Emanuel+Lorraine

Just APPROVED!!!

Received the email 7:00 PM EST

NOA1 1/15/2013

And yes we were transferred to TSC

I don't see how it can be reliable if the other is saying 64 months. I'm guessing that someone is tinkering with the data and it'll be accurate later on.

I'm willing to bet that they put the decimal in the wrong spot and they intended the national average to read "6.4 months"

Lol and the National Average is 64 months?? What's up with that? Oh well..

Yeah, saw that too....#######.

Shows how reliable that tool is.

Notice how if you tilt your head to the right and look at it sideways it looks like USCIS is giving us the finger...

Question. Why going back to the Philippines for the visa process? Why not do it from Thailand?

She'd like the chance to say goodbye to some of her friends and extended family, before coming to the US. She'll also be able get her official transcripts from her RN and graduate program while she's in PH.

This may not be an issue at all, since she is 25 she may not need the parental advice. The wording of this rule states "between" 21-25 rather than "from" 21-25. And we know that 21 requires consent rather than advice, so "between" can be taken literally.

She can have the form notarized at the Philippine Consulate in Bangkok.

OK, Thanks!

- get it notarized. Have the parents sign it, then take it to the notary (and/or attorney) with their ID and "git 'er dun!"

My fiancee lives in Bangkok now but will be returning to Manila after we get the NOA2 to complete the process and interview there.

She's 25 so she will need the parental advice form completed. It won't be a problem for her mother to fill it out and sign it.

But, her parents also live in Bangkok, they won't be in the Philippines when she is back there.

My question is, will my fiancee be able to have the document notarized with a COPY of her mother's ID rather than the original? Obviously, she won't be able to take her mom's original ID from Thailand to the Philippines, as her mom needs to keep it!

Thanks...

Hi everyone!

I'm bumping this because my fiancee has added several entries over the past couple of months. Thanks to all who have enjoyed reading thus far!

Enjoy..!

Also, I'm not sure if you can change the address to one in the Philippines after the fact, especially since it was so long ago. It may delay the process more. But, I'm not sure about this, you'd be better off asking someone more knowledgeable than I...

Is she going to do the interview there? Do you have to change the address stated in the form if you want the interview to be in Manila? I am thinking of doing the interview in the PH since I will be coming home for my friend's wedding. Our application was filed in July and that month is affected by the long delay. It has been almost 9 months now. My fiance is running out of patience and getting really mad about the processing.

She will do the interview in Manila, yes. We put her Manila address on the forms because that's her "permanent" address; when she initially went to Thailand last year it was for vacation, but since her family lives there she ended up staying, getting a work permit and a job. But she doesn't have permanent residency in Thailand...I suppose she could have done it there just like you are, but she really wanted the chance to spend some time in the Philippines before leaving for here, so it made sense for her to complete the K1 process there.

Yes, the wait sucks indeed and it seems last summer's filers really got shafted. Stay strong, I'm sure it will be really soon, seems they are finally digging out of that hole. I assume you are with the CSC? I feel lucky we got Vermont and being a January filer we're really hoping for a June NOA2....we'll see.

Good luck!

Hi! I am in the same situation. I have been traveling around SE Asia and I have been living here in Thailand for quite a while. My fiance wrote my Thailand address on the application form and the agency we hired said I can do the interview here and there is no problem with that regardless of whether I am working here or not.

Hey!

Good luck to you guys!

As I mentioned earlier, my fiancee will be traveling back to Manila to complete the K1 process. She's working now but will put in her 1 month notice as soon as we get our NOA2...and then head to the Philippines. She decided she wanted the chance to see friends & family in Manila before heading to the US.

I hope it goes smoothly for you in Thailand! Keep us posted!

Here are some samples to use as a guide:

Examples (from Quezon City):

Advice of Parents: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/parentadvice.pdf

I was under the impression that the advice of parents is required for ages 21-25.

