gary9891

Magic Surap should be no issue at customs. Meat products are hit and miss. My wife returned from a visit and saw customs in SanFran take a womans' dried fish (prepackaged) from her. Whether a meat product is allowed or not seems to be at the discretion of the customs officer you get.

Are there any asian/filipino markets or stores near you in the USA? We have an asian (Thai owned) and a filipino store near us and both sell Bangus and magic surap. There are also several stores here in the US online selling filipino foods as well.

I think the hardest filipino product to find in the USA is Philippine Nescafe coffee. If you like this coffee bring some with you!

Actually before you wed, get your SSN card in maiden name. Go to the local office after you have been here 7 or 8 days.

After you marry simply go back to the SSN office and change the name to your new name......easy to do.

Getting your SSN now will make things easier later like taxes, jobs, AOS etc.

Your husband will not be allowed to accompany you during the process, he will be allowed in the waiting area only. So going alone is not a big deal.

Biometrics is a simple process and just a few minutes once your number is called. Fill in a simple form, some pictures and fingerprints......done. That was our experence at the Jacksonville FL field office.

Looks like the 129F webform was designed by the same people at healthcare.gov. I found a working fillable 129F here. It is the most current form, expires 2016.

http://www.visapro.com/Download/Alien-Fiancee-Petition.pdf

Best Wishes.

Lots of good info here, follow the links provided. One thing, most guides say to wait 14 days after POE then go to the SSN office to apply. We waited 8 days and went to our local office and my fiancee was in the database already. She was able to get her card in her maiden name right away.

Like others have said here, get your card early and it will make things like taxes, state ID, job hunting, banking etc MUCH easier.

After you marry changing the name on the card is a snap.

best wishes

Two tickets? Are you going to be there for the interview? Great experience if you are going to be there!

Embassy warning - do not book travel until visa is in hand. - end of warning.

One way ticket for you fiancee is just fine.

1 way tickets can be and usually are higher priced than R/T(no-one has explained why). Check both ways, R/T on EVA (my favorite) was 400$ cheaper than the 1 way. I got her the R/T from Manila-LAX and after we arrived, I called EVA and canceled the return portion. No problems.

Is it okay to apply SSN before getting married? Because my plan is when he arrives this Friday. We will apply for marriage licence and SSN if possible the same day the next Monday.

Definetely get SSN before you marry, it will make things easier later on. After 7-8 days after POE, go to your local SSN office and apply. The clerk will roll their eyes and say you are not eligible. Just ask for supervisor and explain as a K1 you ARE eligible. There are numerous posts and directions here on VJ. Follow the directions and you are set.

I watched the the Discovery show and can remember telling my wife "i want to drive a jeepney!". She began to laugh to the point she had tears. I think I understand her point. The last jeepney we rode (it was also the first) had a piece of wood for a throttle, the brake pedal was made (I think) from a piece of a man hole cover. My training as a truck driver here would be of little use...........hummm maybe a trike taxi?

We didn't have an interview. I have no idea why but I would guess it is just luck of the draw.

Same here. Maybe the case load at USCIS determines interview selection numbers. Seems if you make it through the K visa process and all the (insanity) checks an interview for AOS seems pointless.

I'm afraid that you have left it too late to get your SSN now. There has to be at least 14 days validity left on your I-94 for you to get your SSN. You will have to wait for your EAD now.

Although you may go to a SSA office where they are not well trained and don't that you should have 14 days left.

Agreed, I also doubt you will get a SSN until after you file AOS/EAD. My experience with the SSN office is that they are "lacking" knowledge on K type immigrants. I had to point out my K1 fiancee (now asawa!) was in fact eligible for an SSN when they said she was not. 45 minutes later we walked out with a completed application and pending SSN.

You may be very lucky and have them process your application.

There are numerous links/posts here on VJ concerning when to get a SSN along with proper timeframes for K visa immigrants.

Here are the top three:

1. Locate the vacuum and the cleaning supplies she'll need to clean your house.

2. Familiarize herself with the kitchen where she'll be cooking all of your meals.

3. Learn how you like your underwear and socks folded.

4. Find a Filipino grocery (if you are lucky) or a asian store. She will need a good rice. Buying rice in those plastic bags at wally mart or your local grocery is a BAD idea. Trust me, you will hear about it.

My fiance had her medical two days ago, and was administered all 4 shots the same day - MMR, Tetanus, Flu, and Chicken Pox. Two on each arm.

Since then one arm has hurt quite bad, which I understand is quite normal, but the worrying thing is her feeling of sleepiness and is now just starting to get the chills, indicating she is feeling sick. Is this normal? Can others who got all 4 shots like that attest to how they felt in the coming days afterwards?

It is quite normal as long as no severe fever is present. Her doc will most likely tell her to take some pain meds and bed.

Her immune system is in overdrive now, 4 shots in 1 go is ^%$# on anybodys body.

My wife was down 2 days after hers..........

We waited about 8 days to allow my wife's entry to be updated in the USCIS database. We then went to our local SSA office and got her a SSN in her maiden name (allowed as a K1). We were then married! We then went back to the SSA office and got her card name changed to her new married name. We did this within 90 days of her POE so her I-94 was still valid.

We were married in Florida who gave us 2 copies of our marriage liscence the same day.

Getting a SSN is a wise move to do early as possible. Health insurance coverage, filing taxes, getting ID etc. usually requires a SSN.

If you've met the 125% poverty guideline for I-134 then I won't bother getting the letter from your bank. Just need the Letter of Employment, 1040s and W-2, tax transcripts and pay stubs.

