The Humanists

Hi, Rick and Zenith. Your case is kind of similar to ours in that we had very little evidence of commingling of finances, and I (the applicant) was approved without an interview. In our case, there is NO evidence at all of commingling. I have good credit, and my husband has terrible credit. The apartment lease is in my name. The credit cards are in my name. The utility bills are in my name. We don't have joint bank accounts. We even filed taxes as "married filing separately" because he owes the IRS a lot of money. The only items of evidence we sent for the I-751 were our health insurance cards and forms, showing me as the subscriber and him as my dependent; a basic life insurance policy showing him as my beneficiary; copies of waivers for my races (I'm a runner who runs races) showing him as my emergency contact; and pictures.
When we got the RFE, the only items we added were the 2014 health and life insurance policies; 2 affidavits - one from his dad and another from his close friend; an explanation of why we don't commingle our finances; and more recent pictures. On July 22, I received notification that my new card is in production. Today, I received another notification, and my USCIS case status now displays a USPS tracking number.
I was almost 100% sure that we would not be approved without first being interviewed. So even without evidence of financial commingling, there is hope. Just be very forthright and clear in your explanation of why this is the system in your marriage.
Good luck!

Admin assistant in a mental health insurance company

Yay, I can post here now because I'm finally part of the U.S. workforce! I was a nurse in the Philippines, but I'm not yet registered in California because I haven't taken the NCLEX. I wanted to get my foot in the door, though, so that I would have at least one U.S. work reference when the time came for me to look for RN work. Towards the end of January, I started applying for clerical jobs in the health care industry. In March, I received a job offer from one of America's biggest health insurance companies. It took them a month to finish the international background checks on me, but they did clear me, and now, I'm officially an employee of the company. I'm working in a support role for a team of care advocates, who are psychologists with PhDs and RNs with a background in behavioral health. I'm happy because I think I can use my position as a stepping stone for my career: Get my nursing license, continue my full-time work with the company while volunteering/working part-time in a mental health institute, and after a year or so of behavioral health nursing, apply for a move/promotion/transfer into a care advocacy role.

All my relatives, friends, and even former teachers who live or have lived abroad say the same thing. Filipinos, who are already quite superficial and arrogant when they're here, become even more superficial and arrogant when they step on foreign soil. My friends, whether they're in Australia, Holland, the UAE, or the US, tell me one of the things they've observed is that the reason Filipinos invite other Filipinos to gatherings is so they can show off. Fellow Filipino immigrants have asked them questions along the lines of, "I've bought this and this. What about you? What have you bought?" I'm proud of my friends because they seem pretty grounded. They now refuse to attend events hosted by Filipinos because they refuse to compete.
I see evidence of this need to show off on Facebook. An acquaintance goes to a Western country, buys a Louis Vuitton or an Hermes soon after he/she starts working, and posts pictures of the acquisition on FB. My Holland-based friend tells me about a Filipina acquaintance in Amsterdam who cleans floors for the purpose of acquiring enough money to buy an Hermes bag. I find it both interesting and embarrassing. But to each her own, right? If one's sole purpose in life is to buy an Hermes, then let her buy her Hermes, I guess. This need doesn't appear to be exclusive to Filipinos, though. It seems common among people from third-world countries that were colonized by Spain.

All my relatives, friends, and even former teachers who live or have lived abroad say the same thing. Filipinos, who are already quite superficial and arrogant when they're here, become even more superficial and arrogant when they step on foreign soil. My friends, whether they're in Australia, Holland, the UAE, or the US, tell me one of the things they've observed is that the reason Filipinos invite other Filipinos to gatherings is so they can show off. Fellow Filipino immigrants have asked them questions along the lines of, "I've bought this and this. What about you? What have you bought?" I'm proud of my friends because they seem pretty grounded. They now refuse to attend events hosted by Filipinos because they refuse to compete.
I see evidence of this need to show off on Facebook. An acquaintance goes to a Western country, buys a Louis Vuitton or an Hermes soon after he/she starts working, and posts pictures of the acquisition on FB. My Holland-based friend tells me about a Filipina acquaintance in Amsterdam who cleans floors for the purpose of acquiring enough money to buy an Hermes bag. I find it both interesting and embarrassing. But to each her own, right? If one's sole purpose in life is to buy an Hermes, then let her buy her Hermes, I guess. This need doesn't appear to be exclusive to Filipinos, though. It seems common among people from third-world countries that were colonized by Spain.

It's not applicable to fiancees. It's only for Filipina wives who want to use the last names of their foreign spouses. I had to do attend the seminar and get the certificate before I could change my name on my passport from maiden to married. If you're married but still want to use your maiden name, then you don't have to attend the seminar before applying for a passport. FYI, it's not an additional expense for CR1/IR1 applicants because it's the same CFO seminar that all K1, CR1, and IR1 visa holders are required to attend before leaving for the U.S. The only difference for me and other spouses who want to use their husbands' names is that we have to attend it before passport application/renewal and visa issuance.

It's not applicable to fiancees. It's only for Filipina wives who want to use the last names of their foreign spouses. I had to do attend the seminar and get the certificate before I could change my name on my passport from maiden to married. If you're married but still want to use your maiden name, then you don't have to attend the seminar before applying for a passport. FYI, it's not an additional expense for CR1/IR1 applicants because it's the same CFO seminar that all K1, CR1, and IR1 visa holders are required to attend before leaving for the U.S. The only difference for me and other spouses who want to use their husbands' names is that we have to attend it before passport application/renewal and visa issuance.

