coa24

Thanks. So I guess that's also includes my other child who is not biological to my new wife.

Looked for the answer here, but did not see it.

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Sounds like you were lucky, many are not.

Too be honest it was quite cheap (American Standards). We only spent around 30k+ PHP with about 70 guest. We had a nice meal selection at a events location. Back in the states, the cost of the wedding was abou the same because we had church family that really helped us. 

On 2/4/2020 at 10:58 PM, Girandola said:

Hello everyone! Hope someone can offer some assistance on this topic. We are waiting on our K1 visa because it’s the fastest way for us to finally be together. We’ve known each other since December of 2016 and have been engaged since December of 2017. My divorce finalized last month and I filed the petition.

   Now for my question. As everyone knows, we must legally marry in the USA. My fiancé and I are both catholic and wish to have a catholic wedding in the Philippines before she comes to the US. But we’re being told that we must do a legal wedding. Does anyone know if there’s a way around this? Appreciate any advice 

While you will not be able to legally have a wedding in both places, espeically if you are wanting to do the K-1. CR-1 takes much longer than the K-1. Anyway, what my late wife and I did in 2015 was that we had what we called a pre-wedding. We did everything like a wedding, but did not sign any papers. We had vows, but we did not say the I Do, exchange rings or anything like that. It was a great and worthy experience and for me, was way better than the actual wedding in the USA with the actual signage, etc.

On 7/3/2019 at 6:19 AM, Falcon Cara said:

The Philippines Kangaroo court system

 

Just another reason why it will stay a 3rd world country forever

Also why the medical system will always be poor in the Philippines. There seems to be a lot of malpractice there and if you sue the hospital, they will in turn sue you for libel. Which is crazy because the life of a person is vital. I was a victim of malpractice in the Philippines with the death of my wife prematurely. I also have another friend who lost her husband after just two months being married because the doctors decided it was better to send a potential head injury home than to get a ct scan of the brain. Anyway...other than that love the Philippines.

6 hours ago, Hank_ said:

I was at my wife's interview, I know of others that did the same, some were allowed to stand at the window and were asked questions, others were asked to sit down and wait.

 

It was a very good experience in my opinion .. worth the trip.

 

It isn't necessary for Manila that the petitioner be there.

That was the way with me. I was told to sit down. But then the officer wanted to ask me a few questions, so I went up then. I sat down in the seats provided in plain view of the wife. Maybe like 3 minutes later I was called up to answer a few questions. Good experience also.

Couldn't you make a certified true typed out copy and submit it with the original with a letter to explain the two copies? 

The POE was Washington D.C.

Before leaving Manila, I learned at immigration that they required proof of my daughter's dual citizenship, especially since American passport BB Visa expired last February 2018. I am glad we got her Filipino passport. After that, it was smooth in Manila.

Beijing is very strict and when you go through there you feel like they are against you. But we were able to make it through after several re-screenings (they did not like the projector, the separate bottle water that was not in the baby bottle, and the power bank). 

The POE was a breeze. Took about 30 minutes. The first officer was nice, then he placed the passport in the red container and called another officer to take us tot he secondary holding place. The second officer then question my wife privately asking her if she loved me and what the address in the USA was. After that, we were released to get our bags. 

Then we got our massive amount of bags.

1 hour ago, Falcon Cara said:

Per day?

Yes per day.

Update: They do have a baggage claim area at Terminal 1. It is located at the baggage carousel when you pick up your bags after your flight. Price is 200 php per bag.

2 hours ago, Hank_ said:

POE should be a breeze.   Then having the green card and SS card arrive in the mail  (you did pay the ELIS fee?)  after your wife arrives is cool .. 

 

Then a 2 year break until it is time for ROC ..   

I did pay the ELIS fee about a month ago. I assume we do not need a copy of that receipt correct? Happy for the break for sure. Though will be missing the Philippines. Have really enjoyed my 2.5 years here. But also eager to start new in USA.

What was also interesting about my wife's interview versus the others is that hers only took 5 min. With one doc requested. While the others took almost an hour with multiple docs being asked (according to the wife). 

My thinking it has to do with confidence and being believable. Of course a little favor from above goes a long ways as well.

Will update the POE account once we are in the USA on Monday.

Too be honest, I am not sure if it will be a big deal or not. Perhaps he will get through just fine. However, perhaps going back to the Embassy to have it redone with the correct birthday would be a good idea. Or maybe someone on the main boards would have a better answer for you.

Perhaps someone knows better than me, but I don't think the visa would be affected because it has yet to be issued. Could be wrong of course. The Medical do over and police record do over seems to be due to time. The medical would have expired already and perhaps the police report was too old. But AP for 10 months is just crazy. Never heard of that.

Wonder if the medical guidelines are being followed properly by the medical facility? Seems odd to make a medical do over without a just cause. If the visa is not issue, it won't expire (visa that is). Though he has one year to comply with interview I think. But not sure how that applies to medical. Medical expires in 6 months. Would have to renew after 6 months.

37 minutes ago, Hahz said:

I have emailed them many times. No responses. Their immigrant visa section doesn’t have a number and they don’t take calls 

Well that is a bummer

I wasn't scammed. But this sounds so familiar to a woman who scammed people in Davao City as a travel agency. She ended up disabling her FB account and moved. No one knows where she went. She also would fraudulently use stolen credit cards, while collecting cash from unsuspecting people. 

I would call them and politely ask them the reason. I did that before and it clarified their explanation. 

You are welcome Hank . 

It seems like a nice option if they are available. You have to inquire at least 2 weeks ahead of time, but it seems if you wait that long they will be booked. Will remember them the next time for sure.

Also what is nice about the luggage and hotel is they are easily accessible and does not require a flight ticket to get back in, or at least at terminal 3 that is.

The companies website http://jipang-group.com/thewings/ 

https://www.agoda.com/the-wings-naia-3-transit-lounge/hotel/manila-ph.html?pcs=1&cid=1795396&hid=1164722&tag=NAIA&checkin=2019-06-23&adults=2&childs=1&rooms=1&childages=2&los=1  

Called "The Wings NAIA Transit Lounge".

1 minute ago, Kathy and Jesse said:

I am confused about the closure. Is it the US embassy closing in the philippines? Is it going to affect the future petition of I-130? Where Is the interview going to be held for the beneficiary then?

Does not effect future I-130 petitions. Only effects the DCF option. Nothing else will be effected. Embassy and Consulate will still be there performing their duties. 

CFO is legit website.

after phone numbers not working for whatever reason (been happening a lot lately, perhaps the new system is not working yet), was able to chat with NAIA (Messenger). So the only public spot for luggage storage is Terminal 3 at Luggage & More in the arrival section of the terminal. 

Luggage & More charges by the piece (contacted them via Messenger)

350 php per day or 200 php per 3 hours. 

They are open 24 hours

There is a hotel located in Terminal 3, but it is small, like 34 beds. 

You can take the Loop bus shuttle for 20 php if no connecting flight but need to transfer to a different terminal for a later flight. Shuttle is free if you have a connecting flight. 

For those wondering and thinking of using the services in the future.

Yes they do. It is why we followed your website and the CFO site for guidance. You have a good site that many should follow. I followed it twice already as you know, for the k-1 with my late wife and my current wife on the spouse. You learn so much from the experience, but most of you learn patience. 

The only document they requested was our marriage contract and the photos of our wedding day. Other than that nothing else was asked beyond what was the initial requirement.