DavenRoxy

That is incorrect. Someone who naturalizes here by virtue of marriage can be a dual citizen, and the US does recognize that.
Now, if I go for PI citizenship, I may have to give up my US citizenship, according to their website. But I see no need to become a PI citizen, just get (whatever it is called) for marrying one of their citizens and living over there for retirement.

LA2012,
Relax a minute, ok? I recommend you read every single post on the first 4 pages of this forum, then start asking questions. Why? Because you will find that most people on here mean very well, but sometimes, things come across wrong when typed and you can't see/hear their faces. And you will not always agree with all opinions you read here, so you just have to sort thru that.
Nothing wrong with being young, in love, and poor. In fact, the majority of us started out that way. You have a long road ahead of you, trying to be together in the US, and it will be expensive, too. I would say that $5,000 is pretty close to the end amount of money you will spend, but it can be spread out over a year or more. There is an initial fee of $455 just to file a petition (I think this cost actually went down after we filed last August, current fees are on the USCIS website), there is a medical fee of $213, there is visa fee of $350, and that is just to get approved visa. And then there is the cost of a plane ticket, typically around $1,000, airport taxes, CFO fee, the cost of a marriage license, then filing for Adjustment of Status (AOS), around $1,070, and that should be done ASAP after getting married. And as mentioned, none of this includes the costs of food, travel, and lodging to and from MNL.
Yes, it is expensive, but you don't need to have all the money at once, you can either save it up and have it set aside, or just pay as you go. But it would be really bad to pay for an application, and an exam fee, only to not have the money for the visa fee. So I say save at least $2,000 before you apply, or at least know you can have it saved by the time you will receive your visa (this can take from 2-5 months). Once you get your visa, you only have 6 months to get to the USA. And once in the USA, only 90 days to get married. So there are time constraints.
As I said up front, relax. Everyone here is on your side, we are all doing the same thing, but you are new here, and your question is a hard one to answer. You will figure it all out, and most here will be helpful. Lots to learn here, and as TCO said, you will grow in the process of learning. Wish you the best on your journey, but I hope you take my advice and read a lot here. As you read, you will have many questions, but if you keep reading, all of them WILL BE ANSWERED, I promise.
Salamat po and walang anuman po!

Ummm, actually, this is a Philippines forum. Says so right in the Regional Discussion area.
Cheers!

LA2012,
Relax a minute, ok? I recommend you read every single post on the first 4 pages of this forum, then start asking questions. Why? Because you will find that most people on here mean very well, but sometimes, things come across wrong when typed and you can't see/hear their faces. And you will not always agree with all opinions you read here, so you just have to sort thru that.
Nothing wrong with being young, in love, and poor. In fact, the majority of us started out that way. You have a long road ahead of you, trying to be together in the US, and it will be expensive, too. I would say that $5,000 is pretty close to the end amount of money you will spend, but it can be spread out over a year or more. There is an initial fee of $455 just to file a petition (I think this cost actually went down after we filed last August, current fees are on the USCIS website), there is a medical fee of $213, there is visa fee of $350, and that is just to get approved visa. And then there is the cost of a plane ticket, typically around $1,000, airport taxes, CFO fee, the cost of a marriage license, then filing for Adjustment of Status (AOS), around $1,070, and that should be done ASAP after getting married. And as mentioned, none of this includes the costs of food, travel, and lodging to and from MNL.
Yes, it is expensive, but you don't need to have all the money at once, you can either save it up and have it set aside, or just pay as you go. But it would be really bad to pay for an application, and an exam fee, only to not have the money for the visa fee. So I say save at least $2,000 before you apply, or at least know you can have it saved by the time you will receive your visa (this can take from 2-5 months). Once you get your visa, you only have 6 months to get to the USA. And once in the USA, only 90 days to get married. So there are time constraints.
As I said up front, relax. Everyone here is on your side, we are all doing the same thing, but you are new here, and your question is a hard one to answer. You will figure it all out, and most here will be helpful. Lots to learn here, and as TCO said, you will grow in the process of learning. Wish you the best on your journey, but I hope you take my advice and read a lot here. As you read, you will have many questions, but if you keep reading, all of them WILL BE ANSWERED, I promise.
Salamat po and walang anuman po!

