dnavinnie

Ill address the 3 points as quickly as possible.
 
1) There was never any US citizens "trapped" in the Philippines due to Covid.  USEM partnered with PAL to help send Americans home for the first past of the pandemic.  PAL  made special repatriation flights to the provinces, coordinated by USEM, to get USC's back to MNL to get flights home. I had many friends get those flights.  Those flights stopped once regular air routes were reestablished.
 
2) As for filing multiple visa applications for K1 or CR1.  This is not an issue as long as you properly disclose.  On the K1 forms, there is a section where you have to declare previous applications where you were the petitioner.  Since you did the K1 twice, you would know about this.  Ive worked for years with Global Nomads, career expats, regular expats, etc etc and many of these people have filed for multiple K1s or CR1s and never had an issue.  As @Chancy states, just disclose the truth.  COs dont really care as long as you are telling the truth.  Since part of my work involves immigration, Ive worked with a number of COs, not just for US Immigration, but Philippines, SIngapore, UK, etc etc.  The best advice that all of them have given is to just tell the truth.  It makes their job easy.  However if you lie on one line item, then the whole application is in question.  And no CO, wants to have their name attached to an application which was fraudulent.  I can tell you those COs in USEM have seen it all.  So, if the CR1/IR1 application asks for an explanation on previous applications (similar to what the I-129F asks for), then just disclose it.  People get divorced, people break up, its normal.
 
3) As one of the previous posters said on establishing domicile, it all comes down to "intent".  Just provide a brief explanation in the application, that you intend to move back to the US.  I filed for a K1 from Manila in August 2019.  I had been living permanently outside of the US since 1996 in Europe, the Middle East and throughout Asia.  During that time I had only been in the US for 10 days.  I had no US bank account (only retirement accounts and a brokerage account), no US drivers license, Ive never registered to vote in the US, I had no mailing address, etc.  I mailed our K1 visa packet from Manila, but because I had no access to US denominated money orders or checks, I asked a US friend living in the Philippines if he could write a check to USCIS and I paid him in cash.  Even for credit reports, I could no longer be verified in the system when I asked for one of these.  I didnt exist as all of my previous US credit cards were cancelled due to non-use.  I did file US taxes and FBARs yearly, but when I did return to the US, it took 4 hours to verify my identity with the IRS as they had inputted my overseas address incorrectly and that was one of the security questions they were asking me.  The point of this is I have almost zero connection to the US, but all I did was explain in the application that my "intent" was to move back to the country.  You will have no issue with this as you have not been away that long.  Dont sweat it.  And dont buy property just for the application.
 
I have had zero issues on any of this process.  I will disclose that part of my work involves immigration so I have been a frequent visitor into USEM and now work with our local USCIS office but only in the capacity of work visa's and not family based visas.  Nobody has ever asked any questions in this whole process.  We are in the AOS phase now and waiting for an interview at our local USCIS office, but most likely its going to be the same people I already work with there.  Just be honest through the whole process, provide just enough explanation and you should have no issues.  There are many other USC who have filed multiple visa applications.  
 
The biggest question you have is to yourself.  Do you really want to move back to the US?  I moved back to the US for my sons schooling (he was in school in Manila) but I have been extremely disappointed on my time back in the US.  It is not even close to the same place on when I left.  That is my fault for not doing proper due diligence.  However, if my son is happy after this school year finishes, then we will stay for a little longer.  I will continue to live in my bubble.   More than worry about what NVC or USCIS or USEM will think, just make sure you really want to return.  I know many USC's who will never come back and are living the dream overseas.
 
Hope that helps.  Good luck on whichever path you choose. 

As mentioned above, its about a week not including the mailing times.  I also went through the NYC Consulate as well.  Just make sure they give you the correct wording on the visa.  I originally received the 9a visa based on having a spouse in the Philippines, but I was actually applying for being a parent of a Filipino child.  I had to resend my passport for them to correct it.  You need to make sure its correct because they will most likely ask for supporting documentation at Immigration in the Philippines.  I had to show the PSA birth certificate of my son, whereas you may be asked to show the marriage certificate, although @RO_AHcan confirm if he was asked for this on arrival. 

I was trying so hard to make sure that I did not forget anything, but honestly I forgot to bring my marriage certificate. Luckily they never asked me for it or any documentation other than my hotel and transportation booking. At the departure airport the ticket  agent asked me for my visa. For an instant I almost pooped my pants thinking I forgot the most important thing. Then I realized and told the agent it is a sticker inside my passport lol.

Impossible to follow now the new rules for NCR but looks like they will be under GCQ level 4 from September 16 to 30. This is on a 5 level scale with level 5 being the highest. 
 
