gladys

I just want to ask my fellow VJyers here.

I am scheduled to have the interview on March 11 of this year. However I just renewed my passport because it will expire on April. I will have the new passport by the end of March.

My question is-- Is it ok to bring my old passport (with the holes since its no longer valid) or do I have to call to re schedule the interview?

For those who had their interview done. Did the Immigration Officer looked for the passport? Do we have to submit it like when we had the K1 interview?

I also know that their will be a I-551 stamp. Is it really necessary?

I will really appreciate whoever can enlighten me with these queries. I just hate to reschedule the interview because God knows how long we have to wait for it again.

Thank you in advance!!

I-551 stamp is not always offered... it is typically given if requested and there is a reason (immediate travel) but otherwise you may not be given it.

when i had my interview back then, yes the officer did took my passport coz he checked my I-94 and kept the I-94 to his file... if i remember it right my passport just served as my ID since i didnt have a state id nor a driver's license back then... i am not sure if you will have issues but its best not to reschedule your interview... best to call the uscis itself coz they may know the best answer... i hope its gona be fine for you! im hoping it will. just bring all the extra docs that proves, you're renewing your passport. God bless!!!

edit to add: and he also checked my visa coz my alien # was wrong on my visa and they couldnt find me in their system...

Thanks for the information 'payxibka and RonMay !!

The I-94 and the visa is in my old passport anyways. I hope the old passport is alright. I will call USCIS too as advised by Vida.

Vids, I was able to read your reply to my inquiry on the Sept filers thread. Thank you!

I just want to ask my fellow VJyers here.

I am scheduled to have the interview on March 11 of this year. However I just renewed my passport because it will expire on April. I will have the new passport by the end of March.

My question is-- Is it ok to bring my old passport (with the holes since its no longer valid) or do I have to call to re schedule the interview?

For those who had their interview done. Did the Immigration Officer looked for the passport? Do we have to submit it like when we had the K1 interview?

I also know that their will be a I-551 stamp. Is it really necessary?

I will really appreciate whoever can enlighten me with these queries.

Thank you in advance!!

Good for you! you had it renewed already! I had my interview on Feb 4 and my passports expiration is Feb 28..whew! Just in time for the interview or I might be going to New York for renewal since I heard they no longer accept mail applications.

The first thing the immigration officer asked was my passport. She looked at it and took the I-94 in it. She returned it after though.

You can tell them the truth about your passport. It's always a good thing to tell the truth,isn't it?

I wasn't given a stamp but I was told that I was approved though that is all that matters. I read somewhere here that they no longer stamp the passport anyway.

Good luck to you!

Congrats to all recent approvals! keep it coming USCIS!

Vida Taylor

Thanks for the information.

I will surely call the Immigration.

I just want to ask my fellow VJyers here.

I am scheduled to have the interview on March 11 of this year. However I just renewed my passport because it will expire on April. I will have the new passport by the end of March.

My question is-- Is it ok to bring my old passport (with the holes since its no longer valid) or do I have to call to re schedule the interview?

For those who had their interview done. Did the Immigration Officer looked for the passport? Do we have to submit it like when we had the K1 interview?

I also know that their will be a I-551 stamp. Is it really necessary?

I will really appreciate whoever can enlighten me with these queries. I just hate to reschedule the interview because God knows how long we have to wait for it again.

Thank you in advance!!

I just want to ask my fellow VJyers here.

I am scheduled to have the interview on March 11 of this year. However I just renewed my passport because it will expire on April. I will have the new passport by the end of March.

My question is-- Is it ok to bring my old passport (with the holes since its no longer valid) or do I have to call to re schedule the interview?

For those who had their interview done. Did the Immigration Officer looked for the passport? Do we have to submit it like when we had the K1 interview?

I also know that their will be a I-551 stamp. Is it really necessary?

I will really appreciate whoever can enlighten me with these queries.

Thank you in advance!!

The online status can't be relied upon 100 %.

My EAD application was fortunately updated from the time we filed it up until I got it.

