RapidVisa Blog

Customers will soon start using the online Electronic Immigration System (ELIS) to pay the $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee after they receive their immigrant visa package from the Department of State and before they depart for the United States. USCIS ELIS is easy to use and provides direct access to case status updates. New immigrants will also use USCIS ELIS to file future applications and petitions when they become available in the system.

The poverty guidelines are the other version of the federal poverty measure. They, too, are issued every year, generally in the winter, but by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in the Federal Register. The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds created for administrative use, such as determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs. They are adjusted for families of different sizes and by geographic location (with different guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; Alaska; and Hawaii).

Please be reminded that even though nonimmigrant visa fees are valid for one calendar year, options to schedule an appointment are limited.  The U.S. Embassy in Manila schedules hundreds of thousands of nonimmigrant visa appointments each year, and we must accommodate requests both for new appointments and for those applicants who need to reschedule their appointments for whatever reason.  Applicants are only allowed to reschedule twice (not including the initial appointment) without penalty.  If the second rescheduling attempt is canceled, an applicant will only be allowed to reschedule a new date after a waiting period of 90 days.  Please plan your visa application accordingly to avoid problems securing an interview appointment. http://manila.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant-visa.html#8...

As part of ongoing commitment to improving customer service, USCIS has recently introduced new options for customers to obtain information and check on the status of their application electronically and has also expanded its call center hours.

  They expanded the capabilities of two of our online tools, My Case Status and e-Request, to provide these more flexible options:

My Case Status now allows customers to view the current status of applications they submit, no matter which USCIS form they used. My Case Status now lets them track, through our Secure Mail Initiative (SMI),...

Once your visa is approved, 2Go will either deliver your passport to the location you specified when you scheduled your appointment, or hold your passport at a 2Go office for you to retrieve. There are no extra fees associated with either aspect of this service - the cost for 2Go to deliver or hold your passport is included in the visa application fee. If you chose to collect your passport/visa at the courier office you will need to visit a 2Go office during normal business hours. To find the 2Go office nearest to you, use this link to find it: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-loc-passportcollection.asp Supporting Documents To collect your passport you must present your original (not a photocopy) government-issued photo ID. We recommend you also bring a printed copy of your appointment letter. Acceptable IDs are:

Driver's License Civil Service ID Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)...

For Philippine Customers you need to make sure that before going to St. Luke's for your medical examination, you should bring all the required documents. Regular Immigrants and K-Visa Applicants a. Valid passport b. Photocopy of Passport Biographic/Data Page, the page in the passport that contains the applicant's photo and information c. 3 pieces recent 2x2 visa photos (2 for submission to the U.S. Embassy, 1 for clinic file) The US Embassy requires you to bring the 2x2 photos for your visa issuance. We regret not to release the medical report until such time that you can provide this requirement. d. Appointment letter from the Embassy or Instruction letter from the National Visa Center (NVC), if available, e. 2 photocopies of your Appointment Letter/ Instruction Letter f. Applicants are also required to provide the name, address and contact number of their petitioner in the U.S.A. Minors (17 years old and below) must be accompanied by their parent or by a legal guardian who has thorough knowledge...

Starting February 1st, 2013, all persons receiving an immigrant visa from a United States consulate abroad will pay an additional $165 fee.  This fee is being called an Immigrant Fee and is intended to compensate the USCIS for preparing and mailing out the Permanent Resident card (Green Card).

New Applications Please have all your original documents and IDs photocopied before going to DFA on your appointment date. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Personal appearance Confirmed appointment Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of BC issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and duly authenticated by NSO. Transcribed Birth Certificate from the LCR is required when entries in NSO Birth Certificate are blurred or unreadable. (Report of Birth duly authenticated by NSO if born abroad) No need to submit a passport size photo Valid picture IDs and supporting documents to prove identity (Please refer to List of Acceptable IDs and List of Supporting Documents) NSO Birth Certificate Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SECPA) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy (CTC) of BC issued by the Local Civil Registrar duly authenticated by NSO depending on the NSO signatory. In Case...

If you have friends, family or a loved one living in the Philippines you will probably find it necessary to send mail or packages to them. There are few things that you will need to know and consider before sending mail and packages to the Philippines.

Like any other international shipments made outside the U.S., shipping a package to the Philippines may make it subject to Philippine Customs examination. You will want to check whether duties and taxes will need to be paid. And you may be required to fill out customs forms to list the contents and value of your shipment.

If you are submitting an immigration-related petition or an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you will most likely need to pay processing fees that may include filing, biometrics or other fees. This article provides some guidelines and instructions for paying fees to the USCIS with a check.

