wow. you are tha answer to prayers. i’ve been wanting to hear someone who recently went through the fiancee visa application process because i’m currently working on mine. interview is on sept and i’m a nervous wreck. thank you for the tips!

thank you very much for this blog. it really helps me. it is very informative and substantial. you are a big help to me and to the other people out there who are processing their papers and dont know what to do. your blog can be a useful guidelines. God bless.

what if my fiancee is not employeed YET. can his dad an american citizen give the support papers? thanks

Hi everyone! Thank you all for the comments I appreciate it. I am just now beginning to get active in blogging again. I am now here in the US with my hubby and have been very busy with so many things!

Anyway, to ANNA: my father-in-law was a co-sponsor for my visa application. You can surely make your fiance's dad a co-sponsor, with your fiance as primary sponsor (the Affidavit of Support paperwork comes after the petition approval). Check the US Embassy website on how to go about this.

Check out this link for a chance to chat with a US Embassy Consul: http://www.usvirtualconsulatedavao.org.ph/

There are also chat archives on various visa issues and concerns that you can browse on. Good luck!

thanks so much for this blog. i have been looking for someone to ask about this fiance visa thing because im currently working on mine. You’re great help! Godbless you!
My fiance received the letter that says the embassy is going to send me forms for my K1 application. I had my NBI, passport and NSO birth certificate ready few months ago. Pictures and letters are all ready. Im wondering about the medical examination especially the vaccination requirements. As of what i understood (correct me if im wrong), i must meet all the currently required vaccinations if i intend to be a permanent resident in the U.S. I only had the hepa shots.. Can i have the rest of the required vaccines before i submit myself for the medical exam? Or they,st.luke’s staffs,are in charge of everything?

Hi Tenshi! Thank you for your nice comment. Good job on preparing your documents early! About the vaccination requirements, in my case, it was St. Luke's that determined the appropriate vaccines for my age. I had to get Tetanus and MMR shots. It wasn't actually a requirement by the US Embassy for a US Visa but when you change your status once you get to the US, it's required that you get vaccinations. Since the ones at St. Luke's are part of your medical exam fee, it's better to take advantage. Do note that USCIS requires follow-up shots after 6 months. Even though I got my shots in the Philippines, I had to take follow-up shots here, for my Adjustment of Status paperwork.

It's good that you took the Hepa shots but I don't think they are required to get a visa. Good luck and God bless you!

Watch out for my new post on Adjustment of Status sometime soon

HELLO!! SINCE YOU TURN IN YOUR APPLICATION HOW LONG IT TAKES WHEN DID YOU RECIEVE YOUR APPROVAL?AND MY FIANCE DONT HAVE ANY RECORD OF HIS VACCINE IS IT OKAY IF STLUKE PROVIDE THAT VACCINATION?ITS BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE I APPLIED,I ALREADY ASK MY FIANCE TO GET READY THE NBI,PASSPORT,POLICE CLEARANCE.

Hi I’m jackie I just received a letter from the usa embassy and it said I can schedule my interview. I had the birth certificates, nbi clearance, but I don’t have USA packets said by my fiancé. I’m quiet confused. I prepared in advance but I only have a letter from USA embassy.what step il do.thank u po

Hi Juliet! It took me 5 months to get my visa, since my husband turned it in. The 5 months included getting the USCIS petition approval, the US Embassy letter of interview appointment, preparing all requirements, the interview itself and visa delivery. St. Luke's will provide the vaccination records based on the shots that are age-appropriate for him.

Thanks for your time. Good luck and God Bless!

Hello Jackie! From what I know and understand, the US Embassy doesn't send packets anymore, just letters. That will be all that you'll need to set up the interview and prepare the requirements. Just follow the steps outlined in the letter, very carefully . Here's a link to the interview preparations letter from the US Embassy, http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3238.html

You'll notice that this one is similar to the one you got except for the case number that's in your letter. Again, follow the steps. God Bless!

HELLO!!I JUST RECIEVE MY LETTER OF MY FIACE APPROVAL WHAT NEXT STEP SHOULD I DO? IS THE NVC OFFICE SEND ME ANOTHER LETTER?WHER DO I PAY THE VISA $400 AND WHERE DO I SEND THE AFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT?

HELLO I FOR GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE DS FORM IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE PRINTED IN THE ELECTRONIC OR IT CANT BE HAND WRITTEN?THNK U

Hi Juliet Once approved, just wait for the NVC to issue your fiance a visa number and for the embassy to send him the interview appointment letter. I'm not sure how long this takes, you can check the NVC website on this, though. Here's the link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html#Filing

You should send the NVC Letter of Approval to your fiance as well as a filled-out Affidavit of Support (send copies of your W2 Tax Returns as well). The DS forms will look better, and will be easier to read when they're electronically filled-out.

Have a good one!

HI ITS ME AGAIN,AFTER I RECIEVE THE APPROVAL FROM THE USCIS,WHAT THE NEXT STEP SHOULD I DO?
AND FOR THE AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT DO KNOW WHICH FORM I HAVE TO USED IS IT I-134 OR I-864?

Hi! From the link I gave you, here’s what they say:

Use the I-134 for a visa application. You will need to submit an I-864 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when your fiance gets to the US and adjusts his status to conditional immigrant in the United States after you get married.

Pretty much, at this point, you need to help your fiance prepare the documents that he needs for the visa interview. This includes filing the Form I134. Hope all is well with you!

Note: You can get more info at, http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html#Filing

Hi there! Ü
can you please give me hints on how to fix my documents properly?
Im having my interview on the 2nd of feb. I have all the documents at hand but im not sure i arranged them alright..
one more thing, is it true that i should have my medical exam 7 or less days before the interview?..

Tenshi, just follow the order of required documents in the US Embassy letter of interview appointment. As for your photos of evidence, arrange them chronologically

Separate your DS-application forms (with visa photos) and US Embassy letter from your other requirements, because the guard will check them before entering the embassy.

It’s advisable to schedule your interview a week after your medical exam to give time allowance for any possible delay in your medical results. I’m not sure anymore if St. Luke’s forwards your results to the embassy the next day, so please give them a call and ask about this. Still, they’d advise you to have your interview a week after the med exam.

Good luck and God bless on Feb 2nd!

hey it’s me jackie,is there an effect if u have been on of usa territory.I went to Saipan in order to took a nclex exam.I used visitor visa and I only stayed there for 5days. And also what should ibring for medical examination?do I have 4to 6 copies of pictures of us and the love letters,phone calls. I’m scaredi might be deny also because I went on one of USA territory

Hi Jackie! I don't see any negative connection between your visa application and Saipan trip (unless you went there illegally). If you lived in a foreign country for 6 months or more, then that's the time you need to get a Police Clearance from that country for purposes of visa application; since you only stayed in Saipan for 5 days and legally at that, I don't see any problem at all. For medical exam, just bring a visa photo (4-6 pcs), passport and original copy of the Letter from the US Embassy. Love letters and phone bills are evidences of relationship that you bring with you on your interview day.

thanks your like a sister who guides us.oh well,I’m just waiting for affidavit I support.I’m hoping I won’t be denied cause il be scheduling the interview soon.thanks again-jackie

Hi it’s me jackie I have my interview schedule on feb.2,can I have my medical examination earlier like 10day or 8days before the interview and I’m planning to take it on the 10-11of feb.alsohow many weeks did u wait for ur visa approval and what will be the signs that you did pass the interview thank u

Hi Jackie, I can’t help but be confused with what you said.. you have your interview on FEB 2 and your medical exam on FEB 10/11? I’m sorry, but that’s not gonna work dear. Unless you mean Feb 22?

Anyway, medical exam is a very important requirement in your visa application, I don’t think you can schedule for an interview before your med exam.. I’m thinking, you got the dates mixed up.. Did you?

I’m sorry it’s me jackie. I’m going to ask if it’s ok to take the medical examination on February 10 or 11. Because I scheduled my interview on February 20. I’m worry if I’m going to take medical examination within 2weeks before the interview. Is that ok if it’s to advance. Thanks I’m sorry if I messed up my message earlier I was sleepy. Thank u po

HELLOO!!WHICH BANK CAN I PAY FOR THE AIR DELIVERY?

Jackie, your schedule seems fine to me. No probs with the mix up.

Juliet, if you mean Delbros visa delivery, then it’s Metrobank.

hi again do you have the web site how to pay and how much i have to pay? how is the procedure?

This is very helpful! thanks so much!!! Thank you for sharing some infos here, youre so kind of you..
Im also starting to comply to all the requirements needed for k1 visa. my fiance ask me to complete the g-325a form and a visa photo and send it to him before he’ll send the petition to the USCIS.
Im a bit confused now of what kind of visa photo will i need to send, my fiance told me that it should be in glossy type BUT the photographers told me that normally they do require a matte type.. I canvass to other studio and they do have the same answer.. can you help me with this please?!
and are there any documents that i need to send to my fiancebefore he will submit it to the USCIS office?!
and can i ask also if what method did your fiance did to submit the application for petition docus in USCIS? Is it via mail or personally submitted by him??
Im just too afraid we might get denied/ lack of docus eh.. i hope its not to much to ask for… thanks in advance sis! =)

It’s jackie again I have a question.is it ok if you have only one ds157validated cuz I offer my own copy to the bank but they only validated only the form I paid. And how do you arrange your ds.thank u

JULIET: Please read STEP 8 of this blog. Follow the link for payment instructions.

