Location of the U.S. Embassy in Manila:

U.S. EMBASSY, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT AND

OTHER IMPORTANT ADDRESSES, LINKS, PHONE NUMBERS & WEB SITES*

Embassy of the United States in Manila

1201 Roxas Blvd,

Ermita, 1000  Manila

Philippines

Tel: (63-2) 301-2000

Fax: (63-2) 522-4361

Hours: 7:30 am  thru 4:30 pm

How To File An Early Appointment Request: Those requesting an early appointment may use the Immigrant and Fiancée) Visa Request for Early Appointment Form (click here to download). The form, along with the supporting documents, may be sent to the Immigrant Visa Unit by fax at (632) 301-2591.

The Importance of Becoming “Documentarily Qualified” and How it Relates to Your Petition and/or Appointment Date:

One of the most important functions of utilizing Philippine Travelers services is that we assist you in gathering, cataloging and preparing any and all necessary documents, photos, evidences and forms that will be needed at the time of the medical and/or embassy interviews.  If even one required document, photo or other evidence is missing, then you are deemed not being “Documentarily Qualified”.

Although your priority dates is important, Under the current system for interviews your interview date will ot be set until you are 100% “Documentarily Qualified”.  Meaning you could be sitting on needles and pins, anxiously waiting for word that she has her interview date, when in actuality, it may not have even been set yet, because one or more forms, documents or other evidences has not been submitted!  This has been blamed for more than one American man pulling out all of his hair prematurely! (ha ha Joke of course).

In a slightly different but related matter, if you fail to complete the forms properly and/or there is a discrepancy in any answer provided, the form may be returned to you and/or you (or she) may be required to substantiate the statements set forth therein. Remember, each document now goes first through the embassy interview, and then will be scrutinized by the Homeland Security investigator.

Applicants are no longer permitted to take cell phones or other electronic devices into the U.S. Embassy!  Effective 01 March 2007

VISA INFORMATION LINKS & SITES:

Non-Immigrant Visa Applications, Information and Forms:

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhniv1.html

Immigrant Visa Applications, Information and Forms:

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

Please note that the fees for the medical examination have gone up to provide applicants with better service.  The cost of the medical examination is U.S. $145 for adults (15 years and older) and U.S. $117 for children under 15 years of age.  For more information on the medical examination, click here.

Visa Interview Appointments:

If you already have a visa petition filed for you and your priority date is current or about to become current, you may check below for your appointment date. Just type your case number on the textbox and click the “Check Appointment” link below.  Click on this link and check on your Visa Interview Appointment Date: (Be sure to have your case number ready):

http://203.177.135.10/ivappointment/login.asp

NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS (FROM THE USCIS, US EMBASSY AND/OR OTHER OFFICIAL WEBSITES IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASSIST YOU WHO HAVE DECIDED TO GO THIS ADVENTURE ALONE, AND TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR US  WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO ASSIST AT A LATER DATE.

FIANCÉE (K-1) PETITION AND REQUIRED FORMS LINKS:

1.    Form:  I-129F. (K-1) Petition for Alien Fiance(e):    Current Filing Fee (1/1/08) $455.00 (There is no fee for petitions for K-3 status based on an immigrant petition filed by the same U.S. citizen or wife).

http://www.uscis.gov/i-129f

2.    Form: G-325A  BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FORM (Required for Petitioner and each Beneficiary. No Fee for Filing)

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=d7c84154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

SPOUSAL PETITION AND REQUIRED FORMS LINKS:

1.    Form:  I-130       Petition for Alien Relative

Current filing fee:  (1-1-08) $355.00   For citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States to establish the relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States. A separate form must be filed for each eligible relative. Please note: USCIS processes Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, as a visa number becomes available. Filing and approval of an I-130 is only the first step in helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family members must wait until there is a visa number available before they can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=c67c7f9ded54d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

2.    Form: G-325A  BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FORM (Required for Petitioner and each Beneficiary. No Fee for Filing)

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=d7c84154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

AFTER THE PETITION’S APPROVAL

 Form: I-864  AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT UNDER SECTION 213A OF THE ACT. No (Cost for Filing)  (To show that the applying immigrant has enough financial support to live without concern of becoming reliant on U.S. government welfare.)  NOTE: You must have this prepared properly and ready for her to file before the time of the interview!.  

