Guest Messages

Thank you for visiting. I'm not so sure why and how you reach my U.S. immigration journey blog but I am happy and very thankful that you are here. I hope you find our site useful. This blog welcomes all questions, suggestions and helpful comments. Please leave a message. I'd love to know and hear from my visitors but if you'd rather stay anonymous that's alright. Just know that I am happy for your visit.

If you're one of my beloved kababayans, salamat po sa pagbisita. Sana makilala ko kayo at magkakwentohan tayo paminsan-minsan. Pagpalain Nawa!

Application For Removal of Conditional Resident Status

If you come in the United States through K1 Visa, known as the Fiancee Visa, after your wedding you need to apply for your Adjust of Status using Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence. You can download application forms from the official U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services website. You can also download the instructions and the checklist as your guide in filling up the forms. You need to submit your application to the USCIS Service Center that handle applications from your resident address. You can find that in the form too. Then, you will have to have another Biometrics. Don't worry they will send you a letter for this, as to when and where. You may be called for an interview too. If your Adjustment Of Status (AOS) application is approved, you will be given a Green Card under Conditional status. That conditional resident card is good for two years. You can renew that card and submit your application ninety (90) days before it's expiration date. If you will be approved, your new Green Card or new Permanent Resident Card is good for ten (10) years.

About Us

Hello! Welcome to our US immigration journey blog. I am from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. My dear husband is a natural-born U.S citizen. We met in 2004, fell in love and started our K-1 Visa Process on May 2005. I arrived in the United States five days before Valentines day 2006. We got married on the third day of March 2006. I got sworn in as a United States Citizen last October 2009.

When my sweetheart and I were just starting our paper works for my K-1 Visa, we were searching different information about the whole K-1 Visa process. I remember myself reading some amazing web sites that helpful people, who have gone through the whole K-1 Visa process, have put together. Learning about their experiences, reading helpful tips and knowing the possible scenarios have somehow helped us in the process.

This site contains information about our experiences, our application timelines (K-1 visa, Adjustment of Status, Removing Conditional Status, N-400 Naturalization), and links to visa information sources that we found useful and more online resources for my beloved kababayans. We are hoping that we can pass all the help we can give by sharing our experiences to others who are now undertaking the same journey.

I am the sole author of this blog and I am not very good in using proper English grammar. Sometimes I ask my husband if my English grammar is correct or not and when I do, he helps me a lot. But I don't bug my hard-working husband all the time. In most instances, I just go ahead and write things. So please excuse any grammar mistakes.

Anyways, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions that I might be able to help. I would love to hear from you. I would also appreciate any helpful comments and suggestions. My husband and I both wish you all the best. May the good Lord Bless us all and grant the desires of our heart. Keep the faith burning!

Thank You For Visiting and I hope you come back often.

Tips for K-1 Visa Applicants During Interview

Getting anxious for your big day? Don't be nervous. The best thing to do is to have the right preparation. What preparation? Your documents and yourself. Just relax and try to make the Filipino Interviewer and the Consul happy with how you organize your necessary documents.

Before you go to the U.S Embassy for your Fiance' (K-1) Visa Interview,

1. make sure you have all your documents, and make sure you have your documents neat, well organized, and presentable;

2. you can use side tabs (color coded or not) for easy reference.

Before you face the US Consul, you will be called first in the Filipino Interviewers booth. When you get to the Filipino interviewer window,

3. Smile and greet your interviewer.

Nothing better than a confident, warm smile. The Filipino interviewer is going to check all the needed documents.

4. It will help you if you will have all my needed documents compiled in a flexible plastic folder.

Why does the folder have to be flexible? There is a glass between you and the interviewer and there is only a foot long and thin open slot (at the bottom of the glass) where you will pass your documents. It's thin enough for only papers and flexible plastics to go through.

5. Organize your documents well. Separate them by categories, for easy access. Stack all your identification documents, another group would be the proof of your relationship, and all the financial documents together.


6. Stack your documents well, possibly thin, maybe maximum thickness would be half an inch thick. Don't stack it too thick, remember the slot of the window is thin. If you can't help make them thinner, you can separate them, make 2 folders instead, just remember to stack them by category.

7. Do not use a thick and hard side binders because it will never go through. Use button fasteners, instead of long fasteners or straight folder sliders.

I saw some applicants there had to take it off from their folders so that they can pass it to their Filipino interviewer.

8. Another thing, have your pictures ready. Don't give the entire photo album, remember that it won't pass through the slit of the window glass.

You don't want to annoy your interviewer for waiting on you taking your photos off your albums one by one. Some of them get annoyed or grumpy. I saw a lot of applicants that done that and some of them had a "not so" pleasant experience from their interviewer.

