MY WIFE'S K3 VISA APPROVED!!!

[JhunnieE]

Thank God my wife's K3 visa has been approved already on March 26th. It took the US Embassy two weeks to process it. My question is that How long does it take for the LBC to deliver the visa in Metro Manila area? Has anyone here purchased a plane ticket from Bridges Travel? Would anyone here recommend a travel agency there in Manila? What Airline has a good service?

Please advise.

Thank you very much.

[Bear]

... in response to MY WIFE'S K3 VISA APPROVED!!!, posted by JhunnieE on Mar 28, 2002

nm

[Ray]

... in response to MY WIFE'S K3 VISA APPROVED!!!, posted by JhunnieE on Mar 28, 2002

How long did it take from the time you filed the I-129F for the K-3 until the embassy approved it?

The visa should be delivered within 24 hours AFTER the embassy releases it to the courier company. Who knows how long that will be?

One of the best ways to get a plane ticket is for your wife to shop around in Manila for a travel agent. They’re all pretty much the same, but some might try to sell her a round-trip. Send her enough money for the ticket, the exit tax, and travel expenses plus any shopping she needs to do. The travel date can play a big part in how much she pays. Any good travel agent can shop for the best rates and connections. I can’t recommend a Manila travel agent because my wife bought her ticket in Cebu and flew Cebu-Hong Kong-LAX on Cathay Pacific. I don’t know of any airline that has terrible service, so I would go for the best rate and departure date with easy connections if needed..

Is she going to have a big despidida party first, or just try to get out of town as fast as possible? :-)

Ray

[JhunnieE]

... in response to Congratulations!, posted by Ray on Mar 28, 2002

Thank you all!

the timeline is:

Dec. 18, 2001: Mailed I-129F
January 9, 2002: 1st NOA
January 19, 2002: 2nd NOA (APPROVED)
January 22, 2002: NVC Forwarded the case to Manila (E-mailed)

Feb. 8, 2002: US Embassy Manila recieved the approval
Feb. 22, 2002: My wife received the packet. It was delayed because she did not have the new pasport at the time Manila recieved the approval..could have recieved the packet earlier. Also, she needed NBI and stuff...she was not really prepared because we did not know it was that quick, and I did not know that the K3 peition was approved because I was in the Pinas until January 26.

March 7, 2002: Medical at St. Luke's
March 8, 2002: Went back to St. Luke's and they forwarded the papers to the embassy.
March 26, 2002: K3 Visa approved!

Currently waiting for the visa to get to her residence. She is in Manila right now, so I think that it does not take the LBC that long to deliver the Visa....I hope!

Also, I need to know what the expenses are when she's at the airport...i know some stuff like terminal fee...and I am not sure in her case...can you please let me know?..

Thank you.

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Congratulations!, posted by JhunnieE on Mar 28, 2002

JhunnieE,

The last I heard, the international departure fee at Manila Airport was P550. Filipino citizens needed to pay an additional departure tax of around P1,600. Maybe some of the others have more up-to-date info.

Generally speaking, I would say that she should have at least $200 in cash when she leaves, just to be safe. I sure wouldn’t want to travel anywhere myself with anything less than that.

I was just curious. Were you born in the Philippines or in the States? How did you meet your wife? thanks…

Ray

[JhunnieE]

... in response to Airport Fees, posted by Ray on Mar 29, 2002

Thanks for the info.

I was born in Pinas and I am a naturalized US Citizen. I have been here in the states for 9 years now and went to school here too. my wife and i met when I went back home to pinas after my graduation last 2000. my wife and i live in the same city and her bro was my classmate in grade school.
i want to know how long does it take for the LBC ppol to deliver the visa within the Manila area?...

Thanks.

[Ray]

... in response to Thanks for the INfo, posted by JhunnieE on Apr 1, 2002

Thanks J! I met my wife through her first cousin who lives here in the States. I think it always helps a little to know some of your in-laws before you are married.

As far as the visa delivery, it shouldn’t take that long, maybe a day. Last year, my wife’s visa was delivered by Delbros to the Pasig City area 22 hours after it was released to the courier by the embassy. It took the embassy 6 days to print and release the visa after her interview. It went out at about 3 p.m. and she got it at 1 p.m. the next day. I was able to track it online because she gave me the waybill number. I think they do it a little different now. Back then she paid the courier delivery fees in advance at the Delbros office in the embassy after her interview.

Patience! It won’t be long now… :-)

Ray

[JhunnieE]

... in response to Re: Thanks for the INfo, posted by Ray on Apr 1, 2002

Ray, was it K1 or K3 Visa?....I did not know that it would take them a week to print the visa...wow.

Thank you Ray.

[Ray]

... in response to Did your wife have K3 Visa?, posted by JhunnieE on Apr 1, 2002

The K-1/K-3 visas should be stamped directly into the passport.

Ray

[Dave H]

... in response to MY WIFE'S K3 VISA APPROVED!!!, posted by JhunnieE on Mar 28, 2002

Hi JhunnieE,

Congratulations!!! Sorry I can't answer most of your questions...the wife is from Butuan City. My wife flew PAL to San Franciso and then American to Miami. She was happy with the flights and service...but didn't like the PAL food. When I flew PAL I liked the food...I guess they trick Kanos into thinking it's authentic. ;o))) I had good service with PAL and even learned to like the tiny coach seats...long story about my right elbow and a stewardess' butt. ;o)))

Good Luck!

Dave H.