Palawan

On 7/30/2022 at 11:05 AM, MarJhi said:

Well unfortunately its a problem here in the US also. Go to any major city, tourist destination or anything like that and you will run into scammers. 

We don't have that in my city, but I don't live in Chicago or New York

On 7/21/2022 at 1:47 PM, DaveAndAnastasia said:

For large amounts of money, maybe a bank wire transfer is actually the best thing to do? I'd check, at least.

Yes, It's best for sure

I use Charles Schwabb and it's $15 per transaction online, upto 100k per day.  Incoming international wires are free

They have great exchange rates, and if you do open an account they offer free ATM usage worldwide, any charges you get will be credited to your acct at the end of the day. 

When my fiance arrived via K1, she studied to get a nursing licenses, had to take a NCLEX Test. She spent about 3 months reviewing, and she was able to pass and get a RN Licenes in USA.   She had a fairly easy time getting a job at a hospital after a couple of months, bad thing is they only work a 7am to 7pm, or 7pm to 7am shift and it's 3 days per week which is full time.

After a couple of weeks of working at the hospital, I decided it would be best for her to just stay at home and be more of a house wife and take care of me.   Now looking back after a few years it is and was the best decision.

On 7/30/2022 at 9:07 AM, Mike E said:

Indeed.  
 

If OP is a citizen of Palau and not a citizen of the USA, OP cannot file I-129F.  
 

If OP is a citizen of the USA, OP doesn’t need an EAD even if OP is also a citizen of Palau. 
 

If OP intends to be a K-1 beneficiary, this isn’t necessary if OP is a citizen of Palau.  

My wife is US Citizen now, I been there done that already.

On 7/30/2022 at 8:55 AM, Timona said:

Your timeline is all over. I thought you were petitioning from the Philippines 

Relative coming to USA, the son joined Military

What I have read is you can enter and work in USA without a EAD or a visa, but it is suggested to apply for a EAD card in case you someone asks for it, USCIS offers this at no cost to the applicant.

How long is this taking to get a EAD card from USCIS? 

On 7/26/2022 at 10:48 AM, beloved_dingo said:

I have seen almost every prenup I've encountered in family law be upheld, regardless of whether both parties had an attorney when it was signed. The #1 reason for a prenup to be thrown out is proof that one or both parties did not fully disclose all assets and/or debts. 

 

However, it doesn't hurt for both parties to have a lawyer, especially if their situation is complicated and there are international assets. I would also suggest both having an attorney if the prenup is very one-sided.

 

No one should ever sign a legal document unless they fully understand their rights and responsibilities pertaining to what they are signing. 

What state do you practice law in in the USA?

On 7/29/2022 at 12:53 PM, MarJhi said:

As for the threatening force, having backup with me at all times and so on, I guess I just was able to stay out of those situations. 

We were at a gas station waiting on gas, another car pulls up and tries to cut in front of us, clearly blantant.  Thankfully it was me and my relative and the other guy had him and his buddy, well we got into a confrontation, he was driving some type of truck and he quickly ran to the back to get a jack to fight with,  That is the kind of stuff you have to deal with in the Philippines.  As I said if you do get into confrontation it seems they will only want to fight if they can outnumber you, or if they can get some type of weapon.  

On 7/29/2022 at 12:53 PM, MarJhi said:

Well like I said, if some taxi driver wants to overcharge me by 20 pesos it's not worth the trouble. Keep in mind I would typically tip a taxi driver 100 pesos, but if they overcharge me they are actually losing money because I am not going to tip. The driver who tried to rip me off for 20 pesos pretended he didn't change. My fare was 380 pesos, I gave him 400 and he said he didn't have change. What he didn't know was that I was going to tip him the 20 pesos back plus 100 pesos. I don't offer the tip until AFTER I get my change and see what the service was like. 

 

As for the threatening force, having backup with me at all times and so on, I guess I just was able to stay out of those situations. 

