Traveling from the Philippines to the USA

[BobGee 5]

Congratulations! You made it. Hope you had a good night sleep after this grueling experience.

[soinlove20 1]

wow this is very helpful.....if everythigs goes well on my interview,,i'll be there in texas this month,,,,

God bless..!!!!

[Brian121957 43]

When you make stop, just let say in Japan, did you have to go to immigration check point? I do concern about that because my fiance and I have plan to have wedding in US main island since he stationed in Guam for military duty.

I never had go to foreign countries except Singapore so I'm going ask silly thing.. Oh, BTW, congrats for your safely trip and arm in arm with your loved one.

My point is that I don't want when we stopped in another country would consider I'm out from US after enter by K-1 visa.

My understanding is that if you have a "1 time entry visa" like a K1, you can NOT fly through Guam. Because Guam is USA territory your visa will be used in Guam. If you can connect DIRECT to USA you are ok but if you connect via any other country you will be considered to have left the USA. Even if you don't leave the airport you will still be considered to be coming from a foreign country when you enter the USA the second time.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

My understanding is that if you have a "1 time entry visa" like a K1, you can NOT fly through Guam. Because Guam is USA territory your visa will be used in Guam. If you can connect DIRECT to USA you are ok but if you connect via any other country you will be considered to have left the USA. Even if you don't leave the airport you will still be considered to be coming from a foreign country when you enter the USA the second time.

Oh no, I get confused again...

[charlize56 4]

me neither im confused also as to why a person cant fly through guam??what if my schedule has a connecting flight in guam? then to hawaii,you mean it can cause a problem? my fiance will buy my tickets soon in continental airlines and they always have a conecting flight via guam,then darn this is so confusing!!!!!!

[TeapotGirl 66]

My understanding is that if you have a "1 time entry visa" like a K1, you can NOT fly through Guam. Because Guam is USA territory your visa will be used in Guam. If you can connect DIRECT to USA you are ok but if you connect via any other country you will be considered to have left the USA. Even if you don't leave the airport you will still be considered to be coming from a foreign country when you enter the USA the second time.

Guamanians still needs papers when going to US mainland compared tho those that are from Hawaii because that's considered US mainland even if it's on the pacific.

Edited November 8, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[steffbry 5]

Hi VJ's

Been here in Texas for 2 days now and would like to share my travel experience. Well, traveling fro the Philippines to the US is a mix feeling between being sad we are leaving our family and friends behind ( we need to be strong and look at the positive side of life ones we leave..I told myself its not a forever goodbyes to people I love ) , happy coz we will be with the person we long to spend the rest of our life with, nervous ( especially if it's our first time traveling ), and excitement about the upcoming new adventures in our life...and more so nice anticipations of our new phase in life.

When traveling from the Philippines, always be prepared from small things to big ones. I don't just mean material belongings I mean, be prepared if you travel alone to not forget to write contact numbers. be prepared with your mobile phone and have it in an international roaming a week before departure ( tho mine was a piece of #######...it never did work ) Check your itinerary and be familiar with what is there. know your stop over. It will help you big time if lay over is about 3 hours or more. Gives you a chance not to be rushed or in panic mode if and when your connecting flights are delayed. Be sure to keep the passport, itinerary, and boarding pass in one bag together with the yellow packet and be attentive of it. That's your life when traveling. keep it in handy and close to you. It should easily be pulled out if and when you go through gates and more so the immigration. It helps when you organize it properly knowing that being nervous makes our mind sometimes not function right..hahhaha.

As to my suitcase, I placed a distinguishing mark I know that's unique so that I would know when my suitcase s coming. Please read the baggage guidelines, what you can and can't bring. you don't want to be more stressed because of that. Don't put locks on your suitcase, the security officers may break it if they feel there's a need to do so.Be sure to ask the staff of the airlines who will give you your boarding pass if your bags are booked all the way through the final destination and if there are fees to be paid or not. Even if you may think you know, its not a bad idea to verify it. Be prepared to keep a good amount of pocket money. it might help if you got quarters too

Ok, enough for those tips - Lets talk about how my travel went.

