gretchen_darren

So how long did it take to update your cases after the biometrics was done? When did you see updates to your cases (both the EAD and AOS)?

a Difference i noticed...

In America, A dad jingles the car keys saying "who wants to go for ice cream?" then loads up the gang, and drives for some 15 to 30 minutes to the local drive-in for ice cream cones....

In Philippines, a dad asks who wants ice cream (or frozen milk), then sends one of the kids to go get for everyone from the local sari-sari (on credit)....and pays for it later on....

Stop posting invalid information!

I meant form I-131 but marked differently for a re-entry permit (a little different from AP BUT it IS the SAME form.)

Here is the information I was looking for: this should help if she did not process a form I-131 BEFORE she left.

reentry us embassy manila

Hope it helps....best of luck

If I was your wife I would be very upset to read the bolded part

That is why I am glad you are NOT asawa ko..... She read it and laughed.....she understands my humor very much and knows what I mean.... I wish I could not have gone through a horrible previous marriage....but because of how bad THAT marriage was.... I treasure her love all the more....

not to make it sound mean or bad.. but think this way

when you live in a mobile home (or doghouse) for years and then someone gives you mansion to live in for the rest of your life...you can't help but feel blessed and wonder why you put up with the doghouse as long as you did....I treasure EVERY SINGLE MOMENT with asawa ko.... I just wish I could have married her FIRST instead of second....

not easily....this is why you apply for AP....so you can come back after an overstay.... easiest way would be a relative to sponsor her.....I really doubt if she can get back any other way....

It was fun.... I think the guard was trying to taake bets on when my wife would deliver.... He thinks two weeks is all she has left. According to timeline we have nearly 5 weeks left. He also asked if she brought some pancit... she just smiled at that one.... The guard had dated a Filipina in the past.... I must say it was very weird for me. (I was on the phone with someone and couldn't get off, so she went in ahead of me.) I got in just in time to make sure she gave both letters with the form she filled out, and got both letter stamped. The longest process was the waiting.... hardly anyone there.... but what a long wait. The clock on the wall is behind you, have to turn to see it, and the TV is mounted nearly 10 feet in the air....and on some "news" channel but not Fox, CNN, or anything else I can think of....

Huh? It was 10 days for me from CSC to NVC.

Do you PFA this information you post?

CSC is normally 30 days....VSC is normally 14 days..... Look at the K-1 stats on VisaJourney..... ....If you can type on here, then you are old enough to do what you are asking.....

PFA = PFA Means....

I keep on wondering if all this documentation is so they know you have done your homework and are ready for them? Having so much and using so little.... but you never know what they might ask for and you just don't have it right then and there... and get delayed.....

If I wanted to sit around and wait for things to happen, then yeah it could be September or later before she arrives. ..... We're hoping for end of June when she gets on a plane, but it could be early to mid-July.

I hope it works for you....At least from VSC to NVC (2 weeks) is much faster then CSC to NVC (about 1 month). Sad part is this is part of your processing time. Be nice if they treated this section better because of taking away from your time in processing at the Embassy....

End of June is really pushing it. It might happen at least the embassy interview. but I would honestly expect her to be boarding a plane mid to late July.

Best of luck though. Very very happy for you....

got BOTH letters stamped and signed today. :dance: No going back next week for the other appointment.

update photo of the boat and the village.....

Well, we chatted about it extensively last night and she was definitely stressed. I think we MIGHT have come to an agreement on how much is "enough" to bring.

Once I pointed out that the cost of the copies alone could reach $250 if we did "everything" then that helped make the point.

I'm going to go to Office Depot to have about 40 pix & screen shots printed up and she can divide those up between the CO and CFO, choosing whichever ones she likes best. She'll print up whatever emails she wants from her end. And of course, I'll be sending a boatload of stuff from my end as well.

I called the NVC yesterday afternoon and our file hasn't arrived yet, so we have plenty of time.

Actually from VSC, your file should be there by June 10 at NVC. and be mailed to embassy around June 14. If the timeline follows then June 22 at embassy and processed (entered into system) by June 29. You should be looking at St. Luke's, interview, and CFO sometime during July to September time frame. Hope all goes well.

Don't forget the "mack truck forklift" for the paperwork.....

sorry to be so wordy....not a lawyer...but after having been through Ukraine and Russian dating, plus going through my own divorce...

The Military also has a lot to do with this. In her divorce, she gets part of his retirement fund and proceeds based on his perceived rank at retirement at the point in time. She is entitled to HALF of ALL his pension at the time. Anything above that rank is his alone. If he is dishonorably discharged, he loses all pension, but it can be written in, that she does not. If this is not in the divorce decree, she can lose much in the divorce.