Read Step 7 for your other question, please.

SEDAN: Please go to this link http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1287.html, for information on visa photos specifications

My fiance mailed the application to the designated USCIS address for visa petitions.

~~~~
Thank you all for your nice comments. I’ve experienced what you’re experiencing now and I really want to help each of you. However, I can’t help but notice that some of the answer to your questions can be found in my blog above. Please take the time to read it first, before asking me. Trust me, it’ll save you more time God bless you all!

It’s jackie if you finished you medical examination did you come back on the next day n did you had your results. I’m quite nervous cuz il he returning for my results n I don’t know if it’s a good signs n tell me ur experience thank u

Jackie, I came back the next day to get my vaccinations done and to get my x-ray film.

Pretty much, speaking from experience and also based on the experiences of other fiances who shared theirs, once St. Luke’s advises you to come back the next day, your medical results are good.

Take note that St. Luke’s forwards the medical results, along with the passport to the embassy.

I did pass I had my vaccination and It was one of my memorable experience man,,it’s a very long journey.thank u for the care n support.wish me luck on the next step the interview.-jackie

do I have to pay for delbros what for it’s jackie thanks

It’s jackie again why do you have to pay. For verification of documents where in I’m willing to give my original documents such as nbi,birth cert.,cenomar

hey there! i just want to thank you again for making this blog. I say, i couldnt have been more ready if i havent found this site. Feb 2 was my interview date. I had a less than 10 minute interview with the consul and was approved even before i finished answering the last question.=p

i already have my flight schedule.

again, thank you so much. GOD BLESS you!

Hi Tenshi! You're most welcome! Congratulations and have a blessed married life Btw, what State are you going to? If it' somewhere near Spanaway, WA, send me an email so we can meet!

Jackie, congratulations for passing your medical exam! I know how relieved you must feel. God bless on the final step - the interview! ^_^

Re: Verification of documents, you need to pay because DELBROS verifies your documents, on the Embassy's behalf. If you notice, the Embassy doesn't require fiances to present CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) and I think it's because they verify it themselves. Just think of it as speeding up the application process.

hi, thank you for all the information here made our lives easier.

i just wanna ask if it’s only vaccinations that i have to undergo in medical examinations? why is there an xray film there?

i am scared of doctors, i don’t wanna be surprised when i get to st. lukes, so i wanna ask what else shoud i be doing there:)

thanks in advance

deng

Hi there. My interview was last Monday and my visa was approved. I’d like to thank the author of this blog; it helped me a lot during the ‘data gathering’ period.

Hi -wonderful blog & so helpful for what can be so stressful & confusing for all…Thank you so much
God bless you.

I have 2 questions

1)(My fiancee lives in Cebu so flights & hotel time is a factor.) She doesn’t have any vaccinations so far. Does she need to take any ahead of time or can she do them all the required for the interview at St. Lukes at the days of the Exam??? B)does she need to bring additional money & prepare extra time for this?

2)Wondering if she should take 2 flights in case the results take too long to come back, how long of time should we try to plan on before the interview after the Medical exam?

Again thanks so much,
Rick

HI ITS ME AGAIN, TO APPLY FOR PHIL PASSPORT DO KNOW HOW MANY DAYS?

MELODY BAY: Dear, it’s a medical exam so full body examination. They do chest xrays to check if you have TB or any communicable diseases. Part of it is the doctor asking you to undress (don’t let your imagination run wild, it’s a closed-door exam, of course ^_^), to check for Hemorrhoids (if I’m not mistaken). The doctor will also interview you regarding your medical history.

The vaccination is just a bonus. In fact, it’s not really required. But, since you paid for the medical exam already, might as well take advantage of what’s free. Besides, you’ll need your updated and recent vaccination record when you apply for Adjustment of Status (to become a legal resident), once you get to the US.

Rick, please read my response on vaccinations, directly above this box.

When I was applying for my visa, I was in Davao (even farther from Manila than Cebu) and I was trying to save money so I scheduled my interview a week after my med exam. I was pretty sure St. Luke's forwards the medical results to the embassy the next day, but I wanted to give time allowance just in case something unexpected happens (like maybe I won't pass the exam or would need to retake it). Thankfully, none of that happened so I had enough time to kill and enjoy before the interview day.

Yes, she needs to have money especially if she's gonna stay in Manila for a week. I have another blog that can help her find cheap but comfortable Manila hotels near the US Embassy and St. Lukes.

During my spare time, I attended the government-required CFO seminar (refer to Step 10 of this blog), even without a visa. On the day I left for the US, my flight was in the evening so I went to Manila early to have enough time to get my CFO certificate and my passport/visa stamped.

TIP: The day before the interview, it's best to book a hotel just across the embassy (I stayed at Bayview Park Hotel), since she would want to be at the embassy at 5 or 6am to beat the queue (of course, this is if she's booked in the morning. But even still, it's good to be near the embassy to avoid Manila traffic).

Hope that makes sense. God bless!

Juliet, I’m not sure anymore. My passport was issued 5 years ago (it’s expiring this August) and I even had a travel agency took care of it for me. Call the DFA to be sure.

Hi this is Rick again, thanks so much for your help & advice. Very helpful. One other question regarding the Medical. I’ve heard that if you happen to be at St. Lukes during those 4(period) days of the month they will send you home for you to return after that time of the month. Do you know if that is true or can you shed any light on that?

Also, you mentioned your last day in Phil that you went early in the day to get your CFO cert & your passport/visa stamped.. is the same day enough time? Do you happen to know if they are open on Saturdays? Lastly I’m guessing this last part is not something you can do until you pass the interview & receive their approval package in the mail?

Again thanks so much for all your help
God Bless
Rick

finally my fiance recieve his letter from embassy he just apply a passport yesterday,hopefully by this week he will recieve his passport so that he can schedule his interview appointment and he can get his exam at stluke.by the grace of god sana wala nlng problema.im taking my vacation on march 1 to spend time with him in phils,
thanks alot for your help
godbless,juliet

Hi Rick, I'm sorry but I've never heard of such 4-day-period-in-a-month-thing. You should have your fiance call St. Luke's though, and ask them their days and hours of operation (maybe this 4-day is a 4-day government holiday?). You can find the number in my blog.

You're right that she can't get her CFO certificate until she has her visa (even if she attended the PDOS seminar). But she can attend the PDOS seminar and get the PDOS certificate while she's in Manila. CFO will require both visa/passport and PDOS certificate to process the CFO certificate and to stamp the passport. At the airport, the Philippine Immigration needs to see a CFO stamp and a certificate attached to her passport.

If she intends to do it in one day, I suggest she book an early or late evening flight. She might also need to book a hotel where she can leave her belongings while she takes care of the CFO business. CFO waiting time for me was 30-45 minutes.

In retrospect, to avoid the pressure of needing to accomplish a lot in one day, might as well deal with the CFO on the first day and leave PI the next day. It all depends on what you both think is best. ^_^

JULIET: Congratulations and God Bless! Enjoy your trip ^_^

Hi thanks so much for your advice.
You’ve been a tremendous help to me & I’m sure countless others.
God bless you always

Best Regards,
Rick

hello! My visa just got approved earlier today. I was so shock because the interview took only less than 5 minutes. When the consul said “Ok, I authorized your visa.” I still have to ask her, “does that mean, I am approved?” She said yes.It took me a while to absorb what the consul said. Coz I did not imagine that it will be that fast. (The waiting is long, though)

Because my mind was busy absorbing what the consul had said, i didn’t get ask about how long will i get my visa. I asked the Airway 21. They said they are not sure. But some take a week, some takes 2 weeks.

May I ask, how many days after the interview were you able to get you visa?

Thanks..

—lydia

Hi. My name is Marra and I just got a letter from the US embassy telling me that I am already eligible to make an appointment for my interview… do i have to pay first the visa fee before calling to make my appointment? im just so confuse…thank you so much for this post, its going to be a big help to me…more power!!!

Hi!
I have one question, if you may allow, as a friend of mine got me confused by telling me that the medical exam also include drug tests, but you never mention it here so I dont know what to expect. Shes has been in and out of US so I was thinking she maybe right.
This blog is very helpful btw…kudos for spending your valuable time to help us! Thank you very much.

Hi Lydia! Well it really depends on where you live. For me, since I was in Davao then, it took a week and for applicants in the Manila area or Luzon, maybe between 3-5 days. Also, I don’t think Air 21 sends visa package, the last time I checked, it’s Delbros. Did you pay to Air 21 in the embassy, after your interview?

Marra, you can make an appointment anytime but make sure you give yourself ample time between the time you complete the requirements (paying DELBROS, visa fee, medical exam, evidence for relationship and all forms you need to fill out) and your interview date. Please check the blog for a step by step guide on your application.

Hi there Braver, yes your friend is right, I think drug test is included because I remember having to submit a urine sample during my med exam. Thanks for the complements, you’re all very welcome! God Bless!

