LSnBigBear

My first trip to Philippines was in 1998. Thought it was quite odd an older man with a young woman. It took me years and years to sucumb to love has no age limits or boundaries.... If it is in your heart then go with it. Let others look and do all the whispering. Amazingly enough the hardest person I had in telling I was marrying Carmela was my oldest son. He and I are very close (he and I have 17 years age difference helps I guess lol). I finally told him over the Holidays. He knew Carmela from my chats the past 16 months since returning from Phils. He and I discussed Love, Alone and Lonely and understanding the differences as I made some bad relationship decisions as did his mother after our divorce. I told him I loved Carmela and would be marrying her in 2013. He said "ah great dad your moving back to the Philippines. This sucks!" I said "nope she is coming here".. He said "cool great congratulations I hope you and her will be very happy" All my nerves for nothing in telling my son... See it all works out folks. Just be honest..

Now let's see here is what most will think is a dysfunctional family. My fiancee will marry me and instantly become mother to two sons 3 and 5 years older than her, two daughter in laws and two grand daughters How's that for the new wave family. lol 23 years and I love it.. I cannot wait to see the looks as I am a large broad man and she is gumai (did I spell it right?? Well our size differnece will will get some stares I love it and am proud to have her as my wife..

When we married, she was rich - I was poor.

After marriage, she works outside of home, I am a stay at home dad.

I am now her military dependent.

She is 14 years younger than I...money was never an issue.

Hoo-ah? Airborne.

I just called and scheduled my fiancee. Have her passport number, date of issuance, where issued, her b date, address they ask a number of questions that are obvious but easy to answer. I had Carmela on skype just in case I had to ask questions and I did lol. It was easy less than 5 min hold and 12 mins talking and scheduling.

I liked it this way as I was able to pick our date to give us time for medical etc. Feb 6th is our date. You can get appointments in less then 2 weeks if you are ready. And yes you can schedule without their paperwork. JustNOA 2 number and paid visa receipot number. It was all easy. I worried for nothing lol. Now more worry for medical and interview

Good luck

Sputum tests will be done for the next week to two weeks I believe daily. She will then need to wait for the results which as one mentioned more time then not end up being negative. I do have one friend that his now wife here in the USA was one of the 5% that had TB. Then it is 6 months of medicine a few times weekly at SL's and then re-tested. All in all there is a larger percentage all they saw was a spot on her lung which many have in the RP.

I know first hand the call you received. Long story but I feel for you and her.

GOod luck and best wishes. Be strong!

Shawn (Big Bear)

Yeah more laws instead of taking care of the root cause and this which is parenting and discipline. Also look at Singapore. Few crimes there due to speedy trial then off to death. Not death row I might add. Simply your dead faster than you can blink an eye. Gulity-Death. Now that stops all this Bull about gun control. More laws = more tax payers paying for added rules and regulations. And I do not even own a gun or even shoot. But don't take the guns or I may have to buy me one just for protection. I have driven over the speed limit before which is breaking the law. Don't mess with the constitution that has been working for years. What keeps everyone somewhat honest is our fellow reasposible neighbors that have guns. God Bless those legal and properly used and protected gun owners.

That's it way to get be fired up while on lunch

regards everyone

BigBear

K1 or IR1?

Here's for K1

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction_rtf2_rtf2.pdf

For IR1

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Packet%204%20_appointment%20packet_%20English%20rtf%20_revised%20GSS_%20_2_%20rtf2_rtf__docx2.pdf

Good luck!

Hi VJ family im merely need help bout this cuz i dont know where to find

this Form that i need during my interview date. My interview will be sooner

Feb. 6 2013 so i need this form will be done and familiarize. Is anybody can give me the link

where could i go to and fill up those form please. Thank you for help.

Good day and Good luck for me guys and for all who are going to the process

God bless us all.

Carmela (aka LS)

Andy I read your timeline and you just sent it out 1/11/14. I understand all the scenerios on sending it to a different address etc. I suggest waiting for 7 days. At this time if no one can find it and you do not have NOA1 then start the process again slowly (I mean do not send it again for an additional week just to see if it shows up). After two weeks my guess is it lost unfortunately. Some advice as I know you're upset. Things seem to be flowing faster with most Visas. Regardless Patience will be critical in going through this process. And I am one of the most impatient people on this earth. It is a Journey. Getting worked up is not going to help. And I find in talking with anyone from USICS that if you show them kindness they will do their best for you up to their capabilities.

Just some advice from someone that waited 208 days for their NOA2. This is a Journey once again....

I wish you the best

Shawn (Big Bear)

Congratulations on your approval and on the remainder of your journey.

I shipped copies of the Petition and a few other things to Tunisia, about 2 lbs worth. I used the U.S. Postal Priority Mail. He got the package in 10 days and it only cost about $30. You can go express mail, which is more expensive, and get a tracking number for still cheaper than Fedex or UPS.

I am happy it worked for you. Most do not have good luck with the Philippines side of the postal service. Oh how I wish I could trust and have your luck with the Philippines postal service. Good luck with the rest of your journey.

Shawn (Big Bear)

Congratulations

Today I shipped out 2.6 pounds of documents for my fiancee's interview that I was tired of scanning and sending to my fiancee lol. Well I should have scanned more because my shipment just letter size was $130 to arrive Monday the 21st. Or $124 to arrive Wednesday just 2 days later. I opted for Monday. I compared UPS to Fed EX and Fed Ex is a bit cheaper and arrives one or two days sooner. I also had better luck while I lived in Philippines with Fed Ex. I know they are normally cheaper. Oh well this is done and should have been done sooner but I am lazy. lol. Just wanted to pass on so everyone can plan accordingly and share how they shippped.

