Hello

[Hank]

Hi, I found this web site about  a month ago. I just returned from the Phil's. I went to meet a girl I have met on line and been chatting / emailing/ calling  with for about 8 months. We are going to get married.    I sent the paperwork in, after reading as much as I could on this site (thank you). I would be grateful for anyones input or advice about the visa process. I sent the packet in Monday, and the check has not cleared yet. I am somewhat nervous, not about getting married / and or the woman. I just have reservations with the government, and how quickly all this will go. I had a tax rerund stolen 3 years ago (IRS' fault), and it took me damn near 2 years to get them to issue a new one.  I thank anyone that takes the time to reply.

[Jeff S]

Hi Hank and welcome. Congratulations on your engagement! Sorry, I can't offer much help since I didn't go the K1 route and it was a long time ago. Rest assured, though, plenty of guys here have managed to get 'er done when it came to the paperwork. Hang in there!

- Jeff

[Bear]

Congradulations, I think.
How did you meet her?  Online or by introduction from a friend?  What was the motivating factors in going overseas?  When you say you are concern that could range from normal jitters that we all get to you've seen/heard some "red flags" and havenm't identified them.  Really need more info.
As the the government, they are what they are and since we keep voting in the same socialist people why would anyone expect them to change?  It took them 50 weeks, once the papers were filed, to get Honey here.

The Bear Family

[Hank]

Hi, and thanks. I met her in an online site. I have NO reservations about her at all. My reservations are with the US Govt. I have seen no red flags to speak of. I met her entire family when in the Phil's and feel they were truly wonderful people. I mentioned that I had been reading the site prior to my trip, and followed as much of the advice I had read as possible. I feel I am truly lucky, as my first few months on the dating site all I got were games and people trying to separate me from my $$$. I just filed my paperwork and know it will take some time, and to be honest patience is not my best attribute  .

[Ray]

Welcome aboard Hank!

You might as well relax because there’s nothing you can do to speed up the approval of your visa petition right now. Don’t get too concerned if the check hasn’t cleared yet. Sometimes they are a little slow but they will send you a receipt notice so make copies and keep it in a safe place.

What you can do is get your fiancée busy with her end of the paperwork shuffle. She should get copies of her official birth certificate from the NSO, apply for her passport and take care of the CFO seminar requirements. She will also need a police clearance and she should get a recent copy of her baptismal certificate if applicable. There are often times errors on the birth records or the birth was late-registered, so it’s time to take care of all that stuff now.

Also start collecting and preparing your evidence for the visa interview. She should have a wide sample of letters and cards in original envelopes with postmarks and covering the entire time since you started corresponding. She will also need photos of you guys together, copies of phone bills, a copy of your passport, and any other evidence of a valid relationship.

You can also start preparing all of the financial stuff for your Affidavit of Support. Also get her originals of your birth certificate and any other documents, such as complete divorce decrees, etc., that you submitted photocopies of with your petition.

Use the waiting time wisely to prepare her for the big move and strengthen your relationship through frequent positive communication. The government stuff is pretty much out of your hands for the time being.

So Hank, where is your fiancée from? Was this your first trip to the Phils?

Ray

[Hank]

Welcome aboard Hank!

You might as well relax because there’s nothing you can do to speed up the approval of your visa petition right now. Don’t get too concerned if the check hasn’t cleared yet. Sometimes they are a little slow but they will send you a receipt notice so make copies and keep it in a safe place.

What you can do is get your fiancée busy with her end of the paperwork shuffle. She should get copies of her official birth certificate from the NSO, apply for her passport and take care of the CFO seminar requirements. She will also need a police clearance and she should get a recent copy of her baptismal certificate if applicable. There are often times errors on the birth records or the birth was late-registered, so it’s time to take care of all that stuff now.

Also start collecting and preparing your evidence for the visa interview. She should have a wide sample of letters and cards in original envelopes with postmarks and covering the entire time since you started corresponding. She will also need photos of you guys together, copies of phone bills, a copy of your passport, and any other evidence of a valid relationship.

You can also start preparing all of the financial stuff for your Affidavit of Support. Also get her originals of your birth certificate and any other documents, such as complete divorce decrees, etc., that you submitted photocopies of with your petition.

Use the waiting time wisely to prepare her for the big move and strengthen your relationship through frequent positive communication. The government stuff is pretty much out of your hands for the time being.

So Hank, where is your fiancée from? Was this your first trip to the Phils?

Ray

Thanks: her stuff she has all of it, besides the Police clearance. I don't think that should be a problem her father and brothers are in the Philippine National Police.

We have been saving all of out emails. We save timestamped Yahoo Messenger chats . I have been using prepaid phone cards I buy on line and saving every receipt, so I have no actual phone bills is that a problem ?   I have everything she has sent me in the mail, it is not all that much, we mostly communicate through chatting and email.

