DaleandPat

RFE sent in Oct 2, 2012. Have not heard anything yet. Our evidence did not really start until a couple months after our wedding Feb 27th, 2010. We are showing bank statements from two banks; one starting in March of 2010 and the other in July of 2010. We kept adding more in February of 2011 with 2 utilities and a mortgage agreement. I am afraid we did not have enough evidence at the time we got married to satisfy CSC.

Dale

My Fiancee had her medicals the last 2 days. She reported back this morning and was told she has to have the Sputum test which will be next week on 12th,13th,14th. They found slight scarring on one of her lungs. She told me that the majority of the women that were there with her had the same results. What is the procedure for extracting this culture from the lungs?

This is a small set back as her interview was on the 14th of next week. I assume that St. Lukes will cancel this appointment as they stated that if the culture is okay in 8 weeks they will reschedule her interview in March. I just pray that all is okay and when they make new interview appointment that I can bring her across by May 2010. Just not sure how long between the time she is cleared and actual interview appointment will be!

Will she need to have new Cenomar and Philippine police clearance updated when she makes interview? She just got all this in early Dec 09.

Good luck to your fiancee on the sputum test. My fiancee had the sputum test done, because of lung scaring. It was negative after 3 days, but she still had to wait for the 8 weeks. t was still negative after 8 weeks and was able to come to the USA. She did have the vaccination some years ago, but they still want to run the test to make sure. The St Lukes Center did cancel the original interview with the US Embassy, but if they do not get the paperwork from St Lukes no interview can be conducted. At the end of the 8 weeks Pat went in for the evaluation and with the negative result St Lukes scheduled the US Embassy interview appointment.

God bless,

Dale and Pat

Hi Everyone,

Pat finally had her visa interview Dec 16th and passed it. Finally after the long 2 month TB test, which resulted in a negative result, Pat has her pink. While near Manila I will be ready to get airline reservations for next week.

Dale

She got a really nice and relaxed pre-screener who was joking around and chewing the fat with her while asking questions..

Then for the Consulate - Another really nice person who seemed genuinely interested in our case.

She was approved rather quickly! Thank God and thank you all for the support!

Congrats, you will be in America for Christmas?

Dale

Hi anybody experience giving bank statements to the embassy during the interview. Is it ok to cross out SSN and bank account numbers? will they keep those?

I went to my bank for a tally of deposites for the past year with the teller's letter on letterhead and indicating the total of the deposites and signature with date. I tried to eradicate the bank account numbers on the printed out deposites, but there were so many and even using a Sharpie if you wanted to see the number you could hold it up to a light and still make it out.

Dale

I am paperless with my bank, so nothing is mailed to me. I am suppling the statements to show direct deposits of my retirement checks which there are (3). Will printing the on-line view of the page of my deposits be acceptable to embassy? Keep in mind the on-line versions do not show complete account number. I will not print every page of each statement, just the deposits to cut down on total number of pages. Also, do you think the embassy cares what the ending monthly balances are? Any good advice is greatly appreciated.

I am not sure about printing out the statements. I have also gone paperless, but I did go to someone in the bank and they added all my deposites for the past year and created a letter with a signature. Tomorrow I will find out if it worked. That way the letter was on letterhead specific to the bank and a real signature. The bank also printed out all my deposites and I sent that to Pat for her interview. I suppose by all the deposites it can be seen that the deposites should add up close to what the W2s claim for your income and your pay stubs should show some of the same figures.

Good luck,

Dale

Ok, here is my problem or concern. I Emailed all of the documents to my fiance. I did send everything out to her. But I don't think they will make it to her in time before her interview next week. The company I work for don't offer employment letter's. I have no idea why. We are a hugh international company. So all I have are my paystubbs and w-2's/tax returns for employment verification. Will this be a problem?

I work for a large company too. Due to legal matters they do not give employment verification. They use The Work Number that the employee can give access to a requester for the needed information. So I gave the sheet to Pat with my SSN for the embassy, but I also printed off a sheet from the company website that says you are an employee, plus I printed off a copy of the total rewards and I sent a copy of my last raise. I also have like you sent, the paystubs, W2s, and tax returns, and a letter from my bank.

Tomorrow on the 16th Pat is having her interview and I guess we will see.

Dale

Hello..I was just wondering if it's safe to send balikbayan Box to my family in pinas now that there are Somalian and Nigerian Pirates...What trusted courier services that I can use, to send the box?

Thanks in advance and God Bless!!!

