Bong Voyage received his visa packet and passport with immigrant visa. He read the enclosed Warning notification and decided to go to the U.S. Embassy to ask a few questions.
Bong Voyage: Good morning.
Jimmy Murdochs: Good morning, how may I help you today?
Bong Voyage: I received my visa documents last week. However, I read the enclosed Warning notification and don’t know how to retrieve my passport. I’m afraid to open anything because I don’t want to do anything wrong before I fly to America!
Jimmy Murdochs: I understand your concern. You may open the plastic envelope to retrieve your passport. Just be sure not to detach the Immigrant Data Summary nor open the yellow envelope when you do so. As stated in the Warning notification you received, only the Immigration or Public Health Service Officer at the U.S. port of entry is authorized to open the yellow envelope.
Bong Voyage: Thank you. I also would like to ask about the pre-departure seminar provided by the Philippine government. Am I required to attend the seminar or can I just register with government?
Jimmy Murdochs: The Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) is conducted by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and overseen by the Office of the President of the Philippines. All immigrants must register with CFO prior to travel, as it is mandated by the Philippine government, and most will have to attend the seminar as well. Information about CFO and their seminar schedule is included in the packet you received.
Bong Voyage: Yes, I actually have it with me. So can I just register with CFO, or do I need to attend a seminar?
Jimmy Murdochs: Only individuals younger than 13 and older than 60 are exempted from attending the PDOS. They must, however be registered. A sticker is affixed on your passport as proof of your registration. You may read more detailed information on the leaflet that you have and by checking the CFO website at www.cfo.gov.ph. You may also call them at 552-4700.
Bong Voyage: You’ve been really helpful. I guess that’s my final question.
Jimmy Murdochs: We’re happy to help! Good luck with your move to America!
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good morning april 23 my interview then 22days i waiting my visa then last friday i recieve us embassy email and call for finger scanning agAin. then i go yesterday for finger scanning in us embassy.how long process that.i ask yesterday nver know how long delivery my visa in home.i need my visa and passport coz i hve already ticket may 25 hope i recieve tht b4 that.
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog. To enable us to be more responsive to your inquiry, please send an e-mail to IVManilaReplies@state.gov with your complete name and case number indicated.
i did but never responce to me.soon 1month waiting my visa in may 23.pls help me.
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
If you wish to ascertain the status of your fiancée or immigrant visa application, you may send an email to IVManilaReplies@state.gov with your complete name and case number, clearly indicated.
i did already 1month now i waiting my visa but still im not yet recieve then still process.why take so long?i finger scanning again in may 14 how long to process that?
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog. To enable us to be more responsive to your inquiry, please send an e-mail to IVManilaReplies@state.gov with the applicant’s complete name and case number.
Good Morning,
My fiance attended her K-1 Visa interview on April 11th, 2012 and received a 221(g). The officer told her that once she provided a Police Certificate from Japan, via the 2GO envelope he provided, the Embassy would send her Visa to her. The embassy received the police certificate from us on May 14th and I would like to know what the average wait time is for a visa to be sent once the requirements of a 221(g) are met. Thanks and have a blessed day.
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
You may wish to send an email to IVManilaReplies@state.gov with the applicant’s complete name and case number, clearly indicated to ascertain the status of your fiancé’s visa application.
it is not Embassy policy to tell applicants or petitioners that a visa would be issued by any specific date. Since many factors may affect visa issuance, we are unable to predict precisely if or when an applicant would qualify for a visa. In fact, we advise our clients not to finalize travel plans, dispose of their properties, or give up jobs until a visa is actually delivered to the applicant.
hello.i want know a month already now i wait my visa but im still not yet recieve.im worry so much.after my interview told me im approved then i recieve my visa in 14days only.mabye im denied coz take so long delivery visa pls give me idea thank u!!
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog. To enable us to be more responsive to your inquiry, please send an e-mail to IVManilaReplies@state.gov with your complete name and case number.
I have a scheduled interview on June 22,2012 at 8:30 am. My concern is that my previous employer can not continue with my petition due to the recession in the US, their business was affected by it. However, the lawyer handling my case told me i can retain my priority date if i find new employer. I have a new employer now. Will I proceed with the scheduled interview bringing the contract/job offer from my new employer?
Your prompt reply to my inquiry will be highly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
A blessed evening, Sir/Ma’am!
Would it be okay if I leave the country a week before my SLEC medical examination results expire? Will it not affect my arrival at the US? I understand that the expiration of a visa is based on medical results and date of interview. I had my medical exam a month before my interview date. Thank you so much for your help!
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
You may enter the United States as long as your visa is still valid when you reach the U.S. port of Entry.
