superpotsky

My mom had a masters degree from PH and she accepted an $8/hr job. Start from the bottom and work your way up.

Great information.

You're only 28 you can still chase your dreams. At least you dont have kids yet (base from your story) it would've been a lot harder. You can still get your MBA just remember it gets harder before it gets easier.

Been here over a decade and still no friends .....

Granted, she does speak with broken English and she did not answer the question asked, but diverted to the more politically correct response. I understood her completely. Basically, she answered by saying 1. That laws are already established; we have both governmental and natural laws (she would not add to them)., 2. That we dont need to complicate the issue with more laws., 3. As a surfer, she follows natural laws, for instance,the laws of wave action. As a successful surfer herself, she waits for the waves and then follows the natural behavior (laws) of those waves., 4. Then she appeals to us to do what we can to follow the laws set before us.

A law for surfing? I couldn't figure out what she was babbling about. I thought she was a good candidate up until the Q/A. I thought Ms Philippines had it for sure after the question and answer.

Hello mga kabayan,

Nakatanggap na ng mga kapatid ang interview appointment nila. Priority date JAN 24, 2002. So Im sure nag move and November bulletin. Good luck po sa lahat!

Where do you live? Im filipina too. Just wait for your GC and if you want to go back to PI you can anytime.

I know its hard to live in foreign country especially if your family aren't here in states. I came here when I was 16 and it was very difficult because my mother, brother, and sisters are back in PI. I live with my father and his wife but it was horrible experience. I was sleeping in the kitchen and they made me nanny / maid. I got out of their house by joining the Army and made my life a little better. Don't give up easily. Good Luck

I just want to prepare what will possible to happen..

Actually I don't mind if my aos is denied, coz I'm not that happy with my husband, he is really change, he is different now, I feel like he don't love me like before,

That's why I just want to go back in my country with my family.. The only thing that I'm worried is my record here in u.s. what if they put me in removal proceeding, I dont want to mess up my clean record.. That's why I really need some advice now..

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions

Hello vjers,

Im looking to purchase one way plane ticket for my mom from MNL to SFO. Which website has the best offer?

Ps:

(how is she able to get her ticket? Or she just need to show up at the airport and check-in on the day of her flight? Or she needs the ticket on hand.)

Thanks in advance for your help.

WOW CONGRATULATIONS!

Its so nice that she has you as a mentor in joining the military. I came to US when I was 17 and joined the Army when I was 18. I used to work as a nursing assistant. I did not have my own bedroom when I was living with my dad and his new family so I was sleeping in the kitchen. One day after work I dropped by the mall and there was job fair. I looked around and the army kiosk caught my eye. The Army recruiter was Filipino and we speak the same dialect. I was inspired by everything he said and at that time I was already sold that I want to join the army because I could have my own bedroom etc. I took the ASVAB test and luckily I passed (knowing that I was only a high school graduate from PI). I planned on getting my driver's license before going to basic training so I did not have time to attend the drill. After 2 weeks of passing ASVAB my recruiter told me to go to basic training. He didn't even teach me the basic command such as "attention, right face, left face etc. " He also didn't tell me about running, sit-up, and push up. Not only that I quit my job and I did not know that I was only in Army Reserve. I did not know the difference between active duty and reserve. I didn't also know the Soldier's Creed. Zero knowledge. All I did was signed the contract, took the oath, and left for basic training and AIT.

I attended basic training in Fort Jackson SC and AIT (job training) in Ft Lee VA (MOS was 92Y). On basic training: I was shocked and in tears when I was just stepping down the bus, the Drill Sgt yelling in my face "Run! Run! Run! the duffle bag was very heavy and then another Drill Sgt on my face "hurry up soldier! hurry up soldier! hurry soldier! . After 1 week in training I wanted to quit so I told my Drill Sgt that I dont understand English. He said that instead of sending me home they will send me to language school. I just realized that there is no way out. I remember my recruiter said that I will have my own bed room but LOL it was a bunk bed and a big shower room for 20 people. It was hard but I survived. On sundays I attended the service to have donuts Thankfully I made it to the graduation.

Days passed by I came back in CA after AIT ... I was jobless so from army reserve I was successfully transfered to active duty and my first duty station was in Germany. In my unit I was the only female asian and it was hard because I did not have someone to relate to. But I was only in Germany for few months because I was deployed in Baghdad, Iraq for 14 months (2005-2006) My experience in Iraq was unforgettable the rocket attacks, IED attacks, ambush, etc. no shower for weeks, no hot meal ....luckily I came back home with complete body parts. And then 2007-2008 I was deployed in Afghanistan for 12 moths unfortunately I was injured and was medically discharged on 2009. Overall my military experience was somewhat amazing.I had the opportunity to see the different places.

GOOD LUCK TO YOUR WIFE!

My wife took her oath of enlistment into the Air National Guard today. She will be leaving for her 8.5 weeks of Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas sometime in November, followed by her 6 week technical school at Ft Lee, Virginia. A total of almost 4 months. She went in at the grade of E-3 (Airman First Class) because of her education. She will be 39 years old in November. She has improved significantly on her push-ups now (regular or "men's" push ups, doing a total of 16 consecutive perfect military push-ups out of the 28 she will have to do by the end of Basic Training. And she is still working on her running, even in the heat we have been having.

I am proud of her.

