Approval timelines

[AsphaltVoyager]

Hi all. Yesterday while at the mall, I met a guy with a Filipina spouse. They were accompanied by two other Filipinas, though I don't know what relationship existed between them. Anyhow, I thought the lady (his wife) looked Filipina and couldn't resist asking. Sure enough she was. I got to talking with them and her husband told me he did all the paperwork for visa himself, including hers to the Filipino authorities, and that it took him 7 months to get approval. He said he filed from Nebraska in 2005. I thought that was about right for an approximate timeline, although I've heard it can take as long as ten years in some cases.

We also discussed a couple of other topics: IMBRA and getting a lawyer to file paperwork. I'll talk about the former later and the latter first.

Any time the INS has questions, they'll contact your lawyer, who will contact you and tell  YOU that you need to contact the INS to answer their question(s). He said that the paperwork was very easy to fill out himself without paid assistance and, in light of the lawyer being able to do nothing on your behalf with the INS, saw absolutely no need to pay for the expendable middleman (i.e., the lawyer).

It is also his opinion that once you go meet your lady in the country of her residence, then how you met becomes a moot point. He and I disagree over what significance it plays as to whether the lady you want to meet has been prior informed of your marriage and criminal histories by the website where you met. He met his lady online, but obviously that was prior to the enactment of the abomination known as IMBRA. He has a friend who runs a dating site (wish I remembered the name of it, but I don't) that doesn't do any of the IMBRA requirements, BUT it's also a free dating site, so perhaps the rules under IMBRA don't apply. The friend's site derives its income from advertising rather than membership fees. The site also does not provide any marriage or matchmaking services, whethre paid or not. I think that may provide his fiend's site the loophole necessary to skirt the requirements. But, the fuzzy area to me is what about sites that offer enhanced service for paying members, although regardless of membership level, free or paid, each member's profile is fully visible to all other members. I would think that they, too, would be an exception to IMBRA requirements as long as they don't arrange tours and the like.

Your thoughts?

[michaelb]

1. You don't need a lawyer to prepare the paperwork. Many people don't.

2. Timeline. 10 years? Not for a spouse or fiancee visa. Those 10 year cases you've heard about are probably for siblings or parents. There are different types of visas, some of them, such as fiancee and spouse, aren't limited and therefore take merely the time it actually takes to process them, which still seems like forever. Other types have limits, such as from Country X they will only let in Y number of people per year. The actual X and Y number vary from country to country. Now, here's why the long wait. Let's say that country X is allowed 1000 per year. The first year, 1500 people apply. So 1000 of them get to go, the remaining 500 are first in line for NEXT year's quota, which also has 1500 people apply. So, 500 of last year's people get to go, and 500 of this year's people get to go......leaving 1000 of this year's people to take up ALL of next year's quota....let this snowball for a few years and soon a person applying today will have to wait 10 years, or even more.   

3. IMBRA requirements, free site. His friend is right, as long as he doesn't charge money. Here is the pertinent part of the act (emphases added):

(4) INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER-

      (A) IN GENERAL- The term `international marriage broker' means a corporation, partnership, business, individual, or other legal entity, whether or not organized under any law of the United States, that charges fees for providing dating, matrimonial, matchmaking services, or social referrals between United States citizens or nationals or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States as permanent residents and foreign national clients by providing personal contact information or otherwise facilitating communication between individuals.

[william3rd]

That isnt how it works and I think your friend needs a strong laxative. The greatest opinions come from the one shot-or none-shot wonders.

Time frames to approval have gone from a matter of days to over a year to approval and back down again. Best time I had from filing to consular interview- 13 days. Vermont to Moscow 1999.  My first one took 16 days to INS approval in 1990, my last one was deferred on IMBRA grounds in 2009. That is what happens when you do six for yourself

I started doing fiancee visas in 1990 and did close to 4000 of them. There is no magic processing time. You can do it yourself. However, it isnt one size fits all. People generally hire attorneys for k visas as insurance and peace of mind. Whether you guys like attorneys or not, the attorney has a hell of a lot more experience than you do. The system has improved over the years so that you do it yourselfers can actually do it yourself. It was difficult to complete the process at all. It was only the last 5 years that the process and USCIS became user friendly. I used to call you do it yourselfers the "freebee boys" cause you were always trying to take advantage of free consultations. Changing your voices on the phone, calling for a "friend"-lol

As for IMBRA, you shouldnt think much about it at all. For most of you guys, it doesnt apply unless you are going on your second or third case. It does stop you wifebeaters from bringing over another punching bag on a K visa. But you guys can circumvent that by marrying abroad.  If in doubt, IMBRA applies.

