• We apply for the K1 Visa Here at the USCIS in the USA (This part is done!)
• I receive a receipt from the USCIS that they have the application.
• We wait for 30-100 days for them to approve the application.
• I send you an Affidavit of Support document (During this 30-100 days)
• You get a Passport (See the requirement at http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/passport.htm
• After application is approved, the USCIS will send a copy to the US Consulate in the Philippines.
• The US Consulate will send you a K-Packet. (We may also be able to order one, after we get approved).
• We get an appointment to visit St. Luke's Medical Center for a medical exam.
• You will visit a local bank to pay the Visa Application fee. (They will give you a "pink receipt")
• On they day they tell you, you visit St. Luke's for a two day exam.
• On the second day of your visit, you will get an "Interview Appointment" for the at the US Embassy.
• The interviews are sometimes 2-6 weeks after the exam. We must decide if you should return home or wait in Manila.
• I will send you an "Affidavate of Support"
• You appear at the consulate on they day that they tell you. You show proof of our relationship and give them all of your paperwork.
• The US Consulate approves Visa in several weeks.
• A courier delivers your K1 VISA
• You prepare to leave the country.
• Before you leave the country, you stop in Manila for the PDOS (Pre Departure Orientation Seminar).
• You show your passport and CFO certificate to get a special stamp on your passport. (You can't leave the country without the PDOS).
• You come to the United States.
• We get married and live "Happily ever after!"

1. Address Book. Start getting the Cell Numbers and addresses for all of your friends and family. Write them down in an address book. You can use the Internet to send them texts when you arrive here. If you know their numbers you can keep talking with them every day! Don't forget to write down everyone's birthday's too!
2. Wedding Dress. If you want to have your wedding dress made in the Philippines before you leave, the cost is 75% less than in America. If you wish to give me estimates, I we will see what we can do!
3. Dentistry. If you need any fillings or major dental work, please go to the dentist and let me know. The cost in the Philippines is 80% less than in the US! It is much cheaper to have it done before you leave!
4. Birth Control. If you wish to consider "the Pill", the cost of one month in the Philippines is 150php. In the US, each month is about 2200php. You should make an appointment with a doctor and buy 18 months worth if you are willing to try this method.
5. Packing/Shipping. Start thinking about what you will take with you and what you will give away to friends and relatives. If you will bring more than is allowed on the plane, I need to make to know how much so I can arrange a shipping method to get the items here.
6. Clothes/Shoes. Shoes, Underwear, Socks, and Bras are all much cheaper in the Philippines. In the US Prices run 800-7500php for shoes, 250php per pair of underwear, 150-300php per pair of socks, and about 1000php per bra! If you need close-toed shoes (for cold weather), consider buying a few new pairs of shoes before I come to get you! Also, if you like tight stretch-pants, you may want to buy them in the Philippines. The women in the US are taller and larger. If you want really nice fitting jeans or stretch pants, you may wish to purchase a few pairs before you leave!
7. Recipes. If you do not have many recipes memorized, you may wish to talk with all of your friends, family and neighbors. As a "going-away" gift, suggest that all of the ladies give write down their 5-6 favorite recipes. Place them in a notebook or binder so you will know how to make all of your favorite foods when you come here!

1. Collect the following documents. You will eventually need them by the time you visit the US Embassy to file your paperwork for the VISA. Don't put this off TOO LONG:
   1. Barangay Clearance
   2. NBI Clearance
   3. NSO Clearance
   4. Police Clearance from the government of any country where you've stayed or worked over 6 months (if you already have a passport)
2. You need to get a passport. Here are the things that you will need
   • Make sure you have 1 Passport Style Photo
   • Make sure you have a Photo ID (NBI Clearance, passport, PRC license, voter id, or school id)
   • Travel alone or with someone to Manila or Cebu for the 1st CFO Visit for the "Guidance and Counseling Seminar": (Even if you HAVE a passport, you will still need this to leave the country. But, you can get this certificate after you have the VISA when you go for the 2nd CFO visit to get the PDOS - Pre Departure Orientation Stamp)
     1. Attend CFO Guidance and Counseling Seminar for 100p at Cebu or Manila CFO (info at: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/filmigrants_bod.htm). They may show some videos or tell stories of ladies who had BAD PROBLEMS with foreigners. Do not worry too much if they do that.