Thanks for the reply, bitsnpieces.
Yeah, I paid the Air 21. After the interview I was asked to go to Window 37. Then, I was instructed to fill in the Air 21 forms for delivery and pay it. They have Air 21 booth inside the embassy.

oh i look back at your blog again. You said you paid delbros. I think its different then and now. There is no delbros inside the embassy. Everyone paid Airway.

I live in Metro Manila. The Air 21 say they will notify me as soon as the Embassy turnover my visa…

Thanks bitsnpieces, again. I think i’ll expect my visa in a week. Thanks. Thanks much…

ooops. I forget to ask.. What are the requirements for marriage in the US. Do i have to bring anything, birth cert, cenomar, NBI???

I’ll be in the US by the end of April. Its right after my graduation..

Thanks again…

Can I also share something with Marra?

Marra, what i did then when i got the letter from the embassy was I tried to complete all the requirements first before i called the embassy. I was interviewed just last tuesday (3/3/09). Its easy to have the interview scheduled anyway. My fiance called Thursday (2/27) and was able to sched it on the day I want.

P.S. Bayantel phone would not be able to connect to the Embassy. I called the Bayantel operator why i couldn’t get through. I was informed that they have no connection with the US Embassy. That’s why my fiance called for me. So, dont freak out when you cant get through…

Hi there! you are really helpful! it’s been almost three months now that my fiance submitted my papers, do you think i have to prepare the requirements already? we’ve been checking it on the site and it says application still pending…

for the med exam, i have my maxicare card, do you think they will consider and so i dont have to pay for the med fee?

i really thank you for this blog. ive been looking this kind of blog since we started the application. youve been very helpful! tnx!!! God bless!!

Hi everyone, for marriage in the US, you only need your passport. You have to get a marriage license in your local county office (your fiance should know where it is).

Filing for adjustment of status (so you can be a registered alien with a green card), is a totally different story. But be sure to bring your birth certificate and vaccination record (the one you got from St. Luke’s). I’ll post a new blog on this sometime soon. I’m just waiting for my green card approval so I can give you the exact time line.

You can also check my time line (since the fiance petition to current) at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=&id=55589.

Thanks and God bless!

Thanks Lydia for your updates!

Bunchee, I don’t know what a Maxicare card is. I’d say you call St. Luke’s and check directly with them .

Hi bitsnpieces, your blog is such a big help for those (like me) who are beginning their journey to get the K1 visa. I’m right now preparing for the requirements for the interview though i have some delay in my K1 visa processing after i got my NOA2 and it’s the USCIS fault. They sent the files approved on Dec 19, 08 to NRC instead of NVC. And they are now tracking where my records are. Hope they would expedite my papers to NVC as soon as they found it.

I just read from the Manila Embassy website that Air21 will be their official courier service provider effective Feb 2, 09. So, I want to ask Lydia how much did she pay for the Air21 delivery?

BTW, I also want to ask anyone here to give me an idea about the cost of a one-way ticket to California. I would also appreciate much if you could give me name of agencies in Manila where you get your plane ticket which is reliable. Thanks!

okay, thanks! ill do that.oh, did you get a lawyer to fix your petition? or just you and your fiance?

right now, we’re just waiting for the approval of our petition, hopefully it will be approved sooner, miss my honey so much..

thanks again bitsnpieces! you’re fantastic!

Thanks for the reply!

I got my visa today! That’s exactly a week after the interview….

I’ll be looking forward to your next blog about the adjustment of status… For now, do you have any idea if I’ll be able to complete it in 3 months, before the K1 visa expires?

Thanks again..

Congrats Lydia! Your Adjustment of Status (AOS) will take longer than 3 months. Usually it takes 6-12 months. It’s important that you apply for your AOS and Employment Authorization Document (EAD) at the same time so you can get your EAD while waiting on the AOS. EAD takes 3 months to process. I got my EAD 105 days after USCIS got my application for AOS & EAD. Until now I’m still waiting on my AOS.

Bunchee, no, we didn’t hire any lawyers. It was just us who saw it through the whole process.

hello bitsnpieces, i have read ur blog, and thus far this is the most updated one, and this is really very helpful. thank you so much for spending time.

in your opinion, is it necessary to hire a immigration lawyer? what is a success/failure rate of hiring one or not? and which do you think would be better k1 or k3 ( money and time wise ) ?

i may not say it correctly, because everything is new to me, we still are on the planning process, haven’t met in person yet, i was like wondering, how many times do you have to meet in person before considered valid to apply for k1? is once ok?

my bf does not have a job, you can call a formal job, like not in a company or anything, because he is still studying, he works part time for his uncle auto shop, he is thinking of getting self employed in the future too, can his parents be the co-sponsor? does it give higher possibility of it getting denied?

ty again, God bless u!

But will i be allowed to stay in the US while processing my AOS? Coz the Fiance Visa expires in just 3 months, right?

Thanks for the advice. I’ll surely do that.

kryztine asked me about the Air21. The price depends on where would you like your visa to be sent. I paid P205, I live in Metro Manila.

Thanks again.

Oh.. bitsnpieces… I also posted my blog about my own experience during the whole process of applying for K1 Visa. You (and everyone else) might also find some information useful because i notice that there are some differences from your experiences (and others) and mine. I guess the procedure is a BIT different (just minor differences) then and now.
here’s the site… –>http://simplegirl82986.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/us-k1-visa-information/

Thanks so much. You’ve been really helpful to me and everyone else…

hi! my fiance juts received the approval letter last sunday. ive been trying to download the forms from the website you gave but im having a hard time doing that.i just wanted to see how they look. i have my adobe 9 version and it says that i didnt meet the minimum requirement to download it..

you’ve been helpful!

hi, girl!

I wonder what are the requirements of the K2 visa> i am scheduled for interview on march 20 at 7am.. will this mean that i will be interviewed on that time? what time do these applicants arrive at the embassy> me and my daughter (jewel) will be coming from batangas..

i will appreciate if you could give me some advise and some information too.

your blog is really a helpful and unique way to help other applicants.

all what you mentioned here about the tips are all very informative. Thank you. I still got 2 days to fix and arrange my papers.

Thank you. My interview will be on friday, march 20 at 7am.

thank you for the link. it realy help me a lot. how many months did you recieve the letter from the US embassy in manila?

hi thanks for this blog it really helps…just wanna ask if you have hemorrhoids will it deny the application?

Hi Josie, I’m sorry my experience is limited for K1-visa only. I believe K2 is for your dependent child? I’d advise you to go to the Manila Embassy website and find out as much as you can about K2. Also, the letter that you got from the Embassy lists all the requirements you need to prepare. If you were able to schedule an interview appointment, I’m guessing you have that letter. Refer to that and to the Embassy site. Thanks.

Jan, I got the letter around June and my husband filed the petition in March.

Sandra, I don’t know the answer to your question. Maybe you can ask St. Lukes, for us? ^_^ (I don’t know if they will give you the answer but you can try.. Give me some time to research on this, though).

Thanks everyone!

FYI: I just posted a new blog on applying for adjustment of status and employment authorization card.

Is attending PDOS a requirement before leaving the country. I am also leaving with a K1 visa. Nobody mentioned or instructed me to attend PDOS to me. A friend just told me about it.

thank you

Yes Laura, it is a requirement. This is not an Embassy requirement but our Government requires it. The Immigration counter at the airport will check your passport and look for a CFO stamp and certificate (attached to the passport). To get the stamp and certificate you need to attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS). Read Step 10 of this blog to find out where you can attend.

hello bitsnpieces
kaka start lang namin file k1 visa then agency tutulong sa amin pagprocess,how many months do u think does it takes till they approved our papers?thanks

Hi Kryztine! You can ask Lydia directly on the Air 21 payment at her blog address: http://simplegirl82986.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/us-k1-visa-information/

About airfares, they change alot so I don’t have a definite answer. You can Google for travel agencies in Manila and look up their phone numbers to call them. I purchased my ticket at a local agency in Davao. They gave me a pretty good rate. I flew Asiana (via Korea) going here.

Hi Giselle, wow, you got some tough questions girl

ON HIRING IMMIGRATION LAWYER

>> I don’t really know how to answer this. Of course having a lawyer follow up everything would speed up your application, because they know how the paperwork goes and all legal stuff. In my opinion, you should hire one if you think you need it. If you’re a K1 and your fiance can prove that he is financially able to support you, you’ll have 99.9% approval rate. I think there are fiances who went through several divorces in their lives and hire lawyers just so to smooth out the process.

ON MEETING IN PERSON:

Once or twice is good enough. Make sure you have photos and your meeting has to be within the past 2 years of filing for a Fiance(e) Petition.

ON PARENTS AS CO-SPONSOR

Yes, definitely, his parents can co-sponsor. My parents-in-law did that because my fiance just got out of the Army and didn’t have a job while we were processing my visa application. For as long as he passes the poverty rate guideline (?) then there’s no problem.

God bless you too!

Hi Bunchee, what form/s were you trying to download? Maybe the link is bad? Let me know so I can fix it. Also, you can go to the US Embassy website and directly download it from there.

