calibob

I believe Rob&Ann are correct. I think they're looking for a chronic/serious illness that requires on going treatment. Your surgery was common, for the most part, and was not on going. Best of luck!!
Bob

As someone mentioned Filipinos are a very family based culture. I saw nothing wrong with my wife wanting a second wedding in Philippines which all her family, parents, brothers, sisters and relatives could attend. Most women dream of having a church wedding with family members in attendance. If you do a k1 that's not possible.
Also if your wife wants a Catholic marriage they view you as unmarried as they don't view any marriage outside of a Catholic one a real marriage. Doesn't matter if you have a marriage certificate and report of marriage.
In any case it does cost money for a wedding ceremony but if you had a civil one in the US like me you saved money on the first one anyway.
For me it made my wife extremely happy and it was the right thing to do for us. Good memories for that occasion with her family and friends. No regrets for spending money on a ceremony. You can do that within your budget the same as you can in the US.

I think what Vonage says is that it 'may' cut you off after 3000 minutes. I'm not sure we have ever hit 3000 minutes, I mean, honestly, that's an hour and a half every day. If you were talking to your fiancé I can see hitting that. But for your wife or fiancé who is here, that's a lot of time to call back home. There are certainly days when my wife calls for more than an hour or two. But other days she doesn't call at all. 3000 minutes is a lot of time. And I suspect that clause is mainly in there to keep people from trying to run businesses using the line.

I also have the Vonage $29.99 unlimited calling to Phil globe numbers. With their app, I can call anywhere from my mobile phone. When I do international travel, I can use the same app on my mobile to call her through WiFi. Its all incl in the plan. Its well worth the $29.99.
I bought her a Samsung tablet with mobile Wifi device through Globe. If she needs to reach me quickly, she can send me an email or skype me basically anywhere she is and I'm always logged in skype via mobile phone.
Vonage told me if she has a smart phone, she could also call with WiFi if she downloaded the app but we haven't done that yet.
Hope that helps.

Skype and globe call all you want plan on vonage for phone calls.
Bob

There can be anything throw a wrench into the best laid plans. AP, hungover CO with a bad attitude, missing i dotted or t crossed, holidays, bad medical, lost visa, lost passport..........you choose one and it may happen. Save yourself some worry and have a bit of patience, it'll pay off in spades!!!!!
Bob

Personally, given the fact that you are going to be apart for a few years I would go the CR/IR route. Get married and when she is finally able to be with you she will be issued a 10-yr GC, you don't have to go through the hassle as you noted that comes with the K-1 once she gets here. She can work fairly soon after (providing there are no mess-ups with Social Insurance and GC production)as opposed to having to wait for EAD etc. This is actually the route my husband and I are going (we have delayed our I-130 submission by a few months to ensure our finances are more secure and to figure plans after he is discharged). We don't like the time apart, but we figure if we delay now it will save us a much greater headache later on.
You can do a great deal between now and then to substantiate a bona fide marriage case (joint property, bank account, insurance, lease, trips, phone logs, etc) and many couples live in the U.S. on separate coasts and can prove the same, so I would worry a little less about this if this is your main concern. I would focus on whether the extended time apart is what you are both willing to handle.

Sounds like you have more issues than Gretchen should have to deal with right now... or ever. Get over THE EX and start focusing on your wife.... you grab hold of "trouble" with your family that petered out, now you have moved on to clinging to memories of your EX.

If they didn't request it... Don't submit it... If they send you a request for evidence then send only what they are asking for. Otherwise you can complicate your case further.

Whooo Hooooo!! Congrats to you and your family........my baby arrives in 12 hours..........
Bob

I just wanted to share my experience with you all. I just returned home from a week long trip to the PI. My Fiancee met me in Manila and we then journeyed 9 hours from Manila to her Province in Bicol by bus. Spent 4 days there meeting her parents and family, sought their blessings, bonded with relatives, and just to take in the experience of her home. Being outside of Metro Manila was also a change of pace I really enjoyed. Great trip. Wonderful family as I expected, Fantastic food, and memories for a lifetime.
Thanks for all the advice I got here on VJ prior to my trip. The Pasalubong ideas were great, even though the extra suitcase fee cost me more than some of the gifts I brought. Damn airline merger (talking about the largest airline in the world based in Chicago). Anyway, here's what I learned that might help you...

Long bus rides generally don't make many stops for CR
Bring 5 Peso coins with you for the use of CRs at the Sari Saris you do stop for
Towns in the Provinces are generally cash only with few ATMs (if any)
Chocolates are always appreciated. Hard candies for kids
Little to no water pressure can be expected. Shower with a pail is often the means or pumping your own water
Do not refuse food offered and never show you don't like what you've just tried
Trikes are small! At 5'10" I could barely fit in the side car
Power/Water outages are not uncommon
Have a night out or two with Titas and Titos and foot the bills

Most of all...

