would love to see) would be if there are a lot of EAD cards issued to people who also end up getting RFE's or otherwise run into obstacles before or after the interview that could lead to a case being denied. If anyone has info on this or a link to a threat where this has already been discussed, please reply with more info. I would greatly appreciate the help if anyone is out there able to weigh in on this. And if this has been asked, please let this just be a mirror. I tried to find more about this but it seems like most cases being discussed that have issues were not issued EAD cards, but instead got hung up in an RFE.

I second this. I would schedule an appt and do any follow up vaccinations immediately, then send all of that info back to them with the RFE before the expiration to reply. I wouldn't delay at all if you have any extra time too btw. Things come up scheduling those i-693 appts (speaking from my own experience a few weeks ago). I found it hard to find an actual place in my area that had any appts within the next month, that is unless I was willing to pay several thousand dollars elsewhere which I wasn't.

The i-693 is something you should have done before the AOS was submitted and you should have included a sealed envelope that the Civil Surgeon would have completed after it was signed by the applicant. Some are going to say that this isn't needed and that might be true in some cases, but the official advice give in the guide on this form notes that IF all vaccinations were NOT performed abroad, then this add'l medical exam and form is required. 11. I-693, Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status.I-693, Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status. If you are a K-1, K-2, K-3 or K-4 visa holder the I-693 instructions state that you are not required to have another medical examination as long as your Form I-485 is filed within one year of your overseas medical examination. If you are missing any shots from your overseas medical a I-693 vaccination transcription is required to be completed by seeing a Civil Surgeon to have certain portions of the I-693 completed and have the Civil Surgeon certify the form (sealing the original in an envelope and giving you a copy).

If you are looking for the fastest way to be together in the USA, keep with the K1. Idk why anyone would advise otherwise or for that matter suggest the CR1 is better/faster/even close to the same speed - IT IS NOT. Just browse around the forums here, FB and other places then you will see there are CR1 4-5 years in the process, which you're mostly never going to find with the K1. Every situation is different so take these as my opinions, but my fiance and I were faced with this same choice 1 1/2 years ago and I'm very glad we chose the K1 route. On the waiting portion, just focus on WHY you started the process, STAY POSITIVE, and when you start feeling crazy waiting, talk through it or find something to take your mind off of it. I found that it was helpful to just forget about it for months at a time and focus on laughing with my girl from afar. But whatever you do, try not to let doubts/worry/negative creep in. At 8 months in you're still about half way or less into the journey. It will be another 8 months or so before you get NOA2, pass through NVC and schedule the Medical and Visa interview. Medical is a hurdle in and of itself to pass through as 1 in 7 patients are pinged for Sputum and need at minimum 2 months to wait those results, and more for treatment if Sputum samples come back positive. After the interview you will wait again to get the passport back, and only after that the last interview can be scheduled which is CFO. CFO is required to leave the Pi with a K1. Stay strong, stay positive and remember why you started this journey. LIFE IS SHORT AND TIME GOES BY FAST - so too will these processes once they are complete.

We used RapidVisa to help prepare our I-129F and because we first met online through Badoo, they advised us to print and send the entire TOS (no highlights). Suppose it may be different for every situation, but it worked out for us.

Thank you so much Jason. My reaction and initial post here is definitely not a highlight of how to handle stress and by no means a reflection of how far we’ve come as a couple navigating these years of the K1 process. There have been times I wanted to vent about my experiences here, around Manila, living in BGC, traveling to various islands and many of the not-so-uplifting experiences we’ve had, but doing so would have undercut the great times and wonderful experiences we have had. Sadly, I failed this time around. Human as it may be, I won’t soon forget it. The Philippines is an interesting country with many kind and caring people. The constant smiles and salamat po’s will go home as an example of being courteous at all times. The Grab drivers are wicked navigators and fun to strike up conversations with, especially about traffic issues as a jump off point to talk politics, which I have yet to find one who isn’t even slightly intrigued by the subject. There is no shortage of great foods either, although I have stuck to places in areas where it appears basic health practices are being upheld, as I’m not very adventurous in the food dept. lol A few gripes: cashiers could learn to scan items faster and it would be sweet if more of the guys standing around talking helped with bagging. Walmart in some areas of the USA has the same issue. Drivers really should follow the lines on the road (LMAO) - most seem like they’d struggle or at least need some serious adjustments driving in the USA. Globe should let their technicians upgrade customers on-site as a lengthy follow up appt process isn’t ideal, but it may be due to some internal dept misalignment - not sure. I hope by reading this far down folks can see that this guy (me) really did just need to blow off steam, of which I’m not proud about how I did it, and post a little bit about my thoughts about how the country handles its citizens rights to come and go as they please. For all CFO participants, please listen to other posters and relax knowing being prepared and confident are key. We are going to practice this, well my finance will. She did great during her Embassy interviews and has total confidence going to the CFO - just waiting for the visas at LBC now. Salamt 👍