I have sent two boxes; one last year and the other one this year to my fiancee. One took 2 months and the other 4 months to arrive. They were intact and in good condition when they arrived. The boxes went through Alpha Cargo.

Dale

I am American Girl, I married my husband who is from Philippines. It just turned out that way. I didnt go" looking" for a foreign guy.....we just met eachother I never thought I would marry a foreign guy or an Asian guy, it just happened. .........its called LOVE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ok I will weigh in here. I too married a Pinay by accident and purely for love. So, I commend you for your answer and I hope you have the love of your lifetime. I was not looking for a filapina, nor ever expected to marry someone like her. But here I am and I am very happy.

With regard to white women I have married, dated and worked with lots of white women in the USA and I have the utmost respect for them. I work daily with white women in my office who are brilliant and professional and very talented. These women are beautiful, smart, sexy and intelligent - and very successful.

However, there IS a difference when it comes to relationships. In general (and there ARE exceptions) white women in the USA have never experienced true hardship. They do not really understand the concept of community and relationships. They often do not appreciate discipline and sacrifice and are very materialistic. They are focused on careers and a new car - not on a husband and family. I am not even saying this is all bad - just reality. But they tend to be spoiled and driven by their careers. Relationships are a distant second for many. Consequently, it is hard for men who want a more traditional marriage and relationship to find a woman in the USA that meets their needs.

I will use you as example with my apologies. I initially thought your login name was a bit strange for a filipina. Now I see that you are not from the Philippines and it makes more sense to me. In fact, no filipina would use a name like that. They are too discrete, honorable and conservative. If that does not make sense to you then you really do not understand what a filipina is. What do you imagine that most people think when they read your login name? Immediately, I discounted as someone only interested in partying and selfish physical/material pleasures - someone who does not really understand relationships and the importance of family and relationships. That is absolutely typical for most women in the USA and is exactly why most of us appreciate the values, beauty (physical and otherwise) and unconditional love we found in the Philippines.

Thank you for your answer. What you have seen is exactly what I have noticed in American women. I am 57 and never married. Why have I never married? I have never married for mainly the exact reasons you have outlined. I think American men like and want a wife for a solid relationship. I think also here in America we are suffering from I want what I want and I want someone to give it to me, but I do not want to give anything in return.

Dale

Dale, the post is one of the best I have ever seen in this section.

But in America, American woman has been put up on a pedestal and worhipped. The Family Court and Divorce court is so lopsided toward woman.

I see it all the time, Even the fat and ugly woman get attention from American Men. If your fat or ugly in PI, then your gonna get the bottom of the barrel when it comes to a partner.

I have a few friends in USA that are married with kids and thier wives are big as house, Bitchy and very demanding. One in particular went to a lawyer to start divorce procedures and after finding out how much child support he would be paying each month he has decided to ride it out until the kids get 18 years old.

To me a Man is the King of the Household, he makes the decision for the family and the woman should support his decisions.......

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I must say I am very lucky because even the smallest thing, my husband will ask for my opinion and he will not decide ANYTHING until he hears me out and most of the time.....he listens to me That is what I call respect.

Yes, I think that respect goes two ways. Even though Pat is not here yet, I like to get online and discuss matters with Pat and I like to ask her opinion. I think the Bible talks about love being respectful and thinking of your spouse and never selfseeking.

God Bless,

Dale

I am American Girl, I married my husband who is from Philippines. It just turned out that way. I didnt go" looking" for a foreign guy.....we just met eachother I never thought I would marry a foreign guy or an Asian guy, it just happened. .........its called LOVE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ok I will weigh in here. I too married a Pinay by accident and purely for love. So, I commend you for your answer and I hope you have the love of your lifetime. I was not looking for a filapina, nor ever expected to marry someone like her. But here I am and I am very happy.

With regard to white women I have married, dated and worked with lots of white women in the USA and I have the utmost respect for them. I work daily with white women in my office who are brilliant and professional and very talented. These women are beautiful, smart, sexy and intelligent - and very successful.

However, there IS a difference when it comes to relationships. In general (and there ARE exceptions) white women in the USA have never experienced true hardship. They do not really understand the concept of community and relationships. They often do not appreciate discipline and sacrifice and are very materialistic. They are focused on careers and a new car - not on a husband and family. I am not even saying this is all bad - just reality. But they tend to be spoiled and driven by their careers. Relationships are a distant second for many. Consequently, it is hard for men who want a more traditional marriage and relationship to find a woman in the USA that meets their needs.