However the I 485 status was not updated. The officers in USCIS just updated it up until the time they received the additional documents since we received an RFE. I just got the letter today to appear for an interview. And when I checked the status, it is still showing the update way back dated October 29.

Envyme and others,

Envy me could you update me that My green card interview is on February 10th. Please pray for me.

I just found a job two days ago and my birthday is on february 11th. What a cooincidence huh...

Wish me luck...

Hi 'chrismatt84'!! We have the same birthday!!! Advance Happy Birthday!!!

Envy_me, I just received the letter from Immigration for the initial interview and it will be on March 11, 2009!!!

Good luck to all of our interviews!! And Congratulations to those who had passed their interviews and got their green cards.

This forum really helped me a lot!

Hello Sept. filers

I am sorry that I was away from the forum for a while.

I have been so busy with job interviews and gathering GC interview documents....

But, I have a great news.

I got a job as a paralegal at a law firm.

I had to take a test and have several interviews......But, yes, I did it.

Because I will have to take the busiest freeway in L.A. to commute everyday, it kinda sucks...

But, pay and benefits are great, so I do not have much to complain. I will gladly be stuck in traffic. lol

I will start next Monday. I am so excited.

Anyway, I hope you all are doing well.

My interview is coming up in three weeks.

I will definitely let you know how it is.

Nao

Congratulations for you new job Nao!! I've been checking vacancies in Craig's list. Its the only site that has been getting back to me so far.

Mga sis , ok lang ba na one day lang ang gap between my medical at interview? i plan kasi feb 9 and 10 for medical and 12 sa interview? sa 13 sana kaso lang Friday the 13 ehhhhhhhhh... any suggestions mga sis?

Its better if you have the medical exam a week before your interview , so that by the time of your interview the medical result is already forwarded to the Embassy. Your visa will only be issued if all the documents are ready.

I think it will still be okay to have a day apart gap but the consul will not be able to tell you right away if you passed or not since they have to wait for the medical.

Good Luck!

Wow!! You are really brave!! I admire you and Congratulations.

That woman should really lose her job. There are far more better people here in US who can do that job well. People here are losing their jobs like crazy and someone deserves a job than the woman who interviewed you.

Anyways,you and your angel have a safe flight!!

I just find it funny and interesting that the site was able to list all this unique Filipino traits and practices.

I don't know about most of them, but advancing the time is one that my wife does. If it's 8:34am in the morning, she says it's 9am!

Also, she'll say 'on' instead of 'in' .....like, "The keys are on my purse."

The 'he' for 'she' and 'she' for 'he' always confuses me when I'm trying to follow the story.

And I've noticed that plural words get changed around, like ...."Do you want egg for breakfast?"

I'm guilty of those things too. As much I want to correct it.. it always comes out of my mouth. Very frustrating......its just simple grammar but I can't get it right.......but 'm still working on it.

These 2 are the ones that make me cry... from happyness

♥ she may only tell you she loves you once in awhile. But, she shows you that she loves you in everything she does and says.

♥ you go to sleep each night knowing you're the luckiest man in the world.

That's very nice of you. I hope every husband feels that way and verbalize the feelings to their wives even after she cooked that stinky fish in the kitchen.

Claudeth's sister is named Lovely and Claudeth can't pass on a sale because......stuff is on sale whether she needs it or not

The other term for that is "bargain".. we often use the word... naka kuha ka ba ng "bargain"?( but what we really mean is if we got an item in a discounted price). Sounds funny now but it a term that we Filipinas only understand just like " for a while"......

Hoy!

If any of the following sounds familiar to you, then you're probably Filipino. Admit it, some halo-halo sounds pretty good right about now.

well not exactly why they sound familiar.......

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=158025

Oh!! I was not able to read that one. Sorry for re-posting this. This was just recently shared by my friend to me. And I found it really funny.

Its also nice to know that opinion of the American husbands to these things.

I think the husbands should read the second part to understand more about the Filipina wives.....

Hoy!

