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Now that I have filled my Fiancée Visa
Updates in RED
were provided by Ray Bacon. Thanks! Ray
After
I filed my K1,
I was left hanging. I didn't know what to do next. My girl asked me
tonight for directions, so I made the document below. I sent it to
her. I figured that it may be of help to some of you. I don't know
that it is 100% correct. Please feel free to leave comments.
Everything that follows was written directly for my fiancée.
This
includes EVERYTHING that I can think of. It has all of the steps for
the next 3-5 months. You are going to need at least 4 passport
photos and two ADIT VISA photos. Passport Photos are colored photos
of your face (full front view) against a black background. They
should be 1.77" x 1.37". If you have prints made, you
might as well get 8 pictures! The ADIT VISA photos are the 3/4th
view pictures showing right ear.
ADIT VISA PHOTOS, RIGHT-FRONTAL POSE, ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED. THE K1
PETITION PACKAGE NEEDS ONLY 1 PASSPORT-STYLE PHOTO
THE WHOLE VISA
PROCESS OVERVIEW
- We apply for the K1 Visa Here at
the INS in the USA (This part is done!)
- I receive a receipt from the INS
that they have the application.
- We wait for 30-100 days for them
to approve the application.
- I send you an Affidavit of Support
document (During this 30-100 days)
- After application is approved,
they send it to the US Consulate in the Philippines (I also get
a copy of the message and FAX you a copy)
- You call 909-01-0011 and request
the "K Packet"
YOU NO LONGER REQUEST THE PACKAGE. IT IS SENT TO THE APPLICANT
AUTOMATICALLY. IF IT DOES NOT ARRIVE, YOU REQUEST PERMISSION TO
PICK IT UP AT ST LUKE'S
- You fill out all of the forms and
go to Manila for your medical exam.
- You give St. Lukes official all of
the paperwork, CENOMAR, and Affidavit of Support
YOU NO LONGER GIVE PAPERWORK TO ST LUKE'S. YOU TAKE ALL
PAPERWORK TO THE EMBASSY INTERVIEW, AFTER THE MEDICAL EXAM. DO
NOT OBTAIN A CERNOMAR. IT IS NO LONGER ACCEPTED BY THE EMBASSY
FROM APPLICANTS.
- You return to Digos while St.
Lukes sends documents to US Consulate
- US Consulate approves Visa in
several weeks
- You get your K1 VISA
- I come to Get you
- On the way back we stop in Manila
- We visit the CFO again for a short
seminar. You show your passport and CFO certificate to get a
special stamp on your passport.
- We continue on to the United
States
We
get married
WHAT YOU NEED TO
DO NOW THAT I'VE APPLIED
- Make
sure you have 1 Passport Style Photo
- Make
sure you have a Photo ID (NBI Clearance, passport, PRC license,
voter id, or school id)
- Travel
with someone to Manila and bring these items. In Manila:
- Attend
CFO Counseling Session for 100p (See Part One below)
- Get
a CENOMAR at the NSO (See Part two below)
SEE MY NOTE ABOVE REGARDING CERNOMAR NOT NEEDED.
- Get
a Counseling Certificate from CFO
*** NOTE: This may take several days!
- Return
from Manila
- Make
sure that you have Official Birth Certificate on Security Paper
(SECPA) issued by NSO
- Make
sure you have 3 Passport Photos 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm new photo
(colored with plain white background)
- Make
sure you have your Counseling Certificate (from 3C above)
- My
friend say it may be helpful to also have:
- Barangay
Clearance
DO NOT BOTHER WITH BARANGAY CLEARANCE. ONLY THE NBI POLICE
CLEARANCE IS NEEDED.
- Police
Clearance
- NBI
Clearance
- Postal
ID
- High
school Reference
- Apply
for passport for 500p (See Part Three below) )
- Get
your Passport
- I
mail you an Affidavit of Support document
- Wait
until K1 is approved
- I
will tell you
- The
US Consulate in Manila will contact you
- I
will fax you a copy of the approval.
- Then,
you will call Manila and ask for the "K Packet" at
1-909-101-0011. It is a toll call about P400-P600
- You
fill out all of the "K Packet" Forms
- You
gather the documentation (Pictures, Letters, Everything from
above)
- You
Return to Manila with everything:
- Bring
2 ADIT (VISA) photos and 2 Passport Photos to St. Lukes
- Many folks recommend
bringing pen and snacks. It is an all-day affair,
and you may not get time to go off for lunch. If
you do, you may loose your spot!