I will use you as example with my apologies. I initially thought your login name was a bit strange for a filipina. Now I see that you are not from the Philippines and it makes more sense to me. In fact, no filipina would use a name like that. They are too discrete, honorable and conservative. If that does not make sense to you then you really do not understand what a filipina is. What do you imagine that most people think when they read your login name? Immediately, I discounted as someone only interested in partying and selfish physical/material pleasures - someone who does not really understand relationships and the importance of family and relationships. That is absolutely typical for most women in the USA and is exactly why most of us appreciate the values, beauty (physical and otherwise) and unconditional love we found in the Philippines.

Thank you for your answer. What you have seen is exactly what I have noticed in American women. I am 57 and never married. Why have I never married? I have never married for mainly the exact reasons you have outlined. I think American men like and want a wife for a solid relationship. I think also here in America we are suffering from I want what I want and I want someone to give it to me, but I do not want to give anything in return.

Dale

Shirr did a wonderful job. I was really impressed. All I can claim is putting the angel on the top.

By greatwhitenorth at 2009-12-03

Wow, Shirr did that? Great work. Shirr have you decorated a tree before? If not you are a natural.

Dale

We made it! Glady's visa was approved today! She will be back in my arms for Christmas!! What a relief and what a great feeling. Best wishes and Happy Holidays to all of you still waiting. Keep your faith and God Speed!

Mark and Gladys Mae

Congrats. Wow just in time to make airplane reservations for Christmas.

My fiancee is getting a suitcase for her trip to the USA.

Is this gonna be a family event, or is she doing it alone

She is coming alone.

My fiancee is getting a suitcase for her trip to the USA. I talked to her about the use of TSA locks. Does anyone know if TSA locks are available in the Philippines?

Dale

i just used ordinary lock for my luggage...though nothing was important inside but i didnt want people to put something in my luggage that will put me in trouble.

Found them at ACE Hardware. Also at the luggage dept of SM. My brother, a very seasoned traveler, advised me to get these. I didn't really have anything valuable in our baggages but in these times, anything can be of interest to anybody. Besides, the point of putting your stuff in your baggage is because you need them and it would suck big time if you find out later on that some stuff went missing.

Thanks, Pat seems to know about an ACE Hardware in the Quezon area and knows about SM stores. I agree, I think it is best to have some kind of lock and if any lock is used TSA will just break it if they want to inspect it. In March when I went to the Philippines I had no problem at all with TSA locks. All Pat will have are cloths and a few shoes, but I know she wants them or she would not be bringing them. Thanks again.

Dale

You are welcome. My daughter and I had a luggage and a balikbayan box each to maximize what we could bring. Bought balikbayan box bags to cover the boxes and put TSA locks on them, too. the bags are less cumbersome to use than to rope the boxes up...would be a hassle at the airport if you were asked to open them then secure them again with those ropes.

Good Luck to you both

That is an idea too. I have seen the balikbayan boxes used when I have flown out of San Fransisco.

Dale

But the crooks can just get a copy of the TSA keys that open the TSA locks, so I think the TSA locks are just pointless. If someone really wants to get inside of your luggage, they will (just cut off the locks). More money spent for nothing.

Yes, I think that can happen. I know some people just leave them totally unlocked. Someone at work travels a lot mostly within North America does not lock his, but only has clothing and shoes in it.

Dale

My fiancee is getting a suitcase for her trip to the USA. I talked to her about the use of TSA locks. Does anyone know if TSA locks are available in the Philippines?

Dale

i just used ordinary lock for my luggage...though nothing was important inside but i didnt want people to put something in my luggage that will put me in trouble.

Found them at ACE Hardware. Also at the luggage dept of SM. My brother, a very seasoned traveler, advised me to get these. I didn't really have anything valuable in our baggages but in these times, anything can be of interest to anybody. Besides, the point of putting your stuff in your baggage is because you need them and it would suck big time if you find out later on that some stuff went missing.

Thanks, Pat seems to know about an ACE Hardware in the Quezon area and knows about SM stores. I agree, I think it is best to have some kind of lock and if any lock is used TSA will just break it if they want to inspect it. In March when I went to the Philippines I had no problem at all with TSA locks. All Pat will have are cloths and a few shoes, but I know she wants them or she would not be bringing them. Thanks again.

Dale

My fiancee is getting a suitcase for her trip to the USA. I talked to her about the use of TSA locks. Does anyone know if TSA locks are available in the Philippines?

