16freekisses

What I dont understand is - why was it such an inconvenience for you to hand deliver them to your mum?

Unfortunately, my office is three hours from home (I rent an apartment nearby) so I had to take a leave from work, go home, get the flowers, and take them to where my mother works/lives. I couldn't call her up and tell her, "Hey mom, I got you something, they delivered it to our permanent residence, though - the one that's an hour away from you - go get them!"

In any regards - I hope the quality of the flowers was at least very good and beautiful and you mum is enjoying them (maybe even a bit more because they were hand delivered by you)!

I guess they're okay. For lesser stress and a lower price, I could have (and would have) gotten the same quality/better flowers from Dangwa and gave it to her personally if I had known that that was how it was going to end up! Hahaha

I have used Island Rose before during Valentines and Birthdays with no problems..I guess it's a case to case basis..=)

I guess so. Unfortunately, I was the isolated case. Sure, things are fine and dandy when you're not the isolated case, but what if your order ends up that way? What if it's you the next time? They are absolutely terrible at handling isolated incidents/complaints, by the way.

Sigh... I should move on and just patronize better vendors next time... LOL

ON TOPIC: The whole family is going to church on mother's day and me and my brothers are going to take her shopping! My boyfriend in the states is going to do the same too. :star:

Unfortunately, I have had a very bad experience this mother's day. My boyfriend and I sent my mother flowers via Island Rose. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS STORE TO ANYONE.

1. They did not manage to deliver the flowers to the delivery address, which was a school where my mother teaches. Instead, they delivered it to my home address! I had to come home and give the flowers to my mother myself! You have no idea how much that inconvenienced me. The whole point of a courier is to DELIVER TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED, NOT ANYWHERE ELSE.

2. The courier was very rude to our housekeeper - so much that she almost cried to my mother and she (my mother) got so furious and called the company after the incident.

3. When I e-mailed them to express my disappointment, they told me that the delivery address I provided was incomplete. This is unacceptable. I have had other packages delivered to the very same address with no problem. Even fast food delivery was able to deliver to that address! How did Island Rose NOT manage to accomplish this very basic, very simple task? It boggles the mind.

Sorry if I kind of went off on a tangent there, but I am very, very upset. I want to warn anyone who reads this: DO NOT USE ISLAND ROSE.NET - WORTHLESS, INCOMPETENT, DISAPPOINTING SERVICE. I should have asked for recommendations here first before we ordered through that incapable establishment.

Do you have any plans for mother's day? I hope your mother's day experience will be better than mine, at least.

LOL SRSLY U GUISE

Hi!

Nope, I didnt go and seek assistance from any agency (gastos lang un!).

What I did was go to the website of manila embassy, READ as in navigate everything there as all information is all there. http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhniv1.html#Step1

Read the Demonstrating ties portion found on the left side of the page.

If you will go to an agency, what they will do is schedule you for a interview and if you read the site, you can do it yourself.

My experience was quite easy, I read the website (Oct), scheduled an interview (Nov),passed the interview and in 2 days the visa was delivered, by Dec I flew to the US.

Word of caution though, 90% of the people who were also interviewed that day were denied. Nakayuko kasi sila at hawak hawak nila ang passport nila (if you pass they will keep the passport). So you have to be prepared with all the documents needed and that you are confident.

Goodluck!

^Bluerose gave me this info since I am also going to try for a B2 sometime this year or next year. Hope it helps.

Best of luck to you. Happy wedding/marriage in advance!

Enjoy your trip! Stay safe.

She will be alright, lots of people get shots, it will be over in a jiffy.

Only a few more weeks until you're in each others arms again... Good luck and God bless.

^ You guys are a great-looking couple. Have a wonderful time together!

What part of the Philippines are you in?

