Robb&Ann

OK, sis, Thanks! I am still debating if I should do the CFO seminar before or after my interview. Most likely prior to it, given the potential delay with processing of my visa at USEM with the shutdown of the federal government. Ohh well! Thanks for the advice, Ann!

Oh wow!!! Thank you Robb&Ann for sharing.

Thank you!,
Also, thank you so much for the awesome information you shared on your website! It REALLY helped.

Congratulations!!!

Well, it's all over. All that hard work ended with a five minute interview with a US consular. I'm not going to post a five page experience on this because there are SO many on VJ now and frankly I'm really too tired too.
I will tell you though, if you have a chance to attend the interview with your fiancée, it is a great experience and it makes things a LOT easier.
Thank you to my first VJ friend Tintin and Mike for your support!
Thank you to Hank, Rob and Ann, DaveNRoxy and Tahoma for all the information you have put out there. Arming us with your knowledge made this whole process a LOT easier. Thanks again VJ and see you for AOS stuff!!
Time to start enjoying my vacation!!

I lived in the Philippines for a short while, my fiancée is from there too, and eventually we plan to probably retire there. I partly agree with you. A huge age gap turns an eye there, here, most anywhere.
Do people think there are other intentions… sure… guess what, they think that to some degree with any Filipina with any foreigner. I would bet money that those same people even believe that about your relationship too.
Are there women who feel they will just endure what they need? Yes
Are there women who marry an old man hoping to inherit when he dies? Yes
Are there women who just want a GC? Yes
Are there men who are basically seeking a Filipina just for sex? Yes
Are there men who are think of a Filipina as submissive maid type? Yes
Are there men who think a Filipina will work and improve his financial situation? Yes
Each of those kind of people is probably going to get a rude awakening.
Anyone who has been in PI for any length of time has seen some terrified looking 18 year old girl with a grumpy looking 70+ year old man. And we ALL think the same thing at first sight.
Ann and I have a 20 year gap. But don’t assume.
I know her dad, he is several years older than me, and I get along well with the man and have a lot of respect for him. I asked his permission to marry her. I think at first he was leery of me, I would be more worried if he hadn’t been. I made a promise to him to not only always support her, but to always love and care for her.
As for her intentions. She was NOT looking for some imaginary better life.
She is educated, intelligent, and confident. She comes from a relatively wealthy family. One had ran for political office and has a beautiful home on a mountain with a breathtaking view of the manila skyline at night. Her family has no expectation of us supporting or helping them financially. When we met she was doing very well at her job and in the beginning wouldn't even let me buy her load for her phone to talk to me.
Yes I support her now. She quit her job at my request to be able to spend more time together. We Skype most every waking minuet, and often even while asleep. While I am writing this she is currently napping and I can see her in the corner of my screen. I think our longest non-stop Skype call was 60 hours. The one thing that can upset her or piss her off is if I’m not on cam for too long. And I get out of sorts without her too. Are we a little OC with each other? Yup.
She is 24. Are Filipinas 18-25 a gamble? Sure. So are American women the same age. Guess what American women 30+ are a gamble too. I would bet a Filipina or any woman of any age is also a gamble. Hell, I bet men of all ages are also a gamble. I think its part of being human.
Before her I dated girls here that were even younger than her. (Granted they were insane)
Why was she interested in a white guy? Honestly that part is superficial but easy to understand. She told me about how when she was young she was friends with Mormon missionaries, they were kind, clean cut, and she found it attractive. She still prefers when I wear a tie.
I have a similar history. I was born in Okinawa, and have always had a deep attraction for Asian women. My first crush was on the singer Mitsuyo Nemoto back in 1980. So much so I had special ordered albums from japan, not exactly a common thing back then. My Ann pushes all the right buttons, she is the most amazingly stunning woman I have ever seen.
Sure we talk ####### about ‘those’ couples. We talk ####### about lots of stuff. And we know others probably talk ####### about us too.
The truth is we are perfect for each other and very well aware that if we were with anyone else we would drive them insane. We are too needy, too demanding, too OC, for anyone but each other.
Yep we have an age gap. But don’t read a lot into it. Don’t bet on me dying decades before her either. My family lives OLD and vital lives. My grandmother is still alive and maybe a little insane because she has a crush on a guy in his late 20’s (shhhh, he don’t know). lol
We like the same music, she cried like a baby when I held her and sang ‘your song’ for her. We like the same TV shows and movies, we even sync watching them online together. She is my match, my soul mate in every way!

Oh BTW, on the DS-forms that had any questions that were awnsered "none or NA" they wanted her to fill in all lines with "none or NA"
example, if question x had 6 lines that were blank, fill all 6 lines with "none or NA" Marilyn asked if they would allow her to fill that in quickly? Council said yes, just be quick...
hope that helps...good luck

Thank you, we really appreciate all your help!

