MarryMe987654

Is the mom a senior citizen? If so, I think they allow walk-ins.

If you still can, I suggest trying to get the PSA copy updated to the more legible version of the birth certificate because she will end up needing it even after the K1 process. Just get it all fixed once and for all. Birth certificates are one of the most basic and important documents for an individual.

Unfortunately, PSA copies are notorious for having really bad print because they are usually a copy of the handwritten document which is the original birth certificate from the hospital, then submitted to the city hall. If you notice, the original birth certificate is copied and resized to fit the PSA security paper. Since she already got a better version of her birth certificate from her LCR, ask them (the LCR) to submit it to PSA to update her record. It should be available for ordering via PSA after a month or so.

Thank you Montgomery, Alabama.

I just got an update on my N400 saying that my interview was scheduled for April 5th today. My ROC still says fingerprint was reused. N400 filed on December 10, 2022; ROC filed on December 22, 2021. I might have to add a letter to my application to request for a combo interview. Gotta start studying now... 😬

I just got an update on my N400 saying that my interview was scheduled today and that they will mail out the details. My ROC still says fingerprint was reused. I might have to add a letter to my application to request for a combo interview. Gotta start studying now... 😬 Edit: logged in to my USCIS account and the interview date is on April 5th . N400 filed on December 10, 2022; ROC filed on December 22, 2021.

Given your travel situation, I would say just got for K1. You already have the necessary evidence to file right now. I understand that people are saying that spousal is better than K1 and while that is true because of skipping some immigration steps which saves money and time, these benefits might not be good for you because 1) you have to fly back in to the Philippines to get married, which you are not keen on doing; 2) I doubt if not being able to work right away matters to you guys because you are already supporting her now, there's no rush to get a job after entering the U.S.; 3) The time of not being able to do anything on K1 because of lack of AP and EAD can be used to adjust to the U.S. and gather all the other docs as well. I know that they say that sometimes, there are problems with getting any done when one entered in K1 but some people was able to do things without any issues (like me). Forget about the tourist visa. She has very slim chance of getting approved. It's going to be a waste of money and time waiting. So yeah, just start the K1 now

It's true. I don't think much about "the sacrifice" that I made to be with my husband because he always felt guilty about that part and I told him not to because it was a choice that I made and my family respects that choice. I like how my husband loves my family and how he's very understanding about our ways. Four years in the U.S. and I still don't have Filipino friends... I seem to be getting more American friends because of school and work. I miss my old Filipino friends back home

I know. It's a personal choice. I like what it means and how it feels to have my husband's last name

I plan on becoming a USC only because I don't want any miniscule threat of being taken away from my husband--that's all. If it's not for that, I don't think I'll want to be a citizen out of patriotism. The U.S. is great and all, and the Philippines has issues, but it will always be home. Prior to actually applying for naturalization, the idea of renouncing my Filipino citizenship does hurt. I honestly do not mind the paperwork anymore. I'm not concerned about having a "weak passport," because I've traveled extensively and am satisfied. I'm not entirely sold on SSS benefits because I can earn and save money on my own. My point is that all the advantages that you mention are not really much of a big deal because, as an immigrant, I am surrounded by people that look and sound nothing like me. The emotional toll of constantly missing my family and homeland cannot be compensated for by the convenience of dual citizenship, but it's a choice I made because cupid got me good. Lol. And I know I am lucky to have the option of dual citizenship, but it's not quite the same, to be honest. I will always have that American last name, and when I am in the Philippines, they look at me funny for having an American name (I experienced this last year when I traveled home). Then I have to explain why, and I know that I am judged just based on that small backstory.

Cell plans in the Philippines are either 1) No load = no outgoing minutes, no outgoing sms, and very limited (free) data but incoming calls and texts are working; 2) Call and text only = prepaid plans that are only for making outgoing calls and texts to all or some networks; it may come with very limited data. 3) Data only = no calls or texts, just a little more than the limited free data (maybe 500MB or 2GB-- it varies). Facebook messenger works for all plans--the only difference is one cannot see images or videos on free data plan but messaging works fine. WhatsApp will not work on the free data plan. One needs to subscribe to data plan to use WhatsApp. The problem is, when one has data plan, other apps uses the data too so a 2GB data plan may not last long especially if the user does not know how to turn it off when there's wi-fi around. The allowed apps that works with free data is controlled by the cellular network and because Facebook is the most popular app in the Philippines, cell usage comes with it for free. Is she bsing you about WhatsApp not working outside wifi area? No. Is there any messaging app that she can use in lieu of FB messenger? No.

That's what I thought too! But nope... @OldUser is right--it's like I-751 all over again. I have to collect financial statements, old addresses, old school records, old employment, insurance.

My window opened on December 3rd but ended up submitting on December 10th because they require so much evidence (I filed online). I had to collect all the co-mingling evidence, my spouse's divorce decree, etc. (since I am naturalizing based off of my 3-year marriage to a USC). My printer/scanner breaking did not help either. I had to buy a cheap one from Walmart for $50. The good thing about it though is they sent me the Receipt Notice and Biometrics Reused communication online (just few minutes after I submitted my N400). I now have my case number and says that the process will take approx. 11 months.

Congratulations! I am preparing to file for N400 too since I become eligible on December 3rd (I will wait until December 5th to file). It might be the end of the journey for me but it is just a start of the journey for my mom and siblings... It's going to be a long and expensive journey and I have been saving up Can you give an idea on how long it took? I am hoping to travel to the Philippines in May/June for a month and wouldn't want any interview notice to come in while I am overseas. Thanks!

