Happy 2025 (started writing this January 2025 and finally sharing it on April), I haven't shared anything on this space in quite some time, but here is one worth reading in the future, we got married! I will be documenting our journey as husband and wife and all posts will be titled "#LifeWithTheZs".
Our K1 Visa Journey was known to both our families and few of my close friends. I honestly didn't want to tell them things, but when the process started moving, we got excited- especially when we got to the interview part.
Here is a breakdown timeline of our process:
- January 26, 2024 - I-129F Packet Sent
- February 10, 2024 - NOA1
- June 03, 2024 - Request for Evidence (RFE) - we missed checking the IMBRA boxes
- June 18, 2024 - NOA2 (Notice of Approval)
- July 02, 2024 - Case Sent to Department of State
- August 01, 2024 - Case Ready
- August 13-14, 2024 - Medical and Immunization
- October 01, 2024 - Interview (221G, Police Clearance Qatar)
- October 12-19, 2024 - Flew to Qatar to get Police Clearance
- October 21, 2024 - Submitted 221G Documents to USEM
- October 28, 2024 - Visa Approved
- November 02, 2024 - Visa On Hand
- November 12, 2024 - CFO Cebu
- December 07, 2024 - Flight to US
- December 19, 2024 - Wedding
He flew from Manila, Philippines to JFK Airport in New York. Everything was smooth, from PH Immigration to US Immigration.
We got married on our 66th monthsary as boyfriend/girlfriend- an intimate wedding just our family (my side) and our two witnesses who are also our family friends. Before the courthouse wedding, we had our wedding rings blessed at our local parish church, so the Pastor who is also our friend, blessed us too before the wedding. We didn't hired photographer, rather- I asked my sister to take photos and video so we can send it to our families in the Philippines. And honestly, I am happy and grateful how the photos turned out, here are few photos:
And to share our process, here is a bit detailed post on how our K1 Experience went:
Medical Experience
Our schedule was August 12-13, since he is coming from Iloilo (Province in Vizayas), we booked one way ticket to Manila and booked a room at Casa Bocobo (walking distance from St. Luke's Medical Clinic Extension), we booked 3 nights 2 days. He arrived the building at 0800 and his appointment is not til 0900, but they were able to take care of him and do the needed tests. After the test, they handed him a white paper with a date and time for the following day for his immunization the following day.
The following day, he spent at least 2-3 hours to get all the immunization that he needs (I believe he was given 5 shots total). Right after the medical, he went back to Iloilo.
Interview Experience
We didn't find a closest interview date right after our medical so we waited til the slots opened up. We were able to secure October 01, 0630 appointment. Normally interview is quick, maybe like 5 mins or less (the actual interview process), his took from 0630 to 0930 because of an expired Police Clearance. Everything was smooth, questions were like the basic questions about me and him, it's just the PCC was expired. These were the questions they asked him (not in order):
- What is the petitioner's job?
- Does the petitioner have a kid?
- Is the petitioner married?
- Did they serve in the military?
- How much is the petitioner's salary?
- When did you last saw the petitioner?
- Who does your petitioner live with?
- Why was the beneficiary's Birth Certificate registered late?
Right after the interview, since we got a whole day to spend, he went straight to Qatar Embassy in Makati to see if he can acquire a PCC from their end, but unfortunately they cannot give him PCC unless he uses WeXpress courier that handles and takes care of PCC Qatar.
He was an expat OFW Qatar and exited 5 years ago and the PCC we brought was dated 2022, so it is expired (PCC are only valid for 6 months). Since we got 221G from our USEM interview, we cannot wait and can't do the WeXpress process cause that takes like 5-6 months processing, if we go through WeXpress by the time our PCC comes, our Medical is already expired. So we decided to fly to Qatar and get the PCC directly.
Qatar PCC Experience/221G
I've joined couple 221G groups, specifically the ones needing Qatar PCC.
We applied for Hayya (A1) Visa 100QAR and you can do this online and will take 24 hours til you get everything, they will email you the digital visa or you can access it on the Hayya App.
What we brought in MNL Airport -
- Copy of 221G Letter from USEM
- Old Passports (with QID or Entry/Exit Stamp from Qatar)
- New Passport
- A1 Visa Print Out or QR Code (we also have a hotel booking confirmation)
- eTravel
- Travel Tax
Questions Asked at MNL Immigration -
- Purpose of Travel
- Follow Up: Why and what was the PCC for
- Fiance's Name (Petitioner), Copy of Passport, Copy of Naturalization Certificate
We made sure that we arrive Qatar on a Saturday, cause their weekend is Friday/Saturday and Sundays offices are open, the next day he went to CEID and processed the request (10QAR). He had to buy Qatar sim card to get text messages soon as the PCC is ready. We got the text the next day that the PCC is ready, then he went to Ministry to get the PCC stamped (100QAR). Once he got everything settled, he got chance to meet with old friends and relax for a bit.
Once he arrived home (PH) we immediately sent the needed documents to get our visa approve. After 12 days from sending the documents, our visa is approved and we got the Yellow Packet! We scheduled the CFO after a week.
CFO Experience, CEBU
We were debating whether to stay in a hotel or come in early in the morning and leave in the afternoon, good thing we booked a hotel (stayed at Palladium Suites Hotel, literally next to CFO Cebu) because the traffic when he arrived was bad! It took him almost an hour til he arrived the hotel. The seminar started at 0900 and he got everything done plus CFO certificate at around 1330. They had 1 on 1 interview and these are the questions they asked him:
- Why did you choose to marry in US than in PH?
- What is the beneficiary's work?
- What is the petitioner's work?
- Since petitioner has two jobs, how would she balance time with work and spending time with you?
- What are the challenges in your relationship?
- When did she visited you?
- Follow Up: You only met once, so you don't really know each other that much?
- Where did you meed (App)?
- What did you like about her?
- What did she liked about you?
I wanted to make sure everything will be okay, so we waited a day or two before booking his flight to US.
His flight is on the first week of December. The Immigration line in JFK was pretty quick, they only asked him couple questions and took the Yellow Packet. From Manila to New York (Incheon Layover), the flight was 18hour long, I didn't get that much sleep cause I was waiting for his messages and kept tracking the flight. Thankfully everything went smooth- from the long plane ride to immigration (PH-KOREA-NY)
And as I am finishing this post, we are already married for five months. And everything is really doing great! I am getting to know him more every day, falling in love with him even more and admiring how kind, sweet and caring he is.
The journey from 2019 to today is a long one, we both needed to be patient, trusted the process and thanking God for blessing me with a loving and patient husband. We are just in the beginning of everything, we are excited for what the future holds for us and our family.
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