iya

Hi all. Haven't posted here in forever - I am now trying to bring my mom to the States.

So, when we started collected documents, DS-230 pa ang gamit. Just now getting around to having everything (no rush because mom had stuff to deal with at home).

Now that it's DS260, I'm confused. The instructions on travel.state.gov say to mail the originals/certified copies, PLUS photocopies, by snail mail... but I also read that at the interview, originals will be needed.. again? So I need to mail my certified marriage certificate to NVC, AND send another certified copy to my mom to bring to the interview? When does she need the passport photos?? Do I send two by snail mail, while she still has to have three during the medical?

It's been really confusing for me, even with the AOS stuff, but I think I've figured that part out..

Hope someone can provide guidance here.

Thanks all!

I applied Feb 11, I believe. I'm not 100% certain, but it's not far from that date. Received my passport today. No passport card yet, or naturalization certificate. I did not get a tracking number, just found the packet in the mailbox when I got home.

Coloring my line. It was one crazy day In a good way!

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=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

LastSurvivor.....|10/26/10.|11/02/10.|11/05/10.|11/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

BoraBora.........|10/30/10.|11/05/10.|11/12/10.|12/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Susan73..........|11/01/10.|11/08/10.|11/12/10.|11/30/10.|02/01/11.|03/02/11.|--/--/--.|New York,NY....|

Pervez...........|11/01/10.|11/05/10.|11/05/10.|12/03/10.|01/10/11.|02/15/11.|--/--/--.|Raleigh,NC.....|

Can-FL-Girl......|11/03/10.|11/09/10.|11/11/10.|11/22/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando, FL....|

kgurl............|11/06/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|12/01/10.|01/31/11.|03/07/11.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL......|

Duly.............|11/06/10.|11/10/10.|11/18/10.|N/A......|01/24/11.|02/24/11.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX....|

ldobson..........|11/08/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|11/23/10.|01/04/11.|02/02/11.|02/09/11.|Philadelphia,PA|

TN_Canadian......|11/10/10.|11/17/10.|11/16/10.|12/08/10.|12/27/10.|02/01/11.|--/--/--.|Memphis, TN....|

PAULAFERNA.......|11/18/10.|11/19/10.|11/19/10.|12/13/10.|01/24/11.|02/28/11.|--/|--/--/W Palm Beach,FL|

waitingforead....|11/20/10.|--/--/10.|--/--/10.|12/21/10.|--/--/--.|02/03/11.|--/--/--.|Washington,D.C.|

F@rsc@p3.........|11/22/10.|11/30/10.|12/02/10.|12/10/10.|01/18/11.|02/17/11.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

prl907...........|11/22/10.|12/02/10.|12/06/10.|01/04/11.|01/28/11.|03/02/11.|--/--/--.|Charlotte, NC..|

Journey05........|11/27/10.|12/02/10.|12/08/10.|01/11/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ.....|

Will the fact that the old name on the name change certificate is not the same as the old name in SSA's record not matter, though? I will not be given trouble for that?

Or will they only need to see the actual naturalization certificate?

Congratulation. What happened to ezzie does she got the interveiw.

Thanks!

Unfortunately, no news from ezzie still. I'm also eager to hear from Mo007. Since Columbus is the capital, and they have more oath taking ceremonies there, I was hoping he'd go first and get some hints and tips! It would be nice to get this all over with, but I'm still apprehensive about my name change

@duly - grats, and good luck!! Our table is filling up nicely, so really, good luck to everyone

It's manoymonic's turn at the interview seat today!

So, I will be taking my oath on the Friday after next. I will be changing my name too. The problem (?) lies herein:

I have two first names, a middle (mother's maiden) and last. Let's say it's Mary Ann Lim Cruz.

When I got married, I took on my husband's last name, but followed the Philippine name change convention, and went to this:

Mary Ann Cruz Smith

That is what SSA has on record. This is what my 2 year green card had as well.

When I got my 10 year green card, the IO said I had to follow the US name changing convention, and wrote over my form and entered my name as:

Mary Ann Lim Smith

I said it was no problem, was approved. However, when I got the 10 year green card, it still had this name:

Mary Ann Cruz Smith

So.. I continued to use this name, because that's what my green card said, and what was in my SSA record.

On to naturalization. I got the same IO during my test. He said, "Good thing you're changing your name, because there's a problem with it." He crossed out Cruz, put in Lim as my middle name. My new name will be Mary Cruz Smith, changing from Mary Ann Lim Smith.