I'm from Manila po. We DID have the greatest time together! My family loved him, my friends approved of him, and he enjoyed Filipino food a lot. He said the traffic here terrified him, they were like nothing back in his hometown hahaha

He told me taking a chance on me was the best decision he ever made. I feel the same way about him. Thank you for the compliment and the well wishes.

Are you aware of just how difficult it is for a pretty young female from the Philippines to get a Visitors Visa? You'll have to demonstrate that you have very strong reasons to return to the Philippines such as a very good job, owning land & businesses etc. Having a USC boyfriend/fiancé will actually work against you as it is a compelling reason for you to overstay or try to marry him and adjust status without returning to the Philippines.

You'd be better of just applying for the K-1 after he returns to the US.

Well, I never looked at it that way... Thank you for the reality check. We've talked about the future so far and we DO intend to get married, but not right away. I'm not ready to leave the Philippines yet and he understands and will wait for me. Plus, we're still in the process of saving up to start a family - we're thinking 5-6 years in the future.

He also isn't the sole reason for my visitor's visa. I have an aunt in the US who also wants me to visit. I really hope they grant me one. If they don't, he'll just have to come here each year until we're ready to get married. I want to meet his folks, though. I've only spoken with them on the phone and they said they're looking forward to meeting me. It would suck if I didn't get to see them.

I agree with Bob 4 Anna... It's going to be just too difficult to get a tourist visa. You should really consider talking with your hubby about going the K1 route..

Good luck and God bless!

Thank you.

He arrived safely and the past three days have been wonderful, amazing, incredible.

He is going to meet my family tomorrow and I am so excited.

I'm going to apply for a B-2 visa so I can visit him and his family next winter. Thank you guys for all your help. I'm going to need it again once we start filing for our K-1 visa. :star: :star:

Okay. His first flight is due to leave in an hour and a half. Please pray for him...

Make sure he has your cell number so he can call you from the pay phones inside customs.

He does. He can buy some local currency at the airport and just call me if he needs to, right?

Have a great time and remember, while I don't want to be a party pooper, these things sometimes don't work out. Enjoy your time together and let the future sort itself out.

-Phil

Okay, that's reasonable advice. Thank you.

i also just brought cash and when i got there i gave it to my fiance and she put it in her account also if you run short it is easy to have some sent by western union it happens the big thing to remember is to make good memories they will help you through the waiting times ahead i do not say this to dampen your spirit but to remind you you time together is precious so enjoy yourselfs and best of luck....... and my wife was late too very late her and her cousin were eating breakfast when a very nice security guard called her and reminded her i was at the airport waiting for her and then he hung around till she showed up calling her one more time to give her directions when she took to long because she got lost.... and yes even then they are memories trust me i do not let her forget

This post had me giggling.

I'll never forget my first time to Phil.. I was in Shanghai on business and flew to Manila, then connected to Davao via PAL. When I landed in Davao (only kano onboard) I was overwhelmed with people trying to help me. They wanted to carry bags, take their jeeps/taxi's to places, etc..

I cross the street in Davao airport and there's just so many Filipinos waiting around for their loved ones. I look all around and can't find her.. She sends me an SMS that she's got a cab and is waiting.. Finally as I keep walking a little Pinay calls my name and throws her arms around me..

To this day, I'm still not 100% sure she is my Milagros.. but she is the one who found me that first day in Davao..

(just kidding)

This one too! Hahaha

Thank you everyone who helped so far. Good karma to you and your loved ones...

If there are any more tips, please just share them! :star: :star:

2. Be early ( I was late so my husband don't know if he will kiss me or beat me when I got there, scared the hell out of him ) There is a waiting area for relatives in front of the arrival area... you better go on the second floor so you can see clearly who comes out the arrival area. and there are TV monitors showing the flights that just arrived.

Okay, I plan on being an hour early and I'm sure I'll check the TV monitors every second.

3. No fees as long he's clear to Phil. Immigration

Oh no. I hope there are no issues with that. I'll tell him to bring about 300 USD in cash just in case. I hope that's enough.

