Mike&Gina

We filed for our 10 year green card extension (I-751) in January 2017. We received the one year extension which will expire in January 2018. My wife is Filipina and we want to travel to the Bahamas at Christmas to visit my brother who works there. I read where Philippine Passport holders need a VISA to enter the Bahamas??? I hope my wife can get a Visa to the Bahamas and then we have no troubles leaving the USA and reentering the USA??? We also will be going on a 11 day cruise after the Bahamas. I would not like it if my wife were NOT allowed reentry into the USA where she lives and works.

To Derwood: Hello fellow Daytonian! We are also in Dayton, Ohio.....more specifically: Kettering, Ohio. We love it here for 6 months of the year - November to April. lol To answer your question....no we were not interviewed.

We received our notice from Homeland Security today that Gina's application for permanent residence has been approved. YEEEAAA!!!! We filed on June 24, 2014. They wrote that we should receive the "Permanent Resident Card" by June 20, 2015. Thank God Almighty!! Everybody else waiting....hang in there, and God Bless!! Mike & Gina

Hello Gang!! My Filipina wife Gina and I got married June 14, 2014. We filed our AOS in June, and STILL no Green Card (Nebraska Service Center)....oh well that's another story. The reason for this post is....she has a 25 year old son who now wants to come to the USA to live and work. What's the BEST and FASTEST "legal" way to get him here???? Thanks and God Bless to you all. Mike & Gina

Hi Gang, We filed June 18, 2014. Today is April 17, 2015. 10 months waiting and still no "green card." I am VERY,VERY disappointed in the Nebraska Service Center processing site. They have basically put our lives "on hold" and I just don't understand WHY, or why it takes so long while we know others that have gotten theirs within 3 months. Mike & Gina

Hello Kids!! Filed in June like y'all...Today November 20th and NO Green Card...OMG!!! We got EAD (Advanced Parole) and are flying to The Philippines in 6 days on November 26th. I hope there is no problems while we are gone, and more importantly no problems when we try and enter the USA again in March 2015 with no Green Card and a expired K-1 Visa?! Our AOS paperwork is in Nebraska...where's that?! lol They probably have 4 feet of snow there and the Immigration Workers cant even get in to work - taking "snow days" off work!! Ha Ha! Saw where some of you June 2014 filers already have your Green Cards?? How lucky you is!! How'd ya do it?? Did you put an extra $100 dollar bill in the application for "expedited service" lol Good luck, and God Bless Us All.

I would say notarize all 4 copies to them. That's what I did. Do NOT just notarize one page then make 3 additional copies of that one page. All 4 copies have to be originally notarized as they want to see the "raised stamp" of the Notary on all 4 copies. I don't quite understand what you are saying about the self addressed stamped envelope. Good Luck & God Bless

Oh, and also - YES, ROM form needs to be notarized before sending in. Our notary just signed and stamped at the bottom of the form - there's a blank space at the bottom of the page. Good Luck!!!

We just did ours last month - sent to Washington DC Consulate since we got married on the beach in Florida. We originally put Gina's last name - her previously married name (she was widowed). When we received the Accepted and OK'd form back we noticed they changed her name on the form (using white-out and a pen) to her birth name which they got from her birth certificate we also had to send in. So nice of them to make that change for us, instead of sending it back and making us do it ourselves and send it back in.

Hello all. Gina and I filed our forms and package (485) at end of June. We haven't got anything back yet from Nebraska (is that a state?!) lol I just bought tickets to return to the Philippines on November 26. I hope we have some AP for travel, or the "Green Card" by then. Anyone else in the same boat as us??? Any other June filers got there GC yet??? Mike & Gina

We are another K-1 couple with no success at Social Security Office We went there yesterday and tried to get Gina's last name changed on her card to her new married name. Two different employees told us we had to wait to do it AFTER receiving the green card. We got married June 14, but they cited that her K-1 Visa "expired" June 28, and they cant do anything until they see a green card. We did show them our I-797 papers showing we are in the process of AOS. We'll just be patient and wait.....waiting has become our hobby and past time, and patience is a virtue!! lol

Hi Don & Jenny.....Mike & Gina here. I lived there in Cebu, Philippines for 6 months last year (Oct 13 - April 14) as I hate Winter here in Ohio. Loved it there but did get alittle homesick for family and friends here, and my nice home and life I have here. To make a long story shorter...I brought Gina here to USA on K-1 Fiance Visa. We just got married on June 14th, and filed her paperwork for her green card. We expect to have the green card in November or December at the latest?? (we hope!!). We also want to return at that time back to Cebu again to live for 4 months or so till April 2015. I also have many questions as well.... Balikbayan Visa?? Should I get Gina's Philippine Passport changed now here in the USA (Philippine Consulate - Chicago)from her maiden name to her new married name?? Can we travel back to the Philippines for a 4 or 5 month stay without any problems from USA or Philippine Officials for both of us - her and I??? last year when I was there, I had to go to the Philippine Consulate twice - every 59 days to EXTEND my Visa and stay. I hope I "qualify" for the free 1 year Visa because I am now the spouse of a Philippine Citizen - my new wife Gina? Any help will be greatly appreciated....and Hank (the expert), your advise and opinions are also welcomed and appreciated!! lol Mike & Gina.... hopefully heading back to Cebu!!!