The link explains the details but I don’t have the inclination to summarize.  It appears medical clinics may be closed in level 4 so I guess that means SLEC may have to close but who knows what will really happen. 
 
Not only do they have the 5 levels in GCQ but there appears to be a stand alone ECQ, but it also appears LGUs can do what they want. 
 
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/9/10/explainer-NCR-pilot-COVID-19-alert-level-system.html

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1479852/iatf-oks-onehealthpass-for-all-arriving-travelers-starting-sept-1
 
This is for all arriving passengers not just OFW's.  

When I was working there, I had payroll deductions for Philhealth and then the company provided private medical insurance.  Philhealth is only beneficial for things requiring overnight hospital stays, pregnancies, etc.  The rate for foreigners has increased substainally over the last few years and expected to rise more.  I find Philhealth to be kind of a nice little bonus insurance.  It did cover around 50% of my sons birth expenses and it can be used at the International Hospitals.
 
Ill provide a link for Makati med on the different HMOs you can look into.  My advice is to be insured for serious medical conditions, but maybe self insure for your routine doctors visits.  Heart attacks, kidney failures, etc etc, take out a high deductible plan.  Those type of procedures can get expensive in the Philippines.  Nothing like in the US, but still quite a bit of money ($30K+++++++).
 
Routine doctors visits at Makati Med or St Lukes are only around 600-900p.  Its quite cheap.  Ive had a few of those visits over the years and I just paid myself, filing with the HMO I had through work was a hassle.
 
Ive had a few more serious things develop (infection, torn calf muscle, etc) and Makati Med was a joke and every time I was mis-diagnosed.  I was told my torn calf muscle was a severe cramp but I flew to Singapore where it was determined I had torn 2/3s of the muscle from the bone.  It took about 2-3 months to heal and was incredibly painful.  
 
My advice would be the following:
Have Philhealth as a backup (its still relatively cheap) - some will say its not worthwhile, but actually as a backup insurance its good to have. Have a high deductible insurance plan for serious medical issues Have evacuation insurance included although this may depend on your age and the relative risk for serious health issues.  However, knowing that you can get to Singapore or Hong Kong is reassuring. You could do regular HMO coverage for routine medical procedures but you may not find the value in it.  Alot of foreigners just self-insure for this unless you have a history of medical issues.  This gives you a list of some of the private HMO's
https://www.makatimed.net.ph/about-mmc/health-maintenance-organizations
 
Anything medical related is quite terrible anywhere in the Philippines.  Some people will say they have had good experiences and had good doctors, but that is not the norm but rather the exception.  

Where in Mindanao? It is a large island with many LGU's. Most doing their own thing when it comes to access. Suing the Philippines? The country? We will all be dead of natural causes before that is decided.

This is the result of the murder (or accidental death) on New Years Eve at one of the quarantine hotels that was being used for non-quarantine purposes.  Now all of the hotels are getting more strict.  The best thing to do now is write to the hotel directly and ask.  Dont use that form that some hotel web-sites have, email them.  We are staying at City Garden Suites for 1 night to get our flight the next day and to do our PCR tests.  I wrote to the hotel and they said this was OK.  Agoda also contacted me separately asking for my reason for the booking as it was only for essential purposes. 
 
You can try Airbnb as well but write to the owners.  Some on here have booked at Seaside (SM property) around MOA without issues.  I stayed in an Airbnb few months ago and a PCR test was required whereas some Airbnbs need a minimum of 6 months booking.  

Well if you are not informed about what someone is asking maybe just let others answer.

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@RO_AH started this thread as a helpful resource for those who, for whatever reason, need or want to send money to the Philippines. He didn't start it to be second-guessed about his personal life choices or his decisions about his family. That's really no one's business but his and his family's.

This is why I really didn't even want to respond to your last comment and I really don't owe you an explanation now, as you seem pretty judgemental, and have already made up your mind without knowing anything. My father in law is in bad health. He is only alive because I was able to provide the medical assistance he needed to treat him. He can barely walk and his medications cost close to 5k pesos a month. My mother in law is an angel. She is the first to wake up in the household. She opens the little sari sari store that they have and spends the rest of her day working in the store, taking care of her husband, cooking, washing clothes, and helping my wife with our kids. There is rarely a time when you will ever see her just sitting and relaxing. Did they work and prepare for their future? Yes, they had a farm in the province when my wife was young. When the youngest son was born he had heart problems which required surgery in Manila to save his life. My father in law was healthy at that time. He sold everything that they had, including their farm, to get the help that my brother in law needed. They then moved to a squatters area and tried to rebuild. He did some farming and raised animals before he became ill and was not able to do it anymore.
 
