Our K1 Francee Visa Process(From Philippines to U. S. A

Yesterday is my first month here in the U.S and this is a long overdue post about our K1 / fiance visa process. Just sharing this in case you, or someone you know is interested on filling this kind of petition.

While you and your fiance are still on cloud 9 about "the proposal" you should now consider gathering all the necessary documents and forms needed to file the petition.

November 6, 2017- Bob, my fiance from the US sent our visa packet to USCIS. Make sure that in this packet, you will send all the necessary documents for a quicker approval. If the documents your American Citizen fiance sent is incomplete, you will receive an RFE (Request for Evidence) which will lead to slower approval/update.

Here are the documents/ requirements that we sent:

1. Filled up Form I-129F, and form G-1145. You can download/print both of them here: USCIS Forms
2. Cover letter. You can find sample of this online.
3. $535 check for filling fee
4. Petitioner's birth certificate (as proof of his Citizenship)
5. Petitioner's and beneficiary's letter of intent to marry. (Sample online)
6. Beneficiary's passport biopage
7. Petitioner's and beneficiary's 2x2 US passport photo
8. Divorce decree for all the past marriages of the petitioner.
9. Proof of having met in person- photos, photos with beneficiary's family, boarding pass, hotel bookings, gifts, restaurant invoices, etc.
10. Emails, chatlogs- we already included this in the packet, but some people just bring it upon interview
11. ** If the petitioner has previous case/convictions, Certified copies of police & court convictions, in compliance with IMBRA (we didn't send this one because it is not applicable in our case)

Use fastener that can easily be detached and DO NOT use binders that are hard to detach in putting these all together. And put a label at the bottom so that they can easily locate the papers.

Send the packet to:

For U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS

P.O. Box 660151

Dallas, TX 75266

For FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS

Attn: I-129F

2501 South State Highway 121 Business

Suite 400

Lewisville, TX 75067

This is our packet

Few days after sending our packet, my fiance received the NOA1 (Notice of Action 1) through email. This notice is just a notice to let you know they have received the packet.

After this, comes the waiting game. Before, it usually takes 4- 6 months before the petitioner hears an update (approval/ RFE or denial) but now, it usually take 6-9 months already. Our approval took us almost 7 months.

BTW, you can track the progress of your case, by downloading a USCIS app or directly through their website.

Here is how I track ours through the app:

After 200+ days of waiting, our case was approved on May 31st 2018. (yaaaay, finaaaallly!!!!) It was approved without RFE, the help of a lawyer or agency!

 I just knew about it when I checked the app and it says in the case detail that our case was approved last May 31, though I checked the app June 2 already. 

At this stage, your fiance must then receive the NOA2 (Notice of Action 2) It is both an email and a hard copy stating the case was approved. I also started to gather the documents needed for the interview at this stage, like birth certificate, my CENOMAR and NBI clearance. The most recent copy you have during the interview, the better.

After NOA2 (case approved) wait for 10-15 business days and you can start calling the National Visa Center for your Manila Case Number. 

• NVC contact number is (603) 334-0700 you can call them Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. EST to 12:00 midnight EST. You need to prepare the petitioner's and beneficiary's full name and birthdate, Receipt #: starts with WAC1234567890 and the date of approval. Since my fiance is travelling cross country during this time, I called the NVC myself, for free, by downloading hangouts dialler on google play app store.

If you got the case number which starts with MNL followed by 10 digit numbers. You can check it at: ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx Click immigrant and enter the case number. 

After checking your status. Make sure the status of your visa is: 

• AT NVC - meaning your case still sitting at their office 

• IN TRANSIT - meaning your case is on the way to United States Embassy in the PH 

• READY - your case is already received and ready for interview at USEM. 

You can start paying your visa fee at Bank of the Philippine Islands when the status says "READY".

Bring your printed MRV Slip together with your passport and money. 

Print your MRV Slip: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/pmisdepositslip.htm?amount=265&country=philippines  

Visa Fee is $265 converted in to Philippines Peso. Cut off of payments is 2PM (PH Time) Wait for 4-6hrs to validate your receipt. Sometimes it takes longer, just be patient. 

While waiting for you interview you can can accomplish the DS160 here: https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/Default.aspx . DS160 is an online form that you should fill up before the interview date. Print the page that contains the barcode and BRING it on your interview.

Schedule your interview here: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/ ( I will be posting a separate article regarding my Philippine U.S Embassy interview)

If you are done scheduling your interview you can pre- register your medical at: http://www.slec.ph/us/registration/  Medical fee will be in PESO – Cash. You should pass the medical examination first before the interview because you will need to bring the medical result at your interview. Make sure to schedule your medical at least 2 weeks before the interview date. ( I will be posting a separate article regarding my experience in my medical exam)

Finally, before you leave, you should attend a GCP Seminar at a CFO office near you. For your CFO Seminar set your appointment at: http://gcp-appointment.cfo.gov.ph/ remember that no more walk in allowed at CFO. Remember to be at your chosen CFO center at least 1 hour before your schedule.

Let's all help each other close the distance. I hope this helps, if you have questions, don't hesitate to write it down on the comments section, or send  me an email at aissa.deguia@gmail.com. As long as I know the answer to your questions, I will try my best to help out.

“In true love the smallest distance is too great, and the greatest distance can be bridged.” – Hands Nouwens