W199

13a visa requires a PSA marriage certificate. There was a short period of time that the Philippines didn't accept Utah marriges. But now the Philippines courts ruled on Utah marries a couple of years ago, so I don't think that is true anymore. People are doing Utah marriages all the time now, and the Philippine embassies accept it as proof for the ROM. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for them, nor am I a fan of them except in very special cases. Hence, whether you have a Utah marriage or just a normal foreign marriage, the embassies accept it for the ROM, and the subsequent PSA is not an issue. Getting married in the Philippines is such a huge hassle, and the 3-9 month delay of getting a PSA marriage certificate to being able to file for the CR1 seems to rule it out for most people. If you are not in any rush to get the CR1, as in years, and want to have a huge traditional wedding in the Philippines with hundreds of family members, the whole Barangay coming to get free food, slaughtered pigs and very little gifts, then a local wedding would be very nice. For myself, I hate big weddings.

Wise move ... Trusts are complicated ...

He said the deed to the house is owned by his living trust, not him. And the Trustee of the trust is the petitioner. Hence, my previous comment that the important thing is that the petitioner is the beneficiary of the trust .. not the trustee.

I would think getting married is very emotionally important to you, your Wife, and her family. You should probably strongly factor in where you and your family want you to get married. Just keep in mind, if you get married in the Philippines you will need to wait several weeks to get a marriage license, and then wait an additional 3-7 months to get the PSA marriage certificate. Only then can you apply for the CR1 visa. But if you go the Utah wedding route, then it will be a LOT faster.

>> • The Living Trust of the spouse, designating the petitioner as trustee I would think that the relevant and important thing is that the petitioner is the beneficiary of the trust.

Although it shouldn't matter, that's a different situation since you got GE initially on a work visa and sounds like that happened a long time ago. I'm just starting what others have reported, and what the interviewing officers have stated. I'll let you know in 3 years if its true or not.

No, no issue with moving to the next page. It went smoothly without issues. The only thing to note, is they never sent the approval notice until a long time afterwards. But checking the GE web page just about 1-2 weeks later, it said it was approved and was able to make an interview appointment. Moral is don't wait for the email approval notice.

Hi, Looking at her account, I see that we signed up with GE as as follows: - GE profile/account - Maiden name - Passport - Maiden name - Green Card - Married name - Driver's license - Married name After she gets her citizenship, you just need to make an appointment with GE to update her info. Or maybe you can update them through the support/email system, I'm not sure. But in either case, it should be pretty easy.

Also, keep in mind, if her green card is a 2-year one, then the GE will automatically end when the 2-year card expires. I'm not sure yet if you can use an extension letter to re-activate it or need to "wait" for the 10-year green card.

I recently went through this with my Wife. Her green card is in her married name while her passport is in her maiden name. We signed her up in GE with her married name, which matches her green card name. At the GE interview the officer was complaining that her passport didn't match, but after leaving to the back room and coming back, he said, "he can still approve it but will use her married name, and therefore, she must her her green card for GE instead of her passport when arriving to the USA. We then realized this is a bad idea because her plane ticket must be in her maiden name to match her passport. This would prevent her from getting TSA pre-check. We just emailed them, and they changed her GE name to her passport name. So now she will get TSA pre-check and simply use her passport for GE. We're flying back for a visit at end of February .. so we'll see if it goes smoothly with it.

IMO, I would sign it as "Wife_name by your_name as power of attorney" for example "Mary by Bill, as power of attorney. .. or something similar ...

It generally doesn't need to be notarized unless your embassy specifically requires it. But on the other hand, the translation must be certified that it is a true translation.

That email said to also drop off the original copy and your passport at the VAC or send it to the embassy. Did you do that?

Remember too that to file MFJ, you will need to include a declaration with Attach a statement, signed by both spouses, to your joint return for the first tax year for which the choice applies. It should contain the following information: A declaration that on the last day of the tax year one spouse was neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. resident within the meaning of IRC section 7701(b)(1)(A) and the other spouse was, and that you choose to be treated as U.S. residents for the entire tax year. The name, address, and identification number of each spouse.