I have a questions about "your Affidavit of Support" and "CFO seminar requirements" I am not sure what that entails ?

I enjoyed my trip to the Phils very much 1st time, not the last. She is from Central Mindanao Bukidnon. I spent time in Bohol as well which was beautiful. We also spent some time in Cagayan de Oro, I am a country boy, so I liked it out in the country better.

[Frank64]

Hank,

Welcome aboard.  Instead of using calling cards, try www.pingo.com.  It's essentialy the same as a calling card, but your calls are documented just like a phone bill.  The prices are good too.  I use it to call a woman in China almost every day.  The great part is that it recognizes your phone.  You can enter a speed dial number and connect without entering long access codes.  You can update the account online even while on the phone.

If she has a computer, the other option is to use www.skype.com.  It's very inexpensive and if she gets an account, you can have videocam conversations.  Unfortunately, the woman that I'm communicating with doesn't have a computer, so I use Pingo.  There are other guys on this site that rave about it.

Frank

[Hank]

Thanks, I looked at www.pingo.com. I am using www.noble.com. The cards at noble are almost 1/2 the price per min. I am just wondering if the card receipts are enough ? I am sure everyone knows how expensive the calls can get. I like the cards, as I can control the spending a little better.

[fourholesn1]

Hi Hank, I started the K1 process in April. You're probably looking at 8-10 months before she'll get here. The good news is that about the only thing that can stop her from coming is if one of you bails out. Otherwise it's pretty much a sure thing. If you haven't already found it you need to go to visajourney.com. It's a great resource. Good Luck!

[Ray]

Hank,

The CFO (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) counseling seminar is a requirement for all Filipinos departing the country to marry foreigners, among others. If she has her passport already and didn’t attend, she will need to take care of that before she can depart on her flight. They usually require it before issuing a passport to a fiancée or spouse of a foreign national.

She can do it now or any time up until her departure but I would try to complete it before her visa interview. She can attend the CFO seminar in Manila or Cebu. Many of the ladies do it while in Manila for their medical exam/visa interview. http://www.cfo.gov.ph/counseling.htm

The NBI police clearance is usually no problem, but if she has lived overseas she may need a foreign police clearance and those should be requested as early as possible due to some long delays. The NBI clearance can be obtained in various locations around the Philippines.

Phone bills are very good evidence but are not a requirement. She can submit the phone card receipts and they will be considered. Same goes for email/chat log printouts. Some of the 10-10-xxx services are not too much more expensive than phone cards and the calls are shown on your phone bill. http://www.planet-love.com/forum/index.php?topic=2788.16

For the Affidavit of Support, download and look over Form I-134. You will need to submit this at the time of her visa interview along with evidence that you have the financial means to support your immigrant spouse. Essentially, you will need to provide evidence of steady full-time employment or other steady income, copies of your last income tax return, a letter from your employer, etc. You will have to show an annual income equal to the currently published Federal poverty level for your family size.

My wife is from Mindanao also…Surigao Del Norte.

Ray

[Ray]

Hi Hank, I started the K1 process in April. You're probably looking at 8-10 months before she'll get here. The good news is that about the only thing that can stop her from coming is if one of you bails out. Otherwise it's pretty much a sure thing. If you haven't already found it you need to go to visajourney.com. It's a great resource. Good Luck!

Actually, there are quite a few denials of fiancee visas for a variety of reasons. NEVER assume that it's a given, but make sure you have all of the requirements as close to perfect as possible.

[Hank]

Actually, there are quite a few denials of fiancee visas for a variety of reasons. NEVER assume that it's a given, but make sure you have all of the requirements as close to perfect as possible.

I am working on not being one of those denied. I just finished printing out 90 + emails, from an old account. I got to thinking when do I present all of this stuff emails, phone cards ect ? We filled out the original paperwork and sent exactly what it asked for, no more no less. I have to print out a TON more emails, plane ticket vouchers ect. I just got to wondering when I will need to present all of this stuff. 
Thanks to all for the advice and encouragement. 

[Ray]

Hank,

All of that evidence will be presented by your fiancée either at the time of her medical exam or at the visa interview.

I would recommend she have at least 10-12 letters, cards, or e-mails covering a time period from when you first started to the time of her interview. Correspondence between your family members and fiancée and vice-versa are very good also if applicable.

She should have lots of photos when she goes to her interview at the embassy. She can make a small scrap book or photo album for show-and-tell.

Ray

[Hank]

Ray, thanks for all the info I can't say thank you enough !! I thought I would have an interview, and would have to present evidence ? I really have nothing to do at my end, besides what I have been doing ?  The real nuts and bolts will happen at her end ?

