dcpa55

So if I own a  house a house in the Philippines I will only pay taxes in the Philippines and not in the US? Will that be also applicable if  once im apply for Us citizenship? And maintain my Filipino citizenship?

Hi! I'm already a greencard holder. And I want to know if I need to pay US taxes if I will buy and own a house in the Philippines even if you will pay taxes in the Philippines for the house and lot. 

Thanks!

Hi! I came here in the US through K1 visa,  we had civil marriage here. We are planning on having a church wedding in Cebu City. Has anyone did it? Can you give me an advice of what are the things we need to prepare? And any advice which church is not so strict? Will it be considered as RENEWAL OF VOWS? I do not really know where to start. Thanks.

On 5/10/2018 at 5:36 AM, DocZ said:

Thank you for posting this, because it is exactly what I worry about. Your situation is the situation that scares me so much for my wife. I will have to show her this thread.

 

I love her and want her to be happy... and I get so scared she will be home sick and not want to live in the US. She is still in the Philippines with our son right now, surrounded by so much family support, everyone in walking distance. She will likely be here around 10/2018. I feel like I have had to push and push her to prepare, because she appears oblivious that her life is going to significantly change... or sometimes her lack of preparation makes me wonder if she even wants to come here. 

 

She is very picky on the food she eats, and only likes Filipino food, but doesn't know how to cook. Only after pushing and pushing her, has she started to learn to cook, so that she can eat foods she likes. 

I bought her a car in the Philippines so she could start to learn to drive, but it has been months, and has not even tried, and has resisted me teaching her.  She just wants to have her brother drive, or will still take sitting in a super hot and crowded jeepney over the nice aircon SUV. I will buy a self driving car when they become commercially available, but that it still years away. I keep thinking I must move near public transportation, because it appears she will not take initiative to learn.

I bought her NCLEX study materials, and pushed her to find people to prepare with, but she is not preparing very much. Luckily, she has gotten some of the paperwork started (which can take months), so at least some of it is in process. But, I think she is very far from being prepared to take the NCLEX, and I honestly don't even know if she will ever actually take it. I think getting a job, even just part time, will help her be less isolated, and give her something meaningful to do.

 

She doesn't know anybody here. She says she will be willing to relocate anywhere... but she seems to have such poor insight on what she needs so she will be happy. She moved to Singapore for 2 weeks, before returning to Philippines because she was homesick. I am in the San Francisco Bay Area, so there is a large Filipino community here (including my distant Filipino cousins, who I only met when I moved here 3 years ago). I think we will stay in this area for a while, just because there is a community. 

 

I am a doctor, and the reality is that I work long hours. I want so badly for my wife to integrate, but I am terrified that she will become depressed when she moves here. And despite me trying to help her prepare mentally, she is dragging her feet every step of the way. 

 

I am thankful that she is a wonderful mother to our baby, and she is happy in that role. But, I think for her truly to be happy, she will need to have more to her life than just staying at home alone with the baby. 

 

If anyone has advice how I can convey the importance of her of preparing to make the transition easier, or what I can do to make the transition easier, please let me know!

 

Hi there! Your wife is blessed to have you! You have taken good care of her to make sure her life is good. While she is still in the Philippines she should start practicing driving a car! That is what I regret of not doing, I lived in the province in the Philippines and my family doesnt have a car. If my husband bought me a car way back then i would not have a difficult life here in US of always depending in my husband to drive me to places which he cant do all the time or getting uber. So push her and make her read my reply.

She will get sad for sure once she is here but if your family will help her and get new friends, it will be easy. On my end, my husband's family are far from us and they have their own lives so im always alone at home talking to myself and studying for the NCLEX if hubby is not around. Well i practiced this being alone most of the time at home in the Philippines. Like travelling to other countries alone and staying there for 1 or 2 wks or just being at home most of the time if i did not have work. Im just really a home type of woman. Your wife will have a companion 24/7 when she comes here and that is your child. I love babies, i wish my husband and i can have a baby now but it is just not the right time. So she will be ok. Think positive.

Since you live in an area where there is a lot of Filipinos, it will be easy for her. I live in a place where there isnt a lot of Asians. I tried going to asian restaurants  with hubby but never had the chance of meeting a pinoy. Guess they dont live in the place i live.