If you have international travel in less than 2 weeks or need to obtain a foreign visa within 4 weeks, you are eligible to schedule an appointment at a one of our regional passport agencies in the United States. You may be required to provide proof of your travel at certain regional passport agencies. See the individual agency pages for additional information. Will call service is offered for life/death emergencies and immediate travel. The agency will determine how best to return the passport in order to meet the customer's documented travel plans. You can submit your application locally at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility using routine service or expedite service. In addition, the following regional passport agencies do not require any travel plans to apply (an appointment and the Expedite Fee are still required to apply): Arkansas Passport Agency Buffalo Passport Agency Colorado Passport Agency Detroit Passport Agency El Paso Passport Agency Honolulu Passport Agency Minneapolis Passport...

Effective on February 1, 2013 all foreign nationals who seek permanent residence in the United States and receive an immigrant visa will need to pay a USCIS Immigrant Fee. The new fee of $165 was established in USCIS’s final rule adjusting fees for immigration applications and petitions announced on Sept. 24, 2010. USCIS has worked closely with the Department of State (DOS) to implement the new fee which allows USCIS to recover the cost of processing that is performed in the United States after immigrant visa holders receive their visa packages from DOS and are admitted to the United States. Note: Applicants will now have two separate fees to pay. They are still required to pay the DOS visa application processing fee, and will now also have to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee. What the Fee Covers The immigrant fee will cover the cost of USCIS staff time to handle, file and maintain the immigrant visa package, and the cost of producing and delivering the permanent resident card. Who Needs to Pay the Fee...

There's one mandated functions of the NBI is to act as national clearing house of criminal records and other information for use of all prosecuting and law enforcement entities in the Philippines, of identification records of all persons without criminal convictions. For a long time, the NBI clearance used the paper and ink method in the clearance application. Overtime, it shifted to the new clearance system known as the NBI Biometric Clearance System. It started on July 04, 2011 and continuously expands its operation by opening numerous satellite clearance centers nationwide. Presently, there 63 opening clearance centers nationwide, 16 of them are from regional and 22 from district offices, 11 are from Local Government Units and the rest are located at Malls, in Robinsons, Ever Gotesco, and at Duty Free Philippines. The following guidelines must be observed by the applicants: 1. Applicants are advised to observe proper dress code: shorts, sando, and slippers are not allowed. 2. Applicant should bring...

If a U.S. citizen plans to marry a foreign citizen, the most important advice we can offer is to begin the preparations early to bring the new fiance(e) or spouse to the United States. Depending on the circumstances, processing time can take as long as several months.  The preparation and timeline is even more critical when children will accompany or follow-to-join the principal visa holder in the United States.

A Birth Certificate from the National Statistics Office (NSO) is a vital record that establishes the birth of a child. It is an official form that gives details on the time and place of a person's birth, and his or her name, sex, mother's name and (usually) father's name. The word "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document or a certified true copy of or representation of the original record of birth document. The birth certificate is issued shortly after an individual's birth, after the mother's physician files the required forms with the appropriate government agency, usually the local civil registrar's office. The official birth certificate is stored at LCR where records are archived at the NSO. The birth certificate is used to authenticate one's identity and nationality, and assist with obtaining government-issued identity documents, such as a passport or driver's license. Holding a birth certificate makes it easier to prove citizenship in nations where citizenship depends upon location...

There are multiple ways to transfer money or funds from the United States to the Philippines. There are several things that you should look for when sending. First and foremost, you want to use a service that is safe and secure. The process should be convenient and fast without costing too much. Look for competitive fees as sending money internationally can be very expensive. You will also want to look for favorable exchange rates as all money transfers are subject to these rates.

Make sure to register your items before you leave the United States. If your laptop computer was made in Japan—for instance—you might have to pay duty on it each time you bring it back into the United States, unless you could prove that you owned it before you left on your trip. Documents that fully describe the item—such as sales receipts, insurance policies, or jeweler's appraisals—are acceptable forms of proof. To make things easier, you can register certain items with CBP before you depart— including watches, cameras, laptop computers, firearms, and CD players—as long as they have serial numbers or other unique, permanent markings. Take the items to the nearest CBP office and request a Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad (CBP Form 4457). It shows that you had the items with you before leaving the United States and all items listed on it will be allowed duty-free entry. CBP officers must see the item you are registering in order to certify the certificate of registration. You can also register items with CBP at the international airport from which you’re departing. Keep the certificate for future trips....