She lives in Taguig City which is close to Makati City, so I will get a hotel in Makati City. I hope to stay 3 weeks this time whereas last time I could only stay 2 weeks. I was last there in August of 2011. For me, the flight is even longer since I fly from Atlanta to Japan which is 13 hours. I'm thinking of going a different route this time just to make the longest flight a bit shorter. Also, I didn't have any sleeping medication last time I flew either. I thought I would have no trouble sleeping, but I was so wrong.

I've lived in Metro Manila my entire life, so I know my way around. But I can see how a girl who has lived in the provinces her entire life and doesn't know her way around a big city would be quite daunted, intimidated and scared, especially if she has a hard time with English and Tagalog. I agree that in that case, it's a matter of a lack of experience, not a lack of intelligence. However, if it would be too much of a financial risk for the OP to fly here and assist his fiancée with the visa process, he could look into hiring the services of an agency, as another posted suggested. Or better yet, make arrangements for her in advance and research the directions to SLEC and the U.S. Embassy so she can familiarize herself with them.

I'm not an anthropologist, and I haven't made any scientific study about the Filipino culture, but I can answer that based on observations I've made from living here. And I've lived here my entire life. The answer is that it depends on the Filipino family's economic status. If the Filipino parents are poor, and they have to borrow money to send their kids to college, then after those kids have graduated and gotten jobs, they are expected to give back and help the family rise from poverty. I have actually heard Filipino parents say those exact words (in Tagalog); the reason they are sending their children - especially the older ones - to school is so their children can solve the family's financial problems. If you were the Filipino kid who saw the sacrifices your parents made to get you that precious degree, you would feel the need to "reimburse" your parents for all their troubles. You would probably feel it was mandatory on your part. Now, if you happened to go abroad, especially to a Western country, either to work or get married, your parents would naturally expect you to send more money than you could if you only had a local, rank-and-file job.
If the family's middle class, the situation may be different. Some middle class parents expect some kind of financial help when they get old, and they see this as a "thank you" for all the hard work they put into raising their children. Some don't. My family's middle class, and my parents have never asked me for a single peso. They've always told me that I can thank them for all their hard work - and the hell I put them through when I was younger - by making something of myself.
If you're the eldest child, then you'll often have more responsibilities than your younger siblings. Your younger siblings may not be expected to help out financially at all. My best friend's family is upper middle class, and her parents have their own business, but she still gives money to her parents because she's the oldest. From what I understand, her parents have never obligated her to give them money. She just feels the need to do it out of a sense of gratitude and responsibility.
We Filipinos never want to be called an "ingrate" by our parents. That's one of the most hurtful things your family can say to you. If you have parents who are expecting some kind of remittance after you leave to live and work in a first-world country, and you don't give them what they want, then they will definitely see you as an ingrate. It's not that they're evil or mean. It's just that in this culture, it's important to "look back at where you came from." If you don't, you'll be seen as an arrogant, selfish person who doesn't appreciate his or her roots.
If you're the USC, and your fiancée or wife has been helping out her parents financially her entire life, you'll probably cause a rift if the family dynamics change after she leaves for the US to marry you. To save yourself a lot of grief, you should tell your Filipina and her family from the get-go what you are and aren't willing to do.

I'm not an anthropologist, and I haven't made any scientific study about the Filipino culture, but I can answer that based on observations I've made from living here. And I've lived here my entire life. The answer is that it depends on the Filipino family's economic status. If the Filipino parents are poor, and they have to borrow money to send their kids to college, then after those kids have graduated and gotten jobs, they are expected to give back and help the family rise from poverty. I have actually heard Filipino parents say those exact words (in Tagalog); the reason they are sending their children - especially the older ones - to school is so their children can solve the family's financial problems. If you were the Filipino kid who saw the sacrifices your parents made to get you that precious degree, you would feel the need to "reimburse" your parents for all their troubles. You would probably feel it was mandatory on your part. Now, if you happened to go abroad, especially to a Western country, either to work or get married, your parents would naturally expect you to send more money than you could if you only had a local, rank-and-file job.
If the family's middle class, the situation may be different. Some middle class parents expect some kind of financial help when they get old, and they see this as a "thank you" for all the hard work they put into raising their children. Some don't. My family's middle class, and my parents have never asked me for a single peso. They've always told me that I can thank them for all their hard work - and the hell I put them through when I was younger - by making something of myself.
If you're the eldest child, then you'll often have more responsibilities than your younger siblings. Your younger siblings may not be expected to help out financially at all. My best friend's family is upper middle class, and her parents have their own business, but she still gives money to her parents because she's the oldest. From what I understand, her parents have never obligated her to give them money. She just feels the need to do it out of a sense of gratitude and responsibility.
We Filipinos never want to be called an "ingrate" by our parents. That's one of the most hurtful things your family can say to you. If you have parents who are expecting some kind of remittance after you leave to live and work in a first-world country, and you don't give them what they want, then they will definitely see you as an ingrate. It's not that they're evil or mean. It's just that in this culture, it's important to "look back at where you came from." If you don't, you'll be seen as an arrogant, selfish person who doesn't appreciate his or her roots.
If you're the USC, and your fiancée or wife has been helping out her parents financially her entire life, you'll probably cause a rift if the family dynamics change after she leaves for the US to marry you. To save yourself a lot of grief, you should tell your Filipina and her family from the get-go what you are and aren't willing to do.