betsay

hi, received my green card on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011!!! looked different from the 2-year one the first thing I noticed was the picture - it is black and white, unlike in the 2 year GC which was colored. they also suggest to keep the GC in the small envelope they provided.

thanks Yurika & Jim for this nice thread!

hi vjers! got my approval notice too! january 13, 2011

i'm not on the list/summary yet, so if yo want to add me, here's the data:

1-751 DATE - 9/12/10 sent to California service center

NOA DATE: 9/22/10

BIOMETRICS: 11/14/10

APPROVAL DATE: 01/13/2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Hi Ria,

Welcome to the U.S.?

Sa Oregon ka ba? If you are, then LBC is the courier for you I send my boxes thru them, and it's $65.00 per box. check out their website for more info:

http://www.lbcexpress.com/contents/usa/default.aspx

I haven't been back to the Phil. since I cam here more than a year a go, and I was able to send a balikbayan box, so you can too. I guess it's called balikbayan box kasi bound to Pinas (buti pa ang box!) They have an official LBC box they sell for $3.00 (i think it's an 18x20x20), no weight limit (just be sure they can move or pick-up the box:), and they will replace the box for free. their office is in Powell Blvd., Portland, just check the website for the exact address and call them to schedule a pick-up.

there's no additional fees/customs fees, etc anymore, but they have a list of things that you can't send (nasa website din). and since it's a sea cargo, it will take more than a month to reach your folks in the philippines.

i hope this answers your questions and concerns.

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know if it's safe sending balikbayan boxes to the PI. I was thinking of sending one to the family back home. Also I have just arrived in the US, so would I even qualify to be able to use one or do I need to go home first to be considered a balikbayan? My husband threw in another concern too and that is customs and applicable fees. How much would it cost to send one? Would it have a hard time going through customs?

Sorry guys. I am just not sure where to get the answers to my concerns. I have looked on some courier sites but nothing seemed specific.

Thanks a whole whole lot to any answers that come my way.

Ria

Hi, I used to work in one of the philippine banks before (not PNB), so I'm hoping I can help answer your questions.

Does anyone know the following:

- Is there a monthly account maintenance fee for a PNB ATM account? - since you said you use Rapid remit, I'm assuming that the account opened was a "remittance acct, and normally banks don't require any maintaining balance. I dont understand why PNB would tell them to to leave a balance everytime, when in fact they can leave like a very minimal balance (a hundred will do). since ther is no maint. balance required, no fees should be charged

- Is there a minimum account balance required to avoid a low balance fee? see above answer

- Is there a transaction fee for the ATM withdrawal if a PNB ATM is used? normally no

- Does the ATM withdrawal receipt have the account balance shown? yes, it does

- Is it possible to get an account balance report at the ATM before the withdrawal? yes, all they have to do is make a balance inquiry first, and get a receipt

One thing I would suggest also is for your folks to go to the PNB branch of account and request for a copy of the bank statement. they might charge you a minimal fee for that, but that way you could check the transactions - deposit, withdrawal, and the daily/monthly balance.

Hi Ria,

welcome to the US!

I'm in Oregon, in the Lake Oswego Area sorry though but I can't tell how far it is from Bend (have to ask hubby later). Anyway, been here for more than a year now, and I can relate to you wanting to have Pinay friends over here. I've seen a lot of snow during my first year, and some snow this year, hehe . . . I have some Pinay friends who are new to Oregon too, most of them from the Portland area, and we meet every once in a while to go malling, shopping or to just hang out. If you want to keep in touch, just pm me when you get here.

Enjoy the new chapter of your life with your hubby.

Hey guys,

Finally heading to Oregon after 3.5 years. Yup, hubby has been doing the jig since he arrived here in the Philippines. I'm moving to Central Oregon in the Bend area, and I was wondering if anybody from VJ is close to where I'll be at. We're leaving for the US on January 25 and it sure would be nice to have someone to keep in touch with when I get there. If you've got tips, advice, or funny stories to share, sure would appreciate any you can throw my way.

Actually Claudeth does take 30 to 40 minute showers a day but is trying to cut back

a good rule maybe no hot shower for her! see if she can last 10 minutes in a cold shower.