LA2012,
Relax a minute, ok? I recommend you read every single post on the first 4 pages of this forum, then start asking questions. Why? Because you will find that most people on here mean very well, but sometimes, things come across wrong when typed and you can't see/hear their faces. And you will not always agree with all opinions you read here, so you just have to sort thru that.
Nothing wrong with being young, in love, and poor. In fact, the majority of us started out that way. You have a long road ahead of you, trying to be together in the US, and it will be expensive, too. I would say that $5,000 is pretty close to the end amount of money you will spend, but it can be spread out over a year or more. There is an initial fee of $455 just to file a petition (I think this cost actually went down after we filed last August, current fees are on the USCIS website), there is a medical fee of $213, there is visa fee of $350, and that is just to get approved visa. And then there is the cost of a plane ticket, typically around $1,000, airport taxes, CFO fee, the cost of a marriage license, then filing for Adjustment of Status (AOS), around $1,070, and that should be done ASAP after getting married. And as mentioned, none of this includes the costs of food, travel, and lodging to and from MNL.
Yes, it is expensive, but you don't need to have all the money at once, you can either save it up and have it set aside, or just pay as you go. But it would be really bad to pay for an application, and an exam fee, only to not have the money for the visa fee. So I say save at least $2,000 before you apply, or at least know you can have it saved by the time you will receive your visa (this can take from 2-5 months). Once you get your visa, you only have 6 months to get to the USA. And once in the USA, only 90 days to get married. So there are time constraints.
As I said up front, relax. Everyone here is on your side, we are all doing the same thing, but you are new here, and your question is a hard one to answer. You will figure it all out, and most here will be helpful. Lots to learn here, and as TCO said, you will grow in the process of learning. Wish you the best on your journey, but I hope you take my advice and read a lot here. As you read, you will have many questions, but if you keep reading, all of them WILL BE ANSWERED, I promise.
Salamat po and walang anuman po!

LA2012,
Relax a minute, ok? I recommend you read every single post on the first 4 pages of this forum, then start asking questions. Why? Because you will find that most people on here mean very well, but sometimes, things come across wrong when typed and you can't see/hear their faces. And you will not always agree with all opinions you read here, so you just have to sort thru that.
Nothing wrong with being young, in love, and poor. In fact, the majority of us started out that way. You have a long road ahead of you, trying to be together in the US, and it will be expensive, too. I would say that $5,000 is pretty close to the end amount of money you will spend, but it can be spread out over a year or more. There is an initial fee of $455 just to file a petition (I think this cost actually went down after we filed last August, current fees are on the USCIS website), there is a medical fee of $213, there is visa fee of $350, and that is just to get approved visa. And then there is the cost of a plane ticket, typically around $1,000, airport taxes, CFO fee, the cost of a marriage license, then filing for Adjustment of Status (AOS), around $1,070, and that should be done ASAP after getting married. And as mentioned, none of this includes the costs of food, travel, and lodging to and from MNL.
Yes, it is expensive, but you don't need to have all the money at once, you can either save it up and have it set aside, or just pay as you go. But it would be really bad to pay for an application, and an exam fee, only to not have the money for the visa fee. So I say save at least $2,000 before you apply, or at least know you can have it saved by the time you will receive your visa (this can take from 2-5 months). Once you get your visa, you only have 6 months to get to the USA. And once in the USA, only 90 days to get married. So there are time constraints.
As I said up front, relax. Everyone here is on your side, we are all doing the same thing, but you are new here, and your question is a hard one to answer. You will figure it all out, and most here will be helpful. Lots to learn here, and as TCO said, you will grow in the process of learning. Wish you the best on your journey, but I hope you take my advice and read a lot here. As you read, you will have many questions, but if you keep reading, all of them WILL BE ANSWERED, I promise.
Salamat po and walang anuman po!