9. Most importantly, make sure that you got all the needed documents. Some applicants are put in AR (Administrative Review) because they lacked important documents.

When all your documents are ready, the Filipino interviewer is going to tell you to wait for your number to be called. That's for your consul interview.

When your number is called, they will tell you which room number to go.

10. Smile and greet the consul.

He's going to make you take an oath, before the interview is going to start. You will see that the consul is holding your documents (those that you submitted to the Filipino interviewer). The consul also has the documents submitted by your sweetheart during his petition. Why I know? Because during my interview, the consul showed it to me. I had a wonderful consul interviewer, told me that he was impressed by the organization of my documents, and by how my sweetheart organized his. (He showed me that documents submitted by my then fiance').

11. When the consul ask you questions, don't be nervous.

There's really nothing to worry about. Just relax and be truthful. The more you get nervous, the more you might mess up.

12. Remember important dates and information that were on your forms.

The Consul will ask questions about you, your fiance' and your relationship. Some Consuls are going to ask more questions, while others will just ask 3 or 4. In my case, the consul only asked me 3 questions. I heard other applicants were asked a lot of questions by their assigned Consul. I think your paperwork helps a lot. Show them that you really mean business. Give them a Complete, Well-Organized documents along with the genuineness of your relationship and intentions.

Most of the time, the U.S Consul will not tell you if you pass or not. On his table, he has two (2) kinds of stickers. One for approve, one for AR. Take a peek as to which sticker he's holding. He's not going to give that sticker to you, he will stick it to your folder, after the interview. If the U.S embassy is still using the same color codes of their sticker, green means passed.

If you miss which sticker the Consul got for you, you will know that you passed the interview later. When you're done with your interview with the consul, he will tell you to go wait for your number to be called and go to another Window. That window is going to give you back some of your documents, like pictures and others. If the personnel of that window is going to give you a pink slip, and will tell you to pay at the cashier, it only means that you passed.

Good luck!

My AOS Timeline

Here's my Adjustment of Status Timeline (US Immigration). Please note that AOS timeline is not the same for everyone. It's a case to case basis.

After our wedding, the immigration paperworks continues. It's time to adjust status and be able to get the United States resident card. My sweetheart and I prepared all the papers and finished all the required shots that are required ( Tetanus Dyphteria and MMR). Those were the two shots that weren't given at St. Luke Hospital Extension, Philippines and are required for me to get here in the USA. I am posting my adjustment of status timeline for reference to those who are also applying for their adjustment of status. In our case, I was not interviewed anymore. After my biometrics, the USCIS service center just sent me my US green card. I know some Filipina's who were interviewed, and there were also some that were not interviewed. I guess it depends on who's handling your case. For those who were interviewed, I heard that The US Immigration Services send them (applicant) a letter and set appointment time for interview and location.

We sent our application to Chicago. It was forwarded to Missouri Service Center and then forwarded to California Service Center.

My AOS Timeline:
2-09-2006 Arrived in the US (POE: Detroit)
3-03-2006 Wedding day
3-15-2006 Applied for SSN under Married Name
4-03-2005 Sent AOS Applications
4-14-2006 Received AOS 1st NOA (Receipt Notice)
4-17-2006 Received AOS 2nd NOA (Biometrics Appointment Notice)
4-20-2006 Received Social Security Card
4-25-2006 Biometrics (USCIS Atlanta, GA)
6-03-2006 Received Notice of Transfer to California
6-15-2006 Received Case Status Email that Application been APPROVED!
6-16-2006 Received Case Status Email that Welcome Notice was mailed
6-19- 2006 Received Welcome Notice by Mail
6-22-2006 Received Green Card

Sample Adjustment of Status Cover Letter

Here is a sample of our Adjustment Of Status (AOS) cover page when we submitted our Adjustment of Status application to The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). I posted this here for reference hoping that this would give other Adjustment Of Status applicants an idea as to what paperworks they need to submit. Be sure to check the USCIS website for the most recent updates of requirements and fees.

