brian8024

If we submit the marriage certificate again, just going on the assumption that they misplaced or lost it due to the EAD/AP needing it, and there is an issue or further clarification with the married name do they send another RFE?

I see a lot of threads where other Filipino/American couples filed the same way and had no or only minor issues, but we can't help but worry about it.

I am pretty sure we only sent one copy of the marriage certificate.  My wife has already received her EAD/AP government ID card and it has her married name on it.

I just worry because her maiden name is first-first-middle-maiden and her married name is first-first-maiden-married and am just hoping that they lost it.

The wording of the request was just in summary "submit certified marriage certificate between xxxx and xxxx".  It wasn't directly stated it was missing, but it seems implied.  I would assume if the 'wrong' marriage certificate was sent they would state something about it?

We just received a RFE for a marriage certificate and I am certain that I included a official copy in the initial I-485 application.  The marriage certificate lists my wife's maiden name and the I-485 application and the RFE were made in her married name.  This is the only thing I can think of as to why they would send an RFE for the marriage certificate.

Anybody have this same issue?  Any suggestions or words of wisdom?

No matter how much you think you know, being there with your fiance, waiting for the embassy to open outside on the sidewalk (is there honestly a Filipino who does not show up early??..showed up at 4am and there was already a line) moving from window to window, sitting in a room full of a whole bunch of other people whose hopes and dreams revolve around a short 5 minute interview, sky high anxiety everywhere, the smiles/frowns/tears of joy after the last step.

If you have the means to do so, and the time, I can guarantee that you will not regret sharing in that experience with your fiance. And no matter what your fiance says (the whole frugality thing kicks in, which is the reason they wouldn't want you to come), chances are your presence will be a hugely calming and comforting for them.

For anybody reading this in the future. If Philippine Airlines is still offering a direct Los Angeles to Cebu flight, take it instead of going through Manila unless Manila is your final destination. Round trip cost was as cheap as the other options that went through China or Japan (and also NAIA). Booked through Expedia, got put in the back of the plane, had the whole row of 3 seats to myself on the way there and shared the row with one person on the return trip. Cebu airport is a whole lot nicer then NAIA and a whole lot easier to navigate and is a lot smaller. The flight uses the Airbus A340, while it does not have the in-seat TV screens like the Boeing 777 from LA to Manila has, it is a smaller plane with 2/3 of the passengers as the Boeing 777 so the line at immigration is much much shorter.

Trip there:

Go through immigration. Claim your bag. Go through customs. Turn right and follow the "Transfers" sign to the hallway on the right to the transfers desk in the hallway. Leave baggage there. Backtrack down the hallway a little to the staircase that goes upstairs to the departures area. Take a right, go through the domestic departures boarding gate line and security. That is literally it, took less then 20 minutes from getting off the plane to sitting in a seat in the departures waiting for a domestic flight.

Trip back:

Luggage is checked through to Los Angeles so you don't need to worry about it. Get off domestic flight, take a left down the transfers hallway. Go up the same staircase. Take a left, then an immediate left, and pay the p750 international terminal fee, then go back past the stairs and go through the international boarding gate security/immigration/etc. (For those of Filipino citizenship, the travel tax booth and one other booth are right next to the terminal fee booth)

Gate 12 they have walled off for USA bound flights, about 2 hours before departure they move everybody out of the room, close it off, and run a security sweep of the gate area. Then you re-enter and go through the USA based security checkpoint. No less then 20 some people working it, x-ray machine. Get patted down, wallet searched through, etc. The staff was very well trained and was certain that they asked before they did something (not that you had a choice) and did everything very deliberately in plain sight of you. Don't know if it was increased security level due to the recent Egypt Air crash, but they were very thorough. The guy in front of me bought a can of Pringles, they would not let the can through. He had to dump the Pringles in a bag and toss the can. Don't try to bring drinks through even though they were bought in the international departure area, they are not allowed in past the gate 12 security screening.

There are ATM's in both the arrival area's, and also both the departure area's. A lot of places only seemed to take cash. There are plenty of places to sit and eat and get coffee or whatever.

