Kevin-n-Merlaine

Man, I really gotta get back in here more often..good gawd! OP, I'm so sorry to hear about all your BS The facts are the facts though and there are a million very beautiful and honorable women in the world. NO one deserves the ####### you got dealt. With the exception of a couple (I won't name them, morons..bah), you've gotten more good advice here than I could ever offer. The very best of luck and my best to you. NOW please post in here so we all know if you got her lying #### ejected!!

I had my wife roam her Smart sim before she left...incoming texts are free and you can receive them even with NO load. If you have an iphone, get an app called BiteSMS. You can prepay for text messages and they're cheap I receive texts on the Phils phone free (1 peso to her family) and send them on my ATT phone for about .06 cents each.

The brownouts do suck when it comes to Magic Jack. We used it and her family still has it installed. It's not all that convenient but the price is right At the suggestion of a member here, I set up a rebtel account and I've been very happy with that! It's only .06 a minute or so to call any phone anywhere in the Phils. Just throw 25 bucks into the account with my debit card, it posts instantly and away she goes

I was kinda shocked to find a really low fare on Korean Air for next JulyAug. RT from Dallas to MNL for 2 persons - a little over $1600 bucks...yes TWO travelers. Just have to shop OP. It's a pain but you'll find good deals

I took a Greendot prepaid card with me when I was there then left it with my wife. It worked out great and we're still using it She's here now but I just stayed with it and use it like you'd use any bank account. Up until a few months ago, BPI still wasn't charging the new fee there in the Phils but BDO and Metrobanc both were.

Congratulations you two!! What a beautiful girl

I'm not sure if they do it the same for K1 as they do for CR1 but I'd imagine it's the same - interviews are scheduled during the second week of the month for the following month.

I'll just post here so you can see my timeline...good luck!!

You're making me so hungry. I've already located all the asian markets in the area and one of the first things she says she want to do is go shopping.

If you can just get past the smell of the dried fish.. ..it's really good

She's made tilapia and lumpia for me and you're right they were masarap. Never had Filipino style fried chicken but will give it try for sure. Occasionally is good with me for frying food, just not everyday.

She makes some of the best chicken adobo I've ever had.

Not to hijack your thread daft McCormick chicken seasoning and a pack of wings and drumettes, Thai Jasmine rice, long green beans with roasted garlic and red onion..mmmm!! Oh and don't forget the Louisiana hot sauce!! She likes Talapia and we found Jack fish (Talakitot) at the asian market and the regular market here carries Tuna of course. If she's like my wife she's not going to care as much for fresh water fish.

No doubt I'll do anything to make her feel comfy and welcome. I guess what I'm looking for is an idea of something I haven't thought of.

If she's like my wife, just show her that this is HER new home. Give her free rein to decorate, move and re-arrange anything how she likes it. Get all the things I posted earlier so that she can pick up any phone in the house and call anytime she'd like. Skype is a godsend so get her and her family all hooked up with that if possible. Take her shopping because she's going to land with 3 bags that are "everything she owns". My wife (like a lot of Filipinas) is a CHEAPA$$!! She loves the ukay ukay (goodwill)!! Just spend a lot of time with her, do simple things together, cook, go for walks, show her around everywhere...everything's brand new It's a blast I'm tellin ya...enjoy every minute of it

I like your thinking. Each day of my life I am thinking more or less the same thing you are thinking.

Two of my major concerns:

I like to keep my place very neat. I only eat or snack in the kitchen dining table. I will not bring food to the living room, home office, bedrom, etc.

The second, (No offence to no one please)I noticed when I went to the Philippines that frying food is a big hit there. I like frying food but I refuse to cook it in the house. It makes a big mess in the kitchen and also it is not healthy at all.

We will see how we can work out those things . One thing for sure, I like to make her at home and happy so some of my rules will need to be bend..for the love of her now that was sweet ?