I- 485 APPLICATION TO ADJUST STATUS
Applicant: (Married Name )
Applicant's Alien Number

CONTENTS

For Payments:
Payment Check of $395.00 as payment for the Adjustment of Status Application and the Biometric Service Fees (note: please check USCIS website for fee updates)

Form I-485 and supporting documents
2 passport-style photos of applicant
· Copy of I-797 Notice of Action, Approval Notice
· Original Marriage Certificate
· Copy of Applicants Birth Certificate
· Copy of Applicant’s Passport biographic page
· Copy of Applicant’s Visa
· Copy of Applicant’s Valid Form I-94
· Copy of U.S Department of State Vaccination Document received at medical exam
· Copy of Vaccination Record Card (I got my TD shots at Health Dept for free)
· I-693 Vaccination Supplement Form(USCIS authorized doctors given in sealed envelope. Never open it)

Form G- 325A, Biographic Data Sheet of Applicant and supporting documents
· Copy of Applicant Certificate of No Marriage
· Form G-325A of U.S Citizen Spouse
· 2 passport-style Photos of the U.S Citizen Spouse
· Copy of U.S Citizen Spouse’s U.S Passport
· Copy of U.S Citizen Spouse’s Birth Certificate
· Copy of U.S Citizen Spouse’s Divorce Decree (if divorce)

Form I-864, Affidavit of Support completed by the U.S Citizen Spouse and supporting documents
· U.S Citizen’s Spouse Evidence of Employment
· Copies of U.S Citizen Spouse Income Tax returns for 2005, 2004, and 2003
· Copies of U.S Citizen Spouse w-2
· Copies of U.S Citizen Spouse Recent Pay Stub
· Letter from the Bank


Prepared by:

(Signature Above Printed Name)

K-1 Visa Interview Experience at the US Embassy (Manila, Philippines)

Here is my US Embassy Interview Experience at Manila Philippines.

Interview Date: January 17, 2006

I stayed in Lotus Garden Hotel in Ermita. It is probably 10 minutes taxi ride from the U.S Embassy in Manila, Philippines. I stayed there too during my Medical Exam which was held a week before the interview. I liked the hotel because aside from being nice and tidy, the hotel service was also great. It is also close to the venue of the medical exam, just one block from St. Luke Extension building where they do the Medical exam for all the U.S. Visa Applicants. Some U.S. Visa applicants stayed in Miramar hotel (located opposite the US Embassy).

I was getting ready for the my big appointment around 3 o' clock in the morning. I figured the embassy would be crowded. I arrived outside the Manila U.S. embassy around 3:40 am and I was right, there were so many people already, waiting in line and some sitting. I heard some of them were already there as early as 2 o' clock in the morning.

Before the security guards let us inside the embassy waiting shed, they checked our Appointment letter and Valid ID (with picture). He checked the applicants appointment time too and guided us which line to join. US. Visa applicants were arranged according to their appointment time.

We were sitting on the waiting shed until around 6:30 as our appointment time set. When the U.S. Embassy finally opened, another guard checked our appointment letter and Valid ID (with picture). Yes! AGAIN. Upon entering inside the embassy building, we went through a scanner. We were told to turn off our cellphones and were asked to deposit phones to a counter. Those that left their cellphones on the counter were given a claim stub to claim it later after the interview. I didn't have to fight the crowd there because I already knew that I had to leave my phone in the counter (from reading other applicant's experiences online). I heard it takes longer to get it back because if there are many applicants that leave their cellphones, you'll have to wait in line again. That's why I didn't bring my cellphone. I left it in my hotel room.

Inside the Immigrant Visa Room, we were lining up at the ticket booth area. There, we showed our appointment letter, DS 156,DS157, and DS156K and the proof of payment; the assigned stuff asked for my passport and I told him that the crew at Saint Luke's Extension took it when I had my medical appointment (it is part of St. Luke process that they get applicants passport and will forward it to the embassy). Another U.S. Embassy staff at the entrance took the 2 sets of DS 156 and 157 (stapled sets A and B) and DS 156K. I am thankful that my forms were completely filed up because some applicants recieved back their forms and were to fill up the missing lines and that caused delays for minutes.It made their processing and wait longer.

We were asked to sit down and wait for our name to be called at either Window X or Y. The Manila U.S. Embassy used Overhead speakers in paging for our name and directed us which window to go. I was given my appointment number stub. That time, I and the rest of the applicants had to stay focused on the monitor where they flash numbers along with the cubicle number in which applicant need to go. We were all focused on the monitor because the numbers were not flashed or called in order. The flashing boards is located in front where all applicants are asked to sit down.

The various cubes that we need to go were manned by Filipino interviewers. There's a flat-paneled glass between you and the interviewer. The Filipino interviewer checks and decides whether or not our papers are complete. They don’t make the final decisions, but they do forward their reports to the consul. All Visa applicants will pass them first, before applicants can face the U.S consuls.

