raquel_1208

I have a question. Isn't your pc should be on to be able to use MJ? follow up question, Isn't you need to install software in able to make a call using MJ?

Yes it should be on. But when its off, all incoming calls goes to your voice mail and will be sent to your email or you can retrieve it through your MJ phone when you turn your computer back on by dialing a 4-digit number. For first time users, when you plug MJ in the USB port it automatically installs the software and will have to go through the set-up process. We have one cellphone for emergency or mobile calls and MJ for a house phone. Everytime we go out, we have the option to forward calls to our cellphone.

There really IS a difference. We used Yahoo Messenger with video extensively before Magic Jack came around and while decent, our Magic Jack is much better.

Its like this. VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) breaks up your audio and or video into small packets of data. The protocol sends the data to its destination where the packets are reassembled and played. With Yahoo and most free services, the packets get routed rather dynamically. i.e. as links come up and down, the packets take different paths... sometimes delaying the data packet.. causing pauses and dropouts in the data stream. A packet of data could conceivably make several hundred hops (stops and retransmissions) before getting the the destination.

Magic Jack works the same way, with one exception. They have several major Hubs (Servers) where there is a direct pipe between major destinations. When the Magic Jack logs on it registers its presence to the hub. When you call, it sends data to the hub which has a MUCH more direct link to a major hub nearer your destination. Therefore, the number of hops is minimized and communication is more robust. This is possible because they charge a small fee. Lets face it... $20/year for unlimited calling is a VERY small fee.

That being said, we sometimes use our magic jack for voice (great cause we can use our cordless phone) and Yahoo messenger for video, though Skype video seems more fluid. If the video hangs or is slow... no big deal. If the audio cuts out... THAT is annoying.

It WILL keep call logs and it has voicemail... which will send the messages to your email to be played on the computer. For those less than computer literate (like my parents) , the ability to use a regular phone, have a dial tone, and just dial a number is a big plus.

Just our $.02

Alan & Noemi

Agree, and those people who are skeptics, you can compare the comments on this thread. The people who like it have been using it for so many months. I have been using it for a year. And the people who don't only lasted for the trial period. Why would I pay $25 a month for a verizon or at & t landline when I can use MJ for $20 a year and make personal and business calls.

I thought on Magic Jack (per advertisment).

From US

You can only call US and Canada

Does anyone have one in USA, that they call PI with?

The person in PI should have MJ so that he or she can call US number locally and not be charged with international calls. A friend of mine brought her MJ in the Philippines to call her families in the US and she did not pay for any minutes she used.

We have been using it for more than a year now here in the US. It had save us so much on phone bills, $20 a year!. Do not use this though if you want it as a proof of communication for US embassy interview. What I have used when I was in the Philippines waiting for my interview was I bought phone credits using my husband's credit card at yahoo voice with my email account and it cost me 1 cents per minute to call his cellphone here in the US. I always buy the $10 plan and I consume it for 3-4 months. I could print out the number I called and the minutes that we have talked. I was using SmartBro internet back then because I was in the middle of a remote barrio and the reception was clear it was so worth it.

Your bf should get an affidavit at the US embassy. The usual wait time from applying for your marriage license and civil wedding is 10 working days unless you know someone in Civil Registrar Office that will give your marriage license in a couple of days. Some offices requires you to submit CENOMAR. And then you still have to schedule your wedding with a judge or a mayor who will solemnize your wedding.

I am not sure if its CR-2 or IR-2.

No AOS needed for I-130. Only K-Visas needs AOS

The grounds for my annulment was also psychological incapacity. The pre-screener and consul did not ask me where my ex-husband was. But if ever they asked me I will tell them that I have no information on his whereabouts and has no communication for the past 8 years. Do not worry too much about your ex. The US embassy is only concern whether you have a valid relationship with your American fiance' or not and whether your previous marriage was legally terminated.

Most people here did not experience what you and your fiancee have gone through. I think the best thing that you could do right now is hire an immigration lawyer. And from there ask your lawyer if there is still an option to marry your fiancee in the Philippines. If that's possible, go to the Philippines, spend time and get to know her and her family and then marry her. Gather as much as evidences like joint bank accounts, money transfer receipts, insurance policies, snail mails, emails, pictures, etc. It seems its the only way that you could bring her here in the US.

