Fiancee Visa for Filipinos: Obtaining police records

2. December 2009 by admin.

Philippine-born immigrant visa applicants 16 years and over are required to furnish certificates issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).  The green NBI certificate annotated for travel abroad is the correct certificate.  Other colors are for local use only.  Foreign-born applicants who have resided in the Philippines for six months or more may be issued NBI clearances upon application either in person or by mail. Applicants should send requests for certificates together with certified checks or money orders for the fees and postage to the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation, Taft Avenue, Metro Manila, Philippines. The NBI has its own fingerprint charts and personal data forms that it will send to the requesting applicant for execution. Most applicants abroad find it more expeditious to have a relative or friend in the Philippines assist them in obtaining their certificates from the NBI. The applicant may also submit a copy of a prior NBI clearance to facilitate the processing of a new clearance. Posts are advised that not all arrests and convictions occurring outside of Manila are reported to the NBI. The Philippine criminal records database is not foolproof, and can be open to manipulation. Manila and major Philippine cities have computerized records. Fee: 150.00 pesos. Philippine Embassies abroad can assist Filipinos in obtaining NBI police clearances. 

If you would like to hire an attorney to assist with your K-1 fiancee or K-3 spousal visa, contact us at 626-771-1078 or visit us at www.myfianceevisa.com

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »

Fiancee Visa for Filipinos: Obtaining marriage and divorce certificates

2. December 2009 by admin.

Marriage certificates

Marriage Certificates are available at any National Statistics Office branch.  Procedures are similar to those for birth certificates.  CDLI endorsements apply to marriage Certificates also and should be requested.  These documents are available at any local NSO branch for a fee Marriage certificates can also be ordered on the website www.ecensus.com.ph.   The site accepts credit cards issued in the U.S., Japan, Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong.  There is a flat fee for each document of $20.  The fee includes shipping by courier to the delivery address abroad. Certified copies of originals can be obtained from the local civil registrar of the place where the marriage occurred.  Note: These are less preferred than Marriage Certificates issued by the NSO.  The NSO also issues Certificates of No Marriage (CENOMAR) certifying that an applicant was never married.  Certificates of Marriage (CEMAR) provide a chronological listing of all applicant’s marriages.   A CDLI endorsement should be requested. 

Divorce certificates

Certified copies of the divorce certificate can be obtained from the appropriate court.  NOTE: Divorce was recognized in the Philippines between March 11, 1917 and August 29, 1950; since the latter date, courts have been empowered to grant legal separation (annulment) but not divorce. Even during the period of legal recognition, divorces were rare in the Philippines because of limited legal grounds for granting divorces.

If you would like to hire an attorney for your K-1 fiance(e) or K-3 spousal visa application, speak with an attorney 24/7 at 626-771-1078 or visit us at www.myfianceevisa.com

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »

Fiancee Visa for Filipinos: Obtaining birth certificates

2. December 2009 by admin.

Birth certificate for Filipino/Filipina applicants are available. Applicants may obtain birth certificates at any National Statistics Office (NSO) branch for a small fee.  Relatives in the Philippines may obtain these documents on behalf of the applicant which can be very convenient for the applicant.  The NSO can also provide an index of all children born to an applicant. 

Birth certificates can also be ordered on the website www.ecensus.com.ph.   The site accepts credit cards issued in the U.S., Japan, Europe, Australia, and

Hong Kong.  There is a flat fee for each document of $20.  The fee includes shipping by courier to the delivery address abroad. A certified copy of a birth registration (less preferred) may be obtained from the local civil registrar at the place of birth. Local Civil Registrar records are often incomplete and it is often necessary to augment local birth certificates with baptismal certificates.  “Affidavits from two disinterested persons” are generally considered unreliable but may be useful in cases where pre-war records are not locatable.  Frequently, certificates for births occurring since 1946 may also be obtained from the National Census and Statistics Office (NCSO), at the  NSO East Ave, Diliman,Quezon City, Philippines. Certificates of birth before 1946 are maintained at the National Archives Division at  T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila. Issuance of a birth certificate takes approximately five working days, for which there may be a fee, plus an additional fee if issuance is to take place within 24 hours, or if the document is to be printed on special security paper.

If you would like to hire an attorney for your K-1 fiance(e) or K-3 spousal visa application, speak with an attorney 24/7 at 626-771-1078 or visit us at www.myfianceevisa.com

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »

Fiancee Visa for Filipinos: Obtaining documents while abroad

2. December 2009 by admin.

For Filipino and Filipina fiance(e)s working abroad, it can be challenging obtaining necessary government-authorized documents for submission to the USCIS in connection with a visa or green card application. Fortunately, the Filipino government has simplified the process through a web-based application. Applicants abroad can obtain documents from the National Statistics Office (NSO) through the “e Census” website www.ecensus.com.ph or by calling

NSO Information Center at (02)737-1111.   There are fees for these services. Documents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) can be obtained from Philippine embassies abroad. Filipinos abroad are required to submit records of births, marriage and deaths to their embassy so they may be recorded with the NSO. If you need legal assistance with your K-1 fiance(e) or K-3 spousal visa application, speak with an attorney 24/7 at 626-771-1078 or visit us at www.myfianceevisa.com