The intention of a tourist or travel visa is a temporary visit for a specified amount of time. If you want to get married during your visit then return home before your visa expires that may be legal, but a travel visa should not be used with the intention of entering the United States to marry, stay permanently and adjust status. Using the K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa avoids all of the problems noted above, and is the most appropriate way for a foreign fiancé(e) to come to the U.S. to marry. 

Parents and children schedule appointments together, even if they plan to travel separately. Each family member needs a DS-160 application barcode and fee receipt, and each family member needs appointment.  If children are applying, both parents should interview with the child. If one parent cannot attend, please bring a no objection letter from the absent parent. If your children are not applying for visas, please do not bring them to the Embassy unless absolutely necessary. There is limited space in the waiting room and the added noise makes it difficult for other applicants to hear properly during their interviews.


Source: http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/interviews-and-appointments.html

U.S. citizens may petition their fiancé(e) or spouse to join them in the United States. In some cases, the fiancé(e) or spouse may have children that will accompany or join-to-follow them. Many couples often ask if they are able to take their children out of the Philippines and what is required to do so.

Obtaining an employment verification letter from the US citizen sponsor’s current employer is highly recommended when providing evidence and proof of income for your Affidavit of Support. 

CBP is experiencing a delay in processing foreign visitors’ travel information into the I-94 database. This does not affect the majority of foreign travelers visiting for business or leisure and will not affect any visitor’s record of departure.Foreign visitors to the U.S. who need to prove their legal-visitor status—to employers, schools/universities or government agencies--during their first two months in the U.S. may need information in addition to the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record that they received from Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Currently, CBP is exploring automating the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record to allow for the collection of arrival/departure information electronically, which would streamline the arrival and inspection process for travelers. CBP is coordinating with other agency stakeholders and considering rulemaking. CBP has successfully automated other paper forms familiar to the traveling public. For example, by automating the Form I-94W—the Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure...

The Affidavit of Support is legally required for the petitioning sponsor for many family-based and some employment based immigrants to show the intending immigrant will have adequate means of support, when planning to immigrate to the U.S. The purpose of the process is to prove that the intending immigrant has adequate means of financial support and is unlikely to become a public charge. 

As “petitioning sponsor” this means you have filed an immigrant petition, which has been approved by USCIS. You have paid your Affidavit of Support processing fee and you have been contacted by the Department of State, National Visa Center (NVC) with instructions. You are ready for the next step in the immigration process, which is submit the I-864 Affidavit of Support and required supporting documents for the purpose of sponsoring the intending immigrant. 

Majority of foreign citizens come from the United States of America. The largest number of foreign citizens in the country came from the United States of America (29,959 persons). The next largest numbers came from China (28,750 persons), Japan (11,583 persons), and India (8,963 persons). Foreign citizens in the country reaches nearly 200 thousand

Based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH), the number of foreign citizens in the country was 177,368 as of May 2010. They comprised 0.2 percent of the total household population.

Three in ten foreign citizens (31.1 %) were residing in National Capital Region (NCR) at the time of the census. Those residing in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao made up 22.3 percent of the total foreign citizens. Region III had 9.0 percent, Region IVA had 8.4 percent, and Region VII had 6.0 percent of...

A medical examination is required for all immigrant visas and some non-immigrant visas, as well as for refugees and adjustment of status applicants. The purpose of the medical exam is to determine if you have any health conditions that need attention prior to immigrating.

Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the medical examination that will be required.

When arriving at an airport, the airline will give all travelers some documents to complete while still en route to the United States. All travelers are required to complete a Customs Declaration form 6059B. Those travelers who are non-United States citizens and are requesting admission to the United States with a Visa will be given the Form I-94 (white), Arrival/Departure Record to complete. Those travelers who obtained authorization to travel via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization will not need to complete any additional forms. For more information on ESTA visit the Electronic System for Travel Authorization page. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/ Upon arrival, the airline personnel will show you to the inspection area. You will queue up in an inspection line and then speak with a CBP officer. If you are a U.S. citizen, special lines may be available to you. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should use the lanes marked for non-citizens. If you are a U.S. citizen, the officer...

Under U.S. immigration law, ALL applicants for immigrant visas are required to undergo and complete a medical examination, regardless of age. The medical examination findings by a panel physician are binding on the consular officer and used to determine eligibility to receive a visa. 

It is important that you must have completed your medical examination when you come to the Embassy for your visa interview. Otherwise, your visa application will be refused or you may be asked to return for another appointment. The medical examination results are delivered directly to the Embassy. 

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalization, and removal of foreigners, mandates that all immigrants and refugees migrating to the United States undergo an overseas medical screening examination performed by panel physicians.

This article is part 3 of a 5-part series and will cover the entry and exit requirements for U.S. citizens visiting the Philippines as a tourist. This article looks at the requirements for extending your stay, in the Philippines, beyond 59 days.