FREE to both male and female? Or same fee to both? no IMBRA. You will find that these services are not for free and do charge the male. AMOR De Cartagena used to claim that they were exempt because they only took donations. NOPE- Imbra applies.

[Ray]

Hi all. Yesterday while at the mall, I met a guy with a Filipina spouse. They were accompanied by two other Filipinas, though I don't know what relationship existed between them. Anyhow, I thought the lady (his wife) looked Filipina and couldn't resist asking. Sure enough she was. I got to talking with them and her husband told me he did all the paperwork for visa himself, including hers to the Filipino authorities, and that it took him 7 months to get approval. He said he filed from Nebraska in 2005. I thought that was about right for an approximate timeline, although I've heard it can take as long as ten years in some cases.

We also discussed a couple of other topics: IMBRA and getting a lawyer to file paperwork. I'll talk about the former later and the latter first.

Any time the INS has questions, they'll contact your lawyer, who will contact you and tell  YOU that you need to contact the INS to answer their question(s). He said that the paperwork was very easy to fill out himself without paid assistance and, in light of the lawyer being able to do nothing on your behalf with the INS, saw absolutely no need to pay for the expendable middleman (i.e., the lawyer).

It is also his opinion that once you go meet your lady in the country of her residence, then how you met becomes a moot point. He and I disagree over what significance it plays as to whether the lady you want to meet has been prior informed of your marriage and criminal histories by the website where you met. He met his lady online, but obviously that was prior to the enactment of the abomination known as IMBRA. He has a friend who runs a dating site (wish I remembered the name of it, but I don't) that doesn't do any of the IMBRA requirements, BUT it's also a free dating site, so perhaps the rules under IMBRA don't apply. The friend's site derives its income from advertising rather than membership fees. The site also does not provide any marriage or matchmaking services, whethre paid or not. I think that may provide his fiend's site the loophole necessary to skirt the requirements. But, the fuzzy area to me is what about sites that offer enhanced service for paying members, although regardless of membership level, free or paid, each member's profile is fully visible to all other members. I would think that they, too, would be an exception to IMBRA requirements as long as they don't arrange tours and the like.

Your thoughts?

Lots of wrong or irrelevant info in there…

1. How long it took in 2005 is irrelevant because so much has changed since then.

2. There is no more INS.

3. He did HER paperwork to Filipino authorities? About the only paperwork she needs to do that involves the Philippine government is the passport application which she has to do herself in person, the CFO seminar which she has to do herself in person, the request for NBI clearance which she does herself, the request for her NSO documents which she must do for herself, etc.

4. Ten years for a fiancée/spouse visa? No way, unless it was denied and they had to come back and meet all kinds of requirements that were missing or out of order. Six months to one year is more typical.

5. A lawyer is not required or necessarily even recommended in most typical cases. However, a lot of people cannot do any government paperwork filing themselves or have complicated cases that almost require an AILA attorney. One minor mistake or omission on those visa petition forms can cause considerable delays, so an attorney may be well worth it to some folks. Also, a lawyer does more than just relay messages between CIS and the petitioner.

6. How you met is never a moot point. It is almost guaranteed that she will be questioned at her visa interview about how you met.

7. Since this guy filed before IMBRA was implemented, he didn’t have to follow any IMBRA rules.

8. Marriage or matchmaking services, including tours, are not required for IMBRA to apply. Providing contact info for a fee is all that needs to be there for IMBRA to kick in.

I would take this guy’s opinions with skepticism, and do your own extensive research on the subject well in advance, if you want to do your own visa filing some day.

Ray

[AsphaltVoyager]

Thanks, guys. I thought he was off and on with some of his thoughts. I've got a long ways to go before any of that will take place.

By the way, Ray... you can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but not your friend's nose. 

[piglett]

By the way, Ray... you can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but not your friend's nose. 

i think Ray already "nose" that 

[robert angel]

Let's not get too nit picky!

[Dave H]

Hi all. Yesterday while at the mall, I met a guy with a Filipina spouse. They were accompanied by two other Filipinas,
Your thoughts?