Cheers

Shawn

Amen on VJ being a blessing. For those still waiting on NOA2 I understand quite well. Some 204 days later. Now I am on hold waiting for our MNL# so we can pay the fee tomorrow and schedule the interview. So far at 7pm est I have waited 13 minutes. More patience lol is needed.

Good luck to everyone

Shawn

I did this process back in 2007-2008 but stopped and broke it off with my ex. Back then you wanted the process in either Vermont or Nebraska (prior to them shutting Nebraska down or consolidating). Now when I did this earlier this year Vermont as you mentioned was as slow as snails. I often wonder if those employees that are assigned to review 129f or 130 packets get moved to other projects. I do watch and believe that alot of USC's wait for tax time to do the filing etc which IMHO starts a backlog due to the increase Feb-May for filing. Am I all wet???????? Or because I am sooooooo smart

There are my two pesos...... I mean cents... Not Sense I have non of that lol

Shawn (Big Bear)

Here's how it works for K-1'ers in Manila:

1. As soon as you have your MNL case number, the beneficiary can pay the visa application fee at BPI. Do not wait for the Embassy to send the beneficiary a letter. The letter takes a long time to arrive. Sometimes it never arrives. If you want to read the letter, click here.

2. About 4-24 hours after paying the visa application fee, schedule an Embassy interview appointment either online or by phone. If scheduling online, print out two copies of the appointment confirmation page. If scheduling by phone, print out the email confirmation.

3. Use the appointment confirmation page to be admitted into St. Lukes for the medical. Complete the medical a week or two before the Embassy interview. The St. Lukes medical is on a walk-in basis only. They do not accept appointments. However, it will save time on the day of the medical if the beneficiary pre-registers on St. Lukes website and brings the filled-out form with them on the day of the medical. St. Lukes website.

Thank you Tahoma: Your version helped my confusion for sure. Kinda like chicken or egg lol. Seems clear to me now...... I think

I plan to get the extension upon arrival, as Hank_ suggested. I need the reminder for when I arrive because I'll probably be groggy and too anxious to get outside that I might forget...

By the way, it appears that paying at the airport on the day of departure would mean an overstay and incur a P500 fine in addition to waiver/extension fees.

Yes and you do not want an over stay on your record. I have been in and out or the Philippines some 50 plus times since 1998. Nothing is more irritating than being behind a person that over-stayed previously. They grill and often pull the person into a separate room prior to allowing them entrance. You will get in but why hassle with having an over stay on your passport. As Hank mentioned simply take care of it upon arrival. No worries the rest of your stay except eating Balute

I do understand the need for privacy. I went through similar with my ex wife. She wanted my passwords as she herself was un-trusting. I gave her all my passwords. Then was accused of having a separate email account after I gave her my passwords. Soooo I openned a new email and let her know I did. That kinda was what ended the marriage as I got tired of being accused. The Moral of this as advice is she went and visited our Pastor. He told her that Couples give up so much freedom being couples that sometimes it is nice to just have something as simple as our passwords kept as our own. I have never asked any of my GF's or current fiancee for her password or nor will I. I have nothing to hide and trust she has nothing to hide. You should hold off making any quick actions. It does not sound like your husband is abusive just more jeolous. Give him nothing to be jeolous of. I do believe that since he went as far as to call the Police on you that both you and he need counseling to get past this for a healthy marriage.

Good luck to you both.

Shawn AKA Big Bear

Congratulations. Now a another wait lol. We were approved Dec 31st. I am waiting for the 7-10 day window to email about our MNL#. I swear this wait is already longer then the 200 plus days for our NOA2 approval lol. I guess just getting anxious

Good luck in the rest of your journey.

Sorry to say but you made a mistake sending anything to RP via US Postal. I am sure you have a copy so now just send the copy to her via UPS or another carrier (NOT USPS). SHe will getthe USPS mailed one in about 3-5 months hopefully when she is nestled next to you in the states lol. I am serious as I lived there and learned the hard way. I plan on sending my entire package with NOA2 Letter, my new letter of intent, 325form and fiancials etc. via UPS or Fed Ex (still undecided). Just re-send via another carrier and she will have it all in less than a week.

One last idea is send her to the post office and see if the letter is laying there. You might get lucky. Don't wait for them to deliver.

Good luck

Shawn

This was all very helpful. Thanks. I did not know where NVC was located.

Hi Everyone: I think I am just impatient but here goes my questiions:

How long does it take to get the MNL # so I can pay for medical and get this other end started?

Should I call them for the #? We were approved Dec 31st. I know less than a week but I want this ball rolling accross the pond to Manila. Or is it ball floating lol.

My fiancee's work contract expired just Jan 3rd so now her idle time is driving me crazy with questions as she now has too much time on her hands. I need to get her next hobby on her side moving?

Soo is there a number I can call to see what my # is as nothing came in the mail yet? I read many posts that even 10 days after approval is too soon to get our number to schedule interview and medical.

Thanks. Just impatiently waiting.

Best Regards

Shawn

Your family would need to show reason to not want to stay in USA. Examples are if they have great paying careers I.e Doctors etc. Along with property or businesses in the Philippines. All this will need to be proven at application process and interview. Or if they have traveled to other countries on Visas and never over stayed makes them appear to be less of a risk.

I would say expect 200 days plus or minus 7 days. If you hit 200 days and no Noa2 then call and ask for a service request. I asked at 194 days I believe and was approved exactly 2 weeks later and this was with Xmas. Good luck.

OK thanks.

Thanks. Stay in touch and good luck with your next round.