Filipino Requirements for Visa Applications going to the United States
When a beneficiary is eligible to apply for an immigrant or fiancé(e) visa (that is, the priority date becomes current and all the pre-processing requirements have been met), the National Visa Center (NVC) queues the beneficiary for a visa interview. The NVC will send the applicant a packet with the visa interview appointment date, information, the application forms and a list of required documents. It is important that visa applicants submit all documentary requirements to NVC so they are “documentarily qualified” for the visa interview; otherwise, they will be found ineligible for visa issuance and be asked to return to the Embassy for another appointment. The basic documents that an applicant must submit are:
- PASSPORT: Each visa applicant must have a passport valid for at least six (6) months from the time of the visa issuance. Filipino citizens can apply for a passport at the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA), Aseana Business Park, Bradco Avenue corner Macapagal Boulevard, Paranaque City. Applicants may set an appointment by going on line at www.passport.com.ph or call 02-737-1000.
- DS-230 Parts I and II: Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Forms. These forms are sent to applicants along with their appointment letters. Each family member applying for an immigrant visa is required to complete these forms.
- BIRTH CERTIFICATE: Each visa applicant must have a birth certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on security paper. Copies are needed for principal applicants and derivative family members and petitioners who were born in the Philippines. You may call the NSO Information Center at (02) 737-1111 or visit their e-census webpage to inquire about how to secure 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 a certified birth certificate from the local registrar in the town where you were born.
- 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, married name, and any aliases or nicknames ever used, including different spellings of all names ever used. 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.” For immigration purposes, an NBI clearance is considered valid only for one year from the date it is issued. The NBI Clearance Center is located at 5th Floor, Victory Central Mall, Old Victory Compound, Rizal Avenue, Monumento, Caloocan City. You may contact NBI at (632) 523-82-31 to 38. The NBI web site is http://www.nbi.gov.ph.
- 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 of age. As with NBI clearances, foreign police certificates should be obtained in any maiden names, married names, aliases or nicknames ever used while in the country in question, including different spellings of all names ever used. 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 of the country from which the police certificate is required.The State Department’s Visa Office offers online information on the 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”.
- MARRIAGE RECORDS (if applicable): For Philippine marriages, the copy of the marriage certificate must be printed on National Statistics Office (NSO) security paper. If the marriage ended by divorce, annulment, disappearance or death of the spouse, legal and/or civil documentation must be presented attesting to the termination of the marriage (annulment decree, death certificate issued by NSO and printed on security paper, a foreign divorce decree, or foreign death certificate).
- MILITARY RECORD: Applicants who have served in the military should present a certified copy of their military records.
- SUPPORTING EVIDENCE OF IDENTITY AND/OR RELATIONSHIP: Applicants should be prepared to submit documents that further establish their identity and/or their relationship with the petitioner or the principal applicant. Six (6) or more photographs with family members together, taken over a period of time, may help to establish the existence of a relationship. Personal correspondence, home telephone records, bank records, proof of joint property ownership and/or joint financial obligations, original baptismal records, medical records and adoption decrees are often useful.
- EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Form I-864 Affidavit of Support (AOS): The I-864 AOS is required for visa applicants in the IR, F and certain E visa categories, and follow-to-join derivative family members of employment-based (E) applicants complete with copies of your sponsor’s latest U.S. Federal income tax return (ITR) and wage statements (Form W-2s). Please note that your petitioner must provide an Affidavit of Support, even if they do not meet the income requirements and even if a joint sponsor’s Affidavit of Support will be providing all of the actual financial support.The I-864 AOS is NOW VALID INDEFINITELY ONCE IT HAS BEEN SIGNED (this is a change from the previous requirement of being valid for one year). In other words, applicants will no longer need to submit a new I-864 AOS or new tax forms due to long processing delays between the date of the signature of the I-864 AOS and the date of the interview. However, applicants may be asked by the consular officer, if they are needed.Additionally, petitioners (or joint sponsors, if needed) filing an I-864 AOS are required to submit ONLY ONE YEAR’S TAX RETURN, THE MOST RECENT AVAILABLE AS OF THE DATE THE SUBMITTED I-864 AOS WAS SIGNED (this is a change from the previous requirement of submitting tax returns from the three most recent tax years).The actual signed I-864 AOS must be an original copy. However, faxed copies of tax returns are acceptable. The tax return or copy should be signed. - Form I-864EZ Affidavit of Support: A sponsor may use the shorter form I-864EZ in place of Form I-864 if all of the following applies:
- The sponsor is the visa petitioner (who filed the Form I-130 petition);
- There is no need for a joint sponsor or a Form I-864A;
- The affidavit of support is filed on behalf of only one intending immigrant;
- The sponsor is seeking to qualify based on the sponsor’s own income alone (not on the basis of assets);
- All of the sponsor’s income being counted on the AOS is shown on IRS Form W-2.
- VISA PHOTOGRAPHS: Three (3) colored photographs printed according to specifications, provided in the visa application packet.
- EMPLOYMENT BASED APPLICANTS require the following additional documents:
- Official Job Offer with the salary stated from the potential U.S. employer, issued less than one (1)year prior to visa application
- Visa Screen Certificate (for nurses and physical therapists)
- Old and current professional identification cards.