As you said, the VISA requirements strongly request you to get refundable tickets. But T=there are NO requirements for not changing your mind and cost reducing the trip to non-refundable tickets or finding a more ideal tour. In fact, they probably expect you to cancel the tickets and get better ones once your VISA is approved. People are always adjusting or changing their plans, that is the whole purpose of refundable tickets. It is not a lie to tell them during the interview "I booked these flights and airbnb because they were refundable as required for the VISA. But after I get my VISA approved, I will probably change them to the following non-refundable tour and plane tickets". Totally honest. You are right, if she lies or gives the appearance of a lie, she could be denied. Just be totally honest, if they even ask. If she has her green card, an employment letter, and a long-time job, as well as a guarantee letter from you to back up the support for her, bank statements with plenty of extra money, medical, and travel insurance, .. AND no history of visa fraud or issues, then there is little risk anyways. My Filipino fiancee, before she even had her K-1 visa, no green card, still in the Philippines, etc... and without a job or any money, got a multi-year multiple entry Canada tourist visa in less than a week because I provided the financial guarantee and photos of the engagement, we gave some itinerary plans without any bookings. She didn't even need an interview. So if she is financially secure, with a green card, it would be surprising if she is denied.

You don't need to apply for a ROM for your life in the USA. But someday. there might be some things that the Philippines might require it, for example, if you ever want to become a dual citizen and get your Philippine passport back in your married name then you will need the ROM.

Sorry for the duplicate replies, nothing happened when I hit "submit" so I thought it didn't take and kept pressing it. Moderator, please delete this and my duplicate replies

My fiancee's vaccination form was very similar to that, except for Hep B it said "Hep B was not available in Country" ... The key as we said is that none of the columns say "incomplete" .. After we got married, she got tested for Hep B antibody to verify she is not immune then received the Hep B series for free since it was covered by my insurance. Prior to that she also got the flu and covid vaccine at the same time in Walgreens which gave her a ticket to he ER and an overnight at the hospital ... Other than that, I would suggest you get the waived and any other vaccinations such as Varicella. For the adjustment of status, dounds like you are good to go with your DS-3025, good luck My fiancee's vaccination form was very similar to that, except for Hep B it said "Hep B was not available in Country" ... The key as we said is that none of the columns say "incomplete" .. After we got married, she got tested for Hep B antibody to verify she is not immune then received the Hep B series for free since it was covered by my insurance. Prior to that she also got the flu and covid vaccine at the same time in Walgreens which gave her a ticket to he ER and an overnight at the hospital ... Other than that, I would suggest you get the waived and any other vaccinations such as Varicella. For the adjustment of status, dounds like you are good to go with your DS-3025, good luck

My fiancee's vaccination form was very similar to that, except for Hep B it said "Hep B was not available in Country" ... The key as we said is that none of the columns say "incomplete" .. After we got married, she got tested for Hep B antibody to verify she is not immune then received the Hep B series for free since it was covered by my insurance. Prior to that she also got the flu and covid vaccine at the same time in Walgreens which gave her a ticket to he ER and an overnight at the hospital ... Sounds like you are good to go with your DS-3025, good luck My fiancee's vaccination form was very similar to that, except for Hep B it said "Hep B was not available in Country" ... The key as we said is that none of the columns say "incomplete" .. After we got married, she got tested for Hep B antibody to verify she is not immune then received the Hep B series for free since it was covered by my insurance. Prior to that she also got the flu and covid vaccine at the same time in Walgreens which gave her a ticket to he ER and an overnight at the hospital ... Sounds like you are good to go with your DS-3025, good luck My fiancee's vaccination form was very similar to that, except for Hep B it said "Hep B was not available in Country" ... The key as we said is that none of the columns say "incomplete" .. After we got married, she got tested for Hep B antibody to verify she is not immune then received the Hep B series for free since it was covered by my insurance. Prior to that she also got the flu and covid vaccine at the same time in Walgreens which gave her a ticket to he ER and an overnight at the hospital ... Sounds like you are good to go with your DS-3025, good luck My fiancee's vaccination form was very similar to that, except for Hep B it said "Hep B was not available in Country" ... The key as we said is that none of the columns say "incomplete" .. After we got married, she got tested for Hep B antibody to verify she is not immune then received the Hep B series for free since it was covered by my insurance. Prior to that she also got the flu and covid vaccine at the same time in Walgreens which gave her a ticket to he ER and an overnight at the hospital ... Sounds like you are good to go with your DS-3025, good luck My fiancee's vaccination form was very similar to that, except for Hep B it said "Hep B was not available in Country" ... The key as we said is that none of the columns say "incomplete" .. After we got married, she got tested for Hep B antibody to verify she is not immune then received the Hep B series for free since it was covered by my insurance. Prior to that she also got the flu and covid vaccine at the same time in Walgreens which gave her a ticket to he ER and an overnight at the hospital ... Sounds like you are good to go with your DS-3025, good luck

