himdale

Dear Nina, I think Section 13 will be used by the U.S. Embassy to mail all correspondence. I assume your agency want their name and address there so that they will be assured that they will be the one to hold your Packet 4 when it arrives. Where is your agency located and what is the first three letters of your NVC case number? Although it is illogical that you are working presently in another country and your present address is also different from the place where you work and presently reside. Although it depends which embassy your documents will be processed. Becasue if you're planning to be interviewed for example in the Philippines your documents should be mailed and processed in the U.S. Embassy Manila, and they cannot send Packet 4 in Dubai. Simple as that. My advise to you is to call the NVC and inquire about this matter, talk to your immigration lawyer (not your employer or agency staff). Lastly please wait for the reply of others...there maybe others like you on the same boat or who have experienced this kind of situation. still_dale

Hey Suzanne, I think she was referring to as "INTERIM PERMIT". An interim permit is issued by the State Board of Nursing that you applied for when you had not YET taken NCLEX. It is a temporary permit so that you can WORK PROVIDED THAT A REGISTERED NURSE (licensed in the state you applied and working) WILL GUIDE YOU WHILE WORKING. An interim permit is not a requirement to fly to the U.S. Maybe it is the agency's policy. still dale

There are already INTERNATIONAL TESTING CENTERS being offered. You can take the NCLEX in Hong Kong. If you think that you can take the shortcut...well better think again. You can read my other posts about tourist visa abuse. You can weigh the consequences of your actions. still_dale

The fastestt CASES that I have seen and monitoring are Nurse Dependent and leah. Nurse Dep is approaching his 12th month. still dale

1. USCIS receives and later on approves the petition 2. Approved Petition will be sent to NVC 3. NVC creates a case number MNL********** then sents you a fee bill 4. Pay the fee bill, they will sent you a DS230 5. Submit all requirements, NVC reviews your docs, if its ok issues Packet 4 What is your priority date? With the processing delays and background checks here in the Philippines it would be impossible to fly to the U.S. in less than 12 months with an approved employment based immigrant petition>>> THAT IS A MYTH by recruitment agencies. Time estimate the fastest would be 14 months, the normal is 18 to 24 months on the average that is ofcourse if you have a visa screen certificate, met and paid all the requirements and PRIORITY DATES FOR SCHEDULE A NURSE ARE STILL CURRENT and MAIL/ DOCUMENTS were not lost. Because sometimes documents were sent somewhere else so you have to monitor your case all the time with your agency and with your lawyer/employer. STILL_DALE

From the date your I-140 was filed, count around 15 months to 24 months. With the processing delays and backgrounds checks it is impossible to fly to the U.S. with an approved immigrant petition in less than 12 months. well that is ofcourse you have a visa screen certificate and priority dates for nurses are current! still_dale

why is it that i am always being blamed? issues i have explained are not just people who fall out of staus. these people are the ones who violated the u.s. immigration and nationality act, who committed fraud because of having a tourist visa with immigrant intent. well documented cases and not just friend of a friend bedtime stories. tourists should not have immigrant intent. they should not adjust status to legal resident simply because they swore to the u.s. consulate that they will return to their home country. this is in the u.s. immigration and nationality act. simple as that. it is not about survival but doing it the proper and legal way so it may not hurt others who are really need of a tourist visa. i belive that those people who uses tourists visas and then go for aos> doesn't want to fall in line for their greencards. they would want to take the shortcut, the easy way out. they think that they can skip the lengthy consular process and earn dollars in u.s. soil not thinking that they are damaging the integrity of their home country. for pinoy_guy, at first i felt sorry for your friend, thinking that because of my post she wanted to commit suicide. but then again, you should warn her! she has suicidal tendencies. imagine a person who want to die just because her tourist visa expired? i am not a psychologist but a simple depression would trigger her to commit suicide. what if the hospital fires her? what if she fails nclex? what if her heart was broken by a cute guy? and you would blame me for that? i know alot of people hate me here but what i write is what i am. this is what i am made of. you can ban me here but people would still look for my opinion and they always shout my name. i know cause you're also a reader at murthy.com i rest. still_dale

Pinoy Guy, IRRELEVANT? First you said that DEPORTATION ARE JUST STORIES. I gave you facts and then you say that it is not the topic on hand. Did you read all the 7 pages? I would quote from the website of USCIS the one I gave above: Each year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) undertakes immigration enforcement actions involving hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals (for definitions of immigration enforcement action terms, see Box 1). These actions include the arrest, detention, and removal from the United States of foreign nationals who are in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These violations include: attempting illegal entry into the United States, entering the United States legally but subsequently losing legal status, and engaging in terrorist activity, violent crime, document fraud, and drug smuggling. Responsibility for the enforcement of immigration law within DHS rests with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). CBP handles the inspections of foreign nationals at ports of entry and the deterrence or apprehension of illegal immigrants at the borders. ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the interior of the United States. End of quote. These are not just CRIMINAL cases. These are immigration issues like your TOURISTS. How can you justify them? Survival FIRST? WOW I Am from the province of NUEVA ECIJA. Did you took a survey to prove that people in the province believes everything they see on tv and on the internet? What you have there in MANILA, WE HAVE HERE. Totally FUNNY. You really make me laugh! LMFAO! For your info: People in the province have mobile phones, cable tv, broadband internet, DVD entertainment systems, satellite uplinks, PC Games. WE'RE NOT CAVEMANS you know... Hehe You better warn all your friends in the province. They might see a post on the internet that says "its safe to drink a poison"... and you would blame me for that? The purpose of these forums are very simple. TO GET INFORMED. Here we clash on our ideas and we provide facts! Let the readers be the judge! And when I give facts please take the time to read and understand them so you would know what is relevant and not. You really tickled my mind!:rotfl: still_dale