My sweet little Claudeth is a wonderful, giving woman but is also the most irresponsible person I have ever met in my life. I never seen anyone melt a bar of soap before but she does it. She can plug up the shower drain quickly and just loves to take 30 or 45 minute showers twice a day. She leaves the lights on constantly and the refrigator open all the time. She will fill her plate full of food and eat about 1/4 of it and the rest goes in the trash.

I am totally at my wits end. I have been dealing with this for 4 1/2 years but have made no progress in teaching her conservation. I love her very much and would never dream of getting rid of her but have been thinking of sending her to the Philippines for a visit.

Has anyone else had this problem? I have heard comments off and on but nothing consistant with what my little consumer does.

she needs to understand that just because she can do something, that does not mean she should. perhaps you should point out that this wastefullness on her part costs money, which curtails her shopping....

Conserve Resources ---> New Shoes!

new shoes could be the proverbial carrot.

BUY NEW

:thumbs: way to go!!!

I lived in the Philippines for a year on my first visit. I was really disappointed because of all the people sitting on there butts collecting money from there family members working abroad. Those people working abroad work very hard to earn little money and have to pay back most of it to the company who sent them. Then they send the rest of the money to there families. There families live like kings buying all of the goodies. When finally there contract is up they go back to the Philippines and find out the family spent it all and now they have nothing. They work all those years and in return have nothing to show for it except for the aches and pains.. The Philippines is becoming a welfare country relying on other people to support them. They don't have any ambition to get up and work. They would rather sit around and drink and get money from relative abroad...... They are dirty people to throwing there trash every where. you cant go any where without see trash.

Me I wouldn't send money to my wifes family unless i new they were working and it is a big emergency. They would have to show proof to. and then it would only be the mother and father no one else.

You seem to have a very low opinion of Filipinos and the Philippines in general. Which part of the Philippines is your wife from? You speak/write as if you know everything about the Filipino people. I admit that what you have seen was true, it happens, and I am not proud of it. But you have no right to generalize and say that "the Philippines is becoming a welfare country. . .they are dirty people throwing their trash everywhere, etc. Before you make any generalizations about my country and your wife's country, please check you spelling first, okey???

Just out of curiosity, does you wife know about your low opinion about Filipinos?

Is the Bayview Park Hotel the hotel directly across the street from the US Embassy in Manila? Any other suggestions on where my fiance Janet should stay? Any good or bad comments about the Bayview Park Hotel? Thanks for any help in regards to setting a reservation for a hotel stay for the interview.

Yep RIGHT across Roxas. It's OK. My wife, daughter and sister stayed there. They stayed at The Lotus Garden for the medical and was cheaper and liked it better. They wished they'd stayed there instead of the Bayview. It's only for 1 night for interview. It will work.

Yeah,Janet stayed at the Lotus Garden two times, cause she had to return again for the medical exam issues. I was just looking at the convenience issue. Just looking for some suggestions. Is the Bayview a dump?

Roaches aren't REAL big! They do fly tho.

Yes, roaches FLY when it's dark in Bayview! I know 'coz the first time my fiance (now husband) went to Manila, a flying roach decided to "kiss" him in the face at Bayview. Not a good first impression, I tell you. you might wanna check out cherry blossoms hotel - it's adjacent to robinson's mall, and very near the embassy. lots of taxi she can get from the hotel. free breakfast included too.

tell your wife to try www.meetup.com - she might be fortunate to meet nice Pinays in that site like I did. type in your zip code and join a local Pinoy group or look for Pinays with same interests or those who are also new to the area and are looking for new friends.

We've all been there, some of us are still adjusting and getting better at coping, but some do need more time. I think it's a good thing that you are not insensitive to the needs of your wife. God bless and i hope she finds new friends soon.

If you think he deserves it, Click Here, Read and Vote for Efren for CNN 2009 Hero. I just did.

Voting is only until Thursday, November 19, 2009 (6 a.m. ET).

I think he does. I already voted for him and told my friends to do so. The guy and what he does is admirable.

