Scott and Mhay

Get married and then the marriage certificate will be proof of name change.
From what I see, you are already married right? She is here in the US now correct? The expiration of her I-94 means nothing right now..she will just go out of status and you dont necessarily have to have the adjustment of status filed before the I-94 expires. You could wait until the day it expires to marry (although I wouldnt do that).
The lady at the social security office is mistaken. Your wife can still get a social security number in her married name and work if you had enough time...right now it is too short...(I forget the magic number of days left before the expiration of the I-94 and still be able to get a SSN) She could technically work until her I-94 expires, but without a SSN, it wouldnt be legal.
Why do you need IDs for the AOS? You will just have to wait for the work authorization or greecard to arrive before you can get a SSN...

if you have already submitted the application, just call the military helpline and request it.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f1a03e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f1a03e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD
it does make it quite a bit faster in some cases. They might want a letter from your commander, but that should be easy to get. I know at the USCIS stage, they didnt ask for any proof of my deployment, but I did call from the deployed location. All you can do is call them, request it...worst case, they tell you no. Good luck!

As far as I know they wont tell you until you go back at your assigned time the second day.
Sputnum test is required if they see a spot(scar from possible TB) in your x-ray.

Yes typically good for 6 months, but see what the visa says when it is issued. Like Pushbrk says...manila seems to do something strange like that....but I think it is because most applicants do an advanced medical.

tax transcripts are better only because you dont need to have the w-2s and all supporting documents for the return. But you can use the printouts and w-2s with no issues.

I beg to differ...my wife got one straight from the korean embassy in manila. If it can be obtained I would get it...I would hate to be held up 6 weeks for a police clearance that is obtainable in country. Consulates will do whatever they want in the end...even if it isnt right according to other sites.
I too thought about not having my wife get one from korea, but we found out that she could get one. So I had her get it. It doesnt cost anything except the price of going to the embassy and a passport photo. If they are already going to manila, it is only another stop.

Too bad your lawyer didnt know that they wanted to see the marriage certificate on NSO security paper. Anyone can have an NSO stamp. Here is what the packet 3 says:
3. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE (if applicable). For Philippine marriages, copies must be issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on security paper (not from the Local Civil Registry Office). You may call the NSO Information Center at 02-737-1111 to inquire about securing a marriage certificate or visit their web site at http://www.census.gov.ph.
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/306605/atienzalb/Packet%204%20_appointment%20packet_%20English%20rtf%20_revised%20GSS_%20_2__001.pdf
yes she needs to prove that she is legally single to marry you. read the packet 3:
l. PROOF OF TERMINATION OF A PRIOR MARRIAGE. If applicable, official documents (divorce decree, annulment decree or death certificate, etc.) that prove all prior marriages contracted by you and the petitioner have been legally terminated prior to the filing of the petition must be submitted.
Packet 3 for fiancee is here:
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction%20Packet%20_3__rtf2_001.pdf

Did your fiance e-mail you the itinerary? That is all you should need. That is what I sent my wife before she came. almost all tickets are electronic tickets these days. Very few instances of having the ticket in hand before going to the airport.

Since you're going 2 marry her, why not marry there in thailand & DCF file the I-130? I'm sure since you live & work in thailand, you can DCF.
Other than that, go to the consulate or do like others stated...just send 2 a relative in the US & have them get a money order and send it to the lockbox?

I know it is highly recommended that if he was 2 stay outside the US for longer than 6 months he should have had a re-entry permit. Technically yes he could come back and shouldn't have any issues but that all depends on the POE and the entry officer that interviews them. They have the final say when he tries 2 go through immigration. They would make the determination if he "abandoned" his PR status.

I know it is highly recommended that if he was 2 stay outside the US for longer than 6 months he should have had a re-entry permit. Technically yes he could come back and shouldn't have any issues but that all depends on the POE and the entry officer that interviews them. They have the final say when he tries 2 go through immigration. They would make the determination if he "abandoned" his PR status.

well the bureau of immigration site was down when I tried www.immigration.gov.ph,
but I did find a little older information (dont know how current it is, but cant be far off) here: http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/visa2.html

the best way is to wait until at least you have a case number, but I would wait for the RFE that way it will get tied to your case. If you send it now it may not get linked to your actual case.

You print it off from the payment portal after it shows paid.
Do you still live w/ your dad? If not, you can't use the I-864A. He would fill out an I-864 also.

In Manila it isnt as important for you to be there at the interview as some other countries where you would be outright denied if you didnt attend. I would say that if you can afford it and get the time off, go to the interview, but most of us cant do that and they realize it. The visa journey is expensive enough. They dont need to make you have more expenses to just get approved.

FWIW, most flights either go through denver or seattle to get to alaska. If you are flying direct from either one of those locations, you will be fine. Don't plan a stop in canada unless you have your AP and documents to stay in canada. I am pretty sure that if a plane had to divert and land in canada (not that you really could in most routes) I dont think they would hold that against you, but it is always best to have your AP just in case....because you never know.

you will be fine either way as long as you can also produce the marriage certificate if questions arise from your expired I-94. Technically you can wait until your 90th day to get married and have no issues with immigration. You just have no status. When you get your NOA on your AOS, I would make a copy of that and carry it with you.

My recording actually changed 2 it being sent 2 the embassy. Don't know if it was because I got an expedite or not. Most people stop calling when they get a case complete. Just call & talk 2 a live person. They should be able to tell you. They did with ours.

It really isnt that hard to do yourself. I have read on here where someone paid one of those services (or lawyer)and messed up on one of the forms (granted the person should have double checked and verified everything). It's not that hard...just answer the questions literally...dont think too much into them. In most cases if you get a lawyer it will slow down the process. No one cares as much about getting the visa than you. If you can check up all the time yourself instead of waiting for an update. Most lawyers will wait for the NVC to send stuff out when you are at that stage....We still have never received any hard copy anything from the NVC...they are extremely slow.
What is unclear and which form? $1200 extra could buy a lot of clothes and for your wife. The process is expensive enough as it is, not alone to add to the expense with a lawyer or "service."

They will have to fill out the I-864 if they do not live with you (I am assuming they arent living with you).....and you will have to fill out an I-864 also.

We have tried to help you, but you want it spoonfed lik a baby. People have helped you and gave good advice, but you seem to keep asking the same questions. It gets annoying reading and replying to the same question from the same person. Good luck on your journey.

Manila no longer sends the packet 3...you need to download it here: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwfk1en.pdf
Packet 4 will have the form in it I think...that will be with your interview letter.

Keep on calling them...ask them if your file has left the NVC. When talking to the NVC specifically ask them if you are in additional procesing. If the NVC doesnt give you guys an update have your husband call the embassy. Just use the $18 PIN phone number. they seem to be really helpful. You should have had an e-mail by now.

as long as the other country they do not need a visa...no it doesnt affect it....actually it doesnt affect it either way...
The visa will be good until you go to your first POE of the US. The other countries will stamp other pages.

Just make sure the COPY has the stamp from the court on it....I messed that one up. Had I done that it would have saved me 30 days on the whole process.