Everytime im alone i always cry. But this is the life i chose and i dont have the choice but to be strong. It is difficult because there is no family near me, they are all in the Philippines. I want to go around the place to roam around but i cant drive a car. I regret not studying Nclex while i was in pinas, it was just hard though while working in the hospital as a nurse. But i wish if i could turn back time i wish i studied driving a car and studied NCLEX no matter how difficult it was. It is difficult to study when you feel alone and sad here in US. 

I hope this helps. I need to go back studying now. Have a good day!

1 hour ago, nelmagriffin said:

Greetings!

Know the basics, prioritization, lab values ( as there are questions that will ask you as to which patient to be monitored and they will just put the situation with the lab values. SAFETY SAFETY IS A BIG THING AS WELL! Please, do not forget to review the strategy in taking the test. (ex. the process of elimination etc.) as this will help you 100%.

And the most important advice that I can give you is to RELAX a few days before the test, Think POSITVE! , Pray and everything will be alright.

When you read this, I want you to write the following in big letters, the date of your test and the words like the following ex. " August 15, 2018, YES I CAN DO IT! Your name then RN"

EX. AUGUST 15, 2018, YES, I CAN DO IT! DCPA55, RN.

Thank you! I still do not know when I will take the exam because my husband will be assigned somewhere in asiafor work. And we are still waiting as to when it will be. Im still not ready to take the exam though because i feel like it has been many yrs since i read a medical book, and that was way back in college days. Thank you for the advice!

Thank you all for the support. It means a lot. As of now, I still dont have luck in having a filipino friend. My husband and I tried the zumba dance  in ohio (only did it twice) in a filipino community but I never had a chance to make some friends. Im just shy i guess. Maybe if we will do it again i might talk to one of them. Right now, im focusing on studying for NCLEX and processing my application for permanent residency. 

I introduced my husband to eating sinigang and he loved it! Every week he wants to eat.

Thank you guys! Im still homesick but im sure ill get over it. 

On 15/03/2018 at 12:15 PM, Balamban said:

A suggestion to help you in multiple ways:

 

Check with your local hospital and offer to be an unpaid volunteer perhaps a few afternoons or mornings each week.

 

It would serve you in a few ways: It'll reduce boredom.  In a short time they will find that you are an unlicensed in America, licensed in the Phils RN, and a ED/ER nurse, so I'll bet that you'll gravitate as a volunteer towards the ED.  Once there you'll start to absorb + energy and support from the environment and that will entice you to do review for the NCLEX.  It will also serve to make you feel significant, which is how you felt as a nurse in the Phils.

 

A warning for any Filipino about the NCLEX:  Beware of "reverse" questions.  

 

Here's an example: Patient has symptom x, what would be the last thing that you would take care of: 1) pain relief 2) Assure clear airway 3)Check pulse

 

The answer in this made up question is 1)pain relief but Filipino nurses often choose 2) airway because we consider ABC (Airway, breathing, circulation) as MOST important and so instinctively answer what is the most important and choose 2.  But that is wrong because the question is "reverse."  It asks for the last thing you check for not the first, so the answer is 1) pain control.  The difficulty has to do with the structure of Bisayan/Tagalog versus English and your brain will trick you and use your native language rules, though in this case your brain will mislead you.

 

I suggest visting allnurses.com it's fun, free and educational.  I have noticed over the years. again and again, Filipino nurses say: "I failed NCLEX and don't know why, I had high grades and know what I should know."  Over and over, it is the "reverse" questions that throw anyone where English is not their native language. 

 

Also I suggest that two weeks before the NCLEX you avoid talking in your native language to anyone at all.  There are fundamental differences in Bisayan and Tagalog which tell your brain: "the question is this way," when in English the meaning is different.

That is a nice idea. I would live to do that. My husband thinks i should volunteer after the exam and while waiting to get a job. Ill try to search here in Ohio if they have that, it will help me get friends and learn how things work here.

Thank you for that advice! NCLEX gives tricky questions i bet. Are you a nurse too here in the US?

On 05/03/2018 at 7:42 AM, nelmagriffin said:

Greetings!