So to your first question, why do I support them? Because I want to. I am blessed to have their daughter as my wife and since I met her almost 10 years ago. she has never asked me for even 1 peso. Everything that I have done for her or her family is because I am able to and I want to. Could they get by if I sent less? Yes, but why would I want my wife and children to live like peasants when I can afford to give them a good life?

I will have to check that out. Thanks.

If you read my original post, I pay zero fee to transfer. I just sent 2 days ago. The money was in my wife's account in 90 min. Zero fee. I send $1,000 or more every month.

NVC isn't the embassy .. two different critters.
 
At PSA a CENOMAR is requested, IF married they issue the CEMAR    
 
Special Notice!! In the embassy documents checklist (step 5) it lists the "CENOMAR (if applicable)" for those that are married the embassy will want the CEMAR (Advisory of Marriage, form 5) ... not having the CEMAR for the interview will cause delays and a 221g document request letter.  
https://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/us-embassy-usem.html

I can give everyone some information as I was able to secure a visa from the NY consulate and I live in New Jersey. I got the Visa to visit my wife who has her interview soon for a CR-1 visa. I mailed my documents on a Friday and they arrived the consulate on Monday. I included a pre-paid UPS envelope and was able to track the return. It was mailed out the following Thursday and it arrived on Friday. I did pay the $40 fee for expedited handling. I thought it would be a PITA too but it was fairly painless at least for how things in the Philippines go. These are the documents that I provided:
 
1) I had my wife mail me the notarized affidavit that she was presently in the Philippines. This is the biggest PITA of course and she mailed it from Davao and used DHL and it arrived in about a week. She paid about 1,800 pesos which was not too bad. Also she sent a notarized copy of her passport (notary saying it is true copy) which the consulate said I should send when I emailed them asking about requirements.
2) my passport of course
3) her original birth certificate (they said you could send notarized copy of not the original)
4) original marriage certificate 
5) cover letter explaining reason for travel and itinerary
6) hotel reservation at approved quarantine facility
7) airline reservation
😎proof of financial capability - I sent bank statement and last 2 paystubs
9) passport photo - note the size isn’t standard US size so this was actually harder to get than I expected
10) notarized application form - not sure why it has to be notarized but it does
 
That is what I went through to happy to answer any questions. Also I’m leaving next Saturday on PAL out of JFK so will update how that adventure goes.
 

Don't forget to check on 14 day quarantine...if any...before you go. It will depend on your final destination. 

This is gonna be really blunt.
 
It will be next to impossible for a young Fiipina to get a tourist visa to visit a US boyfriend.
 
You will have to figure out a way to go to the PI or meet her in another country.

I have never seen any thing like that.  What they USEM put on Facebook never said they would re open. This is what they said:
 
VISA OPERATIONS:
All immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interviews scheduled through June 11 are canceled. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. After the community quarantine is lifted in Metro Manila, all affected applicants should reschedule their visa interviews through the Embassy call center by phone at +63 (2) 7792-8988 or +63 (2) 8548-8223, or through the online appointment system at ustraveldocs.com/ph. There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid.
Please see these notices which contain detailed information about the current status of visa services worldwide and visa restrictions related to the COVID-19 global pandemic: https://travel.state.gov/…/covid-19-visa-services-and-restr…
 
https://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyPH/
 

I found this...
 
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines has canceled all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interviews scheduled through July 3 due to the Philippines' community quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
They will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.
After the community quarantine is lifted in Metro Manila, all affected applicants should reschedule their visa interviews through the Embassy call center by phone at +63 (2) 7792-8988 or +63 (2) 8548-8223, or through the online appointment system at ustraveldocs.com/ph.
There is no fee to change an appointment and visa application fees are valid for one year in the country where the fee was paid.

Yeah, for those with spouses it may be possible in the future, lets hope. For the rest it is a waiting game. I hope you the best in the next change of situation there. But yeah also as you stated they seem to change their mind hourly, it is very hard to figure out. Good luck!

It's looking that way but I'm hoping with isolation and PPE to help control the virus travel might open up in 4 or 5 months. 

It's looking that way but I'm hoping with isolation and PPE to help control the virus travel might open up in 4 or 5 months. 

I'm in the same position. I am supposed to spend my anniversary together with my wife in July but it isn't looking good. It's really hard to predict anything because things change so much from week to week. The reason I mentioned the beginning of June is because my wife says the government will discuss the covid situation then. We all need to stay positive and be strong for our loved ones who are waiting.

Don't lose hope,  there are creative ways to resolve if it ever gets to that stage