Some of the investigations they did last year, and the interviews with the "ex" scammers. They said the typical target was usually a Filipino that was outbound on an international flight. It was assumed that they were OFW and thus not wanting to miss their flight, and culturally more willing to pay the bribe and not report it and a whole lot safer then a non-Filipino international traveler that was more likely to cause a scene and not pay the bribe.

Put the wrong priority date on the DS-160 for a K1 Visa. NOA1 had Jan 14 on it so thats what we put, then the NVC letter comes and states Jan 12. Does anybody know if this is going to be a problem.

Do you know if they do the baggage transfer like NAIA does from international to domestic (at least in NAIA Terminal 2)? You point out your luggage, a separate customs official checks it, then it gets put back on the baggage claim belt and checked back in for the domestic flight. That way you can avoid dragging the baggage out and then checking it back in at the domestic checkin counter.

The 8 hour layover on arrival is unavoidable. There is a domestic flight 1 hour after international scheduled arrival....but way to short. The next flight is 8 hours later. Going to do the 3 hour layover on the return. The domestic flight is usually on time, and the international flight is the first one that evening so there should be a short line at the international checkin.

13 business days for our MNL number. I will say that the people at the NVC are much more pleasant to talk to then USCIS They will say 35 days, just call back again the next day.

We had a hard time finding the K1 visa option on the interview scheduling page. It was placed under the immigrant visa option.

Flying PAL direct from LAX. Last time I went through Manila and transferred to a regional flight. Planning another trip and this time going through Cebu is noticeably cheaper.

Anybody done the international to domestic (and vice-versa) transfer in Cebu? The airport appears to be significantly smaller then NAIA so I don't imagine it would be any more difficult but figured I would check here and ask. Troubles, tips, horror stories, etc?

Layover on arrival from LAX is 8 hours, so hopefully plenty of time. Layover on departure back to LAX have options of 12 hours, 3 hours, 1.5 hours.

Get the luggage where the zippers lock to the luggage case itself. Most TSA approved luggage these days has the integrated lock on the luggage case.

With FedEx when I shipped a package the local courier asked for a photo ID before handing the package over. Expect to pay like $140 minimum though.

Also with FedEx if you sign up for a FedEx account you can choose to have all/any customs or import fee's charged back to you. I shipped some books, which are duty free, but was charged a "customs warehouse fee" and some other ridiculous charges. But at least I got charged and the recipient didn't have to pony up the money.

We got approved 73 days after NOA1. No RFE's. What happens during the process is a bit of a mystery that trying to rationalize only seems to cause more worry and more confusion...at least in our case.

70 days. I think that not knowing that most everybody else but us are already approved would almost be better. Almost hoping for an RFE now since at least that means they have looked at it at least and are waiting on *me*, not the other way around.

This is one of the things that I do not like and that is sometimes there are Pinoys (my asawa included) who can believe almost anything a "friend" says on social media but will not believe their spouse or significant other. This happened to me a few times with my wife. The thing right now is your fiance is stressed and worried about stuff and just want to get everything they might need so that she is not denied.

So just reiterate to her that if her interview is before the tax filing deadline then she does not 2015 taxes.

Yes.

Remember, due to culture there is a lot of respect and belief that given (blindly sometimes) to positions of authority and to the group. She was raised with high value and regards to the group with the individual taking second place. You (from her view point) as an individual saying something different from the group is not going to work out too well or easily for you. There is no disrespect or or ill feelings towards you about it, its just one way that the differences in culture manifest themselves.

Try relaying information onto her about what some group says, especially if they are Filipino themselves. Or people on this thread that have gone through the same thing themselves with the requirements for tax returns (figures of authority). "I heard from these people over here that we don't need to worry about the 2015 taxes, they say it will all be fine". Present the info as coming from a group, not yourself. In stressful situations we all revert back to our default programming and for her it is a group/communal culture.

Day 57 today for us

Have you heard anything yet, Brian?

Nope

Still waiting impatiently here.

64 days.

So is there nothing you can do besides for wait? Tried calling USCIS but they won't talk to you until after you have exceeded 5 months.

1-12 NOA1 and still waiting. This is torture especially when you can see ones two weeks newer then yours getting approved now. lol.