     2. Get a Counseling Certificate from CFO
        *** NOTE: This may take several days, so leave enough time during your visit! This certificate is a requirement to get a Passport if you don't already have one. If you do have a passport, you'll still need this certificate to leave the country. There will be a 2nd visit to the CFO Later after you get the Visa
     3. They will ask you some questions about me (Place of Birth, SSN Number, Address, My Employer...). Make sure you know these before you go, or bring a cell phone and call me if you have questions.
   • If you visit the CFO during your visit to Manila get 4 Birth Certificates. (If you go to Cebu, tell me to order them on the web from the Census web site. I'll give you a reference number that you'll have to pay at a local bank before they will be delivered to your house by mail.)
   • Return from Manila
3. Apply for a passport at the nearest DFA Office. The cost is 500p. The requirements are found at http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/passport.htm. You can find the nearest Regional DFA Office at http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/rco.htm To get a passport, you'll need to take:
   • An Official Birth Certificate on Security Paper (SECPA) issued by NSO
   • 3 Passport Photos 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm new photo (colored with plain white background)
   • Your Counseling Certificate from the CFO(from above)
   • A Photo ID (School ID or SS Card would do)
4. I will prepare and mail you a Notarized Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) document to keep for the US Embassy Interview later
5. After application is approved, they send it to the US Consulate in the Philippines
6. You should have your passport by this time, if not... get it quickly!
7. You will be sent a K-Packet. I think that one of us needs to order the K-Packet after the approval. (I'm not sure if this is still possible) These are the 3 ways it used to be done:
   • You call 909-01-0011 and request the "K Packet", OR
   • I call the $6 number for foreign citizens 63-2-843-8414 and order it for you. Or,
   • we can just print out several blank copies of the forms DS-156, DS-157 in PDF Format and the Form DS-156k PDF from the US Embassy web site and send them to you now.
8. Here are some notes about the K-Packet:
   • NOTE #1: When we order the K-Packet they will need your Passport Number, your Address, your birth date, and a phone number for the courier to call in case he has difficulty finding your house when he delivers the packet.
   • NOTE #2: If we move too quickly, We will go to St. Luke's before the K1 packet and NOA#2 arrive at the embassy. If this happens, we will be placed on "Administrative Review". This only means that our VISA is held until the US Embassy gets the full packet from the US Immigration Service. This packet is placed in a brown envelope and attached to your passport. This is why we may be placed on Administrative Review if we move too quickly. This is not a bad thing.
   • Note #3: If we use the K-Packet forms from the Internet, we should still call and order the packet so that a "Provential File" gets opened at the US Embassy. We do not need to wait for the K-packet with the blank forms to arrive. We can use the forms from the Internet. We only need to place the call so the Embassy will open a file for your VISA.
9. You fill out all of the "K Packet" Forms
10. We need to pay for the Visa Petition. You do this by going to an authorized branches of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) or Citibank. You will pay a $100 fee for the K1 Petition. The bank will give you a "Pink Receipt" when you pay. SAVE THIS RECEIPT! You will need to show it at St. Luke's to prove you have paid. Before you can pay the fee, some banks will ask to see a copy of FORM DS-156 from the K-Packet. You can show a copy from the Internet or one from the Real packet. For a full list of bank locations, look at the very bottom of the this web page (http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwh3024.html)
11. You gather all documentation (Pictures, Letters, Everything, Passport, Affidavit of Support, "Pink Receipt" for St. Luke's Visit, etc... from above)
12. You travel to Manila on the appoitned day for your St. Luke's Exam. (Afterwards, we will need to decide if you will stay in Manila until your Interview, or if you will return later. The interviews can be anywhere from one to five weeks after the St. Luke's Visit.)
13. For the St. Luke's visit bring the Following:
    1. Your Passport (They will need it to put your VISA in. If you don't have it, wait to go to Manila)
    2. Bring 2 ADIT (VISA) photos and 2 Passport Photos to St. Luke's (Often, they refuse the photos and send you about 1 block away to a local drugstore to get new ones. Don't worry if this happens)
    • Many folks recommend bringing a pen to fill out forms and snacks. You will be at St. Luke's ALL Day. You will probably want to arrive at 5:00-6:00am and wait by the door so you can get in early. Bring the food, because you may not get time leave for lunch If you leave, you may loose your place in line!
14. You visit St. Luke's on the date of your appointment. Read my comments on the St. Luke's Visit.
15. You have a medical exam, get some X-Rays, and a quick pelvic exam. (Don't go during your Menstruation. If you do, they will refuse to see you and you'll have to return later.)