In the example above, the statement says: "...and aged twenty-one (21) and below twenty-five

(25) years..."

My fiancee is 25 now. Would she still need to get a statement of advice, or is that only for those UNDER 25 years of age?

Thanks..

Nice!

And mmmm yeah, I so loved eating in Thailand. Only a couple of more weeks until I go back - can't wait!

I asked her, and this was her reply:

"The letter itself, read plainly doesnt seem to be the usual love letter at all. But that's where you admire Jane Austen. One must not only look at the text but the development of the writing as well. No warm and cheesy words were said, but there is definitely passion in it. You could almost feel Darcy's heart bleeding.

For reference: http://www.theloiterer.org/ashton/year00/darcylet.html "

Ooops, forgot to add the end:

""The letter itself, read plainly doesnt seem to be the usual love letter at all. But that's where you admire Jane Austen. One must not only look at the text but the development of the writing as well. No warm and cheesy words were said, but there is definitely passion in it. You could almost feel Darcy's heart bleeding. What Darcy did not explicity declare in words, he manifested in sub-text...Quoting from my blog, "He poured his feelings" and pour he did...the letter was very emotional and truly showed Elizabeth how Darcy cares about her perception of him.

For reference: http://www.theloiterer.org/ashton/year00/darcylet.html "

Excellent and thanks! If the book differs that much I really need to finish it!

I asked her, and this was her reply:

"The letter itself, read plainly doesnt seem to be the usual love letter at all. But that's where you admire Jane Austen. One must not only look at the text but the development of the writing as well. No warm and cheesy words were said, but there is definitely passion in it. You could almost feel Darcy's heart bleeding.

For reference: http://www.theloiterer.org/ashton/year00/darcylet.html "

Hey everyone, thanks for the replies and feedback!

Okay, I could be a total numpty here but in that entry she says that Darcy writes Elizabeth a love letter. I've seen the original series and the el-crapo movie multiple times and I don't recall "a love letter" (and the book recently, though my Kindle died and I haven't finished it on my new Kindle yet). I recall a letter where he explains what the deal was with Wickam, and why he told Bingly that Jane didn't care about him, but not a letter declaring how he felt for Elizabeth. Am i totally wrong here? Does the book deal with an actual love letter? An actual letter declaring feelings? I only recall him SAYING those feeling "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

I haven't read Pride and Prejudice, but I will refer this question to her and we'll get back to you!

Got this too...

"On January 22, 2013, your Alien Registration Number was changed relating to your I129F"

Nothing has changed since then...not getting my hopes up

Make sure she gets her police reports before she leaves - it will be easier. Also, make sure she can document her whereabouts and where she was working, the entire time she was out of the Philippines, not just visa stamps. It may or may not be that big a deal, but it won't hurt to be prepared for the extra scrutiny.

Thank you again.

Yes, we will make sure she gets her Police Clearance in Bangkok...we'll wait a few more months at least, until we are closer to the NOA2 (so it's recent).

As far as documenting her whereabouts, while on her Thai Tourist visa she was visiting with her family (her parents and brother work there legally) - not sure how to document an extended vacation with her family - maybe a letter from her parents or her brother acknowledging her visit?

In terms of her most recent, B1 Thai work visa, this should be easy to document, she can provide pay stubs from her current employer and/or a statement from them indicating she was employed there.

Thanks for the continued advice...cheers!

Thanks for the reply. Originally we considered having her remain in Bangkok and do the K1 interview etc over there. But ultimately we decided that she will return home to Manila before that process. I'm sure they will ask about Thailand, considering we've spent our time together there and they will see the visa stamps on her passport. Yet this shouldn't change the process since her home (and home address) is in Manila.

http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item-1602/Stricter-Immigration-Rules-for-Filipinos-Going-to-Bangkok.html

Thanks for the information.

I doubt this would be an issue anymore...she's now gone from trainee to full time employee at a hospital in Bangkok and has a non-immigrant "B" working visa from Thailand, so should be ok.