Hi Kim! Usually, it takes 3 months to approve a petition. It all depends, on the workload (how many petitions USCIS is processing). If an agency is helping you, then they might be able to help fast track the process.

Everyone, good luck on your interviews and preparations!

Hi! Thanks for the response. I was trying to download all forms like DS-156 but im not able to download it. But i saw another site where I can view all of the forms. Can you check if these are the updated ones?

http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/

Thanks again!

hi! another question. I checked on the visa photo requirements on the site (http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1287.html) and it says there that it’s 2×2 w/ white background? is that it? and one will be attached to ds156 right? how about the other photo?

im sorry for having a lot of questions, just want to make sure that im doing the right thing.

thanks again!

hi there.. i would like to let you know that I’ve got my approved VISA yesterday.

Thank you so much and good luck to all the other ladies out there. It is easy to get a K2 VISA.

Good luck to all the ladies.

Hi! May I ask also how much did you pay for your med exam bec im quite confused. i saw some blogs that it just cost them 5k + but the approval form says it’s $200+…. so it’s about almost 10k?

thanks!

Bunchee, I paid $213 and that was last year. Like I said, fees change and it’s definite those blogs you saw did not have current information. The price should be in your Embassy letter, though, and if it said $200+ then that’s the right one.

About the photo, I’m pretty sure 2×2 white background is correct. Don’t wear any earrings, your ears should be visible, don’t smile, and you can actually wear any clothes, it doesn’t have to be with a collar. The photographer should coach you but if s/he doesn’t, just bear those in mind. Also, on that link I gave, there are sample photos that you can look at as a guide.

If the form requires you to attach a photo, then do so. The State Gov site is a good place to download files from. I’m pretty sure they update the file versions.

Also, I checked the link that you reported bad and the site was working fine.

“““`
Congrats Josie! You may share your experience about the K2 visa if you like.

To Giselle, On which is better, K1 or K3:

To me, it all depends on where you want to be married. If you want it in the US, then go for K1. If you want your family and friends to be there, then do a K3.

The process is basically the same, but I think it’s much longer for K3 because the petitioner needs to file for I130 and then when that’s approved, file the I129-F, because you are basically entering the US as a non-immigrant.

Please check this link and decide for yourself: http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k3k4visa-outline.html

tnx bitsnpieces!!! you’ve been very helpful to all of us! take care!!!

Hi! does anybody here uses SKYPE and knows how to print call history from there? my fiance and i have been using skype to communicate. ive been searching on google how to print it other than using the “print screen” key on the keyboard and pasting it on a word doc. pls help. i was able to print my chat history though.

thanks a lot. ur help will be much appreciated!

hello bitsnpieces,
bat ipapasa pa ang mga documents sa fiancee ko sa US from agency kung sila man kaya ang magprocess noon,bat kailangan pa e send sa fiancee ko..san ba ipapasa ang mga documents namin sa uscis diba?let me know..

HI ABOUT THE DS156 IM TRYING TO FILLED UP ONLINE BUT I COULDNT GO THROUGH IS IT OK IF I PRINT THE FORM AND FILLED UP HAND WRTTEN

hi bitsnpieces! i hope ur getting all of our messages.. i just noticed that u no longer post messages. i hope everything is fine..

im just a bit confused about paying DELBROS.i received my letter of approval that i can already schedule my interview but i didnt see that paying DELBROS for docs verification was mentioned. is it one of the requirements? where can i see that then? hope u can help ome on this. thanks a lot!

hi there its me again, my passport will expire by dec 2010, i wonder where can i get a passport then if i am in the usa, my daughter and i will be flying before june 2009.

would you mind to direct me? thanks. im quite busy, ill post my experience about the K2 visa next time to share it with those in need of some information.

take care.

by the way, before i forget…. i wonder what do they mean about theOriginal and photocopy of Immigrant Data Summary (for USA bound emigrant); this is one of the requirements

will appreciate you more.

josie

Hi everyone! Yes I’ve been busy the past few weeks and overlooked the fact that by default, my blogsite can only display 20 comments. That’s been the reason why the newer comments were not on display. Anyway, I fixed that already.

Bunchee, what I’m saying is you can arrange however you want it, but the most logical thing to do (and to make it easier for the Embassy staff and consul) would be to follow the order of the requirements, as stated in the Embassy letter.

Yes, Delbros is not the official courier anymore, it’s now Air21.

Josie: My passport is expiring this year as well. I haven’t done my research on where to renew it here in the US, yet. But, I’m thinking we can do it in a Philippine Embassy (maybe even online) somewhere here in the US. I’ll post the information as soon as I have it.

I’m not sure I know what an Immigrant Data Summary is. Is this one of the requirements for a visa? They didn’t ask me for that before, though.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Hi Everyone! I am starting my own website/blogsite about Filipina fiancees and spouses of foreign nationals. Initially, it will focus on fiancees and spouses of US citizens, although eventually I would like to see it grow and be an online community of, and for, global Filipino women.

It will be an informational website containing valuable resources on mixed-culture marriages, relationship advice, job hunting tips, cultural assimilation and building professional and personal network. It’s for every ladies out there who are looking for social, emotional and psychological support as they start their new lives in the US.

The website is still under construction. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s fully operational.

Watch out for www.pinoyworldonline.org!

im just a little bit confused on your step 8:

Step 8: Pay DELBROS P650.00 for Document Verification. For payment instructions, visit http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwfdelb.pdf.Keep the deposit slip and bring with you on your interview in case you may need it.

please correct me if im wrong: i have to pay P650 for my docs to be verfoied? hmm.. ive been trying to look for that on the requirements but i dont see it.

do i have to pay that before the interview or after?

im sorry for asking u a lot of questions and i really appreciate your help on this. thanks!

Bunchee, please don’t mind DELBROS. I need to update that step. It’s AIR21 now if you have been following the comment thread here. Like I said, always check with the US Embassy website or by calling them if you are unsure. You can’t just rely on my experiences. Policies change. It pays to be updated Hope I’m making sense.

hi, my passport is green but will expire next year, they said that green needs to phase out, the new passport is colored brown i think, now, would you please advise me if its wise to apply here in the philippines or should i get it in the usa. I heard its a lot cheaper to get it here and the processing there takes longer.

i appreciate you, advise.

by the way, i will post my K2 experience, right now, i am quite busy.

is there a filipina from florida here? i need new friends once i get there in the next less than 90days.

Hi Josiez,

Mine is the old one (green covered) as well. The new ones are brown. Here’s what I think, if they allow you to renew your passport even before it expires, then I guess there’s no reason not to do it there. For this, it’s best to call your local DFA office or check their website to see if you can renew it a few months before expiration date.

Have a safe and comfortable trip!

tnx bitsnpieces! im almost done with my requirements.im planning to have my interview at the end of may. by the way, the medical fee will be paid at st lukes right? and i need to allot 2 days for my med exam bec of my vaccination? is that correct? tnx for helping!

hi! how is it going?. i havent been opening this blog until i realize i need your help AGAIN.
I see more and more people are relying on your blog. Congrats for that. You could honestly see how much you’re helping people out.
Im now in Illinois, thanks for your guide way back. uhm, I really have minimal knowledge about things to be done after marriage. Finally, i can start doing my papers, since i am legally married now.
Im getting bored, i wanted to work.I knew we have to do the “adjustment status” thing but i have no idea where to start. And im aware i have to have my SS number, driver’s license and Authorization for employment and all those things that comes with it para makaapply na ako for work. I already have my state license, though.

So, what’s do you recommend should i do first?

HI!!THNK U FOR YOUR BIG HELP ATLAST MY FIANCE JUST ARRIVE.WERE PLANNING TO GET MERRIED 2 WK FROM NOW.WHAT NXT STEP SHOULD I DO AFTER WE GET MERRIED?DO I HAVE TO APPLY THE WORKING VISA NOW OR I HAVE TO WAIT THE MERRIED LICENSE?

Hi Bunchee,

Yes it will be at St. Lukes Medical Clinic (not the hospital). First day for exam and second day for vaccination (only if you pass the exam).

To Tenshi & Juliet,

Please refer to my new blog on Adjustment of Status:

http://bitsnpieces.i.ph/blogs/bitsnpieces/index.php?tag=adjustment-of-status

Good luck!

hi! we want to make my fiance’s father to be a co-sponsor. wat are the procedures for that? and the requirements? i saw that u also made ur father-in-law as co-sponsor. does he need to fill out the same i-134 also? wer does it say it’s for co-sponsor? i hope u can guide me on this. thanks for helping!

Hi Baby,

The first step is for your fiance (primary sponsor) to file a K1 visa petition for you. Once the petition has been approved and forwarded to the Embassy in Manila, the US Embassy will send you a letter stating all the requirements you need to comply for the visa interview.

Requirements include the FORM I-134 of the primary sponsor and co-sponsor (your father-in-law), with his latest W2 and employment certificate, stating his salary. Your fiance has to send these EVIDENCE of SUPPORT to you, and you will bring these documents with you at your interview.

My fiancee and I had the chance to chat with a consul and here’s the excerpt:

Administrator
bryan - I just was discharged from the military while my visa is still pending, so I am currently unemployed, but searching for a job. I am now at the point where I need to submit an affidavit of support but I don’t have a job yet. I am currently living back at home with my father. Can he file for me?

Consulate
Yes, your father can file an I-134 on behalf of your beneficiary. He should submit with the form proof of his earnings, such as his most recent tax return or W2 statement. The form and accompanying documents should be forwarded to the US Embassy.

The chat was provided by the US Virtual Consulate of Davao: http://www.usvirtualconsulatedavao.org.ph/

To view the full text, visit: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwfchat.pdf

Hope this helps.

tnx bitsnpieces!

one more ?

is the passport number really needed when calling the embassy to sched my interview? bec. my fiance will be the one to call but im still waiting for my renewed passport. it will be delivered on the 29th. is it necessary or he can already call them without that?

tnx again!

IF IM GOING TO APPLY THE AOS AT THE SAME TIME CAN I APPLY THE EMPLYMENT AUTHORIZATION AND TRAVEL DOC?DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR BOTH OR JUST THE AOS $1010.

Juliet, yes you may apply for AOS, EAD and Travel Document all at once and pay only 1,010 for AOS. The other docs are free if applied together with AOS.

HI! IS IT OK TO PRINT THE 2 PAGES OF DS156 ON SEPARATE SHEETS? OR IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO PRINT IT BACK TO BACK? PLS HELP. TNX!

Hi Bunny, it really doesn’t matter. You can do whatever you want

tnx cherryl! im having my interview this coming june 1.. a little bit nervous. tnx for ur help! God bless!

one last question cherryl: do i have to bring two more visa pics on my interview other than the two visa pics that are glued on the ds156? so i need to have 4?

tnx a lot! i hope u can help me on this.

Hi Bunchee, go ahead and bring more pics. I don’t remember needing more than two but it’s better to have more and not need it than to have less and need it. God bless!

hallo i recieve letter from us embassy manila it says that my interview was eligible to sch. do i need to call them for appointment..even i dnt have appointment letter from embassy do i need to call them? or to wait my appointment letter.the letter only says that my interview was eligible,, no sch. for my interview or sch.for my med. pls help me

Gwe, being eligible for an interview means you can set an appointment to interview anytime. You have to set the schedule for your interview. There’s a number that you need to call to do that. I’m sure you’ll find the number in the Embassy letter. You also have the option to speak to an English-speaking or Tagalog-speaking embassy staff.

The medical exam is a first come first serve basis. No need to set appointment at St. Lukes. It’s advisable to do your medical exam at least a week before your embassy interview. Good luck!

Hello Bitsnpieces,
Asko ko sna if totoo ba n dpat
No binders, folders, page protectors, etc. Just stack the pages. All documents should be stacked loose in the order requested and contained in a large envelope?How about those pcitures?How sya i prsent to them?Bwal ba nklgy s album?
Pls help me ..

hi, i finally made it in the USA. I am now based in St. Cloud, Florida. I arrived last May 13,2009 via Continental Airlines. Whew,what a relief when I set our foot and in the arms of my future husband. Right now, me and my daughter are adopting the Florida lifestyle. I am now starting to work on our marriage. A simple wedding will do, sad, no one in my family may not be able to come and witness the knots. Should you have questions about K2 visa processing please feel free to ask questions and I will be happy to share with you my moste east experience

By the way, bitsnpieces, thank you so much your blog really helped a lot and im still coming and visiting and getting some guidelines.

Take care and more power. It helps mostly Filipinos who wants to get best helful tips from you.

Josie Z.

hi bitsnpieces!
i would just like to ask if it’s true that they will give you a hard time at the seminar (PDOS/CFO?) if you and your fiance have a large age gap? to the point of not giving you a certificate? i just read that somewhere and it scared me coz me and my fiance have a 14 year age difference. i don’t really care about it but the people at the seminar might. i hope you can tell me something about this. thank you! your site is very helpful!

Hi Gwenyth,

Personally I believe the more simple your organizing system is, the better in the long run. If I remembered correctly, the embassy staff asked me for the requirements, reviewed and forwarded them to the consul who did the interview.

Just stack your requirements according to the order they appear in the embassy letter. Separate each type of document with binder clips and put them in an envelope or folder. You’ll be digging through your stack during the course of the embassy procedure, so make sure they’re organized and accessible.

For supporting evidence of relationship, I would advise you file them separate from the other requirements. I organized the documents per type (phone calls, money remittance, photos, correspondence). I arranged the photos chronologically (pasted the printed photos on paper with caption) so the consul can easily skim through the file.

I hope this makes sense and wish you a blessed day!

JOSIE, thank you for sharing!

MAI, I’ve heard that age gap issue before but I don’t really have a strong opinion on that one. Personally, I haven’t experienced it myself because my fiance and I don’t have a wide age gap (just 4 years, and I’m older, by the way ^_^). I’m also not saying that PDOS discriminates against lovers with wide age gap.

During the interview with PDOS counselors (after the seminar), just be yourself, share your love story, and answer the questions honestly. Good luck!

hi!

i’m dax and i just want to say i’m so glad i found your blog! my fiance (he is based in VA) filed Form I-129F, with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) last May 22, 2009. i plan to follow your step-by-step guide( don’t worry, i won’t bother you with questions that can be answered within your instructions–i really think they are concise and easy to follow), and hopefully decrease the time it takes to prepare for the requirements needed. i noticed that the medical and interview schedules can be moved if the fiance prepares the documents during the first two months right away, instead of waiting for the approval first. for instance, the passport, the birth certificate, visa pics, nbi, etc, can be gotten anytime from day 1 to day 60. in this regard, you are really very helpful since most people would take this stuff for granted. again, thanks a whole bunch for the time and effort!

Hi Dax! Thank you for sharing! You’re right, you can multitask and prepare all requirements for the visa interview while waiting for the petition approval. Good luck and God bless!

thanks bitsnpieces! i hope everything will go well with our application. oh one more thing, about the passport-style picture needed to file the I-129F. i read that it’s 2inx2in and not really the passport size picture. did i get that right? i just don’t want to send my fiance my picture and find out it’s the wrong size. mahal magmail ng documents thru express couriers!

Hi Mai,

You can visit the web site at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1287.html for information for visa photo specifications. You may print the page and bring it to the photographer who’ll be taking your picture.

hi cherry! tnx for your help! my visa got approved last june 1! what a relief! it was a nice experience, but i felt like it was a torture when you were waiting for your turn to be interviewed by the consul, and seeing applicants going out from the consul’s room and doing the thumbs up! it was like, “Oh God, I hope I’ll do the same thing wjen i get out from that room!”. hahah!!! everything went very well. you really just need to be yourlself and answer straight forward and the consul wont ask you more.

for all the fiancees out there, just relax and be yourself on the interview. the consul interviewed me was very nice! if you also have questions regarding current process about the interview, you may also ask me.

thank you so much bitsnpieces! youve been very helpful!!!! take care!!!

HELLO” FOR THE CHANGE STATUS DO WE HAVE TO TURN IN BOTH ME AND MY HUSBAND FOR THE FORM G 325 A OR THE APPLICANT ONLY?

Hi Juliet,

Form G325A is for the applicant only.

To ALL: It’s been my pleasure helping each of you. Congratulations on getting your US visa. God bless you all! ^-^

Hello bitsnpieces,

Reading your blog has given me a little sunshine. Right now I am in the same shoes as your husband when he had just left the Army and was unemployed. I had left the US Air Force about 4 years ago and I’m still going to college. I do have a job but I’ve only started it this year in March and my income does not reach the 125% poverty guidelines. My fiance in the philippines has just gotten her notice from the Embassy in Manila. I have my uncle as a co-sponsor because he makes just enough to pass the 125% poverty level. My concern is I’ve read on other forums that the US Embassy in Manila don’t accept co-sponsors Do you know if that’s true or not? My fiance will have her medical soon and then her interview after that, I’m just really worried now more than ever. I can’t even sleep at night anymore. Any words of enlightenment would help. BTW, your blog is one of the bests I’ve seen so far in regards to the K1 Visa process.

Hello YKenny2,

My husband had his father as co-sponsor 10 months ago. I don’t know where you read that info but based on our experience, we were approved by the US Embassy in Manila. Unless you read that from the Embassy or USCIS website, it probably was just hearsay.

We got the chance to chat with a US Embassy consul in 2008, regarding the issue. I provided the link below.

The chat was provided by the US Virtual Consulate of Davao: http://www.usvirtualconsulatedavao.org.ph/

To view the full text, visit: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwfchat.pdf

Here’s the excerpt:

Administrator
bryan - I just was discharged from the military while my visa is still pending, so I am currently unemployed, but searching for a job. I am now at the point where I need to submit an affidavit of support but I don’t have a job yet. I am currently living back at home with my father. Can he file for me?

Consulate
Yes, your father can file an I-134 on behalf of your beneficiary. He should submit with the form proof of his earnings, such as his most recent tax return or W2 statement. The form and accompanying documents should be forwarded to the US Embassy.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