No, I mean the DS-3025. You only need form I-693 if the form DS-3025 from the medical exam abroad is marked as "incomplete" or if your medical exam abroad was more than 1 year old. If either of these are the case, then yes you will need to see a civil surgeon and get a sealed I-693 with a medical exam and/or completed vaccination report as applicable.

Usually when you have your medical abroad, they give you all the vaccinations and give you a vaccination report to submit when you apply for your adjustment of status after you enter the USA. There is no need to see a civil surgeon after you arrive unless you don't have that form. Are you saying you didn't get your vaccinations signed off at your medical abroad? Why not? Regardless, all you need is to submit the vaccination form with your adjustment of status.

That's not median income ... Thats median per capita .. which includes the total population, working or not. The USA median household income for 2024 is projected to be $75K ... Your income of $20K/year is below the poverty level for a family of 2 (you and your gf). The likelyhood of young people staying in the USA to get a much higher paying job than you can in your country, and the likelyhood of finding someone to marry them, and the unlikely chance that someone will spend months and months of salary to visit the USA .. when there are so many cheaper and nicer places to visit nearby ..and your gf being totally dependent on you, is going to make it very unlikley or extremely unlikely for both of you to get a tourist visa. But you seem very confident, so sure .. give it a try and let us know how ...

If you have a substantial difference in assets from your spouse, own a business, etc.. then a prenup is a very wise choice these days since the divorce rate is so high. It can protect all your acquired savings and retirement accounts. It can also make decisions on how maritial assets are split up. But the latter is weak and can be hard to enforce if its not done by a very good lawyer. If you want to do a prenup, then a CR-1 is a bad choice unless you want to delay your marriage by a few months. A prenup needs to be done without any pressure, well in advance of a marriage, where the people signing it are under no social or financial, or emotional stress or any other thing that could be claimed as under "pressure: otherwise it can easily be challenged. She should agree to the terms before she comes to the USA, so is not under any pressure to sign it with the threat of being sent back home. If your marriage goes sour, your financee with the help of her lawyer will make lots of challenges on her forced, enticed, or coerced her to sign it so it needs to be rock solid. Likewise if her English is not perfect, she will claim at the time of divoce she didn't understand it, so you need to have it translated and get a translator for when she speaks to her lawyer. I mean you don't have to do any of this. She doesn't even need a lawyer, but if not, the prenup will very easily be challenged and thrown out. You can present her with a few lawyers to choose from if she asks you for help to find a layer, but she must be the one to choose her lawyer, or else the prenup can easily be challenged. She needs full and fair representation that is not biased in any way. And a good lawyer won't accept payment from you for her sine that could make her lawyer seem biased and weaken the prenup. It will be hard to fine a good family lawyer that will want to deal with the complications of a foreign fiancee. They will be concerned that the prenup could be easily challenged, difficulties in managing the signing, and getting her foreign attorney to sign off. What I did was to have it all done and approved well before my fiancee came to the USA. her usa attorney reviewed it and negotiated the terms with her by email and zoom. Then when she came, she met with her attonery to do the signing. You really need her attorney to sign off on it for the prenup to have stength. Then we put it away, and neve spoke of it again.

Hopefully not. Just make sure none of the required paperwork will "expire". For example visa photos, medical report, and some embassies want the police clearance certificate to be within ~3 months old despite what their webpage or document says, I have no idea about Vietnam. Remember, she must enter the USA before her medical expires,

True, but the claim is that the low issuance is because it forces the speed up of the I-130 approval in order to allow USCIS to cancel the K-3. There is a lot of evidence this true. However, I don't know if it iis really true or just coincidences. But it would have been harmless to try, but its too late for that now. In anycase, the point of this is that the OP will not get a B-2 VISA from the Philippines embassy. Heck, my gf could not even get a student visa for her master's degree (after just receiving her Bachelor's degree) simply because she had a USA bf (me) at the time. They told her to get a K-1 instead. So getting a tourist visa with a pending CR1 in this case, just isn't going to happen.