TinTin and Samby

Congtratulations! So happy to hear that you are all together now!

Boy, you sure know how to throw your gal into the "cultural" deep end in the first week....WHITE CASTLE!!!! OMG!!! Whip up a bag of those sliders for me too...hehehe

Warm Regards,

Samby

P.S. You know...actually as I am rereading my post, I can't help but recall how amazingly similar the burgers at BURGER MACHINE are to WHITE CASTLE's!

i arrived by plane!!!!!!!!!!going to manila ds tonight

Ok..I'm a bit confused..sorry.

What day and time and airline do you arrive at Manila Domestic Terminal (or if flying on PAL, the Manila PAL terminal)?

What day and time and airline do you depart from Manila for the USA?

-Samby

Yeah! Yippee!! Congrats!!! :energetic:

It would take about 25 years to get her sister here..... going the B2 route may get her here for a visit but she would not be able to remain.... she would have to return before her visa expired....

Kez

Acurate and well stated. When I read that put so clearly and succinctly, I couldn't help but think: Boy, isn't that a dose of cold hard reality!

Warm Regards,

Samby

You may find this link helpful:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78297

Warm Regards,

Samby

For us Americans, just remember the following:

Everything is harder in the Philippines.

Even the most logically obvious clerical error requires a PROCESS to get corrected in the Philippines.

Every interation of a given process in the Philippines will take on a defination of its own, depending on which person at which office on which day you inquire.

All Processes in the Philippines will require 4,248,254.5 photocopies of 2,735,248 Original Forms and Identifications.

By National decree, no Process in the Philippines is allowed to be completed in a single unt of work. Multiple visits are always required.

All that said, I would follow any process, make as many photocopies as are required and wait in any line as many times as needed to be with my sweetheart, Kristine!

Warm Regards,

Samby

Hello,

I'll be leaving out of SFO tomorrow to see my honey in Manila. I've bought her flowers from Manila Florist islandrose.net and they seem to be delivered in a timely fashion. But the roses don't seem to last very long. I'm considering taking flowers with me from US to surprise her. Anyone know any tips? I would want to carry on to keep them properly, but I don't know:

1) if US will not allow me to carry flowers out of the country

2) if Philippines has agricultural restrictions

Thank you,

Chris

P.S. I've been lurking around the forums and have found visajourney so helpful. I definitely benefited from the recommendations on how to send the K1 application.

Chris,

1. The US does not worry about you taking flowers with you to another country.

Not certain, but I think that TSA would care and may not let you through departure security with them.

In any case, far better to buy the flowers there in the Manila. That is UNLESS, of course, your concern is to be able to have them IN HAND as you depart the airport arrivals terminal with her waiting to greet you (you big romantic, you!!!) - then how about a different option than flowers? Maybe a Big Stuffed Animal with a Bright Bow or something like that..

Warm Regards,

Samby

HI everyone here>>>>>>>------>>>>>

my situition is like this my hubby purchased plane ticket in the U.S...so i need to picked up the ticket @ Manila airport counter,then my flight schedule is too early!!!!

while my flight going to manila is middle of the night i am kind worried about that night time...

i dont have idea where should i stay while i am waiting for next flight going to the U.S..

please shared some information what are the some safe place to stay near to the airport for the short time !!!

thanks

jarl

Hi! Are you in Manila already or will you be traveling to Manila the day of your flight to the USA? If traveling into Manila the same day, how will you arrive - Bus? Domestic Air Plane? If you give this info, I may be able to make some suggestions for you.

Warm Regards,

Samby

My wife, two boys and myself will be moving to the Philippines to retire. We are USA citizens and she is fillpina.

We will live both Manila and Bacolod (back and forth) majority of our time in Bacolod.

Question: If you had $20,000 usd to invest, what would you invest the miney in for the best return on the money.

I'm looking for a yearly return...not long term. For example, what % could I make on the money the first 12 months.

thanks for any suggestions, websites, opportunites.

God Bless,

USA looking forward to our arrival..

Recently lived and work in the Philippines (Ayala Alabang and Calamba City) If you start a business ,the $20,000 is just about enough to bribe all the officials that you will need to to start up, then you have nothing left. But your not starting a business.

If I were you, live in Bacolod, get a nice big house, open a Sari Sari store with the usual stuff and some unique things. Just be careful not to piss off the other locals near you that have a Sari Sari store, don't push them out of business, if you do, they may come at you with a bolo knife.......LOL Running a Sari Sari will keep your time occupied.

Samby Says=> MAY??? Make that Segurado! (for Certain!)

Leave your cash in the USA and mutual funds.