Also, with the I-134, the husband is as bound as the I-864. All costs are subject to him. It may be a lot for her right now, but in the end, she could really take this guy to the cleaners in court. I feel sorry for him, if she just shows up in court without a lawyer...if I were him, I would get her a lawyer, and myself a lawyer...pay both bills, and try to work out an agreeable divorce...otherwise, he should expect the complete law thrown at him, inclluding filing AOS for her, Long term alimony, and losing all pension, and any savings, plus housing he may own, he may end up paying the mortgage for the house, but she owns the house. (CA divorce law is no laughing matter in a case where he has been posing as divorced, and carrying on with other women during his marriage. )

The divorce court could also be including an order by the court for a request of US military inquisition under USMC or a request for investigation by the US criminal court system. The military can ignore this request if the military so chooses, but I doubt the military would. The call on her for kidnapping will go against him in court. things could also go his way...but, I seriously doubt if he will get much because of marrying her in the 90 days, and her staying here for 2 years without him filing for divorce or filing AOS. He has been using the police, government, military base and court system against her because of her cultural background, she fears these things because of the corruption in Russia. This woman is having to do things which she is ultimately afraid of and raised to be scared of. Think of having to deal with your worst, deepest, darkest paranoia nightmare. Then having NO ONE to help you when you reach out in your area. Divorce is not unheard of in Russia. However, women do not do as well in Russia for divorce as in USA.

...she could even petition the court to have legal counsel reimbursed at her husband's expense since she cannot afford a lawyer nor can she legally work to earn money for her defense in the US at this time 1) based on the I-134 form, 2) her husband has refused to submit the AOS paperwork, 3) husband has refused to submit EAD paperwork, 4) and VAWA USCIS form, 5) husband has her taking care of their son and house as married couple since she came to USA.

She needs a really good military divorce lawyer as well as one versed in immigration law.

When I calculated the cost of sending the paperwork. I actually flew over to be with her as I promised.... glad I did, those doors at the embassy are HEAVY. I carried 4 photobooks, one binder, and I don't know what else. I felt like a "nerd" lawyer. That suitcase on wheels is a great idea.... but I bet the searches took a while...

I remember seeing the case folder at the CO's desk.... It was at least a foot thick....the CO joked about it being the biggest one they had seen, and needed two people to carry it. All over and done with now.... but thank goodness it is done.... now just waiting on AOS to be complete.....

one other thing to consider is the age of consent to marry in your state of residence. Most states are now 18.

whole point of getting EAD is so we can get her SSN. We are hoping before she goes into the hospital to have the baby, but may be close.

2 seperate Biometrics appointments. One for AOS this week, and one for EAD next week. They might be able to combine them. However, it seems something is "fouled" up in the system. I don't want one of them re3jected for not showing up.

yes, read it again.... in small print on first line it says biometrics....Then it has bold print about appearing for appointment. Have to really read that first line carefully. it says may have to capture your biometrics in small print at the very right hand side of the form.... So guess we go this week AND next week..... geez....

hmm, sounds like insufficient funds on affidavit of support (which is NOT considered during the I-129F process at USCIS) and insufficient evidence during interview.

the other part I am trying to understand is you are (or were) 17 and a US Citizen? I can understand the CO asking LOTS of questions during the interview of the fiancee.

I understand your situation, but this is questionable grounds in the Philippines. Philippine law does not allow anyone to marry under the age of 18. You can marry someone under the age of 18 in the Philippines, but this is only by the Padre of a Parish (or church) agreeing to perform the ceremony under exigent circumstances (it benefits the girl and provides for a baby in which there is no family to assist the girl or the girl has been disowned by her family.) (a marriage under the age of 18 in the Philippines is RARE.)

Expect a very difficult road on your process. Your parents and you SHOULD plan on going to the Embassy in Manila to plead your case with the CO during the interview.

The one thing I learned. Asawa ko is so wonderful, it is hard to live without her. I wished I had married a filipina back when I was 25 instead of waiting until now. But maybe, just maybe beucase of my past, I really treasure her more......

This lady is in a situation most of us hope to never be in. both as the petitioner, and the benefactor. The Lady is reaching out for help in her situation and NO ONE is HELPING her. I have been following this thread and talked to her many times on PM. I have been to Ukraine and have many Russian friends. I feel for this Lady and her situation. She is being treated worse then by men back home, and by a man in the military services who defends out nation.

this man has treated her badly, horribly, and basically, has at times left her to fend for herself and her son without transportation, food, or money. I am wondering how many times the electric, water, and other services were turned off at the house for lack of paying bills.

the court date could easily be January 2013 because of backlog, and his military service. However, there are things which strike me as odd in all of this. I hope they work it out well. Somehow he has convinced the chaplain of "issues". The chaplain is his "safe haven" right now. It keep this mess off his military record. If the Provost marshall and his XO/CO get involved, his record IS affected. Right now, he has painted her as something horrible to the people on base. She needs to really, really fight back. those who know her MUST be willing to testify in court on her behalf. Get the hospital records, and hospital staff to testify how she was with her child. The friends MUST be willing to go to the Provost Marshall as well to offer sworn statements. She is fighting a battle which is very uphill. She is in a situation where the military does not always believe spouses. She needs to get them to believe her. This road is NOT going to be easy.