NEW XOOM COUPON CODE " SAVEOCTOBER " I USED IT TODAY. IT WORKS.

thanks for sharing. we'll probably use it this month

Three times, I offered to sign a pre-nup before Doug and I got married but he flatly refused. He said divorce was not an option. GULP!

you should be glad you married a good man

Pantene, shampoo and conditioner. you can also go to filipino/asian stores and look for sunsilk and creamsilk. one of my pinay friends order creamsilk online. you might also want to try Bath and Body works shampoo and conditioner. keep you eyes open for their sale - my hair is hiyang na hiyang sa shampoo and conditioner nila. smells great too!

My 2 cents

If you are making a decision for him... you are indirectly telling us that he does not know how to decide.

You should trust your husband enough to make his own decision.

You could tell him your opinion and views, still, he should be the one to make the final decision.

If the information is for him, respect him enough to forward it to him.

Btw, regarding the money thing, if he is the one who earns that money, let him decide where to use it. If your money is involved. That's another story.

If you are making a decision for him... you are indirectly telling us that he does not know how to decide.

You should trust your husband enough to make his own decision.

You could tell him your opinion and views, still, he should be the one to make the final decision.

Like I said....He already realized that what he was doing for the past 6 months was too much and he started to slow down for being active or about to stop about this whole thing. Specially na medyo may misunderstanding na ngyari sa grupo. Hanggang sa kagabi nga nka tanggap na naman kami ng mensahe from them again. Thought enough is enough because this is way too much of what we only agreed about when the first time he asked me na "paminsan-minsan lang naman yung gagawin nya". Thought everything is already back to normal when I see him relax everytime he came home from work. We always talked if what is the problems and very open din to each other not even about even a little from the past, that's why I felt bad about sa ginawa ko kasi for the first time may ginawa ako na hindi ko masabi sa kanya. Being a wife I dont think I can just sit down and ignored him even seeing him exhausted physically and mentally about this.

Regarding about the money.... We both earnings money, honestly... there is no "My Money" and "His Money"between us... It's always "Our Money". We get bankruptcy or get rich it is "US", Not just me or him. I never have also a problem if he spent money for this. The problem here is FAR from the money.. It's about his tttoooo much Effort and tttoooo much time that he spent for this bull without getting any credit sa mga kasama nya.

LOL I wish I can tell the whole Story about this whole thing..... But the whole point about this thread is about kung meron ba dito na na-experienced not the same story pero same na nakapag tago ng sekreto sa mga husband nyo for both own good. I even just to talked about it in our own language lol due my husband checking this site also sometimes lol.

Show some respect to your husband, girl. I think you should go to him and tell him everything you did in SECRET. I wouldn't want to think how pissed off he will be when he finds out that he is the last to know about your little "secret".

I agree with you about the money issue though. . .

Hello Everyone,

My beloved wife has started her first job here in America. Its only part time to start till her pregnancy gets a bit less stressful.

Now she can pay taxes just like everyone else!

She is working for a local day care in the nursery taking care of 14 new babies!!

What kind of first job did your SO do when she/he first got here in the US?

Phil

congrats on your first job!!! my first and current job is a bank teller. i'm also working part time, 20 hrs. a week. no plans of working full time - been there than that (in pinas

I did not fall in love with a "foreign" man as I never pimped myself in the Internet. My husband and I were sweethearts in the Philippines and the relationship started more than 10 years ago before he moved to the USA. Besides, I'll never be attracted to American men!

Oh that is so sweet So the relationship continued over the internet obviously for a long period of time, and you used the hi-tech way to communicate with him on a daily basis JUST to keep your man... so, in that sense, you pimped yourself in the internet as well. .PEACE!!!!!!!!!

I did not fall in love with a "foreign" man as I never pimped myself in the Internet. My husband and I were sweethearts in the Philippines and the relationship started more than 10 years ago before he moved to the USA. Besides, I'll never be attracted to American men!

so, you think you're better off than those who married american men? not all those who were attracted and married american men pimped themselves on the internet.

your stereotype of those who met their LOVE on the internet is disrespectful and naive.

hello anyone can tell me what to wear at the embassy for interview.

they said formal or business attire. so confusing. maybe someone can include some pic lol.

any suggestions ?

a business attire what my wore on her interview. abby n sheryl

Abby, are you trying to advertise ECSTASY?