Anyone getting ready to file for N-400 this December?

I am on the same boat--next year, I will be a citizen and has been thinking about an immigration route for my mother and siblings. I concluded that it's best to petition my mother and my siblings as soon as I become a citizen, then have my mother petition my siblings too when she becomes eligible. Note that I have 2 married siblings and 4 unmarried ones so the immigration journey for us is going to be very long. I understand the concern about the uncertainties about passing, and change on marital status in the future and it's just something that I just have to risk because I cannot buy that time needed for these petitions to run. As soon as I start the petition, I will tell my siblings the condition of the petition (not marrying, age, etc.) so they know what things mean. If they choose not to wait that long, that's fine too... at least, I told them what's up. Regarding mother's insurance, my mom is 62 years old but she is still strong and energetic. She is excited about the idea of being able to work once she gets here. I will help her get a work that will enable her to get health insurance for her age. If this is not possible, then me and my husband are prepared to pay for the health insurance for her.

I traveled to the Philippines in March 2022 and returned to the US in June 2022. I have an expired GC and brought my extension letter. I also brought my CDC vaccine card, my marriage certificate, and my old passport (with CFO) in it, and of course, I also brought a copy of all my original documents, just in case. For good measure, I have also saved a copy of all my important documents at home and in the cloud. At my first departure airport, I was asked for the OneHealthPass reference number at the counter. It took them a good 20 minutes to go over all the rules for traveling to the Philippines and make sure that I met them all. No document-related issues on my way in. Everything was smooth. On my way back, I presented my GC and extension letter to the check-in counter, and then I was asked to get a travel exit pass (no payment needed). No issues at all. I did not take a COVID test prior to going to the airport. It was not required on any of my flights. There is no issue with Philippine immigration. He just looked at my GC and extension letter quickly. Once I landed on US soil, I just readily provided my GC and extension letter. No questions asked. I was let in without any issues. I did not try to change any of my bank information while I was there. I already had my ROM done 3 years ago but did not bother getting a PSA record of it while I was in the Philippines. I was able to sign up for a national ID with my married name, though. I hope this helps!

I agree with the price of used car vs new. We were going to buy a used car because we thought it's going to be more economical. We ended up looking at new ones because the price difference is not much, plus the mileage on the used ones are too high. We settled with a 2021 Honda CRV with pretty sweet deal--1.9% interest and no down payment. Monthly is about $700 but it's ok because I opted to only get 48 months. We don't have any other monthly payment (no mortgage, no loans, no cc debt) so we know we can afford it. The value of the car remains even after a year of buying it. I am 4'11 and not usually concern about a car being too high. I can always put a booster seat and also, most of the car in the US now has a really good driver adjustment features (you can go forward, up... and adjust the steering wheel to match) so it's ok. I drove a Toyota Camry, a Saturn Ion, and the new CRV without having to use a booster seat and I can see fine. Hope this helps

Can you check again? I got a combo card (EAD and AP) in 2020. I didn't think they are giving them separately now. My card says Employment Authorization on top and then says, "Serves as I-512 Advance Parole" at the bottom.

This is true. When my spouse and I argue, I threaten him with a Philippine citizenship. Just kidding. We don't argue. 😁

The tear looks like from handling the paper product too rough. I wouldn't worry about it. Just get the passport out with a small enough opening and check to make sure that the info on the visa is correct.

Just to make sure, you are trying to book a multiple connecting flight that stops in Japan then continues all the way to the US, right? If so, that should not be a problem. Your fiancé should not have an issue with bag in Japan because it will be checked in in Manila airport and you won't get it until point-of-entry in the US. Manila airport will not let her board a flight until her documents and bags are all good. If you are looking at booking a separate flight from Manila to Japan, then another separate ticket from Japan to US, then this could be a problem as Filipinas would need to a Japan visa to travel to Japan (unlike the transit visa that is already embedded in multiple connecting flight), even though the intention is to transit through Japan to get to the US. I could be wrong.... but you might want to look at the difference of two ways of booking her flight.

Hello y'all.... Sorry that I forgot to thank y'all for the answers. Just an update: I ended up doing an out-of-town late registration for my mother after completing 4 of the required documents by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) in Angeles City, Pampanga. We had to do out-of-town because my mother was born in Eastern Samar and it would be too much hassle for us to have to travel there, especially with my aging mother. It was a very challenging experience because my mother, for whatever reason, used different names and different birthdate on her documents. We used whatever name/birthdate combination we can find to fulfill the 4 documents requirement: PhilHealth MDR, Senior Citizen document, Marriage certificate, and Baptismal certificate from her Baptist church. Now, we just have to wait for the update from the Angeles City LCR office that the Samar LCR office acknowledged the documents. Hope this helps!

I was checking my flight back to the US set on June 30th and I do not see this requirement anymore either. I am flying via United Airlines.

I might be paranoid but yeah, this scares me so much too. I wrapped both my bags with saran wrap when I traveled to the US in 2019. I just don't want to give anyone an opportunity to hassle me, I guess. On my way back to Philippines this year, I lined my luggage with cardboard box along the zipper line, placed all my things in a huge garbage bag and placed inside the luggage, and tied the zipper with metal wires from bread. I heard of airport people trying to open zippers by stabbing them with a pen to break the zipper so they can steal the contents. I plan on shrink-wrapping my luggage this month too, when I go back to the US.