Foreign worker in Bangkok? Tough nut to crack. Expect a very thorough investigation.

ok...why so?

Hello VJers!

I'm posting to promote my fiancee's blog, which may be of interest to some of you out there. She's an excellent writer, and our story is a romantic one!

We're looking to expand her audience, as well as connect with other bloggers and/or couples going through a similar experience.

Please check it out - and thanks very much for your time and attention!

http://theglobalfilipina.wordpress.com/

I'm 37 and my fiancee is 25.

The age difference (it isn't too big) really isn't an issue for us. We're close enough in age so that it doesn't create a huge gap between us and our priorities.

I feel like it's more of an issue for her family than mine, but I think it's more representative of their anxiety about her living so far away with me here in the states than anything else.

We know we're in love and want to be together and that nothing can stop us. Nevertheless, we are doing what we can to make our relatives and friends comfortable with the idea of us being together. We even did a Skype version of the "pamamanhikan" to get our parents acquainted

Our petition has been accepted, we received the NOA1 approval on the 16th! Now, we wait...

Plus, I'll be in Thailand to visit her in less than 3 weeks - yay! Can't wait!!!

In this case I'm not sure how her employer would even find out that she is going through a fiancé visa application. I would expect dealing with the Thai embassy would be very similar to the Manila one, probably both are considered higher fraud countries, but in your case it sounds like a pretty easy application. My fiancé lived in Thailand before we met, we had to procure a police report from Bangkok, and that was about it.

The one thing you need to be prepared is that she'll likely have to make a trip back to Manila at some point, because you are going to need several documents from the Philippines. The Cenomar and NSO Birth Certificate can luckily be ordered online. Not sure if they will ship to Thailand, but she could have them shipped to someone in Manila who could forward them on. But she's also going to need her NBI Clearance, and possibly she will need to appear in person to order it, and maybe to pick it up. I'm not sure that can be done remotely.

We decided to go with the Manila embassy for K1...she'll plan to go back to the PI for the rest of the process once we receive our NOA2.

Thank you all for your replies!

In this case I'm not sure how her employer would even find out that she is going through a fiancé visa application. I would expect dealing with the Thai embassy would be very similar to the Manila one, probably both are considered higher fraud countries, but in your case it sounds like a pretty easy application. My fiancé lived in Thailand before we met, we had to procure a police report from Bangkok, and that was about it.

The one thing you need to be prepared is that she'll likely have to make a trip back to Manila at some point, because you are going to need several documents from the Philippines. The Cenomar and NSO Birth Certificate can luckily be ordered online. Not sure if they will ship to Thailand, but she could have them shipped to someone in Manila who could forward them on. But she's also going to need her NBI Clearance, and possibly she will need to appear in person to order it, and maybe to pick it up. I'm not sure that can be done remotely.

The more we research this, the more it seems that it's likely she will return to Manila at some point. Maybe we'll work with the consulate in Manila instead, but she can continue working in Thailand for at least a few more months before she returns.

Is she working as an RN in Thailand? If she is she may need that employer as a reference. I think they have to leave that job in good standing or it could effect their license. I have a friend that had a Filipina Fiance in Singapore and she waited till she had her VISA in hand and then she gave the required 1 month notice and then came to the USA. My wife was working as domestic worker so she lived with her employer. Since mail came to the house from the US Embassy and she ocassionally needed to ask for time off to get police reports etc. (Her only day off was Sunday.) She just told her employer up front. Good Luck!

Although she is an RN, her job isn't: she still works in the medical field though, at a hospital, but her job is more of a consulting job with a unit that utilizes her English writing and speaking proficiency. She does want to give ample notice and leave in good standing, but it won't likely affect her future endeavors as an RN in the US too much. She'll need to test for a new license over here, too. I know we won't want to wait a whole month after she gets her VISA though

Thanks again for the help & well wishes, everyone.

Thank you, Hank. I hope others do have similar experiences that they can share.