Yep, just what I did. No bank letters just IRS transcripts, several current pay stubs and simple letter (on company letterhead) signed by your boss/manager etc. If you are north of the 125%, these will do.

I did not send any 1040's or W2's, the transcripts serve this purpose.

How do I file a Report of Marriage? We live in the US and my wife is Filipina. Is this something that I can fill out and mail on my own? Do I have to file a ROM for AOS?

Thanks,

J

The Report of marriage is a Philippine govt. requirement. It is not used for any US govt. processing for green cards, AOS etc.

If your wife ever plans to obtain dual citizenship or change her Philippine passport to her new married name then this step is needed. The easiest way is to go to the Philippine embassy outreach visits if a consulate is too far for you. I have included a couple of links for you. If memory serves it was 25 USD.

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/index.php?page=consular-services-dc/faq-dc/

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/philippines-dc/consular-forms-dc/

You can renew your passport anytime, once you apply that is your new passport expiration date. Have you checked to see if the Philippine embassy outreach is coming to your area? Philippine embassy officials travel around the US renewing passports, register marriages, births etc. for Filipino citizens. This is very convenient, we went and drove 3 hours instead of 13! Here is the link for the Washington DC service area. Be sure your current state is served by the DC office. Different states are served by different consulates and you need to go to the correct consulate.

Washington DC schedule:

http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/news/3059/589/2013-Consular-Outreach-Schedule/d,phildet/

On the right side of the embassy webpage is a map to locate the correct conculate.

Don't use that agency any more. Run, run away.

This is great advice.

Submitting an I-130 for AOS for a now married K-1? This "agency" is clueless. Please follow the guides here on VJ and you won't go wrong.

Follow the link from Leon & Mylen.

CFO is asking for USC's proof of singleness? That's odd. They never asked for mine when Mike had his.

Yeah copies of your pay stubs or W-2 showing your claim status as Single, I guess...

Same here.........We did our CFO stuff in '07 so maybe the rules have changed a bit.

The chances of you being detained by ICE in that short a timeframe are so remote as to not be worth considering.

Even if by some freak of chance you were detained, since you have immediate relief available (through AoS based on marriage to your petitioner) then your chances of deportation would be essentially zero, assuming that there are no other issues.

In short, they don't sharpen the pitchforks and ready the thumb-screws for someone filing a few weeks late.

Agreed. I you to want to feel safe, just carry your passport with I-94 inside and a copy of your marriage liscense at all times. If you are ever questioned, just show these documents and explain you are in the process of AOS.

We waited a couple of months before AOS to collect all the documents, get the stupid I-693 immunization filled out and getting the funds together. Hardest part was finding a doctor who did not want to do a new medical.

This is not too uncommon. The Vermont center is prabably swamped with petitions and the Texas center is likely not as busy. So Vermont packed up some unprocessed petitions and sent them to Texas for processing.

In a few months the process may reverse if Texas gets swamped........

We went through this in 2009 when my fiancee came here to the US as a K1. I will explain what we did to the best of my memory.

The CD is yours, no one will want it, USCIS won't ask for it. We use my wife's as a coaster.

Our doctor had us fill out only the first part of the I-693. The doctor (we assume) filled in the rest and will seal up the envelope. This sealed envelope you will submit for your AOS. DO NOT OPEN or tamper with the envelope or you will get an RFE have to go back to the doc to seal it up again.

The doctor will review what shots you need vs. what you received at St. Lukes during the medical. The doc will tell you which other shots you need. My wife needed 3 more. Our doc did not have them on hand and told us just go to the county health dept where they gave her the 3 she needed. We took the receipt back to our doc who filled out the I-693, signed it and sealed it up.

I would just print out the I-693 and go to the approved USCIS doctor who will likely know what blanks you should fill up.

The shots you got at St. Lukes were most likely not completed because some shots require several in a series to be complete. Like booster shots, which is why most people have to get more shots here in the US.

Sounds like you found a cheaper 1 way ticket vs. round trip? I remember bringing my fiancee (now wife!) here in 2009 and all the RT tickets were 40-50% cheaper than 1 way. Go figure. So I just bought her a RT ticket and did not use the return portion. We had no issues with customs etc.

1 or 2 days.

Agreed, 1 LONG day if St Lukes is not too busy. Usually it is 2 days. My fiancee (now asawa!) went on a medium-busy day and did 95% of the requirements on day 1. She had to go back for 1.5-2 hours on day 2 to finish up.

best wishes

All the big shopping malls in Manila (MOA MEGA MALL, Robinson...) have photo shops that make different size passport/visa pics. They know what size you need. Just tell them what EXACTLY you need (American visa, Phil passport, etc). This service is done while you wait.

Agreed. My fiancee (now asawa!) had all her pictures taken in Robinsons at a small photo shop inside. The clerks know what you need, just tell them, just be sure to tell them USA visa/passport or Philippines style.

US pics have light background and Philippines passport pics have a light blue (at least in 2007) background. My wife had no issues at all with her different pictures.

Might as well get several more USA style there as you will need them here in the US for AOS, 10 year GC etc.

Best wishes.

All that is required once here in the US is to have any missing or booster vaccines that were not given at St. Lukes. Just be prepared to pay to have another full exam here in the US. Either the USCIS docs are unaware (yeah right) that the exam is valid for 1 year or they simply want to get some money from you. We were lucky and finally found a doc who gave her 3 shots and signed her 693.