Samby Says=> Best Advise!!!

Seriously, $20K doesn't go very far anymore in the NCR (National Capital Region (Manila). In the province, its better. But if your goal is simply to get a short term return on your $20K, leave it in a some kind of US financial investment. If your goal is to spend that money to get something started, like a business that will provide both "something to do" every day and some "food on the table", then your more likely to find success in or around Bacolod.

Best of luck and Good Fortune to you and your family.

Warm Regards,

Samby

Hi Chad. Welcome to VJ.

The kind of Birth Certificate that she will need is issued by the NSO (National Statistics Office) in the Philipiines. If you ask your sweetheart if she has her "Authenticated Live Birth Certificate", she will almost certainly know that terminology. That is the Name of the Type of Birth Certificate that the NSO issues. They print this ("issue it") on 'colored' paper that is unique to their office, to help minimize the potential of forgeries. This type of paper is referred to as NSO Security paper.

There are other kinds of "Birth Certificates" in the Philippines, issued by other kinds of governmental and quasi governmental agencies such as local Civil Registry Offices, etc, (not to mention a plethora of Illegal Rackets that issue FAKE Birth Certificates. (As an aside, yout sweetheart is in Quezon City, which is the historical CAPTIAL of FORGED DOCUMENT PURVEYORS" in the Philippines!).

These other kinds of Birth Certificates are not acceptable for purposes of US immigration (and not much accepted any more for any purpose WITHIN the Philippines either, I might add) because of the rampant use of forged documents (many produced historically out of Quezon City )

So to recap, ask your sweetheart if she has her "Authenticated Live Birth Certificate from the NSO". If yes..good to go. If not, then have her go down to the NSO office in person and fill out an application to get one. I beleive the current cost is like 120 or 150 pesos (3 bucks, more or less) per issuance.

Warm Regards,

Samby

PS. Even if she has the right one now, you will want to go down to the NSO office at some point and get about 2-4 more issuances of these. It's an easy thing to do while she is there in manila (QC) and you will need more "official copies" for many different bridges that you will cross during this journey. Easy to do now and the cost is basically wala! (nothing).

P.S.S. If she doesn't have her NSO "Authenticated Live Brith Certificate" now, I would suggest she go down sooner rather than later to get a single copy in order to review it and make certain that a) it is on file with the NSO and B) there arent any errors. There are many cases of filipino citizens whose birth was never registered (they need to follow a process of "Late Registration" or who are registered but have a variety of errors on their Aithenticated Live Birth Certificate - some examples include: Officially registered first names of "Baby Girl" or "Baby Boy", Errors in the Spelling of both First and/or Last Names, Incorrect Gender Designation, etc. (These are not hypotheticals - I personally know many filipinos with each of these problems). Why is it good to know ASAP if such problems exist? Because FIXING these errors, even the most seemingly obvious clerical errors in the Philippines can be a multi-step, mult-organization, mult-governmental level, mult-month ordeal that will definately try your patience and prepare you for your K1 Journey.

Ay Naku!, Hay Caramba!, Oh My Goodness...

Only in the Government would you see this: See below for govern_MENTAL logic!!

APPENDIX A - SUPPLEMENTAL FORM To I-693

3. Results (Mark only 1 which applies)

_ Applicant may be eligible for blanket waiver(s) as indicated above.

_ Applicant will request an individual waiver based o n religious or m oral convictions.

_ Vaccine history complete for each vaccine, all requirements met.

_ Applicant does not meet immunization requirements.

If everything with your Vaccination situation is "All Set" and "Good to Go" for your AOS process, which Item in Section 3, Results do you think would make sense?

.

.

.

.

NOPE!!!! We're Wrong!

Take a look at the USCIS instructions to the Civil Surgeon for filling out the form....

• Vaccine history complete for each vaccine.

If the applicant has met vaccination requirements for each vaccine recommended, the “Vaccine history complete for each vaccine, all requirements met” box must be checked; however, this will probably not occur.

• Vaccination history incomplete - Applicant may be eligible for blanket

waivers(s).

<snip> This (option) will probably always be checked because some vaccines may not be age appropriate for the applicant <snip>

Sooooo...now explain to me the difference between "for each vaccine recommended" and "some vaccines <are> not age appropriate.."

-Samby

Congratulations, Ramblinokie80!!!

I sure wish it wasn't so, but our situation is the same.

I-129F mailed certified July 6

USPS site shows delivery at CSC on July 10

As of today (July 17) - Check not cashed, no mail or email.

So starts the long process.....ugh!

