VISA ISSUED- CEAC Status

Less than 24 hrs from the interview, we checked the status of my brother's visa application at the CEAC website and to our surprised it's now say ISSUED, very quick indeed. We are expecting to have the visa delivered by 2GO this week.

F2a, unmarried child of LPR under 21yrs old- Interview Done-APPROVED

Oct 29, 2013 at 6:30am, was my brother's immigrant  Visa Interview at the US Embassy in Manila. Approximately 21months from his priority date of Jan 20, 2012. According to him, there were already a lot of people in-line outside the embassy when he got there at 4:30am.  His interview was done at 11:00am. He was interviewed by a Filipino consul first which asked him more questions than the American CO. The final interview was with the American CO, which only took about 1 minute as he speak.
Questions were:
His name & Date of Birth
Name & Date of Birth of the Petitioner
What does she does for living? (petitioner)- Mom is unemployed
American CO asked him who is ( Me, and my Husband)?.. We are the co-sponsors and his sister and bro-in law.
Job/s of co-sponsors
What date/year , mom immigrated to the US?
He was also asked, on what year I (co-sponsor) came to the US.


At the Filipino CO, he was asked to provide his baptismal certificate. We did not expect them to ask for one but we're glad my brother had it with him during the interview. The Embassy returned back all the photographs and some of the original documents that we submitted at the NVC, like, co-sponsors marriage and birth certificates.
After the interview, he was told by the American CO, that his visa is APPROVED. He also seen the consul stamped APPROVED after the interview. He was instructed to proceed to 2GO, the visa courier for final steps. 

3 weeks before his interview I sent a duplicate copy of all the paper works/documents that I've sent to NVC to my brother. He wasn't asked any of those. Contrary to what others say, that the US Embassy in Manila might asked for the new DS260 Form, my brother wasn't ask to provide the new Online Immigrant Application form, this is because he already submitted the old DS230 Form prior to the implementation of DS260, which was before Sept 1. 2013.

PRIORITY DATE- JAN 20,2012
DATE OF APPROVAL- JUNE 11,2013
CASE COMPLETE- SEPT 6,2013
Interview letter received- Oct 15,2013 (expedite approved)
Interview Date- Oct 29, 2013

Medical Done in 1 Day @ SLEC

Oct 17 & 18 was my brother's scheduled  medical exam at St. Lukes  Extention Clinic (SLEC) . A day before his scheduled medical, he made an appointment by registering online  at the SLEC website and printed out the appointment confirmation. He made photocopies of the SLEC appointment letter and took it with him including 3 (2x2) id pictures with white background, 2 photocopies of his passport(biographic page), medical fee of  $223 . Fees must be paid in Philippine pesos at a current prevailing rate.

 But, that online registration  does not guarantee him or any applicants for  fast service because it's a first come, first serve basis. So, whoever gets there early, will be served first.

According to SLEC website, EACH APPLICANT/IMMIGRANT  MUST PRESENT THE FOLLOWING:
1. Valid passport
2. Photocopy of Passport Biographic/Data Page, the page in the passport that contains the applicant's photo and information. The photocopy should be the same size as the original, not enlarged or reduced.
3. 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. SLEC, regret not to release the medical report until such time that the applicant can provide this requirement.
4. Visa Interview Appointment letter from the Embassy or Instruction letter from the National Visa Center (NVC), if available,
5. 2 photocopies of your Appointment Letter/ Instruction Letter
6. Applicants are also required to provide the name, address and contact number of their petitioner in the U.S.A.

My brother stayed at the nearby Casa Bogobo hotel, a walking distance to SLEC. He  thought he was there early, but was 10th in line. When the clinic opened, the guard called the first 10 to get inside and start by filling out the necessary paper works  that was given by the staff.  The reception area opened at 6:00am. He was done with his medical by 11:00am and was instructed to come back in the afternoon for the result. He went to his hotel room for lunch and came back around 1:00pm at SLEC. He PASSED his medical and he was given a CD. Basically, his medical was done in half day. If he had a problem on his x-ray, it would be a different story.


Next is his interview at the US Embassy on Oct 29, 2013.

