maning

Just a guess, but likely on the nao2 it was generated and printed and not typed. from this data the consulate manually generated the number. my guess is nao2 number is correct and i would go with this one until you sort it out.

I called National Visa Center again and reworded my question concerning the typo. First time, they wouldn't give me the correct Alien Registration Number and told me to call the US Embassy in Manila, now I simply asked if I can verify if my wife's Alien Registration Number is A201XXX857 and they stated that it was indeed the correct number. Then when I said well... on her K1 visa issued by the US Embassy in Manila her Alien Registration Number is A201XXX859. The operator said that I need to call the US Embassy in Manila to correct the error and couldn't comment further.

I just emailed the US Embassy in Manila concerning my problem and hopefully they can reply ASAP. So for now I'm going to use my wife's Alien Registration Number on her NOA2, since it has been verified by NVC and is consistent on all her previous documents.

If anyone been through this same problem with US Embassy in Manila, please respond on how to proceed with this... thanks!

Hey guys,

We are in the process of doing our AOS, but we have to do a follow up medical with a civil surgeon tomorrow. Problem is... while filling out the I-693 and where it states to enter my wife's alien registration number, we grabbed her NOA2 and her K1 visa and we just noticed that her alien registration number on her K1 visa does not match her NOA2's alien registration number.

Instead on her NOA2 it's A2011XXX857, but on her K1 visa it's A2011XXX859. So someone made a typo with 7 and 9.

We have our Civil Surgeon appointment tomorrow and I can't reschedule it due to my work schedule. I called NVC and they told me to call the US Embassy in Manila for an answer... called a few minutes ago... it's a holiday in The Philippines, so embassy is closed (go figure). I don't understand the whole run around, I would assume NVC would have the correct alien registration number since they have my wife's immigration file and they did assign it in the first place... sigh.

I hope someone can guide me in fixing this problem. Thanks again.

The visa is placed inside the passport, and bring the envelope with you to the class.Dont open the envelope! Better worded is the visa is already in the passport and bring the sealed envelope to the class.

LOL I just told my fiancee... she had a DUUUUUUUUUUUH moment soon as I told her about the visa inside her passport. Thanks a lot!! You really helped us out and gave us a good laugh! Thanks again!

My fiancee will be attending her CFO seminar at PRISM and I'm so confused with the documents she will need to bring...

I keep reading about having a original and photocopy of her K1 visa and Immigrant Data Summary, but when her K1 visa packet arrived at her home the only thing in the package were her passport and the yellow envelope saying not to open that contains her visa. She got her passport, but she said there was no other document stating "Immigrant Data Summary"

So how are we suppose to have an original and photocopy of her visa?! If it's in the yellow envelope that states DO NOT OPEN?!

So far what we have to bring to the CFO are:

NBI Clearance

Cenomar

NSO Birth Certificate

Original Birth Certificate

Pictures of us together

Photocopy of my US passport and US citizenship

2x2 Photos

This CFO process is ridonkeylous!!

You won't have enough time, especially it being the holiday season. Atlanta is the busiest airport in the world and if you never traveled through Atlanta, you might get confused with the concourse system and rushing for time. Plus, adding security checks, POE entry, potential late arrival of your flight, etc. then problems will start to add up. Best to have a minimum 3 hours, 4 hours would be your best bet and will give you enough time to relax and take things slowly.

If you decide to keep your flight, make sure you carry enough money or credit card just in case you do miss your flight and have to book another one.

Always ask for their name, if they don't give it to you and make sure you jot down their ID number if they give one. It all depends on the call agent who answered your call, majority of the time I had pretty good experiences with call agents... some can come off as brash, but I give them the benefit of the doubt because they have to deal with a lot of angry, frustrated people every day who sometimes don't understand the rules, laws, language, etc. I had one agent give me the wrong information and when I corrected her, she actually got a little snippy with me. I just hanged up on her, called again and got a better agent on the phone.

Hey guys,

I just hope others can offer some advice and speak from their experiences how they handled moving to another country.

Yesterday, I was talking to my fiancee online and everything was going great, but then the conversation moved to our life together in the US and how I was excited to be with her. She sort of got emotional about it and told me I didn't understand what she was going through and the reality of the situation really hit her the other day. She later apologized and told me it wasn't my fault. She told me that everything just hit her... she was moving to a foreign country and leaving her family, friends, culture, everything behind that she knew all her life to move to foreign country that she doesn't know everything about and only people she knows are me, my family, and a few friends scattered across the USA.

