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US Visa

I passed the AOS interview

Oct 18th, 2007
by Gladys Erhardt.
6 comments

We made it :) , I and my husband passed my Adjustment Of Status interview. It was a big relief for me and Carlo, we don’t need to worry about my status here in the States anymore. As always, I followed and brought all the requirements needed for the interview and everything went smoothly. The adjudicator was so professional and so sharp but he throws jokes from time to time that’s why Carlo and I felt at ease.

Thanks to all who prayed and who wished us to pass the interview, I give the credit to my husband cause he was asked a lot :) . By the way, the only advice I can give to all the readers who’s the interview is coming..bring ALL THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS required by the USCIS because AOS interview is all about re-checking the documents we sent them on our application and proving about the real relationship. Bring pictures too..

Till then..

Popularity: 2% [?]

I don’t understand what I’m feelin

Oct 16th, 2007
by Gladys Erhardt.
6 comments

I just told myself not to get nervous or anxious with my incoming AOS interview but I felt some tingling sensation inside me :) . Probably I’m just too excited..what do you think?

I’m shooting to get my green card soon.. and hey, thanks for being a part of my journey.

Popularity: 1% [?]

My green card processing or AOS

Sep 6th, 2007
by Gladys Erhardt.
4 comments

AOS stands for Adjustment of Status or in short green card processing. My K1 (fiancee) visa when I get here in the US is equivalent of a visitor’s visa and since I married a US citizen and wanted to stay here, I need to adjust my status. We got married way back in June of this year and filed for my AOS last July. It took us almost a month to gather the requirements as we had a hard time getting my vaccination record transferred into the INS form.

Oh boy, that was really hard. Firstly, my husband is working (8 to 4pm) and the offices location’s here are 50 to 100+ miles from our house so we can’t do it during the lunch break of my husband. He always needs to file a leave whenever we would file something or whenever we have an appointment. One of the AOS requirement is the transfer of the vaccination record into their form. It goes this way, when we had our medical exam in Manila, the results are given to us and Saint Luke’s staff specifically instruct to keep it for further use here in the States. This form is not sealed but with all the signature’s of the doctors and the clinic’s name. Now, the AOS require us( the filer) to transfer the data of this form into their form (the I-693a). They call it, the vaccination supplemental form. Before you can let the surgeon transfer this, you need to get the TD Shot. TD Shot is not available in the Philippines that’s why I never had the shot during my medical exam. So anyway, since Carlo is in the AF, I had mine in the base and it’s free. Some says, the cost of TD Shot ranges from $10 to $35.

So I had my TD Shot, and the next thing that we need to do is to transfer it into the I-693a form and have it sealed by the civil surgeon designated by the USCIS. I thought all of the designated civil surgeon knows the process….I was wrong. The first civil surgeon’s clinic we went, they know NOTHING at all with the entire process. I would say nothing because they (the staff) insisted me to get the whole medical exam and told us that it is the process. They even said, we’re doing it the wrong way. End point, we ended up very frustrated (plus the fact that we always deal with the boarder patrol when we go to other cities – everything went out of our way on that time) and went home accomplished nothing.

The next day, I started calling all the list (in our area) of the civil surgeon the USCIS displayed on the website. I think, I’ve got my luck on my 10th call, all of the 9 calls I’ve made are a bad one I may say. Bad one because they don’t know the process.

Fast forward…I’m already done with my biometrics (fingerprinting and picture taking for green card) and we’re just waiting for any RFE (Request for Evidence)  or my interview schedule. Hopefully I’ll get my green card soon as I’ve already memorized the four corners of our bedroom :) and quite honestly, I’m getting bored and tired doing NOTHING. You know it’s so hard to adjust shifting from a full time career person to a full time NON WORKING person.

I’ll provide the list of of requirements on AOS (for k1 visa holders only, i don’t know to the spouse or k3 is processed) next post .