- You
visit St. Lukes (No appointment necessary)
- Read
my comments on the St. Lukes Visit (See Part Four below)
- You
have a medical exam and get some X-Rays
- You
return the next day for the results of exam
- FORCE
THEM TO TAKE THE CENOMAR NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!
- You
return home
- St.
Lukes sends your papers to the Consulate in Manila
- The
Consulate in Manila Approves you and sends you a letter
- I
come to the Philippines, stay with your family, and we leave
together
- We
stop at Manila overnight so we can visit the DFA for a CFO
passport stamp
- We
fly back to the United States
- We
Marry within 90 days.
Below
are the details of each part.
PART
ONE -- CFO Counseling Certificate
Here
is some information about the guidance and counseling services at
the CFO Per Republic Act 8239 and Department of Foreign Affairs
Order no. 28-94, Filipinos proceeding abroad as fiancés and spouses
of foreign nationals are required to attend the CFO's guidance and
counseling program as a pre-requisite to the issuance of passports.
The objective of this program is to help Filipino fiancés and
spouses of foreign nationals make informed decisions regarding their
marriage to foreign nationals and to prepare them for their
adjustments in cross-cultural marriages. CFO issues a counseling
certificate as proof that the applicant has attended the guidance
and counseling session. After receipt of the passport and visa, the
fiance(e)s and spouses will have to register with CFO prior to their
departure.
The Counseling Requirements are:
- Valid
ID with photo (NBI clearance, passport, PRC license, driver's
license, company ID, voter's ID, school ID)
- One
(1) colored (1.77" X 1.37") picture with white
background
- P100
registration fee
Schedule
of Counseling Sessions for fiance's of US Citizens are held in
(CFO-Manila) on Monday to Friday at 10:00am, 1:30pm, and 3:00pm.
Inquiries may be directed to the following addresses, telephone
numbers and e-mail addresses:
COMMISSION
OF FILIPINOS OVERSEAS
Citigold Center
1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue corner South Superhighway
Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (0632) 562-3847 up to 51, 561-8316
Fax No. (0632) 561-8332
E-mail address: cfodfa@info.com.ph
PART TWO --
CENOMAR
The
OCRG (Office of the Civial Registrar General) of the National
Statistic office can issue the "Record of No Marriage."
Certifications are made in person at:
National
Statistics Office
EDSA corner Times St.
West Triangle, Quezon City 1104
The
following information must be provided:
- Complete name of the person
- Complete name of the father
- Complete maiden name of the mother
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Complete name and address of the
requesting party
- Number or copies needed
- Purpose for the certification
And
a fee of 80 Pesos (local) must be paid. There is an additional fee
of 50 Pesos (local) per copy of items to be remitted by means of
mail. The amount is to be remitted by means of check or postal money
order payable to the NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE.
PART
THREE -- PASSPORT
For
a passport my friend Kaibigan says you will need:
- Up
to 4 copies of your Birth Certificate (At least 3 certified)
- Police
Clearance
- NBI
Clearance
- Postal
ID
- High
School Reference
- CFO
Certificate (see part two for where to get this)
The
DFA is such a busy place, that you will nead to visit very early in
the morning. They open at 6:00am in most cities. When you arrive,
you take a number. Your number will show your order on the next day
of business.
A friend told me that you can also go via a travel agent in one of
the malls. They will charge up to 1200 pesos over and above the DFA
cost, but the agent will take care of many of the details. Even if
you visit the agent, you will still need the CFO certificate and you
will still need to attend the seminar
The DFA in Davao is headed by BAHNARIM A. GUINOMLA and the OIC:
ERLINDA ALBAY. The office information is:
DFA
Regional Consular Office
Doors 1 & 2 Tourism Complex
Magsaysay Park 8000
Davao City
Tel.No: (082) 2273900/227-0712 to 13
Telefax No: (082) 2214552
E-mail: dfamin@dv.weblinq.com
davaorco@dv.weblinq.com
PART
FOUR-- ST LUKES EXPERIENCE
I
got this from http://www.joekulitmoe.f2s.com/StLukes.html
but the URL is gone. I made a copy, so I don't feel too bad about
reproducing it. It is one lady's persal experience at St. Lukes:
Remember to bring the following:
- Documents
for K-1 Visa application
- Two
extra passport photos for St. Luke's Patient Data Sheets (PDS)--so
that's 4 visa pictures total, including the other two for the
K-1 application
- A
pen
- Passport
- $85
medical exam and immunization fee, to be paid in pesos depending
on the current exchange rate.
- Appointment
letter from the Embassy or a copy of your NOA #2.
