KansasDragon

Keep in mind, if you choose to order new ones, allow yourself 30 days to get them.

It took Annie 3 weeks to receive hers in Mabalacat, and then it had a spelling error. She made an emergency trip to the NSO Offices in Manila to get it fixed the day before her interview.

As a computer support person.. I've always preferred Cox.

They have been the easiet to work with on support issues, and will keep battling through problems shoulder to shoulder with me if needed.

Their installers and support people are usually very good, and when I get one that's not, it's very easy to get a replacement tech in the game quickly.

When Annie and I first met, we only chatted on YM. Her english was ok, but definitely not advanced. My visayan and tagalog were non existent.

When we first started talking on the phone, there was good basic communication, but limited. Her english skills have improved every month since then, more from a practice standpoint, than a knowledge standpoint. Her knowledge of English is fairly good from school in the Philippines, but her grammar and spelling were weak, but have improved dramatically.

I have picked up a few basic phrases in Visayan, and will work on more when Annie and I are together, and she can teach her big idiot.

And my singing skills.. wow, they have improved dramatically.. all the way from a 10 on Videoke all the way to a 50..I almost feel Filipino now.

Hagen or Ben's?????? Where's my Blue Bell?

I have a likely overnight stay Taipei on my way to Manila, is there any reasonably priced Hotels near the airport?

I don't need any thing fancy, just a place to sleep.

Congratulations on your successful interview. Sounds like you were very well prepared. I love the parts about your child. Best wishes on your travel, and Welcome to the USA.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

What part of Illinois? Want to make sure I avoid driving there for a while. Joking!!

Thank you for the link, that will come in very handy in the future. That's not an issue I'd even considered.

Am I understanding correctly, if we apply for the I-485 Adjustment of status and the I-765 Employment Authorization at the same time, that there is only the fee for the I-485?

What about the I-131 (For Advance Parole), is it in the same category, included in the same fee, or is it always a separate fee?

I'm just trying to start getting all of my thoughts, plans, and budget in order, before Annie arrives in January, so we can be ready to get the ball rolling quickly after our wedding..

On Ann's paperwork for the interview, we listed Minneapolis at the POE, since that's where I've always traveled through with Northwest. But of course we did not purchase tickets prior to the interview.

Our tickets are now on United Airlines, and we are entering the USA through Seattle.

Do I need to contact the USCIS or Manila Embassy about this change?

I'm going to the Philippines for Christmas and then we are returning together.

I arrive in the Philippines on December 21st, and we head back to the USA on January 7th.

Somewhere in that time window, we need to squeeze in the CFO Seminar. Does anyone know if there are any closings during that time?

Thanks,

Barry

I was just stumbling, bumbling, roaming around the internet, and found this unbelievably maganda, funny, interesting lady. We spent many hours chatting on YM, making each other laugh, and as the story goes... The rest is all the future.. or is that history?

Not yet, but when I go to get Annie.. A man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do...

lol, All her cousins keep telling me Balut makes you strong, helps make the baby, you need to eat balut.

Wow! What a cool place to get married. That will create great memories for your long and happy lives together.

You are correct, they do not accept USA Visa or Mastercard on the website, but they will accept it by phone. Figure out which flight you want from the website, and then call them at:

Manila Office:

Tel: +63-2-70-20-888

Cebu Office:

Tel: +63-32-230-8888

I just talked to them on the phone last night, about this exact issue.

We had a similar circumstance. I just typed up a separate page, detailing the full information, that had been cut off with the +, I then signed that page, as the petitioner.

I started the page with an explanation of what form it was associated with, and the reason for the page, and also referenced each line number that the information went with.

It was accepted with no problems.

Most of the forms allow you to attach another page for more detailed information.

They did the same thing to Annie.

If you search the forums, you'll find this is a regular thing, the banks want to use their forms. Ann went ahead and filled out by hand the form they gave her, and then took both the nicely printed ones we had filled out and the copy from the bank to her interview.

Some great advice here, thank you all.

We ended up getting a round trip for me, and a one way for her. United Airlines hung on the phone with me for almost two hours working out details, and getting me the best pricing I'd received from anyone (For the Christmas Season).

Her one way ticket ended up being about $500 less than my round trip, so was good savings to stick with the one way ticket in our case.

lol, I'm looking forward to teaching Annie how to drive. It should be fun.

Luckily, being in Kansas, I can find her lots of good wide open spaces to start learning in, and the start with easy traffic, and then get into heavier traffic later.

Good luck to both of you, Hope you have great success on your tests.

Ann received her Visa approval on September 18th. We have planned that I go and visit her family for Christmas and that we return together.

All of her friends and cousins keep telling her "Visa is only good for 3 months, you can't wait for Christmas".

So, what is the official time you have before the visa expires for entry to the USA?

Relax, you're still in the right timeframe.

The 20 year difference is nothing to worry about. Annie and I are 20 years difference, and we have been approved for our Visa.

It sounds like you have everything you need, lots of evidence, a good relationship, now you just need to be patient, and deal with each of the challenges as they come up.

When I called the Embassy to ask a question about Annie's Visa, I called the number that was provided here on VJ for Lorraine. She is a JEWEL, very sweet, very helpful, just simply FANTASTIC.

When I immediately called her by name, we had a short discussion about me knowing about her from VisaJourney, and she told me she had just talked to someone from Colorado who also mentioned VisaJourney.

She asked me for the website, because she wanted to come see...

So, we may have our Angel from the Embassy looking over our shoulders..

It's interesting that when Annie had her interview, she told the pre-screener that our plans were for me to be in the Philippines for Christmas, and then us flying back together in early January. The pre-screener said "That's long, it is not good for you to wait so long". Which of course made Ann nervous.

Her visa was signed on September 18th, and she received it on September 20th. I'm guessing that means she would technically have until March 18th to arrive in the USA.

So sometimes, it's the bad information being floated around right inside the Embassy itself.