Hey AV,

I wouldn't use the guy for any technical visa info...but he might be a good source for meeting nice Filipinas!

Dave

[Dave H]

I used to call you do it yourselfers the "freebee boys" cause you were always trying to take advantage of free consultations. Changing your voices on the phone, calling for a "friend"-lol

Hey William,

Sounds like our assistant fire chief...he used to disguise his voice and make obscene phone calls to the fire chief's secretary. He got surprised one day when the police walked into his office and he was getting/giving himself a "freebee!" 

Dave

[AsphaltVoyager]

Hey AV,

I wouldn't use the guy for any technical visa info...but he might be a good source for meeting nice Filipinas!

Dave

Perhaps he would. However, I am sticking with the one I have, through thick and thin. Right now, times are thick and I expect them to stay that way, but if thin times come, well... that's when the harder work begins again. I think her "sticktuitiveness" is strong enough to match my own and we'll make it through. I think we have both established once and for all that we are meant to be together. For now, it's simply a matter of gearing up for the hurdles and hoops that need to be navigated, the first of which is to get a passport/visa for me and go visit her. That's not the hard part. It's the hotel/airfare that is. I am figuring about $2300 for an 8-day stay for both of us in Bangkok. An out-of-country destination lets her experience something new as well as getting out from under judgmental noses in PI, and lets us both feel free to be ourselves without any outside scrutiny. Next trip will be to meet her family, probably in April, but we'll see. All depends on my job and what time I can take off from it. As soon as that trip's over, it's off to the land of hoops and hurdles. (read: USCIS)

[robert angel]

AV,

Re:
>>Perhaps he would. However, I am sticking with the one I have, through thick and thin. Right now, times are thick and I expect them to stay that way, but if thin times come, well... that's when the harder work begins again. I think her "sticktuitiveness" is strong enough to match my own and we'll make it through. I think we have both established once and for all that we are meant to be together. For now, it's simply a matter of gearing up for the hurdles and hoops that need to be navigated, the first of which is to get a passport/visa for me and go visit her. That's not the hard part. It's the hotel/airfare that is. I am figuring about $2300 for an 8-day stay for both of us in Bangkok. An out-of-country destination lets her experience something new as well as getting out from under judgmental noses in PI, and lets us both feel free to be ourselves without any outside scrutiny. Next trip will be to meet her family, probably in April, but we'll see. All depends on my job and what time I can take off from it. As soon as that trip's over, it's off to the land of hoops and hurdles. (read: USCIS)<<

Sounds like a good plan! Personally, I'd want to go to the RP first, (I'd love to explore Thailand too) but you have a good point about avoiding the 'judgemental noses in PI'--there's more pressure on the both of you close to her home. You should definitely keep thinking about that second trip come spring (I'm assuming you haven't been yet) so that you can get a better feel for her country & culture. The way you're approaching it all sounds like you'll know each pretty well and be able to make a wise, informed decision!

It's really hard for someone to visit a lady in her hometown and then have to tell her that you're not meant for each other. It's usually hard for the guy and even harder on the woman. Sounds like you've found someone promising, so hopefully that won't be a problem.

Best wishes!

[Dave H]

An out-of-country destination lets her experience something new as well as getting out from under judgmental noses in PI, and lets us both feel free to be ourselves without any outside scrutiny.

Hey AV,

Pardon my ignorance but why Bangkok? My understanding is that everyone will think that she is a ho because she is with you, a farang! "Thais believe that farang men are whore-chasers and connoisseurs of low-class women." http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Reader/reader1844.htm Sounds much more judgmental than the Philippines to me!!! I guess if you don't speak Thai, you may never know what people are saying about you, but you will both probably get the attitude!

Personally, I would go to a resort in the Philippines, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Davao, Palawan, Puerto Galera, etc...there are many! Who exactly is going to judge you in the Philippines? Does she have judgmental family and friends on all 7107 islands in the Philippines?    In the Philippines, most people will just assume that you met chatting on the Internet, whether you did or didn't. Some may assume that she is only after your money, not that she is a bar girl.  

Dave

[william3rd]

Hey William,

Sounds like our assistant fire chief...he used to disguise his voice and make obscene phone calls to the fire chief's secretary. He got surprised one day when the police walked into his office and he was getting/giving himself a "freebee!" 

