has anyone lived and worked in the philippines while waiting for the process to complete? i'm considering this but cant find a position to fill or exactly where to look...any suggestions?

Apply with the State Department to work at the US Embassy in Manila. Ask for a job interviewing K-1 applicants. Maybe you can help those of us who have Filipina fiance's.

It's very hard for Americans, or foreigners for that matter, to find employment in the Philippines. Those who do work here are usually employed by int'l organizations/multinational companies or are consultants for local companies. They have employers who petition for them. Others marry Filipinas in order to put up businesses. Salary-wise, you might find a $200~$400/month job offer unacceptable, if you are lucky to find employment, that is.

What other USCs do is to save money to live here for 6 mos. ~ 1 year. If you live in your fiancee's house, you can scrape by on $400 or less if she lives in the rural area. Be reminded too that you do need to show a tax return and employment letter for your fiancee's interview at the embassy so please consider these when deciding to move here.

Edited to add: Oh, there are a lot of American and European scuba diving instructors here. That's how they find work. They live on the beach and teach scuba. It's paradise for them.

Also if you happen to get a job dont forget that you need a work permit. I have heard some very bad stories about foriegners being caught working without one... it will cost you alot ...

i live in the philippines, and i daresay, it really would be difficult for you to get a job here. if you -do- want to work, i suggest applying for jobs online, and then coming here when you've got one waiting. though as PatientlyWaiting said, if you find 200-400/mo jobs unacceptable, then.. uh.. heh. i dunno. i make less than 200 a month,and yet i find myself lucky. so, good luck!

best gig ever...would be to work for a multi-national corp or a US company but be based in the Philippines. there are companies like this...it depends though on what you can do and what you are qualified to do.