16. Your vaccinations are included in the price of the visit, so go ahead and get them. If you skip them, we'll have to have them done in the US with a special doctor for $60-120. It's much easier to get the vaccination record straight from St. Luke's while you are there.
17. Someone from St. Luke's may ask to see all of your documents for the US Embassy Interview. If they ask, they will help you select the important ones, organize them, and place them in an envelope for you to take with you to the EMBASSY Interview.
18. You return the next day for the results of exam.
19. St. Luke's helps you organize your papers on the last day, and you will be issued an interview date & time for the K3 Interview.
20. You wait in Manila or return home for 2-6 weeks until the interview, then you return.
21. Visit the Embassy on the day of your Interview.
22. After the Interview return home and wait.
23. The Consulate in Manila will approve you and send you a letter.
    • If you are not approved, the Embassy will place you on "Administrative Review." This means that they have not received my petition from the US Embassy in America yet, OR this means they need more information from you.
    • If they need more information, they will tell you what they require. They will also send a courier to pick up the information from you. If they need more information, do not send it by mail unless they tell you. You must wait for their courier.
    • Remember, the US Embassy may take 4-8 weeks to get the NOA#2 from America. Do not be worried if there is a delay!
24. When your passport is delivered by courier, you will see the VISA inside. The passport will be attached to a large brown envelope. DO NOT OPEN OR REMOVE THE ENVELOPE.
25. You must now take the entire passport/envelope and travel to the CFO in Manila or Cebu to get a "Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar Stamp".
    • You must have a Pre Departure Seminar (PDOS) stamp to leave the country.
    • We could do this on our way out of the country IF we can spend 1-2 days in Manila or Cebu, but it may be easier if you get the stamp before I arrive.
    • REMEMBER: you can not exit the country if UNTIL the PDOS Stamp is in your passport.
26. I come to the Philippines, stay with your family, and we leave together. I may arrange for you to pick up a ticket at a local Airline Office. I can buy a PTA (Prepaid Ticket) from PAL (Philippine Airlines) and send you the PTA Number. With that number, you can visit any PAL office and have airline tickets printed. If you go to get the tickets without me, BRING YOUR PASSPORT. They will need to see your visa (so they know you can leave the country) before they will print the tickets.
27. If you don't have the CFO Pre departure Registration Stamp yet, We stop at Manila overnight so we can visit the DFA for a CFO passport stamp (details at: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/filmigrants_bod.htm
28. We fly back to the United States
29. We ask the stewardess on the flight for an I-94 Arrival/Departure Document and MAKE SURE the USCIS agent at the Point of Entry (POE) signs it and staples it to the Passport. (We can't adjust your status without it!)
30. We Apply for a marriage license and select your new "Married" name in the line that reads "NAME AFTER MARRIAGE". We can change your now however you wish. If you want to move your last name to your middle name in a traditional Filipino way... we can do that!
31. We Marry within 90 days.
32. We file for Adjustment of Status (about $600 in paperwork for Employment Authorization, Fingerprints, Advanced Parole and the I-465 Adjustment)
33. We are given a fingerprinting date, and go for fingerprinting.
34. We are given an EAD (Employment Authorization Interview Date), and we attend the EAD interview. You are given an employment authorization card.
35. We go to the Social Security Office, and apply for a SSN card using your new Employment Authorization Card.
36. We are notified of an "Adjustment of Status Interview"
37. We attend the interview, and your passport is stamped with a temporary notice saying that you are approved.
38. 1-3 weeks later, you get a Green Card in the mail.
39. The IR-1 will probably be approved after you have your Green Card. We will laugh at how slow the USCIS is. You've already been in the country for months, and they still send out a notice. We save the notice, but don't do anything with it.
40. 23 Months after you get your green card, we file to remove all conditions of your temporary residency. This will make you a "Permanent Legal Resident".
41. 2 years after you become a Permanent Legal Resident, You can apply for citizenship.
42. You apply for citizenship. (You could start voting now. And, after 5 years, you will qualify for Social Security Beneifts... even if you go back to the Philippines.)

All original materials on this website (www.asawa.org, www.filipinawives.com) are copyrighted by the author, Bob Lingerfelt, 1997 -2007  with materials on file at the U.S. Copyright Office.  No reproduction is authorized, in any form, without express permission of the author.