Keep on reviewing and take the NCLEX as soon as you can. Nurses are way in demand and It pays well. This is the time wherein you explore places because as soon as you start working it is hard to have a mini break when work rolls in. Do not worry about the review if it is difficult as it will be easy during the test. As long as you know the basics, prioritization, and safety of any situations it will be okay. I know how hard working a Filipino nurse is especially when it comes to "nursing school days" it is intense. Relax, do a little review and also know the strategy in taking the test especially the process of elimination technique. Did you have your credentials evaluated and that you are just waiting for the authorization to take the test?

Goodluck,

Nelma

I just have my ATT! Thank you! I will be taking the exam in 3 months. SLR.

52 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

My asawa felt the same way when she first moved here in 2012 but luckily we moved to California and that helped because she had a Filipino store literally at the end of the street. But we have since moved here to North Carolina and we now we have to drive 45 minutes to go to a Filipino store, also there is Jollibee or Chow King here which sucks. So she if back to feeling alittle home sick as well right and missing CA and the Philippines.

 

Don't worry about learning how to drive because it is fairly simple to learn. My asawa was the same exact way when she got to the US in that she did not know how to drive at all and had to walk everywhere at first. I ended up teaching her how to drive and she was able to get her Learners Permit and her Driver's License, then I hated it because she could now go shopping whenever she wanted(hehehe). So don't worry and have your husband teach you to drive, if you can drive a motorbike then you can drive a car.

 

Go study for the NCLEX because if you are a BSN or a RN you can make really good money here and that will help you a lot and your family at home. My wife has her bachelors in Teaching but wants to go for her RN because a RN gets paid $55k starting out on the low end here in NC.

That is good to hear! I hope she will become a USRn soon. My husband will teach me once im done with the NClex. But he is thinking of just sending to driving school. 

Haha! I envy her! I wish i can drive and go to Filipino stores. I hope you got over with her shopping and driving. 😉

My husband is trying his best to make things easy for me. It is just damn hard. 

1 hour ago, nelmagriffin said:

Greetings!

Keep on reviewing and take the NCLEX as soon as you can. Nurses are way in demand and It pays well. This is the time wherein you explore places because as soon as you start working it is hard to have a mini break when work rolls in. Do not worry about the review if it is difficult as it will be easy during the test. As long as you know the basics, prioritization, and safety of any situations it will be okay. I know how hard working a Filipino nurse is especially when it comes to "nursing school days" it is intense. Relax, do a little review and also know the strategy in taking the test especially the process of elimination technique. Did you have your credentials evaluated and that you are just waiting for the authorization to take the test?

Goodluck,

Nelma

Hey Nelma! I hope it is easy. Ive been working as a nurse for 3 years in the ER at Pinas and it feels like my brain has cobwebs now. Haha. Yes my credentials has been approved by cgfns and im waiting now for the BON in ohio to review my application. Im waiting for my ATT number. My number one problem is driving a car because i dont know it and the hospitals here are far from my home. I hope Ill just take the NCLEX once. Yeah the nursing days school was crazy as well as working as a nurse. I hope it is more better here. Thank you!

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

It is always a difficult time when first arriving.  To pack your life in a suitcase and travel half way around the world is not easy.    

 

Internet with Viber, Messenger, Hangouts is a good way to stay in contact with family and friends.  Even after 6 years m wife uses one of those for calling daily to chat with family and friends.

 

The first few months are very difficult, not working or being able to drive just adds to the issue.  Stay strong.

 

What city are you from, there may be others close to you that could become new friends.

Thank you. Therr is no choice herr but to be strong.I live in Strongsville, Ohio. 