Thank you so much for your confirmation, Sir/Ma’am! It’s very helpful! God bless you more!!!
Hello, My fiancee has received her visa package. She found her passport with her visa. She is so scared to touch the package but we are curious where is the Immigrant Data Summary that she will need for the CFO?
Thank you,
Bill
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
Your fiancé may carefully open the plastic envelope to retrieve her passport. Just remind her not to open the yellow envelope and to double-check on the visa information found in her passport. K1 or fiancé visas do not have an Immigrant Data Summary attached to the visa packet. There is no need to worry since CFO is aware of this.
Hi! I reveived my visa packet, and torn the plastic pouch to retrieve my visa and noticed that the yellow envelop has a cut on one corner, is the cut normal? and do i have to put the envelop back to the plastic pouch?thanks
Michelle, it is okay to open the plastic pouch. The diagonal cut is supposed to be on the packet.
Hi. i am so confused about the CFO certificate/sticker. here’s my status…
-i already have a passport
-i already have IR1 visa
-my wife (a Filipina) who recently became an american citizen
-i already have a booked flight on the 27th
here’s the problem. on the CFO website i am confused on which one to follow.
this “For Filipinos leaving the country with immigrant VISA”
OR
this one “Fiancee, Spouses and Other Partners of Foreign Nationals”..
…us embassy sent me back my passport a few days after the interview. they already included the IR1 visa there. the package also contain the visaPacket and papers that have a WARNING sign in it stapled from a paper from CFO. the CFO paper states
“GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION FOR SPOUSES AND OTHER PARTNERS OF FOREIGN ANTIONALS
under DFA department orders, Filipino spouses and other partners of foreign nationals are required to attend the guidance and counseling program AS A PREREQUISITE TO THE ISSUANCE OF PASSPORTS.”
..i already have a passport and an IR1 visa. does that mean i dont need to attend this specific seminar anymore? what about the PDOS? i got no problem with the registration, its just that i am confused on which specific seminar should i attend to for me to register at CFO.
please i really need help. me, my wife and my 4yr old daughter have been waiting to be together already. it has been 5yrs since me and my wife got married and were hoping to celebrate our 5th anniversary together on the 29th. thanks..
Philippine law requires all departing Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad to attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). The PDOS is not a U.S. Government requirement. You may wish to contact the CFO regarding your concerns. Their contact details are available at their website at http://www.cfo.gov.ph.
Good day!
I just wanna ask if I can get address in Metro Manila just for my visa delivery, I heard that manila is earliest to deliver the visa than provinces. Can anyone know howto get it?
thank you.
Immigrant visa packets are delivered to the applicants’ designated address by guaranteed courier service. For visa delivery inquiries, you may wish to contact the 2GO Customer Service Department at telephone number (63) (2) 528-7136.
Hi there,
i just wanna ask how long it will take to get the approval for the K1 visa petition. We received notification from USCIS that they open the petition packet last September 18, 2012. We still not receive any feedbacks from them till now..Hoping for an answer…thank you.
Thank you for posting a comment on VISAtisfied Voyager, U.S. Embassy Manila’s visa blog.
You or the petitioner may check on the status of the petition online at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do using the 13-character application receipt number found on the application notice received from USCIS. The petitioner may also contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-375-5283 to ascertain the status of the petition.
We already done with our interview yest, but the consul didn’t tell us whether its approved or not… But they got our passport, didn’t return it to us, what does it? Approved???
Thank you for your interest in the VISAtisfied Voyager. For specific information regarding your visa case, please send an email to IVManilaReplies@state.gov, with your complete name, case number and current contact information clearly indicated.
Thank you for your interest in the VISAtisfied Voyager.
For case-specific status inquiry, you may send an email at IVManilaReplies@state.gov clearly indicating your name and case number.
how many days they deliver my us visa in my designated address .. because us consul said that they need my original birth certicate then after that we completed the requirements..2go said that they deliver my us visa in my designated address .. its almost a 1 week and 6 days ..
Thank you for your interest in the VISAtisfied Voyager.
For privacy reasons, the Embassy does not address specific case concerns publicly on this blog. For specific information regarding your visa case, please send an email to IVManilaReplies@state.gov, with your complete name, date and place of birth, and the 10-digit visa case number, clearly indicated.
Hi,
I have applied for immigration visa via my son who is already an American citizen so, I m done wid visa process and got the same. Moreover I also got one packet to give it to American embassy when reached
Der… But I have opened that packet..pls let me know what to do next
Thank you for your interest in the VISAtisfied Voyager. For specific information regarding your visa case, we request you to send an email to IVManilaReplies@state.gov with your complete name, 10-digit visa case number and current contact information clearly indicated.