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »

Fiancee Visa for Filipinos: Obtaining documents for the K-1 visa

2. December 2009 by admin.

The following information may be useful for U.S. citizens and their Filipino/Filipina fiance(e)s as they gather documents in the Philippines for the K-1 fiance or K-3 spouse visas.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) is the central repository for civil records.  The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is the central repository for criminal records.  Local civil records in many localities in the

Philippines have been destroyed due to war and natural calamities.  Church records, while useful as secondary evidence, are frequently unavailable for the same reasons.  When a specific civil document is unavailable, it is advisable to obtain a certificate of non-availability from the National Statistics Office (NSO).  Local parishes usually issue similar certificates of non-availability. In the absence of primary and secondary evidence, substantiated by replies from civil or church authorities, affidavits from two persons who have personal knowledge of the birth, death, or marriage which is in question are generally accepted.

Documents issued by the NSO and the NBI are preferred.  These agencies have branches and outlets throughout the

Philippines.  Documents issued by these agencies are printed on paper with security features.  Documents from these sources are centrally registered and are considered more reliable than documents issued by local registrars.  Applicants should request certificates that are issued with a “CDLI endorsement” (Court Documents and Legal Instruments).  This endorsement shows any amendments to the original document from marriages, annulments, name changes etc.  Unless a CDLI copy is requested, the requester will receive the unamended or original copy of the document. 

If you need legal assistance with your K-1 fiance(e) or K-3 spousal visa application, speak with an attorney 24/7 at 626-771-1078 or visit us at www.myfianceevisa.com

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »

K-1 Fiancee Visa Interview at the Philippines: Documents to Bring (extensive checklist)

5. July 2009 by admin.

You must bring the following documentation when you come to the Embassy for your interview:  

                        1. PROOF OF PAYMENT. The application fee for a K1 or K2 nonimmigrant visa is US$131, payable only in Philippine pesos at the prevailing exchange rate. The fee should be paid by each applicant at designated branches of Banco de Oro (BDO) within Metro Manila and other key cities in the Philippines. Citibank’s corporate center branch at Paseo de Roxas,

Makati

City will continue to accept payment. The bank will validate your payment on the DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form or on the DS-157 Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form. The payment is valid for one (1) year.

                         2. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. It is important that you submit ALL of the following documentation to facilitate the processing of your application. You may be asked to return for another appointment if you fail to bring any of these documents:  

a. PASSPORT. You must have a passport valid for at least six (6) months. If you do not have one, you should apply in person at the Passport Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila. For passport renewal, you can call the DFA Information

Center at 02-737-1000.

b. DS-156 NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION. Each applicant must submit two (2) completed copies of this form.                        

c. DS-157 SUPPLEMENTAL NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION. Each applicant must submit two (2) completed copies of this form.

 

d. DS-156K NONIMMIGRANT FIANCE(E) VISA APPLICATION. Each K1 applicant must submit one (1) completed copy of this form.                       

 

e. BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Your birth certificate should be a copy issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and printed on NSO security paper. If applicable, you should also submit NSO birth certificates for all your children, even for those who are not applying for a visa. You may call the NSO Information Center at 02-737-1111 to inquire on securing a birth certificate. If the NSO does not have a copy of the birth certificate, you must obtain a statement about its unavailability from the NSO and obtain a certified original copy (not an extract) of the birth certificate from the local registrar in the town where you were born.

 f. NBI CLEARANCE. Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Clearances should be in the applicant’s current name, birth certificate name, maiden name and any aliases or nicknames used, including different spellings you have used of those names. For immigration purposes, an NBI clearance is valid for one (1) year from the date it was issued.  

g. OTHER COUNTRY POLICE CERTIFICATES. Applicants aged 16 years and older must also present police certificates from other countries where they have lived for six (6) months or more after reaching the age of 16. As with NBI clearances, foreign police certificates should be obtained in any maiden names, aliases or nicknames used while in the country in question, including different spellings you have used of those names.

 

h. COURT AND PRISON RECORDS: Applicants who have been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime must present copies or transcripts of court or prison records relating to the crime or offense.

 

i. MILITARY OR POLICE SERVICE RECORDS: Applicants who served in the military or police should present certified copies of their military or police service records.

 

j. EVIDENCE OF A MEETING PRIOR TO THE PETITION. You and your petitioner must have physically been together at some point within two years before the petition was filed. Proof of this meeting should be submitted unless the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) waives this requirement. A few photographs of the applicant and petitioner together during the specified time may serve as evidence of this requirement.

 

k. EVIDENCE OF A GENUINE ENGAGEMENT. You must be prepared to show documents that you have a genuine relationship with your petitioner and a clear intention to marry.  Letters, e-mails, phone records, bank records, photographs, or other evidence of a genuine fiancé(e) relationship should be submitted.

 

l. PROOF OF TERMINATION OF A PRIOR MARRIAGE. If applicable, official documents (divorce decree, annulment decree or death certificate, etc.) that prove all prior marriages contracted by you and the petitioner have been legally terminated prior to the filing of the petition must be submitted.