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=15d05d4c6608e010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

A final note about the I-864 and the accompanying documents.  To many American men this is the scariest of all the forms.  The fact that both the Affidavit of support and the accompanying documents must be turned in prior to, or at the time of the interview provides the fiancé or spouse with a chance to make copies of information and financial records and history that would make a divorce attorney scream with delight (or in extreme agony) depending upon which side he is on.  We have actually been called upon to be there at the day of submission of these documents so that they were filed on time, but so that the fiancée lacked time to copy all the documents!

FORMS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED AT ST. LUKE'S AND/OR THE EMBASSY INTERVIEWS:

K-1 LINKS: Downloadable Forms

1. DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application)

http://evisaforms.state.gov/

2. DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application)

http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0157.pdf

3. DS-156K (Nonimmigrant Fiance(e) Visa Application)

http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa.ds0156.pdf

4. I-134 (Affidavit of Support)

http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/I-134.htm

K-3 Downloadable Forms

1. DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application)

https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp

2. DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application)

http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0157.pdf

3. I-134 (Affidavit of Support)

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

The Importance of Becoming “Documentarily Qualified” and

How it Relates to Your Appointment Date:

One of the most important functions of utilizing Philippine Travelers services is that we assist you in gathering, cataloging and preparing any and all necessary documents, photos, evidences and forms that will be needed at the time of the medical and/or embassy interviews.  If even one required document, photo or other evidence is missing, then you are deemed not being “Documentarily Qualified”.

Although your priority dates is important, Under the current system for interviews your interview date will not be set until you are 100% “Documentarily Qualified”.  Meaning you could be sitting on needles and pins, anxiously waiting for word that she has her interview date, when in actuality, it may not have even been set yet, because one or more forms, documents or other evidences has not been submitted!  This has been blamed for more than one American man pulling out all of his hair prematurely! (ha ha Joke of course).

In a slightly different but related matter, if you fail to complete the forms properly and/or there is a discrepancy in any answer provided, the form may be returned to you and/or you (or she) may be required to substantiate the statements set forth therein. Remember, each document now goes first through the embassy interview, and then will be scrutinized by the Homeland Security investigator.

All case processing for Manila, including appointment scheduling, is generally done at the National Visa Center (NVC) in the U.S. An applicant’s case number does not determine his or her position in the scheduling queue. Once a case is current, the applicant’s place in the scheduling queue will be determined by the date all the necessary, completed documents are received at NVC. Then the case becomes “documentarily qualified.”

The US Embassy Visa Unit currently says they believe the approximate waiting time for an appointment date is approximately three (3) to five (5) months from the date the case is “documentarily qualified.” As soon as an appointment date does become available, NVC will forward the case to Embassy Manila. NVC will also send the petitioner and/or the authorized agent/representative an appointment package.

WHERE TO FILE:

California Service Center Filings

File Form I-129F with the California Service Center if you live in:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.

Mail your Form I-129F package to:

 USCIS California Service Center

P.O.  Box 10130

Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0130

 Vermont Service Center Filings

********

Vermont Service Center Filings.

File form I-129F with the Vermont Service Center if you live in:

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Mail your Form I-129F package to:

USCIS Vermont Service Center

Attn: I-129F

75 Lower Welden Street

St. Albans, VT 05479-0001

Form I-129F Filing Locations for K-3 Spouse

If you are filing an I-129F petition for your spouse, mail your petition to the Service Center where the underlying I-130 petition is currently pending.  Use the address listed on your most recent receipt notice or transfer notice and include a copy of that notice with your Form I-129F.

For Questions Regarding Form I-129F:

For additional information about Form I-129F, including how to file your application or filing locations not mentioned, call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or visit our website at http://www.uscis.gov.

K1 LINKS: Downloadable Forms

1. DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application)

http://evisaforms.state.gov/

2. DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application)

http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0157.pdf

3. DS-156K (Nonimmigrant Fiance(e) Visa Application)

http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa.ds0156.pdf

4. I-134 (Affidavit of Support)

http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/I-134.htm

* Information contained herein was up-to-date as of Dec. 1, 2007, but are subject to change.

Philippine_traveler@yahoo.com