16freekisses

Yes that is 100% true. Try to get the k-1 route. If he wants to come back maybe you can marry there. but if you go K-1 who knows, maybe god be on your side and you will have it by winter.
Good luck
Yogi

Hi 16freekisses,
You do make a striking couple. Goodluck on your journey in life together.
Like you, I planned on applying for a B2 visa before we applied for a K1 visa. I thought it would be hard for me to migrate to another country without seeing it or experiencing it. We, too, planned for a winter visit for me as that would be my first time to experience winter plus a chance for me to meet my would be in-laws.
Luckily for me, I was granted a B2 visa even though there are alot of people being denied on the day of my interview. If you do decide to apply for a B2 visa, be confident during the interview. More importantly, be sure that you do have a compelling reason to come back to the Phils.
Goodluck!
Bluerose

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!

:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

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.

^ You guys are a great-looking couple. Have a wonderful time together!
What part of the Philippines are you in?

One of my fondest memories of my time in the Philippines:
We made several trips to the local market in Paniqui. At 6ft plus in height I towered above everyone else there. She kept on forgetting that I was a "Stranger in a strange land" and just went about business as usual, I had to try to keep up as best as I could!
Once I lost track of her, just another short brown person with straight black hair in a sea of them! So I just stopped and looked around hoping to stop her. After a short {pun intended} while I felt a tapping on my chest {or maybe stomach} so I looked down to see her looking up at me!

That's really a very cute story..

Verizon cell phones will not work in the Philippines.
However, as a Verizon customer, he can rent an international phone from Verizon. It only costs $9.95 for a 21 day rental. Verizon also charges by the minute. I don't remember exactly how much they charge per minute, but $1.49 per minute comes to mind. At that price, the phone is only good for emergency use. When he returns home, he simply ships the phone back to Verizon in the box that it came in.

The night I first met my wife...she wasnt my wife yet, hehehehe. She arrived at the airport 2 hours early, but the crowds were so heavy. She waited outside the airport. I didnt know where to look for her. I had all my baggage...it was raining, and soooooooo hot and humid, at night. after 12 midnight. I didnt know how to call her from there, and didnt know what to do. I heard my name paged, but too late to hear the message. I found a security guard and explained all to him, and showed him her phone number, and he said "wait here". He walked away, and soon he came back with my wife! He told me to wait under the letter A, and she was upset why I wasnt waiting under the letter D! (as my last name begins with). But I told her I waited where the security guard told me to wait. But she looked so differnet in person... smaller, more beautiful, than I imagined. So I maybe walked right past her and did not know.

sweeeeet... have a great time together and keep us posted

Have a great time together. He will be okay!!!

do not plan on his cell working!! the pay phones at the airport are famous for not working!!!
tell him what the sign will look like. put it on a stick, and hold it high!
take lots of pics....

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)

That is so true, but on my experience the night I pick up my husband the dollar is around 48.20,the next day we checked it was 48.80, I know it's just a small difference but I'm glad we waited, That's why my husband call me KURIPOT.

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

I have found that for the past 2 times I was in the Philippines, the exchange rate right at the Manila airport was better than anything I found here in the states...
Make sure he has your cell number so he can call you from the pay phones inside customs.
Also, if I recall correctly, you do not NEED to wait across the street... When I walked out the exit doors after clearing customs, on MY right hand side, there was a waiting area just outside the fence, where my beautiful lady was bouncing up and down waiting for me.
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

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.
I didn't rely on ATMs or want to necessarily pay a lot of ATM fees (or the terrible exchange rates from the ATMs), so I bought a money belt before I left the states and brought several hundred in cash in the money belt. Every hotel we stayed in had a room safe, so I just left it in the room safe and took a little money with me when we went out. Most everything else (plane tickets, hotel rooms) were pre-payed.

It's pretty clear when you're at the airport where you will wait for departing passengers, and it is outside. In the waiting areas it's seperated into a few areas by first letter of last or surname. He's going to see it easily when he leaves the plane. It was pretty simple, and when I got off, there was Vicky waiting for me with her sister and cousin to ride with us to the hotel.

Hope this thing help you meeting your boyfriend...
1. Make sure what terminal his plane is landing... Most international flights use Terminal 1 ( NAIA ) you can ride jeep going there it's easy and cheap.
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. Expect a lot of people at the waiting area( it was a two story building ), there is no way he can see you. It's only you who can recognize him.
3. No fees as long he's clear to Phil. Immigration and got his bags ask him to go to arrival area. There are letters on the arrival area, he doesn't have to go to the letter that starts his name just talk and make arrangements what letter he should stand.
4. If your boyfriend is confuse tell him to ask to security guards or people who have name tags or ID's showing they do work at airport. And ask your boyfriend to remember name tags if he did need to ask around.
5. You are not allowed to go to the arrival area not unless you already saw your boyfriend... if you already saw your boyfriend...ask the security guard to let you pass to pick your boyfriend.
6. There are authorized money changer at the airport, but I suggest you should bring your own money, I mean peso, we have to consider the exchange rate and sometimes at airports the exchange rate are low.
7. There are authorized Taxi service at the arrival area,Ask around where is the booth for authorized taxi airport. You just have to pay at the counter, prize depends on where are you going ( be clear on the address ex. your going at quezon city make sure they are not charging you for the prize of quezon province ). Just wait and the taxi will come to you and just present the receipt to the driver.
8. If your going to pick him up with your own transportation, Your jeep, car or van stays at the parking lot, it won't be allowed to go or park at the arrival area. If your Bf is with you already, you can text or call someone to pick you up.
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.
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.

congrats jared and may!!!
16freekisses: NOA2 is the notice of approval of the petition..

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.

I know you are excited and happy. I still remember my first trip to
Parañaque.
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.

Yes, you'll HAVE to look for him! The waiting area for you is across the street from the ramp where he'll exit the international terminal. Like was said here, there are alphabetical signs there too that help narrow down the area you'll have to look through. If he's close to 6' tall he'll stand out pretty well though..LOL
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 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