INTERVIEW PASSED!

We got approved today!! My husband and I would like to thank everyone who helped us along the way.

We got to the embassy around 7AM, we got our number around 8:45am. (Interview schedule was 8:30am). I was pre-screened first. Questions asked were: (1) Name of Petitioner; (2) Work; (3) Where we met; (4) His first visit; (5) Date of Marriage; (6) His Previous Marriage - what happened to it; (7) His kids - age & if they were living with dad or not; (8)asked for our pics, emails, chat logs, remittances - I took out all 16 pounds worth of it. She was shocked. She took only a few of them. (9) Commented about our marriage being done during our first meeting. I was asked to sign the Part 2 of DS230. And they took my Marriage Index (CEMAR); Marriage Certificate; and Birth Certificate.*

Then I was asked to sit down.A few minutes later, I was called for finger scanning.

After that, I sat for like 2 minutes and our number was up for final interview.Consul was nice, noticed his name was Thomas V. and he was young, husband came in and I said "oh, he's my husband." Then hubby took out 16 pounds worth of proof of bonafide relationship and placed it on the desk. He was asked to wait outside and was told that it was going to be brief interview.I swore to tell the truth, the questions he asked were (1) Date of Marriage; (2) His work; (3) If I have been outside the country and for how long.

He kept on typing on his computer and not really looking at me that much. He scanned all our documents that was forwarded to them from NVC... I-864, DS230, and the proofs of bonafide relationship. I noticed that on our DS230 Form... right in front there was a big stamp from NVC that says "VISA APPROVED". He also got out his stamp and put a seal on it. He told me, your visa is approved! I said thank you. I asked if we could pick up the visa, he said they only do that for emergencies and they don't see the urgency for me to get it asap. But he asked me to confirm at the releasing counter. He said it will be delived within the week or early next week.

Went to releasing counter, the girl gave me a pink slip. And I asked for pick up, she said "only for emergencies".Paid for the courier service. Went home.

Medical Exam DAY2 - PASSED!

I went to SLEC again today, arrived there around 2PM. I got my 4 vaccine shots. OUCH!! My arms are still sore but I will live. I was told to go downstairs and wait for my results. It came out around 6:15PM. Imagine my impatience! Glad I was done with the medicals.

I PASSED!!! What a relief! Whew!

Two more hurdles and I'll be safe in my husband's arms. *sigh* I can't wait to see him again.

Medical Exam DAY1

This morning I received my new passport (went and got it renewed) around 11AM. And as soon as I got my passport, I decided to head to St. Lukes Extension Clinic for my medical exam. I arrived in SLEC around 1:30PM. The guard asked me to photocopy my Appointment letter and proceeded to give me numerous papers to fill out. They asked to see my passport and wrote some notes in their log book. I was let in and I filled out the form. I went to the receptionist and they took my picture, afterwards they stamped something on my passport and I was sent to the cashier. I went and paid the fee (Php10450+) and was told to proceed to the medical exam rooms. They took my blood, urine, and x-rayed my chest. They also checked for my vital statistics, eyes, ears, nose, and physical exam including peeking at my hoo-hoo. The first doctor asked me about my cellulites on my belly and she thought they were stretch marks from giving birth. I was sent to another doctor and she asked me if I had a boyfriend here (three or four times) and I said no. She checked my hoo-hoo again this time she probed it a bit with her hands and asked about my cellulites, again I said they were there because I'm fat and they itch sometimes so I scratch them! ARGH! While I was getting dressed she looked at me again and asked if I have a boyfriend here and I finally had enough and said "NO, Is there a problem?" She said that nothing was wrong. I was getting pissed and at the same time worried at this point and wanted to call my husband and cry. But she signed my forms and I was sent to the immunization room for interview. The doctor there wanted to give me 4 shots including HPV. I was hesitant about the HPV but she said that it is a requirement in the USA. I was asked to come back tomorrow for the results.

Interview Schedule Assigned!

After weeks of waiting, we finally got our interview date!!!! Whoo hoo!!!!


AUGUST 10, 2009

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

*** *** ***

I also renewed my passport today under my maiden name. I got to DFA around 6:00AM and I was like 12++ customer in line! Sheesh! Talk about long lines. However, I was able to finish the entire process in 2 1/2 hours. Nice huh? I will receive my passport on July 23, 2009 via DFA Passport Delivery Services.

CASE COMPLETE!!!

We're now dancing with joy!!! We've just received confirmation that our case was completed today! Whoo hoo!!! Talk about God's greatness!!!

log in FAILED!

whoo hoo!!! hope the rumors are true and "case complete" is right around the corner!

Joint Bank Account AT LAST!