- Your
medical fee receipt if you are asked to come back the next day.
Here
is the story:
Day #1
It's
July 26, 2001. After leaving Quezon City via tax cab at 4:30 AM, I
arrived at St. Luke's Extension Clinic at approximately 5:15 AM. I
was the first US Embassy applicant there. The guard asked for my
appointment letter and passport. I told him I don't have an
appointment letter but showed him a copy of the NOA #2 as instructed
by the Immigrant Visa Center. After that, he gave me a queue number.
Although the clinic information included in the Embassy packet says
that St. Luke's opens at 7:00 AM, the receptionists begin handing
out documents at around 6:00 AM. When the receptionist called my
number, I again showed my passport and a copy of my NOA #2. She then
looked for my name in a list of people who called the Immigrant Visa
Center to schedule the packet delivery. After finding my name, she
gave me forms called Patient Data Sheets (PDS) to fill up.
I was the first in line, but since I did not have the two ID photos
required by St. Luke's, I had to look for a photo shop that was open
at the time of morning! This was not in the list of requirements and
so it caught me off-guard. One of the security guards gave me a
referral slip for one of the photo shops nearby that can do the
photos in a few minutes. This has no affiliation whatsoever with St.
Luke's. I assume that this is a commission upon referral
collaboration with the photo studio.
When I came back, I had dropped down to number six in line because
it took me about fifteen minutes to look for the photo shop. After
having my PDS checked by the receptionist, I was directed to a room
where a digital photo was taken for their records.
After
this, I went up to the document checking section on the 2nd floor.
The receptionist there asked what visa I was applying for, and when
I told her I was a K-1 Visa applicant, I was instructed to proceed
to the cashier on the 5th floor. There I paid 4,590 pesos for the
medical exam and immunization fee. Have your passport ready all the
time. You will need it with every transaction you make at St.
Luke's.
I was then told to proceed to the 4th floor to have a urine sample
collected. I assume that this is for a pregnancy test. After this I
was directed to another room for blood sample collection. This was
for HIV/AIDS testing. After this, I went to the 3rd floor for the
chest X-ray. A word of advice: wear clothes than can easily be taken
off. The ladies will have to remove everything but panties and
change into a hospital gown. During the X-ray, I was given a
protective shielding for my abdomen.
After the X-ray, I had the physical examination on the 5th floor.
After giving my passport and PDS to the receptionist, I had to wait
for my name to be called. The nurse I was assigned to took my blood
pressure, heart rate, and my height and weight. I then had a my
vision checked. I was led to a room with dim lights and asked to
identify letters on the chart. One good thing I found out today is
that I still have 20/20 vision.
After this, I was assigned to a lady doctor who did a thorough
physical examination. During this part of the medical, she asked for
my medical history. After this I had to undress completely. I was
asked to stand, bend over, and lie down. She also did genital
examination. I have to say that the physical examination part upset
me, though. While she was asking my medical history, there was an
item in the questionnaire asking how many pregnancies I had. She
asked if I had ever given birth when I was younger, so I answered
"No" to her questions. But while she was doing the exam on
me, she just had to ask the same question about five times! I was
upset because I already told her I had never given birth in my life
and so I don't understand why she had to ask the same thing over and
over. She did the same thing when she asked about my asthma. I told
her I don't remember when my last attack was because my asthma has
been inactive. Nevertheless, she insisted that I give an approximate
date. At this point, I had to make up a date when I thought my last
attack was!
I had a vaccination interview afterwards. The doctor asked if I am
allergic to anything and then gave me the option to either have the
shots in the US or at St. Luke's. I opted to get them at St. Luke's
since I paid for them anyway.
That was it for the day. I finished at about 9:00 AM. I went to the
check out counter at the 2nd floor where I was informed that I have
to come back
tomorrow to pick-up the
results of the medical and receive my vaccinations. I can't submit
my visa application without the results, so I have no choice but to
return the next day.
Day #2
Today
is July 27, 2001. I left the house at 5:30 AM and arrived at St.
Luke's at approximately 6:15 AM. I showed the guard my passport and
medical fee receipt upon entry. He looked for my name in the list
that he was holding and told me to proceed to the 2nd floor and wait
for my name to be called. I was scheduled to receive my
immunizations today (mumps, measles, and rubella), but by 9:00 AM,
my name still hasn't been called. All the waiting was exhausting so
I fell asleep until finally they called my name at around 10:30 AM.