AUGUST BULLETIN IS OUT

F2B

01 JAN 02

filipinalover -

Your Certificate of Marriage needs to be amended by the NSO to show dissolution by divorce, and your CENOMAR must be clear. Until that time, you are not free to marry in the PI or eligible to be petitioned for a USA K1 fiancee visa.

Since you already have a copy of your divorce decree authenticated by the US Embassy, the next step is to petition for Judicial Recognition of a Foreign Divorce Decree through the Regional Trial Court. You will need an attorney to do this. Ask your godmother in the Mayor's Office to help with procedures and referrals.

Once the RTC approves your petition, you will return to the LCR in the city where you were married and begin the process of amending your Certificate of Marriage as dissolved. Either the LCR or you will take those documents to the NSO office in Manila, and after several months your amended Certificate of Marriage will be available, and subsequent requests for your CENOMAR will indicate your accurate and legal civil status.

Then your fiancee can file for your K1 Visa.

Happy Trails!

Best advice .

Since she wasn't the legal wife in US when the ex-husband passed away the death certificate has nothing to do with the dissolution of marriage in PH.

Thank you for the info!!

I live in Italy and I am currently working too, can I submit my income as well? I'm also trying to save up as much as I can. I am really worried about this income issue, he has a hard time finding a job because of his condition and the VA claim is literally taking forever (I want to slap them all) and I really don't want our petition to be denied, we've been apart for over a year now >< Though the proof of income matters mostly for the interview, right? So if he is unemployed now but starts collecting disability in time for the interview, will that be fine?

Thank you so much for your help, sorry about all the questions :\

Glad to see you were in the military too =)

I think you can include your income. Please read the Instruction and guidelines of I-864 which is the affidavit of support form.

When i filled-up the i-864 (affidavit of support form) I checked the (box) retired and wrote veterans affairs benefits. My VA claim was approved after year of filing but I received back payment from the date when I filled. I think its best if he get a job even its just part time (plus the VA disability) so that he has some sort of income to show during the interview.

Yes, you can use the VA disability as your income.... I just submitted my AOS for my mom and it was approved. My only income is my VA disability, however it wasnt enough to meet the poverty guidelines so I also included my husband's income. I did not submit my certificate of VA disability or bank statement but I submitted all of our previous Income Tax Return.

As for yourr second question I am not sure. But what I did is that everyone who is in our Income Tax Return is also included in our household size plus the principal immigrant. Me, my husband, my daughter, and my mom (principal immigrant) total of 4... So if your fiance daughter is on his Income Tax Return then the daughter is counted to the household size.

Your step-mom could have petitioned for you after you were 18, as well. As long as she married your dad before you were 18 then she has a legal relationship to you that makes her eligible to file a petition for you.

Great info.

Im living in states for 10 yrs now....

tricare prime doesn't cover civilian doctors or hospitals anymore unless you are an extremely dangerous pregnancy status. If she wants to see civ doctors or use hospitals outside the military hospitals she has to have tricare standard and pay out of pocket coverage fees.

Ooopppsss. I guessed the rule has changed because I was able to use mine on 2009.

But Im for sure since she is not the "soon to be veteran" the VA will not pay her pregnancy expenses its only for eligible women veterans.

In addition, once your husband get out of the Military he would get a 6 months extension from Tricare ... and it depends how many months you are now ... you can use Tricare to the civilian hospitals or civilian doctors untill your delivery as long as your are included on his tricare,

I am an Iraq/Afghanistan army veteran the VA covered both of my pregnancy. Since VA hospital do not have maternity or birthing department they contracted an outsider OBGYN for me who accepts VA insurance.

Your husband is the veteran so the VA may not be able to pay for your pregnancy expenses. But to make sure call the VA and they will give you an accurate answer.

I AGREE.

My stepmom petitioned me before I turned 18. She is a USC.

You do not have all the facts such as if the US citizen stepfather married mom before the OP's 18th birthday. You are making grossing wrong statements without all the facts.

I agree. Hah Try to live together and see what happens. He will support his family in India forever.

I'm really glad you have seen a counselor. Have you considered couples counselling? You could do an over the phone session!

Is it possible that he could come to the US for 1-6 months and you could try living together and see a counsellor then?

Trying to live together might put things into perspective for your husband and or it might prove that your differences are too great to overcome or that you can work through things.

The problem is, once he is here through the CR-1, you could be somewhat "trapped" on the hook financially or stuck in an unhealthy relationship.

This case is similar withmy father 10 years ago. My father had a tourist visa when he entered US. He divorced my mother in the Philippines (although Philippines does not recognize divorce he went ahead and done it.) My mother signed the divorce paper and sent back to my father. The divorce paper was finalized and he married a US citizen and then he got his green card. In the Philippines they are still considered married since divorce is not recognize however, in USA they are divorced already. My stepmother is USC and she petitioned me when I was 16 now I am in US for 8 years.

That should be fine. I filed my tax return online and the IRS approved and accepted it. So I printed it out and I send it for my Mom's AOS. My mom's AOS approved along with ITRs I sent.

The most important is that your recently Income Tax Return which is 2011 shows that you meet the poverty guidelines.You can alao send your bank account statements savings, checking etc. any assets you have.

If your mom petitioned you, yes you should be on F2B category and the waiting time usually from 8-12 years .... If your F1 waiting time is 15-18 years depends with the NVC.... F2B. category in the Philippines is faster than F1.

Not sure if you can change your peitioner since its already approved.