I was approved, name change will happen, and oath taking will be on the 4th.

So. My certificate for name change will show from Mary Ann Lim Smith to Mary Cruz Smith.

However, all my papers (mortgage, insurance, SSA, IRS, BMV, etc) show my name was Mary Ann Cruz Smith..

Is this going to be a problem? I'm mostly concerned about the SSA... will changing my name from what they have to what my new name will be, when my cert's old name (Mary Ann Lim Smith) doesn't match their records (Mary Ann Cruz Smith), be a problem?

Add to that our tax filing What name do I file with? I'm going nuts...

Updating myself Oath letter received. Scheduled for 2/4, at 8AM.

I won't change it to red yet because I'm still technically not a citizen.

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=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

LastSurvivor.....|10/26/10.|11/02/10.|11/05/10.|11/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

BoraBora.........|10/30/10.|11/05/10.|11/12/10.|12/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Susan73..........|11/01/10.|11/08/10.|11/12/10.|11/30/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York,NY....|

Pervez...........|11/01/10.|11/05/10.|11/05/10.|12/03/10.|01/10/11.|02/15/11.|--/--/--.|Raleigh,NC.....|

Can-FL-Girl......|11/03/10.|11/09/10.|11/11/10.|11/22/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando, FL....|

kgurl............|11/06/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|12/01/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL......|

Duly.............|11/06/10.|11/10/10.|11/18/10.|N/A......|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Houston, TX....|

ldobson..........|11/08/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|11/23/10.|01/04/11.|02/02/11.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia,PA|

TN_Canadian......|11/10/10.|11/17/10.|11/16/10.|12/08/10.|12/27/10.|02/01/11.|--/--/--.|Memphis, TN....|

PAULAFERNA.......|11/18/10.|11/19/10.|11/19/10.|12/13/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|W Palm Beach,FL|

waitingforead....|11/20/10.|--/--/10.|--/--/10.|12/21/10.|--/--/--.|02/03/11.|--/--/--.|Washington,D.C.|

F@rsc@p3.........|11/22/10.|11/30/10.|12/02/10.|12/10/10.|01/18/11.|02/17/11.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

prl907...........|11/22/10.|12/02/10.|12/06/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Charlotte, NC..|

Journey05........|11/27/10.|12/02/10.|12/08/10.|01/11/11.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ.....|

I was thinking in name change also, but I did some research online and looks like takes about 6 more month to get the oath ceremony. good luck to you.!!!!

Oh, I know what you mean! I actually did have like three or four copies of the application form because I kept changing my mind about my name change. But because I've been having problems with it (two first names, one middle name, one last name that people have written as one compound first name, one middle, one last, or as first name, second first as middle, omitted middle, and then last) I figured I might as well make it easier for everyone. I might have to wait a few months longer, but the benefits would be for the rest of my life In any case, the immigration officer did say that the oath taking should be scheduled within the next month - maybe it's not as rare in Ohio as it is in other states? Apparently the ceremonies for our district are normally held in the federal court in Cleveland, so either way, it would have been scheduled around the same time? I'm still hopeful!

@NickD - I brought my driver's license with me (because I drove there ) to use as my other gov't issued photo ID, but the immigration officer didn't even want to look at it (I offered, since it was in the same wallet slot as my green card). I also brought everything they had on the list (which was pretty much everything I had submitted before, only they wanted the originals) and he only looked at the latest tax transcript. I guess it's better to have too much in your bag than too little.. it was just a pain to get together, and annoying to know I didn't really need more than two sheets. Oh well.

Good luck, everyone! I see those interview dates looming closer. It'll be here in no time

Well, my interview was yesterday in Cleveland. I ended up arriving freakishly early, so I chilled out at a deli for a bit. Went to the federal building STILL earlier than I should have, but I figured I might as well stay warm in there and watch the news on their tv

Interview itself took maybe 15 minutes. I was asked for my green card, passport, '09 tax return. Funny part was, the officer was the same guy who interviewed us for the greencard.. I guess he figured he'd seen pretty much everything else before (apparently, my file was riddled with his notes, based on how much red ink I saw on those pages). He did ask where the hubby was, and I said the hubby was at work. I didn't see the point of using up vacation time just so he can wait in the waiting room.. I opted for name change (he had an issue with my names, and was all "Well good thing you want a name change, because..")