-Samby

Thanks to all who replied On-Topic and shared their thoughts. As always, your replies have helped me to understand more and more about this complicated process.

SirLancelot Said:

"No Samby, not having EAD is not the main downside of your analysis, the real downside is that once the 90 days are up on the K-1, your NON-USC spouse will be out of status, meaning he or she will be an illegal until you file for AoS. He or she can be deported--although the possibility of that actually happening is quite remote. That is the major downside. There are spouses who don't need to or want to work, so the EAD is irrelevant but being an illegal is quite relevant. If you want to wait 18 months before filing, then your spouse will be an illegal for 18 months. Not a smart move by any means. "

While some others mentioned it also, perhaps you said it most clearly. SirLancelot. I had NO IDEA that one would fall into some "illegal status" hole between the time that the K1 90 days expired and the initial GC was issued.

I would never want to take that risk and therefore this piece of information makes my entire analysis moot. However, it does raise an interesting point: Doesn't this mean that EVERYONE is in an "illegal status" (I think the folks here used the term "OUT OF STATUS") unless they arrive, get married, file for AOS and actually RECEIVE their GC before the 90 days of K1 validity expire. I would imagine that most, if not noone, gets their GC that quickly. Or is there some additional legal status conveyed merely for FILING for the AOS, even if it has not yet been granted?

I am happy to hear from so many that their timelines from Filing for AOS to Receipt of GC are much shorter than I had understood. That makes me smile!

Niagaenola Said:

"maybe we should get back on topic..... "

Thanks for that! While a little "topic wandering" is ok and can be helpful, its appreciated by the OP to always come back to the original point on which they were asking for help and advice.

Dr_LHA Said:

"Its a busted topic anyway. What was the OP blathering on about? "

Congratulations to you Dr_LHA for having sucessfully navigated through this journey and received the non conditional GC. For those of us who are just starting, a bit more patience and courteousness would be appreciated.

Thanks again to all for your continued enlightenment and help!

-Samby

Thanks Helen (vsmtqhdy) for your reply and info. With your experience and the other folks who shared, I am feeling more confident about my Q1 - the fact that the DFA in Manila *WILL* return the old passport. This is important to us because it has entry and exit immigration stamps that are essential evidence for us. I have previously heard that in Manila, sometimes the DFA officers will NOT return the old passport. This would not be good for us.

Regarding Q2 - ability to renew passport EARLY (before its actual expiration date). In your scenario, Helen, your purpose was not actually to renew, it was to file a a change of name, which results in a new passport being issued (and the expiration extended). This is not the same situation as we have. We simply ant to renew the passport to be able to increase the period of time until it will expire.

So, I'm still looking for anyone who has experience in renewing their Philippine passport (well) earlier than its expiration date (like 1.5 years before it expires). Thanks in advance to anyone who can share info on this point.

-Samby

As far as doing K-1/K-2, it depends on how much information you give. If you tell the CO or border officers, that you had a wedding, it could cause problems even if it was not legal. Just treat it as an engagement party. She is not your not yet legal wife, she is your fiancee.

Excellent Advise!!

-Samby

i need some answer...i filled out my G325a forms and mail it to my fiance...i use the form from here...when my fiance got to see it he ask me why some of the information i have put there has a plus (+) sign...which means there are more information...were just worried that they will not accept it because more of the plus sign appears in year...for example applicats residence for the last 5 years i put 2002 but 2002 doesnt fit the form so it will look like 200+ but you can see a little of the '2' its just the plus sign covered some part of the '2'..but when he fill out the same form on his computer..he said it shows all and no plus sign appears...i dont know if they will accept the form i sent him already or do i need to fill another form? please help..thanks

cheecks

Hi and welcome!

The + sign is put there automatically by the form software and means that there are more characters (letters and/or numbers) typed into the box than will be able to display on the computer or printer that you are using. It is possible that on a different computer or different printer (like your fianceee's) the same text could display and therefore no + sign would show up. Unfortunately, since your 325a form requires your original signature, there is a bit of bad news here. He will not be able to simply re-fill the form and print it out and send it in, becuase then that form will not have your signature.

You have 3 options:

Option #1: You complete the form again on your computer (making sure first that you have the latest version of Adobe Reader (version 8) installled on that computer). Make sure that none of the boxes display on your computer or printout with a + sign. If any do, then make a plain document in a word processor like Microsoft Word or Wordpad. Put a title on the top of that document such as "325a supplemental Information for I-129F beneficiary, <your name>". Then for each question number in the 325a that still has a + sign showing up, list that item number on the supplemental information sheet. List the Item Number, the Item Question Text and your Item answer text (this time all of the answer text). Make sure that you print out four (4) copies of this Supplementsl Information Sheet and sign *EACH* one. So, you will end up with 4 printed copies of the G325a document (each one signed by you) AND 4 copies of the Supplemental Information sheet (each one signed by you). Total 8 printed pages - each and every one signed and dated with your original signature. Then mail them back to your fiance.