If any of the following sounds familiar to you, then you're probably Filipino. Admit it, some halo-halo sounds pretty good right about now.

• You answer to "Pssst!!"

• You point with your lips.

• You have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables like Ling-Ling, Bong-Bong, or Che-Che.

• You have uncles and aunts named Boy, Girlie or Baby.

• In your dining room there's a picture of "Last Supper" - and on either side of it are a giant wooden spoon and fork.

• The furniture in your house is wrapped in plastic or covered in blankets.

• You use shopping bags as garbage bags.

• You have a piano no one plays.

• You keep a tabo in your bathroom.

• You own a barrel man from Baguio.

• You can't resist buying items on sale even if you don't need them.

• You eat with your hands.

• and you cut your meat with a spoon and fork.

• You know a meal isn't a meal unless there's rice.

• There's Spam, Vienna sausage and corned beef in your pantry.

• You eat or have eaten fried spam and eggs with rice for breakfast.

• Whenever friends come over, they ask for "meat rolls" and you know they mean lumpia.

• You greet your elders by touching their hands to your forehead.

• You always kiss your relatives on the cheek whenever you enter or leave the room.

• Your relatives sing karaoke when they come over.

• A party isn't a party unless there's line dancing (who doesn't love the Todo Todo, Chilly Cha Cha and September???)

• You don't get grossed out by balut.

• Your mom puts sugar and hot dogs in her spaghetti.

• Your Lola taught you to gargle with warm salt and ginger water when you have a sore throat.

• You always take your shoes off when you enter a house.

• You know what the "chocolate sauce" in dinuguan is actually made of

• The tissues in your bathroom came from Holiday Inn.

• You "open" and "close" the lights.

• Your friends know what it means to be on Filipino Time.

• You think Christmas season begins in October and ends in January.

• Your second piece of luggage is a balikbayan box.

• You've mastered the art of packing a suitcase to double capacity.

• You've ridden in a tricycle that doesn't require peddling

• You hold your palms together in front of you and say "excuse, excuse" when you pass in between people or in front of the TV.

• Goldilocks is more than a fairy tale character to you.

• You say "prijider" instead of refrigerator

• Your Dad is/was in the Navy or your mom is a nurse or in many cases both.

• You leave a party with more food than you came with.

• You pronounce "v"s as "

• You're seen with a boy who's not Filipino and he's automatically your boyfriend and everyone knows about it

• You have Chinese furniture and walls screens in your house

• Your mom or dad came from a family with at least 10 children

• Your parents over exaggerate the time (ex:" hoy gising na ! its almost 12 o clock," when it is really 11:15am)

• You pronounce "f's" as "p's" and "p's" as "f's" eg. pliffing = flipping , pork = fork [or vise versa ]

• Finding relatives at the airport entails scouring the crowd for a bunch of people fussing with a balikbayan box.

• Anyone whose name you can't recall in conversation is referred to as "si ano".

• Somehow there is always room for one more on the motorcycle or tricycle!

• You take off your shoes in the house.

• Your mom tells you to wear your "chanelas" when you go outside.

• You ask your mom what your "ulam" is when shes cooking.

• Your mom likes oriental furniture.

• You can speak one or more: tagalog, illocano, kapangpangan or cebuano

• You can understand either: tagalog, illocana, kapangpangan or cebuano

• You always have sardines in your pantry.

• You've eaten the bird of the balut at least once was

• You know the "Otso-otso".

• If you're not the youngest in the family, you look like your mom.

• You like Kare-Kare.

• Church is a must on Sundays.

• The first thing you offer your guests is food.

• You like the "Black Eyed Peas" because one of the guys is Filipino.

• Taho is Deeeelish!

• You believe its bad to waste food.

• Your mom tells you that its bad luck to sleep with your hair wet.

• You own a "walis ting ting".

• You like ALL of the following: Sinigang, Nilaga, Tilapia, Dinuguan, Pansit, and Lumpia.

• Mango is a dessert.

• You get excited when you see a Filipino on an American channel.