In any case, at the end, he handed me a sheet of paper saying both tests were passed, approval is recommended, yada yada. Should get oath taking letter in maybe a month. It wasn't bad at all.

And this time, when I left the building, there were no men lying prone on the ground with cop cars screeching to a halt in front of the building with sirens blazing I could do without that kind of excitement during USCIS related trips..

Thanks! Pretty excited.. I'm back to attempting to memorize the answers.. I just hope I can remember the new names that resulted from elections this Nov

I was flummoxed by the list of documents that I'm supposed to bring, though! All this time, I thought I would only need my GC, passport.. the usual stuff. Didn't expect to need all the originals of pretty much everything I sent with the application. Since we'd just moved, I had to dig high and low for the original papers, which were still in boxes! All is good now, though. *study study*

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LastSurvivor.....|10/26/10.|11/02/10.|11/05/10.|11/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

BoraBora.........|10/30/10.|11/05/10.|11/12/10.|12/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Susan73..........|11/01/10.|11/08/10.|11/12/10.|11/30/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York,NY....|

Pervez...........|11/01/10.|11/05/10.|11/05/10.|12/03/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Raleigh,NC.....|

kgurl............|11/06/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|12/01/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL......|

ldobson..........|11/08/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|11/23/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia,PA|

PAULAFERNA.......|11/18/10.|11/19/10.|11/19/10.|12/13/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|W Palm Beach,FL|

F@rsc@p3.........|11/22/10.|11/30/10.|12/02/10.|12/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

Journey05........|11/27/10.|12/02/10.|12/08/10./--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ.....|

Beyond thrilled. My case was updated too!

Your case has been transferred to a local office and an interview will be scheduled. You will be sent a notice advising you of the date and time of your interview.

Maybe there aren't a whole lot of N400 applications in OH, and that's why it's moving fairly fast? I guess we'll see what date will be in that interview letter.

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LastSurvivor.....|10/26/10.|11/02/10.|11/05/10.|11/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

BoraBora.........|10/30/10.|11/05/10.|11/12/10.|12/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Susan73..........|11/01/10.|11/08/10.|11/12/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York,NY....|

Pervez...........|11/01/10.|11/05/10.|11/05/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Raleigh,NC.....|

kgurl............|11/06/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|12/01/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL......|

ldobson..........|11/08/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|11/23/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia,PA|

PAULAFERNA.......|11/18/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|W Palm Beach,FL|

F@rsc@p3.........|11/22/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

It would be interesting to know if walk-ins do get bumped up on the list (not that we see for sure if you do get bumped up since it all depends on your processing center or whatever it's called). I thought of going early, but since mine's scheduled for next week, and this is Thanksgiving week (and I'm working before and after.. ugh) I figured I'll just stick to the schedule. My letter said 10am, but I plan to be there by 8.. maybe I'll get a free day to explore the city that's #7 on the most dangerous US cities list

**changing NOA to 11/15 - notice date instead of date received in mail.

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=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

LastSurvivor.....|10/26/10.|11/02/10.|11/05/10.|11/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

BoraBora.........|10/30/10.|11/05/10.|11/12/10.|12/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Susan73..........|11/01/10.|11/08/10.|11/12/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York,NY....|

Pervez...........|11/01/10.|11/05/10.|11/05/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Raleigh,NC.....|

kgurl............|11/06/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|12/01/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL......|

ldobson..........|11/08/10.|11/15/10.|11/19/10.|12/03/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia,PA|

Updating Mo007

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LastSurvivor.....|10/26/10.|11/02/10.|11/05/10.|11/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

BoraBora.........|10/30/10.|11/05/10.|11/12/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Susan73..........|11/01/10.|11/08/10.|11/12/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York,NY....|

Pervez...........|11/01/10.|11/05/10.|11/05/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Raleigh,NC.....|

kgurl............|11/06/10.|11/15/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL......|

ldobson..........|11/08/10.|11/15/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia,PA|

Mo007, I think you still need to wait for the biometrics letter. You'll need to show it to the security people to get in, and if I'm not mistaken, you leave it with the biometrics people along with the form you fill in. Someone correct me if I'm wrong

Iya is correct but you will still need to get your NOA first since you do need the receipt number to check the case status.

I got my SMS and email but not NOA yet.. Hopefully I will have it soon too!

That's true! The receipt number is the identifier for the case. Once you get your NOA, you can register at the site and subscribe to notifications via email and/or SMS.

