A and T

At the airport you get an instant 21 day stamp, you can get a visa extension supposedly at the airport,or the immigration office in Manila. I paid and got a visa extension which can be up to 90 days more if needed. Its just a bit of a pain to get, you spend the whole day at the office trying to sort it out.

If you are going to over stay a few days, i wouldnt worry about it. I overstayed a couple days and on my exit they didnt seem to care.

I'm not an old guy yet but i have been living and working in the philippines for a year now. Each place has its pros and cons,

For me the cons of the philippines are, its very hot and its never ending humidity unless you to the mountains. Near the beach isnt so bad, but also fairly hot .

I miss a lot of more modern systems at home, such as banking, post office, and American foods.

But otherwise its a very free country. Immigration the philippines its far more cheaper and easier than it is to the USA. Also, i think the education system and way of life is very good for raising children. You will hardly ever see a kid that hates school here. They like education , enjoy school, and everyone isnt on drugs in the schools, no gang wars its much old fashioned here .

I do wish the school system had more science , and less "faith" based classes.

Philippines government feels like its much more socialist than the USA, which i'm ok with.

Children that were brought to the USA and grew up there, went to school etc are not trying to be criminals or break the law. Its not very moral to deport them to a country they dont even know. Children cant be held accountable for that.

Obama did a great thing today, but didnt go far enough. He should also relax regular immigration for the people that pay and suffer waiting

If you plan to marry, start working on it the day you arrive !

Greenbelt mall in Makati is nice, fancy, and makati itself is fun to check out.

If you go to Ermita, they have Robinsons Mall, and a lot of places to eat its a nice area

You could go to Greenhills, and stock up on fake clothes before returning home

intramuros is fun, if you want to tour around (but its super hot outside)

Binondo , the chinese district is nice to visit , eat foods and tour around.

skype is free, google voice, is free , sign her up for an account in the usa and then give her the login and pass, then she will have a local usa number.

Yeah you are going to go through every possible detail when it comes to a background check. Once they get a hit in the system then you will be made to get finger printed at a USCIS office. I had originally sent my own finger prints at the start in hopes of avoiding the extra trip. But they still required it, and didnt accept my police issued finger prints.

I had the finger printing done in New Orleans , via some machine (not the old ink and paper type)

I'm an expat living in Manila over a year, what they are telling you is nonsense. Manila is fine, unless you are sending her to stay in a slums . I dont speak tagalog and I get around just fine.

You could petition it to permanent after you have been on probationary for 1 year, and then as a permanent resident that card is good for 5 years in-case you plan to return and stay.

Breakfast for Americans depends on Location.

Mostly common is eggs, bacon, toast, pancake, waffle, hashbrowns

In the South of the USA, its also Grits , Biscuits , or biscuits and gravy

In the North they eat Hominy, maybe bagel etc

If he is in the philippines get him some smoked fish from the market and fix it with rice as a small side and let him try it. I like it

My appeal is still pending, hasnt had any updates in a while. Guess it will take another 2 years =(

Im sure she really enjoys your intolerance of gays...... I dont think you are going to win her over with these type of statements .

Maybe get a statement from your current employer about your income and get it notarized. Also show some pay stubs and just explain that when you go for interview

Sadly i feel they just don't care , no matter who is elected no one seems to care about immigration, or immigration reform in any way to help our own citizens

Just explain to her its mostly white people complaining about things, but in song

My wife doesnt really like mexican foods and also refuses to eat red beans with rice, (odd since she loves rice) and doesn't much like the spanish rice.

How to turn american spaghetti into filipino spaghetti

Add 2 cups of sugar , until it turns into a syrup

If the USA doesn't want you, then don't spend your money there. Their loss, try Thailand with that amount of money and bar-tending skills you could run a bar and live well

cant agree with 5,6,7, 9

What is the best way to ship 3 Magic Jacks to the Philippines? Is Balikbayan Boxes safe? Will it be opened and make it there intact. My fiancee lives in Cavite. Or can I use FedEx or UPS. I have heard of stories of boxes being opened and Magic Jacks being stolen...

She could just sign up for a free google voice usa account, get a local usa number, then you can call her from the computer (google voice) to her local number which will work in the philippines. No real need for the magic jack

But otherwise just mail it regular postal , doubt it will be stolen

Tips, on the custom form write gift, and then write " NO VALUE" , and write 'used usb stick" or something generic like that. Dont include anything inside with a price. Also ship it the cheapest way, if they see high shipping they might think its expensive. Works every time for me no problem

Why did you end up at the other airport? Can you change your ticket/flight to Narita?

OK, so I'm an American guy looking to marry a Singaporean girl and here's something I've thought of. Now we both go to Canada since we do not require visas to travel there and there we marry. I apply for a CR-1 for her. While we're waiting on approval, she stays in America in a tourist visa. Now, she does have some distant relatives here so does that give her any other options. Finally, am I making this too complicated? I understand that a person cannot, in general, wait in the US pending their CR-1 approval. Is this correct?

Tell me where there might be some problems in this approach or if it just might work.

If you are really lucky, you should try to immigrate to singapore. They have a very low unemployment rate, and low poverty rate as well.

If i knew the money was 100% going towards something to help, i would be fine. But I know the money would go to gambling, flat screen tvs, and other nonsense.

(flat screen tv is some sort of status symbol here)

Try some parenting? If they are disrespectful or treat your kid bad how about some punishment?