Option #2: Have your fiance fill out the 325a form on his computer (making sure not to have any + signs in any of the boxes. Have him fax those four pages to you. You sign and date each of those four pages and then mail them back to your fiance.

Option #3: If your fiance has access to Adobe Acrobat Professional (version 8) (note this is *NOT* the free Adobe Reader software), then he can save the G-325a form WITH THE DATA FILLED IN (just like can be done with the I-129F form). Then he can email that file to you. You can open that file with Adobe Reader (make sure it is version 8) (this *IS* the free software) and the data that he filled in will be there. Review the page carefully to make sure that none of the boxes are showing a + sign. (Remember, just because 1 computer shows all text in a box without a + sign, doesn't insure that another will.) Print out the form (all four pages) and sign and date all four pages. Then mail them back to your fiance.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you. Just remember, Keep the faith, stay calm and enjoy life during the journey as well

-Samby

How long does it take to receive a passport in the Philipines? maybe she could use her passport for the interview and then get a new one before she leaves to come to the USA. Or maybe she can just make color copies of her current passport before surrendering it.

THanks for your reply vismaster, Unfortunately, in the Philippines, you have to surrender your passport at the medical evaluation appointment and the next time that you have your passport back is after the interview. At that time, it already has the VISA Stamp affixed. So, can't surrendor it then, else wouldn't have the VISA for travel/entry to USA.

-Samby

Hello to All!

After reading for several weeks about the AOS process for K-1s, I have the following thoughts. Can anyone validate this or help me understand the faultiness of my analysis? Thanks!

K1 visa is issued and beneficiary travels to USA (Day 1). Wedding occurs, as required, within 90 days. Let's say it is on Day 60 for this example. Newlyweds file for AOS 15 days later, Day 75. The entire sequence of events for AOS follows (biometrics, medical/Immunization, interview, name check, etc). AOS is finally approved 20 months later (longer than some, earlier than others) and Permanent Residency card ("Green Card") is issued (Day 683). Since the "Green Card" is issued less than 2 years after the marriage, it is issued as a CONDITIONAL Permanent Residency card. Now, starts another 2 year clock (actually 1 year, 9 months) that will require the couple to return once again to file to have conditional status removed. Conditions removed and (non conditional) Permanent Resdency is granted (Day 1413). 1413 days / 365 days per year = *3.9* YEARS!!!!!!

The whole problem with this situation lies in the 2 year wait that is required to remove the conditional nature of an **ISSUED** Conditional Permanent Residency card. This is another example of the government not taking responsibility for impacts to customers (us!) for their inefficiencies and processing backlogs.

So, now onto my main point:

If the INITIAL Permanant Residency Card ("Green Card") is issued 24 months or more from the date of the marriage, then that INITIAL "Green Card" will be issued without conditions. Hence, no need to later file for removal of conditions.

Given this and the pragmatic reality of processing times and delays (Name Check, FBI Clearance, normal backlog, etc), wouldn't the more prudent course of action be to WAIT to file the AOS until one is reasonably certain that 2 years from the date of Marriage will have elapsed by the time the AOS is approved and the Permanent Residency card is issued. Using the above example again, marriage occurs on Day 60, but AOS is not filed until 6 months after the wedding (Day 243). The AOS is processed (using same 20 month timeframe as the above example) and the initial (and only) Permanent Residence card is issued on Day 851, 851 days / 365 days per year = *2.3* Years.

It seems to me this is analogous to the AGING OUT problem of K2/K4 children due to extended delays in processing by INS. The solution there was to implement a change to use the age of the child at date of application, not at date of issuing the visa. I do not understand why in this situation, if an initial Conditional Permanent Residency card was issued, the date of the Marriage is not used to determine when application can be made to remove the conditional status. As it stands now, it is the date of the initial issued Conditional Permanent Residency card that is used, which due to delays in processing time, could be well more than 24 months after the wedding, causing the K-1 beneficiary to be in CONDITIONAL Permanent Residency status longer than the 2 years "advertised" by the INS.

The only downside I can see to waiting to file the AOS is that because there is no EAD, there would be no possibility of working (for wages - of course, volunteering is still available for the social and cultural benefits) for the beneficiary during the waiting time between marriage and the filing of the AOS (or 3-4 months after filing to allow for processing time of the EAD).

