ja.da

Hello and mabuhay from Alabama,

We are in Birmingham. Alabama. There are about 300 Filipina/Alabama couples here.

Another 100 or more in Huntsville and more in Mobile. If you want to locate some in Alabama do a place - Alabama - search on Friendster.com.

Several hundred will appear. I know that is not many compared to other regions but everyone in Alabama loves the Filipino people, I believe.

There is no regional immigration center or field office in Alabama. There is a small biometrics center in Birmingham and most likely that is where you will go to have you biometrics for A.O.S.

Always great to connect with other Filipinos here in Alabama. Take care and may our Lord protect you on your new life journey.

Jim, Rosemina and dual citizen sons James and John

yeah you're right about the location of where to have the biometrics done, In fact the schedule to do mine will be next week. Aug 26, 8 am..my husband and i plan to stay overnight somewhere close by since we're from hartselle and its more than 2 hrs of travel and we didn't want to get up very early, although we're both morning person....And anyway, I'm glad to have met and known and seen my fellows here online and in person. It just brings a good feeling, makes me feel I'm home. Good luck to all of us here.

Hi, nice to be back here. Been here in AL for almost 3 months now and so far i have met just a few fellow filipinos and most of them have been here for more than a decade now. And everytime i meet some fellow, i feel so glad. And by the way, my fiance was right when he told me that people in AL are more friendly than people in other states ad big cities. Im happy to be here finally.

I dont think the size of the paper matters as long as the texts and all the boxes in the form fit in one page. good luck!

What about the emails, photos, phone bills, receipts, etc.? Do we get those back?

Yes we get those things you mentioned back the day after your interview....I worry about the original ITR, w-2, bank statements and house appraisal originals. I'll try to see if i can retrieve it once i pick up the visa. Hoping.......

I wish i did not submit the originals! DARN! Screwed here......dummy...dummy...

The question would be for those who are already in the US....I wonder what original documents that we've submitted during the interview @ the USEM Manila are given back to us @ the POE? I submitted all original documents and i am hoping to get them all back because i know they will be needed for some other legal processes with regard to Visas, GC, AOS and all others. Hope you could spare sometime to answer my question. Thank you so much!

It's really a sad thing to know that while im ehre enjoying the pink slip, others are in deep sorrow of not being approved. But my fiance and i expected the worst for my interview that if and when we won't get approved, he would come and marry me here instead and file for I-130....because it may take as much time to reprocess the K1.

I have a question...are the orig doc's given back to us at the POE? like w-2, ITR and bank statement? How about cenomar and birth certificate? thanks!

Guess what???!! I'm through!!! woohoo! i'll post my review when i have time...and right now im still savoring the joy i felt right after i heard the CO said " you're approved! " I cried a little and said GOD BLESS HIS HEART AND HIS FAMILY. then he replied, "oh thank you for that".

That's in 2 days! Get plenty of rest, build on positive thoughts of everything going well so you'll walk in with nothing but confidence. A positive outlook and energy will go a long way during those stressful moments! Smile, keep your hands well rested and open, don't look defensive or aggressive and take an extra 5-10 seconds to reflect on each question. Good luck!!! You are not alone in this...

These exactly are what I'm gonna do. thanks for that! I jsut hope i won't get too emotional during the interview process...else i'll faint..lol THANKS AGAIN!

Hi ja.da! I got Apr. 27 appt na. Good luck sayo and may God guide you on your upcoming interview, wag kabahan!

Thanks! Well, i get nervous once in a while but i try to manage it by the thoughts of being with my fiance forever...just like what my fiance said, just speak with your heart and you will get through it and if you look nervous it could be a hint that something wrong is going on.

God Bless din sa'yo, im glad you got a much earlier schedule.

Thanks all! gotta get into the habit of sleeping early now so i can get up early on thursday too. Its like 30 min from where i live (not including traffic anyway). i am not a very religious person but i take all your hopes and prayers for a successful visa journey of mine. I'll keep you all posted.

Hi fellows! i wonder how many people are going to have their interview on this coming thursday april 23, 2009... be counted. Me first....please keep posting. God Bless us on our interview!