Was this back when they were still doing the remote process? Asking because to our understanding the CFO is only face to face again now.

Thanks for the understanding response. Refreshing to hear a voice or reason and might a say a bit in agreement. The worst experience with this sort of “power hungry” mindset I’ve seen here is with my finances kids school getting their transcript. Needless to say, the teachers are focused on their authority over helping the kids - in our experience obviously. And I’m sure there are great public schools here, we must have just ended up with a bad one. Same can be said about schools in the USA. I know you were joking replying to the other persons comment. It sure is odd reading someone bragging about sending teens to get adult items. For people concerned about the state of affairs here, you’d think a little more concern would be mentioned about the homeless children/teens sleeping on the streets vs how easily taken advantage of they are. But I digress and am not here to pass judgement.

I won't engage in any debate about my location - believe whatever you want sir, but I do see from the replies, I did allow my emotions to get in the way of my fingers. For that I should say that I didn't mean to offend anyone. If you read my post carefully I clearly stated " I value and respect the spirit of the description that the CFO program portrays itself as being..." and I think you may have missed that part. In any case, I will take the best advice here about resolving my attitude on all of this subject and devote the little energy I have left to continuing to offer a positive mindset and supportive spirit for my fiancé. It's just very frustrating to learn about this here at the end (entirely our fault btw).

We were approved yesterday as well. I feel like a bit of a dumb dumb overlooking the "black hole" as you so eloquently put it of the CFO though. Would love to hear how that portion of things goes for you as we have, despite the time differences in getting our NOA2's and other things, go onto the exact same date track.

Yesterday my fiancé was approved for her K1 by the US Embassy here in Manila. I had what can only be described as the most anxious day of my life, with every minute waiting outside the Embassy increasing said anxiety. When she walked out smiling I knew she was approved and all of that minute-by-minute anxiety that had climbed to my shoulders vanished in the blink of an eye. Needless to say the rest of yesterday was a delightful feeling of floating. My finance and I decided to talk about and gather the final details of the CFO "guidance program" the next day. Today is that next day. A few months ago we had a meeting with RapidVisa, the company I paid to help us with the paperwork, and during the meeting the CFO was discussed, but only lightly because the agent made us feel as though it is just a formal program that will not have any real impact on the process. Plus with the verbiage for the name of the program, it seemed logical that it was a nice process designed to educate and help exiting Filipinos. Much to my dismay however, the CFO is anything but all of that. While it may cover some of those logical points, it appears to be just one more way the Philippines puts up walls for their people. Walls designed to make life difficult and discourage people from trying to leave the country. Don't get me wrong, I value and respect the spirit of the description that the CFO program portrays itself as being. Any country like the Philippines is going to have people who are being taken advantage of, and having a program that creates an environment where they can voice their concerns is going to benefit the country as a whole. BUT, and this is a GIANT BIG BUT... The CFO program in the Philippines is NOT this at all. You can tell based on the list of requirements, the comments in threads like this above mine here and other places, that it is designed to be a WALL. A wall that discourages people, that puts one more potential denial in the face of any prior work. My fiancé, as have countless others, has demonstrated her desire to leave the Philippines with me, her petitioner, and after all of the work we both have done and the pages upon pages of documents, as well as numerous interviews with authorized agents, there should be ZERO question about the authenticity of our relationship, my legal status, my lack of criminal history and much more that this program seeks to vet out one last time. The US State Dept already conducted a thorough background check of myself and my fiancé , so the CFO "counselor" has NO business engaging in requesting more information regarding any of these things. I am sickened to learn how this program could very well be something that further delays my fiancé exiting her "FREE COUNTRY" (really?) to start her life in the USA. The Philippines authorities should be ashamed of what they have created. If they wanted to build a program to COUNSEL, it would do that and ONLY that. They would not require additional documents, or ANY documents for that matter. A valid ID is all that should be required and a verbal or written statement from the person wishing to exit stating as much. Then there would be a short orientation explaining the immigration process to the destination country followed up with optional counseling. I have no idea what can be done, if anything, to encourage the Philippines to either scrub the CFO program and build a new one, or rebuild what already exists, but having lived her since January of 2023 I have witnessed several instances where nationals are employed to be "secret police" so-to-speak, and IMHO it hints at the country not really be as FREE as one might expect for a free democracy. After she completes this process, no matter what hell, if any, they put her through, I am determined to create content that will bring more awareness to this and other issues that are holding the country back. Thanks for reading and I hope you and everyone else who has to go through this program is able to navigate the process and have the life you seek to achieve.

