calico1

Hi Guys,

Husband, "US Citizen" married me in Phili, and brought me here in 2009 on a CR1. In 2.5 years I am here I now have permanent resident "10" year card. I have child back in Phili I want to Petition for I-130. As such, I have no income except joint bank account with hubby...about 15k after adj. I did work last year part time and made 13k. When it's time for I-864 AOS; Does my husband become sponsor for my child, "hubby is also step dad" or will USCIS just combine us as 1 income ? Would it be better for hubby to petition as step dad verses biological mom, or is it ok for me to petition and have hubby as sponsor. This is very confusing for me any help or experiences would be of great help. My child is under 21, not married, and was under age 18 when hubby married me in 2008. Salamat in advance for any advice.

Thanks to rlogan for a very informative read. I am married to a woman from CDO and have traveled and lived there a number of times. It didn't take me long to understand there was 2 different worlds going on in Phili, one of history and political battle and corruption, and the other which most average Americans see... the modern tourist seeking love in paradise land. Many of us have successfully traveled to and met and married our wives from the Philippines, but now that I think about it, I don't think I would wander around Mindanao jungles or the back streets of Manila after dark like I used to... The Philippines is a wonderous place...and to the original OP, I don't think it really matters what part of the Philippines you choose to meet a girl...but one should do as much research as possible about the particular part of the Philippines you are interested in. Had I had done more research years ago I may have never gone to the Philippines, but I did and just celebrated 3 years of marriage to my wonderful asawa. Would I do it again? hmm..different post different time.. lol.. yeah I recommend research..start with "The History of The Philippines"

Got the biometrics...

Received 9/10/2011

Dated 9/7/2011

Scheduled for 9/30/2011

California Service Center (20 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

ERIC_AND_TERESA......08/01/11........08/05/11.......09/12/11........--/--/--.... (Early Bio 09/08)

KELAH AND RAMIRO.....08/02/11........08/04/11.......09/06/11........--/--/--....

JILL R...............08/02/11........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

KYLE.SARI............08/02/11........08/03/11.......09/02/11........--/--/--....

MA'BEHBEH............08/03/11........08/05/11.......09/12/11........--/--/--....

CONNECTICUT..........08/04/11........08/05/11.......09/02/11........--/--/--....

INSOMIALILY..........08/04/11........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

HELL0W0RLD...........08/05/11........08/08/11.......08/29/11........--/--/--....

ELSIECHICOFOCUS......08/08/11........08/10/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

RLOGAN...............08/08/11........08/15/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

HIS_WIFEY............08/09/11........08/12/11.......09/13/11........--/--/--.... (Early Bio 08/25)

CHERRY♥EDWARD........08/09/11........08/11/11.......09/09/11........--/--/--.... (Early Bio 08/26)

SWEETFM..............08/10/11........08/18/11.......09/09/11........--/--/--....

M_N_M................08/13/11........08/15/11.......09/08/11........--/--/--....

SUNFLOWER15..........08/15/11........08/17/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

CALICO1..............08/18/11........08/20/11.......09/28/11........--/--/--....

RAHULV...............08/18/11........08/19/11.......09/30/11........--/--/--....

EMILIA12 ............08/24/11........08/25/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

FRED N EMILIA........08/25/11........08/29/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

PETERJOY.............08/26/11........08/31/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

NEJMA................08/30/11........08/31/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

Vermont Service Center (23 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

KIRSTEN UK...........08/01/11........08/05/11.......09/08/11........--/--/--.... (Early Bio 09/07)

ROBHINIO.............08/02/11........08/04/11.......08/30/11........--/--/--....

*SUNRAY*.............08/02/11........08/04/11.......09/23/11........--/--/--....

ALOE.................08/03/11........08/05/11.......09/02/11........--/--/--.... (Early Bio 08/19)

TRYGGER..............08/03/11........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

SCOTT S..............08/04/11........08/05/11.......09/01/11........--/--/--.... (Early Bio 08/18)

H&V..................08/05/11........08/09/11.......09/15/11........--/--/--.... (Early Bio 08/24)

DESIMAN..............08/06/11........08/10/11.......09/09/11........--/--/--....

RPI007...............08/09/11........08/12/11.......09/30/11........--/--/--....

SAPPHIREDREAMS.......08/12/11........08/16/11.......09/14/11........--/--/--....

CHADLAURE............08/13/11........08/15/11.......09/08/11........--/--/--.... (Early Bio 08/23)

PRATIBHAQUINT........08/15/11........08/19/11.......10/05/11........--/--/--....

MUFFIN...............08/16/11........08/16/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

JANAT................08/16/11........08/22/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

SHAUN COLE...........08/17/11........08/23/11.......10/04/11........--/--/--....

DVRJWH...............08/17/11........08/22/11.......09/21/11........--/--/--....

GUERAKRISTINA........08/17/11........08/18/11.......10/03/11........--/--/--....

BILL Y BELLA.........08/23/11........08/24/11.......10/05/11........--/--/--....

HY020................08/23/11........--/--/11.......10/04/11........--/--/--.... (No NOA yet)

JBRID................08/26/11........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

MRS.MOUNTVILLE.......08/27/11........08/31/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

QQQUAKER.............08/30/11........09/06/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

LOVEUSOMUCHHONEY.....08/30/11........09/01/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

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Hi August filers, The wife and I are sending ours off 8-18, wishing luck for all of us..

Meg will be taking her physical at SLMCEC on Tuesday and will be bringing an x-ray that she had taken during a previous check up in 2009. The only problem is that her first name on the x-ray is spelled ‘Meglicina’, and her name everywhere else is spelled ‘Meglecina’, which is the correct way to spell her first name. Will this raise any red flags during the SLMCEC the next day, or US Embassy Interview process a week later? We don't want something so simple to derail all the effort that we put into this. Maybe we should not even use the existing x-ray. Comments please. Thanks for the advice.