Got an appointment notice for Gretchen. She has biometrics this week on Wednesday. This notice is for EAD appointment. and does not say biometrics anywhere on the notice. Advises to bring notice and photo id. Anyone ever seen this? Any ideas? We are going to ask the office when we go in this Wednesday about it, but curious. It is not for AOS (I-485)

like I said earlier.... what smells good to her, does not smell good to me. and vice versa...we are learning to find foods we like together. I am trying to learn to like her food, but this is a cultural difference in how we were raised.... we learned over time what smells to learn to associate with food. The smell tells us whether it is good or bad food. It is a learning experience...

i am not saying my food or her food is "normal".... but a typical FAMILY meal where you share the food together and eat the same meal.... There is not a her food/his food on the table... What I am driving at is something much deeper which people are not seeing.... it is the sense of family sharing a meal.... the SAME meal, the SAME food regardless of what the food is.... My problem is MOST, not all, but MOST Filipino food does NOT smell good to me. (like some people said, the food in my stomach wants to go back from where it came, versus moving on to the outhouse...) I am trying very, very hard to find FAMILY meals, but I also have 2 sons who are very very American and love American food. (Pizza, hot dogs, spaghetti, mac and cheese, hamburgers, etc) I am trying to accommodate BOTH asawa ko and my sons. My groceries are triple (easily) what they used to be... I have gone from $200 per month to near $600 per month. I can't afford $600 per month then add in Baby needs... Then you take out the food I have thrown out. One week, I threw $120 in steaks into the garbage, not including, soups, potato salad, lunch meat, lettuce, fish, vegetables, etc. I never said a word about it.... it hurts to throw out that much money... it also hurts worse when trying to make food and the only one eating it is you.... asawa ko seems to accept it, but I come from backwoods country... I try to eat her food. I try to learn....

People say about me being heavy and my weight... and she sees the people in the "family" being big saying they were small at one time. their photos, they never were "small" like her. asawa ko wanats to stay the way she is.... so she has this diet and it avoids most American foods. My problem is not the food, but hernia surgeries. One never healed right, then I ate meals at 11 pm before going to bed for a year... (very good way to gain weight.) People who see me and my oldest boy, think we are alike. People don't understand, I could eat anything all day long.... and not gain weight. I weighed 120 pounds, 5'11" inches at 18. I weighed 160 pounds at 5'11" at 25. my family and I know what I was before I was ever married or had kids...people who know me from being a kid or in college no longer recognize me. hard to convince them it is me in facebook...

You know Mr. OP, you are insulting your wife by keep posting here in VJ about "how to explain to her....". Is your wife that dumb not to understand the normal American explanation. Let her explore and understand things around here in US. Don't push her to know everything as faster as you want. And when she don't understand you right away, you keep posting here on "how to explain to her", insinuating she's dumb. Let her be and process her own learning curve.

I am just covering questions which come up in normal everyday life.... I am not pushing her to know anything.... and she has her own laptop... she can come on here if she wishes... she spends most of her time talking to friends and fmaily back home as well as across the country. She has many friends who are curious on how she is doing, and the village is very curious about the baby... the rumor in the village is I have 2 jobs, and the baby is born... or who knows...

The insulting part is me thinking I even know her or her culture or even think I can speak her language...I had several Filipino friends over the years, but I still do not understand the culture much... or how tolerant she is of LGBT, while I am not as tolerant. In college, I was only focused on "american" things... I had no idea of other country's lifestyles...I had just moved from the "boonies" (aka "dukes of hazzard", "hee haw") into the city....my life feels like the "Beverly hillbillies" My culture propriity sense is still lacking.

We saw a commercial on TFC where the husband sits down with his wife, and asks, what did they say? What did they say now? what is going on???

Asawa ko looked at me: said "that is you!"

I replied, "but I don't have white hair"

asawa ko grinned "not yet...."

I just rolled my eyes...

(she knows I ask lots and lots of questions about her and her culture...)

Plus I listen attentively at the "family" house to pick up on things... I like to understand.. plus know what the cultural differences are....

what we are talking about is those mid-west collectors.... those who you walk into a house and one whole room is nothing but a vast collection of something.... or they have sheds out back of just stuff collected over the years.... or explaining yankee "thrift" versus "hoarding" (they are almost identical, but not quite)

The problem is not me or my collections (which are in the garage aka the man cave) but those which are seen on TV in the midwest or northeast. They frequently show places which are "extreme" collections.... aka the Imelda marcos shoe collection.... (but don't dare talk bad about the marcos family to a filipino... let them do it if they want to.... Kanos must avoid the Marcos topic.)

The problem is that you married a 19 year old girl.

it is not her.... it is other Filipinas in the "family"... they are older then me.....

Gretchen has done a few "dried fish frying" but mainly does boiled fish. Salted fish is only made over at the "family" house. (if you ever smell salted fish fried you know the smell immediately.) The other agreeement we have is when she cooks filipino food I stay back in the bedroom away from the smell. She has her own diet which she likes right now.

I have decided to give up....it just ain't worth the hassle of trying. I would like to be able to prepare one meal for all, or just make "normal" meals, but I guess this is a part of the cultural thing..... I don't mind white rice, but normally I need gravy or at least soy sauce on it... I love steak, chicken, pork, and hamburger...I don't mind some grilled, or fried fish (but my and her fried fish IS different...and like shrimp... only a few weeks left until the baby is born.... just hope it doesn't get to me if it continues over time....