I am the same way with tips, I try to be generous but if the said person whether it be a taxi, buying food, trying to put extra things on the bill then I don''t tolerate it. In my mind if you let a person in the Philippines scam you, then they think its ok to scam the next tourist.  Like I always tell them, if you came to USA I would never try to scam you, why do you think it's ok to scam a tourist in your country.  

On 6/6/2022 at 5:40 PM, MarJhi said:

In my trips to the Philippines, my experience is that the number of people trying to scam me was extremely low. And among the very few who did try to get one over on me, which was usually a taxi driver, they were trying to over charge me by 20 pesos at most.  I am NOT going to get in a heated confrontation in someone else's country where I am the outsider over what amounts to 40 cents, you cannot win in those scenarios and it's not worth it. 

 

I will not allow anyone to scam me or get away with it, but thats me

My nephew whom is rather mild manner, doesn't smoke or drink will not let anyone take advantage of him in the Philippines, he threatens them with force.   

If you do get in fight over there, make sure you have back up, (someone watchng your back) you will never have one or two guys fight you, they have to have a crowd of them in order to attack.  You must watch for knives as well.

39 minutes ago, big6domino said:

Yesterday we went to the interview, everything went smoothly, she was ecstatic of course and now this is just one more lengthy bump in the road. My fiance was called this morning and was notified she now has to go back to the embassay in one month. Since they have everything, for her to bring her ID and the email they were about to send her. She was at work, caught off guard, and didn't really ask anything else. Tomorrow is her last day actually, and we were already planning her flight back.

 

Sure enough our status reflects as refused in CEAC and the email she recieved states at the bottom that she needs to go back to complete her oath with the CO. In the moment we didn't pay attention, but now she thinks it's because they forgot to take her fingerprints. Could it be this? Nothing else was sent to us.

 

I don't want to be pessimistic, but after 16 mos, I'm hoping this isn't worst than it actually is. I'm here through next week, and I've already traveled here 4 times through this year. I won't be able to justify being back in one month so soon. Is it imperative I come back in a month? 

I see no reason for you to be there or go back.  Yep, fingerprints seem logical to me as well. 

15 minutes ago, ManefMelissa said:

Could i dont pay them , since i have no job yet ?

Sure, we have no debtors prison in the USA.  I would call them up and negotiate with them, You could probably get the bill cut in half or more, and they will put you on a payment plan.

Obama required all US Citizens to have medical insurance, if not then you had to pay large fine, this sadly increased insurance premiums and the medical raised all their  rates. 

26 minutes ago, ManefMelissa said:

Yes but this a goverment hospital bills , im very confused

Bills or debts incurred is your and and only yours responsibility

You can tell the hospital you don't have any money and they will sometimes waive the bill, you can always negotiate with them.  Most hospital prey off medical insurance and inflate the bill & services upto 10 times, what a cash payer would pay.  It's a pretty legitimate scam in the USA, and legal.  

23 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

The main thing to be aware of while in the Philippines is Dengue.

I saw lots of infants with Dengue while I was there, they were in the hospital.

My buddy got Dengue once, he said it was a bad thing do deal with.

37 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Except they only check your bag to the first destination then you have to pick them up (miss the connection) and re-check them with limited amount of time between flights. That would be a pass for me. Example from a family that was heading overseas for work - they still don't know where their bags are. 

I personally never check bags going internationally, I always carry a backpack and a carry on.

24 minutes ago, ManefMelissa said:

Thanks for this but what about my joint sponsor does she needs to pay the bills or just me ?

Of course not, that is for government sponsored debts like food stamps, etc.  

That is a private debt, just like between you and friend, or between you and cellphone company.

