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FINALLY!!!

For anyone interested my paperwork was received on August 11th, 2003.  By my math that's 244 days for a 150-180 day process, according to my 1st NOA.  Sounds about right for Nebraska, eh? :P

I can't tell you guys what a HUGE weight has now been lifted off my shoulders!!!  While I know there is no good reason, I was just worried that the would find some silly reason to deny my application.  Thank God everything made it through!

Gerlie is working on a wedding dress with her Nanay and I am looking for a Burgundy Barong Tagalog in HowardX :P (I saw wedding pictures of Ray and he was SO damn guapo in his that I couldn't say no when Gerlie made the request :P)  I can't WAIT to see her again!!!  I am very excited and so is she :)

I think I have a handle on the Visa stuff, but would appreciate a check list if you guys have the time :)

Keep the FAITH!!!

I'm goin' to get a JackPo :P

H

Mares was just saying its been two babies or two years since we first talked to Gerlie.  Can't wait to see you guys.

Dan and Mares

Yeah... I can't wait to see you guys either!  It's been WAY too long.  Gerlie can't wait to see the kids oiiiiiii

H

Mares says two is enough.  I'm hoping for an opps.

Dan and Mares

I hope it will go quickly for you and gerlie.  I just made the move accross the country ( 6 days)  and now I'm un packing stuff and trying to organize my life here.  next it is pounding the pavement looking for a Job  and then I can start to file the paperwork. and I  will join the process with you guys.

Kat checked the website and says that Vermont is procesing the applications dated Jan 31 2004 while california is still in sept 2003.  I miss the weather already but I hope I made the right move to New york.

Keep the faith brother!

Windy

Thanks man... I hope everything goes smoothtly for the two of you!

H

August 11, 2003? LOL. I didn't even KNOW my wife then!

We had a traditional, Catholic ceremony in Cebu City on January 24- videotaped. I had a barong tagalog custom made for P2000- just send 'em the measurements.

(My six-year-old niece took home one of the white doves. The cat got it in the night. She went right up a tree after that cat with a piece of rebar.)

But, wait. I'm confused. You have an approved fiancee petition. You must be going to have the wedding in the US?

Unfortunately, it's pushing four months right now from petition approval to interview in Manila.

Hang in there big fella... it will be worth the wait ;)

Yeah... We got a K-1... we will be getting married here.

Thanks for the Support ;)

H

Thanks Joe :)

H

Which was the longer wait?

Honey and I just passed the 4th year anniversary of the day we met.  When I think back not one thing in my life is the same as it was then.  Its all a blessing of really strange events.  Finding a place to take a family picture in bluebonnets (see link below).  Or something like making easter eggs and colorful baskets to hold them in while you plan easy places to hide them for a 14 month old and yak with Fil-Am couples doing the same.  Watching the ladies cooking stranged named but good smelling yummies for the egg-hiders.  Nothing but good-times and smiles.

You won't remember the wait or the hassles.

http://www.bearhoney.shorturl.com/

The Bear Family

This wait was harder, definitely.  My relationship with Gerlie is so much more solid, that I long for it more.  Plus the fact, that I genuinely enjoy being with her.  Ayesa and I didn't know each other nearly as well as Gerlie and I do.  Gerlie is my friend and I can't even begin to tell you how much better that makes my reationship with her in comparison to anyone I have ever had a serious relationship with.  She is simply a Godsend!

Congrats on your 4th!

Thanks for the words of encouragement, now and always :)

H

Tim

Thanks Tim...  I am excited for you too :)  It's a lot of fun the stage you're at.  Keep up us informed, we're here to help :)

H

Nebraska is now processing Dec 15 2003, ours is Jan 26
2004. So I hope she'll be here later this year.

Ron

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you as well :)

We're gonna have to get together when your Mahal gets here :)

See Ya Neighbor

H

I thought you were never going to get that damn thing approved! It’s all downhill from here.

Maroon barong? Holy mackerel! That sounds cool! :-)

You asked for a checklist? Here’s a recent sample of the instruction letter they have been sending out with the K-1 packets. Reminder: Make sure she also has original certified copies of any documents photocopies you submitted with your petition, including the complete annulment decree.

Ray

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Embassy of the United States of America
Consular Section - Immigrant Visa Unit
Manila, Philippines

Dear K-1/K-2 Visa Applicant:

You have been petitioned for a K-1 non-immigrant visa as the fiancé(e) of a United States citizen or for a K-2 as the derivative child of a K-1 applicant. The Embassy will give you an appointment to come for your visa interview. K1 and K2 applicants are interviewed at the Embassy only on Fridays (except on holidays).

To pursue your application for a K-1 or K-2 visa, you will need to bring the following documentation when you come to the Embassy for your interview.

1. PROOF OF PAYMENT. The application fee for a K1 or K2 nonimmigrant visa is US$100 (or the Philippine peso equivalent at the prevailing exchange rate) which should be paid at designated branches of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Citibank. (see attached list) The bank will validate your payment on the DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application form which you will find in this packet.

2. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. You must submit ALL of the following documents to facilitate the processing of your application. You will be asked to come back for another appointment if you fail to bring any of these documents:

a. PASSPORT. You must have a passport valid for at least six (6) months. If you do not have one, you must apply in person at the Passport Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila. For passport renewal, you can call the DFA Information Center at 02-737-1000.

b. DS-156 NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION (enclosed). You must submit two completed copies of this form.

c. DS-156K NONIMMIGRANT FIANCE(E) VISA APPLICATION (enclosed)

d. BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Your birth certificate must be a copy issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and printed on NSO security paper. If applicable, you should also submit NSO birth certificates for all your children, even for those who are not applying for a visa. You may call the NSO Information Center at 02-737-1111 to inquire how to secure a birth certificate or visit their website at www.census.gov.ph.

e. NBI CLEARANCE. Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). An official letter of explanation from the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record”, No pending criminal case” or “With derogatory record.” NBI is located along Taft Avenue in Manila.

f. POLICE CERTIFICATES. If you lived abroad for at least six (6) months after turning 16 years old, a Police Certificate from these countries must be submitted. Information on how to secure police certificates is available at the St. Luke’s Medical Extension Clinic.

g. EVIDENCE OF A MEETING PRIOR TO THE PETITION. You and your petitioner must have physically been together at some point within two years before the petition was filed. Proof of this meeting should be submitted unless the Immigration and Naturalization Service waives this requirement. A few photographs of the applicant and petitioner together during the specified time may serve as evidence of this requirement.

h. EVIDENCE OF A GENUINE ENGAGEMENT. Please submit letters, photographs, or other evidence that establish a genuine fiancé(e) relationship.

i. PROOF OF TERMINATION OF A PRIOR MARRIAGE. If applicable, official documents that establish that all prior marriages (for you and your fiancé(e)) were legally terminated (divorce, annulment, or death of spouse) must be submitted.

j. EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT. You must demonstrate that you will not become a public charge or be a burden on the U.S. government for financial support. Submit your petitioner’s most recent U.S. Federal Income Tax Return (Form 1040) and wage and tax Statements (Form W-2). Employment letters stating salaries and bank statements are acceptable. A completed I-134 form will be useful to the consular officer to evaluate your petitioner’s ability to be financially responsible for you. If your petitioner’s income falls short of the minimum requirement, a co-sponsor is necessary to cover for the difference.

k. VISA PHOTOGRAPHS. You must bring four (4) colored photographs printed according to given specifications (see attached guide). The specifications for visa photos should be strictly observed.

3. RESULTS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION. All K1 and K2 visa applicants must complete a medical examination at the St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLMCEC). There is a $95 fee for applicants who are older than 14 years old and $67 for applicants aged 14 years and younger. These fees are also payable in Philippine pesos. Important: Bring all of your application documents to SLMCEC. An SLMCEC employee will check and assemble your documents and seal these together with the results of your medical examination. Do not send any of the documents to the Embassy in advance. SLMCEC is located at 1177 J. Bocobo St., Ermita, Manila, telephone no: 521-0020, 521-8647, 524-6083
Come to the Embassy on your appointed interview date. If you are eligible for a K-1 or K-2 visa, your passport, with the approved visa attached to it, will be delivered to the address you provided earlier to our Call Center. The Embassy uses a guaranteed courier service to handle its deliveries. In most cases, delivery will be within a few weeks from your interview. However, some cases may need further evaluation. This evaluation procedure may delay the approval of your visa application by several more weeks. Should we have questions about your application, we will return your passport via our courier, along with a letter asking you to submit additional documents or to come to the Embassy for another interview.

Important Reminders:

We will try to return all of the documents that you submit, but please do not give us anything that cannot be replaced.

Visas are attached on passports that are valid for at least six months. Since unexpected problems may occur while processing visa applications, we strongly suggest that applicants submit passports that are valid for at least one year. We will ask you to submit a new passport if your current one has a validity of less than six (6) months.

The K-1 or K-2 visa is not an immigrant visa, nor is it a legal permanent resident card (green card). It is a non-immigrant visa that allows you to travel to the United States to marry your petitioner within 90 days of your entry to the US. Once you marry, you will need to communicate with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) to adjust your status to a legal permanent resident. You will not be allowed to leave the United States until you receive a green card. If you do, your spouse will need to file a new petition for you and this may take a year or longer before you can be re-admitted to the US.

Children (derivatives) who are identified in the approved I-129F petition may follow to join their petitioned parent. However, they must do so within a year from the time the parent is issued the K visa. If the derivatives are not issued K visas within a year they will no longer be able to derive immigration benefits from the I-129F petition.

Although we will make every effort to deliver your passport and visa as quickly as possible, we advise you not to finalize travel plans to the United States until you receive the visa.

Visit our website at: Http://philippines.usembassy.gov

*Should there be any dispute regarding the English and Filipino versions of this information, the English translation shall prevail.
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Yeah... you and me BOTH! LOL

Thanks, as always, for the info :)

Give my best to Mrs Ray :)

H