Thank you so much for all your help VJ Family!

Can't believed i'll be with my husband next week!!!

Have faith and God bless you always!

Hi congratualtions...and maybe you can post some review? thanks! God Bless to your journey.

Hope and pray to be in ALABAMA soon...flight date (may 2, 2009)...route: manila-japan-houston-huntsville-HOME!

jlovesj, thanks for that. I already rescheduled my interview date coz i got sick and i've been suffering from tonsilitis and pharyngitis coz i've been drinking cold drinks too much. The packet sent to me via USPS arrived on time yesterday. I was given a May schedule again but i would still gonna call everyday to get an April slot, wish ko lang may makuha pa ko.

to ja.da, sorry tlaga nalate na kse pagmessage mo sa ken. last date of editing kse is Apr. 16 kaso nung 15 pinachange na namin kse nga wala ng time ang fiance ko to do that on the 16th.

anyway, i wish you all the best and sana naman everybody could experience a smooth and easy interview at lahat sana maaprubahan para lahat happy!

It's alright Kriztine, i did not keep my hopes high anyway. I'll just wait for a few more days na lang...isa pa malapit na ung 23 eh, the thing is we did a very risky thing to purchase the ticket which will be on May the 2nd. But i just pray it will all go smoothly. God Bless to all k1 applicants.

My fiancee just received her approved visa following her interview, but there's a problem with it. My last name is misspelled. Last time, before the interview, they misspelled her last name on one of those update letters they sent us. Now, the approved visa has my last name misspelled. How can they be so careless? Does anyone know how to correct that or any information on the process of correcting it? Does my fiancee have to go back to the US Embassy and have it corrected? They didn't leave any contact information in case of a problem, but they have a warning about it on the packet. (sighs) Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

HI, my best advice is to have your fiancee go there personally. It would worth the effort and money to have it all corrected and since it is a major legal thing (talking about the visa, and its like your fiance's "life" when she goes to US) you can't afford to be questioned. I hope i won't have the same problem becuase my fiance's name is MICHEAL and its almost always misspelled to MICHAEL.

too bad most of you here will be in the South, i will be going northwest. Will be in hartselle.

i love this thread..im so into make-up! can't live without it....IT'S ALL ABOUT FEELING GOOD, YOU KNOW... if you feel good and comfortable with or withour make up, i think thats what matters.Well, i make sure i feel good inside and out..Outside, as early as now, i make preparations such as, going to facial centers, body scrub and some laser hair removal hehe...When i get on the plane (hopefully)...i should never forget to wear just light make up and just do retouch from time to time.

HERE' s MY CHEKCLIST ShaneJean: ( for us make-up lovers)

and for convenience sake i will bring:

1. wet tissue instead of liquid soap to wash face and remove make-up then re-apply.

2. moisturizer of course, OLAY total effects is the best so far (i notice that you won't need toner, it automatically minimizes your pores).

3. liquid foundation

4. eyeshadow and lipstick palette by careline (different shades of lpstick and eyeshadows are all in one small case), and the eyeshadows can be used as alternative for blush on.

5. lipliner (optional)

6. eyeliner (optional)

7. face powder (san-san) hiyang ako dyan eh hehe...

THE GOLDEN RULE: too much of something is bad enough, so just make it all light to achieve a more natural look.

Know your color, shape of face, lips, and eyebrows, your cheekbone, contour of eyes.

Message me if you want some make-up tips lol

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS:

USE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AS A MAKE-UP REMOVER, IT IS HEALTHIER AND MAKES YOUR FACE SMOOTH TOO. JUST DAB A LITTLE ON A COTTON BALL AND WIPE OUT YOUR MAKE UP SOFTLY.

FOR MAKE-UP BASE USE PRODUCT THAT HAS UVA/UVB PROTECTION LIKE NEUTROGENA.

I do believe in the wonders of virgin coconut oil, besides i plan to buy a few and take them with me to the US because my fiance and i plan to create our own littlle spa in the house...and i think the VCO would make a good one for massage...............BUT, as a sunblock, i doubt it, oils of any kind on skin allows it to be heated up when exposed to sun.but i dont know, im not sure.

