Mail from nvc

[unicahija17]

Question 1: Who will receive the approval letter, the one who applied the visa -the petitioner or the beneficiary?
Question 2: All letters will arrive by regular mail or DHL FEDEX etc... for the approval letter or packet?

[sha3shabon]

well,

I know that the letter will come to you from USCIS but then your papers get forwarded to NVC. The petitioner receives notifications from the USCIS. The second question. I don't know the answer. I guess it will be regular mail.

[nichole]

US citizen will get approval notice (don't lose that as a photocopy is filed with AOS) and a notice from the NVC after they have forwarded your case to the consulate. --regular mail

The rest depends on the consulate as they vary their procedures.

Most consulates mail a letter of instructions, perhaps forms, to the foreign fiance for application for the visa. Later fiance may also get an appointment letter--regular mail

Once visa is issued, the passport (containing visa stuck inside) and a brown envelope containing the file and medical report are sent to the foreign fiance. --courier company contracted by the consulate.

There are exceptions such as Juarez Mexico where the applicant has to pick up the visa/passport packet from the courier office in Juarez after the consulate has sent it there.

[leavell66]

Consulate

Nichole-

What is usually the time for the US Embassy in the Philippines?

I just received approval on Nov 1, 2010!! We are so happy

Thanks in advance,

Lauren

[nichole]

Nichole-

What is usually the time for the US Embassy in the Philippines?

I just received approval on Nov 1, 2010!! We are so happy

Thanks in advance,

Lauren

I latest I saw was interview averaging 25 days from when the case gets there from the NVC. You can call NVC and speak to a person who will tell you when your case arrived there and when they sent it out. It takes about 4 days to get to Manilla from the NVC. Also NVC can tell you the new case number (MNLxxxxxxxxxxx) they assigned for the embassy processing. Do not do the automated system when you call NVC because K1s are not in that system. Must choose to speak to person.

Get prepared while you wait for instructions from Manila.

Forms to fill out:
DS-156 form (online at Dept of State)
DS-156K form (online at Dept of State)
DS-157 form(online at Dept of State)

I-134 form (online at USCIS) and supporting documents from US fiance. Needs to be mailed to Phils becaused it is signed and needs tax return so do that NOW.

Also get
NSO Birth Certificate
NSO CENOMAR
NBI Clearance Certificate (in previous name too if annulment)
A list of any immunizations you have had to show the doctor at St Lukes
5 US size passport photos.

[unicahija17]

[QUOTE=nichole;219847]

I-134 form (online at USCIS) and supporting documents from US fiance. Needs to be mailed to Phils becaused it is signed and needs tax return so do that NOW.

I Just like to clarify this I-134 form, do I need to fill this out or my US citizen fiance need to fill out I-864 for financial support docs?

[unicahija17]

Hello!

The following forms:

DS-156 form (online at Dept of State)
DS-156K form (online at Dept of State)
DS-157 form(online at Dept of State)

Can this be fill out now while waiting for the approval or this should be fill out when the case has already been forwarded to the embassy of the beneficiary?

[nichole]

[QUOTE=unicahija17;219854]

I-134 form (online at USCIS) and supporting documents from US fiance. Needs to be mailed to Phils becaused it is signed and needs tax return so do that NOW.

I Just like to clarify this I-134 form, do I need to fill this out or my US citizen fiance need to fill out I-864 for financial support docs?

The American fills out the Affidavit of Support and signs it. He includes proofs of his income. For the visa in Manila, it is the I-134. After you are married in the US, the I-864 is filed with your green card application.

From Manila's instruction packet:

EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT. You should be able to demonstrate that you will not become a public charge or be a burden on the U.S. taxpayers for financial support. A completed I-134 Affidavit of Support Form will be useful to the consular officer to evaluate your petitioner’s ability to be financially responsible for you. You should also submit your petitioner’s most recent U.S. Federal income tax return (Form 1040) and wage statements (Form W-2). Employment letters stating salaries and bank statements may be included to substantiate the I-134.

You can find the instruction letter on the internet by googling US Embassy Manila and looking under "visas" in the menu. Find info on K1 under immigrant visas.

[nichole]

Hello!

The following forms:

DS-156 form (online at Dept of State)
DS-156K form (online at Dept of State)
DS-157 form(online at Dept of State)

Can this be fill out now while waiting for the approval or this should be fill out when the case has already been forwarded to the embassy of the beneficiary?

YES you can fill them out now. The information they ask for won't change---name, address, work, schools, parents names, countries you have visited, etc.

The I-156 looks at first like something that is submitted electronically. It is not. You fill out the information then PRINT two copies. The form will create a barcode on the last page that summarizes the information you filled in. If you need to change anything, you have to start over and type/print it again because the form can't be saved. It's a good idea to print it and look over all the information you will need to give or fill it out with a pen as a practice copy. Otherwise you could spend a lot of time typing your information, then wonder how to answer a question and need to look it up. Example: List all the dates you have entered the US. My fiance had been 12 times but didn't know the exact dates from memory so he had to look at the blurred stamps in his old passport and find old ticket receipts to make a list. You might not have been to the US, but that is an example of needing more information to fill out the form. So my fiance had to quit the form to find his information and start over the next day or so. That's why I suggest printing a practice copy to make sure you know what you want to answer so you don't have to fill out name, address, etc over and over each time you have to go back to the form. Make sure you have ink and paper to print too. The other forms DS-156K and DS-157 can be saved to you computer and be edited without starting over from the beginning.


Most important to work on now is getting the NBI clearance and police clearance from any country where you have lived for more than 6 months after you were 16 years old. Get a copy of your birth certificate and cenomar. Ordering documents can take up time so do it now and be ready to interview sooner. Also find a place that can do passport photos size 2 inches x 2 inches. Some countries don't do that US size (like England) and you have to find a place who can do it.

[unicahija17]

Thank you very much nichole...that's very helpfull!

[leavell66]

Manila Processing

Thank you Nichole for all the helpful info!

I am the US citizen and I am currently in Manila with my fiancee. I leave Dec 19, do you think the interview would be before then?

I sure hope so, so I can attend the interview with my fiancee.

If we received approval on Nov 1, 2010 how many days until NVC would receive so I can call NVC and get the new case number?

For Manila what is the timeline of the whole process after the NOA2?

Thanks

Lauren

[nichole]

Thank you Nichole for all the helpful info!

If we received approval on Nov 1, 2010 how many days until NVC would receive so I can call NVC and get the new case number?

Call now. Mine was approved 5/2, arrived NVC 5/6, and left NVC 5/8. The NVC is open late--like midnight Eastern time. Don't do the automated system. K1s are not in that. Speak to a person.

I don't know how long it's taking but I found this in a Manila forum:

Do you want to be together again with your sweetheart as soon as you can?

Here's the quickest way to do it:

Start calling the NVC right now and call them every day until you get your MNL case number. Once you have your MNL case number, wait about one week or ten days, and then start calling the USEM call center to make an interview appointment. A week (or so) is about the right amount of time for your K-1 packet to arrive in Manila and to be entered into the Embassy's system.

Whatever you do, don't listen to the script-readers at the call center when they tell you to call back in two weeks. Call every day until you get your appointment scheduled. Also, if the call center asks you whether your fiancée received a letter/email from the Embassy, tell them "yes."

It worked for us

Did you find the instruction packet on the US Embassy Manila website? That's what people wait on, but if you get it early off the website then you're saving time by getting prepared before they instruct you what to do.

[leavell66]

NVC and USEM

When I call the NVC and get the MNL case number, after waiting for 10 days and once I call the USEM, do I have to pay to speak to them?

And if my fiancee hasn't received the package do I still say yes?

How long is the wait time for the package from the US Embassy - Manila?

We are preparing docs now.

I already have my tax forms and w2 forms.

Thanks again for the info.

Lauren

[nichole]

Lauren, I don't personally know the answers to your questions. I know all about London. I was just pasting in a "tip" somebody else wrote specific to the Manila process. Interpret it how you want. It does sound like you call for an appointment rather than wait for them to schedule you like many others do.


NVC (603) 334-0700 press 1, then 5 with your EAC or WAC number ready. They can confirm when your file was forwarded to the embassy and give you the case number.

Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM (EST). Best time to call is 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM to 12:00 PM.

From embassy website: The Immigrant Visa Information Call Center which can be reached at 1-909-101-7878 is available Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm (Philippine Time). Callers in the USA can contact the Call Center at 1-888-877-9888. There is a fee assessed to callers by the call center for its services.

Also, you can call the embassy directly at +63-2-301-2000 ext. 5184-5185

[velvet629]

hi lauren, did you already got your MNL case no? if yes did you called the us embassy already.
I got my mnl case no. from NVC (11/24./2010) but i dont know if i should call the US embassy this early? i hope you can share your processing time... it would be very much appreciated.. I would like to rush things up because my fiance is coming home this dec and will leave on the 2nd week of january if we have our luck we could travel together with our 1 year old daughter.... Thank you