• if you're living abroad, you have family in the philippines that expect you to bring pasalubong that's fancier than anything you even own yourself

• you know that the "white" version of "come here" is palm-up, fingers waving toward the body, but the pinoy version is palm-down, fingers moving toward body in sort of shoveling motion

• You nod backwards to say yes

• You raise your eyebrows to say yes

• You know that Adidas is more than just an athletic company

• You or your parents have a santo nino on the mante and a big wooden rosary hanging on the wall somewhere in the house

• When you know that "dat white one" means a CLEAR object and NOT white at all!

• You can measuring the water for cooking rice with two fingers

• The house you grew up in had a chandelier made of shell (capice)

• Your parents believed in various superstitions: like turning the plates at dinner if someone had to leave; saying "tabi tabi, po

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

YOU MAY BE MARRIED TO A FILIPINA IF . . .

♥ your refrigerator is always full but you cannot find any food that you recognize.

♥ instead of a dowry, you got the whole bill for the wedding and honeymoon.

♥ most of the decorations in your house are made of wicker.

♥ you are expected to be able to read her mind just by watching her eyebrows move up and down and which way her lips are pointed.

♥ all her relatives think your name is Joe.

♥ the instant you are married you have 3000 new close relatives that you can't tell apart.

♥ your house isn't really on fire, but there is a very charred fish right on top of the stove burner.

♥ all the desserts are sticky and all the snacks are salty.

she eats her fruit with giant salt crystals and her fried chicken with ketchup.

♥ even the ketchup tastes weird . . . very weird.

♥ you throw a party and everyone is fighting to chop the leathery skin off a dead pig.

♥ all your kids have 4-5 middle names.*

♥ your in-laws take 10 years to acknowledge your existence and to call you by something other than "that white guy."

♥ you try to call her up on the phone and someone tells you "for a while" and you want to know "for a while, what??"

♥ you are trying to go to sleep and she keeps asking for the comFORT'r, and you ain't got a clue what she's talking about . . .

♥ your first Christmas present is some funny looking baggy see-thru shirt made out of leftover lace doilies.

♥ your phone bills are all international and average 3 hours per call.

♥ she sweeps with something that witches usually fly around on.

♥ her idea of classy, expensive champagne is Asti Spumante

♥ the rice cooker is on 24 hours a day and uses up 50% of your electric and food budget.

♥ on your first trip to the Philippines, you have 18 giant boxes that weigh 1000 pounds each and your "carry on" luggage requires a small forklift truck.

♥ the same luggage is over filled with things that cost an average of 15 cents each like old magazines and M&Ms -- the worst part is when you get off the plane, the same stuff you've been hauling around half way around the world is available in every store in the airport for half the price!

♥ all her pajamas look like they were worn by the Dalai Lama until they got too faded.

♥ the first time she's pregnant you have to go out at 4:00 in the morning looking for some weird type of greasy sausages, green mangoes and bagoong.

♥ You buy a new $500 freezer so she can store 200 pounds of SPAM and CORNED BEEF that was on sale.

♥ everything in your house was bought on sale, even if you don't need it .. as long as it was a "bargain" is all that matters.

♥ she gets really excited by sucking the fat out of pig knees.

♥ your daughter gets her ears pierced when she's 2 minutes old but your sons are not circumcised until they turn 21.

♥ all your postage bills instantly double.

♥ you hire a yaya because your wife thinks you clean mirrors with soap and a sponge and the yaya seems cheaper than a divorce.

♥ the only "white meat" she likes is You, and that's if you're lucky . . .

♥ her favorite sauce is called patis, Americans call it turpentine.

♥ she actually thinks that bowling and golf and billiards are real sports and are more important than baseball and football.

♥ you were married 5 years before she explained to you that "ARAY!" doesn't mean "ooh, baby!"

♥ she prefers bistek to beef steak.

♥ her idea of new upholstery is rinsing the bagoong stains out of the slip covers.

♥ she can eat and talk at the same time, in fact that's her especialty!