Dale

that is nice of u dale will try to check the sites................ive been to oriental (filipino store) here many times already and chines stores i dnt have probs with it.....but hardly for me to meet flipinos there....

There must be something like the Filipino-American Association that is here. This takes a large portion of the Eastern Iowa area. I will check around and see if there is anyone that knows of Filipino associations in the Minneapolis/St Paul area.

Dale

hi to all..........anyone from minnesota? want to have more friends here....pm me or let me know maybe we can keep in touch and get together... thanks

My fiancee will be living in Iowa. There are a number of Filipinos here in the Cedar Rapids area. I am sure there are many in the Minneapolis area. Here there is an Oriental foods store that is owned by a Filipino. It also serves as almost a meeting and welcome center for other Filipinos. Perhaps some of the Asian foods stores also are places where you can meet other Filipinas. There was an article in the Daily Planet http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2006/08/...t-asian-markets maybe some of these have a board for you to put your name and phone number for other Filipinas to contact you. Maybe you can make contact through The Asian Pages http://www.asianpages.com/

Also here in Eastern Iowa there is a Filipino-American Association. I am sure with the size of Minneapolis there are ways of meeting other Filipinos. Here is a link that has other links to Filipino organizations in your area. http://www.filipinolinks.com/Society/Diasp...sota/index.html

Dale

Hello I need some good advice on the Phillippines. I will visit my fiancee for the first time this December in Manila then to Quezon and later visit her very large family in a far province. A lawyer told me that its hard to file fiancee K-1 visa there how true is that I assumed it would take 6 to 8 months tops pending no mistakes on my behalf and holidays and how the processing center works. please enlighten me.

Also does any one know of good hotels and restaurants and thrifty things to do there my fiancee is a country girl but has been in manila a year or so and is not too familiar with these things she is a sort of a home body.

How much is the fees to obtain a passport and the police backround check, vaccinations and other fees and processes to get a K-1 visa out side of the $455.00 processing fee.

how can I make cheap international calls to the Phillippines. my phone bill is shocking.

who has the best airfares with no booking fees and better flight connections from the new york, new jersey area of the east coast

THANK YOU for all responses please give me all insider info and tips to survive and bring my baby to me. P.S. anyone know a good cheap service or lawyer to file K-1 visa with to help me expidite the process please let me know.

When I went to visit my fiancee I stayed with her brother right next door. Her family was very hospitable. In your situation I think you can find hotels very cheap compared to the USA. When Pat got her medical I think she was getting a room for $30 or $40 per day in Manila. Show a lot of interest in the Filipino lifestyle. The practical driving techniques are quite different than here. In the more remote areas it is more of a controlled chaos. I would do away with a lawyer. You can be guided very easily by using this site and using the guides at this site. Eating at restaurants is cheaper than here. I think 6 of us ate for 1500 pesos. I paid for it. So, spend a little money with food for her family, they have a hard time buying the food that is really good. They make soup out of parts of a beef we either throw away or is used as a rendering to extract protein. A lot of Filipinos can hardly afford food, so please feel free to give money or go to the market and buy food for the family. The Filipino peso is buying less all the time.

For phone, if your fiancee has a cell phone just use Yahoo messenger to place international calls for about 20 cents per minute. Also check out a VoIP phone service and see if that will be cheaper. Enjoy yourself when you go. Filipinos are such wonderful people. The kids are so much fun too.

Dale

What exactly are they looking for in the Medical exam? My friend, she has been told she has something called Sinusitis, and feels like it's either getting worse or that the medicine she takes is becoming less effective. She has not been to a doctor in YEARS, because she's afraid of hospitals since her mom died. When I ask her to go, she refuses. I looked it up, and Sinusitis appears to be something that is correctible - but I'd want that done here, not there. I am just wondering, what medical problems will cause a hold-up or a denial (K1)?

Sinusitis is very simple to correct. It is simply the infection or inflammation of the sinuses. An antibiotic will take care of it. People can die from it in very acute cases. If it is inflammation it can be caused by an allergy, which can lead to infection. My fiancee in the Philippines has had it. I have lived in the Midwest all my life and usually get it once per year. Sometimes if it is an infection some antibiotics do not have the killing power and another type of antibiotic is needed.

I do not know if the SLMEC will fail the medical exam for sinusitis. If they do they may prescribe an antibiotic for 10 days and a quick checkup before the interview to pass the medical. They may resort to this to avoid getting the flu with the sinuses in a weakened condition.