When it was my turn, the Filipina US Embassy interviewer asked me to hand her over our pictures, emails, cards I've received from my fiance', my Birth Certificate, NBI Clearance, Affidavit of Support(notarized), W-2&1040 forms(I've given my fiance's last three years). As I handed her my documents she asked me few questions like;

• my name
• my petitioner's name
• my relationship with my petitioner
  
• how I met my fiance
  
• when did we met
  
• when was the last time we met
• have we seen each other in person
• some questions about our love story
• what my fiance' does for a living
• when is his birthday
  
• have I meet his parents

While I am answering the questions of my Filipina interviewer, she was also scanning at my paper works and looked at some of our pictures and the details I wrote below each pictures. She smiled at me and told me that my papers were complete and gave me a compliment of the way I arranged my papers. That felt good knowing the hard works I'd done arranging those documents and pasting those pictures. After that she gave me back some documents, she showed me my Fiance's paper works too, the folder he sent to petition me and smiled at me again saying that my fiance's papers were also complete and well organized. Ah!!!! double compliments. It felt very very good. She seemed friendly and in good mood. I guess I didn't gave her headache with my papers. Some other Filipina applicants said, they were asked more questions by their Filipino interviewers. I guess it depends who's handling your case. I am thankful that I wasn't nervous that day. I knew all about my sweetheart important details and our relationship is genuine. I am thinking that they do all these checking and questioning to check and catch fraud relationships. She gave me my number back, told me to sit and watch for my number in the blinking board for my fingerprinting. She bid me Good luck.

Five minutes later I was called for fingerprinting. It was a quick one. Then I had to wait again and wait for my number for the consul interview. I was a little nervous this time because I seen some fellow US Visa applicants crying after coming out from the U.S. consul room. Later my number was flashed and I went to the room I was assigned to go. Inside the room, I smiled and greeted the American Consul, he was in his 40's. I was asked to raise my right hand and take oath to tell the truth. Then he told me to sit and we had the interview proper. He did not asked me much question, he checked my documents first (these are the papers that the Filipina interviewer handed her) and asked then he asked me;

• when was I and my fiance' last talk or saw each other?

I told him we talked on the phone just lastnight before I went to bed. I told him that my fiance' and I do chat eveyday, we see each other on the webcam and talk on the phone almost twice a day. I waited for his next question. He scan the documents again, he silently read some sample chats and emails we submitted, looked at our pictures together during ,my fiance's visit and looked at me again. Then he asked me again.

• what is my fiance's work?
  
• asked if me and my fiance's parents have seen each other in person

I answered him about my fiance's job and I told him that I and his parents have not seen in person yet but we talked on the phone. I was waiting for his next question but he didn't asked anymore. I was a little surprised because most applicants that were interviewed told me the Consul asked them several questions. I believe them too because many of them took so long inside the U.S consul booth.

He didn't asked me again. The American Consul took the huge diagonally striped green and white sticker with the print APPROVED IV, a stack of it was clipped at bottom of the glass window. There’s another stack beside it, but don't know what those are. I was glad he took the one that says approved. He said we're done and told me to pay attention to the blinking number board and wait for my number. He did not told me if I am approved or not, but seeing that approved sticker he was holding, even though he had not stick it to my folder yet made me think I am approved. I thanked him and left the room. Some other applicants, those that are still waiting for their number to be called, were wondering why I came out from the booth already. My interview was quick.

Our personal documents (photos, snail mails, receipts) were returned at window 35. All financial documents were kept by the US Embassy. When I was called, the man in window 35 gave me a a pink slip and said that I have to proceed to DELBROS to pay for the visa delivery fee. That's the time that I felt relieved and this time I am sure that I am approved. I was so happy.

For those US Visa applicants, If you missed seeing the sticker while at the consul’s cube, you may try and take a quick peek during this last step. The sticker should be at the bottom part of your folder cover. Should you be taken into AR (Administrative Review), you will also know during this last part, as they will give you a paper that says so. The person in this counter will also tell you that you are indeed in Administrative Review and to wait for further advice from the embassy.

I paid Php315 at the US Embassy Cashier. I and some other U.S. Visa applicants were glad that we were approved. In the few days that I was processing, I eventually met some US Visa applicants in Manila. For US Visa applicants out there, K-1 or K-2 and other Visa applicants, your path will cross in the Medical Exam building, internet cafe's close to different hotels near the Embassy, you will meet friends or companions as you go through the process. After I got my K-1 Visa delivery receipt, I hurried back to Lotus Garden Hotel. I was so happy and was so excited. I could not wait to tell my fiance' that our application was approved. For a while I thought that I should have brought my cellphone, but then seeing the long line of applicants waiting to get their cellphone back inside the embassy, I thought I made the right decision of leaving my cellphone at the hotel.

