Frank+Jocelyn

Pair bonding is imprinted in humans as well as many birds and other animals. Of course personal experiences can cause you to reject that natural tendency.

Personally I believe in it but I certainly understand why some don't.

I though Blood Diamond was good entertainment but dramatized a serious topic a little too much.

I hate to admit it but I went to see The Water Horse. A good kid movie and exactly what I expected. But not for anybody over about 14.

Here is some good info about what happens at the National Visa Center (NVC):

http://www.usaimmigrationattorney.com/Secu...tiveReview.html

I got some clarification on that shipment to Manila. My application is probably not in that package because it has to go to NVC first where it will be reviewed and assigned an NVC number. Then it goes from there to Manila. So while the DHL tracking number I have is for a package going to the Manila embassy, my application is not likely to be in it this quick .

But at least I have learned how to track it. Look here for the instructions: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=98172

It is pretty slick how he figured it out.

Excellent information! I was able to find the package going from VSC to Manila that I hope contains my 01/11/2008 approval. Looks like it left the VSC today with tracking number 9341426496.

Nope... all packages must go to NVC first, even K-1's.

I see. Thanks for the clarification.

Looks like our package is on it's way from VSC to Manila!!!!

*************

Notification for when my package is Picked up for January 14 2008/ 4:11 PM.

Receiver Billed - Receiver Billed - Receiver Billed

AWB Number: 9341426496

Pickup Date: 2008-01-14 13:43:03 UTC

Service: DD

Pieces: 1

Cust. Ref:EXP 11 JAN 2008A

Description:US DIPLOMATIC PAPERS

Ship From: Ship To: U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE

32 ROCHESTER AVENUE

PORTSMOUTH, NH 03801

US AM.EMBASSY MANILA

1201 ROXAS BOULEVARD

ERMITA

MANILA, 1000

PH EVENT CATEGORY

January 14 2008 4:11 PM - Shipment picked up - Portsmouth,United States Of America

Excellent information! I was able to find the package going from VSC to Manila that I hope contains my 01/11/2008 approval. Looks like it left the VSC today with tracking number 9341426496.

I'm having trouble launching the chat.

...Donnie Darko,...

Donnie Darko? Hahaha, what a weird movie. I watched it because a friend swore it was the best movie ever made. I had trouble getthing through it. But to each his own i guess.

Of course anybody with and sense knows that the bast movie ever made was Casablanca

Amelie

I loved Amelie. One of my favorites.

we have 3:10 to Yuma had home right now... I think we are going to watch it tonight...

I thought 3:10 was great. Nice to see a good Western occasionally.

"I am Legend" I found just so-so

Ya, I give it a "C". They could have done a lot more with it. Ending was anticlimatic.

I'll try to join.

Well actually it pretty easy to find credit here in the US, especially for a car. Many car lots will finance you but most will charge a very high interest rate if you don't have credit history here in the US. It is almost always better to find a bank or credit union that will give you a loan than it is to finance the loan at the car lot.

If your circumstances will allow, stay away from car lots that do the financing themselves. These are usually people dealing in low value cars and charging high interest. They typically allow weekly payments. Sounds good up front and for some people this may be their only option. However, these car lots are typically very aggressive about repossessing your car. They sell you a cheap car, get as many on-time payments as they can from you then repossess it the first time you are late. They then sell the car again to somebody else. A bank or credit union will tolerate late payments for a much longer period of time, especially if you talk to them when you are struggling.

And run from any car lot that has a tow-truck but no maintenance facility. Any lot with a tow-truck and no garage is probably buying junk cars that they have to tow to some location where they do minimal repairs and then put on the lot. A tow truck on the lot with no garage may also mean they are very aggressive repossessors.

Having a loan secured before you go car shopping will help you tremendously when bargaining with the dealer, and it will also help keep you from overspending because you get emotionally attached to a car. Also know that car dealers who provide financing actually make a pretty good profit from your financing. All car dealers who provide financing through a third party get a kickback from the lender for making the loan. And what is worse, the higher the finance rate they can push on you, the more kickback they get.

Buying from a local dealer with a good reputation is your best option, but the best deals can be found when buying from an individual. But if you buy from an individual it is important that you take somebody with you who can evaluate the car. Or take it to a garage and ask for a pre-buy inspection. If the seller wont allow this inspection then you don't want the car.

Personally I have bought and sold several cars on eBay, but I am an ASE certified Master Automobile Technician with a degree in Auto Repair so can usually (but not always) spot the clunkers. However, you should not be afraid of late model, low mileage cars on eBay even if you don't know anything about cars.

My final observations:

1. Never buy a car from a dealer who will finance it himself.

2. Never by a car that is leaking fluids, even if they offer to fix the leak(s).

3. Never buy a car if the rubber pad on the brake pedal is excessively worn...big warning sign for several reasons!

4. Never buy a car if it has ever overheated (difficult for you to know this one but look for signs of the green fluid overflow)

5. Never buy a car that has been modified in any way (engine mods, suspension changes, etc)

6. Never buy a car if the outside edge of the driver's seat is excessively worn (means a LOT of stop-and-go driving)

7. Take somebody with you who can keep you from making an emotional decision

8. Pick your budget before you go shopping and stick to it.

9. Don't forget to factor in the insurance costs...it can vary tremendously between vehicle models.

10. Take your time and don't be afraid to "let one get away". There are plenty of great cars out there for sale. Don't be pressured into acting quickly. Don't fall for the "it wont last long" or "three other people are coming to look at this car today" tactics.

Shun the taxis and the hired drivers when you can and take the transportation of the masses- You may sweat a little more but you'll walk away with a little more grit between your teeth--

I agree. The taxi has it's place but I prefer the trike. If you want to really get a fell for a place you need to emulate the locals as much as possible.

They must be working on something there at CSC. I'm sure somebody there knows that K1 approvals are behind and sooner or later they will turn their focus to that growing pile before it falls over and kills somebody.

My co-worker married a man she babysat for....he left his wife for her

Ouch...good luck with that one.

Yay!

...appoximately 35% of people that are reporting identity theft in recent times are people looking to skip out on legit purchases that they themselves made.....

That's not hard to believe. Credit card debt continues to climb and the housing problems have evaporated the equity some folks might have used to pay off that debt. I'm sure many people are finding themselves in desperate situations and reaching for desperate solutions.

T-1.

(Don't worry, he won't overstay his visa. He'll be back.)

hahaha...

Well, he must have had some trouble because he also used a T-2.

Congratulations!

If she is up to it, it would be great if she can post her entire interview experience as others have. I know my Jocelyn reads all these and it helps her build her confidence for her interview.

I wonder what kind of visa Arnold used to come over from Austria?

You will find a lot of folks here on VJ with large age differences. In our case it is 24 years. I think when you are dating across cultures the age makes less difference because you don't expect to have parallel cultural experiences anyway.

For instance, my future bride is far more mature than a comparable American woman of 21 simply because life and expectations for women in the Philippines are so much harder than here in the U.S.

Good luck January filers!

I vote for no hair growing below the neck

The pile of I-129F's here in California is this high....

You guys should ring up Arnold Schwarzenegger