In the United States, the nine digits that make up your Social Security number (SSN) may be the most important numbers in your life. It's being issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents. The number is divided into three parts. The  Area Number, the first three digits, is assigned by the geographical region.The middle two digits are the Group Number.The last four digits are Serial Numbers. They represent a straight numerical sequence of digits from 0001-9999 within the group.The SSN is generally required by financial institutions to set up bank accounts, credit cards, and obtain loans, partly because it is assumed that no one except the person to whom it was issued will know it. You need a Social Security number to get a job, collect Social Security benefits and receive some other government services. But you don't often need to show your Social Security card.You must present certain documents when you apply for a Social Security card. All documents submitted must be either...

This article is a compilation of Dos and Don’ts for fiancé(e) and spousal visa petitions. Follow these tips to avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary delays. Nobody can really move your petition along any quicker but there are steps you can take to ensure you have the best chance at getting your fiancé(e) or spouse to the U.S.

Restricted items include meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, soil, and products made from animal or plant materials.Agricultural pests and diseases are a threat to U.S. food crops and livestock. Some of these organisms are highly contagious animal diseases that could cause severe economic damage to the livestock industry and losses in production, which would mean increased costs for meat and dairy products. Other pests can affect property values by damaging lawns, ornamental plants, trees, and even homes.Definitely check with U.S. Customs before you decide what to bring. Be sure you know the origin of the items, not just the type of products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are partners in this effort to protect American agriculture against the introduction of foreign plant and animal pests and diseases at our nation’s ports of entry. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) develops the policies that determine what agricultural products...

The process of getting your fiancé(e) or spouse to the United States can be very complex and stressful. It can also be a very emotional time. Because of this it is imperative that you do everything possible to avoid costly mistakes and subsequent delays with your K-1 Fiancé(e) or IR-1/CR-1 Spousal Visa petition.

If you are a Principal Applicant, and been issued your immigrant visa (categories F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4, FX, K1 or K3) and already in the US and have children who you would like to join you in the U.S., then you need to do the following steps: 1. Contact the Visa Information Center

Persons in the Dominican Republic must purchase a personal identification number (PIN) at any Banco Popular branch (either the equivalent of US$5.25 in Dominican pesos for five minutes of access, or the equivalent of US$16.00 in Dominican pesos for 15 minutes). The PIN will become active 24 hours after you purchase it. Then call 1-809-200-3232. Persons in the United States must call 1-877-804-5402, and the call will be charged to their credit card. The operator will collect information from you, explain procedures, answer questions, and communicate your request for...

 If you need to reschedule an appointment you need to notify the Embassy immediately by fax, email or mail . Every effort will be made to ensure that a more convenient appointment time is given. Members of a family who will receive immigrant visas at a similar time, but have received different appointment dates, are encouraged to reschedule the appointments together. Important note: Many immigrant visa files include documents with validity expiration dates, and most types of administrative processes expire within three months. Please make sure that the administrative process for the applicants will be valid on the new interview date before rescheduling. Also make sure to bring new copies of expired documents to the interview. Source: http://turkey.usembassy.gov/reschedule_appointments.html...

All applicants for nonimmigrant visas are advised to arrive at the Embassy gates at least an hour before their scheduled appointments and to be inside the Embassy at least 15 minutes before their appointments. You need to make sure that all necessary documents are available on the day of the interview to avoid any inconvenience or delay of your appointment. Although all applicants should plan to arrive early, we understand that sometimes unexpected events do occur.  A one-hour grace period may be granted to the applicant, depending on the circumstances. Applicants are only allowed to reschedule their appointments twice through the call center (not including the initial appointment) without penalty. If the second rescheduled appointment is canceled, an applicant will only be allowed to reschedule after a waiting period of 90 days. Please note that same-day and next-day expedited appointments...

If your stay will take you beyond the initial 21 days, you can visit a local immigration office and apply for an extension of 38 days taking your total stay, in the Philippines, to 59 days. This extension is not a visa and is referred to as a visa waiver. 

This article will cover the entry and exit requirements for U.S. citizens visiting the Philippines as a tourist. This article covers quite a bit of information so it has been written in a five-part series with the first part covering the initial requirements to enter and exit the Philippines without extending or requiring a waiver.

Now that you have gotten married you will turn your focus to getting your foreign spouse to the United States. This step can be very time consuming, frustrating and expensive as the process and documents can be very complex and confusing.

Holders of valid visas in expired passports need not apply for a new visa.  US visas are valid through the expiry date printed on the visa regardless of the passport’s expiry date.  Simply travel with both passports when entering the United States.