When I had my interview, the pre-screener and consul did not ask me about my previous marriage that was annulled. I just gave them a copy of the decision and the decree. All that matters for you to qualify for a visa filed by a US husband or fiance' is that you can provide proof that your previous marriage has been terminated. Make sure you also have NSO copy of your previous marriage that has an annotation and stamped that it was annulled on this date at this court. They will only asked about your present relationship with your US fiance.

For tourist visa, you will be gambling with a total $260 of visa fee and medical fee and the possibility of getting one is next to impossible.

I once tried using xoom because they are one of the cheapest in transfer fees but they make it up for the exchange rate that they use because its lower compared to citibank money card so I changed my mind and did not use xoom anymore.

Hello mga Kapatid

I just want to share my experienced about my application to amend my Machine Readable Passport. For you to save some $$$ sending the application and report of marriage via express mail/priority mail with return envelope, and for you to save time preparing all the documents needed.

tips:

1. f u r holding green passport (old one) they will amend ur passport without personal appearance. U can send it via USPS express mail or Fed-ex and UPS.

2. f u r holding MRP (d new one) we need to go in the PI embassy, where ur state belong. instead of amendment of passport they will renew our MRP to our married name (6 weeks waiting period). I was really disappointed when i received my return envelope this morning. They just process the report of marriage but they didn't process my application for amendment of passport. so, i callled them and ask WHY? they told me that they will only amend the old passport but the MRP we need to re apply again, and bring the report of marriage.

>>> hope it helps.... God Bless! pls. share ur experiences too.

Thanks for the info. I still have the old passport (green one). This info saves me in going to LA for my renewal.

Hi Rheanick,

You might want to read the information on this link first before you mail your green passport.

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/Machi...%20Passport.htm

If you really want to save on transfer fees, paperwork will need to be done first. I recently used BPI Express Remittance Center here in LA and they only charged me $7 for $3000 money transfer to a BPI account in the Philippines. I also have a Citibank Account where you can apply for Citibank Money Card wherein you go to the bank and fill up forms for the person you want the atm to be sent to abroad. You can transfer money on it online for a maximum of $1000 or you go to Citibank ATM Machine if you want more than $1000 to be transferred. Each transfer will cost you $8.

Here is the the website for BPI if you want to find the Remittance Center nearest you. They only have a few here in the US so this might or might not work for you.

www.bpiexpressonline.com

What are the requirements needed in renewing Philippine Passport?

Where to renew?

Does it require personal appearance?

How much does it cost?

hello

i would suggest to just call this number to renew a philippine passport even u will not go at department of foreign affairs,here's the number +639175351000,and also u can try this too if u want to get a copy of cenomar NSO birth certificate..02737111,thats the NSO info center number..just tell them what u need.

Yhen correct me if i am wrong. The OP is here now in the US and so she needs to renewe her passport here not in the Philippines.

Thank you. Yes I'm here in the States now and was asking where can I renew my passport? How many days does it take to process this?

It seems you will have to go here in the Philippine Consulate in LA, CA if you have the green passport. Here is the website and all your questions are answered there. I paid $50, my passport has expired and at the same time I want to use my married name. I paid additional $6 for the mailing of my passport so that I will not have to comeback and pick it up.

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/

Hello Vj members,

Just wanna make sure about this issue. My kids are using the father's name eventhough we were never married legally. We are on the process of getting them through I-130.

My question is:

1.-Do i need to find the father to get his permission to allow my kids to travel and live with me? I mean do i need an affidavit from him giving me the kid's full custody when my kids are with me?I don't even know if he is still alive..how can i get an affidavit from him? .He don't have signature on the kid's Birth certificate but kids are using his name..No contact, no support no nothing.

2.-DOes he have the right to my kids the fact that we were not married? and no signature on the Birth Certificate?

Pls. Help me. I would appreciate any ideas.

I just tried to find the post, but I remember a woman who had to get permission from the bio father in order for the child to leave the RP. It turned out the bio father was in New Jersey so she made contact, he agreed and all done.

You said he might be dead, but definitely his whole family isn't dead and since you had his child, you probably know where his family lives. You can start there to find him - they'll let you know if he is alive.

If his family hasn't heard from him in years then you can get some sort of paperwork that assumes he is dead. You might also have to put an ad in the paper - some sort of declaration (I forget the details).

Thank you guys for the replies. Never had contact with his family either. I really hope this affidavit from the father won't be asked from me..I know if he is alive..he won't give the consent .What should i do? Do i need to consult a lawyer about this?