Ive been here in the US for 2 months already and I feel so lonely and homesick too. I miss my family, friends, and the foods im used to. It is definitely difficult to adjust here because I dont have a job yet, we are still processing our papers and I dont know how to drive a car which makes things worst(I feel bad not having driving lesson at home)and i always want to eat Filipino foods and not the foods her, finding filipino foods here is so difficult. Still I feel blessed and happy because my husband always ask his supervisor that he will work from home as much as possible so I can have companion and not be alone, and good thing he is always approved. Im not used to being alone in the Philippines, i lived with my mom and siblings and niece. And my mom's brother and sister's  family are just living at the back of our house so it is is always fun and not boring at home. And I worked as a nurse where the hospital is just 10 minutes a walk away. Not having a job and being away from love ones is driving me crazy. Im trying my best to get busy with my review for the licensure exam here but it is so damn difficult. I dont know how long it will last. It is just exhausting to keep on crying and feeling miserable and lonely. It makes me think it is making my husband sad. But thanks God he is a good man, would always support me and understand me. My husband is my only friend here. His family lives really far. I only met them once during our wedding.  The thought of my husband leaving and going to another country for work makes me more sad because I know I cant join him yet so it will def make me insane. He will be leaving soon. I guess we dont have a choice here but to be strong and stay sane for our husband and family back in Pinas.

My fiance visa interview was today at 6:40am in Manila US embassy and I was approved! I went early around 5:15am and a lot of people were already waiting outside. There were people who  will offer you to buy a pen for P20 and you can just buy them from stores for P5. They even offer you a chair to sit down and ask you to pay for P35 pesos just for sitting down. It was a crazy business. I guess it was just there way to earn money because they dont have other jobs. An advice though is BE THERE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULE INTERVIEW, WEAR AN APPROPRIATE CLOTH FOR INTERVIEW (just make sure it is not too sexy and should cover you from the cold temp inside) AND DONT FREAKING BUY A PEN FROM THEM! AGAIN DONT BUY A FREAKING PEN FOR 20 PESOS BECAUSE YOU DONT NEED IT INSIDE. BUT BRING A BLACK PEN JUST IN CASE.

At around 6:30 am the guard will ask you to fall inline, one line per time schedule. Before going to the line they will check your appointment confirmation.

After the line there is a checkpoint which is checking your passport and Ds160 form and they will put a sticker on your ds160 with letters and numbers on it. This is still outside the building.

Another checkpoint is inside the building, they will check your bag and let you into the metal scanner. They are really strict. I did not bring any bag, just a folder with all the requirements. There are things that you are not allowed to bring inside. And pls check those info online. FACT: YOU CAN BRING A BAG WITH YOU AS LONG AS YOU WONT BRING THOSE NOT ALLOWED THINGS. (I should have brought my bag though)

Next to this point is another checkpoint which is already inside the building for the interview. Same process of checkpoint. Someone inside the building who are friendly will guide you. I was assigned in B area. And then when the the windows starts to open youll be guided to go to an open window to give your ds160, passport, cenomar, birth certificate, St Lukes unopened and sealed envelope, nbi clearance, 2pcs 2x2 pic and mrv reciept. All should be original. Photocopies are not needed, i photocopied them which was def a waste of money. Anyway, going back, i was assigned to window 45. And the officers during the pre screening are filipino people. Again they are all Filipino people for the prescreening. And guess what? I did not have a good time with the officer i was assigned because she did smile at all, and was really scary and looks like she was angry early in the morning. She asked me a lot of questions and repeat some of them ( maybe her way of checking if i was telling the truth) and then i was asked one question as to when did we start talking, i only had the month and year and she got angry at me because it took me some time to answer it for the date. But then i was able to answer. And she asked me 2 pcs of my 2x2 pic and she did not accept it because MY EARS ARE NOT SEEN! So i told her it wont ever be seen on pictures because they are tiny. She wont accept it and made me go out to have a new picture. I had the picture at a kodak booth outside and gave it to her and then agreed with me that my ears in pictures will never show up because it is tiny and is always hiding. She finally made me go to the next step! So make sure your ears on the pic will show because they make it a big deal. 

She gave back my ds 160 and stamped something and then told me to go to the next window for finger scanning. I almost want to cry with my experience with her.Thanks God im done with her! The officer for finger scanning is an AMERICAN AND WAS SOO FRIENDLY.

