Zanby

My understanding is the USCIS has an office (branch) in the USEM and it is the one who deals with this issue.

I understand your position ... hence, no question!

Yup I have read that as well, I also know what USEM accepted and didn't accept... assets they didn't accept; one case was a K-1 and the other case was an IR/CR-1. They look at income.

Just because it is on the DOS website doesn't mean that is what will "work" at the embassy... each embassy tends to have its own rules.

Once in the States is a different story with AOS and such.

So you are saying one should not believe what the US Dept of State website say?

What about USCIS website itself, below?

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864instr.pdf

Does this mean that if one chooses to put all his millions of USD in the bank, earning no income, he would be denied?

Follow the embassy instructions letter. USEM wants a SIGNED I-864, not a copy.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/1178798/feb2015/IV%20Applicant%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_February%202015_.pdf

Millions of dollars in assets that produce no income? Petitioner needs a better financial adviser.

Retired people have income. I do. I just don't have to go to work

Don't confuse income with employment.

From the US Department of States website ..

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/support/i-864-frequently-asked-questions.html

Hank,

What if the petitioner only had millions of dollars in assets but no income or work, for that matter?

What if he/she is retired??

This is what the USEM is asking for .. "Form No. 5 - Advisory on Marriages."

It basically is the change in your CENOMAR status after getting married.

So, it's the same form as CENOMAR but would give you the CEMAR "Form No. 5 - Advisory on Marriages."

Another confirmation to USEM I believe...

What is f2b??

Get a smart unlocked GSM phone with you ...

Put a SMART or Globe SIM card in it ... anything over 40 p for the SIM card and it would be extra for the agent .. your call..

Use this app ... Grab A Cab,,, UBER cars are not allowed at the arrival at NAIA...

Grab A Cab will charge 40 Pesos extra and will tell you the total... It's still much better than the sharks. These are regular street cabs.

Airport taxis will kill you ... while smiling

Cathy Pacific is good but expensive. I do a much cheaper airlines today.

I drink wine as soon as I board an aircraft to sleep it all the way. It helps coz there is half a day time difference plus, nothing really would interest me on the plane?

When I travel any where, and I did 70+ countries, I would 1) Keep money and passport on my body 2) Keep my dear things to me in carry on 3) Keep rest of stuff to be stolen ... ops .. I mean in my checked luggage.

Note: I do check what's allowed to carry/check in when I travel on any airlines. They tend to kill you if you go overweight..

I would at least btimg 8 days worth of clothes with me. The PI is hot so, pack your light stuff (shorts, t-shirts, etc) plus one slack incase.

For buying a ring ... be careful. They would all tell you a price and then, if you ask, will discount it by half. Hey, you are not Filipino so you can afford it

Go to malls and not on the street. At least it's not fake.

Mind you, you are better than me. I could not marry online! I had to be on the grounds in Davao, give her a year of gf/bf then marry Call me an #######. It's fine. I just didn't want to be taken to cleaners

I intend to do DCF and still waiting on NSO to give me my MC!! Forgot to mention, in PI, put a lot of rocks in your pockets. Coz everything here is whenever. Unless you pay and there is no guarantee either

On the finance side...

Use whenever you can, anything that has no fees. I guess that's simple to say?

How,

For ATM machines... Get the Charles Schwab bank account and their ATM card. Fund this account! Withdrawing money via Flipino ATM banks has no fees. Plus, the rate is very close to market and there is no foreign transaction fees.

For entities that accept credit cards get the Capital One credit card. They don't change any transaction or foreign fees. Same with HSBC credit card, btw.

One warning though..

DO NOT give away money to her family or whatever. Unless you don't care, of course. They will not stop and will ask for more (Parents, Sisters, brothers, cousins, cousins of cousins, friends, neighbors, etc.). They will all come of no where

Keep in mind that you are looked at as a walking ATM machine coz of your skin, nose, eyes..etc. No matter how poor you are you are filthy rich!

The USEM thing takes at most half a day .. I did it just last June.

The rest .. well ... you will find out...

Best...

Yes. However, it becomes a CEMAR and not CNOMAR after you got married even though it's the same process (and form) used.

David,

It's called CEMAR but it uses the same exact form (green) used in applying for the CENOMAR (Singlness), which you used to get married first.

The result product will be Advisory To Marriage instead. That's why most people get confused by it.

This doc will ensure the interviewer (USEM) that she got married now and she's not a single any more. Another confirmation.

Not sure if you can time it right but you might try the NSO's online site to get it. Mail it to an address in the Philippines to get it faster.

The website is: https://nsohelpline.com/

Good luck!

Didn't they say, More fun here dude

Was that passport the first ever or was it coz of the name change?

Did they have to go to CFO first? A DFA requirement?

Greenbaum... the link you referenced doesn't mention anything about DCF (Direct Councilor Filing). I prefer the link in your signature even thu it too doesn't mention DCF

May want to add/modify?

In short, just wait!

In the Philippines one will die before anything gets done

I am waiting on my MC now. The city hall said in two months... one left to go Ah... this is with advance endorsement too where you pay to expedite it ! It's smoking hot

You can try using your phone by enabling Data on it.