Don't hesitate to send an inquiry, folks. It appears that it genuinely nudges the authorities to expedite their handling of certain outstanding cases. While I may not have the complete picture, based on what I've read and my own experiences, it's worth shedding light on this tactic, as it seems quite relevant. I'm genuinely hopeful that both of you will catch up soon and finally be reunited. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this intricate journey. 🌟📝🤞

Well, here we are, my friend, in the same boat once more. Our case has taken its journey and was just transmitted to the Embassy today. It's almost comical how, despite all our waiting and anticipation, we find ourselves right where we started. But hey, that's the rollercoaster ride of this process for you. It's both amusing and frustrating how we're all navigating this treacherous process, and it seems like our "Greatest Country on Earth" government hasn't quite caught up with the times. 😄 Let's keep our spirits high and our patience intact as we soldier on through this journey together. We're in it for the long haul, and with each step, we're one step closer to reuniting with our loved ones. Cheers to resilience and endurance! 🥂💪🌍

Hey there, madmanmike! I apologize for my belated congratulations, but life had its way of keeping me busy lately. As I immersed myself in catching up on this thread, a wave of anticipation washed over me. I couldn't help but worry that your case might still be pending, but then, to my immense joy, I stumbled upon the fantastic news – YOU ARE APPROVED! 🎉 I can only imagine the weight that must have lifted off your shoulders. This isn't just a regular relief; it's a colossal, monumental sigh of relief. Your journey through this K1 visa process has been nothing short of an epic adventure, filled with suspense, determination, and a whole lot of patience. In light of all that you've endured and achieved, your approval is a testament to your unwavering commitment and strength. I'm genuinely thrilled for you both, and I hope this milestone marks the beginning of a beautiful and worry-free chapter in your lives together. 🌟 Congratulations, Elays! As I caught up on the thread, my heart swelled with happiness when I saw madmanmike's approval. It's truly a moment worth celebrating. To everyone else here, whether you're still waiting or you've already received your approvals, my virtual hearts are with you. I genuinely hope each and every one of you gets the green light to move forward with your futures together soon. As I scrolled through your updates, I found myself perched on the edge of my seat, sharing your anxiety with each passing day, every RFE notice, and the subsequent month-long waits. My palms were literally sweating as I anxiously anticipated the latest news. I kept worrying that I'd reach today's messages and find you both still waiting. What an incredible rollercoaster ride you've been on! I'm amazed at how you've managed to keep your composure and dedication throughout this process, not only for your own case but for tirelessly updating and supporting others here. Your ability to stay engaged here while stepping away from the Facebook page is admirable. I can't express enough how much I hope you two are reunited soon and enjoy a well-deserved, long, and wonderful life together. Your love and persistence are truly inspiring, and I'm here cheering for you every step of the way. 🥂💕

I'm the petitioner for an upcoming K-1 visa interview and am seeking clarity on the current rules regarding petitioner entry to the embassy. Earlier this year, we were told petitioners are no longer allowed inside the embassy building during the interview. As a US citizen petitioner, I'm skeptical of this policy change. Can anyone confirm if K-1 petitioners are still barred from entering the embassy during the beneficiary's interview? I thoroughly searched recent threads but couldn't find updates on this policy. If this is a duplicate question, please direct me to the relevant discussion. Thank you!