Holders of Nonimmigrant B, E, F, H, I, J, L, O, P, and Q visas (NIV), and U.S. citizens planning temporary stays in the United States, are eligible in some cases to be accompanied by personal employees during their visit to the United States.
To be eligible for a B-1 visa, the employer of the applicant must either be an American citizen or a foreign national in one of the aforementioned nonimmigrant statuses. Personal employees of all lawful permanent residents (LPRs) may not receive a B-1 visa. Rather, they must obtain permanent resident status themselves.
Before a domestic employee comes in for their consular interview, it is important that the employer read and follow the guidelines on our website. The NIV website contains information on the specific documents that the applicant must bring with them to the interview.
It is unnecessary for an officer to interview an employer. Therefore, if the employer accompanies his/her domestic helper to the interview, he or she will not be admitted to the Embassy.
Dear Vizard,
Have visa, will travel. Now you just need to attend the CFO seminar!
I got my fiancée visa last week. However, the airline did not allow me to get on my flight as I did not attend this thing called a Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar. I thought I only needed my passport and my visa to travel. Do I really have to attend this seminar? Is there a way to get out of it?
Sincerely,
Xena Dinavaza
——————————————————————————————
Hi Xena!
Filipino law says that anyone emigrating has to attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Only emigrants aged 12 years and younger don’t have to attend.
Although the U.S. Government requirement doesn’t require the seminar, we do make this information available to all fiancé(e)s and immigrant visa applicants. The US Embassy will attach to your visa packet an information sheet so that you know about the seminar.
Want more information on the seminar? See below for a direct quote from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas:
The Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar is for emigrants petitioned by their parents, siblings, and immediate relatives. Travel regulations, immigration procedures, cultural differences, settlement concerns, employment and social security concerns, and rights and obligations of Filipino migrants are some of the topics on the PDOS Seminar.
Filipino spouses and other partners of foreign national are given guidance and counseling program. They are given advice on the realities of intermarriage and migration, rights and obligations overseas, available support networks for women in distress, cultural and social realities overseas, and other information which may help them make informed decisions about cross-cultural unions and settlement overseas.
– Excerpt from the CFO Information Sheet
Sounds pretty helpful to me!
For additional information, such as registration and counseling requirements and the seminar schedule, please visit the Council’s website at: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/.
Later, skater!
Vizard
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.
Please 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 are not available.
For more details on the appointment schedule, please visit: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-appointmentschedule.asp#
The continuing adventures of Bong Voyage…
Bong Voyage finally received his visa documents. He immediately retrieved his passport from the plastic pouch and checked the information both on his passport and Immigrant Data Summary (IDS). He noticed that there were mistakes in his IDS. He is now calling the Embassy to inquire about his concern…
Jimmy Murdochs from the US Embassy: Good morning. How can I help you today?
Bong Voyage: Good morning Sir. I am calling to inquire about the wrong information on my Immigrant Data Summary.
Jimmy Murdochs: I see. May I have your visa packet, Sir? What particular information was incorrect?
Bong Voyage: As you can see, my city of birth and my father’s name was misspelled in the summary. Could it be a typographical error?
Jimmy Murdochs: Yes. It is a typographical error and we apologize for this. However, let me assure you sir that this type of inconsistency will not pose any problem when you arrive in the U.S.
Bong Voyage: I see. I hope you understand that I am just worried that I might encounter problems when I arrive in the U.S. for the first time as an immigrant.
Jimmy Murdochs: I understand your concern. And I’m so glad you checked your IDS thoroughly. You should know that we MUST correct errors if there’s a mistake in your name, date of birth, gender, marital status, passport number or nationality. So it is important to check your data. But the mistakes we unfortunately made in your IDS do not have to be corrected. Don’t worry. There’s no need to delay your travel because of these errors.
Bong Voyage: That’s a relief. Thank you so much for the clarification!
Jimmy Murdochs: You’re welcome, Sir.
BON VOYAGE!
Beginning September 3, 2012, K (fiancée and K3) visa applicants are required to present a U.S. visa application deposit slip to pay the K visa fee. Before going to the bank, K (fiancée and K3) visa applicants must print the applicable U.S. visa application deposit slip and take it to the bank to pay the fee. There is an expiration date on the deposit slip. Bank agents will NOT accept payments based on expired deposit slips. Upon payment, the bank will issue a receipt. This receipt cannot be replaced. Applicants will not be able to schedule an appointment without the receipt number.
For complete instructions and to print the deposit slip, please visit our online appointment website.
To obtain more information about this requirement, please call the Embassy Call Center at 982-5555 and 902-8930, available from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.