Balamban

16 hours ago, D&N1 said:

I asked this question in the K1 progress forum, but Greenbaum suggested I ask in this forum.

 

My K1 visa is currently at NVC waiting to be sent to the US embassy.

 

I have searched the forums for an answer to this, but haven't found any.

 

I noticed the SLEC requirements page for Philippines medical (http://www.slec.ph/us-visa-applicants.shtml#required-docs) mentions bringing 4 copies of the passport photos to the medical exam.

 

The US embassy preparations letter says to bring 3 passport photos to the interview.

 

I'm assuming that we need only 4 passport photos to take to the exam and 3 of them will be passed on to the US embassy, but I want to make sure.

 

Do we need 4 passport photos or 7 passport photos all together?

My then fiancee took 4 to St. Luke's who took one, leaving three for the interview.

A few days later she had the interview at the Embassy and gave them the three photos.  I had taken a photo of her from a cell phone, and used a free online service to create the right shape, and sent that out to Target, then picked up the photos and mailed them to her (I had to send some docs anyway).  I thought they looked perfect.  But at the Embassy she says: "the machine would not accept them."  The Embassy person told her to go downstairs to the waiting area and there is a small room that says "photographs," (near the entrance) and wait in line and get new ones.  She did (the wait in line took about 20 minutes) paid 30 peso for three photos, and then she went back to the person who sent her down to get the photos and the interview continued.

Therefore, rest assured, if you don't have enough--you can get them there.  Note: I've never heard of this on the forums but my wife states that there were five people in line, and then later she noticed that there were about ten in line, so rejection of passport photos, based upon this observation, seems common.

I hope you find this useful and good luck.

It's been a long haul but my fiancee is now my wife (for 3 months +) and all looks good for a long, loving, lasting relationship.

Short question version:  Can a Filipina, now a wife in America avail herself of Philhealth?

Long version:

I looked into Obamacare right after marriage and was shocked.   Essentially $300-400+/month and other than an annual checkup and flu shot--nothing is covered.  (until you spend $2500-4000 out-of-pocket) What a load of ####### America's strange medical insurance system is!  (I'm on Medicaid Advantage which in contrast is delightful--reasonably priced (with some exceptions such as meds which I can buy from Canada/India for less than 1/4 the co-pay, but I digress)).  Obamacare for her is a joke.  Need anything for just about anything and thousands must be paid out-of-pocket before Obamacare pops in.  I'm not working (currently in college FT) so no chance of company sponsored insurance.  It's painfully clear to me that younger, healthy people (her) are being forced to pay ~$4800/year for the less than 1/10th of one % chance that they will actually ever surpass the insane deductible.  (Note: Obamacare seems very location dependent meaning even in the North of one state might have a "good" deal and if in the South of that state--a terribly high-priced, insane out-of-pocket before insurance really kicks in, so this may or may not be the same plight depending upon where you live).

Let me sum it up.  My wife now has zero insurance.  Yes, if she (in the extremely unlikely possibility) had to stay in hospital for a month--in a word, we're screwed.  Now having missed the deadline, we must wait till next year to hop on the evil insurance bandwagon.  

Options:  Thus my question:  Can she avail herself of Philhealth?  Anyone know?  I know OFW's can.  Then at least she'll be 50% covered for a hospital stay.  She's very healthy, but still Americas is a scary place without insurance.  

What do others here do?  Go naked w/o insurance and hope for the best?  (Which is what we are doing)  Pay for Obamacare (many will have family medical from employers, I realize that) but some of you may not, and I would like to hear what you guys are doing?

We've done all the AOS stuff and anticipate (using VJ's data) AOS and ability for her to work ~ February.  She's intending to take an LNA class in January (earlier is impractical as her English is not yet good enough (but getting better and better).  So ~next March or so even if I am not yet working again, she likely will be with at least basic (hi-deductible garbage) Obamacare insurance as mandated through her employer.  (Btw, in many states LNA/CNA class (usually ~$1700) is reimbursed to you a month or so after starting and there are lots of jobs--a great way for many Filipinas to obtain a good job.

America is still a great country--but America's medical system is absolutely, shockingly insane--it's something that would make plundering Vikings proud.

Givining something back: if you ever need a med check out goodrx.com and also check out pharmacychecker.com (I have no connection to either).  Many meds can be bought via a Canadian pharmacy and shipped to America.  I've used pharmacychecker's pharmacies (three of them) since 2007 and have never had an issue, often at 15-20% of what I'd pay locally.  Goodrx is a coupon site and sometimes are even cheaper than what I must pay as a co-pay on my Medicare.  

Thank all of you for your answers.  All were useful.

I have found a dentist once, found name/email/phone and sent peso to them--allowing parents taking my nephews/nieces for cleaning/polyurethane and cavity repair--not that expensive.  So with some clinics, often in town with a Lullihier (or whatever) it appears that some will give name/phone/email and take, let's say 5k peso giving me a credit balance, and even submit email receipts.