The embassy will most likely catch the difference in spelling and Meg will need a aka "also known as" issued from the NBI office. She will fill out paper work at a NBI office, typically wait 3 days for the new corrected paper work and submit it back to the embassy, probably best to do this in advance to avoid the "white slip" should she be successful in passing her interview. My wife had to do this because they added an extra letter to her maiden name. I still wonder to this day if these clerical mistakes are made on purpose or if they just have really dumb people typing up the names...but whatever the case the very best of luck to the both of you.

Hi Mike&Cherry...Just take alot of pics..if time/date stamped all the better but just writing on the backs time and date is good too. Get pics of your girls family with you in them, it worked for me lol and have a great trip! Congrats in advance for your soon to be unforgettable trip...happy vapor trails

James, take a couple hours and read some other posts about guys who really married a "true" nightmare. You may come to find your new bride is a good one and needs to adjust and grow into this new place. As far as weight, it can surely be lost. My wife is alittle over weight and I love every pound of her.

It looks like you have been married just a short time James, and you and your wife look to be a younger couple. I don't think there is a married phil-am couple here that hasn't had a couple heated disagreements early on in their marriage, I know I have, and I will be celebrating my 2nd wedding anniversary in just a couple days. I am sure you have figured out by now that philippine culture is pretty different from ours in the U.S. and sometimes a guy has to bend alot to keep the peace...and that in itself can be way frustrating. As you also know, the philippines has many micro cultures within one culture...manilla folk are a little different from davao folk and so on. Everyone who has done K1, CR1, or the like has worked real hard to get through immigration so maybe you can salvage your marriage. It probably is true that no two filipina's are the same...but it has been my personal experience that they are alot alike in many ways. Are you sure you would go filipina again?

As far as your wife's threats to ban you..she either loves you alot and won't give in, or she doesn't so I hope it all works out for you. My wife has 2 sisters who work with local city/government in Cagayan de Oro, and they seem to cut alot of corners if they want something done, and for the right amount of money I think they can make anything happen. If your wife lived close to manilla or the embassy there, she might be inclined to cause trouble if she really wants to spite you, but probably she is just blowing off steam. Best luck for you.

Con grats!

Congratulations May you be blessed with a long and happy marriage.

PHFIFTY

50% off Fee's, expires end of October.

Haven't tried it yet, but it came in email right after I sent some $$ in late September.

Sucks they are raising rates at the same time the exchange rate has been dropping too.......

Yep..got the same "PHFIFTY" email..50% off till Oct.31 with a U.S. bank account, more is using visa, master charge or discover card. At least through Oct. a $4 charge isn't too bad...last rate in Phili 43.03p...lowest I have seen in 5 years..

Many members here have been to the Phils numerous times and no matter how many times I have been told that most of mindanao is safe, I never felt that way. Luckily my wife was from CDO and there it was somewhat possible to blend in, as most filipinos there are pretty used to tourists from everywhere. It was my belief years ago, as well as now, that anywhere in western or southern mindanao with maybe the exception of Davao was a matter of sure luck to come and go without any threat of danger. I know many would argue that parts of metro manila and surrounding areas are no better, but because there is big city chaos as opposed to the rural jungle chaos it just felt a little easier and safer.

Understanding about 85% of phili is catholic and most of the 15% which isn't reside mostly in mindanao can be a good heads up. As sad as it always is to hear of any tourist being murdered in phili.. it still is an inherent risk when traveling in known muslim hotbeds. Tourism is a vital source of revenue for any country..and I am sure it helps the phils a lot too. I have pondered for a long time, like many of us, why the phili government doesn't go after the extreme muslim radicals, as well as other factions that make tourists visit other counties and take their monies there.. but I am sure politics and corruption hinder any real change.

We sure must love our significant others, spouses and extended families one hell of a lot to risk our lives for them. Contrastingly, I lived in LA in the late 80's for a couple years..and if you drove into the wrong neighborhood in east LA you stood a chance of being shot...maybe living in guam makes more sense..at least there they are known for robbery and burglary more than murder. Condolences and prayers for those who have been tragically hurt or killed by terrorists, God Bless.

Congratulations won't be too long now..

Super Congrats!! don't forget to bring her a rose at the airport

Kiddy,

I understand both your situation and your husbands. The first few months of a new marriage can be, and often is a huge adjustment for both partners. It is not uncommon for all kinds of frustrations to get hot fast. There is often baggage in the previous relationships that seem unfair to a new marriage. My heart goes out to both of you. Try your best not to focus on the hurt but rather the reason the 2 of you married. Plz take Bob's advice and adjust status as soon as possible. I know it is very hard for you in this new place right now..take some deep breaths and try to see your way clear to change what you can and accept what you can not change. I kinda get the impression you love each other..If you BOTH work on it you may find it will work out just ok. I know many members here are wishing you the very best and I certainly do too! Hang in there Kiddy

Unless your friend wants a life of complete hell and misery..I would seriously suggest to him to dump this woman as fast as he can. Alot of men think the gals in the philippines are something they simply are not..best of luck for your friend.

Congrats!!

My wife used a travel agent in CDO after comparing a couple agents for best deal and flew Northwest Airlines for $880..Mindano to Pacific Northwest. At the time "last Nov." Northwest air could not be beat, also she paid cash. Best of luck and congrats..happy vapor trails..

Congratulations and God Bless.......

Congratulations to both of you and God Bless.....

Congratulations...Happy Honeymoon

Best of luck for you both...think pink!

Congratulations to both of you and God Bless.....

Congratulations to both of you and God Bless.....

Congratulations to both of you and God Bless.....