On 7/28/2022 at 2:56 PM, ManefMelissa said:

Hello

Im going to see a doctor next week for my bloodsugar test , the vidant health center in NC will send me a bill to pay so if i cant pay the bills is considred like a public charge benefetis ? So my joint sponsor should pay the bills , i attached the benetifs considered below 

 

Ask for "Cash Price" or "Self Pay" I have found many times the price from a doctor/hospital visit is much cheaper vs what insurance pays, crazy as that sounds. 

Seems to me like international flights are not being disrupted like domestic flights

14 hours ago, pushbrk said:

 Living in the Philippines is not for everybody.  I personally would not consider living in Davao.  

I couldn't live in Davao either, super boring place, stupid slow speed limits, and traffic is horrible.

I enjoy Manila area around Makati and BGC area, but rest of Philippines isn't for me, I can vacation there, but I am so happy to return to the USA.

I saw you said you live in Dumaguete?  What do you think about all those Youtube bloggers pimping out females in the area, even thier gf have YT pimping out girls, I heard now of days they call Dumaguete is aka Epstein Island .

14 hours ago, pushbrk said:

 

The rest of your comments are noted, but not relevant to the OP's questions or concerns.  

 I was responding to you and your comment, thus the reason I quoted you and not the OP

This is called a forum

11 hours ago, Steve & Erma said:

I am traveling to Libagon, Southern Leyte in the Philippines in September. Besides having my COVID vaccination what other vaccinations do I really need? The CDC site seems to think I need a lot of them and to me it seems like over kill. Anyone who has traveled to PH before that can give me some guidance on what I really need?

 

Here is the link to the CDC - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/philippines

 

As always thank you for any help given.

As soon as you get to Philippines go to Pharmacy and get some Lomitol for diaherra, it's over the counter there.  Good chance you will get some bad or spoiled food and get food poisoning.   I was in NAIA (Manila Airport) Terminal 3 and purchase a chicken/rice dish from a vendor inside the airport and it was bad had food poison for 2 days.  Vendors will re use food day after day. 

32 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

It is not the standard. In the past 4 years, processing times for K1 have only been increasing. That’s a fact. Those “7 year ago timelines” don’t seem to be back all these years.

Time flies and for some reason Philippines has always seemed to move much faster for K1 approvals then other countries, this is well documented on this board, and I can vouch for it.

It will take some time for timelines to get back to normal, at least for Philippine, They had one of the harshest lockdown of any country in the world for 2 years.  Plus even today they require facemask at all times even outside or driving a car, and you still need vaccine to enter country, so it's will be years before they ever get back to normal.   

For me I am done with Philippines and all of Asia traveling there, I will be in Cancun Mexico hanging out for vacay.

31 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

I read the thread.   What you experienced 7 years ago is completely irrelevant to the OP's current situation.  

Did I respond to the OP? No I quoted another person whom said:

"Most of us who did a K-1 even when the petition process was only 6 months (vs current 13 months) would have chosen a CR-1 in retrospect."

I am most and no way would I have chosen a CR1 over a K1 in retrospect.

On 7/26/2022 at 11:15 AM, Crazy Cat said:

Irrelevant to current processing times.  You are a one-in-a-trillion outlier.  

Never said it was current processing time, If you would read the thread I said it was about 7 years ago.

Please try to read a thread and not just concentrate on one comment.

On 7/26/2022 at 11:02 AM, Jorgedig said:

In 2022, the K-1 process is taking around two years, not including AOS.   
 

The timeline for how it was when you did the K-1 is irrelevant to OP’s queries.

My timeline is the standard, things will go back to normal.

Just in case you didn't notice, I was replying to you only and your comment of:  

"It is no longer "fastest" overall, and the AOS process for K-1s is a big negative.

Most of us who did a K-1 even when the petition process was only 6 months (vs current 13 months) would have chosen a CR-1 in retrospect."

You said "Retrospect" the definiition is : "a survey or review of a past course of events or period of time"

Looking back no way would of have done the CR1, it was taking like a year to get NOA2, I got NOA2 around 30 days.

Please look at what you wrote when you respond