hi… i wonder what is the steps by steps things to do once I arrived in the USA… would you mind to give me an idea on which to starts first and which site to go… say i already been married.

thanks and more power.

jackie

Hi Jackie,

You can go to my other blog on applying for an Adjustment of Status. I also outlined the basics on what to do before and when you get to the USA.

God Bless!

Jackie, here’s the link to that blog:

http://bitsnpieces.i.ph/blogs/bitsnpieces/index.php?tag=adjustment-of-status&emode=on

WE BEEN MARRIED A MONTH AGO,BUT I DIDNT FILE HIS CHANGE OF STATUS YET IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG IF I DIDNT FILE THAT YET?

Hi Juliet,

From what I heard you have 6-12 months to file for adjustment of status even after you’re married. I’m not sure how true this is but I personally know someone who was married in November of 2008 and is just processing her AOS as we speak. She wasn’t deported or anything. Although, USCIS might (again, not sure) ask more requirements from you when you finally apply for AOS, to prove that you’re still with your fiance.

hi i wonder if having liver disease like Hepa B will be an automatic disapproval of the visa..my boyfriend wants to apply for a fiance visa but considering the medical examination, and the fact that i have such disease, im afraid our efforts will be wasted lang…please…your suggestion is greatly needed..thanks..

Hi Kitkat,

I’m sorry about your condition and I do hope you’re doing fine (you seem to be). My understanding is this, once St. Luke’s finds out you have the Hepa B virus, they would advise you to receive immunization and treatment, and your visa application would be put on hold.

Hepa B is a communicable disease and being that the purpose of the medical exam is to ensure the US admits people who are free of deadly pathogens, for public safety, it’s a safe bet they’d want to treat you first. Good news, your visa wouldn’t be disapproved. It’d just be put on hold.

Although the virus is not curable, it is treatable and there are medications to suppress the virus down to levels that we cannot detect (Source: http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Hepatitis/Current/Q183236.html).

So what I’m saying is you can go ahead and send the petition, go through the whole process, but it will take longer because you will have to wait until after the Hepa B treatment is done and St. Luke’s re-examines you (let’s hope the results would be favorable).

Just FYI, I’ve read from the US Embassy letter (the one they send out to fiance(e)s to inform them an interview appointment can be made), that as part of the requirements for interview, your fiance need to submit a letter indicating he knew about your condition and that is willing to petition you in spite of this. This would come at a later time, after the petition has been approved and USCIS forwards the petition to the US Embassy in Manila.

Kitkat, the decision of course, still rests on you both. Please bear in mind this is only my suggestion based on how I’m understanding the medical exam process. Take care!

Hi! this is very helpful to all of us. you did a great job on this blog!!! god bless you and may you always keep on giving a great information… you take care!

FOR THE REPORT OF MEDICAL EXAM AND VACCINATION WHAT KIND OF PROCESS WHAT HE NEED TO GET?SINCE HE GOT HIS MEDICAL EXRAY IN P.I IS IT NECESSARY TO GET THE EXRAY AGAIN OR JUST THE UPDATED OF VACCINATION?

Kim, thank you for the comment. I appreciate it.

Juliet, for the medical form, you only need the vaccination report given by St. Lukes. NO need for a complete medical exam. You do have to see a USCIS-certified civil surgeon (please read my other blog on AOS regarding civil surgeons at http://bitsnpieces.i.ph/blogs/bitsnpieces/index.php?tag=adjustment-of-status). The civil surgeon will check your husband’s vaccination records, may recommend him to get follow up vaccination shots, and then sign the form. God bless!

hi cheryl! how r u? im already with my fiance here in CA. we’re planning to get married on first week of aug and my visa will expire on sept 13. im just wondering, after we got married, do we really need to file the adjustment right away before sept 13? or we can do that whenever we want? and after marriage, do i have to worry about the validity of my visa?
one more thing, how much total cost did u spend on filing ur adjustment status? and how many months does it usually take?

tnx for helping cheryl! God bless!

Hi bits and pieces,

Thank you for making this wonderful blog and helping other people like me =)

My fiancee already filed the petition last May 22 and so far we checked the site and it says “still pending”.

How long does it take before we can hear any news?

Any advice for me?

Thanks so much!

hi juliet,

i am stucked.. is there any other email that i can write you because what i will discuss is very CONFIDENTIAL and very DELICATE.

i hope for your earliest response.

anniemarg

hi! pls send me more info about fiancee visa application & requirements & so with the payments. Thanks

hi im just new here, hi bella im under k1 also kso wla pdin kmi blita from uscis, ngfilled fiancee me last march untill now wla pa, naapprove kna b? hope you can reply. tina

Hi Bella,

My visa application took 59 days to get approved from the moment the USCIS received the I129F. It varies really, my friend’s visa app is still pending and it’s already been 4 months. I guess it all depends on the volume of application they receive. Hang in there!

hi josie heres my email add. joycemarzan2000@yahoo.com

Yda,

Please read the blog because the general steps are in there, along with the application process, requirements and payments. Note that DELBROS no longer accepts visa payments. It’s now Air21. Please check the US Embassy website for updates on that.

If you have any specific questions that the blog or the long comment thread following it did not answer, hit me back!

(I’d strongly advise you to read the comments because they may answer any of your questions and give you a better understanding of the application process. God Bless!)

hi tina, wala pa yung sa akin last may lang kami ng apply, how about yours? oh boy this is going to be a long wait.

hi bitsnpieces, thanks for your advice. This is really a very helpful blog.

hi how are you?thanks for this information,me and my boyfriend,we planed to apply for fiancee visa,but i got worried he is now in the us,can i ask of he still can aplly or do some ducuments here,can you give me name of agencies can help us???thank you,,

hello bella, tnx for response, ung smin still waiting pa kmi eh, 5months na nga kmi nxt month pero no good news yet from uscis, maybe nxt month im hoping. just continue praying! hi bitsnpieces tnx for your blog it helps alot from us , in the near future if you dont mind i will ask you about k1 visa process, god bless! tina

hi tina, tell me if your application gets approved already, i’ll do the same too. yes i agree, praying is the best thing to do right now, it’s really hard to wait.

Thanks tina and bitsnpieces.

Hi, thank you so much for creating this website, bitsnpieces. Just like other readers here, I have also been into searching for some informations, tips from people like you who have real experiences on the k1 visa application. I would like to ask about my own case, I was a deportee from Japan. I lived there for 6 years and I understand that I need to have a police certificate. I am worrying that this may affect my visa application. Have you ever encountered a reader here with a case like mine? I hope to hear from you. Thank you again.

good day. my fiance alreays lawyer advise us to get priority date. how long we have to wait before i cn have my visa thank you.

hi there! thanks for this blog! it really helps us!
can i ask you one more thing?! about the affidavit of support?? do we need to wait from the NVC to mail the petitioner regarding affidavit of support that needs to be send?! the petitioner, my fiance, only received the approval notice from NVC but theres no instructions that he needs to submit affidavit of supports?? do we need to wait for it?? as of now i received a letter from the us embassy manila that im eligible for the interview.. hope you can help me this… thanks so much for the time and patience in aswering our queries.. thanxie!!!

Ladies, thank you all for your appreciative comments!

Hi Happyjoy,

Thanks for the message. I have not encountered any reader who has been deported before you. Yes, getting a police certificate, in your case, from Japan, is part of your visa interview requirements. I really could not assess how your deportation is gonna affect your visa app since I’m not fully aware of the circumstances surrounding your stay in Japan. But here’s the link on getting a police certificate: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciprocity/reciprocity_3272.html.

Click on the Japan link and it will lead you to a page with information on how to request for the certificate.

Hi Ish,

I’m sorry but I’m not understanding what your lawyer told you. Could you rephrase that?

As for the approval processing time, it really depends on several factors. First off, let me ask you, has the petition been approved? Did the US embassy send you a letter saying you can schedule your interview already?

Hi Sedan,

The affidavit of support documents should be sent to you and you bring them with you during the interview. In short, your fiancee should take care of this ASAP so it arrives on time. If you recall, affidavit of support is one of the requirements for your visa interview. Refer to Step 5-k of my blog for more information. God bless!

When is your interview?

hello there. i havent recieved a letter from u.s embassy. the lawyer tell us to get a priority date so we can track our petition. does having a priority date means the petition is doing ok,, and does it mean we stil have to wait for so long or any moment the u.s embassy will send us letter. thank you

hi bitsnpieces!

currently, im still waiting for the approval. i just have a question, for example if i passed the interview and i already got my visa, how long can i stay here in pinas or how long does it valid?

thanks

HELLO I ALREADY FILE THE AOS DO YOU HOW LONG ITS TAKES BEFORE I RECEIVE ANY LETTER?

bitsnpieces, I went to Japan Embassy last Aug. 10 and I was advised to get a request from the US Embassy before I could apply for a Police Certificate. It will take one and a half months to maximum of two months before I can get the certificate. I need to know if the US Embassy can give me a request letter prior to submission of my documents for a fiance’e visa application. Thanks for your response.