Please let me know the names of these antibiotics if you know them... My friend, she gets REALLY bad headaches because of this condition.

What I have been put on the past couple of years when I get a sinus infection is prednisone and somethings that is nick named Z pack. It is Azithromycin. It comes in a pack of 5 and is very powerful. It is used only for 5 days. The prednisone is an anti-inflammatory steroid. This is a dangerous drug and needs to be monitored how the patient is feeling while taking it. This combination should help your friend in a hurry. If she has chronic sinus problems her sinuses may be inflammed by allergies or a change in weather. Once she gets to the USA she should seek out a physician that can help, even a general doctor. They may send her to an imaging facility to see if there is a problem in the sinuses themselves or if there is some infection that just wants to linger. There are a lot of anti-biotics that can be used. Ceclor is also used often, but some people like me get hives from it.

What exactly are they looking for in the Medical exam? My friend, she has been told she has something called Sinusitis, and feels like it's either getting worse or that the medicine she takes is becoming less effective. She has not been to a doctor in YEARS, because she's afraid of hospitals since her mom died. When I ask her to go, she refuses. I looked it up, and Sinusitis appears to be something that is correctible - but I'd want that done here, not there. I am just wondering, what medical problems will cause a hold-up or a denial (K1)?

Sinusitis is very simple to correct. It is simply the infection or inflammation of the sinuses. An antibiotic will take care of it. People can die from it in very acute cases. If it is inflammation it can be caused by an allergy, which can lead to infection. My fiancee in the Philippines has had it. I have lived in the Midwest all my life and usually get it once per year. Sometimes if it is an infection some antibiotics do not have the killing power and another type of antibiotic is needed.

I do not know if the SLMEC will fail the medical exam for sinusitis. If they do they may prescribe an antibiotic for 10 days and a quick checkup before the interview to pass the medical. They may resort to this to avoid getting the flu with the sinuses in a weakened condition.

hi all, i just want some advice... my husband came here may of 2009. He still has difficulty adjusting. I don't know what to do if he misses home or what. As I am busy with work, he stays at home and still looking for a job. Since no one has been calling him, it seems he is very depressed.

Staying busy and being productive would be so good for him. Even a job restocking store shelves might be good for him. If he is having trouble finding a job maybe a vocational program at a community college would be good.

Anyone have any information on this? I was looking on google for information on the availability of the H1N1 vaccine in the Philippines, but all I could find was that it was "being rolled out" in an article from September 23rd.

If anyone of you knows where my wife, who lives in the provinces in Cebu, could inquire about finding someplace to get the h1n1 vaccine, let me know.

The best article or group of articles seem to be at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pand...the_Philippines

Still there is no news of a schedule for the vaccine in the Philippines.

I do not like to take just anything from Wikipedia as authority, but they do provide a lot of references. It sounds like that health care workers are first and will be distributed free to them by the World Health Organization (WHO). Maybe th Filipino Government is not as pro-active as what would aid the most help. Probably it will be WHO that will distribute the vaccine in the Philippines and other Southeast Asia areas.

Even here in the USA it seems to be distributed by state and the demand is so great the supply runs out as soon as it arrives. No real schedule or exact timeline has been established at least not here where I live in Iowa. It seems unclear if two doses will be needed or if one will do.

God bless to your wife in finding the vaccine. Maybe some of the references at Wikipedia may give a clue of when the Cebu region will be getting access to the vaccine.

God bless,

Dale and Pat

As with any journeys all start someplace. Ours started over 3 years ago with a flick of the mouse on an icon in a message slection in yahoo chatt. Our journey started with a smily Altho our journey is far from over but this part of our journey is over with the period at the end of a Visa. Our journey was not alone. We found a group of people sharing the same experiance. Some allready complete some still praying for the same results as we have had. I thank all of you for the advice and well wishes. Alma messaged me that she received her visa yesterday when I was fast asleep in dream land. Just 3 days to be dilivered. We planed her travel for next week on the 29th just to play it safe. Now the ast part of our journey apart is a weeks worth of waiting. Am sure she will get the stamp on her visa from cfo today all all that will be left for her to do is celibrate with her friends and family. For those still wiating..Stay strong write letters to add to your proof for your relationship. Ask questions when not sure of a document and trust that you'll get the correct response here. Be happy for the love and the future you will have at the end of this journey. Good luck and best of wishes to everyone here.

Congrats and God bless on your last leg of your journey.