caradavie

given the chance to turn back the time, i will not hire an agency anymore to help me with the process. they're a rip off and they really can't help you that much. all they do is gather the need requirements from you and sort it then they fill out the forms. save the money and use it on your wedding, that's my advise. as for the process, there's a lot of resources you can check. visa journey will help you a lot. you just need to take the time to read and ask the rights questions. good luck on your visa journey.

ok guys, i finally got a text and email from USCIS that they have received our package. Thank God! and thanks to all of your responses.it's probably the upcoming holidays that delayed it as almost everyone is going to a vacation.

Take into consideration that you sent it around Christmas/the holidays. Last year, it took 20 days from sending until there was an email update, atleast for me.

yes, i have taken into consideration the holidays.. however, we paid it as priority mail package. and no, they haven't deducted the money in our account yet. but i want to know that worst that we can expect out of this.

we have submitted my AOS 2 weeks ago and we still haven't received a notice from USCIS that they have received our AOS package. USPS website showed that our package was delivered to the P.O. Box on December 6th. Does it normally take long for them to notify the applicant? What is the longest waiting time for this? We are getting worried about it and I'm hoping to get a job soon. anyone who submitted their AOS package recently and have been waiting for too long?

they will not accept your I-94 if the expiration is less than 2 months. I went to DMV to get a state ID and i turned down because my I-94 was expiring in 1 month and 3 weeks. the reason why they're not accepting it because they said, it takes 2 months for DMV to verify my information to the immigration. i was so disappointed when they told me that...

I have been trying to find a Civil Surgeon to assess my vaccination and transfer it to the form that we need to submit for my AOS. However, I can't find a cheap one. Most of them are charging $100 for just transcribing. I live in El Dorado Hills and i am looking for a Civil Surgeon that does the transcription for a reasonable price. I am near Sacramento and Folsom. Any advise?

got my SSN after 5 working days!

wow that was fast sis! I am still waiting for my SSN card.

I am just reposting this from Facebook. I just think this might help people who's thinking of sending packages for their love ones in the Philippines.

====================

DTI, may babala sa OFWs na nagpapadala ng Balikbayan box

Binalaan ng Department of Trade and Industry ang publiko lalo na ang mga may kaanak sa ibang bansa na mag-ingat sa mga blacklisted na cargo forwarder.

Ayon kay Atty. Victorio Mario Dimagiba, Director-in-Charge of Philippine Shippers Bureau (PSB) ng DTI, dapat munang tiyakin ng mga overseas Filipino worker (OFW) na accredited ng DTI at PSB ang mga freight forwarders at consolidators bago magpadala ng kanilang Balikbayan boxes.

Dapat aniyang pagdudahan ang mga freight forwarder na nag-aalok ng pinaka-murang door-to-door rates dahil tiyak na wala itong kakayahan para bayaran ang mga ibabiyaheng kargamento.

Binanggit ni Dimagiba na ang mga foreign principals at cargo consolidators sa ibang bansa ay karaniwang may local counterpart sa Pilipinas na accredited ng PSB kung sea cargo forwarder at Civil Aeronautics Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) naman kung air cargo forwarder.

Sa ngayon, may ilan nang forwarders sa bansa ang idineklara ng DTI na blacklisted dahil sa iba't ibang reklamo. Ito'y ang mga sumusunod:

· D' Winner Logistics Phil. Inc (Case No. 2012-09-139- Petition for revocation of Accreditation)

· LCSN Express Movers Inc (Case Nos. 2012-09-135, 2012-10-158, 2012-10-161)

· MC Plus Inc. ( Case Nos. 2012-09-116 and 2012-09-131)

· Transtech Global Phil Inc. (Case No. 2012-09-138)

· Wide wide World Express Corp. (Case No. 2012-09-148)

Inilabas naman ng DTI ang mga local freight forwarders/Philippine agents na walang DTI-PSB accreditation at inirereklamo dahil sa undelivered packages:

· 2GO Express Inc (Case No. 2012-09-134)

· Aerosend (Case No. 2011-04-163)

· Alas Cargo Phil. (Case No 2012-05-57)

· Associated Consolidation Express (ACE) (Case No. 2010-05-44)

· Dausan International Forwarder (Case No. 2012-09-132)

· FACF Parcel Delivery (Case No; 2012-09-142)

· FRS Philippine Freight Services Inc. (Case No. 2011-08-238)

· International Cargo Forwarder (Case No: 2012-08-125)

· J.J. Transglobal Brokerage (Case No. 2012-09-143)

· JAR Cargo Forwarders (Case No. 2012-09-126)

· Mail Plus Cargo Carriers (Case No. 2012-02-25)

· Manila Broker (Case No. 2012-09-144)

· Maru Cargo Logistics Phil (Case No. 2012-10-164)

· R&M Cargo Services (Case No. 2012-10-155)

· Rodah Cargo Manila (Case Nos. 2012-01-15 and 2012-09-140)

· South Atlantic Cargo Inc. (Case No. 2012-10-154)

· Trico International Forwarding (Phils) Inc. (Case No. 2012-09-141)

· VCG Customs Brokerage (Case No. 2012-03-38)

Pinapayuhan ang mga sender ng Balikbayan boxes o iba pang package na i-verify ang mga pangalan ng freight forwarder na accredited ng DTI sa www.dti.gov.ph o magtanong sa Philippine Consulate Offices na nakakasakop sa kanila. With a report from Henry Atuelan, Radyo Patrol 44

to give you an idea on what to expect at the embassy, you may read the Embassy reviews tab. here's mine.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/384961-usem-manila-visa-interview/

my fiance's family is asking me to cook adobo and lumpiang shanghai and pansit. i am a good cook. however, i'm a little nervous to cook for them because i love spices and they might find my cooking too much.. any tips? and i need to watch for the fat and sugar because they're conscious about it.