You can even have your own wifi network by enabling Personal Hotspot on it.

The phone company will charge you 5 p per 15 minutes.

If you both have iPhone, you could use iMessage for free texting too. Saves on US to/from PI messaging.

I had used all of the above and were ok for me.

Try this number:

02-982-5555

Keep in mind though that you and the USEM would have no choice but to deal with the country's telephone company lines!

So, you may think you are calling a certain number when it gets forwarded (ask God how) to a non-related number

Aside from what has been said, I would look for Filipino groups or shops in your area. Try google or Facebook.

Best of luck!

Thanks folks!

So, one should keep in mind that the petitioner would have to go twice to the CFO if a change of name in the passport is needed.

I won't rant ... they told me it's going to be a lot of fun at the airport

Greenbaum,

It's the main reason why I am bunking outta here

Take my PLDT as another example. It's been 3 days and no internet and they have replaced 3 modems in year

I had to go out and buy a pocket wifi which hardly works

Hank,

I guessed so too. Why brother thinking?

Cristina,

Many thanks for the info!

However, I don't remember anything related to LBC? May be when I go to NSO they'd ask for another "Advanced Endorsement" fee where LBC would come to the picture??

I think the Family Planning thing might be required if the Filipina was below some age? Mine is over 30 so they didn't ask for it.

Now, another question to whoever can answer it ...

I intend on doing a DCF because we live in the PI and her current passport (with the old name) expires in 2019.

To do the name change in her passport (before the interview at the USEM), one would have to go the DFA which will require a CFO certification. Doesn't that mean going twice to the CFO? Once before the passport name change and one after the interview?

I see alot of people only do the CFO, for the sticker, once as the last step though?

Where did I go wrong?

Sorry if I was a bit vague in #2. What I wanted to say was, Why don't the CFO hire professionals to interview people since it's an important thing? But in the Philippines, anything goes and I do realize now that I should ask for logic.

As for #1, I would still want the CFO to be done earlier since it's the ultimate go/no go for the Filipino and doesn't care about the US visa, obviously?

If there was a sicker on the passport before the interview at USEM, it might even make it easier for the USEM staff to make their decision? The airport officer can still see the sticker?

But then, this is the Philippines!

Thanks Cristina for confirming the suspicion I had

The thing is, I wouldn't mind the name change but that would require me dealing with the dreadful government red tape which really is getting me lost! Aside from getting me crazy

For instance, to get married, I had to go to the Hall of Justice (HJ) and apply (pay), then go some court in another place and apply (pay) to get married then go back to the HJ to do the "Advanced Endorsement" to get it quickly (pay).

I called the Hall of Justice today to inquire if they got it done... They had said it would take two months with the "Advanced Endorsement Without it? 1 year

The HJ said, we don't know so call the NSO

I called NSO and they said, call at the end of the month and once it's here, you'd have to come and fill a form to get it. Oh.. 140 P each copy The NSO btw is in another place too.

See how messy things are here?

Now...

If I change her name ... Do you know (or anybody) what are the Filipino IDs that I have to change? I want to see how much red tape is involved.

I have found an answer to my question here:

Source:

http://www.manilatimes.net/married-woman-obliged-use-husbands-surname/116208/

I now think that it's up to the couple to do it. However, most people do it coz it symbolizes that the two have become one and share responsibilities, etc. And, we all know how romantic Filipinos are!

Source:

http://famli.blogspot.com/2008/04/miss-ms-or-mrs-philippine-law-on.html

In a way, I would agree with most posts here....

However, can I ask of the age difference between you and your x-fiance? Does she work?

If she's working, then that would be some income lost to the family when she goes to the US.

If there was a lot of age difference, then I would say, just move on. Don't bother yourself.

In my case, I have been living in the PI for over a year and half now but do intend to leave it for the US with my wife, permanently.

Before marriage, I was adamant about not giving her family anything except what I wanted. The wife agreed and knows very well that I would flip if otherwise.

The family hounded her all the time (I don't mean just the mother and immediate siblings...even her friends) but she always said: "I don't work and you know that I have nothing so, why ask?". Their reply was:"Ask your husband"!

In the PI, when a Filipina gets married to any foreigner the foreigner is immediately is expected to give money. After all, he HAD to be filthy rich and loaded with it! Duh ... he can't be as poor as us and he married the whole family?

It's a survival technique that applies when the population is poor. It's a human behavior!

To Greenbaum...

Two things...

1- Why do the CFO as the last departure step and not the first? Doing so, would spare a lot of people from other steps, headache and expenses.

2- Why not hire professionals to do this work, if it was so important and it is?

To debi361...

If you still have that same old certificate, then I would just take it after the interview to CFO and get the sticker. If they argue, then do the whole thing?

According to the CFO website, there is no expiration on their certificate hence, it's for life. Which means it's still valid.

However, to have a direct answer (if there was such one in the PI), contact the CFO and get it from the source. Don't forget to get some name or confirmation of what they'd tell you. Not that it will help

I don't have my birth certificate and never needed it all my life ... but hey, who's to argue??

Dude ... they are looking at a Filipina who is going to escape this misery and worse, they'd be staying in it. What do you think they will do?