And let's not forget that in the not-too-distant past, a lot marriages were arranged. Some probably worked out, but I suspect most were not so good.
And of course, there are Amer/Phil marriages that hit the rocks, either because she was scamming the guy all along, one or both couldn't deal with the reality of personal and cultural differences, or unfaithfulness... whatever. It happens.
And I'd be willing to bet you, though few if any would come forth and admit, there are those situations where a woman agreed to marry a man just to improve things, or get out of the PI, or whatever her motivation... and ended up getting a good guy whom she genuinely fell in love with, and they ar both happy today.
At my age, I think it is hard to predict if you will be happily married to someone until you have been married to them for a few years first.

Ummm, actually, this is a Philippines forum. Says so right in the Regional Discussion area.
Cheers!

Ummm, actually, this is a Philippines forum. Says so right in the Regional Discussion area.
Cheers!

While that may be true in some cases, my wife will be MUCH better off after I die, so where is the equality in THAT? Isn't she taking advantage of an old geezer who is smart enough to buy life insurance? Perhaps my Filipina bride is just depriving some "more worthy" American woman of financial freedom upon my death, as opposed to being "vulnerable" after she survives me?

In the end, does any of it really matter? If you love and respect your wife, and she knows it, then it won't matter how you refer to her. And if someone says something that is truly mean or vindictive about her culture, then that is just showing the speaker's lack of intelligence, right?
Many people in the US have never been outside the borders, and have no right to comment on another land's way of life or culture... yet they do it, and probably mostly because of what they have seen/read in the media. My asawa may appear to be more meek and submissive than my ex wife... but she is quick to tell me that "I will always make people think that you are the boss, and might even let YOU believe it from time. But rest assured, I am in charge, and you will end up doing what I want, so best for you not to resist me!" Yeah, she says it laughingly, but in the end, she usually gets what she wants.
On some things, we are equals. On others, one of us takes the lead and the other follows. But whether I call her "My Filipina", or sweetheart, or FiliPAINa, or Flipper, or Honey... she always knows that I love her. And if someone attacks her for her culture, grammar, or whatever, I just sit back and smile, cuz she can handle it. Like when it comes to mocking her grammar (yeah, I have teased her from time to time, cuz it's so darn cute!), but she is not in the mood, she will still my words by saying, "Ok, so my English is not as good as my Tagalog, or my Visayan... but it's better than the other 4 languages I can speak. How many languages are YOU fluent in???" Yeah, she can handle herself, and usually with a smile on her face (that I have come to discern as more dangerous than her frown).
So again I say... does it matter when others show their ignorance? Not really. Cuz in the end, if they are truly sincere in trying to slam my asawa, either directly or thru me by attacking our marital reasoning... then I simply will exclude them from my life. Mostly, it's just honest mistakes, I think. Then again, I don't have the years of being with a FiliPAINa like some of you; but I DO have the luxury of having spent a lot of time outside the US and living in other cultures. And IMHO, getting hot under the collar and "putting someone in their place" probably is a waste of time. If they truly believe what they say, will I change their mind? No. Nothing will, except getting to know my wonderful asawa better.
And for those of you who think ALL Filipinas are good, they ain't. Just as all American women ain't. The nationality does not matter. What matters is that in my Filipina sweetheart, I feel like I have found my soul mate. And I am so lucky to have her.