 

m. CERTIFICATE OF NO MARRIAGE RECORD (CENOMAR). If you have never contracted marriage, a CENOMAR (Singleness) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and printed on NSO security paper should be submitted. You may call the NSO Information

Center at 02-737-1111 to inquire on securing a CENOMAR.

n. EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT. You should be able to demonstrate that you will not become a public charge or be a burden on the U.S. taxpayers for financial support. A completed Affidavit of Support Form will be useful to the consular officer to evaluate your petitioner’s ability to be financially responsible for you. You should also submit your petitioner’s most recent U.S. Federal income tax return (Form 1040) and wage statements (Form W-2). Employment letters stating salaries and bank statements may be included to substantiate the affidavit of support.

o. VISA PHOTOGRAPHS. You must bring two (2) colored photographs printed according to given specifications. The specifications for visa photos should be strictly observed.

 

p. MEDICAL EXAMINATION. All K1 and K2 visa applicants must complete a medical examination at St. Luke’s Extension Clinic. Refer to the instructions (see separate page) regarding the medical examination.

 

For legal assistance with your K-1 fiance visa petition and interview in the Philippines, call T.S. Huang, immigration attorney, at 626-771-1078 or visit www.myfianceevisa.com

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »

K-1 Fiancee Visa Denied in Philippines: Why?

5. July 2009 by admin.

K-1 applications are subject to the same review standards as immigrant visa applications. The main reasons for visa denials are:

• lacking documentation;
• need to review or verify evidence;
• lack of a petitionable relationship;
• misrepresentation of the facts;
• medical concerns;
• criminal grounds;
• and potential public charge.

A common basis for refusal is a prior marriage for the beneficiary or the petitioner that has not been legally terminated. There is no divorce in the Philippines. A consular officer will only accept a death certificate or a court ruling of annulment or of presumptive death as evidence that a Filipino marriage has been terminated. An American may terminate a Filipino marriage through a U.S. divorce.

If you were denied a K-1 fiancee visa at the U.S. embassy in Manila, and wish to have an attorney review your options, please contact us at 626-771-1078 or visit us at www.myfianceevisa.com

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »

Fiance Visa Interview at the Philippines: What Documents Should I Bring?

5. July 2009 by admin.

A fiancé(e) is considered an intending immigrant and therefore must present documents similar to those required for an immigrant visa applicant. These include:

• a valid Philippine passport;
• a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and printed on NSO security paper;
• legal documents proving the termination of a previous marriage;
• NBI clearance;
• Police certificates from all foreign countries where the applicant lived for at least six months starting at the age of 16;
• Evidence of the relationship with the petitioner;
• Evidence of financial support; 
• A medical examination completed by St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic;
• Visa photographs;
• Evidence must be presented that the couple met in person within the past two years before the petition was filed.

Attorney T. S. Huang has been preparing K-1 fiance petitions for U.S./Filipino couples since 1997. Read more about the fiancee visa for Filipinos at www.fianceevisa.ws

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »

Fiancee Visa in the Philippines: the K-1 Interview

5. July 2009 by admin.

After getting an approval for the K-1 petition at the USCIS, the approval notice is sent to the U.S. Embassy in Manila via the National Visa Center.

The Filipino applicant pays the non-refundable application/processing fee and completes the required medical examination at St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic, he/she appears at the Embassy for the scheduled visa interview with all the required documents.

The consular officer adjudicates the application based on the visa interview, documents submitted by the applicant and any relevant information available to the Embassy. The consular officer determines the applicant’s eligibility to be issued the K visa. If the application is approved, the visa will be delivered to the applicant’s residence by a guaranteed courier service in 7 to 10 days. If the consular officer determines that the applicant is not eligible for visa issuance, this will be explained to the applicant who will be provided a written refusal sheet that informs her/him:

1) how the visa refusal may be overcome with additional documentation or information;

2) to await notification from the Embassy if the case will require further review; or

3) the basis for the determination of a visa ineligibility under U.S. immigration law and if a waiver of ineligibility is available.

If you are interested in applying for a fiance visa for your Filipino or Filipina fiancee, please contact us at 626-771-1078. We’ve been preparing these types of applications since 1997, and have a high success rate. Visit us at www.fianceevisa.ws.

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines, a fiance visa: interview tips | Print | No Comments »

Fiance Visa Medical Exam in Philippines

5. July 2009 by admin.

St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLMCEC) in Manila, the Embassy’s accredited medical facility, charges U.S. $213.35 for adults (15 years and older) and U.S. $185.35 for children (under 15 years of age) for the medical examination fees. SLMCEC does not accept credit card or dollar payments. The fees must be paid in Philippine pesos at the prevailing exchange rate. 

If you missed your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Manila because of additional medical tests, SLMCEC will schedule your embassy interview appointment within the next two working days. SLMCEC will give you an appointment slip. You should bring the appointment slip together with your original appointment letter to facilitate entry into the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

For more information about the fiance visa for citizens of the Philippines, visit www.fianceevisa.ws

Posted in fiancee visa Philippines | Print | No Comments »