She was telling me how it was hard to pack her boxes (I brought back 2 already) because how could she fit everything she owns or want to bring with her in two 50 pound boxes. Her life basically had to fit in these little boxes... and when she was explaining this to me, it hit me that she is sacrificing a lot to be with me.

She gets emotionally attached to things, like when she had to sell/give away all our belongings in our apartment (We have been together for almost 7 years, me going back and forth...) she cried over it because that apartment basically was filled with memories. Everything we bought in that apartment... we had a story to go along with it. I didn't realize how emotional she was over it and being a guy I told her that it was just material things and to just get rid of it. The entire time I was consumed by the whole visa process and wanting us to be approved that I ignored the fact that she was leaving everything behind just for me.

When we got approved I was so happy, but I didn't want to rush her to go to the USA, so I told her to spend time with her family for Christmas, New Year's, and even the month of January. I didn't want to rush her to be with me and get homesick during the process, so I told her we are going to take this slowly so she can adjust. She told me she wants to go here after New Year's, but right now I'm not making any plans and we will take this one step at a time.

I've read posts on here where guys were rushing to get their fiancees over to the US even when their visas were not on hand... I understand how everyone wants to be with their loved ones, but it's also scary for our fiancees...

How can I make this easier for her?

I do not think this is in regards to filing status, but to self employed deductions which lower his AGI.

yes, you can use a joint sponsor for AOS.

Exactly. I want to take advantage of self employed deductions to lower my tax burden for 2011, but I wanted to make sure before I do that... if I can use a cosponsor for the AOS process, since if I take advantage of tax deductions I would lower my income.

Thanks for answering my question... hope others who experienced this sort of thing can chime in as well.

Hey guys, my fiancee's visa has been approved and has visa on hand. My question is... I'm self employed and to qualify for AOS I have to pretty much not take any tax deductions for this year. Is it possible since my fiancee has her visa on hand already to apply for tax deductions for 2011 once I file my taxes and just have a cosponsor for the AOS process?

I can declare all and not take any tax deductions if I have to... but with her moving here and the the fees associated with the AOS process, it would really help financially if I can lower my tax burden and simply use a cosponsor for the AOS process.

There's usually no XOOM coupons around Christmas season, but they usually have one out before New Year's. They have been pretty strict this year with xoom coupon codes being released, so I wouldn't get my hopes up.

The GOP’s death wish

“Anybody but Mitt” has become a familiar mantra throughout the Republican primary campaign. It is also weird and self-defeating.

Republicans apparently want to nominate anyone except the one person who can defeat Barack Obama. And for all the strangest reasons:

One: He’s changed his mind. True. He changed his mind, thus becoming more conservative.

Two: He’s too perfect.

Three: You can’t drink beer with him. Whatever.

The result of these petty obsessions has been a pathological flirtation with a parade of lesser candidates who could replace Romney. This parade has persisted despite polls consistently showing Romney as themost likely to defeat Obama. It continues even though it’s perfectly clear the White House worries most about Romney.

First came Rick Perry, who, now desperate for attention, has turned his sights on gays in the military and Obama’s “

.” Next was Herman Cain, who, though he has suspended his campaign, seems unable to leave the stage.

Now it’s Newt Gingrich’s turn.

You don’t get more un-Romney than Gingrich. Imperfect and untidy, he’s the serial husband with whom anyone could feel comfortable sharing a beer. Or a keg. A sinner like the rest of us, he’s as familiar and comfortable as an old sofa.

But no one other than Callista Gingrich thinks her husband can prevail in a general election. No. One. The consensus on Gingrich is so overwhelming that conventional wisdom has taken a holiday. That is, no one in Washington thinks he can win, and Washington is where Gingrich is known best. Instead of rallying to support him, former colleagues are going out of their way to politely say, “He can’t lead.”

Gingrich’s record of leadership is demonstrably erratic. He is, in the words of former senator Jim Talent, who served with Gingrich from 1993 to 1999, “unreliable.” Another insider speaking to me privately was blunter: “He’s unstable, and everybody knows it, but no one wants to say it. Yes, he’s a genius and is respected for his many great ideas. But he’s Icarus. He flies too close to the sun.”

Examples of Gingrich’s unreliability are plentiful and soon will become familiar through political ads, including:

●Ethics violations when, just before he was sworn in as speaker of the House, Gingrich tried to cash in with a book contract. While campaigning even now, he’s lining his pockets with book sales, profits that supporters may mistakenly believe are going toward the campaign.

●Throwing Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) under the bus by calling Ryan’s Medicare reform plan “right-wing social engineering,” though Gingrich later recanted and said he would implement the plan as an option while keeping the current system in place.