Source: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhni25.html#06

Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview.


Reference: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/a_zindex/a_zindex_4353.html

​A civil wedding, in the Philippines, may be the quickest and easiest way to marry in the Philippines as there are fewer requirements than a church wedding. This article provides an overview of the process and steps required for a civil wedding.

 Due to increased rates of TB infection in the U.S., the U.S. Government now requires more stringent testing and treatment of all applicants before they can immigrate to the U.S.
During the medical exam, the panel physician is required to test for TB.

Reference: http://bogota.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas.html

 Access to Consulates and Embassy Grounds
For security reasons, visa applicants and American citizens are not allowed to enter the Consulates or the Embassy grounds with bags (with the exception of one small purse), cell phones or any other electronic devices.
Reference: http://brazil.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/contact-info/hours.html

Once the U.S. citizen has obtained the Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry from the U.S. Embassy, he or she is ready to start the process to apply for the marriage license. The license is a requirement for either a civil or church wedding in the Philippines.

Any foreigner who wishes to marry in the Philippines is required by the Philippine Government to obtain from his/her Embassy a “Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage” before filing an application for a marriage license.

A green card is issued to all permanent residents as proof that they are authorized to live and work in the United States. If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid green card in your possession at all times. Current green cards are valid for 10 years, or 2 years in the case of a conditional resident, and must be renewed before the card expires.


Source:  http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

For U.S. citizens wanting to marry in the Philippines, there a few things that he or she needs to be aware of. This is not a complicated process but it can be very time consuming and may the requirements may be different than you are used to. This blog article will provide an overview of the process and lay it out in a manner that makes it easier to follow and understand.

St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLEC) now offers online registration for those applying for a U.S. Immigrant Visa. This online service is to aid in the registration process and is expected to reduce registration time by having most of the applicant's information ready upon arrival at the registration area.

Starting May 14, 2012, the medical examination fee for Adult U.S. Immigrant Visa Applicants (15 years and older) will increase from US$213.35 to US$223.00. The fee for children (below 15 years of age) is still US$185.00. The Medical Examination fee is inclusive of vaccines. Inter-specialist referrals, except psychiatric, shall be performed free of charge, provided that the specialist is available within the clinic. St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic does not accept cheque or credit card payments. Fees must be paid in Philippine Pesos at the prevailing exchange rate. Exchange rates are provided by the U.S. Embassy Manila on a weekly basis.

Source: http://www.slec.ph/us-visa-applicants.shtml#medical-fees

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Mission China will be closed for the upcoming holidays. Visa consular services will be closed October 1st through October 8th. The appointment call center will be closed from Monday October 1st to Thursday October 4th for Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese National Day.  Have a nice holiday! Source: http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/non-immigrant-visa-section.html

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FOR NON IMMIGRANT AND IMMIGRANT VISA HOLDERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

As Filipinos going abroad as fiancé(e)s, spouses or other partners of foreign nationals, you are required to attend the CFO's guidance and counseling session in order to secure the Guidance and Counseling Certificate (GCC) and the CFO sticker.

Source: http://cfo.gov.ph/ (Commission on Filipinos Overseas)

Effective April 13, 2012 the Department of State will be reducing it's processing fees for all immigrant visas plus the K-1 Fiancee visa.  The price of a Tourist Visa along with other nonimmigrant visa types will be going up. Type of Visa Previous Fee New Fee K-1 Fiancee $350 $240 K-3 Spousal $350 $240 CR-1/IR-1 Spousal $330 $230 IR-5 Parent $330 $230 Tourist $140 $160 Reference...

Today the USCIS announced today it will start printing the From I-797C on regular bond paper instead of the fancy green paper they have used in the past. In addition to saving the agency about $1.1 million dollars a year, they hope that by making the document less impressive it will reduce the public's perception that the form provides an immigration benefit or status. The I-797C is only used for the following: Receipt (notifies the customer that their payment and application/petition has been received by USCIS) Rejection (notifies the customer that their application/petition has been rejected due to incorrect information or payment) Transfer (notifies the customer that their case was relocated to another USCIS office for processing) Re-Open (notifies the customer that USCIS has approved a motion to re-open their completed case and it is being processed)...

An exceptionally good video series by the US Consular Office in Manila.  This is a great resource for information on how the visa process works at the embassy!
Have questions about tourist visas? This might have your answers. The consular dispels a lot of myths & provides great insights to the inner working of the consular office.