1. woke up 3 am and prepared to be at the airport 2 hours before my domestic flight from my province to Manila. Arrive terminal 3 through Cebu pacific and my aunt was there waiting for me. But I was prepared if and when no one was there, I could take the shuttle to transfer me to terminal 1. My flight to Taipei was bound to leave at 12:45. Arriving at Manila 7:05 am, at first I though it was a long and boring wait, but its not. I was able to get me a nice breakfast, spend the time with my aunt, have my bags checked in 2 hours before my departure and no hurries done and less stress.

2. At around 12 noon we should had been able to board the plane, but Eva Airlines was delayed. The plane left 1:15 instead of 12:45. that was a 2 hrs and 55 mins flight to Taipei. As I was in Taipei, I made friends with Filipinos/as in that same plane..and it was nice to spend the time traveling and not be time conscious..chit chat helped my layover in Taipei was like 3 hours..was supposedly close to 4 hours but the plane was late, but still 3 hours was a good one. When in Taipei, one thing I did was to know the gate I am supposed to board. After that, I checked if they stick to the gates as stated in the itinerary or boarding pass. You need to do this coz sometimes they change gate At Taipei airport, you have to use their own denomination to use that vending machine. there is no money exchange there, we were told to buy something to get coins The guy we asked was a n ice one, he works at the airport, even if he speaks a little English and asked apology for it, I told him its no big deal, I can speak little Chinese too. At airports like that..don't hesitate to ask if you want to know or go somewhere. Be conscious of the time too if you want to roam around the plane again left an hour late - So by then I was counting like -1 for my stop over at LAX. it was still good coz my layover there was close to 5 hours

3. Arriving at LAX from Taipei, my POE experience was really great and a fun one. The immigration officer was nice. I hand him my passport and so as my yellow packet. He knew I was prepared. I wasn't nervous at all tho. He asked me my name and what I was there for. So I said I am under the k1 visa. Then he looked at my passport and opened the yellow envelope. Then he made joke and asked me if I had asked my fiance to do the pamamanhikan. I joke at him back and other immigration officers were joining out conversation. It was nice tho coz it made me like not an alien but was a signal I was welcome at this foreign land. He asked me when we will get married and told me we have 90 days to get married. I asked him where was the I-94..thos I know that the paper i filled up while at th e plane was the I-94, but Iw anna be sure he hand it to me back so he showed me where he clipped it in my passport and told me I am admitted and welcome to the USA At the ramp at LAX, a friend of my fiance was there who offered to met me up and help me out till I was safe in transferring to another terminal. I was glad that God heard my prayers, sending me angels amidst the grueling travel. We were supposed to have more than an hour time to go out and grab something to eat but since the plane arrive an hour late, 30 minutes was enough but I did appreciate his help and would never forget it in my entire life. He welcomed me and it made me feel safe in a place I was a stranger to begin with

4. LAX still, knowing that our boarding time was supposedly 7. Our friend dropped me back LAX terminal B till I was at the security line and made sure I go through it safe, that was when he told me to have a safe flight then he left. Feeling confident everything goes well, Iw aited at the waiting area for American Airlines. At first, they change the boarding time, from 7 - 7:15 then to 7:30 - 8:00 then until 8:15..then being attentive to whats going on, we were advised to change gates then again it was like a hide and seek game, the gates changed again