And yes, water water water...dont wait for yorself to get thirsty before drinking some.

I was suggesting extra virgin OLIVE OIL and not COCONUT OIL. Well, if it's good for you and suit your skin the go for it.

lol my bad...

i love this thread..im so into make-up! can't live without it....IT'S ALL ABOUT FEELING GOOD, YOU KNOW... if you feel good and comfortable with or withour make up, i think thats what matters.Well, i make sure i feel good inside and out..Outside, as early as now, i make preparations such as, going to facial centers, body scrub and some laser hair removal hehe...When i get on the plane (hopefully)...i should never forget to wear just light make up and just do retouch from time to time.

HERE' s MY CHEKCLIST ShaneJean: ( for us make-up lovers)

and for convenience sake i will bring:

1. wet tissue instead of liquid soap to wash face and remove make-up then re-apply.

2. moisturizer of course, OLAY total effects is the best so far (i notice that you won't need toner, it automatically minimizes your pores).

3. liquid foundation

4. eyeshadow and lipstick palette by careline (different shades of lpstick and eyeshadows are all in one small case), and the eyeshadows can be used as alternative for blush on.

5. lipliner (optional)

6. eyeliner (optional)

7. face powder (san-san) hiyang ako dyan eh hehe...

THE GOLDEN RULE: too much of something is bad enough, so just make it all light to achieve a more natural look.

Know your color, shape of face, lips, and eyebrows, your cheekbone, contour of eyes.

Message me if you want some make-up tips lol

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS:

USE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AS A MAKE-UP REMOVER, IT IS HEALTHIER AND MAKES YOUR FACE SMOOTH TOO. JUST DAB A LITTLE ON A COTTON BALL AND WIPE OUT YOUR MAKE UP SOFTLY.

FOR MAKE-UP BASE USE PRODUCT THAT HAS UVA/UVB PROTECTION LIKE NEUTROGENA.

I do believe in the wonders of virgin coconut oil, besides i plan to buy a few and take them with me to the US because my fiance and i plan to create our own littlle spa in the house...and i think the VCO would make a good one for massage...............BUT, as a sunblock, i doubt it, oils of any kind on skin allows it to be heated up when exposed to sun.but i dont know, im not sure.

And yes, water water water...dont wait for yorself to get thirsty before drinking some.

i love this thread..im so into make-up! can't live without it....IT'S ALL ABOUT FEELING GOOD, YOU KNOW... if you feel good and comfortable with or withour make up, i think thats what matters.Well, i make sure i feel good inside and out..Outside, as early as now, i make preparations such as, going to facial centers, body scrub and some laser hair removal hehe...When i get on the plane (hopefully)...i should never forget to wear just light make up and just do retouch from time to time.

HERE' s MY CHEKCLIST ShaneJean: ( for us make-up lovers)

and for convenience sake i will bring:

1. wet tissue instead of liquid soap to wash face and remove make-up then re-apply.

2. moisturizer of course, OLAY total effects is the best so far (i notice that you won't need toner, it automatically minimizes your pores).

3. liquid foundation

4. eyeshadow and lipstick palette by careline (different shades of lpstick and eyeshadows are all in one small case), and the eyeshadows can be used as alternative for blush on.

5. lipliner (optional)

6. eyeliner (optional)

7. face powder (san-san) hiyang ako dyan eh hehe...

THE GOLDEN RULE: too much of something is bad enough, so just make it all light to achieve a more natural look.

Know your color, shape of face, lips, and eyebrows, your cheekbone, contour of eyes.

Message me if you want some make-up tips lol

Would like to say a prayer for all who are going for interview on April 2, 2009.

Wish you all the best and come out victorious!

Sure...not a hard thing to do. All my prayers goes out to everybody who will have their interview. God Bless us All.

There is no basis for the statement im gonna make but i think when vegetables are cooked, its either it enhances or diminishes its potential health benefit. For me, if the color or pigmentation disappears or fades out, then its potency lessens (could only be applicable for veggies that can be eaten raw). But if you are so much worried about the nutrients lost while cooking, just retain the liquid when you prepare it in soup. (Asian cuisine anyway).