teddy k

All these balikbayan box stories bring back memories. Many years ago, when I was a kid, we received a BB box at our house. The delivery driver was so excited for us, he was yelling in Filipino, "Balikbayan box! Balikbayan box is here!" My mom promptly told him to shut up. She was thinking about all the neighbors who would get excited and invite themselves over for ahem, "a look" at our package. 😂

Thanks Mike that was the answer I was looking for,  the kids are 9&10 from the Philippines coming here under the F-4 visa the time line says 113 months but we know that's not true

Yeah I feel you it never ends,  my in-laws just returned to the Philippines after spending 2+ years with me and they're both in their 70s with health problems so I spent a great deal on them so they get back home and it's only a week and the other vultures are messaging me for help told them all I'm kind of bledd out and don't ask I have enough of my own bills to pay, they think when every American is rich

Im a filipina and married to a white guy. Before I married my husband I told him what he's getting into in terms of the culture part supporting my family. At the same time, I told my parents and family I'm ONLY gonna help them if I'm able, if it's within our means, and after we pay our own bills. I think there should be a balance because we can never get rid of that culture of paying our family and parents back. But at the same time the family should not be demanding. And if necessary, I will make things right by telling my parents it's too much and I don't want to support them anymore because they're being so ungrateful and demanding. So that being said it's really up to you and your wife, for me $700 per month is A LOT! To give you an idea a regular job will make you around $200-$300 per month depending on which location in the Philippines, and if you work in the government which we view it as "the stable job" then you get around $400-600 per month. 
 
I bought my family a car and give them money here and there so I probably spent around $500-$1000 per month but that's because me and my husband's work is better now.
 
But 4 years ago we only sent them around $100-$200 a month because we struggled financially. 
 
For me if my parent/s is that toxic and demanding? I'm sorry I probably won't cut her off but instead of her $700 demand per month I'll probably send her $100 a month. I don't know it's just me. I love my family and parents so much but there's a fine line between RESPECT and TOXIC BEHAVIOR. 

Oh Boy...If you don't get control of this quickly your life is going to be painful. A lot of this depends on how strong your wife is. $700 a month is 35000 pesos a month. That's more than a decent salary there.

My fiance (still waiting on NOA2) is still in the Philippines. Here is a breakdown of her monthly expenses, and she is living comfortably.
 
Her rent for a clean 2 bedroom in a nice, decent neighborhood in Makati is $260 per month. 
 
Electricity and gas bill totals another $100 per month on the high end. 
 
Food I am not 100% sure because she has 6 to 8 family members living with her, but by herself it wouldn't be much, she loves to cook and she doesn't like to eat out because she knows she can cook a better quality meal for a lot less. If she would spend more than $150 a month on food I would be surprised, but I will throw that number in just to be on the safe side.
 
Miscellaneous expenses like transportation and load for her phone, probably not more than $40 per month.
 
Add all of this together and we are looking at $550 per month, and that is on the HIGH END for her and that food budget feeds a large group. I think maybe your mother in law may have high living standards or may even want to show off to her friends. If my fiance can live and eat pretty good with 6 to 8 people living with her at any time for $550 a month then there is no reason your mother in law can't live well by herself on $700. If anything you should give her a pay cut😁
 
**By the way, I know all of these numbers because for 8 or 9 months they were all out of work because they were locked down completely, then again for another few months later on. I took care of the expenses until they returned to work and she gave me a meticulous accounting of every peso that was spent, showed me every receipt.**

It's emotional blackmail, preying on the Filipino mentality of putting family first.
 
@Timona accurately described what happens to some parents whose kids make it to the US. That $700 remittance is likely being used to keep up appearances to local friends and family. 
 
I am a Filipina. I also despise such behavior. If my parents ever said anything like that to me, I would cut off communication pronto. And to underscore my point, I would stop the money transfers. If they apologized, I would restart sending them a bag of rice a month. 
 
Your wife needs to draw firmer boundaries or the behavior is never going to stop. Filipinos have an extremely hard time saying No, especially to family, so the two of you need to be fully aligned with what is and is not acceptable financial support.

Hi everybody i feel for you with all this bullshit we have to go thru cuz of these lazy lying worthless mother f*s it hurts to be kept waiting all this time after we pay good hard earned money alot of us dont have to go thru their process of totally mismanagement

JG greenbaum is right. They only go by how much you made last year. I have the same payroll ADP just print out this year's pays.call NVC before you leave for work and when you get home today's your day I have a feeling that you should have your case number by tonight

I am facing a similar situation.  My wife and step son are flying here Monday.  I have health insurance through my employer but couldn't add my wife and step son during open enrollment because they weren't in the US. My employer told me them immigrating to the US is a qualifying event and I can add them when they get here. I will be making the change on Thursday. 

Answered your question in your other post.

Hi I spoke with a supervisor and he said just give us more time to review a bunch of what do they have a bunch of 1St graders working there

Yes your reading that right. If you have a joint sponsor they need to submit their documents to prove their status plus the person who is being petitioned needs their birth certificate and copy of passport fir NVC

Hi,you need to pay the fee's beforehand to be able to move forward with your petition

You go the CR1 route and you have a green light all the way no worries
Being your mother as a co- sponsor

Hi konor I would get married in the Philippines alot cheaper than the us plus bring your mother along that way she can meet the family and have a vacation too and after that you file for the CR1 VISA

Hi what you're saying is they were approved but the consulate was just waiting for the copy of the green card and now you're in AP to which is the normal process and now he wants to cancel the agreement if you tell the embassy that it will put you in a for a long AP

Hi Sharon, this is what you will be doing this is 2 separate petitions so you will be filling 2 G-325 FORMS. you will need your marriage certificate. Birth certificate for everyone. Now here's the key front-load your package with alot of proofs like remittances records.pictures. Chat logs stuff like that and send it in with the i-130 and good luck with your journey

I did mine online and it only took me 1 hour to complete and file very easy to do

Slow boat from china

Yes it's normal for AP then it will change to issued in a few days

Hi after your approval it goes to NVC then after they give you CC then they send your file off to the embassy for your interview so just relax and you will be here soon. Tell your father to take his time filling out the I-864 form you don't need no mistakes good luck sorry I can't give you a timeliness on the NVC process