hi again.. thanks for the quick reply! i havent scheduled yet for interview, i stll need to complete all the reqts needed kasi..
hmm… do you use the form i134?? is it the same form to use for the co-sponsor (his parents)..
thanks again for your help..
ill keep you updated also.. thanks so much!!!

Hi Ish,

I’m not sure what your lawyer meant, to be honest. As far as I know you can’t just get a priority date. The National Visa Center assigns you one. When they assign you a priority date it means the petition has been approved and is ready for adjudication by a consular officer abroad. I’d suggest you consult with your lawyer on this. God bless!

Andrea,

A K1 visa is valid for 3 months from date of issue. You have to marry your fiancee in the US before the visa expires.

Juliet, AOS applications take between 6 months to 1 years (or even more for some people). Mine took 6 months because of it got on hold twice for request of further evidence. If you submit the paperwork completely the first time, everything should run smoothly.

Happyjoy,

Where exactly are you in your visa application? Did your fiancee file the petition already or is he yet to file it? He can submit the petition application even without the police clearance certificate. The certificate is a requirement for the visa interview, after the petition gets approved. As far as getting a request letter from the embassy, you want to contact the US Embassy about that. Thanks!

hi thanks. yes they assign us the priority date.. does it mean anytime soon i can have letter from us embassy about my interview? coz we still havent prefer the other documents i need like NBI, NSO, etc. goe bless

Yes, once you have a priority date then you can expect a letter from the US Embassy anytime soon. Now would be a good time to start gathering your requirements for the interview. The requirements are enumerated and explained, to some extent, in this blog. God bless!

Hi bitsnpieces, i’m so thankful for the informations you gave on this website about the fiance visa apps you’re truly a blessing God has given me…from reading your posts, I couldn’t help but worry or probably scared, though i know I am able to gather those requirements by God’s grace…I wanna cry, it’s not gonna be easy, I’ll be needing God’s help terribly. But i totally depend on Him everything from the moment that we turned in the visa apps. And now we just got the first answer to our prayers. My fiance just got a letter of approval from the embassy and it says that they will forward the approved petition and they will inform me within 30 days, now my question is, how are they going to inform me, is it by email, by mail or thru call? I’m really praying that i don’t miss any of it. Because I moved back to my old place already(just a month ago) and we havnt changed my address on the apps yet, but i told my landlady to inform me in case she get a letter from the embassy for me *sigh*can’t help worrying…but I should be preparing all the documents instead right? God bless us!:)

hi bitsnpieces, im tina. i know you can help thats y i drop here,but anyway tnx that you have blog like this. i will start to ask you now,i got appointment letter from us manila embassy today and im iligible for interview but the problem is about medical , i dont have yet passport DFA took that for my baby processing passport, do you think i can go to SLEC w/o our passport,and for releasing we still have to wait 2wiks, and will be release on first wik of september, pls advice me,, tnx. tina

Anne, the Embassy will send the notice by mail. Don’t worry too much, everything will just work out fine! Yes, you should start preparing the documents you need for the interview. The sooner you get it done, the better

Hi Tina,

You will need your passport for your medical exam. My best advise is to wait for it and as soon as you have it, schedule your visa interview preferably a week after your exam. St. Luke’s is on a first come first serve basis so you just need to call up the Embassy for the visa interview. Plan your trip to Manila so you get everything done (I’m assuming you live in the province, but if you’re somewhere near Manila, then you won’t have a problem) while you’re there. You can do the exam and while waiting for interview day, attend the PDOS seminar. You can always come back for the CFO certificate stamp or do it on the day of your flight to the US, like I did.

hi bitsnpieces tnx for the reply, kc reactive me for hepa b, but i have already certification from my doktor and say’s that im not infectious, im not carrier and 1 copy of hepatitis profile, do you think it will be a problem for me? and i have also baby 4yrs old do you think kailangan ko na cia isama from the first day of medical till 2nd day? but i have a vaccination record for my baby from her pedia with signatrue from her pedia, do i still need to notarize that or just bring the record and show them? and about me d sure kung my vaccine me im sure that they will ask that, dont have record also, wat im gonna tell them? pls advice, tina

hi again bitsnpieces one more thing i wanna ask you, kc ngjajapan me dti every 6 months once a year and last fly me dun was on 2005 pa its been 4 yrs ago na, do you think they will ask me to get police certificate from japan? and im sure if they ask that ,it will take me hard to get that, and how can i get that kind of police certificate from japan? advice me and help me again, give some idea, i really appreciate your reply, god bless! tina

hi happyjoy, nkakuha kna ba ng police certificate from japan embassy in manila? kc kailangan ko din and d me lam kung no ang mga requirements, sana share ka, tnx, tina

hi bitspieces im just done my interview but i have a lacking documents and i already passed to them. how many months should i wait for the result? thanks…

nice

Hi Tina,

Your situation is unique to me since I have not heard or known anyone who applied for a fiance visa with a reactive Hepa B. Based on my research though, its best to bring your medical report/abstract during your medical examination. I'm not sure if Hepatitis B screening is included in the medical exam or not because they don't really tell you what the blood work is for. Just to be on the safe side, bring your medical records indicating you're not infectious. Perhaps they'll just advise you to take some meds. About your baby, if she's included in the petition then I don't see why she shouldn't go with you for the medical exam.

About your police certificate, since you've lived in Japan for six months or more, then you're required to get the certificate. Here's the info I got from the police certificate link I provided on my blog (Step 5G):

Applicants Outside of Japan: Former legal residents, former illegal aliens, and Japanese citizens, should apply at the nearest Japanese Consulate. Processing time: Two to three months.

I suggest you contact the Japanese consulate in Manila and ask how to obtain a police certificate as part of you requirements for a K1 visa application to the US. God bless!

Tina,

bring all you medical records and those of your baby’s as well. I don’t know about notarizing the document, I don’t think that’s necessary for as long as your medical records are signed by your doctor. Don’t worry about your vaccination papers. I didn’t have mine when I went in there. They will determine the shots to give you by your age.

Nice,

Congratulations on passing your interview! Just give it a month and see what happens. My visa was delivered after a week, so yours is probably gonna take more than a week because of the documents you had to submit late. I know the wait can be grueling but hang in there! Keep yourself busy by spending more time with family and friends since you’ll be leaving them pretty soon!

hi bitsnpieces, tnx for the reply again i really appreciate that, and for your good advice i will bring my med records and my baby, god bless!

hi bitsnpieces tina again, ask sana me kung pano mgsend ng call history sa ym kc nkasave lng cia sa pc me and wla me printer d2, un chatlogs sna nmin pra mprint out sa computer shop, help me kung idea ka, tnx, god bless!

Tina on Police Certificate…I also need the same requirement and according to the Consul at the Japanese Embassy in Manila, I should first submit them a letter from the US Embassy for this purpose before I could apply and bitsn’pieces was right, processing time is 2 to 3 months to get a Police Certificate from Japan, NO FEE. I also made an inquiry at the US Embassy and asked them if it’s possible to get a “Letter of Request” (that the Japanese Embassy requires) in advance to save the months for the processing prior to the K1 visa application, but they said, “NO”.

Goodluck.

Happyjoy, thank you for sharing your experience!

Tina, I think you can email the chat log files (if they’re saved in your computer) to you and from there you can access your email account and print the files regardless where you are.

EVERYONE, I strongly encourage you to visit www.immibits.com for more information on immigration, US Visa, AOS. I’ll be posting new blogs there from now on although I have no immediate plans of shutting this blog site down, yet.

Next blog is about getting your driver license and my whole new experience on US driving.

hi happyhoy, tnx for the reply, kc super tagal nman ng 3 months and im sure hahanapin nla un sa interview, so thats mean d cla pede mgbigay letter to be able to get japan police clearance in advance, but anyway tnx again and bitsnpieces, god bless!

hi… just read this site a couple of days ago..

I just want to ask some ideas regarding on my fiancee visa… My girlfrend got his CItenzenship a week ago, and she said she will file my petition as soon as posible..

But my dilema is I had dis Hepa B.. does will affect me on my application? what shall i do regarding on this matter?

And the term “hold” on the previous post, how long will it take?

Thank you
show

hi! ive read ur blog about adj of status. a have questions:
is state license id the same as driver’s license? and do i really have to do it before i process my AOS?
and also for the tax?

also, is that the only list of documents that i need to mail? or there’s more?

im from california, where can i mail the docs for AOS and how would i know if my docs are complete?

thanks bitsnpiecies!

hi! u said that Application for Employment Authorization and Application for Travel Document are free if i apply them along with my AOS. but how would i do that? how would i know that they wont charge me for that? and may i ask how much was the total u spent for the application? thank u so much! ur really a big help!

hello! for the travel document how long it take before i receive the the document coz were planning to back to P.I i already file the AOS last august.and i already receive the travel document receipt.