Be courteous and respectful
Don't act like the foreigner who's there to own the town
Talk and plan things through with your Fiancee to see if your intended actions are acceptable
Don't go around flaunting you have money. It's disrespectful and could probably get you into trouble quick

For those of you VJers who have not visited their Fiance(e)'s province/home town, you are missing out on the opportunity for the family to meet you and get to know you. Most especially it gives them an opportunity to ask questions to you and for them to understand the whole K1/K2 Visa process. I had the impression that my fiancee's family thought she would never return home to the Philippines (which I dispelled). Going there was a win win situation and it turned out to be fantastic. I really want to go back again soon. That's how much I enjoyed it.

Ling Che' Nvc shortcut and Loto's Shortcuts/procedures to bringing a spouse to the US links should be of some help to you.
Best of luck!
Bob

Matt please remember when answering questions that even though someone ask it, other people like myself are paying attention to the answers. so by just telling some one to go here or there dont always help effectivly. Look at the post made by the person after you that is more like an appropriate answer. Not every one is experienced as you are here and no question should be deemed an annoyance. Just my ####### bit on what I have notice by your answers in other posts.
Thanks for your answer I was wondering about that also.

Maybe that is why her journey lasted 9 years???
Bob

Wow Visa process in your conutry is very strict! Seems I am always finding myself reading post of small issues being made so difficult by them! Good Luck to the both of you!

Some of the schools around us in NE offer resume writing classes. Use google and check around your state see if any schools offer the classes etc - they are pretty help full!
If not you can find example resumes online and some job sites like monster.com offer ones where you can make a resume on their site. Our state also has a website for help finding jobs and it has information to help you write your resumes and tips etc on the website - check google see if your state has something similar they should.

Cut the strings and set yourself free to be your own man and not looking at your shadow for guidance or approval. I also had some "manipulative and controlling" people in my life/family who were totally unhealthy for me both mentally and physically. Jettison them, and if they come back to you with a true change (leopards can't change their spots though) then welcome them back on your terms. Otherwise man up, you have a new family and another chance to live the life of your choosing.
Bob

This is what I told my wife as she was crying. I told her that I'd rather know that we still have three months to go as opposed to waiting day to day. I have done both and prefer the knowing. I pray for all those who still haven't any idea, waiting in limbo, and think there should be some sort of time limits placed upon the searches, if only more frequent and timely updates of status. It's a crying shame we're treated like this by people we employ.
Bob

That is soooooo lame of an excuse. What the heck do they think? What are they thinking.......?? The store manager has to be the biggest dumb a@@ and lack any common sense. I think maybe you might be lucky not working for such a close minded company that they can't see past their own noses at a legitimate exception to the rule. If you truly wish to get hired, I'd find out the district manager's name and contact him or her. Best of luck and I'm truly sorry........
Bob

Were they doing a credit check as part of the background checks? I've had minor issues with companies telling me I don't exist and that even months and months after immigrating.
Any reasonable employer should be able to work this out. If it's too much of a problem for them then they would probably have turned out to be the kind of employer that caused you problems later. Hope it works out ok for you :-)

James' shortcuts at NVC, Ling Che's NVC Shortcut , or Loto's "How to bring a Spouse to US" One or all of these should give you a good handle on NVC. Best of luck!!
Bob

My input.....it's not what you say, it's how you say it. Often times the intended audience gets caught up in how things are presented and not the message that was attempted to be relayed.....Public speaking 101. Works in the real world too. If one's going to use controversial terms and language then it should be explained in detail to defuse any unintended fallout.
Bob

Now is the time to get creative. Maybe even change job fields to a related but not direct field that you have education in. Try an keep your resume active by volunteering your services at a local non profit. A thought that just came to mind is H & R block.......or a similar tax service. They're always hiring and they offer US tax training. This may not be your cup of tea but it gives you the idea to think out of the traditional "box" so to speak. Your job probably won't be at HQ,unless your very lucky. Often times you have to take a lesser job and prove yourself over again to get where you want to be. Best of luck OP!!
Keep your head up and keep trying......that is what has made the US great and what will keep it that way.
Bob

Go to Robert Half or Accountemps and try for temporary placement until you can find a job. Even if you're placed in something below your skill level, it gets you in the door and lets you dazzle them.
Do you have your CPA? If not, consider working on it.
Find a cause you feel passionate about and volunteer. Volunteering gives you a chance to meet other civic-minded business professionals and show them your work ethic.
Is there an Indian organization in your area you can join? Join it. You may find opportunities through that kind of network.
Tax season is upon us. H&R Block always hires like crazy to do tax returns. Generally pretty boring stuff, but it's a job and you'll meet lots of people and you'll keep your skills fresh.
Think about the companies you worked with in outsourcing/consulting. What industries were they in? Can you target companies in your area in the same industry? Make sure your cover letter lists your major accomplishments and your resume shows the contributions you've made on those projects.
What about tutoring? Post on Craig's list and at the local high schools and community colleges. A lot of people freak out when they see numbers and can't handle Accounting (even though it's not math, it's just organizing) and Finance.
Last resort: find a large corporation nearby with a lot of Indians working at it. Open a tea stall. I've never found tea or coffee in the US as fantastic as in India. You would have lines around the block.

Our lawyer called today and said that our case might be adjudicated as soon as 1 week......I'm hoping I heard her right......
Bob