yhang

It's time to take up a collection, so we can pay off the family debt and get Darren out of there

hahaha!

I guess he realized that there are people in this thread that are way smarter than him - it's about time.

I doubt though that there is someone richer than him

I doubt it's an actual 'bank'. In order to get a loan from a bank, they should have properties or a stable job (could present bank statements and pay checks). Obviously, they can't offer their fishing boat as a collateral since a bank won't accept it. The banker is probably what we (Filipinos) all know as 'BUMBAY' or people who are giving '5-6'.

It's nonsense too for the OP to talk about the possibility of gretchen's travel to be delayed because of it. They can't do that. Even big banks in the Philippines can't do that (unless of course they go to court which is a long process).

I don't think the OP have any idea of it. Makes me wonder.. I thought he knows everything especially about Pinays. After all, you have the money in the world, why worry?

hahaha! Love this!!! :lol: :lol:

It's not about the money, money, money

We don't need your money, money, money

:whistle: :whistle:

It's not about ah! cha-ching!

Not about yeah! ba-bling!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

next in queue - leader of the band :bonk:

That's the link I was looking for and mention in my response early in this post. My comment is in there that he should expect to wait outside.

Thanks for finding it. I thought I had imagined it.

No worries. Hehe. I also commented on it. He just seems to 'know-all'. Keyword is seems though..

I got confused too because in his other thread which is in this link:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/324586-trying-to-be-upbeat/page__st__75

he said that she already passed the medical and YOU as an American CAN accompany your fiancee through the process. However, no other Filipino but the applicant can go in.

We all know the result of the medical is not disclosed until the second day, in their case is today, Tuesday.

He's probably (or his fiance) confusing the immunization interview as passing the exam. Did she get an actual immunization? or just an interview?

And scrap that American can accompany the fiancee and no other Filipino can. That's BS :bonk:

Darren is only one of the hundred of thousands of Americans petitioning for their fiancee/wife. So please stop making yourself one of a kind. I have one word for all this - RIDICULOUS. :rofl: and two more - YOU ARE.

How is it you thought you were going in? I know of at least one time you posted about the medical at SLEC and how you planned to go in and I remember commenting that you should not expect to go in because its too crowded usually for anyone except the applicants, and so did so many others who have been through the experience or who have read the posts indicating that you will not be going in. Or am I thinking of some other poster?

Guess I'm confused as to why you thought you would get in after you were told by so many here on VJ long before and then get so upset when you couldn't get in?

I provided the link in case he already forgot

This is funny. You said that you are unaware that you are not allowed to get inside the SLEC building where in fact you posted the letter you got from SLEC weeks ago and there are people (including myself) who said that you can't enter inside the building due to ample space. In case you forgot, here's the link:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/318808-slemc/

You need a photocopy of your birth certificate, your passport, and the certificate of legal capacity from the embassy in order to get a marriage license and get married in the Philippines. If you are divorced, you need to present the divorce decree too.

Contact the office. We live over an hour from LBC, and they come here once a week. If you live in an area with a large Filipino community, they may come to your area weekly, or monthly.

I sent an email to them over a week ago and I haven't heard back from them. Might as well call them then.

Contact the office. We live over an hour from LBC, and they come here once a week. If you live in an area with a large Filipino community, they may come to your area weekly, or monthly.

I sent an email to them over a week ago and I haven't heard back from them. Might as well call them then.

Generally no weight limit for sea cargo. If you have to use a freight fowarder, they may charge extra over a certain weight.

Thanks I've checked the link and it shows that the nearest office from our location (SLC, Utah) is in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's a 4-hr drive from home but I think we don't have any other choice..

I use Forex for my Balikbayan Boxes. You can also track your packages online.

http://www.forexworld.us/

I paid $65.00 for each box and my family received them after a month.

Is there a weight limit?

I had a skin problem when I went for my medical. I secured a copy of the diagnosis from my dermatologist and presented it to the physician at St. Luke's and didn't have a problem. If you don't have a medical certificate from your dermatologist, they may ask you to go to St. Luke's Main HOspital to get your skin test. That cost 1k as far as I know.

I got a new copy before my interview and brought it with me along with my old personal copy. They didn't ask for it. Maybe because I submitted a copy already to NVC together with my DS230. I guess at this stage, it is always better to be sure than sorry. I would recommend to get a new copy too.

Good luck!

Thank you all so much for all your input. I tried a couple of them but they said they don't have an agent in SLC. I'll try to go to the Filipino store nearby one of these weekends. I heard they are doing balikbayan box shipping too. Hope I'll get a decent quote.

How are you able to work without a Green Card?

Do you have a EAD?

-Phil

I went here under CR-1 visa category. Upon my POE at SLC International Airport, they put a stamp on mmy passport and told me to just show it to the Hiring Manager in case I wanted to get a job before getting my green card in the mail and that's what I did.

Mine took 7 days. I assigned 2go-Caloocan to pick up my visa to save 2 days..

To the OP: As others have said, those prices are ridiculous. It's shameful that a church would quote such an outrageous price just because it's for a Fil-Am couple. A Fil-Fil couple would pay nowhere near that amount.

To those arguing against spending some extra cash on a wedding:

Why go on vacation? Why have parties? Why watch movies or TV, play video games, watch sports, go to sporting events, plays, concerts, etc.?

By the same logic, these are just wasteful, unnecessary activities.