In the end, does any of it really matter? If you love and respect your wife, and she knows it, then it won't matter how you refer to her. And if someone says something that is truly mean or vindictive about her culture, then that is just showing the speaker's lack of intelligence, right?
Many people in the US have never been outside the borders, and have no right to comment on another land's way of life or culture... yet they do it, and probably mostly because of what they have seen/read in the media. My asawa may appear to be more meek and submissive than my ex wife... but she is quick to tell me that "I will always make people think that you are the boss, and might even let YOU believe it from time. But rest assured, I am in charge, and you will end up doing what I want, so best for you not to resist me!" Yeah, she says it laughingly, but in the end, she usually gets what she wants.
On some things, we are equals. On others, one of us takes the lead and the other follows. But whether I call her "My Filipina", or sweetheart, or FiliPAINa, or Flipper, or Honey... she always knows that I love her. And if someone attacks her for her culture, grammar, or whatever, I just sit back and smile, cuz she can handle it. Like when it comes to mocking her grammar (yeah, I have teased her from time to time, cuz it's so darn cute!), but she is not in the mood, she will still my words by saying, "Ok, so my English is not as good as my Tagalog, or my Visayan... but it's better than the other 4 languages I can speak. How many languages are YOU fluent in???" Yeah, she can handle herself, and usually with a smile on her face (that I have come to discern as more dangerous than her frown).
So again I say... does it matter when others show their ignorance? Not really. Cuz in the end, if they are truly sincere in trying to slam my asawa, either directly or thru me by attacking our marital reasoning... then I simply will exclude them from my life. Mostly, it's just honest mistakes, I think. Then again, I don't have the years of being with a FiliPAINa like some of you; but I DO have the luxury of having spent a lot of time outside the US and living in other cultures. And IMHO, getting hot under the collar and "putting someone in their place" probably is a waste of time. If they truly believe what they say, will I change their mind? No. Nothing will, except getting to know my wonderful asawa better.
And for those of you who think ALL Filipinas are good, they ain't. Just as all American women ain't. The nationality does not matter. What matters is that in my Filipina sweetheart, I feel like I have found my soul mate. And I am so lucky to have her.

Why would anyone care to waste the time and money to deport her? Unless she is a fugitive from justice, or has done something to run afoul of the law, why would anyone go after just her? There are THOUSANDS upon thousands of illegal immigrants in the US. As long as she is not a burden to the US, I think she will be just fine. Unless someone reports her, of course.

James, you are a JERK!! I read that subject and nearly freaked out.
Glad to hear all is well with you guys. I for one cannot WAIT to taste my asawa's cooking again. You are so lucky to have her with you.
Keep up the good work!

Some don't distinguish between "Fiancé" and "Fiancée". And as you should know very well, it is common to intermix "he" & "she" when Pilipinos speak,lol.

Just FYI, there is a new I-134 available online. The old one expired on 5/26/2011. So if you haven't submitted yet, you might consider filling out a new one. From what I could tell, there is NO DIFFERENCE, other than the form revision date, so it probably won't matter...
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134.pdf

ZestAir appears to be down and out... Though they recently advertised some nice fares: http://www.airlinespromo.com/2011/04/zest-air-offers-labor-day-seat-zale-for-as-low-as-p388/'>http://www.airlinespromo.com/2011/04/zest-air-offers-labor-day-seat-zale-for-as-low-as-p388/
Try http://www.flyseair.com/
They have some nice deals here: http://www.airlinespromo.com/

Give me her email address, and $100 a month for the next year, and I will take care of this for you. You will have saved THOUSANDS, and will be happier when I am done, I promise.
Ok, that was a joke. But SERIOUSLY... walk away. Now. Been there, seen those types. Not just in the PI, but they are everywhere. I love my gurl, but if she ever acts like that, even after she gets here, I would drop her like a hot potato. If you are not working/saving together for retirement now, then you are not a TEAM. And why be married to the "other side"?
Trouble, trouble, trouble, most likely in a small, cute package. But as TCO said, there are thousands in the PI to choose from who have good hearts, so don't waste your time on this one.
And in case I didn't say it well enough... WALK AWAY. NOW.

Hay naku, full of BLOW!!!