I was approved and we will finally be with each other again, and this time, its for keeps. Three days later, I got my visa. Truly, God is so good!!! When I went outside the embassy, I saw groups of ladies that were looking so sad, their application was put to AR. I was sorry for the delay of their papers and visa processing. For those applicants who will soon have their interview, be sure you have your papers complete and make sure you know whats in your form, know your inputs, remember important dates and just be ready to anything interviewers might ask. There is nothing to be scared about, as long as you know your fiance/ spouse details and your relationship is for real. It's okay to be nervous but don't fear. Just be yourself and don't forget to bring your heart!

K-1 Visa

I met my husband November 2004. Six months later, he visited me and my family in the Philippines and surprised me with an engagement ring. He bought 2 copies of NOLO Fiance' & Marriage Visas, A Couple's Guide to U.S. Immigration (2nd Edition). He brought the other copy of the book to the Philippines during his visit and he left it with me. That time, the book served as my guide because it has step by step guides for every U.S. Immigration forms.

We decided to marry in the US. For my then US Citizen fiance', to bring me to the US, so that we can marry and live there, we needed to apply for a K-1 Visa. It is a nonimmigrant visa for a fiancé (spelled as fiancée when referring to a woman). A K-1 Visa is a Fiance' Visa. A fiancé(e) is a person who is engaged or contracted to be married.That is a visa for a foreign fiance'(e) to travel to the United States for marriage. The first step of applying a K-1 Visa is for the U.S Citizen fiance'(e) to file a fiancé(e) petition using Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiance'(e))

So, my then Fiance' file a Petition for me with the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). All applicants must submit their applications to office that serves the area they live. In our case, my then fiance' submitted the Petition for Alien Fiance'(e) to USCIS Texas Service Center.

How I Met The Love of My Life

I am now a Green Card Holder here in the US. It means one very important thing, I and my sweetheart wont be separated by distance again. I love my sweetheart so much and remembering the journey that we've been through, about all the waiting and all the documents hard work is now just a sweet memory. We are now happily married and my life wont be this sweeter without him. I love waking up in the morning seeing his face and love seeing him very last thing at night, before I close my eyes to sleep. I am making this blog for other couples who are separated by distance, especially those separated by country and are experiencing the same agony of waiting. Passing through immigration is a long process thats needs faith, patience and hard work. People say love always finds a way and I say it does.

I met my sweetheart in one of the dating services online. I was actually just trying it at first. I never believed finding true love online is possible. Later, after learning from a friend that she found the love of her life online, I thought of trying it too. I was teaching highschool mathematics in the Philippines. After classes, I still have lots of things to do, like checking quizzes, assignments and projects. I also have tutorials. Most of the time, I bring my work at home and do it at night. I would say my life was all about school.

As I was saying, I tried online dating. Met few men online and exchanged emails. I usually give my yahoo ID but dont use to chat most of the time. It was not my priority at that time. Few months later I tried online chatting, i was with a friend, she was chatting with her boyfriend in an internet cafe. I got tired waiting for her as I was just sitting at the back, waiting, I talked to the owner and told him I wanted to use one computer too. I started browsing the internet, I opened myforeignbride dating website. I was browsing member profiles, to me they all look a like. Then I saw Tom's profile. To this date, I still remember how he look like and what he wrote in his profile. He was saying, " looking for the same qualities I have". Looking at his picture, I know there was something special in him, felt like I wanna know him better. I didnt do anything but sit and read his profile again and again. I sent him a short email and next day, he wrote me back. That was the start of a wonderful relationship. I found his great qualities beyond the handsome package. We became best friends online and started calling each other almost everyday or send sms through cellphones. Later we just fall for each other. Tom told me, he was scared at first to tell me he love me, he tried to tell me several times but was too afraid, he'll scare me away. Unknown to him, I was feeling the same way then. May 2, 2005, he travelled to visit me to the Philippines , that was the happiest day of our lives being together (then that we were not yet married). He is the best thing that ever happened to me and I am thankful to God for blessing me with him, now, my wonderful husband. His parents are both great. I call them the greatest in laws. During Tom's visit to the Philippines, he met my family and my relatives and they all fall in love with him. Tom is just amazing. When he left to came back to the US, we were all sad. Oh how we cried on the eve of his return to the US. He told me, he'll start the paperwork so I can follow him and never be separated again. We petitioned me through K-1 Visa (fiancee) and I waited closed to 6 months until the day of my medical exam and my embassy interview. The pain of waiting was unbearable but then love and faith gives you the strenght to hold on, the patience to wait and the will to go on.

I want the ladies or couples to know that you can make it. Just pray and be patient. Soon you'll be with each other again and life will be more beautiful spending it with the love of your life.