Here is another website that deals with NUMBERS, STATISTICAL DATA of DEPORTATION, DETENTION and REMOVAL not issued by a friend of a friend of a friend but by the USCIS, Immigration Enforcement Actions: 2004 released last November 2005. These are documented cases that came from the U.S. Gov't! ENJOY! You need an ADOBE ACROBAT READER to view these stats. You can download AA Reader for free at their website. Here is the link: http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/publications/AnnualReportEnforcement2004.pdf I will quote again: This Office of Immigration Statistics Annual Report presents information on apprehensions, investigations, detention and removal of foreign nationals during 2004.1 Data were obtained from workload and case tracking systems of DHS. In 2004, in summary: • DHS apprehended an estimated 1,241,089 foreign nationals. Ninety-two percent were natives of Mexico. • There were 58,727 investigations initiated and 46,656 closed for immigration related activities including crime, compliance enforcement, work site enforcement, identity and benefit fraud, alien smuggling, and counter terrorism. • ICE detained approximately 235,247 foreign nationals for a minimum of 24 hours. • There were 202,842 foreign nationals formally removed from the United States. The leading countries of origin of formal removals were Mexico (73 percent), Guatemala (4.1 percent) and Honduras (4.0 percent). More than 1,035,000 other foreign nationals accepted an offer of voluntary departure. End of quote: This is not a GOSPEL. It is simply a reliable FACT and not some mere DRAMA. still_Dale

DEPORTATION>>> not true? friend of a friend of a friend stories... HERE IT IS>>> Check this US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement SITE by click this link>>>http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/newsreleases/articles/050919chicago.htm I will quote: These weekly deportations demonstrate ICE's commitment to restoring integrity to the nation's immigration system. ICE formally removed more than 162,000 aliens nationally in fiscal year 2004. More than half of those were criminal aliens. The ICE Chicago office deported more than 6,100 aliens last year, a 28-percent increase over the previous year. When air travel is most practical, ICE effects its deportations aboard both commercial and government aircraft. The government's aircraft is run by the U.S. Marshal Service, and is called the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS). JPATS is one of the largest transporters of prisoners in the world and handles hundreds of requests every day to move prisoners and criminal aliens nationally and internationally. There is an automatic 10-year bar against deported aliens from legally re-entering the U.S. Re-entering the U.S. after being formally deported is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. END OF QUOTE. still_DALE

Pinoy Guy, Yes AOS is legal no question about it. But Adjusting Status while on a Tourist Visa according to the law is not. It is true that there are thousands of documented cases that people are being deported and sometimes jailed because of their illegal status in the U.S. You can read thousands of these pages on other forums and other immigration lawyers websites.There are so many laws that were passed, increasing border security, limiting the number of immigrants and so on. I am just explaining the risks involve and their options. I am not SCARING PEOPLE. I am just explaining what is RIGHT for the benefit of all based on immigration law. LEGAL JARGON? Well the most reliable source to PROVE a point is to PROVIDE a RELIABLE SOURCE. In this topic, the U.S. Code of Federal Regualtions and the Immigration and Nationality Act comes into the spotlight. I always stand for what I believe in, if one would die for the benefit of millions so be it. The Philippines has a bad reputation because most of the people who have been a given a tourist visa never came back. Legal or not is not the question anymore. Many Filipinos are hurt because of this practice. Yes we are all adults. So what's your point in saying that I am scaring people away? These are not kids who listen to your bedtime stories. This is the real world. If they read my posts and considers it fine, if they don't it doesn't matter otherwise i would have been banned here. I am not a lawyer. I am not offering my services. You say "Helpful data means reliable data--what worked for you, or a friend" What's your point here? I am providing FACTS, LAWS and everything. What do you provide? A friend who want to commit suicide because she was not able to fly to the U.S.? This is not "MAALALA MO KAYA" There are far more many...millions of Filipinos who are suffering...who are living in SUB-HUMAN CONDITIONS. In using a tourist visa, YOU JUST WANT TO TAKE THE SHORTCUT. If you do not want the term "shortcut" you do not want to wait for consular processing. You do not want it to do the safe way, you don't want to FALL IN LINE for your greencard. What could be the reason in waiting for 2 years? Are you telling me that you would not be able to survive in that period? And take the risk of being "out of status", being deported, or jailed? THE SOUR GRAPE... About your friend... I also have a friend who DIED. You know why? She was not given a tourist visa she badly needed for her treatment in the U.S. because too many Filipinos have already abused these visas. But this is not my reason for writing that I am against it. IT HAS TO SERVE ITS PURPOSE! As far as I know, you can always apply for a tourist visa especially if your records with the U.S. Embassy are good. It is true that we all want to earn a decent living, to provide a good future for our family and loved ones. It is so disappointing to live here. Enjoy the ride! still_dale