Actually the reciept number is included in the SMS/Email notification so it can be tracked as soon as it gets in to the system prior to recieving the hard copy.

Indeed. However, Mo007 doesn't get SMS/Email notifications, thus the referral to the CRIS site. Once they have the receipt number from snail mail NOA, they can get SMS/Email notifications via Cris

Nice!

Can you schedule for biometrics before the NOA letter then? or you have to wait for the letter?

They actually schedule you for biometrics, not the other way around. It'll be the RFE letter (it seems) after the NOA letter. LastSurvivor tried the walk-in biometrics ahead of schedule, and was successful. I didn't try the walk-in before as Cleveland is a full hour's drive if traffic is not heavy, and didn't want to risk waiting the two hour round trip drive. Whatever they schedule me for, I'll accept. Unless I hear about someone else's successful walk-in biometrics in Cleveland then maybe I'll try it too.

So, you do have to wait for the RFE (biometrics) letter to see when you are scheduled. It's up to you if you're going on schedule, ahead of schedule, or if you'll try to call to reschedule.

Interesting. I received my NOA, and the priority date and received date both say Nov 10, but USPS says the package was delivered Nov 12. I'm not going to complain though I take it the NOA date is date received in mail, and not the notice date?

Greetings All,

I have now officially filed my N-400 Application so am adding myself to the list! Good Luck to all November Applicants!

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=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

LastSurvivor.....|10/26/10.|11/02/10.|11/05/10.|11/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

BoraBora.........|10/30/10.|11/05/10.|11/12/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Susan73..........|11/01/10.|11/08/10.|11/12/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York,NY....|

Pervez...........|11/01/10.|11/05/10.|11/05/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Raleigh,NC.....|

kgurl............|11/06/10.|11/15/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL......|

ldobson..........|11/08/10.|11/15/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia,PA|

That makes sense. I remember reading something about adding another paper to the form to get updates.

Will just wait for NOA letter in the mail.

You can check your case status here: USCIS CRIS

I registered way back during my K-1 stage, and have been getting SMS updates since the option was made available. You do have to add each case to your portfolio manually (it doesn't get added just because you filed something with USCIS).

Thought I'd let you know.. Just got the SMS for the RFE (biometrics, yay!) Will be watching that mailbox like a hawk now. At least when I'm not at work. Heh

Mo007, did you fill in that extra form for email notices?

I only got an email from DHS, technically, but I get sms alerts when I get them from certain senders.

Woo! Congrats, Kezia

Keep us posted! Hopefully it'll be smooth sailing from her on.

Check was cashed today - received SMS that application was received, and case receipt number was given.

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**For more detailed instructions with screen-shots "CLICK HERE"**

=================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===============|

LastSurvivor.....|10/26/10.|11/02/10.|11/05/10.|11/10/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta,GA.....|

BoraBora.........|10/30/10.|11/05/10.|11/12/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Orlando,FL.....|

Susan73..........|11/01/10.|11/08/10.|11/12/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York,NY....|

Pervez...........|11/01/10.|11/05/10.|11/05/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Raleigh,NC.....|

kgurl............|11/06/10.|11/15/10.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Tampa, FL......|

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I agree, todong todo. Wala sa hinagap ko na amerikano ang mapapangasawa ko or mag-aasawa talaga ako. Kaya marami ang nagulat sa mga friends and family ko na (1)nagkaboyfriend ako, (2)mag-aasawa ako, at mas lalong maraming nagulat na (3)amerikano pala. (Check http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=472808241671 for our story) Everyone knows my personality and my nationalism, pati na rin ang pagiging pihikan ko sa boys despite the fact na karamihan sa mga kabarkada ko ay mga lalaki -- I'm a tomboy. Last year nga, in-offer ako ng isa sa mga clients ko ng fully-sponsored work visa with all expenses including tickets, expenses on paperworks, pati apartment ko dun sa US at may shares pa sa isang company na nasa news dahil out and coming talaga sya sa technology industry at may award pa sa government. Tinanggihan ko yun, tapos it's embarassing dahil dun at dun din pala sa US ang landing ko after a year. Palad nga siguro talaga.

Haha, agree din ako!! Tomboy din ako, at karamihan ng barkada ko ay lalaki. Sa UP lang ako nagkaroon ng girl friends dahil lahat ng barkada ko nasa eng'g, ako nasa mbb. Kabilang lupalop. Sayang, ano? Kung alam mo lang na pagdaraanan mo ito, you could've just taken that client up on the offer! Pero naisip ko rin yan noon.. ibang proseso naman din pag nandito ka na with regards to residency and naturalization.

As for the DOST Scholarship being new, I'm not talking about the whole thing dahil alam kong maraming scholarship ang DOST. I was just referring to our "Program". Bagong bago lang yun "Program A" (now called RA something) at "Program B" (now called Merit scholarship) nung mga batches natin, kaya malakas pa ang dating nun sa mga parents at sa mga newspaper.

And in that case, oo nga. Bagu-bago nga ang program. To be honest, hindi ko na inalam ang differences ng iba't ibang scholarship programs. I guess we took it for granted na ang DOST scholarship ay DOST scholarship. Ayan tuloy, napasubo. Haha. I remember my mom being confident na "walang problema yan kung gusto mong mag-bakasyon abroad. Tignan mo ako!" Pero confident rin sya na hindi ako mag-a-abroad dahil nga sa nationalism. She didn't know I was getting a visa until after I actually got the visa!

Thanks for the well wishes. Sana nga, di na ako pagbayarin. Kino-compute ko ang interest, 3-4X na yun kung compounding interest ang gagamitin.

Ouch talaga yang interest na yan, kaya sabi ko noon, hinding hindi ako magbabayad! Nung natanggal yung scholarship by the end of the second year, I was so relieved. Syempre hindi masaya ang family, not because can't afford, but because tanggal ang "prestige" ng pagkakaroon ng scholarship Sabay eto si kapatid.. iniisip pano magagawan ng paraan yung bond. Anlaki ng hinihingi nila!!

Amelie, hindi ko sure kung tinatanggap pa rin hanggang ngayon ang post-dated checks. I just got that advise from an old scholar. Nakalimutan kong itanong 'yan, at parang di ko rin gustong itanong kasi ayokong maisip nila na kaya ko talagang magbayad o magbabayad talaga ako.

Ako rin, I only read about post-dated checks dito. I mean, it might be an option that they give to people who just can't fork out one lump sum for the bond. Kung kailangan talaga, sana nga open ito. But best ask to make sure! Baka andaming pahirap ng pagdaanan to get a checking account, only to find out may specific requirements pala para maging viable option ang PDCs.

At least, dahil may service ka na, di na gaanong malaki ang babayaran mo. Frankly, pumasok sa isip ko na mangdaya at magbigay ng Certificate of Employment na galing sa probinsya namin, dahil may mga willing naman magbigay sa akin noon, pero wala sa personality ko ang ganun, at never pa rin akong nangdaya or naging dishonest in my life (not counting the small rebellions against some teachers in highschool where I gave answers to exams to my classmates) at hindi kayang dalhin ng konsensya ko ang magmanufacture ng ganun. Besides, it could also get you into more trouble that you don't want, with two governments. Kaya para doon sa mga nag-iisip at nagsa-suggest, beware and better play everything safe and honest.

SUPER agree! Even if you get away with it now, it could come back and haunt you later.. The getting a cert of employment from friends seems to be the easiest (dishonest) alternative for people, just because it seems acceptable in our culture.

I got the DOST-PCIERD scholarship in 2002. I think they covered 4 sem and 2 summer. Never heard of that rule na if 4 sems lang you wont need to reimburse. Well at least in my contract it was clear that if u dont finish you pay. I think in my case maaga pa at di pa umabot sa NBI listing yung kaso ko so NBI was not a problem. I suggest communicate with DOST. Get a clearance from them then clear ur NBI din. Sorry I cant help in that area as I didnt experience that. Good luck. There should be enough time. Believe me, I did all of that in one week before my interview at the embassy. I can relate to the stress. I'm from UP Dil also. Civil engg grad & was finishing MS Water Resources but couldnt complete the thesis thats why I dropped out.

Hindi ko rin alam ang terms ng PCIERD.. I thought the two-year clause was generally in all the DOST contracts, but that was just an assumption based on conversations with other kids (at the time). But since you had it all the way til the end, it's a moot thing, no? I just have to say na ang swerte swerte mo na hindi mo na pinagdaanan ang DOST-NBI hassle! Ang traffic, ang oras, ang stress...

I believe I finished mine within a week. just not the week before my interview! Hindi ko kakayanin ang stress nun.

