I cut my wife's hair and everybody loves it... Now all I have to do is act gay and start my own salon... Shine na!!! Hehehehe!!!

hahaha..that's cool!

Same like my husband he cut my hair and I cut his hair too .

Welcome to America Lira everything here is expensive

Concerning this....

Is is advisable to buy shoes and clothes here in the Philippines before departing to US?

Clothes are much cheaper in the Phils!

Buy LOTS of panties and bras. We still have them sent from the Philippines.

Absolutely! They are much, much, much cheaper than here in the States and very nice...

DITTO AGAIN!

Okay, advise noted. TY.

hehe...better way to save

Hi guys.....thanks for the shopping tips:)....but I need to pass my interview first before I do that:)......In the meantime, I need an input from anyone who would give time to answer me:).....My interview will be on Sept 10.My questions are...1. is it a must to bring my X-ray film during the interview....2. i noticed that one of the DS forms included in my Packet 4 has expired date already.Should i go ahead and fill the form or should i download a new one?.....3. there's a question if I intend to work in the US....i would like to find a job when I'm legally able but it is asking for an employer's name.....since i dont know yet who will be my employer what should be an appropriate answer to the question?.your answer will be a great help.....

KC_MP,

1)You don't need to bring xray film at interview. 2) Are you referring to DS156K? if you are, I'm also gonna use that the expired form because it is what I got from the official embassy website. As for the other forms, I was able to get unexpiredones online. 3) I also raised the same question about this. I answered, "With work authorization, employer unknown." I followed the VJ form samples. I'm getting nervous because Im not yet prepared with the papers here for the interview hehehe. God bless you!

1. No X-ray film for the interview
2. Better use all the forms online, they are updated (see Sheriff Uling's signature for that)
3. "With work authorization, employer unknown" - this is from the sample form here in VJ

Good luck on your interview!

My husband bought a pair of skirt and blouse and 2 extra shirts for me yesterday and when I checked the price... it is equivalent to Php10K, just for 4 pcs of clothing. I almost fainted. I told him it made me feel guilty and it seemed too much. He knew why and so he said I should learn not to convert US prices into Philippine currency. Am I the only one who do that??? I just can't help it... it became a habit for me.

--Mae

It would be better not to convert all the time coz you won't enjoy your new clothes anymore! I was also advised by other people that once I get there to stop converting too much coz I might not eat or buy anymore lol. But converting doesn't hurt as long as not done too much because it will remind us to be practical.
Anyway, enjoy your clothes!

Sean and my mother-in-law both laugh at me every time I feel guilty after shopping (and converting). Things ARE so much more expensive here, if we base it all on the Philippine standard. I still shock myself when we go to the grocery... I just don't get/look at clothes and shoes anymore, unless they're on sale for like 75% off THEN it becomes acceptable.

Oh, and in preparation for the move to the US, I bought 12 bras, and 4 dozen panties!! Now I don't have to wait for people to send them here from Divisoria!
Also bought a ton of jeans, but jeans are ok here, I think. Especially the levi's when they're on sale. They're still not 6 to 7 dollars, (more like 20 to 30), but the quality is MUCH better.

Since I know how expensive here,I made my shopping for the 3 of us those 3 years of waiting for my visa.Gary take home 2 bags full of clothes and stuff in his 7th trip, plus I have myself and Robin 4 full packed of luggages when we get here.Better ready than sorry.I take my ''beauty parlor kit'' too for myself and my 2 boys satisfied with their haircut! I'm available for home service,anyone? big discount offer here.

I still trying to quit '' $ convert to Peso mode'' every time we go on shopping or else we go starved!

BTW..Where our sweet VJ Manila Thread queen? I do miss my sister Cora(PW)..this thread is not the same anymore without her.
Sending hugs and wish you all the very best sister!

Sheriff Bading, pwede magpagupit sa iyo for free? My hair is up to my waist now because I'm kuripot. I don't want to spend $40 to have my hair done.


Hehe, funny you would say that. Sometimes I don't eat anymore when I'm not real hungry to save money.

My son and I share one order of food most of the time since the serving size here is super-duper big. Good for 2-3 persons tapos ang soda free refill pa. Yesterday, we ate at a fastfood. My husband's food bill was $8 while me and my son just shared one meal (chicken teriyaki) for $6 (and that's for the two of us na). Good for 3 persons halos but my son and I finished them all para hindi sayang. Maraming nagugutom sa Philippines, nakaka-guilty pag nagtapon ng food.

SISTER LUZ!!! I'm still here!!! Please PM me your home phone number. Pwede ba magpa-home service sa iyo? hehehe

There you are!!!

I PM you now... (tama ba yung words? lol!)

Whenever we eat at fastfood like McDo, my husband usually order kiddie meal for me since I am small and cannot eat much. Sometimes we share on one hamburger and fries because we're both frugal about our finances and we don't want to waste food.

And oh, one of the problems I have encountered is shopping clothes for myself because the smallest size I could find is still big and too loose for me. My husband's very conservative and he doesn't like the clothes that I brought with me. He said I am not in the Philippines now so no too tight, spaghetti straps/tube tops for me anymore. I'm still trying to get used to my "transformation" (read: manang look ). The clothes he bought are not so bad... it's just I'm not used to covering my skin. Oh well...


--Mae

hahaha. It's so fun reading your posts! I will bring all the clothes I can bring!

Hi, I have a chance to post today because I'm visiting my mom and Fely's not here. She's still at home tending to her garden.

Anyway concerning prices, Fely and I visit the thrift shops and yard sales, and get great bargains on some very nice clothing. She came here with 1/2 suitcase of clothes, and already has several jackets and blouses and way too many slippers and shoes, and it cost us maybe $25 so far. We also get stuff to sell on eBay (just sold a book for $79, only paid 50 cents for it).