Pinoy Guy, There are complications in using a tourist visa. Ofcourse you would not be going for Consular Processing if you are already in the U.S. so it is Adjustment of Status. Adjustment of Status can be used let's say if you are under working visa, H1B for example. There are two types of tourist visas. The B1 and B2. Most of the Filipinos go for B2. Here you can find the simplest explanation at the u.s. embassy website http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwhniv5.html Start of quote What are the allowable uses of a B1/B2 Visa? The B1 visa allows for temporary visitors to conduct business in the U.S. This includes such things as a need to consult with business associates, negotiate a contract, buy goods or materials, settle an estate, appear in a court trial, and participate in business or professional conventions or conferences. This visa does not generally allow for gainful employment. The B2 visa is issued for the purpose of touring, visits to friends and relatives, visits for rest or medical treatment, social or fraternal conventions and conferences, and amateur/unpaid participants in cultural or sports events. Can I go to the United States to work? While you may go to the United States on a B-1/B-2 visa on business, working for a short time for a foreign employer, you may not be employed or paid by a U.S. party. To be employed in the United States, you must have a working visa (H-1, H-2, E-1, E-2, or L-1). End of quote As these visas simply defined "you may not be employed or paid" because your purpose there is simply to visit. Even in the interview process and when the consular officer issues a tourist visa the officer thinks that the one being issued a visa will be coming back to the Philippines. This is what the law states. Start of quote How do you decide whether or not to issue a visa? What does 214(b) mean? For business and tourist visas (B-1/B-2), each applicant must qualify under section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which states: "Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the officer, at the time of the application for a visa . . . that he is entitled to nonimmigrant status . . . Essentially, the visa officer is looking to see that the applicant has compelling reasons to return to the Philippines. By law, the burden of proof is on the applicant to show that he or she qualifies for the visa. This proof may come in many forms, but when considered together, it must be strong enough for the interviewing officer to conclude that your ties to the Philippines will bring you back at the end of a temporary stay in the United States. End of quote WHEN YOU HAVE A TOURIST VISA YOU HAVE THE INTENTION TO RETURN TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY AND HAVE NO INTENTION TO STAY PERMANENTLY IN THE U.S. IT CONSTITUTES FRAUD IF YOU DO NOT RETURN. For the TNT's I guess all TNT's would want to become legal/documented/permanent residents. They have the intention to do but can't because they are out of status, undocumented. It is the U.S. Immigration Law that restricts them to be legal. It is true that because of the economic situation of the Philippines most of us would want to jump off this sinking ship to save ourselves and our future. My point with Nurse Dependent is that there are legal ways to do this and it would not affect others who would really want to use a tourist visa for tourist or visiting purposes. The Philippines ranks as one of the highest where fraud in u.s. immigration is being committed. Sad but true. Earning a green card is NOT A RIGHT! It is a privilege given to deserving individuals who had done it the legal way and with accordance of the law. still_dale

leah, nbi clearance would do. police clearance would only be needed if you have lived for more than six months outside your home country. here is the link at the us embassy in manila you can find all the needed documentation there: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3217.html start of quote 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). an official letter of explanation from the nbi is required for any notation of "no criminal record", no pending criminal case" or "with derogatory record." nbi is located along taft avenue in manila. for immigration purposes, an nbi clearance is considered valid only for a year from the date it is issued. police certificates. a police certificate is required from a country in which the applicant lived for more than one year (six months if you are applying for a k visa) after turning 16 years old. information on how to secure police certificates from countries where these are available may be obtained by contacting u.s. embassy manila's immigrant visa branch, or an embassy/consulate of the country from which the police certificate is required. the state department's visa office offers online information on availability of country documents including police certificates through its country document finder. click on the letter that begins the country name, select the country and scroll down to "documents".end of quote hope this helps... still dale

Yeah I called NVC and inquired about this matter. As what Nurse Dep said the most important thing is that you are classified as EX CATEGORY. Where are you now rep? are u in the U.S. already? still_dale

Hi All, Dhel, Rep I would like anyone "who has gone to packet 3 stage" to comment on this one: Do you need to submit the visa screen certificate at NVC for review or documentation of your case when you submit the DS230 forms? I recall that I read a post here that the new procedures for reviewing documents are with the NVC (not with the U.S. Embassy) including the submission of the Visa Screen Certificate at Packet 3 stage before issuing the PACKET 4. Happy NEW YEAR! still_dale