You're going to have to do more than "bend" the frying food rule. There are very few Filipino dishes that don't include something fried. It's not just your home anymore once she gets there. I think you'll be surprised at just how healthy even the fried foods are. It's not like french fries and corn dogs. Her emotional health is gonna depend on how "at home" she feels. The easier you make it for her, the easier it will be for both of you. Skype, international plan for the home phone, magic jack in the Phils, Rebtel ...all of those will make a big difference. Spend all the time with her you possibly can and afford her all the attention she's going to need. She's going to miss the Philippines and her family but you can ease that a lot by making this HER home and never letting her feel like a visitor

Like the others said, read the guides here and get the I-130 filed as quick as possible. It took 5 months for us to get through USCIS. Once you're through that "cluster" it goes fast though. Also start reading Ling Che's guide and learn it front to back while you're waiting on USCIS so that you're ready to kick NVC's #### when that time finally gets here Good luck!! (I always forget that word's censored hahha)

Same here - 200 I think for two affidavits and copies. We had Merlaines' attorney friend do them for us. He was also a sponsor at our wedding

Thanks. My question is do they sell personalized MM's chocolate for birthday for kids like they sell here, USA, with personalized message and pictures of the BD kid?

Dunno about the personalized option but they carry anything you might want to send. I've sent everything from flowers to a washing machine. Filgifts was the last I used and it's roses and sweets (not sweets and things). All that I mentioned are dependable and reasonable

You're gonna pay a fortune to ship with any carrier IF you even get them to ship it. Food's not generally allowed. There are a bunch of different online shopping companies that will deliver it to their door very reasonably though. I've bought a variety of different things over the past year from a few different companies and have had great luck with them. Filgifts and Philregalo are both very good, sweets and things is another (they're board members here if I remember right?).

Have you met a filipina online? Or are you hoping to meet one on your trip?

Getting married in the Philippines is not like Las Vegas. There is a 10 day waiting period after you apply for a marriage license.

It took about 3 weeks just to get all the paperwork done. I was there 32 days and flew home 5 days after we were married. That's only for a civil wedding. Count on a LOT longer than that for a church wedding.

I met my wife in June one year ago, flew there in August, and was married in September. There was never any question about the length of our courtship at any point in the immigration process. If you have the evidence to prove you have a legit marriage and ongoing relationship then that's what matters to the government. Like Teena said though, making sure that she's the right girl for you is more important. I knew before I went to the Phils that Merlaine was it for me.

She must have taken his computer.

It's either that or the OP was about to tell us he/she was going blind . SsssSS HOyyy! We're over here!

Yeh, after weeks of waiting to hear from the SSA we went to the local office on Friday. No record of her at all so now we can wait another "7 to god only knows how many working days" for it to show up. At least they were really friendly and the line wasn't too long. Speaking of which, I was shocked at HOW friendly they were there! Has congress passed a bill that requires them to have therapy and take meds?? That was NOT the same SS I've known and loved all my life. Anyone else have this problem?? I was ready for a fight, then.. NICENESS!!

I think it's the best a safest bet - just take everything that you'll be taking to your interview (that's what Merlaine did too)

Hello Kevin-n-Merlaine,

Are you guys in Wichita Kansas, because i am in Wichita Kansas too.

Hi Chella, yeh I've lived here for years and now FINALLY both of us do..hahha Good luck on your journey!!

Why I'm the only jerk still having to handle with USCIS????????

I'm sooooooooo pissed you guys!!! None of you work for the post office/USPS bu any chance? I could really use some help!

Iknowright! After putting up with alllllll the ####### that USCIS and NVC can throw and then to be thrown the the USPS wolves Hang in there...it'll come

No one told me there was a party in here?! Merlaine got TWO welcome letters..hahha One came dated the 8th then another dated the 14th, then a week later she got the green card Still no SS card but I'm hoping it'll show up this next week (sure would like that tax refund..hurry up ssa!!).

I am USC and paid for and sent in completed DS 230 and I864. I've seen some people talk about a DS 3032, Can someone tell me what that is?

That's the Choice of Agent form. It allows the petitioner to send and receive all future correspondence. If you don't submit that form then the documents that are required from the beneficiary will be requested from them and not you. It allows the petitioner to act as the AGENT for the beneficiary. If you've already paid the AOS and IV bills and sent those packets of info, you're already past the DS3032 stage though.