STEPHnRIA

We paid 1,613 for each adult, 1,315 for child airfare via United Airlines and Japan Airlines. Yes, prices skyrocketed because this is high season, everything is like 2,000+++ so I guess what we paid is somewhat cheap. We used sidestep.com and was directed to vayama.com.

Update:I was able to find a cheaper than $2,000+++ flight. Every website that I checked, it was $2,000. I tried sidestep.com and the site found me a $1,609 roundtrip ticket(net-including taxes and fees) to Philippines leaving on Decmeber 15 via United Airlines and Japan Airlines. So we get to spend Christmas and New Year in Philippines! I guess that price is ok knowing that the dates I chose were peak season.

I know....sigh. But it really has to be December as my parents requested for it. Northwest or Delta is higher than other airlines like Cathay Pacific, Continental, etc. Im still trying and will let you guys know if I found something cheaper.

We want to spend Christmas and New Year in Philippines. The prices for December-January slights are so pricey! It's $2,000+++. I remember that before, you can get business class roundtrip ticket for $2,500 at Northwest. I found letsflycheaper.com but they too can't get me a price lower than $2k. Anyone here knows a travel agency or website where I can get it cheaper? Its going to be the 4 of us- 2 adults, 1 5yr old kid and a baby. Thanks!

Theres nothing you can do but to wait until she is on the database. How long? Who knows.

I remember waiting for my SSN for three months because "Im not on the database". Waiting for my driver's license for a month because "Im not on the database". We went to USCIS local office to ask why I was not on the database and they said, you are in our database. Then went back to DMV to tell them what USCIS said then DMV said its a different database that blah. blah, blah while shaking their heads. They blame the USCIS. Bottomline, you will just have to wait. It took me a eight months to get everything in order and when my GC came, I have a different middle name. Very exhausting and frustrating but then its true- its a test of your patience.

sounds to me like its WIC. You don't have to be a US Citizen to be eligible for WIC and its not means tested benefit. It's for women who are pregnant, newborns to 5 yr olds and income must be 100 percent of Federal Poverty Guideline but can not be more than 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

I am praying that you will have the courage to get out... and fast.

another question is... how did the CRBA get approved? You have to prove that the USC parent and non USC parent were together when the child was conceived. Evidence could be passport stamps of the USC. Sometimes they ask for DNA test. Also, there are requirements from the USC parent which are birth certificate or US passport and signature. Seems to me that the USC did not really want to "leave" the baby or he was simply too busy with his new girl that he didnt have time to worry about petitions, affidavit of support etc.

In my opinion, all people who comes here in the US are presumed to have intention to stay. That's why there are people who were turned away at POE. The tourist visa doesn't guarantee entry in the US.

How do you prove one has intention to migrate anyway? Unless the POE officer can read minds...

Very well said.

If you have the guts, go do it before your I-94 expires.

Everyone knows that it's "illlegal", but like I said, if your relationship is valid then you don't have to worry much. USCIS is more focused on catching sham marriages more than anything.

I know this is a family immigration forum, but how people decide to go about "uniting" their families is really none of our business. If some want to take the long and legal route, then well and good for you. If some visited the U.S and just decided they can't do without their partners and decide to get married and do the AOS, let them be. Yes, we can give them advice, educate them with the possible consequences, but at the end of the day, just "support" them in whatever they decide to do.

even if her I-94 expires, she can still adjust status. as they always say... everything is forgiven when you marry a USC.

HOLD ON PEOPLE! BE CAREFUL!

If you stay and adjust, you will not be apart of your love one. You will be together while in the process.

There's a chance that your petition will be denied with NO right to appeal. You have a higher chance to succeed; however, you are taking a risk small but a risk and you maybe deported.

If you fail, the consequences are:

You will have to go to the CR1/ IR route anyway. This process takes to complete and average of 8 months to one year. But, since you already started a AOS before, this will delay your case (2-3 months) you will have to present 2 waivers not so easy to get approved but not impossible to achieve. They will not let you to travel under the VWP any more. There's no visa fraud because you are not doing visa fraud you married your spouse without pre-arrangement.

If you go now and start a CR1/IR1, you will have to wait 8 months to 1 year for this process to complete. You will be able to travel under the VWP. There's no waiver involve because you didn't overstay. but your time together will be very limited.

This is the information YOU need to know.

It's your decision. Remember you are taking a risk if you stay. A large number of people here went to the K, CR/IR route.

I have been apart of my wife for almost 4 years because of a BAD decision. Very similar to the one you are about to take right now. So, I have been there. I'm filling 2 waiver, I had to wait for a 3 year ban, and I lost thousands of dollars while in the States trying to adjust. I took the risk it didn't work for me. Now you have the opinions of two sides. The one that went through and the one that didn't.