As for the current issue I've refused the 10k and sent 2500 basing upon two receipts to pediatrician + two receipts for meds (I'm an RN and can diagnose the issue as either community acquired pneumonia or similar respiratory infection based upon the prescribed antibiotics) and have made it very, very clear--in the future, miss one receipt and you are cut off forever.  If the dog ate it, aliens stole it, or doctor refused to write receipt--that family member will never be trusted again.

It's so off (from my POV) that it's not considered theft at all, if there is a hint of reasonableness such as hmm...ankle swollen after fall, let's ask for 10k loan.  Such is life I guess.  I just wish that I was the rich American than everyone thinks that I am.

I never really found any reputable way other then the herein mentioned Skype and had tons of problems trying that now that Microsoft bought Skype.  There really seems to be no reputable phone card as 200 minutes can find zero minutes two weeks later even if only 20 minutes is used.  If the recipient has Globe, Globe does have a good plan but it is only useful for numbers that you know you will be calling (1-5  depending on plan) and that did not help here.

My sister-in-law has a child and frequently "the child needs hospital, loan me 10,000p."  Pneumonia, cough, rash--alien abduction, you name it...  I think it's the American ATM syndrome but my wife is compassionate and believes everything and wants me to pay...and pay.

My tactic is simple.  If the child is ill, I'll send some peso to a reputable clinic, she can take the child there and if the doctor says "hospital," fine, I'll send peso to the hospital.  But I don't intend to send the sister-in-law 10k peso at a time for ill-defined illness.  I suspect it goes like this: Child has cough, ask for 10k loan, child miraculously recovers, money spent on whatever.  I think this is a sort of normal tactic after all I'm American and everyone knows that I have thousands of hundred dollar bills under my pillow....

The question is: How can I call from America to the Phils (to a cell, and possibly a land line).  About 4 years ago there was a monthly plan where I could call a local number in America which could connect me with a local number in the Phils.  It worked ok (sometimes).  (But I've forgotten where that plan was purchased).

Can anyone please suggest how I can call the Phils, either such a plan, or perhaps a pre-paid card that isn't scamish?

Thanks

Very useful, thank  you.  The only problem with being able to pay with a credit card is that overall, a ~3% charge gets built into it--I know that's the case in grocery stores that accept credit cards, so it's likely the case in government payments.  It's unpopular to add 2.5 or 3% so it just gets added in.  These are bad times to have a poor fico score and perhaps a good time to have one that is high since I see plenty of 3% "rewards" and even 5%.  Cash is dying.

Thank you, it's nice to know.  I wish that I could have filed the I-485 about 4 months ago when I had a Citi card that rebated 5%, but I wasn't married to my fiancee yet (k-1)

Can you pay for an I-485 with a credit card by using a G-1450?

Old posts here at Visa Journey say “no, check only.”  Then there was a post dated March 14^th that asked this question, geowrian acknowledged the process but had not heard of anyone successfully using it?

Has anyone here used it to pay for the I-485?

I have a credit card that is charging zero fees, and zero interest till October, so that is quite tempting.  There appears to be no fee.

Let's see if I got this right... to "probably" be in best standing, one "probably" ought to file such that the I-485 is done by or prior to the expiration date of the K-1 visa in her passport.

Easy question, easy answer(s)....probably.

Thanks everyone!

K-1, married July5th.

What is the deadline for filing the I-485 and paying for it?  I knew that we must marry w/in 90 days and we did.

How does one determine the latest date to file (and yes I realize very well that filing sooner is wiser)

Thanks

Thank you TM92 but how about part 7?

Ha! Joselio just asked the same question that I was about to pose.  For family emergency only do I complete Part 7?

Thanks everyone!

My wife does not intend to travel back to her homeland, but it seems wise to do this form just in case something serious, like a death in the family occurs.

It asks for a departure date and length of trip?

Suggestions?

Thanks All!

Btw, for a K-1 spousal use of assets only is it 3 x  125% Fed Poverty Level, or 5x?

Do I need to send support documentation for every category?  Copies of bank statements?  401K, Property valuation?

I have a 2nd house with no debt so I'll use that and send copies of assessment data.  Do I need to also send info on my primary house?

Many thanks, and you get the expediency award of one million dollars---the check is is the mail.

Form I-864 question

Line 29: Enter total number of immigrants you are sponsoring....

            I entered 1 for my K-1 immigrant, now my spouse as we have married.

Question: What’s with Part 5: Sponsor’s Household Size where they ask

Line 2: Yourself   So I put a “1” here.

Line 3: If you are currently married, enter “1” for your spouse.

Well, I am now currently married but if I put "1" in Line 3 in the form then my household size changes to an incorrect 3.

Question: Even though I am now married to my K-1 immigrant should I not enter “1” on Line 3?

Note:  I am unemployed, attending college full-time.  My assets are ok if it’s 3 x 125% FPL but close if it’s 5x 125% FPL.

My household size is myself and my immigrant wife.  How do I make the form show the proper household size of 2?

Suggestions please?

Use this:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/eadstats.php

Thank you both.  I own two houses, one I live in and the other is a "retirement project" which is not really livable, but could be if I install a water pump, it is assessed (town) at $68k and Zillow assesses it at $78k and since it's a second house I suspect that alone would work.  I'll add the current income and evidence that I could start taking social security at any time and that should be enough.  If they ask for a RFIE I'll start taking social security for a few months and then return it (that is allowed one-time but has some minor tax ramifications) but that would give me about $16k additional income.  Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

It's I-864 time.

I've been unemployed since 8/2017 and my UE benefits have run out.  However I still will receive about 12 more weeks of significant benefits for approved training.  I am not sure what happens in this case.

I've returned to college to obtain a BSN (nursing) which is necessary and MA's paying me weekly a significant amount.  That amount will end in about 12 weeks.  At that point I'll look for work, either part-time and continue my studies or FT and continue my studies part-time. 

I've read that I can use assets but I'm unsure, are those assets 3x 100% Fed Pov, or 3x 125% Fed Pov level?

How does USCIS look at someone unemployed, but going to college with a great history of employment before becoming unemployed (so great that the adjudicator at the interview appeared to ignore the fact that, at that time I had zero income, and still we were granted the K-1, it may be that she glanced at the prior years 1040 and they are very, very nice numbers.  Yes, we were granted the K-1 with no current income--odd isn't it? (And yes, it was all done honestly and properly, I did not play any games, I knew we could have been rejected but heck why not try--and it worked.

If I file promptly I'll still have "current" income (12 weeks more of training income that would, for the year amounted to ~$17,000, though that will end in October.  Maybe that would be acceptable?

They may look at a person who has a good work history (1040's) who is back in college FT in a good way--does anyone know?

I have no prospective sponsors.  And yes, I know the rules about assets such as you can't use your house (unless you own two).

I'm old enough to start drawing social security--but don't want to.  Still I could do that to pump up income and interestingly, once accepted, return it all back to SS (and then wait till I hit age 70 to collect).

I'll admit I'm in an "odd" place finance wise.

Thoughts please?

You can say that again!

Priest says "cannot baptize" unless mama goes to San Carlos (Negros Occidental) and gets a "certificate of no baptism."

And I thought America was bad... the Philippines seems replete with certificate of NO...'s

Still, one step at a time.  I think I'll succeed

Actually doggie and sam, I found that but ran into the same problem, in ID needed before an ID given.

In this case mama is handicapped and there is a special citizen's ID for those who have visible and invisible handicaps.

It does require a doctor's note and apparently the doctors and clinics are the one that have access to the application form so I'm working on that.

Ha!  Getting an ID for PhilHealth is harder than getting the K1 was.

I did follow up on private insurance, and guess what... provide ID's..... yikes.

Thanks

Thanks payxibka, we'll try that and Baptism.  It seems that a few hundred peso donation "ought" to work--I don't know how baptism works there.  Then we'll have 3 + the residence cert and then try for the postal one and then start the "late" registration process.

Thank you both.

Payxibka, I see the list of documents, but for the life of me the only single one that does not require a "valid ID" to start with is a Baptism Certificate.  So I suggested to my fiancee that she take her mama and get her Baptized, all the others that I can decipher appear to require something more than what she has which is only a marriage certificate.  Since you seem familiar with how things work there would you please scan the list and see, if in your opinion, there is another category that is worth chasing?

Nontanifun:  Thank you.  I think mama especially will not want to go to a doctor, ever.  But this is what happens:  A person has some acute problem, a heart issue, start of kidney failure, a stroke, a fall with concussion---and everyone gets together and then brings them to hospital.  So while one of the two would be ideal if they were to actually use the coverage--it seems that PhilHealth is sort of the best choice in this instance.  I will look into the others though, thank you again.

18 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Immigrants do NOT get I-94. 

 

K-1 is a non-immigrant visa category (it may be processed under immigrant visa section but it’s certainly not immigrant). 

 

Get SSN ASAP after fiancée’s arrival. Get married right away (don’t forget to change will, life insurance beneficiary and similar). Send off right away for AOS and then have wife start looking for a job with benefits. In the meantime I’m sure you can find some new immigrant health coverage plans. 

Thanks milimelo.  Really, Ouch!  So an H1-B can be on healthcare immediately but a K-1 cannot.  Ouch!   That is a good answer.  Though I wonder why an H1-B can apply right after getting an I-94 but a K-1 cannot.  Remember I just did this a few days ago.  I went on healthcare.gov and it dead-ended with an H1-B.  It is very clear however that no social security card is required.  However it does (once you do not enter it, give a pop-up telling how to get one and advising how to get one.

I think there should be a work-around as what is fair for an H1-B is fair for a K-1.

I'll try to call them or if not, I'll ask my State Rep. 

Thanks for the "non-immigrant" versus immigrant status explanation.  A non-immigrant, immigrant, that's sort of normal for governments....