NVC Expedite Approved

On Sept 7, 2013 , a day after my brother's F2a case was completed at NVC, I faxed a letter ( explaination and reason for expedite) including a privacy release form to our State Senator asking for assistant to expedite his interview. I did not hear from them until first week of Oct. The senator's office sent me a letter in the mail with the attached letter from NVC stating that our request for expedite has been approved by the US Embassy in Manila and NVC, and that my brother's case has left NVC building on Sept 30, 2013. We were also instructed that all future inquiries will be directed to the Embassy or the Department of State including interview schedule. I called NVC the following day to confirm about the letter, and yes the agent told me on the phone that the US Embassy in Manila is now responsible for my brother's interview scheduling.
Oct. 2, 2013- CEAC status in now  "In Transit". I called Manila on Oct 7 to follow-up but the lady told me that they have not gotten the file yet. Oct. 8, CEAC status is now  "Ready" and says it's ready for interview. Because of the time difference, I was not able to call back the following day.
Oct 15, -My brother called the US Embassy and to our surprised he was told that he can schedule for his interview right away. He was given dates to pick for interview. He picked Oct 29 @ 6:30am as his interview schedule. After 10 minutes we got an email appointment confirmation for his interview. On the phone, he was instructed to have his medical done a week before his interview. He decided to have it done on Oct 17 &18. So, I booked a round trip flight and hotel  right away.

1 Day Medical Done....next post

Puzzling DS260 vs DS230

As many of us know, on  Sept 3, DOS has implemented  the online  DS260 for the Application of Immigrant visa instead of the old DS230 form.. All immigrants who were required to submit DS230 form for immigrant visa application are now required to fill the DS260 form online at the CEAC site.

On my brother's case, we submitted the IV documents and DS230 on Aug 8 and was entered into their system on Aug 14. Since they did not find anything wrong on his IV application after Sept 3rd, he was not required to fill the DS260 online.But if we got a checklist for his DS230, then he would be required to fill DS260online. But, since we previously got a checklist for his AOS, I knew they will not send a second checklist. True enough his case was completed on Sept 6, 2013 with just the DS230 on their system.

While other visa applicants who are on the same stage are filling out the DS260 online eventhough there is no email instruction from NVC, we did not do it, because I believed if we filled it out, it could open the case again and will further delay the process. Some say, that the interviewing embassy might require him to fill the DS260 online during the interview. But, I think that is not a problem, he can do it right after the interview. I don't think it will take them another 20business days to review the form and to issue the visa.

F2A Case Completed 9/6/13

Sept. 6, 2013- We normally called NVC at least once or twice a week to follow-up the status of the case. This time my brother called them and told them the case was completed on Sept 6 which is exactly 16 business days from the time the IV documents was entered into their system.

On Sept 13, we got this  email(below) with the subject line of  "Case Status".

Dear Sir or Madam:

The National Visa Center has received all documentation necessary to complete pre-processing
of your case. As soon as an interview date has been scheduled, the applicant, petitioner
and attorney (if applicable) will be notified.

The applicant should NOT make any travel arrangements, sell property, or give up employment
until the US Embassy or Consulate General has issued a visa.

The US Embassy or Consulate General may require additional documentation at the time of
the interview. Additional documentation requirements if applicable can be referenced at
the following URL: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3742.html

Sincerely,

Director
National Visa Center

IV- Immigrant Visa Application DS230

Aug 8, 2013-  This day, we sent my brother's DS230 Form application and supporting documents. They call it IV packet. It was received by NVC on Aug 10 and was entered to their system on Aug 14 per customer service representative. We were told to wait for 20 business days to finish reviewing the IV packet.

Here are the documents inside the packet IV

*IV Barcoded Cover Sheet showing the case #
*DS230 Form- Part I was signed and dated but not Part II
*2(2x2) id pic with white background
*copy of approval notice that was sent from USCIS
*Photocopy of his(brother) passport's biographic page
*Original & Photocopy of applicant's birth certificate
*Original  & copy of NBI clearance (green color/no record on file)

Update : As of Sept. 3, 2013, the DS230 Form or the Online Immigrant Visa Application has now being replaced by the DS260 online form which can be completed at the Consular Electronic Application (CEAC) website and follow the direction on the website.