Dave

 

[AsphaltVoyager]

Hey AV,

Pardon my ignorance but why Bangkok?

Her preference, Dave. If it were up to me, I'd just as soon meet on another island where she isn't known to everyone. We'll see how it goes. She may change her mind yet. She has family on a number of thge islands, but nowhere near that many of them.  I think the idea of getting out of her country for awhile and seeing someplace new is the real appeal to her. Can't say I blame her for that. I'm just hoping that being in a new job, will they allow me to take any time off when she can go with me? If not, it may have to wait until school lets out in April.

[piglett]

I'm just hoping that being in a new job, will they allow me to take any time off when she can go with me? If not, it may have to wait until school lets out in April.

been there done that !!!


piglett

[robert angel]

The waiting is the hardest part.....

[Ray]

       

I am figuring about $2300 for an 8-day stay for both of us in Bangkok. An out-of-country destination lets her experience something new as well as getting out from under judgmental noses in PI, and lets us both feel free to be ourselves without any outside scrutiny.

Judgmental noses? Free to be yourselves?

Her preference, Dave. If it were up to me, I'd just as soon meet on another island where she isn't known to everyone.

I had the same question as Dave…why would she choose Bangkok of all places? It sounds strange because it’s well known as a sex-tourist destination.

I think the idea of getting out of her country for awhile and seeing someplace new is the real appeal to her.

Perhaps that is truly her motive, but there could possibly be other motives as well. Perhaps she has something to hide (a child, a boyfriend, a husband or ex-husband, a dark family secret)?

From my experience, it is highly unusual that a young Filipina lady would even consider, let alone request, that she meet a foreign man for the first time in another country where she is out of the reach of her family and friends.

Traditional Filipino families would not approve of their young daughter meeting a strange foreigner alone and out of town, let alone in a strange country.

Does her family know of her plans to meet you overseas? Do her parents approve?

Have you communicated personally with her parents or other family members?

If she is planning this meeting on the sly without her parents’ knowledge, then you may very well end up the villain in their eyes, which is not the way to become a member of the family.

If I were you, I would tell her that you want to meet her in her home town for the first meeting. Tell her that you will ask her parents for permission to court her, out of respect for her family and Filipino traditions. If she insists on meeting elsewhere, then tell her that you want to personally ask her parents’ permission to take her to Bangkok for 8 days.

If she nixes both of those ideas, then something doesn’t seem right and you would be well advised to proceed with great caution Asphalt.

Ray

[piglett]

I had the same question as Dave…why would she choose Bangkok of all places? It sounds strange because it’s well known as a sex-tourist destination.
Perhaps that is truly her motive, but there could possibly be other motives as well. Perhaps she has something to hide (a child, a boyfriend, a husband or ex-husband, a dark family secret)?
From my experience, it is highly unusual that a young Filipina lady would even consider, let alone request, that she meet a foreign man for the first time in another country where she is out of the reach of her family and friends.
Traditional Filipino families would not approve of their young daughter meeting a strange foreigner alone and out of town, let alone in a strange country.
Does her family know of her plans to meet you overseas? Do her parents approve?
Have you communicated personally with her parents or other family members?
If she is planning this meeting on the sly without her parents’ knowledge, then you may very well end up the villain in their eyes, which is not the way to become a member of the family.
If I were you, I would tell her that you want to meet her in her home town for the first meeting. Tell her that you will ask her parents for permission to court her, out of respect for her family and Filipino traditions. If she insists on meeting elsewhere, then tell her that you want to personally ask her parents’ permission to take her to Bangkok for 8 days.
If she nixes both of those ideas, then something doesn’t seem right and you would be well advised to proceed with great caution Asphalt.
Ray

D I T T O !
something mite be rotten in Denmark the philippines

piglett

[Dave H]

Perhaps that is truly her motive, but there could possibly be other motives as well. Perhaps she has something to hide (a child, a boyfriend, a husband or ex-husband, a dark family secret)?

From my experience, it is highly unusual that a young Filipina lady would even consider, let alone request, that she meet a foreign man for the first time in another country where she is out of the reach of her family and friends.

Traditional Filipino families would not approve of their young daughter meeting a strange foreigner alone and out of town, let alone in a strange country.

Ray

Hey Ray,

HIGHLY UNUSUAL!