9. If you can call him up while waiting for him to come out in arrival area, please do so, it will make him feel so much safer and it takes all the worries away.

I can try to call him up because I have his cellphone number, but I'm not sure his phone will work once he lands in Manila. His provider is Verizon. If anybody happens to know how this works, kindly share and post.

Sorry if this is too long, I wish someone told me this things before...but don't be afraid to commit small mistakes, in time it will serves as MEMORIES. And don't forget to pee before meeting him... when My husband ask me " How are you?"... I said I need to pee. hahahaha Enjoy each other company and good luck.

Hahaha, I will definitely remember to pee! Thank you so much, your post wasn't too long, I found it extremely helpful.

I didn't need a money changer until the next day, and we went to one of the greenbelt malls for a good rate. The hotel was pre-paid through Agoda.com and only needed a copy of my credit card. Vicky cooked some Adobo and brought it and some Coke to the hotel for us, we arranged for her to be able to enter the room before I got there.

That's a good idea, me checking in the room early to ensure everything's ready when he arrives.

http://www.regalomanila.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=79

The cheapest one there is $649.99.

Hope this helps anyway. :star:

He makes me laugh. The first time we webcammed:

Him: You're asian. Where are you from, Japan or China?

Me: The Philippines.

Him: Ohh... Where is that, Japan or China?

I could post tons more of his jokes, but they'd fill up the page.

He just makes me smile because he gets me, you know? We're into the same stuff (video games and manga, etc.) but we also have our own interests which we enjoy sharing with each other. We could never run out of things to share.

He's the most understanding person I know. He knows how to handle me and my moods. He knows how to cheer me up and encourage me. He may not be the most expressive or romantic of guys, but he still manages to make me feel like he loves me more than anything in the whole world every day.

He makes me want to be a better person, not only for him, but for myself. I'm so happy to have him in my life.

/cheese

16freekisses: NOA2 is the notice of approval of the petition..

Thank you, I'm still reading up on these things. They seem very complicated, but nothing love and dedication can't handle.

Congrats again to OP! The hard part is done, things will move much faster now. Best of luck. :star: :star:

I would also recomend using atm debit card for cash, just be sure to have him call his bank before he leaves to let them know he will be using his card in the philippines next week. I have done this on my last 4 trips to Manila and never have had a problem. ingat ka. Jim

Thank you. I will make sure to tell him that.

If you don't find him though, he'll NEVER find you! I stood there looking across the street at a SEA of 5' something Filipinos and thought "omg I'll never find her!!" There will be what seems to be hundreds of people there for him to try to look through. Security let my wife cross the street once she spotted me so she came and got me

I'll make sure to wear something real flashy then. I told him about it and he suggested I wear a schoolgirl outfit, hahaha! But seriously, we agreed on wearing matching red caps so we could spot each other easily.

The transfer rate at the airport luggage area is not too bad for exchanging dollars to pesos. I used a CIRRUS atm card and was only charged $3 per transaction. One atm at SM Mall, PBI, and SHBC had a higher limit of 10,000 PHP withdrawals. Many atms only allowed a maximum withdrawal of 5,000 PHP.

P.S. I notified my bank that I would be making withdrawals in the Philippines.

Have a great time.

Thank you for the advice. I'm sure we won't spend a lot of money (I hope). I can just feed him Jollibee fried chicken all day. I told him this and he called me a racist. LOL.

Congrats. to you both. I remember my first trip there. It was really exciting for Ruchie and I! Have your BF bring a good magazine or book to read on his long flight. It can get quite boring on those long flights. Have a great time together and remember to take photos and to save receipts and boarding passes for your evidences later in the process.

Okay. I've been reading up on fiancee visas and those make good documentation.