After the finger scanning is the final interview, this is the time where youll know if youre approved or not. And I prayed that I hope Ill be assigned to an American Consul, God heard my prayer! The consul who interviewwd me was so friendly and good looking! Haha! He was nice to talk to, it was like I was just talking to a friend. He only asked me to tell him about my fiance, where he lives, if I went to other coubtries which i did already with my fiance, if its my first k1 visa application, if im married, and asked me if i can show him pics with my fiance. And he approved me. It was only for 3 minutes! He did not asked me for my fiances tax return info or anthing else, only our pictures, he did not even take it from me, he gave it back to me. He congratulated me and gave me instructions. 😊😊😊

I feel sad to know Filipino consuls are strict and not nice at all to their fellow filipinos, unlike american consuls. Ive heard one applicant where the filipino consul kinda raised her voiced on him when he did not understand her question and was slow in answering. Unlike american consuls, like with the girl applicant, she had a hard time understanding so the consul explained and waited for her. They were really nice. Ive witnessed these while waiting for my turn for the interview. You can hear the consuls' voice because they have mic with them. 

So be positive when youre in there and PRAY. Bring any documents you can prove to them about your relationship, because every consul is different so they might ask things that was not asked from me. And even if they will be angry at you or raise their voice, answer them politely. 

Another piece of advice, choose the earliest schedule which is 6:40am because i think it is more faster and the employees arent tired dealing with applicants yet. So they will be nicer. 😊😊

Thank you for the info! And that is good yo know that your sputum test was negative. Well, they never said i had skmrthing on my xray or laboratory. They jist said im ok for immunization and interview. I asked the nurse what it means and she told me they are not allowed to say anything. Which i really think is wrong because it is patient's rights to know thier condition. 

I will have my interview soon though. And i hope it will go well.

Hi! What are the things i should bring during th k1 visa interview in Manila? Has anyone just had the interview? 

Thank you!

So I just finished my medical exam at St Luke medical center extension clinic. They never said i had a problem. They just gave me tetanus vaccine. And when I got my passport I saw they put class B. Well, I had thyroid cancer 7 yrs ago and had surgery and radiation therapy and I have maintenance medication. They all know it and I gave them medical certificate. When i asked the nurse what it means she said she cant discuss it. I asked her if passed and she said the consular in the interview will tell me. Why wont they tell me? This is freaking me out. Can this give me a denial at the interview?

Has anyone here have the same class or category and already passed? Any info will be a great help. Thank you!

11 minutes ago, mbassett said:

If they did not mention anything about abnormal chest X-ray or anything else chances are you will be fine

Expect to get some vaccinations and be cleared tomorrow..

Thank you! Im just nervous because they didnt say anything.

Hi! How will you know if you passed the medical exam at St Luke's Xtension Clinic for fiance visa? I just had my medical exam and it was fast but they asked me to go back tomorrow at 8am  and bring my reciept.

2 hours ago, Rosesam said:

did you already do the police check?

I have my nbi clearance. I dont have my police clearance certificate yet.

I will have my medical exam this month before myinterview. What time should i go to SLECS?  How many days will my medical exam be? Are they open on weekends?  Is everyone required to have tubeculine skin test or only if your xray shows something?

Does anyone here too has the same situation? Will the doctor at SLEC will need any clearance from my obgyn before I will do the xray? Or I will just sign the waiver? I wonder what are the things I need to prepare in this situation so that I wont waste time and money going back and forth. Thank you.

1 hour ago, f f said:

it may cause you not to be able to fly if you get your visa too close to your due date but it will not prevent you from getting a visa.

on a side note if you get to the us before giving birth get married right away to be able to get health insurance since giving birth here with out is expensive. 

Thank you for that info!😊 I hope i will make it in the interview so I can fly before my due date. 

13 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

I remember one member being asked when their fiancé last visited, to make sure the timeline made sense...

I see. The timeline will make sense because my fiance was with me last month. ☺ thank you!

1 hour ago, JFH said:

No, pregnancy wont cause a denial. You must still complete the medical examination, including the x-ray. You can wear a lead apron during the x-ray. Or you can delay the medical and interview until after the pregnancy, if you wish. 

Thank you! That is a big relief!

I will have my interview next  month, November. So I should have my medical exam soon, but I am pregnant for 3 weeks now. Will this be a problem during the medical exam? My fiance and I are nervous right now because we are almost there and my pregnancy might give me a denial. I need some answers from anyone who has the same situation as mine.  Thank you!