 
My name was misspelled on my birth certificate. How do I request a police certificate from Hong Kong? Kuwait? Libya? & more...   ...Information from the US Embassy in Manila

Effective January 1st, 2012, there will be a new filing procedure for the I-130. Stand alone I-130 petitions will now be split between 2 locations: Phoenix & Chicago. Petitions will be assigned based on the geographic location of the petitioner. You can determine where to send yours by visiting HERE. This only applies to stand alone I-130 filing (Like Spousal Visas) & does not apply to Adjustments of status where the I-485 is filed in conjunction with the petition.  Source: USCIS

A quick explanation of the different types of family-based immigration petitions. K-1 Fiancee Visa, CR-1 Spousal, IR-1 Spousal, & K-3 Spousal visas explained.

At selected U.S. embassies the old DS-230 Application for Immigrnt Visa and Alien Registration is being replaced by an electronic version of the form the State Department is calling the DS-260.

All visa applicants, regardless of age, need to complete a medical examination at the St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLMCEC) before the visa interview. Applicants are advised to have their medical examinations done at least one week before their interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

Many organizations provide free immigration help to indigent individuals in immigration removal proceedings.  Most only serve aliens. 

If you need legal advice but can't afford an attorney, these agencies may be able to help.  The Department of Justice maintains a list of free legal service providers by state.  To find a provider in your area go here:

Department of Justice Legal Orientation and Pro Bono Program

To check out RapidVisa or any company on the web we suggest the following:

1. Do a search at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. All legitimate businesses will trademark their business name. You can do a name search here:
United States Patent and Trademark Office  (http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp)
Remember to search the company name, not the domain name. In this case search RapidVisa, not RapidVisa.com

Never do business with an online company that is not registered with the trademark office. This is a huge warning sign that may indicate they don't want the government looking into their business.

The CSPA was enacted on August 6, 2002, to provide a remedy for applicants who would have otherwise aged out (turned 21) and lost the possibility of gaining an immigration benefit.  The CSPA addresses problems with USCIS processing delays that are not within the control of children beneficiaries, which inevitably caused the beneficiaries to lose their status.  Although it does not protect all applicants, the CSPA ensures that certain family members who turn 21 will not be penalized due to USCIS processing delays.

This information is from the U.S. Department of State.  Information like this can change over time, so please use this as a general guideline but understand that procedures can and do change over time.  As you will see after reading this information, it is generally easier to get a Fiance Visa and get married after you fiancée arrives in the United States.

Yes.  However, if you submit a K-3 Nonimmigrant Visa petition, it will likely be changed to the CR1/IR1 Immigrant visa.

The latest version of From I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, available from the USCIS dated 11/23/10 with an expiration date of 01/31/2011.

According to the USCIS, this version of the I-130 is the most current available and is still accepted.  A new version of the form will likely be posted soon but even then they will likely follow their current practice of accepting the past few versions.

If you are a U.S. citizen and plan on getting married in the Philippines, here are the things you need to know.

In November 2010, USCIS transferred approximately 36,000 Immediate Relative petitions from the California Service Center to the Texas Service Center. They anticipated that this redistribution of work would result in more timely adjudication of these petitions.  Many of these cases have still not been processed and are beyond the five month estimated processing time.

Divorce was recognized in the Philippines between March 11, 1917 and August 29, 1950; since the latter date, courts have been empowered to grant legal separation (annulment) but not divorce.  Even during the period of legal recognition, divorces were rare in the Philippines because of limited legal grounds for granting divorces. Certified copies of the divorce certificate can be obtained from the appropriate court.  

In the case of a K-1 nonimmigrant who marries the petitioner within 90 days of
admission, the K-1 nonimmigrant (and any K-2 children who are otherwise eligible) may
obtain adjustment of status without the need for Form I-360, just as they would have
been eligible for adjustment without Form I-130, if the petitioner had not died. 

Requirements for submitting requests in the United States Embassy in Managua

The only forms I-130 that can be submitted in Managua are those U.S. citizens who have been residing in Nicaragua continuously for at least 6 months before filing a petition for their spouses and / or unmarried children under 21 years age. In addition, foreign spouses and / or unmarried children must be permanent residents of Nicaragua. Both the U.S. citizen petitioner and the beneficiary must be present when submitting the request in the United States Embassy.

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All K1, K2, K3 and K4 visa applicants must submit a completed Electronic Visa Application Form. The Electronic Visa Application Form must be filled out online at http://evisaforms.state.gov. After filling out the form online, applicants will be able to print a copy of their visa application form, which will include their data in a barcode format.

The final ruling has been announced for the November 23, 2010 USCIS fee increases.  The filing fee for the K-3 Spousal Visa will go up from $355 to $420.  However, the filing fee for the K-1 Fiance Visa is going down from $455 to $340.