Woke up around 7:30AM and saw that my hubby already sent me three text msgs and several missed calls asking me to wake up. So I promptly went online to talk to him for a few minutes.

Around 8:45AM, Dad drove us to BDO and we arrived there 20 mins later. Openned a joint bank account for hubby and I. This account is needed as proof of relationship; I don't understand why the marriage cert is not enough but I must comply. The bank took my last copy of NSO issued Marriage Certificate so I cannot do my passport yet. I have to go back to NSO and buy another copy of my Marriage Certificate. This process is tedious as hell but must be done anyway.

9:30AM I was already in SSS San Juan, changing my social security status to married.

10AM I was already in SM Sta Mesa, went to eat breakfast and went to drop of my little phone to get fixed. Alas, no person in the counter. I have to come back again within the week. I took the chance to buy some personal grooming stuffs and head home around 1PM.

Tomorrow I have to go line up in NSO again to get 2 copies of Marriage Certificate. Tiresome but necessary.

DS230 Received by NVC

Our DS230 is finally in the system!
Waiting for case completion.

The RFE was for the DS230.

RECEIVED BDO BANK CARD

My hubby sent the bank card via regular mail last May 27th and I received it today.
Now I have to scrape some money to open the joint account for us. Maintainin balance is Php5,000. Have to check my other accounts if I can transfer some funds.

This visa process gives me a lot of headache!!

GOT A FUCKING RFE!!!!

We got an RFE!!! For what we don't know yet.
I think I'm going to cry... :(( I am so sad right now I don't know what to do!?!

I hate this process, it's killing me! :((

DS230 SENT!

IV Bill was paid by hubby on June 3, 2009. He printed the cover and sent it together with the rest of the DS230 package today.

Waiting anxiously for news about the Affidavit of Support. Praying for a miracle that NO RFE will be issued.

OLP IV FEE AGENT LETTER

NVC sent us a letter requesting for payment for the DS230.
USD400... dang! lots of money.
No idea if hubby already did this.
Update soon!

NVC Received Agent of Choice

NVC received our DS3032 (Choice of Agent) today.
No news yet for the DS230 IV bill. Hummm.
Things have gone real slow for us... at least slower than everybody else.

FORM I-864 MAILED! DS3032 MAILED!

Whoo hoo!! we're done with the tax return... hopefully, NVC will accept it and we won't get RFEs.

We also mailed our DS3032 original signed... just to be sure that they get it.


Praying for a miracle.

AOS PAID, Barcoded sheet ready for printing!

we're moving along. The AOS now shows paid.
And the Barcoded sheet is ready for printing.

We are still waiting for news on the tax returns... we hope things will smooth.

Received DS3032 and AOS

We finally got our email from NVC! Our DS 3032 and AOS was generated today!! Whoo hoo!!

We paid USD 70 for processing fee... and then I filled up the DS3032 and sent it to NVC via email. Got an Auto-Response after a few minutes.

It was a mixed emotions today, we're happy that things are moving along... we're sad because we are having some 'major issues'. I'm praying that things will fall into its rightful place in time. God willing I'll be with my husband by early August.

*MAY 18th, USA time.

DS230 Package COMPLETED!!!

My DS230 package is finally completed and sent to my hubby.
It took me almost three weeks to get my marriage certificate from NSO.
I spent Php1300 for the FEDEX, almost Php200 for pics, Php100 for food, and Php100 for transportation. Total of Php1,700 worth of expenses for this dang stupid package!!!

I forgot to take pictures.. was too tired to even remember to do it.

*MAY 18th, PHILIPPINES time

NVC CASE NUMBER - ASSIGNED!!!

Whoo hoo!! We got our National Visa Center Case Number Assigned already!!! That's 11 days from date of approval in USCIS. Whee!!!! Thank goodness for little victory such as this. Hubby and I are so so so excited!! I'm hoping I could be with him on his birthday in August.

Can't wait to hug and be hugged again!!! Feels like forever since we touched each other.

NOA2 Received by Snail Mail

We got our NOA2 by snail mail today! Whoo hoo!!

I went to sleep around 2am and around 4am my phone started to ring. I looked at the screen and saw my hubby was calling. I got scared wondered why he was calling at such an ungodly hour. When I answered the phone he informed me about our approval!! Dang! For the first tme in my life, I got so happy to be awaken in the middle of the night.

I went to VJ and announced it to everybody. It was such a rush of too many relief sighs. We were kinda afraid that we'll get bad luck and be stuck in USCIS for more than 6 months. Now we can breathe easier and move on to NVC.

My hubby is working on his tax stuffs but he has to haul a load first. Then he's going to home to TN again to get all his papers ready. As for me, I'm still waiting for my Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and Certificate of Marriage from NSO. I have 11 more days of waiting. They're due for pick up on the 18th of May. I hope everything is in order by then.