A wedding is (ideally) a once in a lifetime event of immeasurable significance. Those who wish to see it this way, and act accordingly, should not be ridiculed or dissuaded.

Of course, I'm in favor only of spending an amount the couple (and their families, if willing) can afford to spend. Also, nothing wrong with saving up money for a wedding, just like people do for vacations. Debt is bad, though, for vacations, weddings, or most anything.

I agree with you. As long as it is something that the couple can afford and something they want, why not?

OP, is there any other church that you could probably consider? To be honest, the Manila Cathedral (where famous and rich people in Manila are getting married) is only charging 20,000 for a centralized AC gigantic church and it already includes the whole ceremony (priests, ushers, soloist, organist, red carpet, etc..) You guys are only planning for a simple wedding in a small town in the province. Are you sure that's the real amount? If it is, it's ridiculous.. like you said, it's a small town in a province..

I realize that it probably is already late to say this.. but the key is to know first how much a couple can spend before looking for wedding vendors/suppliers.. In that way, you guys can say yes and no to any offers and look for other alternatives. I'm hoping you can sorted things out and have the wedding that you guys are both wishing

That is like a millionaire's wedding in the philippines.....Glad you had a great time and enjoyed it. Glad my fiancee is more conservative on spending..... BTW: 800,000 php is $11,000 US. Each person has their own tastes....

I agree with you and that is our own taste.. We both worked hard for it. It depends on what kind of wedding a couple wants (like what I said).. It also depends on where you grew up. You've mentioned before that your wife lives in a village. Her taste is really different from mine because I live my life in Manila. As I grew up, I've witnessed several elegant weddings and as a girl, I grew up wishing to have one too in the future. It also depends on what kind of people your guests are.. Not bragging (and I apologize if I sound like one.. I just want to give you guys an idea why...) but the hubby is a Policy Operations Manager in a multi-billion dollar international business and I am a Certified Accountant - so we have circle of friends who deserve to be treated with importance.. Again, it's our taste and we both enjoyed it..

It depends on what kind of wedding you guys want... We only have 110 official guests in our wedding but we spent 800,000 pesos. We both don't want a big wedding that looks like a feast.. We wanted to have just family and common friends - but an elegant one. We planned for it very well and we're both working. Well, I stopped working few months before the wedding to focus on the wedding preparation itself. The most expensive suppliers that we paid for was the caterer. We got married in an exclusive area (no one can enter without a gate pass). The place itself is 55,000 pesos. It's great and it's my dream place to get married. I will not say we spent too much to show off because we only had 110 selected guests. It's just the way we wanted it to be. We got 3 photographers and 2 people who took the video and they charged us 45,000 pesos for that. We also hired a wedding planner (14 people in a group to take care of everything before and during the wedding) and they charged us 25,000 pesos for their service. The caterer's team composed of 2 chefs, 24 waiters, and 3 supervisors to make sure everything is fine when it comes to food. We also got live bands playing during the ceremony and reception. We paid for everyone's gown and suits (those who are part of our entourage of course).We also paid for our whole entourage's hair and make-up. We hired 4 stylists to do the job. We strictly had a suits or barong tagalog for men and dress or night gown for women attire. We had a customized passport type of wedding invites too - as in a real passports that shows our pictures and passport stamps from our trips together. We got our wedding bands from SLC, Utah (the same place where Matt purchased my engagement ring). My husband bought his set of wedding attire from SLC too. I got a little exaggerated for my wedding dress but I got a Malou Castillejos gown.

I'm not saying everyone should do the same way but I'm just hoping to give the OP an idea on how expensive it can be. Again, it depends on what kind of wedding you guys want. If you want a big one, you should be prepared for the cost. My husband proposed to me in March and we got married October. We both decided that's what we want. I know it's kinda expensive but we want something that we will never forget and our guests will never forget too. We worked hard for it and we deserve it.

Again, it all depends on what kind of wedding you like, where, how many guests, what kind of food, what kind of ceremony, what kind of flowers, etc...

Hello everyone,

Well, I finally made it to SLC, Utah and been here for almost a month now. I got my SSN 4 days after applying for it. Still waiting for the green card, the Immigration Officer said that it will take 3 months tops. Good news - I'm adjusting very well and I already got a job. The Hiring Manager who conducted my final interview was surprised when I told him that I've just moved here and just been here for 20 days. Well, my husband filed for 18 days vacation leave at work and it's over. Now that he's back at work, time for me to start another career here and hopefully all the work experiences I had in Manila will help me get the career that I wanted.

I have a question for everyone who knows how it works and for those who already tried it. We are planning to send a balikbayan box for our family in the Philippines for Christmas and I am trying to find out if you guys have any advise on what shipping companies are reliable and if you guys have any idea of how much it usually cost (that'll be great). We live in Salt Lake City, Utah btw.

Hope everyone is having a great time and for those who are still waiting for their visajourney to end, I wish you all good luck. It's not easy but it's all worth it!

Received NVC email Saturday - our visa interview appointment is set for September 15th

Woo hoo!! Finally! So happy for you and your wifey

In my case, I had my interview July 14th (Thursday) and got the visa July 21st. I picked up my visa to the closest 2go branch from the embassy. That's 7 days of waiting, 12 calls to the 2go and embassy.. You can never tell when they do things fast and when they don't.

Have you tried tracking your visa? I got mine in Caloocan (Manila) 8 days after the interview.