As for food, we don't eat out much. Fely spends $3 on vegetables at our local farmer's market, and added to rice they seem to last her a week.

Sis..it sez your inbox is full..I send you Gary's CP no.# instead of my landline eh..(nasanay kasi ako na yun ang tinatawagan when I'm still here in PI).I will give you the landline number as soon as you delete some of your messages.Thankee !

I shop at the kids section most of the time and im sticking on shorts and skirts because i can't find jeans or pants that will fit me even in kids section.

You got that right. When we bought shoes here, they gave me the kiddie size of 3 or 4 because they can't find one in the ladies section that will have my size. And when we shop for a shirt at Harley's shop, I'm glad they have my size, it's either XS or S, but it fits me well. Good thing there are shops here that have smaller sizes= XS/S. But I had my suits tailored made in the Philippines before I went here just to be sure.

It's so funny we both have same experiences. My husband is fondly shopping me clothes and always say he cant find my right sizes. Clothes here are way too big for me so we went to Dilliards and other shopping malls to check their "petite sizes" but sad to say its still kinda loose, lol!

When it comes to food, you're not alone Mae, i order happy meal of Mc Do too, and when it is a buffet (eat-all-u-can) i get a tablespoon of each dishes to try. Now im not suprised why people here are obese, and one thing i miss is having cash on my hand coz i use debit/credit cards here ...hehehe!

Do I need to have my medical certificate from my private doctor notarized? This is regarding the other doze of varicella vaccine that was required of me.

Thanks.

Hello guys. I have a question about DS forms.Should i fill up the ones included in the packet 4 using a typewriter?Or should i fill them out online?I'm just confused why are they sending complete set of forms if they also have a requirement that it should be dowloaded.Also, if it should be filled out online, what about the DS form validated by BPI at the back?Should i go ahead and fill the information using the typewriter?

in the DS 156 as what others told me, you need to download online for the bar code. DS 157 use what is included on your packet 4, it can be hand written, typewritten or download.......
as for me I downloaded online and if there are some Q's that won't fit in the space provided I used pen

No need to have it notarized, as long as the medical certificate have a "letter heading" with the name of the Doctor and his License number, and of course, signed by the doctor.

Hi guys!

I need help...yesterday i received my NOA1 for my AOS the prob is my middlename is not included , is it ok?! or should i inform the USCIS about it?!

2 questions for everyone...

1) Changing US address after arrival on a K1 visa...who to notify and how?
2) X-Rays from SLEC...accidentally left at sisters house in Manila, do we need to get them sent here or can we just get new ones here?

1) Use your new address when you submit the I-485
2) You won't need the X-ray

to all wonderful members of this VJ family, thanks so much for all the help, encouragement and guidance. I had my interview this morning and I got APPROVED! The CO at window 29 was sooooo NICE...if there was no glass barrier, i could have kissed him! LOL i was literally smiling from ear to ear when i left the room.

best of luck to those who are next in line.

khay

Congrats!!!

Congrats tigbok

QUOTE(tigbok @ Sep 5 2007, 10:47 AM)

to all wonderful members of this VJ family, thanks so much for all the help, encouragement and guidance. I had my interview this morning and I got APPROVED! The CO at window 29 was sooooo NICE...if there was no glass barrier, i could have kissed him! LOL i was literally smiling from ear to ear when i left the room.

best of luck to those who are next in line.

khay

I have sent the requested papers for a co-sponsor today to Manila and the embassy should receive them by next week.

They had Kathlene go ahead and pay Delbros, so does that mean they will go ahead and process her visa once they review the co-sponsor? There should be no problem with his income since it has been well over the requirements on the past three years tax forms.

Should I hope for Kathlene getting a visa in the next few weeks, or will they take their time on reviewing her case?

Congratulations tigbok! Glad to hear you had a wonderful experience at your interview!

Congratulations!!!

#2 - You'll never know when the X-ray film will be handy. In my case, I'm still so glad that I got it with me because when I had my TB Skin Test as part of my AOS application, they told me that I am positive (15mm, that's the reading). Since most of us Filipinos received the BCG vaccines when we were kids, we're supposed to have TB antibodies and I explain to them that that's the main reason why I may be positive of TB. It made sense to them but they wanted me to have another X-ray just to make sure that my lungs are ok. When I told them that I just had an X-ray last May of this year and I got it with me, they just read it and didn't ask for another CXR. It saved as couple of $$. In your case, they "might" require her a new CXR someday and I don't think it's going to be a problem for you to do it.

--Mae

Congrats

I hope that nobody minds because I requested to have our precious Manila Embassy Interview thread pinned, which is why it's here. Thanks Capt Ewok!!!

As always, cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

I was wondering where it went.... Nice that this thread is pinned! Capt Ewok and Sheriff Uling -> Thanks!

COOL! Now you don't have to BUMP, BUMP, BUMP Sheriff! But I will surely miss seeing your booty bumping around the thread, LOL!


--Mae

hi there i hope ull read my message.i was browsing here in VJ and im looking of having same situation like me. my fiance is filling a k1 visa and im ex hubsnad died just a quick question for u what are the questions of the CO is u have previous marriage and ur ex-husband died???they say some consul asked personal questions regarding his death? pls email me at darkangel_ayen@yahoo.com

Be honest... nobody knows what set of questions the CO might ask and they can be so tricky sometimes, but if you are honest and true to your heart, you don't have to worry... the truth always comes out. I suggest you bring a copy of CEMAR and the death certificate of your husband in case they'll ask about your previous marriage.


--Mae

Filipino pre interviewer asked my wife how her ex died. As long as the NSO death certificate as been filed there should be no problems unless maybe if he died in one of the planes in 9/11!!