Daniel99

Well they all require the same basic visa application forms/documentation, but how they collect the forms, schedule the medical exam, assign your interview, etc is where they have their individual way to get to the end result. Some have you mail in the documents, others see them for the first time at the interview. Some let you pick your own appointment, while others dole them out after a long wait. But in the end all require the same medical exam, police report, birth certificate, DS-230, etc.as outlined by the Dept of State.

Not, it is NOT paying taxes, is the filing of a return what I'm talking about. Filing a return does not equate to paying taxes, two different but related matters.
As for exceptions for being resident in another country, it depends on what country is involved, I am not a tax expert nor have experience with Philippines; but I have been resident in other countries and sometimes those exceptions applied and sometimes they did not. It is true that there is a ceiling when resident in another country and are there double taxation treaties with many countries (so one does not pay taxes in 2 countries for the same income) etc. But I digress...
What happens is that for practical purposes, if you don't have to pay taxes (because of low income, resident in other country or whatever), if you don't file, IRS will not go look for you, but many immigration benefits require a tax transcript/return, again is not about paying taxes, it is about filing a return; both things often get assumed to be same. The IRS guys are concerned only about whether you need to pay/file or not, but they can't speak on the immigration aspects.

http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/uncsam/complain/employ.htm
Immigration Status
If you are an employee hired after November 6, 1986, your employer must be able to prove that you are legally authorized to work in the United States and will ask you to present documentation showing that you have work authorization. However, an employer cannot single you out to require employment verification because you are of a particular national origin group or you appear not to be a citizen. Neither can an employer require that you be a U.S. citizen, or generally give those who are U.S. citizens a preference in hiring or employment opportunities, unless there are legal or contractual requirements that mandate he or she do so. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against legal aliens merely because they look like noncitizens or in fact are not citizens or because they have a particular type of work authorization.
Under immigration law, individuals who charge discrimination on the basis of national origin against employers with 4 to 14 employees or on the basis of citizenship status against employers with fewer employees should file a complaint within 180 days of the date of the alleged unfair immigration-related employment practice with the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices in the Department of Justice.
For more information about immigrants’ employment rights, contact:
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
(202) 616-5594
Employer hot line: (800) 255-8155
Employee hot line: (800) 255-7688
Fax: (202) 616-5509
www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc

Actually, that is indeed illegal.
In order to avoid accusations and litigation, most employers just ask candidates if they are "authorized to work" in the United States. Only after a person has been hired, he or she has to fill out the I-9 form and provide proof of (1) identity and (2) authorization to work.
Of course, any interview offers the opportunity to learn about the prospective new employee and dismiss him or her in a friendly manner without telling much. Like: "thank you for coming; we'll make a decision eventually and if you may or may not get a call from us."
Openly stating that somebody is not being hired because of their citizenship or immigration status, is pretty stupid. If you have proof for this, you have a case for a discrimination lawsuit.

Thanks guys. We ended up finding a bank that actually knows how to deal with perm. residents... Left the one who insisted we sign the wrong paperwork!

Well it's great that you have the internet! I would do some research and maybe see if there's any expat blogs or websites that can give you tips. Buying a stamp and posting a letter is probably the same as in the UK, just gotta find a post office Research your area online and find out what there is to do and see. When your hubby has a day off, have him take you around town to explore and see where everything is. Maybe even one day, when he goes to work he could drop you off in town - you could have breakfast and explore!

My Fianceee and I joke aroound about this topic.
It refreshing reading responses from 1st world versus 3rd world countries.
For my Fiancee she said what she is looking forward to of course is unencumbered access to Gowons swingset but she wants to verify my claim of 24/7 electricity, hot water from faucets.
I can't wait to take her to Disneyland, Vegas and camping.

now wait a moment, in another thread you mentioned the I-130 was approved..
is the I-130 approved, or not?

Thanks, brother. I'm sure your lead-in to this discovery will help many VJ'ers in the future. Credit where credit is due..

Best bet is to walk away from the airport and catch a regular taxi, its much cheaper.

Tanga Kano Lang. There are those of us who know what were doing and pay less then the filipino!!
Always the best to walk upstairs to the arrival area and get a cab dropping off someone. Make sure you say meter and no excuses.. Their not expecting the fair and its a bonus..
The embassy is close but its the traffic(time of day) that will make a 10 minute drive into an hour. Also, Bayview Park hotel is across the street if he is playing stupid..

Kano will pay handsomely

In the Philippines naming works a bit different. Whereas in the US we have a singular first name traditionally in the Philippines your first name is all of your given names, your middle name is your mother's maiden name, and your surname is your father's family name. When a woman marries she drops her mother's maiden name, shifts her father's surname to her middle name and takes her husband's family name as her own.
I would advise the OP to get a judge to correct her marriage certificate with the correct name and then change her passport to the name she wishes to use. Correcting the application is as simple as sending a letter of correction to the USCIS or NVC along with a copy of your new passport with your legal name. No matter what is on your application your visa and green card will be issued with the name on your passport.

next after marriage? i would assume sex?

First, as others have said, getting a tourist visa in this case will be impossible. She's already married, you have a pending petition to bring her over, you'll never be able to convince them that she's going to go home.
As to this whole Dream Act / Hispanic Illegal thread. Wow. The amount of complete BS being thrown around here is astounding. The same criteria that allows a Hispanic Baby born in this country to stay is the same that would allow YOUR Baby to be an automatic US Citizen, just for being born here. This is the general rule of law in most countries. It's not designed to help Hispanics any more than it's designed to help you, or people from any country.
There is no Dream Act. An ACT, as in an act of congress, was never passed. So it doesn't exist as law. What Obama said he's doing to do is not the same as the Dream Act.
Immigration is a problem in this country. But it's not because of illegal Hispanics. It's because like most government it's become too complicated in red tape, too many agencies, forms, understaffed offices, and apathetic customs and consular officers. I don't disagree that it should be easier. It should be.
But if you think that the US just has an open door for any Mexican to wander across the border, you're not paying attention. Hundreds of thousands are still stopped at the border, caught here and deported or held in detention.
And I'm sorry, but the notion that some kid, who was brought here by his parents when he had no choice, who's going to college or wants to serve in the mIlitary, the idea of extending to that person citizenship is a great idea. These are the people we WANT in this country.

I don't think the OP pays attention to current events of the last several years.. "No such thing as the dream act"?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DREAM_Act
2012
On June 15, 2012, President Barack Obama announced that his administration would stop deporting young undocumented immigrants who match certain criteria previously proposed under the DREAM ACT.[45] However, this change in policy does not cover most individuals who arrived in the U.S. legally (see the "Criticism" section below).
On August 15, 2012, the same day that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications under the Obama administration’s new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer issued an executive order preventing the state of Arizona from issuing driver’s licenses and public benefits to young undocumented immigrants who receive deferred status and work authorization under the new program. In addition to driving privileges, Governor Brewer’s order bars undocumented immigrants who qualify for deferred action from receiving state-subsidized child care, health insurance, unemployment benefits, business and professional licenses, and government contracts.[46] Thousands of individuals submitted applications for the new program.[47][48] In late August 2012, ten federal immigration agents sued Janet Napolitano, saying the directive forces them to break the law and ignore their duties.[49][50]

Some get the visa from 2GO in 3 days, others have waited almost a month before the embassy released the visa to 2GO. For us it was about two weeks.