♥ her favorite meal is leftovers, her favorite fancy dessert is Jello mold and for something REALLY romantic, she'll offer you a halo-halo with 2 straws.

♥ you still don't know what's the difference between manong and manok.

♥ she and the kids are always saying "Daddy made utot" and you still don't know what it means but they think it's pretty funny.

♥ other than eyebrow raising and lip puckering, her next most expressive form of communication is grunts and pssst's

♥ she goes to the movies just for the AC.

♥ her homeland has more Megamalls than islands.

♥ before every holiday and visit, her sisters fax you a 10 page "bilin" list which says "suggestion only."

♥ your kitchen table has a merry-go-round in the middle.

♥ all the vegetables she buys at the Filipino store look like they were grown at Chernobyl.

♥ your in-law's first visit lasted 5 years.

♥ her friends are named Chinky, Girlie, Boy and Bimbo and you are not allowed to smirk.

♥ her home economics course only taught shopping, eating and siesta; cooking, cleaning and sewing were not electives.

♥ her idea of edifying reading is gossip magazines.

♥ all your place settings has the silverware backwards and there are no knives.

♥ she washes her hair with a bucket and her car with a broom.

♥ she uses an umbrella even if its not raining.

♥ her favorite book (she has 3 copies) is "1001 New Recipes for Pig Parts You Were Gonna Throw Out"

♥ you are the only family in a 200 mile radius with 6 DVD player, 5 televisions.

♥ she's done her best job planning a surprise party for you if she manages not to tell you about it until a week or two before.

♥ she "cleans" her closet by throwing all the ####### into your closet.

♥ you are pretty proud of yourself because you think you snagged up for yourself some unique, rare, tropical goddess type until you go to the Philippines and can't tell her apart from anyone else in the whole country (unless she's taller than 5'1", then it's a bit easier).

♥ there's always singing in your house, even when the radio's off.

♥ your own mom, who was lukewarm about your marriage originally, now calls you long distance...to talk to your wife, not to you.

♥ your family announces that in the unlikely event of a divorce between you and your wife, she will always have a place to stay, but you better find a new family.

♥ your wife asks to get a job so that you will both have a little extra money, then thanks you for not complaining about having to drive her to work.

♥ your wife has a contagious smile.

♥ you both decide to divide your spare income, and you spend yours on a computer game or a power tool, only to learn that she spent her money buying clothes for you

♥ she might not have had a second pair of shoes growing up, but she's rapidly making up for lost time.

♥ everything in your house is "namebrand".

♥ you have a Western Union "Preferred Customer" card. Really.

♥ you complain when your wife tells you that longaniza is only for breakfast.

♥ you learn to like rice, even plain.

♥ you have a budget.

♥ she may only tell you she loves you once in awhile. But, she shows you that she loves you in everything she does and says.

♥ you go to sleep each night knowing you're the luckiest man in the world.

Check out: http://www.bakitwhy.com

I hate cold weather, even though I'm here in N California. I'm just thankful that its getting a little warmer this week. Highest will be around 71 degress. For the mean time that she is not here, buy here a jacket with the fleece lining inside, a hat, cardigan scarf. When she arrives, bring her to shop for a new ward robe. No woman will resist shopping even its snowing outside. Also, make sure you pump up the heater all the time when inside the house.

Help! I have a shirt wrapped around my face as I write this post. Some sort of small fish she cooks in oil, produces lots of smoke. It smells like the warmest day in gym class, only 100 times worse. It has been two days now, and I can't even go in the house without covering my face.

-Bullwinkle

Just be thankful your flipina is there with you. I would kill to smell a dead fish in my house right now. We are still in the immigration process.

Although when my filipina gets here... She will cook that stinky ####### outside.

Oh!! Just make sure your Filipina will not read this!! I'm sure she also love that "stinky #######". Although its hard to find it here.

Btw, where in Bohol is she from? I came from Garcia Hernandez.. PM me is possible! I'm excited to know a fellow Boholana here....

Good Luck!!