Greetings from CEBU! Honey Gina who speaks several languages and dialects said she can't understand it.....thinks it's "Muslim"?????? I'm not very "edumacated" myself, but I was unaware that Muslim is a language?! Hahaha. I'm from Ohio which is close to Kentucky, so we have our own language there.

Merry Christmas to all, and best wishes for a blessed New Year 2014. Christmas here in CEBU is crazy!! Fireworks going off constantly, continuously, and everywhere!! I even spent about 2000 PESOS on them to bring in Christmas. From 54 years of living in the USA, my mind keeps asking me, and referring back to the 4th of July, as that is the only time we do fireworks in the USA. Having fun here but can't wait to take honey Gina to the USA......but, only in April after it warms up a little at our home in OHIO. I don't want honey to freeze her little "tushie" off....lol haha.

Honey Gina woke up this morning at 4am to ensure she got there early enough for one of the only 12 spots available for the class.......I was lazy and tired and stayed home and in bed since they wouldn't allow me in the building anyway! She finally arrived home at 6pm, finished......14 hours after her day started. She said it was a very long tiring day. They asked for my proof of being single. I had already given my tax documents/returns to the US Embassy in Manila, so she had nothing to give/show CFO except a copy of my original I-129F form. She passed and we are done.....now, on to the USA at the end of March and get married. An 8 month process to complete everything, and all capped off with a 8-10 hour long class at CFO......only in The Philippines!! God Bless Us All. And, Merry Christmas & Happy blessed New Year to all as well in 2014.

Hello hello! I was with honey Gina for her interview at US Embassy in Manila on November 25th. They only asked her 3 simple questions, and could clearly see our love, care, and respect for each other. Gina passed easily. Good luck! Many people said up there that's it's an advantage to have your fiancée with you. We did witness a couple of girls that were sent away - not immediately approved, and we noticed that they were alone - no fiancé was with them. What does that indicate??

Hello, hello!! The US Embassy requested, took, and kept the copy of my Income Tax Return. I only made one copy, and gave it to them. Should Gina just tell them at CFO that the Embassy has it?? Good luck and God Bless to everyone.

Gina is going to CEBU CFO next month. Last step before flying to USA. Just curious.... How can Gina prove to them that I have never been married before?? She should say she asked all my brothers and sisters and they all told her no, that I have never been married before??

Hello all. Honey Gina and I have our interview on Monday, November 25th. She is worrying over what to wear?? Ladies can you please advise - nice pants or nice conservative dress??? Any particular color?? I told her to wear a red, white & blue dress - God bless the USA (also colors of The Philippines flag). I'm trying to decide what to wear myself..... My shorts and tie-dye shirt, or my pink strapless dress......joking, hahaha. Wish us luck, and good luck to everyone else.

He's the best!! Saved me many dollars by assisting us in our journey and many questions......and my own "self-imposed" problems!! He gets my vote if he ever runs for US President. Gina and I are both in our 50's, but if we get pregnant, our first child will be named Hank......whether it's a male or female!! Hahaha. God bless to Hank and his family, and many thanks!

Hello fellow Daytonians? Gina and I - Mike will be flying back to our home in Dayton, Ohio in April 2014. It will be Gina's first trip to Ohio and the USA. I am sure she will get homesick from her family and friends. I'm sure she will miss them and her native Filipina people in general. I know she would welcome having have any Filipina friends in Dayton. We will look for and try to join any "Fil-Am" organizations and clubs, and look to shop at any Asian markets there. Gina said to feel free to contact her on her email at gbm_1763@yahoo.com

I apologize to all I offended. My "intentions" were not to offend anyone. Yes, I used a poor choice of words and wrote a sentence which I should not have wrote. My error!

I am NOT laughing at the Philippine people, nor am I laughing at the victims of the typhoon. YOU misunderstood my post sir. I love the Philippine people and country of The Philippines or I would NOT choose to live here 6 months every year. I was "making light" of my own personal events and unfortunate situations which have occurred, and which I have had to endure recently since I arrived here. I feel sorry and compassion for the Philippine people and victims of all the tragedies which have occurred here.

Yes, Hank having fun, fun, and more fun. Nothing else to do but laugh and enjoy all that has gone on since I left the good ole USA. Concerned about Filipina doctors here.....been battling a cold for 10 days now....regular cold like I get in Ohio. We went to the hospital and got examined, xray'd, etc... They would NOT give me any antibiotics?? Worried that they do not know how to diagnose and treat a simple common cold?! As far as our visa petition goes.....Embassy replied with an email that said "We referred your communication to our processing team for appropriate action." We received that on November 5th. Gina and I went to the U.S. Consulate at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu. He said nothing he could do, and has no contact with Embassy as they don't communicate with him (strange?). He said go ahead and go up there and proceed with the interview and interview date - November 25th as if Gina as the applicant. So we are going to St. Luke's next week - 13. 14 & 15. We'll see what happens?? We preregistered on line as Gina as the patient/applicant. God bless us all.

Mike & Gina here in CEBU riding the storm out. High winds but not much rain here. I'm NOT impressed!! I've been through stronger winds during tornados in Ohio. The storm path apparently went further north and missed here in CEBU more, as earlier they said the "eye" would pass over Cebu. I've been here since October 15th.....got shook by earthquake within 7 hours here, been sick for 2 weeks thanks to the Cebu germs, smog, and pollution.....messed up my interview application date page with Embassy, fell off my bike and broke my left thumb, and now typhoon which has us no TV, and no electric. Gosh, I love Cebu, The Philippines, and especially my honey Gina!!