[michaelb]

Ray, thanks for all the info I can't say thank you enough !! I thought I would have an interview, and would have to present evidence ? I really have nothing to do at my end, besides what I have been doing ?  The real nuts and bolts will happen at her end ?

After she gets here and after the marriage she will have to do 'adjustment of status', which will require evidence that you are really living together as man and wife and the both of you will be interviewed together......but that's a couple of years down the road.

[Ray]

I really have nothing to do at my end, besides what I have been doing ?  The real nuts and bolts will happen at her end ?

Well, yes and no.

She will be doing most of the leg work from here on out, but remember that you two are a team in this so don’t just dump everything on her.

Consider it your job to guide her through the process and insure that she is following the correct procedures. Some of these gals will get some really dumb advice from friends or relatives, so keep her focused and on track with this. You will need to educate yourself so you know exactly what she will need to be doing and when. If you can do that and work together as a team, you will be much more likely to be rewarded with a visa in a timely manner.

You can start by going to the U.S. Embassy web site and reading everything linked to on the Immigrant Visa (IV) Unit page…  http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

The instructions there apply to immigrant visas as well as fiancée visas, so pay particular attention to the parts referring to K-1 Fiancée Visas. Make sure she gets this link also so she can do her own research along with you.

Good luck to you guys….

Ray

[Hank]

Hank,

The CFO (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) counseling seminar is a requirement for all Filipinos departing the country to marry foreigners, among others. If she has her passport already and didn’t attend, she will need to take care of that before she can depart on her flight. They usually require it before issuing a passport to a fiancée or spouse of a foreign national.

She can do it now or any time up until her departure but I would try to complete it before her visa interview. She can attend the CFO seminar in Manila or Cebu. Many of the ladies do it while in Manila for their medical exam/visa interview. http://www.cfo.gov.ph/counseling.htm

The NBI police clearance is usually no problem, but if she has lived overseas she may need a foreign police clearance and those should be requested as early as possible due to some long delays. The NBI clearance can be obtained in various locations around the Philippines.

Phone bills are very good evidence but are not a requirement. She can submit the phone card receipts and they will be considered. Same goes for email/chat log printouts. Some of the 10-10-xxx services are not too much more expensive than phone cards and the calls are shown on your phone bill. http://www.planet-love.com/forum/index.php?topic=2788.16

For the Affidavit of Support, download and look over Form I-134. You will need to submit this at the time of her visa interview along with evidence that you have the financial means to support your immigrant spouse. Essentially, you will need to provide evidence of steady full-time employment or other steady income, copies of your last income tax return, a letter from your employer, etc. You will have to show an annual income equal to the currently published Federal poverty level for your family size.

My wife is from Mindanao also…Surigao Del Norte.

Ray

I have been looking at Form I-134. I was wondering should I wait to get the letters from my employer and bank closer to her interview? She has no interview set at this time. We have a receipt #, the USCIS has the packet but thats all the info, or contact we have gotten. I again thank you for all your help.

[Ray]

Hank,

The Form I-134 is technically good for one year but the interviewer will usually want to see more recent evidence of employment. You can probably wait until she gets her instruction packet from the consulate in Manila to get the employer letter and have the affidavit notarized. Just make sure she has the I-134 and all the financial stuff a few weeks before her interview date.

To be safe I would also send her a couple of recent payroll stubs closer to her interview date to show current employment status. If you have any problems getting a bank letter, just include photocopies of your bank statements for the past year if you have them.

For the tax return, include a complete photocopy of your 2007 federal return with all attachments. If you don’t have a copy, you can get a transcript from the IRS.

Ray

[Dave H]

For the tax return, include a complete photocopy of your 2007 federal return with all attachments. If you don’t have a copy, you can get a transcript from the IRS.

Ray

Hey Ray,

Very true! My wife filed an I-130 in 2006 for her mother.  We included photo copies of complete tax returns for 2004, 2005, and 2006. At her Visa interview 2 weeks ago,  they asked for our complete 2007 tax return. Fortunately, we had already sent it to her. She received her Visa within a week...almost exactly a year since the application was filed.

Dave

[Hank]

I have a question, my finance keeps saying that I need different things for my interview. Do I (the man in the USA) actually have an interview , before we are married ?

[Ray]

Do I (the man in the USA) actually have an interview , before we are married ?

Negative.

She will be interviewed at the U.S. Embassy in Manila before her visa is issued.

[Hank]

Thanks again Ray !!

[Dave H]

Hello Hank,

A belated Welcome to P-L! I'm with you on being a country boy! I spend as much time away from the city as possible. You just have to watch out for the NPA and their "People's Tax."  My wife was born in Butuan, but her family is from Bohol. We have a small rice farm in Agusan Del Norte.

Dave