hi bunchee

where exactly are you in CA? if i pass my interview, im going there too

hi bitsnpieces

i’ve been a follower of your blog and i’m going to have my interview pretty soon, thanks for all your help. your new site is great, keep up the good work

hi! i have a question about the form i-693. have u done other vaccinations before ur AOS other than the one that st lukes gave to u? or i just have to submit the vaccination record that they gave me?thanks!

hi andrea! im in san diego. goodluck on ur interview!

hi bitsnpieces!
im bev.i want to thank you and the rest here for sharing their experience.I found this blog yesterday when my fiance told me that he received letter from nvc.Im starting to prepare now the docs needed.here is my question.Do i need to print all our chat logs?.its around 500+pages starting feb ‘09 up to now.Thanks and Godbless. : )

Show,
As far as I know (and also according to my research) having HIV/AIDS would make anyone ineligible for a visa.

I would say Hepa B is not gonna be a problem. Just bring your medical records and vaccination records (if any) during the medical exam and take care of your health between now and the exam. Given your situation, you don’t want any further health complications. I would emphasize on the medical records and make sure it’s updated. Visit your doctor and ask about your Hepa B condition and maybe the possibility of undergoing treatment (?). You didn’t really specify if it’s reactive, acute (self-limiting which the body will clear within weeks to months) or chronic (long-standing).

I don’t remember anything about the term “hold” on a previous post. Please elaborate.

Jing, I would appreciate it if you post your comments/questions on AOS in the AOS blogpage and not in the K1Visa page (just for the sake of being organized and relevant ^_^).

State license is NOT driver’s license. It’s simply a form of identification issued by any state and does not make you a licensed driver in anyway. You don’t have to get a state or drivers license before doing AOS. It’s not part of the AOS requirements. I was just suggesting that so fiancé’s can have some form of identification while waiting for the green card.

What about the tax? What document do you need to mail where?

If you downloaded the instructions page for the AOS form (check USCIS website where you downloaded the AOS form), you’d find the USCIS mailing address for California residents.

Bunchee,

Yes, EAD is free when filed with AOS. They won’t charge you because you’re gonna write USCIS a check for the AOS amount only ($1,010 the last time I did it).

IMPORTANT: When filing for AOS, please DOWNLOAD the instructions page of the form (separate PDF file) and read it before filling out the form. You’ll find many of the answers to your questions there.

Juliet,

It might take a few months or so. Mine took 4 months but that was because they requested for further evidence.

Phets,

Nope, I have no records of my previous vaccinations except for the one I got from St. Lukes. You will need to see a civil surgeon to complete your form I693. To find a civil surgeon, go to: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=CIV

Bev,

Just print a few (maybe a few samples for each month) because the consul will only glance at it.

thanks for fast reply. : )

hey there, i was just browsing some infos in regards with fiance visa and i’m really blessed to see your blog. me and my fiance, are planning to have an agency help us for the fiance visa but its too expensive and i don’t want him to spend too much money. i am hoping that through your blog we can make it on our own. anyways my first question. u mentioned that the first thing to do is to have my fiance file the petition papers and that is the I-129 form right? i’m just confused, do i have to fill up some papers too? or he can just fill up my information? and also are we going to pass the G-325A together with the I-129form? i have to fill up the G-325A myself right? does that mean, i have to print G-325A and send it to him in mail? so, if ever that’s the case, then we have to wait for him to receive the mail.. is that correct? it’ll take 15 days for him to get it. and were hoping we can have it process this week. how did u do yours? i’m so sorry for the long msg. heh, thank you so much for reading this. i’l be waiting for your reply. Godbless!

hi tina and happyjoy,
Is there any update in getting your police clearance? I haven’t receive letter from embassy but im preparing now the docs needed.I learn from this blog that 6mos or more stay in foreign country needs police clearance from that country.Last 2006 i stay in singapore for 6 months for my OJT.today I go to the singapore embassy. They give me application forms and told me that i will apply it by post.One of the requirements *applicant
must produce documentary proof from foreign immigration/gov’t.bodies or embassies to show proof that the certificate is required by such authority*i think its like the one you asked and Us embassy said no.I dont know what to do.thanks for sharing your experience.
bitsnpieces
my endless thank you and God bless (*_*)

Cyn,

Yes, it’s the I129 form for filing of fiance petition. For instructions on how to fill out the form and other needed requirements, here’s the link: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-129Finstr.pdf.

You both have to submit form G-325 together with the I-129. If you want him to receive it right away, download he form, fill it out, sign it, scan it and send it to him via email. I think that’s how we did ours. You can also send the original to him via LBC or FEDEX (this takes a week) and costs around P1500.00 (letter envelope).

hi bev, about police clearance i fax us embassy 2 wikS AGO to request letter for them to be able to get police clearance in japan embassy in manila for advance of my interview date, bad sad to say they dont even reply to me,i guez i need to got first for my interiview and wait if they will ask me that, but im hoping n hindi itanong kc 2 to 3 months b4 mkakuha nun, interview date kc me is sept 25 and pamedical me sa nxt wik, im hoping also n d mgkaproblem sa medical kmi ng baby me. how about you, wat date is your interview? and have you finish your medical already? and for bitsnpieces tnx po s blog nio kc po nkaka2long kau smin for sharing some ideas , and advice, god bless always! tnx, tina

oh.. thanx. hehe =) but, he still needed the passport picture for the G-325. so, if i’l just send it to him via email.. can i also scan the picture?

Godbless =*

hi bitsnpieces!
Good Day! I want to ask if they need original copy of financial support documents?my fiance will be sending all his photocopy.He told me that he needs original for audit.If they need original do they return it?By the way i havent receive letter from embassy just preparing in advance my guide in getting all the document is your blog.

Thank you and God Bless!

Sure you can scan the picture, Cyn. Just tell him to print it on a photo paper or he can even go to a local photo shop and have it printed.

Bev, don’t send the originals (especially tax documents). They accept photocopies as far as I remember. Just to be sure, refer to the instructions page of form I134 (separate PDF file). It should be under immigrations forms of the USCIS website.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis.

If the link I gave is not correct, just visit USCIS website at www.uscis.gov and go to immigration forms and download instructions page for I134.

hi tina,thank you for your reply. i haven’t receive letter from us embassy,hope it will arrive soon so i can have medical and appointment for interview.im preparing in advance.Goodluck and Godbless to you and your baby.

hi bitsnpieces,
Your an angel heaven sent to us.
Maraming salamat po.(*_*)

Hi there, this is Maria i searched already on websites about the Visa Services who can handle and guide me for paper work about fiancee visa and i send an e-mail asking them, if is it possible for us to qualify to get a fiancee visa since we just meet in online dating site last August 2008 and he will come here to meet me in Davao this December 28, 2009. and after 24 hours when i check my e-mail the reply of the service visa team was… (Yes, you should qualify for a fiancee visa. Your relationship is plenty long enough.)

I know he love me because he done everything best in me, he seemed to be the fiber of my soul.

my question is, and hope to hear your answer, is the replied e-mail to that fiancee visa service ( no need to mention their site) was possible to happened? or is it true? or what?
thank you… hope to hear your reply… Maria

hi! im just confused about the number of copies of requirements and photos that i need to prepare when i submit my I-485? some of them need 2 photos too. so, do i need to submit more than 2 photos? and also, some need my marriage contract, do i need to submit two? i dont know if the entire AOS package is considered one or if i need to provide each form their required documents. thanks chery!

Hi Maria,

I think the agency was right. He can file for a fiance petition but not until you’ve both met in person, which in your case will be in December. Be sure to take photos with friends, family, and of course you two, while he’s there. And also you can work on the requirements and documents you need to fill out so he can bring them with him and turn them in as soon as he gets back. Hope you’ll both have a nice Christmas together!

Jing,

Read the specific instructions for each form you’re filing to be sure you have all your bases covered. The instructions are there for a reason and I suggest you follow as necessary. Remember, your AOS is separate from your EAD and Advance Parole applications, but they’re processing them together. If one is missing a requirement, then the processing for all will be affected.

i understand chery! thanks! take care! i hope i will so it right:)

thank you for your reply and your advice, sure i will take many photos as i can for sure… hope i am still welcome to ask question next time when we will start processing our fiancee visa after meeting him. if there are things that hard to understand, im sure you can give some idea, you’re like an angel you are so kind… thank you. God Bless you…

Maria

hi.. just want to ask one question.. by the way im king and im a filipino male and it happens that my fiance is american.. and she wants me to be with her in the U.S. is it possible for me to go there through fiance visa? do i have to follow the same steps youve given to this blog? thnx…

Hi King,

Yes, the process is the same regardless of gender. Your fiance has to file a petition for you and once it’s approved, the embassy will send you a letter outlining the requirements you need to prepare.
God bless!