Vera__

I'm from Iloilo, now in the Bay Area

Bring the following:

- Photos of you together, printed emails, snail mails, and other proof of relationship

- Certificate of Marriage (CEMAR)

- Proof of income

- Original birth and marriage certificates of your wife

I already have my visa and we're set to leave for the US on July 26. My name in my visa is still my maiden name-- same as my name on my passport since I got it way back when I was still in college. However, I am contemplating on getting a new passport (they don't amend anymore) and planning to use my husband's surname -- as I've been using it since we got married almost 2 years ago -- but I'm having second thoughts as this might hamper my entry to the US (since obviously my VISA name would be different from my passport's name). When I asked the DFA person about it, she said, they will have to attach the old passport to the new one just in case.

I want to get a passport coz my old one has watermarks from my son's spilled milk. Fortunately, my personal details on the first page are still readable though some of my passport pages and some visa stamps from other countries are smudged. The US Embassy was good enough to put my US visa on one of the last pages that escaped from watermarks.

You know at this stage -- and after more than 1 year of waiting for my visa to be approved -- I just cannot imagine taking one wrong step that will result to my denial of entry in the US. So any opinion on this? Can I get a new Philippine passport in the US instead?

Wow, talk about an inconsiderate ex.

I have a step-son but so far, he's the "mabait" kind. I hope the ex-wife won't give us problems though.

If I were in your shoes, I'd talk to my husband to re-negotiate the arrangement with the ex-wife. I really can't enslave myself to do what you're doing.

Hi, my medical is on March 5 (today). Interview on the 11th.

The title of this thread should have read, "What IF there's no CEMAR"

Anyway, thanks guys. Yes we know some people at the NSO but they can't expedite it for us. People here (Iloilo) seem to be more principled and that's OK.

I'll just explain that my CEMAR is being processed and "to follow" if allowed. Hopefully, it won't be a big issue.

My interview is on March 11 and I just found out last week that I need to present a CEMAR during the interview. There's no CEMAR in the list of requirements for the CR1 visa interview. Anyway, I applied for a CEMAR Friday and I was told that it will be released after 10 working days. That means I'd be able to get it on March 13, two days after my interview date.

So what happens if there's no CEMAR? Can I present something else in lieu of it?

Also, is it perfectly OK if my husband is with me during the interview?

Thanks!