How could a young lady be "known to everyone" and  have so many "judgmental noses" keeping tabs on her? It's a first for me...and I have even seen married Filipinas out and about with their Kano "fiances," while their "brothers" (husbands) stayed at home with the "nieces and nephews."  

Dave

[z_k_g]

My sweetie is pretty nice too me, i really can't think of anything she has done that would even be construed as adventurous, she is conservative, like most typical pinays!   I got lucky and met her because her friends were being "adventurous" and putting up profiles and put hers up for her for fun!

When I visit her, my first stop will be to her parents to ask permission to court her!  Then our visits will be chaperoned or under the watchful eye of her father, mother, sisters and brothers.

Her parents would NEVER approve of her meeting me without meeting them first.  They even look at every item i send her, small gifts and trinkets from USA.  They don't read my mail or look at her yahoo chats but they want to make sure she is dealing with a decent Kano!

It sounds pretty idyllic meeting in Bangkok!  But I see many many red flags, beyond the family issues, with her even having a passport!

Take Rays advice and Tread Lightly!  

She may just be an adventurous pinay, meeting you in sex heaven, but I suspect you have a wily bar girl!

Just one man's opinion!

Zulu

[Dave H]

When I visit her, my first stop will be to her parents to ask permission to court her! Then our visits will be chaperoned or under the watchful eye of her father, mother, sisters and brothers.

Her parents would NEVER approve of her meeting me without meeting them first.  

Zulu

Hey Zulu,

That sounds very typical for a good Filipina, from a good family. I have seen parents push their daughters into marrying a Kano or becoming a Japayuki...not a lady or family to become involved with IMHO! City girls and those living there, far from home, can get away with more, if they so desire...however, many still choose to maintain their traditional, conservative values.

Congrats and Good luck!

Dave

[AsphaltVoyager]

I am not going to get into a pissing match with any of you. But suffice it to say that you can stick your opinions where the sun never shines. This will be my last post and don't expect a reply to whatever you've got to say.

This is not my girls' first marriage, though it will be her last. She doesn't live near her parents and it wouldn't matter if she did. yes, I'd ask her folks if I could court her, but their answer wouldn't matter one damned bit. It's all for show.

YOUR ideas of what constitutes a "good Filipina / Pinay" doesn't have to match my idea.

MY only need is to have someone who is capable to giving and receiving true love without reservation and can carry on intelligent conversation and be faithful without the B.S. games that most Filipinas like to play with their coy hogwash.

If that is what floats YOUR boat, then go for it. I've got my OWN ocean to play in. If my girl thinks that people in the Fils are judgmental, then she hasn't seen anything yet if you are any example.

[robert angel]

Hey AV,

Cool down! Do you think that people are taking time to try and derail you--that they're acting out of jealousy or meaness?  Comeon, guy--think it over, chill out and try to regroup. You're taking things much too personally and not in the spirit the advice was intended.

Yes, there is 'sniping' and flames on here at times, but the guy's who you're upset with are long married and have seen a lot more than you or I can even fathom at this point.

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. It'll be great to see everything work out and you share that with us in the same constructive way others have intended their advice in response to your postings to be taken.

You're probably like me, right about now, having a 'knee jerk reaction' -- when I do, I knock the whole damn table over and my wife tries to put my nose back in joint....

[Dave H]

I am not going to get into a pissing match with any of you. But suffice it to say that you can stick your opinions where the sun never shines. This will be my last post and don't expect a reply to whatever you've got to say.

This is not my girls' first marriage, though it will be her last. She doesn't live near her parents and it wouldn't matter if she did. yes, I'd ask her folks if I could court her, but their answer wouldn't matter one damned bit. It's all for show.

YOUR ideas of what constitutes a "good Filipina / Pinay" doesn't have to match my idea.

MY only need is to have someone who is capable to giving and receiving true love without reservation and can carry on intelligent conversation and be faithful without the B.S. games that most Filipinas like to play with their coy hogwash.

If that is what floats YOUR boat, then go for it. I've got my OWN ocean to play in. If my girl thinks that people in the Fils are judgmental, then she hasn't seen anything yet if you are any example.

We cannot condone absolute foolishness! (BTDT!!!)  If we did, we wouldn't care! I really wish you the best! I hope you can come back someday and tell us we were all wrong! Good luck, Goodbye and have FUN!  

Dave

[Dave H]