Popularity: 4% [?]

Some insights about PDOS or CFO Seminar

Aug 30th, 2007
by Gladys Erhardt.
90 comments

Hi everyone, let’s talk again about my US Visa procedures and one of the requirement before I came here in the US. But firstly, let me emphasize this: All of what I’ve written here are based on my OWN experience; the process may or may not change so I would advice you to do more research on this topic, also this is only for K1 or fiancee visa procedures.

Before you buy your luggage, pack your things or get that despedida (go away) party, you need to attend a Pre Departure Orientation Seminar first to get a CFO stamp in your passport. Remember, YOU CAN’T LEAVE THE COUNTRY WITHOUT THE CFO STAMP. Why? Our government requires it and they are so strict when it comes to this rule. Plus you don’t want to delay your flight just because of this right?

Now, what is a Pre Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and what is a CFO Stamp?

PDOS is required for all Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad. The main topic of this seminar is to help the emigrants prepare themselves for settling overseas. Like adjustment to a new environment, how to deal with homesickness, travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, etc. 12 years old and below are exempted from attending the PDOS and are only needed to be registered to the CFO Office.

PDOS Requirement:

  • Photocopy of passport biographic page
  • NBI Clearance
  • Fee of Php250 or roughly $5.50

Address: People’s Reform Initiative for Social Mobilization Inc.(PRISM)
2nd Floor Equitable-PCI Bank Building, 2422 Taft Avenue, Manila
Phone Numbers: (632) 525-3114, (632) 525-3783, (632) 525-4314

CFO Stamp is a sticker, stamped into the emigrants passport. This stamp served as a proof that this visa holder has attended the PDOS and is now ready to travel.

CFO Stamp Requirement:

  • PDOS Certificate
  • Passport
  • US Visa
  • Fee of Php400 or roughly $9

Address: Citigold Center, 1345 Quirino Avenue corner Osmena Highway Manila Phils
Phone numbers: (632) 562-3848,(632) 561-8321 ext. 104, 105, 201- 203

*PDOS and CFO Office are NOT located in the same building.


(more…)

Popularity: 55% [?]

My First 4th of July and our AOS (Adjustment of Status)

Jul 11th, 2007
by Gladys Erhardt.
15 comments

I had a full pack week again, I had my first celebration of the 4th of July and I was really stunned with the fireworks. IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL!

Hubby was so amused with my reaction :-D , well, it was incredible and it difinitely took my breath away. Yeah, I did took a picture but unfortunately I don’t know how to use his office camera (my fault, he told me to bring our digicam but I’ve totally forgotten it so we went to his office to use his office digicam) but I did tried and took some pictures.

Here it is:

Alamogordo Holloman Airbase 4th of July (07) Fireworks

Its beautiful isn’t it?

The next days was busy, I finished our AOS (Adjustment of Status) paperworks, made a lot of phone calls for my vaccination transfer. I made 9 phone calls before I’ve got the right office. It was a pain in our butt because some of the designated Civil Surgeon of the USCIS are not really familiar with the whole process..as I call it that way.

My Adjustment of Status only requires me to get a TD Shot and have it transfered to the I-693a Vaccination Supplemental Form. The first Civil Surgeon we went to, wants me to get the whole Physical Exam (kind a like what I had from St. Lukes in Manila). I find this ridiculous because –first thing, I can’t go through even the interview if I didn’t passed the medical exam. That’s basically one of the requirements. Second, they said that the USCIS doesn’t recognize the Medical Exam I had in my country –well, this is absurd and I don’t beleive any single word on this statement because why would they(USCIS) designate a certain hospital (in Manila) to get the medical test if they won’t recognize the medical results? I can get the test in Davao and it’ll be more comfy for me right? But I did not do so as they clearly emphasized in the Appointment Letter ( part in the packet 4) that I’ll get the whole Medical Exam at Saint Lukes in Manila.