If any body else here has been through this kind of situations your advices is required.

well, this is fact- my sister came here in the US using B1/B2 visa. She was given 6 months then extended for another 6 months because she was looking for schools- (she is into culinary arts). Applied for student visa and was appoved (2 years). She met someone (USC) and got married when she got pregnant. They just had their interview and greencard is on its way now. My sister still goes to school.

Me? I took the K1 route even when I have my multiple B1/B2 visa good for 10 years. Im not jealous of my sister. Im happy for her.

I asked her what was asked during the interview. She said they asked her her husband's birthday and the gender of their baby and when is she due to give birth. And that's it.

Hey! I work at Dunkin Donuts. Coupons anyone? It's 1.99 for bagel with cream cheese and medium coffee. and 99 cents for muffin.

My wife also was very confused. Our relationship developed and she was ready to come here. She always said she would adjust. Then she got her dream job as principal, and I noticed right away from the opposite end of the earth that she changed. I could not figure it out, and i worried a lot, and felt very insecure. She changed because she became a principal and had job security and financial stability and had family obligations in the Philippines and her heart was so deeply attached to Asia.

She came here in spite of her mixed feelings, and we went through a nightmare. Twice she went home to the Philippines, the first for a 3 week visit, and the next time was indefinitely. She admitted she was so confused. But within just a couple days of being back in the Philippines, she sorted out all her confusion. She realized we were truly one. She didnt feel she fit in back in the Philippines anymore, and she became homesick for me and the USA.

When she first left the Philippines she even made excuses there to only take a leave of absense from her job, just in case she would want to go back. That also caused me a lot of grief and insecurity. When she went back the 2nd time, and sorted things out, she permanently resigned her job, burning all bridges back to the Philippines. Ever since she came back to me again all has been wonderful. Our marriage was changed for the better. And we are happily expecting our first child now too. All walls came down in our relationship. I also changed, for the better, becoming less insecure, more patient, trusting, and gentler in heart.

After her return to the USA, I think a big part of the improved relationship was actually that we became habitual in having daily devotions together. Every night we end our day with a daily Christian devotion for couples and prayer. We begin our day with prayer too, and surrendering all to God for the day. But in addition to that, we each learned a lot about ourselves and about each other, and it all impacted huge on our marriage.

So anyways, what I am trying to say is that I understand. My wife was torn. She really wanted us BOTH to go back to the Philippines to live. But it would have been more difficult for me, and she realized that. But she still left me and went back alone, and sorted her feelings out, then commited 100% to our marriage and walked away from a good life there to a life of financial hardship and foreign culture here because she realized the importance of me and our marriage to her.

That is how it was for us... I remember the day she left...just a note saying "Dont look for me anymore. I will come back when I am ready and if you still love me". She got a ride with a filipina I introduced her to, and her husband, a captain in the police department, to the airport 2.5 hours away. By the grace of God I figured it out she would be at that airport. I called my parents, and told them she is there, with certainty. They drove the 45 minutes to the airport to try to find her and did, and mom gently asked her if she would go home with them to sleep a few hours, and then they would take her back to get her flight that morning. I drove to mom and dad's house, and was exhausted, and fell asleep outside the door of the bedroom she was sleeping in. A couple hours later, that morning, I took her to the airport myself, and we held each other much, and it was very sad, and I stood there, watching through the crowd as she went through security, and she would look back to see if I was still there watching. And I watched her disappear out of site, and she watched for me, until she disappeared... and I guess she could see how much I loved her.... The hardest thing for a husband to do I think is to take the wife he loves to an airport, and with so much love watch her board a plane for the opposite end of the earth, not knowing if he will ever see her again, but determined not to pressure her or force her to stay or anything....to just let go and still love her with all his heart... So hard to do... Terribly hard to do... And God used it all to do something wonderful in our marriage.

Brian in Tennessee

This post gave me happy tears. Thanks for sharing.

a miscarriage and giving birth is not the same thing. if the question was- have you ever been pregnant? then i think there's a need to explain about the miscarriage that happened three years ago. Bringing a letter from a different doctor is a waste of time. The consul won't believe it. They think you got it from Recto or any bogus doctor. That's how they think. I think the big deal was the stretchmarks, so if asked, then explain about the weight gain/ weight loss. The interview is usually brief and short. Only answer questions being asked. Do not give more information. Sometimes, it can be used against you.

You guys are lucky. In our days, our batch waited for our visa to arrive for 3 freaking months. Imagine the torture.