She is from tagbilaran city.She really loves that stinky #######. actually when i visited her last May. I able to eat that stinky crab.. so masarap hehehhe

She is from tagbilaran city.She really loves that stinky #######. actually when i visited her last May. I able to eat that stinky crab.. so masarap hehehhe

I told you!! Its masarap... You just have to try it.. The specialty if somebody came from the Visayas is the "Danggit". Tell her to bring it from Tagbilaran or Cebu when she comes here..

Help! I have a shirt wrapped around my face as I write this post. Some sort of small fish she cooks in oil, produces lots of smoke. It smells like the warmest day in gym class, only 100 times worse. It has been two days now, and I can't even go in the house without covering my face.

-Bullwinkle

Just be thankful your flipina is there with you. I would kill to smell a dead fish in my house right now. We are still in the immigration process.

Although when my filipina gets here... She will cook that stinky ####### outside.

Oh!! Just make sure your Filipina will not read this!! I'm sure she also love that "stinky #######". Although its hard to find it here.

Btw, where in Bohol is she from? I came from Garcia Hernandez.. PM me is possible! I'm excited to know a fellow Boholana here....

Good Luck!!

I think you are talking about tuyo or dried fish

Yep. That is what she called it. Any ideas?

Don't be too fuzzy Rocky_nBullwinkle!! Taste it!! It taste good!!! Pair it with rice and dip it in vinegar with some chille!! You won't think of divorcing your wife.. you may ask her to marry you again!!

Stay away from the duck eggs

Is what you are referring to? This is good!! Taste it!!

oooooh, yum, yum, yummy!!!!!...exotic like us Filipinas!!!

Yummy! Masarap! --Rocky

p.s. At least he thinks I'm tasty .

p.p.s. My new desktop!

My husband said that he will charge you for the picture of the Balut!! Just kidding.. He is glad you liked it. My Chris had tasted the balut and he said the taste is ok but he is not crazy about it. He despised the "tuyo" though. I can still remember his face when he was still living in one of the condos in Manila and smell the scent of the dried fish being cooked. He always curse the good all American cursing and wonder why we can eat that " stinky food". They just don't know how it taste like...

I think you are talking about tuyo or dried fish

Yep. That is what she called it. Any ideas?

Don't be too fuzzy Rocky_nBullwinkle!! Taste it!! It taste good!!! Pair it with rice and dip it in vinegar with some chille!! You won't think of divorcing your wife.. you may ask her to marry you again!!

Stay away from the duck eggs

Is what you are referring to? This is good!! Taste it!!

We had our interview this morning & no problem at all. The interviewer was nice & she only asked some few q's..she asked how's our wedding,how many people/witnesses we had,what's my name,my DOB,my ssn # but i don't memorized it lol & she said its ok & the rest are like have i enter the US b4,about arrested & deportation,etc..etc..etc...after that Congratulations ur Approved! wooooohooooo im sooooo happy....

Thank you Lord!!!

God bless us all!

Congratulations!! What a great day for you!!!

Hi All,

Has any of you guys that has received RFE contacted USCIS and do they specify the reason over the phone or do you just have to wait till you get the RFE in the mail.

We received an RFE for both I-485 and EAD. When I tried to call the number they only informed me of the same information I see on my case online. You can try to call but I bet they will also told you that they need additional documents stated on the letter sent.

But there is no harm in trying.

Good Luck!!

nag lilihi ako nang mangga!

new year, new blessing, tatlo na kami sa pasko....

as of now i always experienced nausea...

Wow!! Congatulations!!

Me and my husband always go to the Lion's Asian Market near Stevens Creek but there are no green mangoes the same as what we have back home. He said the mangoes they have are Mexican mangoes. I haven't tried it yet since its too big and I'm the only one who can eat it..

Maybe well check again in Sea Food City.

where i can find unripe mango? pls....

I'm looking for that too!! I still have my jar of bagoong for manggang hilaw but I haven't seen it anywhere even in Asian Market. Please keep me posted.