- CERTIFICATE OF NO MARRIAGE RECORD (CENOMAR). If you have never contracted a 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 or visit their web site at http://www.census.gov.ph.
- Immigrant and “K” Visa Applicant Appointment Packets: You may download the appropriate appointment package by clicking here.
Any document not in English must be accompanied by an English translation. A competent translator must certify the translations.
Consular officers may require additional documentation to adjudicate your application.
Consular officers may ask to see originals of documents. The applicant may submit a photocopy of a document along with the visa application, but should bring the original document for the officer’s inspection.
Medical Examination
All visa applicants, regardless of age, need to complete a medical examination at the St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLMCEC) before the visa interview. Applicants are advised to have their medical examinations done at least one (1) week before their interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Manila.?
SLMCEC is located at 1177 J. Bocobo Street, Ermita, Manila. They can be reached by telephone at (632) 521-0020 and (632) 521-8647. SLMCEC is open from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is best to arrive for your medical examination between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Applicants are served on a first come, first served basis, but the order of release of the medical reports will depend on the complexity of the results of the medical examination.
What is the cost of the medical examination at SLMCEC?
- The medical exam fee is U.S. $213.35 for adults (15 years and older) and U.S. $185.35 for children (under 15 years of age).
- SLMCEC does not accept credit card or dollar payments. The fees must be paid in Philippine pesos at the prevailing exchange rate.
What is the validity of the medical examination?
Medical examinations are generally valid for six (6) months.
Will chest x-rays be required?
- Children younger than 15 years old will not need a chest X-ray or serological test unless required by the doctor, but will instead undergo a Tuberculin Skin Test.
- According to the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), chest X-rays for pregnant women are not dangerous if taken with the proper shielding.
- If you have had previous X-rays, please bring them along for a comparative study.
What should I bring to my medical examination?
- Appointment letter sent by the National Visa Center or an e-mail print out of your appointment from the Visa Information and Appointment Service.
- Appropriate medical examination fee.
- Passport (valid for at least six [6] months)
- Two (2) colored pictures (2 inches x 2 inches) with a white background
What happens after I have my medical examination?
- The medical report, passport and visa pictures are normally submitted by SLMCEC to the U.S. Embassy in Manila. In most cases, only the chest x-ray film and immunization form are given to the applicants in the SLMCEC releasing section.
- The medical examination usually takes two to three working days to process, but can extend up to a few months if there are required tests that need to be completed.
What do I do if I miss my interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Manila because of prolonged and/or additional tests conducted by SLMCEC?
Upon the release of your medical report, SLMCEC will give you information on how to schedule your appointment.
NEW IMMIGRANT VISA FEES EFFECTIVE JULY 13, 2010
| Immigrant Visa Fees | Previous Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate relative and family preference cases | $355 | $330 |
| Employment-based cases | $355 | $720 |
| Other immigrant visa applications: | ||
| Diversity Visa applicants | $355 | $305 |
| I-360 self-petitions | $355 | $305 |
| Special Immigrant Visa applicants | $355 | $305 |
| Immigrant Visa Security Surcharge | $45 | $74 |
| Certain Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa applications | No fee | No fee |
| Diversity Visa Lottery Fee | $375 | $440 |
| Domestic Review Affidavit of Support | $70 | $88 |
| Special Visa Services: Determine Returning Resident Status | $400 | $380 |
Immigrant visa application fees may be paid in cash, traveler’s check, U.S. Postal Money Order, or major credit cards at the Embassy’s consular cashier if these have not been paid already to the National Visa Center (NVC) in the U.S. Payments at the Embassy may be in U.S. dollars or in Philippine pesos at the prevailing Embassy exchange rate. Each applicant, regardless of age, will require a separate fee payment. Fees are non-refundable for applications submitted and processed.
Applicants for K visas must pay a U.S. $350 nonimmigrant visa application fee. The application fee for nonimmigrant visas must be paid prior to scheduling a visa interview appointment. For information on payments options, please Bank and Payment Options.
Medical Examination Fee:
St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLMCEC), the Embassy’s accredited medical facility, charged 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 fee.
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, St. Luke’s, after determining that you are clear to travel, will instruct you to request a visa appointment by visiting the online appointment link on this website or by calling the new Visa Information and Appointment Service at (632) 982-5555. Callers in the U.S. should call (214) 571-1600. The Visa Information and Appointment Service is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. Callers may speak with an English-, Tagalog-, Ilocano- or Cebuano-speaking operator.
COURIER DELIVERY OF ISSUED IMMIGRANT VISA
The Immigrant Visa unit uses a guaranteed courier service to deliver issued visas. 2GO commercial courier is the authorized courier service provider for the visa units. Visas are delivered directly to the applicant’s designated address at no additional cost. Applicants also have the option to pick up the visas at the nearest 2GO branch.
Change Courier Address
Applicants who have already scheduled an appointment online, but who wish to modify their courier address, can click herethe below link to proceed. Change of courier address or courier office location for collection of your passport will be accepted up until 11:59 on the day of your interview.
Return of Passports by Courier Service
If your application is approved, you will receive your passport through the 2GO courier service at the address provided when you scheduled your appointment.
Additional Fees:
For a list of all visa application fees and other types of visa processing fees collected by the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, click here.