A cool handbag, a lightweight soft natural fiber scarf and some shades?

She's probably 48-50 years old. She loves the casino! And doesnt take nearly as much time for herself as she should!

anything name brand

Hey Everyone!

I am going to visit my fiance in 3 weeks I cant wait.. But anyway, during the time I wil be there it is his Aunts Birthday. I have met her about 4 times, and out of all of his family, she is my favorite. She is always so kind and makes me feel really comfortble. So, I would like to bring her a gift. I just have no idea what the heck to get! If anyone has any ideas please let me know~

Thanks So much!

Megan

PS im not sure how this ended up in Canada... and I cant figure out how to delete it and relocate it. Im sorry!

or depending on your budget - a nice purse would be even more impressive!

Hey Everyone!

I am going to visit my fiance in 3 weeks I cant wait.. But anyway, during the time I wil be there it is his Aunts Birthday. I have met her about 4 times, and out of all of his family, she is my favorite. She is always so kind and makes me feel really comfortble. So, I would like to bring her a gift. I just have no idea what the heck to get! If anyone has any ideas please let me know~

Thanks So much!

Megan

PS im not sure how this ended up in Canada... and I cant figure out how to delete it and relocate it. Im sorry!

How old is the filipina aunt? most filipinas love Victoria's Secret or Bath and Body works stuff - you could give her a gift set from either store.

I send her lots of cards and letters in the postmail...

I have filled her email box to the point that Yahoo will likely start charging her for 'space' soon...

I left PLENTY of sweet comments on her friendster...

We txt so much now that she has to load her phone every 3 or 4 days! (A P500 load USED to last her for 2 months! HAA!!)

We talk on the phone daily and I actually LISTEN to her and what she has to say...

Here in a few hours, she will be calling because she got some roses from me... (THIS is going to be a good call I am SURE!) She does not know they are coming...

I wonder what I can do next to show my honey how much I care for her??? I tell her all the time but like to do things to show her also...

Money wont work here, She is NOT impressed this way at all. Would likely make her angry if it was something expensive...

ALL of her personal needs are met, so I can't really do anything there to help.

I am NOT willing to send her any body parts just yet. That would likely work against me here.

No way I am getting any more tattoos either!!!

Any suggestions here for what I could do next??? Thanks!!

Have you met in person yet? I suggest you make plans to see her before the "relationship" gets any further/deeper (if you haven't seen her in person yet).

It is a pity that all of us here (on both sides of the various borders) have to endure such long timelines to be able to get the chance to be together on a daily basis. I think that for many of us, especially those of us who have been through marrriage and divorce and DEFINITELY those men (and a few women) who lost their a$$es in divorce settlements, the 90 day period between arrival and the "deadline" is really the final test. Sure, we are all committed to getting engaged and married, but the 90 days is a final test. Having been involved in many long distance relationships, you can never be certain how your relationship is going to be on a day in, day out basis. If you and your fiance had actually spent much time in a "normal" dating situation, you might have found out you were not right for each other much sooner and certainly wouldn't have had to endure the USCIS torture test. Be glad that your fiance' had the fortitude to be able to make the tough decision to stop what he felt was not the right thing for him. In the long run it will be less painful for you. But do not lose hope that the right person is out there for you.

Good luck healing and then finding the right one for you.

Just a correction to your statement above: I was the one that made the "tough decision" to return home, to make things easier for him. We are both still very much in love with each other and want to be together, bearing in mind we've known each other for over 10 years and have spent "normal" dating time together, but due to medical reasons, like panic and anxiety attacks when he realized the 90 days were counting down, it made life very difficult for both of us, so it was either me coming home or the risk of being deported.

sorry, but it doesn;t make sense to me at all

Hello fellow vj members,

I would like to ask any suggestion you may have..What is the best way to send package/stuff to the Philippines that is quick and affordable?How long the package would get there?I want to send gifts for christmas to my family in Pinas.

Thanks in advance.

you might wanna check out LBC hari ng padala - it's about $65.00/box, depending on the size and your location, and it takes about a month to get to the Pihilippines.

http://www.teamlbc.com/products.html?page=....aspx?zip=97035