Well, it's been ~3 years since I got my clearance sa NBI, so baka nagbago na ang requirements nila for clearance from DOST contracts. For sure, ang natatandaan ko, nung unang punta ko ay sabi nung Mr NBI guy ay "Ano ba ang plano mo? Hindi ka ma-c-clear hanggat hindi mo naaayos itong sa DOST. Kailangan mong pumunta sa Bicutan." at hindi Termination Letter ang binigay sa akin. Hindi ko na nga sinubukan yung sa Core group at di naman talaga ako natutulungan dun kapag may kailangan ako They're great people, pero iba lang siguro ang expectations ko.

In any case, hassle nga talaga ang DOST scholarship. Tama ka, kung may ibang options, why not? I didn't think it was going to be that much of a hassle for me dahil whether I took the DOST scholarship in college or not, technically ay may kontrata pa ako with DOST nung HS (pisay). Buti na lang at hindi nag trigger yun sa system.. although if needed, I could have scrounged up proof of employment locally in a science-ish field. Yung kapatid kong kaka-graduate lang, tinapos with DOST and oblation.. so doble ang utang nya, so to speak. Gusto sanang mag master's sa Utah, pero dahil andaming churva ng DOST, parang nag-aalangan na tuloy. You really have to weigh the cost of the scholarship!! For some people, it's worth it dahil wala naman silang plano whatsoever na umalis ng Pinas (that was also my case.. malay ko ba na US cit ang mapapangasawa ko, diba?)

I'm not so sure about the scholarship stuff being "bago" around our time. Matagal nang may scholarship ang DOST, kahit nung NSDB pa sya. My mom was on that scholarship, too, pero dahil jurassic na ang account na yun ay walang record sa NBI. Pero siguro, during our time sila nag-o-overhaul ng system with computerization of records and actually communicating with the other agencies. Dun tayo nasabit. I know some of my teachers in HS (former pisay or DOST scholars din na slightly older than us lang) had problems with their NBI clearances, kaya hindi sa batch natin nag-umpisa ang problems.

Sa DFA, I had no problems whatsoever. Sa airport, syempre tense ako dahil baka nga may stop order pa ang DOST.. Kahit may visa and ticket and everything na, makalimutan lang nilang i-clear ka sa isang aspeto, problema na! But it all went through with no problems. Ang pinaka-hurdle talaga ay yung DOST-NBI clearance combo, at yung interview sa embassy.

I must say, though.. ang hirap ng kaso mo. Ang dami naman nilang hinihingi na super specific! In my case, dahil wala naman akong termination letter, i THINK ang meron ako ay class cards (na bungi bungi), posibleng tcg (na hindi sa last sem ko with DOST) at form-5 for the semesters when I started paying for tuition (buti na lang pack rat ako, and I had some of those with me!). I remember nung nagpunta ako ng Bicutan, naglabas sila ng giant hardbound notebook, tas dun hinanap yung pangalan ko (feeling San Pedro at the pearly gates! Haha). I think hindi nabigay sa kanila ng Core group ang last set of grades ko kaya technically hindi "terminated" ang status ko sa Bicutan. Parang awol, or waiting for updates or something. So nung pinakita ko yung grades and papers ko, may sinulat lang sa giant notebook, and then balikan ko daw after <x amount of time>. From pick-up ko nung clearance, deretso na ako sa NBI and got my clearance the same day. I'm not worried about whether it's temporary or not. The way I see it, cleared na ako, and if I go back with a US passport, wala nang look-ups sa DOST dbase nyan

Good luck sa clearance! I know it's stressful and can be quite frustrating. Sana nga ay hindi mo kailanganing magbayad, since hindi ka naman tumuntong ng 3rd year with the scholarship. Pasensya na at wala akong mai-recommend na mapagkakatiwalaang bangko. Hindi rin ako nagkaron ng checking account o credit card dyan. I did have that landbank atm account for DOST dahil required for stipend remittance Baka bigyan ka ng consideration ng landbank if you want to open an account with them, considering it's for DOST, and they have ties?

PS

Naaliw ako at binilhan ka agad ng plane ticket! Excited Matinding pagpilit ko na ako ang bibili ng ticket ko noon dahil ayaw ko rin nung additional stress na may hahabulin pa akong flight deadline. Pero kilig moment. Mas kilig pag nakakuha ka na ng clearance at makakatulog na kayo sa gabi! Hope all goes well!!!