Kelangan mo ata ng account sa photobucket.

then dun mo i-upload ung pic.

once na upload mo na dun, you will be given a link.

clink mo ung load image dito, copy & paste mo ung link

then click "ok"

tapos post...

un lalabas na dapat ung pics.

hey! kuha mo pm ko?

ok sige na nga aminin ko na...

gusto ko magpost ng pic ng baby ko kaso ayaw mag work. kaya eto, inaamin ko na engot ako. baka gusto nyo ako turuan kung pano. harharhar!

hmmm, May filed for Recognition of Foreign Divorce in January 2009 (she married a Japanese in the Philippines 2004, divorced in Japan 2006). There have been many cancelled and held court dates through the spring and summer. The last hearing was Sept 2009. Told to wait for judge's ruling. To date, no decision from the judge has been issued. Maybe annulments are different. We have been waiting to file our I-129F until the judgement is received.

We applied for a tourist visa in Dec 2009 (since we seemed stuck by the judge) to see if she could qualify (she owns a business and several pieces of property - we thought enough for financial ties). We knew it was a long shot (and the did tell her no). The CO told her that her Japanese divorce would be recognized by the U.S. and could have gotten married while here. He told her she was an excellent candidate for a K1 visa. She explained we were waiting for the judge's ruling before filing. He asked if we planned to marry in the Philippines, she said no. The CO Interviewer stated that if she were standing before him as a K1 Visa applicant all she needed to do is bring her Philippine Marriage Certificate and her Japanese Divorce Decree. That would be enough.

So, as soon she gets another copy of her Japanese divorce decree (a week or so) we will file our I129F. It is entirely possible by the time our packet gets to the Manila Embassy one of the 3 scenerios will exist...

1. We won't need the Recognition of Foreign Divorce as the CO stated.

2. The judge will have ruled and we will have the Recognition of Foreign Divorce.

3. The next interviewer could state we need the Recognition of Foreign Divorce and be told to wait until we have it.

Oh, sorry. Got so caught up in the sub-topic here that I forgot.

Congratulations

Hey! Thanks for the info. I welcome any opportunity/ information to learn. And I learned a new one today.

and by the way your case is somewhat similar to this other filipina who married in US and filed for divorce. There was no need to get annulment in the Philippines since it was not reported so there was no record. The US Embassy accepted the divorce papers. She is now in the US again on K1 visa filed by new fiancee.

I'm good,miss u na nga din! hay kita mo nga naman,1 yr na agad tayo dito hahah...we just had our aos interview and went good,waiting for the approval letter and the gc itself in the mail...how're u?have u given birth yet?do u have facebook..hahahha at nagusap dito

I gave birth to a handsome baby boy! Syempre kamukha ko, harhar! I have facebook. Search mo yung email add ko.

HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO YOU AND STEPH!!! I know what you've gone through,we know that life has its ups and downs but then,who said life is easy? ...here's to more adventures of a lifetime!!! CHEERS!!!

Lekat! Bheng!!! Kumusta ka na friendship??? huhuhu. Miss you! Sabi ko na nga magpaparamdam ka sa topic ko!!!

kainis itong thread na to. I don't know why I even bothered to participate. Paulit ulit na lang. Sometimes, I think those people who ask if age difference is a problem are those who are not sure of themselves and the relationship. In short- insecure.

kainis itong thread na to. I don't know why I even bothered to participate. Paulit ulit na lang. Sometimes, I think those people who ask if age difference is a problem are those who are not sure of themselves and the relationship.

ah ok salamat ha.. sna ako din isang trial lng para sa testimony ko at sa psychologist.... bkit me social worker parang di ko un narinig sa atty. ko ah... ska anong reason bkit prang natagalan mong nakuha un finality mo..?

kailangan yung social worker for the custody of my son. kung wala kayo anak, di kailangan ng social worker. may waiting period para sa finality, mag intay ka yata ng at least 30 days after the decision. intayin nila kung mag contest or mag appeal yung ex mo. kung wala naman, saka issue ang finality.

Congratulations! You make a very happy and cute looking family.

You're 3 years and still married, that means you're eligible to test for citizenship!

Best wishes for many more anniversaries in your future!

Really? is that true? But they just applied for cr1.

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Happy Anniversary!!!

Am I right that we have the same anniversary date- January 21st?

hmmmm..... teka isipin ko muna kasi ang tagal na nun e

ok... yung first annulment ko- one day pre trial, then one day para sa testimony ko and the psychologist, then one day for the social worker. so bale 3 trial. Nag file ako july 2007, lumabas yung decision ng november 2007. finality nung january 2007.

yung second annulment ko, isang pre trial and isang trial for my testimony. nag file ako april 2008 lumabas decision ng june 2008. finality nung august 2008... just in time for my interview.