I certainly am no expert!!! Like all of us, I am just trying to learn as much about these processes as possible so my sweetheart and I can make the best choices for us. Your sharing of thoughts, experiences and knowledge in this VJ forum have been and will continue to be crucial for our continuing journey! Thanks to all!

-Samby

Jazman0717 - Thanks for your reply. However, after living in the Philippines for a year and having dealt with many govt offices there, I can tell you from personal experience that "logical assumptions" dont enter into the picture in the Philippines. And unfortunately, from personal experience, I also can tell you that the processes that are used iin Phillipine consultates in foreign countries many times are quite different than those used in the home country. Heck, even from 1 office to the next, in country, the processes can be different. This is the reason that i am looking for someone who actually has done the scenario i describe, IN PERSON, IN THE PHILIPPINES. I do , however, appreciate you taking the time to reply and try to help. Thanks for that.

ronmay & Ed*Riza - Thanks for your replies. Have you folks PERSONALLY experiened this with the passport renewel being done IN PERSON, IN THE PHILIPPINES?

Can anyone comment on my Question #2, regarding passport renewel timeframe?

Thanks to all!

-Samby

Greetings to all!

I have 2 questions regarding Philippine Passport renewals. I would appreciate any feedback from people who have personal experience with this SPECIFIC situation IN THE PHILIPPINES. Thanks in advance!

Question #1: If a filipino citizen who already has a passport from the Phillipines goes in to get their passport renewed IN PERSON, IN THE PHILIPPINES, do they keep their old passport or do they have to surrender it? If they have to surrendor it, do they get it returned to them (even if marked "NO LONGER VALID" or something) when the new passport is issued?

Question #2: When renewing a Philippine passport IN PERSON, IN THE PHILIPPINES, is the filipino citizen allowed to do that at any time while their current passport is valid or are they only permitted to renew it within a certain period of time before their passport is set to expire.

Thanks so much for any personal experiences you can share regarding these questions!

-Samby

Hi. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I don't see anything obscure in the words or construction of this notice. It seems to me to be a straightforward form letter whose intent is to notify you that your prior application for permanent residence status has been registered (read: "approved") and that the permanent resident card ( read: "Green Card") will be forthcoming.

btw, CONGRATULATIONS on your GOOD NEWS!!!!

-Samby

Bill Y Bella, I'm sorry I can't offer specific help regarding your situation. And please forgive me for tagging on to your post regarding your secondary problem, but that is exactly my finance's "catch 22" also!

She has a passport. That passport has immigration arrival and departure stamps that are critical evidence for our demonstration of having met in the past 2 years. Her passport will expire about a year after we estimate (hope!) that her K1 visa will be issued.

We are concerned that it will take longer to get her AOS/LPR after she arrives here in the USA then the amount of time left on her passport before its expiration. The problem will be that then she will need to renew her passport becuase if it expires she will not be able to travel. When we go to renew the passport, once again she will loose all of the previous documentation in that passport: this time for the CFR, K1 VISA, entry stamp to USA, etc. All of which I would think we would want as documentary evidence for further immigration steps in the future .

What would be best is if she went to get a "fresh" passport just before her embassy K1 interview (actually before the medical exam where you first have to surrender your passport), so that that passport would have enough future validity time to survive and collect documentation throughout the multi-year immigration journey. But alas, the "catch 22" comes up again, because for her to do that, she would have to surrender her current passport which has the evidence we need for the K1 Embassy interview!

If anyone else has found a way around this problem, thanks in advance for sharing it here.

Bill y Bella, I hope that maybe other people's experience with renewing and reissuing passports will be helpful to you as well as me. Good luck!

-Samby

Thank you for the information that different embassies use different time frames.

-Samby

May I respectfully inquire what your source of information is for the "1 year or more" information. The reason I ask is that according to the "Fiance(e) (K1) Visa Applicants Appointment Packet" for the Embassy of the United States of America, Consular Section - Immigrant Visa Unit, Manila, Philippines sample shown in the Philippines sub forum on this site, item "g" reads:

g. OTHER COUNTRY POLICE CERTIFICATES. Applicants aged 16 years and older must also

present police certificates from other countries where they have lived for six (6) months or more after

reaching the age of 16. Information on police certificate availability by country can be found on the

Embassy’s website or at http://intranet.ca.state.gov/reciprocityweb/index.htm

Is it possible that these timing requirements are different for different embassies? Or is it possible that there has been a recent change in the time requirement?

My appreciation to all for your input and assistance to clarify this seeming inconsitency.

-Samby