5 8:15 pm - the unexpected event happened. Flight got cancelled. my body froze and If elt cold - feeling afraid coz I don't know the place. I told myself, panicking wont help. If there's is someone who can help me in situation like that. It was my presence of mind. So I went ahead at their customer service, ask if I can call-up my fiance. But guess what, even if the phone number was a local number, the lady told me she can't make the call I didn't gave up, they may not like me asking but I was doing what I am supposed to do, so I asked where to find a phone to call. she told me there are pay phone. So I went there and the next dilemma how to use the phone when I got no quarters. I asked and asked the people around, mostly those working at LAX, I got those cold answers at some point which made me feel like an alien at a certain place, but it never stopped me, I prayed for God's guidance and prayed for wisdom and the right path to go. One American came close to me and told me he will help me out do the re-booking. he was the man I was talking with at the waiting area. It felt nice that someone did cared. So he let brought me at the customer service where to do the re booking but I told him I was ok and I can manage, he was supposed to have a connecting flight and will be running late so I told him to just go and not worry about me, he told me to have a safe flight and i did the same. I was still thinking of calling my fiance first and letting him know. so I left then look for a place where to change my dollar bill to a quarter. I arrive at a money exchange counter, but the lady didn't allow me to change my dollar bill to more than 4 quarter. So, instead of trying to argue, I said ok. My concern is calling my fiance, 4 quarter can make me do 2 calls. So I went ahead and called him up. He told me to go at the customer service and have him talk to them. But the customer service delinced to do the favor. they just hand me a new boarding pass, a hotel voucher and meals and told me to claim my bags and re-check it to my flight tomorrow. I asked them why do they not just check it in, besides it was their fault why the flight was cancelled and they are responsible for that rather than for us to go through more stress with the bags and go somewhere I even don't know where to go. She just told me they cant assure the security of the bags if I dont claim it. I asked how to get to the hotel, but all she told me was to go out of the terminal and across the street I can see a sigh saying Hotel. But the truth none of that was there.

As I was about to claim my bags, it dawned on me to go at the baggage service center and ask if I really have to claim it. So I did what my mind told me. And lucky me, I found out that I don't have to claim it and they will check it in my next flight. so I went out, next thing is to find where the shuttle. There was a security officer outside and I asked him where I can find the shuttle, he was the one who gave me the direction and just intime the shuttle was there. I stayed at a nice hotel. Wasn't able to sleep and asked when does the shuttle leave the earliest time next day. the said at 5. My boarding time was 7 btu I though it was best to leave at 5 just incase I need to run through another emergency.

At the hotel, I was asked if I have credit card, It old the front desk I don't have. That I just arrive from the Philippines, then they asked me for a 25usd deposit. Good thin I have enough pocket money so I hand them 25usd for the deposit, they said that's for the incremental. I was too tired to ask more so I just paid anyways they said they will return it to me when I check out. As I arrive my hotel room, I called my fiance to tell him I was safe. I know he was too worried. I made like 3 calls to him until I said goodnight.

I requested for a wake up call an hour before 5 to be ready. and they did. they called then a security officer of the hotel knocked at my door to be

sure I was awake..but the truth I never slept. My fiance also called the front desk and asked if they woke me up. so at 4:45 I went down and checked out and found out I need to pay around 18 Usd for the call. darn 25 + 15 usd just for the local call..but my main concern is heading towards the airport so I just checked out w/o arguing. I arrived the airport 5:30 and there were people at the security line already. Oh- just a suggestion, it will help if you dont wear belts and just keep it in the bag if and when you will be going through security line. check your pockets too just incase you have coins. I normally place everything inside the bag including cellphone earrings and every metals so i wont have a hard time going through the security line. I didn't mind the TSA. I know they do it to ensure safety of the passengers.

Before going to the waiting area, I decided to check the monitor to see if the gate in my boarding pass is the same, lucky for me to do that coz the gate changed from 48A to 40. So, I went ahead to gate 40 and waited for our boarding time. So, far that time everything went smooth. I had a chit chat with one american lady. She was nice and we talked until it was time to go on board. As I passed by her seat, she called my attention and told me to have a safe flight. That was again such a nice feeling.

I arrive DFW close to lunch time, I did have confusion on where to claim the bags but I was able to figure it out. My fiance met me up there and it was such a nice feeling being able to hug him after being away from each other for like 16 months.