Just lots of waiting mostly. The Filipino council asked about 5 questions...How we meet (online website) and asked it again 3 times total (maybe tiring to trip her up?), when we meet for the first time and when we last met. The American council asked 2 questions...when did we get engaged and what is our nick names that we call each other (handsome & beautiful, hehe) he laughed and smiled also. Never was asked for any proof of engagement, ongoing relationship, letter of intent to marry or pictures, etc...nothing!...maybe because Marilyn told him though the conversation that we meet 4 times already in the last 12 months? He of course took my 134 and all supporting docs along with that....simple

Interview was today at 730am and took almost 7 hours, but approved! Thanks for all the great info here and a special thanks to Hank and Rob&Ann for all your help.
Cheers
PS. Get ready for POE questions now..hehe

I do not feel she used me for the money . She made her choice to sleep with him and got pregnant . I made my choice to forgive her and work out our relationship . I believe she truly is in love with me , but things got so messy and became impossible for it to happen . She told me she hates this man and even hate is a feeling of love . She hates him for what she has done in her life . Perhaps her parents influence and desire to keep there grandchild in the country played some role in her choice . She knew all of these things , but kept them from me allowing me to think this was going to be a reality . Did he steal her phone ? I really do not know and at this point it does not matter anymore . Its done and I am going to withdraw the petition .
With all of this I have met some very nice people . I met an older woman who owns a FIL AM market near my house . I spoke to her and she told me she knows someone at the department of state . She said she would help me start the process and do the things properly to withdraw this . She said she would most likely be blacklisted from the United States . I am not going to be vindictive I am just going to tell the truth . I just want to end this and give that visa to someone else who actually deserves it .
Thank you all for the kind words and advice on my journey . I will most likely be removing my name or at least changing it if I can . If I do meet another I will be more careful for the next time . This one rotten egg will not ruin it for me nor shake my confidence about the filipina's and their culture . I will find friends who know friends who can be more trust worthy . I have a kind heart and as you know this can get me into trouble , but I can not change who I am . I will just have more wisdom in the future about who I meet .

Over the years with each step of the immigration process I included many pictures, from start to finish. When my wife had her interview for naturalization, the IO gestured towards his desk, and there sat a several inch high stack of papers, which he began to leaf through. He told us it was my wife's file. I glimpsed several of the pictures I sent her, even years ago from the beginning.
The IO then commented how he is glad to see so many pictures. He went on to say that you would be surprised how many people take several pictures in one day and just change clothes and location to try to show time together, but that it is always obvious the pictures were all taken at the same time. But he said that with so many pictures taken over time, with hair lengths changing, weight changing, babies born and growing up, it shows the passage of time and leaves no doubt. So he was pleased with that.
So anyways, looking back from the end of the road after my wife became a citizen, and hearing the IO's comments about pictures, and seeing every piece of paper that was ever sent to the USCIS sitting on the desk at that final interview for citizenship, I am glad I included all that I did every step of the way.

Thank you

Hank,,,buzz off,,,adults are having a conversation here,,I'm tired of you interjecting yourself in every thread just to maintain your "street cred"
this is an honest question about a topic that affects all of us getting K-1 visas,,our story,,how we met etc,,,its not your call to make
oh heavens no! I lived there for 3 months working as a contractor for UPS,,,but I would say 75% pleasure travel,,25% business....

I hope this will help.. hehe.. this paper was given to me at the ticketing booth along with our lucky number during our interview..
Along with the I-134, you would need to provide the ITR(1040) 2012 and W2 - 2012.. that's it.. the rest, you set it aside unless the Filipino officer will ask for it.. it's also good to be prepared but these are the docs USEM wants to look at first..
Prepare all these docs and hand it to the Filipino officer..

If you spam nonsense for long enough, big numbers happen!

The advice is based on the scenario that you have presented in your original post, which is illegal under the US immigration system.
The people in this forum will provide you advice and information on how to go about the immigration procedures within the legal boundaries.
People are allowed to file for adjustment of status (AOS) while they are in the US on some form of visa, but not in your case and situation, because you have already stated the intent. Keep in mind that AOS from a tourist visa unsuccessfully will, in worst case, carry a 10-yr US entry ban.
The process to obtain a fiancé visa (K-1) is usually a little quicker than a CR-1 but will cost more in the long run as you'll need to file for AOS after marriage.

Thanks everyone!

Alas, the problem lies in the knowledge , or lack thereof, of the slow-brained sub-humans working in the SSA offices.
A k-1 visa holder, regardless of marital status, is allowed to apply for, and get, a SSN, whilst in the middle of their authorized stay.
If you get such a brain-dead human, ask for the supervisor. If the supervisor is also brain dead, go to a different SSA office.
Stupid People Suck.

here's our experience with that "instruction letter" or that "packet" and what's inside it..

Other: We're getting married in the desert, where we spent our first day together.

We used the information from all of Hanks hard work and also from this site that another VJ'er has created, it is all great information...we printed the pages and went line by line, checking off completed tasks as we went....and then filed the paperwork in a multi sectioned plastic folder to keep it all straight and easy to get to.
http://philippinefiancevisa.weebly.com/checklist.html
Hope this helps.... :-)
Cheers,
cjmc

Ours did the same thing yesterday. The case creation and updated dates changed to Aug 6th. The status stayed Ready, but the message changed the same as yours.
Today (Aug 7) we had 2 updates. Status still Ready and updated date changed. Then it changed to Administrative Processing, but I think that's normal. The visa was approved at interview. I think either tomorrow or Monday the status will change to Issued. I'm basing that on Robb & Ann's statuses: http://philippinefiancevisa.weebly.com/our-case-status.html. So far ours have been the same.

Yeah! Thanks AGAIN for everything
Good luck! No such thing as being over prepared. Never know what they will, or won't ask for at the CFO!!

That is wonderful! CONGRATULATIONS