I finally applied for my SSN in Folsom Blvd in Sacramento. It was fast and not a lot of applicants there. There's just one issue though, the SSA Officer told me that he contacted their immigration and the immigration doesn't have my middle name in it. He told me that he still put my middle name in the SSN application and that my card will be mailed to me in 2 weeks. I just want to know if this will give me problems at the immigration? Will it still matter after I and my fiance get married?

my fiance bought my ticket through Expedia. then he emailed me the confirmation email from Expedia along with the itinerary, printed it out and showed it at the delta counter. they didn't ask for my fiance's credit card. it was a smooth flight. no hassle at all. hope this helps.

Congrats! Now I am assuming there's a real big smile on your face now!

I am making travel arrangements for my fiancé. She just received the visa and I just want to make sure I don't mess up booking her flight. I had a huge hassle flying in due to Orbitz mess up my routing so I am now very careful to double check everything.

For her to get to her point of entry will she need anything more than her stamped passport. I imaging she will connect in Hong Kong or Tokyo, any issues there.

Orbitz routed me though Bejing and really complicated my visit but that is another story. What about the point of entry. I will bring her to the Miami airport but the POE will probably be Chicago, San Francisco or Los Angeles. At POE she will be asked some questions and show the visa and give them the sealed packet? What is the better POE?

Anything else to know?

Thanks in advance.

i had my POE in San Francisco and i had a smooth entry. They just asked me several questions, read some parts on what's inside my brown envelope, showed them my visa and passport and then greeted me Welcome to USA!

We are sched to do interview this friday. At St. Lukes we gave the 3 pictures. Do we still bring another 3 pictures on interview?

if you want to be sure and safe, i'd say still bring some. in case they ask for it. i did submit pictures in St. Luke's during my medical. But i still brought some with me. They didn't ask for more though during the interview. I have stapled it on my documents but they gave them back to me. Goodluck on your interview. And congrats in advance!

Yes, the cut on the corner is normal, I already read that on some threads here. I'm just worried about case number it's on the upper right of the visa it says IV case number so I compared it to the case ID that's on my immigrant data summary and I noticed they added 01 at the end.

I got to CFO office around 7 due to traffic. I'll try to go earlier tomorrow.

You done with it?

The 14 characters case # is fine. It's different from the MNL Case #. I think what needs to be checked in the visa is your name, birthdate, passport # and your fiance's/spouse's name and address. Congrats!

i got mine 16 days after my Visa was approved. My friend who got approved the same day as me got it after 3-4 days i think. when i can and tell them that they said, it's a case to case basis. so it really depends.

there is also a guy Chinese-American Consul at Window 66 that I'm afraid of. lol. His interviews takes a long time and he grilled everyone. lol I've heard a lot of 221g that came thru his window. and also, some were denied.

HOW DO U SCHEDULE FOR THE CFO? I HEARD THAT THERE IS ONE NEAR KATIPUNAN QC? WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING FOR THAT?

SMEF-COW in Katipunan does not conduct seminars anymore effective Sept. 17. Everything will be done in CFO Manila which is i think in Quirino Ave.

Thanks! Our departure will be on the 29th of November and will arrive in San Francisco, CA.

Hassle ba yung line sa immgigration? lol

Yung pila sa immigration sa NAIA mejo mahaba. but i think depende xa sa oras or dami ng flights on that certain hours. i stood on the line at 4am. and there are a lot of people lining up. and also there are limited windows open. so mejo tumagal doon. in SanFo naman, keri lang. once the Immigrants lane was emptied, they called the visitors/tourist to line up next at the immigrants lane.

Thanks! But I have another question, is the termninal fee different with the travel tax?

yes. terminal fee is different from travel tax. Travel Tax is Php1620.00 and Terminal Fee is Php550.00. I just arrived here in CA last week. I flew Delta with a layover in Japan. How about you?

congratulations! Welcome to America soon!

I love reading these posts. Thanks for posting and congrats on completing your visa journey.

Pls post back more thoughts on what is interesting for you about being here in the U.S., ideas to help Filipinas adjust or how you are adjusting, etc. Thanks and have fun.

i love it so far. and i'm sure you already know how Filipino praises US for having such a clean street lol. And it's quiet and peaceful. I just find it funny that my fiance complains about the traffic here. then i guess if he'll be driving in Manila, he'll go ballistic. lol!

i had my first meal last night in a Chinese Restaurant in Martinez, CA and i learned that you get what you pay for. Really big servings that I wasn't able to finish my food.

omg magic sarap is not allowed? ?

I am not really sure if it's not allowed. i think it is, they just don't like stinky foods. hehe. and the guy was just being funny to make me feel comfortable.

thanks everyone!