I've been there, done that. Just read my answer to your number 1 question. My ex-husband is very much alive. He does not know that my daughter and I were leaving the country last year. I do not have full custody of my daughter either and she is using his last name in all her documents, passport, visa, CFO and ticket. He lives 20 minutes from us. Our marriage was annulled. Then I married a US citizen. Do not worry too much. You can search here in VJ my old post about the 2005 change in guidelines for minors travelling abroad. We are in the US for a year now. My daughter have adjusted well and what she wants is just to change her last name so that it will be the same as her baby brother.

This was what happened, when we paid the travel tax, the immigration employee at NAIA just looked at my daughter's passport and her birth certificate. She saw that I am the mother and then she let us through to board the plane. No questions asked.

Hello Vj members,

Just wanna make sure about this issue. My kids are using the father's name eventhough we were never married legally. We are on the process of getting them through I-130.

My question is:

1.-Do i need to find the father to get his permission to allow my kids to travel and live with me? I mean do i need an affidavit from him giving me the kid's full custody when my kids are with me?I don't even know if he is still alive..how can i get an affidavit from him? .He don't have signature on the kid's Birth certificate but kids are using his name..No contact, no support no nothing.

2.-DOes he have the right to my kids the fact that we were not married? and no signature on the Birth Certificate?

Pls. Help me. I would appreciate any ideas.

Answer:

1. No you do not need permission from the biological father even he is in the birth certificate of your kids. Requirements for minors travelling abroad is one biological parent and birth certificate of the kids. No DSWD clearance needed either.

2. I do not know if the biological father has rights when your kids are out of the country. I have been doing some reading that you might have problems when your husband adopts your kids. I just want my daughter for her last name to be changed to her stepdad, my husband . When she gets her citizenship, my husband and I planning to legally change her last name so the biological father will not have to be involve.

POPCOM - Population commission

Try www.rebtel.com. You have 10 minutes free if you sign up. If you do not like it, you do not have to buy the credits. It usually costs me 14 cents per minute for cellphone, 11 cents for landline.

BS Accountancy, studying for California CPA exams.

What we do with MagicJack is we turn it on during the day. When its time to go sleep we shut down the computer and MagicJack is off but anyone who calls goes into voice mail and it gets forwarded to my email. We have AT&T cellphone in case of emergency calls to and from family members. We have been using it for a year now and so far I have no complaints.

We have Time Warner as our internet for $37 a month. We are using MagicJack as our house phone which is connected to the internet, $20 a year. Its not typo, its really $20 a year for the license fee. Unlimited calls anywhere in the US and Canada. We do not have cable or satellite tv but we have flatscreen tv so we have access to HD channels.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=176778

Please click the link and read my previous post. I came in the US with my daughter by K3 & K4 visa.

I would not mind at all and I will be glad to help in anyway I can. Just send me a PM so that I could reply to you quicker. Do not worry about it too much. Just make sure you know everything about your relationship, the date you met, how, dates you filed your annulment and when it was granted, etc. Your daughter will be asked as well if she knows your fiancee. I was carrying lots of documents that it was so heavy because I was paranoid as you are right now. But most of them they did not asked for it. It does not hurt to be over prepared though. Good luck.

Hi...I'm form the Philippines. WE already filed for a K1 visa and scheduled for an interview on the 24thf of Feb. My precious marriage was already annulled and we have included my daughter from my previous marriage n d petition. My concern is we don't have an agreement with the custody coz' we never communicated since the separation. I only communicate with my in-laws. Will they be requiring for a court decision re the child custody during the interview and Immigration? I'm thinking of a notarized letter from the father attached are the valid IDs of me, father and the passport of my daughter and have it notarized...You think this will suffice? please help...I just don't want to have any problems regarding this during the interview and (if God permits we get the visas) during our departure with the Immigration officer. Thanks

My marriage was annulled as well and I have a daughter that I have no full custody of legally because she was not included in the decision. You will be fine without any signed papers from the biological father. My ex-husband did not show his face at all during court hearings and he has no idea of what our future plans are. Your interview at the US embassy will be about proving your relationship with your fiance' and if your daughter knows your fiance' as well. So you need to concentrate on that. With regards to immigration you will not have problems at all. The laws for minors travelling abroad was changed last 2005 and you do not need any written permission from the biological father or DSWD clearance for your daughter. You can search VJ on one of my posts one or two years ago and the link about the amended laws were there. All it requires is that one parent should be travelling with the minor child and your proof will be her birth certificate. Do not forget her CFO sticker as well after you received your visa. If you have other questions or concerns send me a message. My daughter and I are here in the US for a year now. So I have been there and done that myself.