We have filed and are at NOA1 status on our K-1 Visa application. I might need to change jobs before the process is actually complete and the visa approved. When are good times and when are the bad times to change jobs? What can I do for the K-1 Visa process to make sure that my job change doesn't cause any delays?

From experience, most places will say they can/will deliver to an address even if in reality they won't. The few that I asked and the one that I used all used LBC for delivery. Unless you can find a local to deliver it for you chances are your fiance would be making a trip to the nearest shipping center or to the florist itself to pick up her flowers.

Here is an update.

1. TSA opened my checked luggage twice, but it was never opened in the Philippines.

2. When I checked in to Philippine Airlines at LAX I requested them to check my luggage through to the destination and I checked in for my Manila to Iloilo flight and got a ticket right there in LAX. Made things much easier. They stuck domestic transfer stickers to my luggage.

3. They checkin counter at LAX weighed my luggage but did not measure it. They issued a verbal warning to make sure that my carry on was under the weight limit but that was it.

4. In the jetway at LAX they had a mobile luggage scale to weigh the carry on luggage. I had a laptop bag stuffed with everything heavy and my carry on suitcase that was pretty much empty. They seemed to be targeting all of the larger sized carry on luggages for "random" weighing. My guess is they do not have enough overhead bin room and this was a way to create some. For some reason there was a long line of Filipino's volunteering to have their carry on weighed and paying the overage charges on their carry on so myself and a few others just kept on walking right on by the scale.

5. In Manila they had a separate line for connecting flights with its own immigration desk. Got off plane, went through immigration, and was at the baggage claim in under 2-3 minutes.

6. In Manila, at the baggage claim they have a domestic transfer area that was sectioned off. They would pull all the luggage with the domestic transfer stickers into this huge pile, then you went up to the domestic transfer customs inspection and point out your luggage. They then slap a yellow customs sticker on it and put it back on the luggage belt. It was a mess and it would have actually been faster to claim the luggage and go through the normal customs but oh well, at least I didn't have to schlep it all over to the domestic checkin side. They seemed to be opening over half of the Filipino's luggage but did not open a single Kano's or anybody that was traveling with them.

7. To get from the international to domestic sides of Terminal 2 in Manila, you have to exit to the outside and come back in. It is confusing and there is no good signage. Just kept asking security guards to point me in the right direction.

8. The x-rays to get into the domestic terminal I left everything in my carry on suitcase including laptop and everything in my pockets and left my belt on. One time they waved me through once they saw my belt buckle, the other I got patted down for a firearm. They don't seem to care about anything except guns and did not even ask for me to empty my pockets.

9. There is arrival/departure board on the Terminal 2 domestic side, and they only put the information signs up right before departure. And my ticket did not have a gate on it. Find your gate ahead of time because you will not be able to hear the intercom.

10. The domestic PAL flight they could have cared less about carry ons. There were people lugging on three or more huge bags and suitcases and not a word was said.

Awesome, thank you. Leaving in a couple days, fingers crossed that all goes well.

Do you know if they make you remove your belt/shoes at the x-ray machines?

Thank you all for the tips. Keeping my fingers crossed for an uneventful and easy trip. The return I am far less worried as I will be carrying far less stuff too. I am duct taping my checked luggage and I am making sure to not bring anything that is even close to questionable.

Has anybody bought more then 2 bottles of alcohol at once before? The airlines allow up to 4 or 5, but customs only allows 2.

Since my work is requiring me to bring my laptop I am bringing a laptop case, I'll be shoving all the heavy things from my carry-on into it during the weighing/checkin of baggage then I'll just put the whole laptop case into my carry on. Its a locking hardside luggage so I am much more confident in it not getting messed with or things getting planted.

Incidentally I was asked if I could bring some nuetella too, at which point I suggested we just go to the grocery store there since they sell it. I have sufficient chocolate in my suitcase to give an elephant a heart attack so I think I'll be fine. I don't understand but I'm more then happy to play along.

I am giving you information that I have used among my many trips to the Philippines, my most recent trip I used PAL from LAX to Manila back in June and back.