In other words, we didn’t have that much luck on our first try..

But thank God, I found the office that knows the process. I was so happy that I called my hubby right away (He’s at work on that time). So we went there last friday, it’s in El Paso (Texas) to get my Vaccination Record transferred. Carlo and I couldn’t beleive on how smooth the process went, we arrived around 10 and finished after 10 minutes. We paid $25. I almost hug the receptionist..hehe.

We went to the SSN Office (SSN is SSS in Phils), to our surprise, they processed the changing of my single name to my married name. I said “WOW”! We had a hard time trying to change it the previous time we went to  another SSN Office. And I admit its really a big relief on our side, the only thing I need to do is to wait for my SSN card after 2 weeks.

Now, everything is ready for my AOS application and hopefully I’ll get my greencard soon.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Helpful links for US Visa processing

May 21st, 2007
by Gladys Erhardt.
1 comment

Here are some helpful links if you are processing a US visa:

Click here for NSO website – NSO- Birth Certificate/CENOMAR/Marriage Certificate request/s
Click here for NBI Website – NBI inquiries and office locations
Click here for USCIS Website – For checking of petition status and other inquiries/download regarding US Visa

Click here for an Immigrant Visa/FAQ
Click here for DS Forms Website
Click here for the guide of Required Documents for Visa Applications Website
Click here for CFO Website
Saint Lukes Extension Clinic (a clipping from Manila USE)

  • MEDICAL EXAMINATION. All K1 and K2 visa applicants must complete a
    medical examination at St. Luke’s Extension Clinic. There is a $95 fee for applicants who are older than 14 years old and $67 for applicants aged 14 years and younger. These fees are also payable in Philippine pesos. St. Luke’s Extension Clinic is located at 1177 J. Bocobo St., Ermita, Manila, Telephone Numbers 521-0020 and 521-8647. (source: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwfivk1.pdf)

Click here for Delbros Website – Courier used by Manila USE for visa deliveries. You can track the movement of your approved visa on this website.

Popularity: 3% [?]

I’m APPROVED!!!

May 7th, 2007
by Gladys Erhardt.
20 comments

WOW..until now i’m still in cloud 9. For all those sleepless nights of arranging and filling the documents, it pays a lot.

Thanks again to all the people who supported me all the way, kabalo ko nga nalipay gyud mo sa akoa. And to all those who are currently applying or going through the process (K1/K2 visa), don’t get nervous, just get your documents ready, have faith in yourself and you will surely pass the interview and will get your visa.

Thanks again for the support and if you have question regarding the processing, fire it away, i am willing to help.

Popularity: 7% [?]

I’m back!!

May 4th, 2007
by Gladys Erhardt.
2 comments

Whew. It took me awhile to update my blog, sorry po, busy lang. It took me a couple of days to adjust with the environment and the climate. Yeah, Manila is still in PI (Phil Is.) but we have a different weather in Davao or in GenSan and its too ‘mausok’ (polluted) the hangin here..hehe.

Ok naman ang stay ko dito sa Manila, I even gained some weight :-) . I’m so excited for my incoming interview (help me pray na magiging ok ang takbo), parang ang bagal kasi ng takbo ng araw..gusto ko ng hilahin. Pero ilang tulog na lang din naman, what i’m doing every now and then is to review my papers.

Allow me to give thanks (from the bottom of my heart) lahat ng true friends ko, who always supported me towards my goals. You guys mean a lot to me. Naiiyak nga ako sa mga text messages na natatanggap ko, SALAMAT NG MARAMI.

Lastly..I miss my family :-( ..miss ko na family ko sa GenSan and Davao :-( ..lami na man e-uli uy. Cge lang kay muuli dayon ko human sa ako tuyo diri :-D .

Unya, diri lang usa kutob ha kay gisugo pa ko ni Carlo nga mangita og ticket..andam para unya inig-adto nako niya.

Popularity: 1% [?]

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