The embassy will send you a list of documents to bring that will normally include:

● Valid Passport，2 visa photos and a photocopy of passport’s personal information pages. Each applicant must have a passport that will be valid for at least 8 months beyond the date the visa was issued.

● Two copies of the DS-156 form in English with original signatures. Chinese nationals must also fill out Items 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 18, 20 in both English and Chinese and must provide the telegraph code for their Chinese surnames and given names while filling out Items 6 & 7, which can be found at most Chinese post offices.

The following are the authorized clinics for the embassy medical exam.  You must have your embassy interview letter to schedule your medical exam.  You must bring with you your passport and four passport photos.  Your medical exam must be complete before your embassy interview.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a change in filing location instructions and addresses for the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (Form I-129F) back in June, 2010. The new instructions, dated 6/14/10, are part of an overall effort to transition the intake of forms from Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities.  Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment allows USCIS to provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications/petitions and fees.

The K visa statistics are out for 2009.  K-1 Fiance visas continue the downward trend that started in 2006 after a record year of 32,900 in 2005.  K-3 Spousal visas are about the same as last year but have been trending down since the peak of 17,864 in 2004.

Probably.

Your dependent children are members of your household, even if they live part of the time with your former spouse. A parent almost always has a legal obligation to support his children. Although you may not be legally entitled to claim the child as a dependent on your tax returns, the child must be considered as part of your households for purposes of the Affidavit of Support, unless you can show that you are no longer has a legal obligation to support the child.

No. The sponsor just has to sign the form. You should know however, when the sponsor signs an Affidavit of Support form, he/she certifies that the information provided, transcript and/or photocopy of tax documentation is true and correct, under penalty of perjury.

The K1 and K3 medical exam will take place at a doctor's office, hospital or clinic that has contracted with the U.S. government to provide such services.  This will be a local provider and not a United States medical facility.  The embassy will have the local provider sign the agreement below which spells out the requirements for the medical exam.

If the alien's marriage to the U.S. citizen was contracted outside of the United States, the alien is applying in the country in which the marriage took place, or if there is no consular post in that country, then at a consular post designated by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services to accept immigrant visa applications for nationals of that country.

You are not required to receive any shots at your medical exam.  However, you will need the shots before you can adjust your status to get your green card.  Since the cost of your K1 or K3 medical exam normally (but not always) includes these shots, you would be wise to get them at that time.  These injections can be very expensive once you get to the states.

Update: Note that these income requirements apply to the Adjustment of Status process.  For the actual K1 or K3 interview using Form I-134 Affidavit of Support, you only need to show an income of 100% of the poverty level for your household size.

If H.R.4321, Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP Act of 2009 passes unchanged, the income requirements for sponsoring a K1 fiance or K3 spouse would change from 125% of the poverty level to 100% of the poverty level. Here are the actual proposed changes.

One of the many new rules in the proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP Act of 2009 would positively impact K1 and K3 applicants. The new rule impacts children of K1 and K3 aliens who join the beneficiary on a K2 or K3 visa.  The new rule would allow the child to use his age as of when the K1 or K3 petition was filed for purposes of getting a green card (adjusting status).

Yes, headgear can be worn in the passport photo if the person wears it for religious reasons, and normally wears it everyday. Here is what the USCIS says:

Unless worn daily for religious reasons, all hats or headgear should be removed for the photo. A signed statement from the applicant must be submitted with the application verifying the item is worn daily for religious reasons. In all cases, no item or attire should cover or otherwise obscure any part of the face.

As a permanent resident or conditional permanent resident you can travel outside the United States for up to 6 months without loosing your green card. Staying outside the United States for more than 6 months, but less than one year will subject you to additional questioning when you return to the United States but you are not required to have a Reentry Permit and shouldn't have any problems getting back in.

The USCIS has redesigned the Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, commonly called the Green Card, for the second time in less than 6 years.

In November of 2004, the green card was redesigned to replace the old Department of Justice and Immigration and Naturalization Service references with the new Department of Homeland Security branding.

The USCIS asks you to submit 2 inch by 2 inch passport photos for both you and your foreign fiance or spouse. However, getting 2x2 passport photos from most foreign countries is difficult to impossible, partly because most countries use the metric system.

The final two defendants pleaded guilty Monday to charges in a Columbus-based marriage fraud scheme.

The income requirements for the Form I-134 are that you show an income of at least 100% of the poverty level. However, when your wife or fiance arrives in the United States and you are ready to file the Adjustment of Status to get the green card, you will use the Form I-864 which requires you show 125% of the poverty level for your household size.