Wow, what a thread! I have to say, I agree with all of it!! When I proposed to my fiancee, I asked her to quit her job in Korea to move back to the PI for the visa process, but since she was sending money home for her family to live on, I felt it was my place to support her. So I have been sending money to her ever since. More than some, but I am sure not as much as others send. BLUF, I send it, neither she nor her family has EVER asked for it. And knowing them as I have come to, I doubt they ever WOULD ask for it, unless it was an emergency. And when she gets a job in the US, I am sure she will send some money to her family, but she will most likely never ask me to. And therein lies the difference... her family is poor but proud, and I think they would rather do without than beg or "expect" someone to support them.
It's Filipino culture to care for your family. Hell, it's LOTS of cultures that do it, not so much in America though. I knew that when I met my girl, and even though I offered to send her money, she does not like it, and I know she will go to school or work as soon as possible to make money and life better for she and I as well as her parents. If you marry a Filipina, you just have to understand that supporting Nanay and Tatay is normal. Not saying it should break your bank, but it's a cultural norm.
It's hard to say how best to handle the difference between you and your spouse, but I would encourage you to review all the changes she has made to be with you, how much she has accepted your culture, and see if you can find it in your heart to at least understand hers. Not saying you have to agree with all of it, but at least accept it as part of her genetic makeup. Their culture is not perfect, neither is ours. Your (both of you) willingness to find a happy middle ground is where it's at. Just as any other marital spat, there is no "he's right, she's wrong" in a situation like this.
If she insists on sending money home, and you can't see it as affordable now, then I strongly encourage her to find a job to help out. Then she has the added benefit of helping, plus feeling good that SHE did it, it's not a free-load deal.
At any rate, good luck working it out. Just remember how "worth it" she was when you were going thru the whole visa process... she is still the same person she was back then. Anything (or anyone) worth having is worth working for. And sometimes, work requires sacrifice...

Wow, what a thread! I have to say, I agree with all of it!! When I proposed to my fiancee, I asked her to quit her job in Korea to move back to the PI for the visa process, but since she was sending money home for her family to live on, I felt it was my place to support her. So I have been sending money to her ever since. More than some, but I am sure not as much as others send. BLUF, I send it, neither she nor her family has EVER asked for it. And knowing them as I have come to, I doubt they ever WOULD ask for it, unless it was an emergency. And when she gets a job in the US, I am sure she will send some money to her family, but she will most likely never ask me to. And therein lies the difference... her family is poor but proud, and I think they would rather do without than beg or "expect" someone to support them.
It's Filipino culture to care for your family. Hell, it's LOTS of cultures that do it, not so much in America though. I knew that when I met my girl, and even though I offered to send her money, she does not like it, and I know she will go to school or work as soon as possible to make money and life better for she and I as well as her parents. If you marry a Filipina, you just have to understand that supporting Nanay and Tatay is normal. Not saying it should break your bank, but it's a cultural norm.
It's hard to say how best to handle the difference between you and your spouse, but I would encourage you to review all the changes she has made to be with you, how much she has accepted your culture, and see if you can find it in your heart to at least understand hers. Not saying you have to agree with all of it, but at least accept it as part of her genetic makeup. Their culture is not perfect, neither is ours. Your (both of you) willingness to find a happy middle ground is where it's at. Just as any other marital spat, there is no "he's right, she's wrong" in a situation like this.
If she insists on sending money home, and you can't see it as affordable now, then I strongly encourage her to find a job to help out. Then she has the added benefit of helping, plus feeling good that SHE did it, it's not a free-load deal.
At any rate, good luck working it out. Just remember how "worth it" she was when you were going thru the whole visa process... she is still the same person she was back then. Anything (or anyone) worth having is worth working for. And sometimes, work requires sacrifice...

I see where people are saying that you need letters of intent to marry (again), but it's not required in the PDF mentioned from the USEM. I wonder if people are just trying to go above and beyond?

Gullible, not guillable.

Gullible, not guillable.