Any more tips would be welcome. Please keep them coming. :star:

The culture is quite different in the U.S. and the Philippines. It's okay for you to feel shocked or hurt since pre-nuptual agreements are basically unheard of in the Philippines. Be open to your fiance if it makes you uncomfortable and any other feelings you have on the subject. He is the only one who can give your heart reassurance.

I'm positive he did not mean to make you upset - it's just that in the U.S., divorce rates are fairly high so pre-nuptual agreements are an average practice. I agree with letting him get you your own lawyer to oversee your own interests too.

I'm not really sure what a NOA 2 is, but wow, congratulations! You seem really happy. You deserve it.

Many of the flights that stop at Guam do so only to fuel up. The stop lasts for only about 50 minutes, and the passengers stay on the plane during the stop.

That makes a lot of sense, his flight itinerary includes this:

Tue, 23MAR10 CO12 T HOUSTON BUSH INTL (IAH) 9:35AM GUAM IS SW PAC (GUM) 6:10PM (24MAR) 767-400 Lunch

Wed, 24MAR10 CO9333 T GUAM IS SW PAC (GUM) 7:00PM MANILA PHILIPPINE (MNL) 8:40PM 737-800 Dinner

And about Friday's buffet and show, will do!

There is no fee coming into NAIA, but he will need 750PHP cash for the fee when leaving Manila (the 200PHP fee is for domestic flights only). You could meet him at the greeting area right after he clears customs (you'll see lots of people with paper signs bearing the names of people they are meeting), which would be the closest you can get to the gate.

Terminal 1 also has a fairly decent meeting/waiting/pickup area outside (this is labeled "arrival extension area" on the map below) with parking, food vendors, seating, etc, which can be convenient; the pickup area has signs designating letters of the alphabet which I think are supposed to correspond to people's last names, so for example you could meet him at the "S" area if his last name were Smith. This is outside baggage claim, he would cross the street, then go right or left depending on if he wants to get closer to the beginning or the end of the alphabet, just look for the signs. I usually go to this area and get load for my cel phone so then I can text whomever I'm meeting up with, but even without a cel phone it should be OK as long as you know what he looks like (or else you could make one of those paper signs).

Here's the map: http://www.filipinotravel.com.ph/tickets/map_naia1.php

Hope this helps!

This is truly helpful x1000!! Thanks a lot!!! :star: :star:

I do know what he looks like: he's the sexiest, most handsome guy I've ever laid eyes on!

I will still make a sign, though, hahaha. I will make it extra pink and sparkly to embarrass him!

Congratulations and good luck.

Okay, I will make sure to do that!

Any more tips would be welcome! I would love to hear you share your experiences (not to mention find them real helpful!).

By the way, I am planning to take him to Boracay!

Thank you, that's very helpful!

He has a lot of stopovers on his way here: Newark, Houston, Guam... They have free wi-fi on those airports right? He'll be able to chat or e-mail me during his stops, right? I ask because wi-fi in NAIA is down 90% of the time and I myself have never flown out of the country so I don't know. I worry about him so much and I just want to make sure he's okay, if his plane landed safely, stuff like that. He always tells me I worry too much but I can't help it. It's his first time getting on a plane and I'm scared he'll get lost or miss his flight and a thousand other things!

http://www.manila-airport.net/Map.cfm - Is this map up-to-date? Is there a designated waiting place in NAIA Terminal 1 for non-passengers? Where should I stay so we see each other right after he disembarks from the plane? Or do I have to wait outside?

Sorry if I have too many questions, I'm just so excited and nervous at the same time...

Hi there, I've browsed around this forum for a while before taking a deep breath and finally deciding to register. I think you guys are really friendly and helpful, so I've come for some help.

I met my boyfriend online and he is coming here to Manila next week. He is flying Continental all the way. Are there any special instructions or tips we should know? For example, I know for domestic flights, PAL charges a terminal fee of 200 PHP. Will NAIA charge my boyfriend for something similar? Would it be a good idea for me to send him local currency through Western Union?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance! :star: