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I'm a part-time paid freelance writer, and just arrived in the US on a K-1 visa. Does it violate any rule if I continue to write for publications based in my home country (Phiilippines) while waiting to file/receive my EAD?

I think the Currant Year is more important that last year also. I have read: The Philippines wants to go back 3 years.

We prepared 3 past years of tax transcripts for the interview but they returned all but the last year to me (without even looking at the others). I was told only the last year was needed. Also submitted bank statements and other proof of income.

Congratulations! have a safe trip.

You posted on this same question yesterday and received a bunch of replies.

It's really your choice whether you want to wait for the eligibility letter or not. If in a hurry, take the advice others have posted here and on your previous thread, ie, pay your fee and schedule your interview once it is in the system. Otherwise, wait. Good luck.

For future inquiries, if any, best to email them at ivmanilareplies@state.gov. Put your case number, beneficiary's name and passport number on the subject line. I made the same inquiry and they replied within 24 hours.

I received my elibility letter weeks after I had scheduled my interview. If you don't want to wait too long, after paying your visa fee, you can try scheduling your interview online or by phone (use that link given above for the website address and/or phone number to call) and keep trying everyday until you get in. Your case number will be "invalid" until the embassy has registered your case in their system. It takes about a week or two for that to happen once your case leaves NVC.

Best of luck to you.

Congratulations!! Bask in the great feeling of a victory well earned. Good luck on your next steps.

Re airfare, many local agencies offer special promotions. If you go to a reputable one you can get a good price, usually much better than directly from the airline. My one way ticket to SFO (direct on PAL) cost $705 including taxes.

Thanks for your reply. That's how I understood it.

Here's what the California DMV website says: http://dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#BDLP

If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid.

If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.

Does the first part mean that I can use my Philippine driver's license while waiting for my green card or EAD? (My DL is valid until 2014)

I understand you are only considered a resident from the time you receive your GC.

Thanks for any advice on this.

I suggest you study the Philippine Culture. In Philippines girls still don't wear shorts in public, being a virgin until getting married is still common.

Me reading she "moved in together just one month after we started dating" throws up a red flag for me.

Just a heads up......

The Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) project 2002 of the University of the Philippines Population Institute reported that the average age for the first sexual intercourse for both men and women is 18 years. (I believe it is 17 years for Americans)

Average age of first marriage is 26 for men and 19 for women.

Premarital sex in the Philippines is more common than most would believe, or choose to reveal.

12 business days for me.

The way I understand this I believe is Correct. The Philipphine Goverment does NOT want Americans buying their Country for Pesos on the Dollar. A married Pinay and the USC can purchase property but will be Titled 49% USC/51% Pinay. In the Result of termination of the Marridge 100% of the Title (Deed) goes back to the Pinay.

Any USC that has purchased say a house/lot in the Philipphines can answer this better.

Thanks, Tim. Yes, this was how I understood it. We are far from making any major purchases either here in RP or there, but have been discussing options for the future. We both also have one child each from previous relationships. It makes sense to clear up property issues at this point, unromantic as it may seem.

What state are you in?

Is it a communial property state? You can look that up online. if so, when you marry, half is his along with half the bills.

Write to me directly if you need to know more.

Or make appointment with lawyer near you. If you have concerns, it is well worth an attorney fee.

jeanne

Thanks, I looked it up. CA is indeed a community property state.

No expert here but it depends on what state your Living in and where you got married.

need more info???

We will be married in and will live in California. I will be the foreign spouse arriving on K-1 and will go through immigration process. We both have assets going into marriage, mine are in my home country, his in the US.

Can anyone provide a good source of information regarding marriage/ property / inheritance law in the US?

Specifically, separate, communal and conjugal property as it affects both parties, and in particular where one party is in immigration process?

Thanks

It's called CFO, it just another scam by the Philippines to extract money from you.

They will push her to get to set up a bank account with BDO, and they will also show her pics and tell her about how woman from PI go to USA and get beat by their husbands and sold into prostitution rings or become sex slaves.

It' kinda Bull$hit, but they offer two places in Manila area, and it all can be done in one day

PRISM and St. Marys (St. Marys is easier to deal with), PRISM tend to be on a Power Trip.

Wow, finally!! congratulations, I am happy for you both.

lol too funny! Im sure it was witchcraft! lol

Sure, we even have a word for it. GAYUMA. Ask your wife

Darren : obviously you are referring to your particular experience with your fiancee when you say "Filipinas are this..." or "Filipinas are that". So I would thank you to avoid generalizing your perceptions to the whole population of Filipino women.

Perhaps it would be better to say "My fiancee is...". Nobody would disagree with you (Except perhaps, your fiancee)

[quote name='gretchen_darren' timestamp='1309260921' post='4749982

Filipinas are proud, they will not ask for money. they want love. they may struggle with things, but they will not ask for money. they wil just schedule times to talk with based on affordability. ..

A Filipinas Dad's Blessing is very very very significant to ...

Family is important to a Filipina, do expect to send money to support her parents aftrebecoming engaged or after marriage...

Filipinas ARE Fiathful and Loyal. BUT Filipinas ARE ALSO Insanely jealous. Do not fool yourself. When a Filipppina calls you her mahal ko, watch how often it is. Filipinas arereserved and not overly "lovey dovey".

Filipinas when they set their mind on you, take you to their family, friends, may walk around holding ...

Filipinas have very strict family values.

Filipinas who sleep with you will ONLY do so, once you are engaged. If she does otherwise, question things. If she sleeps with you before you meet her parents, my advice is to RUN. But this is your choice.

Know the culture of your Filipina, there are MAJOR differences between a girl in the city, and a girl in a village, or in the province. A province girl does not know how to use a knife. probably has never been to a restaurant, and returning to her village after leaving to come live with you, is complete shame to her. A Filipina who has children out of wedlock who is from the province is also shunned by her village. She is considered a "bad" influence on the girls in the village.

If a Filipina calls you her saviour, her Hero, she literally means it. Filipinas do not have many boyfriends, nor does a Filipina date many guys.For traditional Filipinas, this is against their culture. Dating is a very very very long and involved process even with an online relationship. A Filipina will be as wary of you, as you are of her.

It is how we met, that decides how things go. And many of the meetings all have the same thread. there was a meeting, and time spent learning each other. Some just knew, some did not know for a long time. It just depends on the relationship and the people.

Others care to pitch in on this question?

Thanks! Even handier for me (I'm the Pinay who went through 4 inches of rain per day last week).

Without knowing the specifics of your case, it seems to me like you've got all your ducks in a row. One other thing I brought with me was a copy of the original petition my fiance had sent in. They don't ask for it of course but I wanted to have a reference handy for all the info we had ever sent in.

Good luck!

At a 4-way stop. Everyone stops and takes turns very orderly.....She was shocked.

Yes, that amazed me too on a previous visit. Boy, was it scary driving in the US after years of driving in the anything-goes mayhem of Manila traffic. It was unnerving trying to follow traffic rules for a change!

Other things that amazed me (in California)

- wonderful, red, ripe, fresh cherries

- wild looking, initially mysterious, eventually delicious artichokes

- mourning doves cooing non stop in spring and summer

- Canadian geese honking overhead

- huge portions at the restaurants (and sadly, many huge people too)

- so many beautiful national parks!

- still so many hippies 40 years after woodstock LOL (at least in the bay area)

- Pinoy stores selling Chippy and johnson's baby cologne

I went alone for the interview and it wasn't a problem. On the day I was there most beneficiaries were alone too and I would estimate an 80% approval rate.

Would I have loved my fiance to be there? Yes! Was it necessary? No.

I think you need to decide based on how confident your fiancee feels, and whether your case has any issues that may benefit from you being there. Oh and if there is any need, they have translators on standby.

Best of luck to you.

I'm going to have my seminar tomorrow and looked through the documents needed.

"Original and photocopy of Immigrant Data Summary for US bound"

I don't need this for the K1 visa, right?

No, not for k-1.

One strange thing they insisted on knowing is your fiancé's mother's maiden name.

Wow, 20 days for me (12 working days). That's probably one of the longest waits for a case that was approved at the interview and was supposedly not under review or AP.