USCIS APPLICATION APPROVED! (NOA2 Issued)

(back posting)

Notice Date: April 30, 2008.

We didn't know that we got approved until May 5th.

Whoo hoo!!

NOA2 received 54 days after I-130 was sent
NOA2 received 48 days after NOA1

NSO Trip; DS 3032; DS 230

I got up around 6 am to go to NSO in QC. I got there around 8 am already and I was the 1599th customer! Sheesh! After waiting for 30 mins... my line finally moved and I was on Step 2... yey! BUT after the girl reviewed my application, she asked me to go back to QC Cityhall to get a transmittal paper because it has only been 2 months since hubby and I got married. So have to go ride a jeepney to QC Cityhall, good thing it is not too far from the NSO. After much hoopla in the QC Cityhall, I got back in NSO around 9:30Am. More long lines at the payment area. Finally finished around 10:30am.

I have to go back on May 18th to get all the documents that I applied for.


I also sent a package to my hubby... cost me Php270 Ordinary Mail, the girl said it will take 10 days before it gets delievered in the US. I wanted to try and see how long an Ordinary Mail gets to the US. EMS cost 3x as much as the Ordinary Mail. I might use EMS for my NVC documents instead. Anyhoo, I'm sending two sets of it.. so I can do one via Ordinary Mail and another one via EMS.

Likewise, my hubby and I filled out my DS 3032 form already and the DS230 form. They're ready to be sent. Just waiting for the rest of the docs from NSO.

I hope everything is in order and we don't get RFEs with my visa application.

Anyhoo, still no NOA2. hummmm.. what's happening??!! Things are slowing down in USCIS.., I have no luck.. sombody stole it! :((

NBI Clearance

Today I went to Carriedo to get my NBI Clearance (Police Clearance).I got three copies, Php115/copy. All marked for Travel in USA. Two will be sent to my hubby dearest and I will retain one copy here. I might go back next week to get an NBI Renewal Card, Php120, so that the next time I want a copy of a Police Clearance I don't have to stand in line for two hours!

Next stop... NSO Quezon City for Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and Certificate of Marriage.

Another NOA1

We got another NOA1 in our mail. False alarm!! Haha no NOA2 yet, we're still stuck in USCIS.

We called twice about the NOA1, I guess they printed it and sent it twice too. Hummm.. now only if they made a mistake and printed a NOA2 instead of a duplicate copy of the NOA1!!!!

TOUCHED!

we got a touch!!!
it is not an approval... but it still brings comfort to the heart.

NOA1 PRINTED!

Finally!!! We got our printed NOA1!!!! After a month or so of waiting.
It was a rush of emotion when I heard we got a letter from homeland security.
It is not NOA2, still... it made me happy.

Our Case Is Assigned to an Officer

WhOO HOo!!! Finally we left the mailroom to sit in an officer's desk!!! Somebody is working on our case already!!!!

USCIS update

We just called the USCIS looking for some answer as to what is happening to our case. First they told us that they never printed our NOA1 and they never sent it because of some computer glitch in their system. We were initially thinking about filing a K3 application together with the CR1 BUT this incident will now work against us. We're afraid that if we file our K3 after they sent us the NOA1 duplicate that they will pair off our I-130 and I-129F and put us back on the 2 months processing line. SO we're not filing our K3 anymore and we're just gambling our future on the CR1 visa. Second, they told us that it normally takes two (2) months before they adjudicate the I-130. Which means, we still have 1 more month to go before we can call back and inquire about our case again. Finally, what hurts the most is that our file is still in the mail room with no officer assigned to it yet. :-( That's just sad... really really sad. I mean, come on!!! The USCIS took our money and no one is assigned to our case yet. WTF?!

Payment for I-130

The money that we put in our account for the Form I-130 was deducted! Finally! Something happening. Things are moving along slowly, but they are moving. For this at least I am greatful.

I have to draft an affidavit for our witnesses to sign for the Form I-129. This affidavit will attest that they have indeed witnessed our marriage.

I-130 FORM

We finally submitted our I-130 Form (Immigrant Visa)!! Whoo hoo!! It cost us at least USD400 for the payment for the application and the postal fee. That's a lot of money.. :((

We have to wait 4 to 12 days to get our receipt then we can send in our I-129 Form (NON-Immigrant Visa).

Explanations on the I-130 and I-129 to follow. I'm sorry folks, this wifey is really tired already.
I'll post all the details after the exam... just drop by again after March 20, 2009 for more blogs and details.

Other accounts of my life are posted in IRAE ET LACRIMAE.

Ciao!