You are going to arrive in Terminal 2, and then you will disembark go through Immigration, pick up your bags and then go through Customs. Next you will literally take a left out of the baggage claim/customs area walk down to the elevator, go up to the 2nd floor and down alittle bit more until you get to the DOMESTIC Terminal for PAL. They will check your passport and make sure you are supposed to have a flight (PLEASE bring a print out showing you have a flight at such and such time because it makes it so much easier) at that time. You will go through the x-ray machine and proceed to the domestic counter showing your city and time. You will check in there get your boarding pass, check your baggage, and then proceed to yes another x-ray machine. Once you pass there you sit to board your plane and then arrive at your destination where your fiance will be waiting.

Since you are arriving and leaving out of one terminal it makes it extremely easy for you. Since all you have to do is walk from the International side to the Domestic side of the terminal.

1. If you are bringing any electronics with you to give to them, then please bring them as a carry on baggage. You can bring stuff into the country and it is fine.

2. Bringing chocolate is a BIG filipino tradition because yes the chocolate in country is not as good. I once sat next to a girl flying from Bahrain to Manila and she had checked literally 15kgs (yes Kilograms) of chocolate as a checked baggage to bring to family. I used her as an example to help you understand that fact.

3. Yes, everything will go through the x-ray machines and they do have those trays. So you will have to dump some stuff into the trays such as your passport and your paper showing that you have connecting flight. Because they check that before you even can walk in to the airport.

4. CARRY YOUR IMPORTANT STUFF AS A CARRY ON. Do not put it as a checked baggage if at all possible because it can and does go missing. They are not big on actually weighing the carry on unless you are actually flying to Boracay. Yes, they will re-weigh your checked baggage in Manila and I know this for a fact because it happened to my wife and me when we flew there in June using PAL.

Thank you for the tips and answers so far. Yea, I am lucky that my international/domestic flights are both in Terminal 2 so I at least don't need to transfer between terminals. My girl will be waiting for me at the other end, just have a 4 hour layover in NAIA so not too bad.

1) Thats very good to hear. There are so many horror stories about NAIA that I get worried.

2) I am padding my suitcases up to close to the weight limit with chocolate. I'm not sure the total amount yet, but its heavy. Big family that all seems to be in love with Hersheys. I am bringing the suitcases to leave with her so I figured I might as well fill them with something.

3/4) The problem I have is my carry-on weighs 3kg empty which only leaves 4kg allowed for contents and what I have that I consider valuable weighs much more then 4kg. I was considering carrying a laptop bag and stashing all the heavy stuff in it and then just putting the laptop bag into the carry-on after PAL in LAX weighs and tags it.

I have read some too about checking in for both flights in LAX and checking the luggage through to IloIlo. I still have to collect it for customs, but then can check it right back to the airline in the same area?

What do they require you to remove from your carry-on for the x-rays? Only the laptop like the USA? Or nothing at all?

I am going to be flying through NAIA soon on my way to IloIlo to visit my girlfriend, first time in Philippines and first time flying through NAIA airport. I have been reading (perhaps too much...) and the prospect of going through NAIA is worrying me and I had a couple questions for anybody that can answer it.

I am flying PAL in/out of Terminal 2 from LAX

1) I am bringing presents for the family. Two watches, couple purses, perfume, etc. It would be obvious the stuff is not for me. What are the rules of customs declarations? Do I just declare "none" as it is all personal items even though they are not my personal items? I really don't want to get in trouble nor do I want to get hit by a huge customs fee.

2) I have been requested to bring chocolate. I still do not understand the difference of buying the same chocolate there vs buying it here, lol, but I'm just going with it. The question is how much do I bring? Will it be a problem if I stuff part/half of a suitcase with chocolate?

3) I have a locking carry on suitcase, I assume that best practice at NAIA is to put just about everything of value into it to go through the x-ray machines instead of emptying pockets into the trays?

4) Any tips on carrying more then 7kg carry-on onboard PAL? Are they super ####### about weighing everything? There are some things I don't want to have in the checked luggage in fear of theft, but the 7kg carry-on limit is so easy to hit. Also on through-flights through NAIA if I check in for the full flight at LAX, do they re-weigh my luggage in Manila?