I submitted my passport and receipt to the immunization doctors and
had to sit down and wait again! After about half an hour, I was
called into the immunization room to receive my shots. The doctor
informed me that I am not supposed to get pregnant within the next
four months because the vaccination may cause abnormalities in the
unborn child. The needles were intimidating, of course, and it made
me nervous just looking at them. They didn't hurt, though. The shots
felt like ant bites, which isn't too bad.
After receiving my shots, I went to the ground floor and waited for
my medical results to be released. I waited until about 1:30 PM, and
it was a little more difficult for me to endure because I had not
eaten breakfast nor lunch that day. As a word of advice, eat a heavy
breakfast before you go to St. Luke's. You can't bring food inside.
Although there are restaurants nearby, I advise against going out
because your name might be called and you might miss it. Anyway, the
nurse at the releasing counter asked for my passport and confirmed
certain entries in the medical report. I was also handed my chest
x-ray film and vaccination report. I was told that I will be
bringing this to the US, but I wasn't given clear instructions on
exactly what to do with them. I left my passport with her and went
back to the second floor.
It didn't take long for the clerk at the document checking section
to call my name. The person I was assigned to was actually one of
the nicest people I have encountered at St. Luke's (not a lot of
them are!). She asked me to give her all the requirements for the
visa application. However, one thing I noticed is that she kept
excluding documents from my application packet. She gave me back my
Certificate of No Marriage (CERNOMAR) and said that the Embassy
didn't need it. I found that strange because I have read of many
instances wherein the consular officer at the Embassy asked to see a
CERNOMAR. She also excluded some supporting documents for the
Affidavit of Support such as bank statements, investment reports,
printouts of account history, and our co-sponsor's certification of
employment. The only supporting documents she included were the W-2
forms and tax returns and my fiance's certification of employment. I
again found this strange because all the other financial documents
are in support of the assests and investments declared on the
Affidavit of Support.
If the clerk had opted not to include all the pictures, letters, and
emails I submitted, I would've freaked out. My guess is that the
people that check the documents at St. Luke's are not very well
in-synch with what the Embassy consular officers are looking for.
After assembling my application packet, the clerk at St. Luke's
handed me a claim stub and told me to proceed to Gate 4 of the US
Embassy. There I paid Delbros a 110-peso courier fee for the
delivery of my visa. I am supposed to be receiving the visa after
7-10 working days, granting that the consular officer assigned to my
case has no questions and does not request more documents for me. I
was instructed to call the Immigrant Visa Information Center at
1-909-1010011 if I do not receive my visa on day 7.
And now, our wait for the visa begins.
NO
MORE INTERVIEWS
This
is a posting that I saved to my Hard drive from the old forum. I
don't know who posted it, but it is really good information. It is
definitely worth saving and passing on. (If you posted it, sorry...
I didn't record where it came from!)
----------------------------------------------
Effective
July 1,2001 there will be no interview for K1 visa in US consulate
Manila.
There's no
official package 3 and 4 anymore. Your fiancee must call
1-909-101-001(25 pesos per minute) or else she won't receive
anything. if she fail to call the embassy, she won't hear anything
about her petition even it's already received the approval for US
consulate Manila. She will not receive any approval notice by mail,
So you, as the petitioner is responsible of notifying her approval,
better send your copy to her.
The US
consulate Manila will take the information from your Fiancee when
she calls, she needs this on hand, PASSPORT NUMBER, ADDRESS, CELL OR
TELEPHONE NUMBER, REFERENCE NUMBER AND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HER.
While they are taking information from her, it will be stored in
data base and will make how the payment is done. She will receive
the package in one week. She must pay 200 pesos to the courier upon
delivery of the package. She fill up the information and sends the
passport and the papers to the embassy USING THE SAME COURIER AT HER
EXPENSE. She then travels to manila to St Luke for medical exam. She
then returns home. After 10 to 12 days the SAME COURIER bring her
passport and her visa. There's no interview and appointment anymore,
unless there's a problem with her paper or documents. Okay here is
the telephone number you can call, this is for USA residents. Good
luck to you all!
Fiancee
Visa information Manila call 10 and 12 pm local time 632-523-1011
ext 2324 and 2215
632-523-1001
ext 2224 available from 8-11 AM and 1-3 pm weekdays manila time.
Thank
you for your correction, you are right I mistype. The right number
for your fiancée to call 1-909-101-0011
List
of items for K1:
Birth
Certificate ($10; 3 copies)
NBI Clearance ($10)
Police Clearance ($2.00; city she lived in)
Passport Photos ($8)
Passport ($15)
Visa Photo ($8)
CFO Certificate ($5; attached to passport)
DFA Sticker ($5; attached to passport)
Bank Account
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