There are two ways to book an interview appointment: through the Embassy call center or through the VisaPoint™ system.

Scheduling an appointment through the Embassy call center

These telephone appointment systems are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Philippine time, except Philippine holidays.

1-909-101-7878

After check-in of applicants at the entry gate, applicants will proceed to the Pavilion where they will submit their documents for data entry. Each applicant will receive a number. When you number is called, you proceed to the appropriate window for finger scanning. After finger scanning, documents including the DS-156 application for a nonimmigrant visa, and passport, will be returned to you for presentation to the interviewing officer.

Social Security numbers are used for a variety of purposes such as for the individual’s taxpayer i.d. number, for bank and other financial accounts, and as Social Security and Medicare account numbers.

Anyone in the U.S. can get a Social Security card. There are basically three kinds of cards

After filing a K-1 Fiance Petition or any other type of application with the USCIS, you will receive a Notice of Action on form I-797. The first block on this form lists your USCIS case number (although the form calls it a Receipt Number.

If the USCIS feels you have a medical condition which would put United States citizens at risk, they will declare you inadmissible. The technical term used for this by the USICS is “Medical Grounds of Inadmissibility”.

The conditions that can get you banned from entry to the United States are:

Today the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office (ICE) announced the arrest of Lilian Asante, 37, for marriage fraud. According to ICE, Assante and her partner both entered into separate marriages with U.S. citizens to obtain a green card. They are both from Ghana. The partner, Kwadwo Asante was also arrested. The couple were living together. They now face a $250,00 fine and up to 5 years in prison.

The alien registration number or "A-number" is an identifying number that USCIS assigns to certain aliens, such as those who apply for adjustment of status. A-numbers may consist of 8 or 9 digits. From USCIS: Alien registration began in August 1940 as a program to record every non-citizen within the United States. The original Act of 1940 was a national security measure, and directed the former INS to fingerprint and register every alien age 14 and older within and entering the United States.

Admission or entering the U.S., by non-United States citizens must be authorized by a CBP officer at the port-of-entry, who determines whether you can enter and how long you can stay here, on any particular visit

In March 2008, DOS issued guidance to its posts on implementation of IMBRA including the need to disclose petitioner criminal conviction information for certain offenses and information related to any protection orders related to the petitioner. The guidance also states that after providing any related criminal history information, consular officers should give the applicant time to decide if he or she still wishes to proceed with the visa application process

A document promising that the person who completes it will support an applicant financially in the United States. Family and certain employment immigration cases require the I-864 Affidavit of Support, which is legally binding. All other cases use the I-134 Affidavit of Support.

Applicants may be deemed ineligible for any of the following reasons:

Health-related grounds
Criminal grounds
Security and Related Grounds
Likely to become a Public Charge
Labor Certification & Qualification
Illegal Entrants and Immigration Violators
Documentation Requirements
Ineligible for Citizenship
Aliens Previously Removed
Miscellaneous such as Practicing Polygamists, Unlawful Voters, Former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxes

A biometric or biometric identifier is an objective measurement of a physical characteristic of an individual which, when captured in a database, can be used to verify the identity or check against other entries in the database. The best known biometric is the fingerprint, but others include facial recognition and iris scans.

For family based visas, a petition is filed either by a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident relative. Immediate Relatives Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (IR): These types of immigrant visas are based on a close family relationship with a U.S. citizen, including spouses, children, and parents. Limited Family-Based Immigrants involve specific, more distant, family relationships with a U.S. citizen and some specified relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident.


 

Before the issuance of an immigrant visa, every applicant, regardless of age, must undergo a medical examination which must be performed by one of a panel of doctors authorized to complete the medical examination and x-ray of U.S. visa applicants. Applicants are provided instructions by National Visa Center

Office established in the U.S. Department of Justice by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to provide remedies for immigration-related discrimination related to employer sanctions and employment verification. The office provides a mechanism for dealing with discriminatory employment practices, including hiring and discharge from employment based on citizenship status or national origin.

A Permanent Resident is a person who has been granted permanent resident status in the United States and has (or is waiting for) a Permanent Resident Card.

Social Security numbers are used for a variety of purposes such as for the individual’s taxpayer i.d. number, for bank and other financial accounts, and as Social Security and Medicare account numbers.

Visa Types, Immigrants

Immediate Relative and Family Sponsored Employer Sponsored Special Immigrants  Visa Types, Non-Immigrant 



Temporary Business or Tourism (B) Student or Exchange Programs (F, M, J) Journalists (I) Visas for members of the entertainment profession (O & P) Religious Occupations (R) Crew Members and/or Transit (C1/D, C1) ...