GOOD LUCK to the rest of the VJ's here

Hi Dean_De you've really been very helpful to all the VJer's who are still clueless on what's gonna happen after all these petition and once visa was approved. I really appreciate you posting your experiences from the time you had your interview at US embassy in Manila and your experience while traveling to the US to be with your loved one. We're still on the process of waiting for our NOA2 but as early as now, i want to be prepared both physically and mentally.. and stating every detail on what you have gone through really made me realize how hard it is going through all of this just to be with our loved ones in US. i guess all those effort and hard work was really WORTH IT. Based on your story, i can say that there are a lot of hospitable and helpful persons that you can rely on especially those times when you're totally bummed and mad on delayed flights, no quarters.. hard time contacting your fiance. Well, i guess you're totally right that we should always be on our PRESENCE OF MIND. may it be on the interview or on the time of our departure in the airport. Thank you sooooooooo much! I've been saving some of your posts with helpful tips esp your interview experience at the Embassy I'm so happy for you and your loved one that you we're reunited again after 16months(such a long time...you were really patient) Good luck on your journey and i wish you all the best especially on your relationship Take care

[Jim N Augie 16]

me neither im confused also as to why a person cant fly through guam??what if my schedule has a connecting flight in guam? then to hawaii,you mean it can cause a problem? my fiance will buy my tickets soon in continental airlines and they always have a conecting flight via guam,then darn this is so confusing!!!!!!

here is ll you need to know on POE http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/ports/ Guam my be preclear I m nit sure heres a link for those http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/preclear_locations.xml

[Jim N Augie 16]

Oh no, I get confused again...

You will be fine going thru japan but heres list of POE http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/ports/ and preclear http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/preclear_locations.xml

[Girl from Celebes 588]

You will be fine going thru japan but heres list of POE http://www.cbp.gov/x.../toolbox/ports/ and preclear http://www.cbp.gov/x...r_locations.xml

Thank you Jim N Augie..

[HopeFaithLove 13]

Hi Dhel Glad to hear from you ! Finally, you made it there ! Praise & thank God, all is well Everyone would have his / her own experience. It's nice to read yours. Thanks for sharing ! This would be very helpful to everyone especially to those 1st time traveling internationally. Hope you continue to post especially when you file for AOS. I believe your posts are great help to everyone. Keep it coming! God bless you and your Fiance and enjoy each other

[Brian121957 43]

Oh no, I get confused again...

My information about Guam comes from a professional visa / immigration service that specializes in the Philippines. They have had clients that did not check with them on their travel plans and got stuck in Guam because it became there POE. Even if you have a direct flight from Guam to Hawaii and have plane problems and have to divert to another country you can have the same problem. The recommendation they gave me was just avoid Guam unless there was absolutely no way else. Or you are prepared to spend a LOT of time in Guam.

The risk of getting in to a legal mess was just to high.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

My information about Guam comes from a professional visa / immigration service that specializes in the Philippines. They have had clients that did not check with them on their travel plans and got stuck in Guam because it became there POE. Even if you have a direct flight from Guam to Hawaii and have plane problems and have to divert to another country you can have the same problem. The recommendation they gave me was just avoid Guam unless there was absolutely no way else. Or you are prepared to spend a LOT of time in Guam.

The risk of getting in to a legal mess was just to high.

Seems very complicated.My fiance stationed in Guam for military duty. He asked me to choose which states I would love to go for our wedding and honeymoon. I have checked many beautiful scenery, places, old buildings, etc..etc..etc. For honeymoon we probably go to cruise ship - which I think can do that by apply Advance of Parole (AP)- but I guess we would have hard way if we choose to wed in US mainland based to info you put on this post. . My clear explanation, I would use Guam as my POE by K-1 Visa. And the problem comes up because if I wanted to fly to US mainland to wed my fiance, I have to make a stop in Japan. I assumed, I would be out of US at that time.

[Jim N Augie 16]

Ok that is little clearer first seemed you were asking bout Jpn and only said He is stationed in Guam. anyway the above links will tell you what is POE and what is not.

[Brian121957 43]

Seems very complicated.My fiance stationed in Guam for military duty. He asked me to choose which states I would love to go for our wedding and honeymoon. I have checked many beautiful scenery, places, old buildings, etc..etc..etc. For honeymoon we probably go to cruise ship - which I think can do that by apply Advance of Parole (AP)- but I guess we would have hard way if we choose to wed in US mainland based to info you put on this post. . My clear explanation, I would use Guam as my POE by K-1 Visa. And the problem comes up because if I wanted to fly to US mainland to wed my fiance, I have to make a stop in Japan. I assumed, I would be out of US at that time.

Know you understand, Yes, When you make the stop in Japan you would be out of the US and can't get back in.