●Accepting $1.6 million in consulting fees from Freddie Mac to help persuade conservatives not to dismantle the mortgage company, even as he called people who supported Freddie criminals.

But this is Washington talking, and too many Americans beyond the bubble don’t want to hear what Washington has to say. They prefer to hear Gingrich say, “I’d rather be effective representing the American people than be popular inside Washington.”

This is music to the ears of those who have come to loathe and distrust all things Washington, even though Gingrich is as much a Washington insider as anyone. And there’s a reason for his unpopularity. It isn’t because of his marriages or his Tiffany’s expense account. It is because his erratic behavior and his inability to resist the sound of his own voice have caused Republicans to lose too many fights.

Gingrich’s campaign may tell the larger tale. Thanks to poor management, he has been playing catch-up in Iowa. He accumulated massive debt during his high-flying early days of the campaign. Might voters extrapolate that as one runs a campaign, one may also run the country? By comparison, Romney’s campaign is a seamless, debt-free marvel of spreadsheets and bottom lines.

This is not to diminish Gingrich’s many good qualities, which even his detractors are eager to acknowledge. He is creative and stimulates fresh thinking. He is a unique legislator who knows history. He cuts a swath through any room and commands an audience as no other.

But when a man who intends to lead the country cannot marshal the loyalty of those he has attempted to lead before, voters might pay heed. Then again, if Republicans want to make Democrats happy, Gingrich is their man.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-gops-death-wish/2011/12/09/gIQALe5CjO_story.html

Said the hyperpartisan who thinks education equals brainwashing. You are far more acerbic and prone to hyperbole.

Much like when you post anti-gay or anti-black opinion pieces from Newsmax or some other far right sources?

LOL BURN.

You're approved. I believe the CO wanted to go over your cosponsor's forms just a little more since he caught an error and probably wanted to see if there were more. He was satisfied enough and approved it after you left. Don't buy any plane tickets until you have your visa in hand. December is always busy for them and with the holiday rush, deliveries will probably take longer than usual. Hopefully they can process everything and release your visa for delivery before the holidays come and government offices start closing.

Also, Congrats!!

@Manny.......Maswerte kami nga duwa. Ang akon gwapa nga asawa ay Ilongga man.

Haha yeah bro. It's fun hearing her argue with her family... feels like I'm in a different country lol. It's weird though, I speak and understand Pangalatok, understand Tagalog and can communicate basic phrases in Tagalog, and I only know bad words in Illongo lol

Thanks maning! I've tried that etrace several times and I get the message that the mnl case is invalid so they don't have it yet. tell your fiance congratulations! I just find it weird that I don't have any updates on my passport as to why its taking them more that 7 working days to print out my visa and send it to me. I'm just in the metro manila area anyway. Its the 9th working day today...I'm still clueless

It probably depends on your CO and how fast he/she can prepare your file to get processed and assigned a visa. Just give it one more week. I'm sure it will show up. Also, they tell you to give at least 2 weeks for delivery, not counting holidays and weekends, so you're still in normal processing times. I'm sure you will be in the USA before Christmas though! Good luck!

Congrats bro!

We are going to have a simple, civil marriage as well. I find the whole 3 month deadline to get married unreasonable, especially for couples who must put on traditional marriage customs. 3 months just seems too short to plan something that suppose to be memorable for the rest of your life. Imagine in 3 months, you are suppose to get your SSnumber, marriage license, adjust to a new culture and life, get married, and file for AOS. They really did not thought of working class people who have to work all weekday long and trying to get days off from work to achieve all this in such a short time is nearly impossible.

K1 Visa should be changed to 6 months to enter US, and 6 months to get married or leave the US. I don't know who thought of 3 months. Must of been a single guy who thought that up.

Good to hear the visa is in hand... NEXT... leaving on a jet plane!! :dance:

Heh YEP! She's actually going to spend Christmas and New Years with her family in The Philippines. So she can spend more time with them before she leaves because I know once she's in the US and starts working... it's going to be hard trying to get vacation days to visit them again. It's funny though, when we were going to the whole NOA1/NOA2/Interview process, we couldn't wait for this day, but now we realize that our lives are about to change (for the better of course) and we need to take this part a little more slowly so we can smoothly transition into our next part in life, being married together.

I actually don't know what AP is and I wasn't given any paperwork I was just asked to go to window 72 i think then was advised to wait for my passport at home. It's been a long wait and all I wanted was to be with Nick before the holiday. I don't want him to spend too much on the ticket that's why I'm so anxious to get it this week. Last week was a total failure, I've been left out by those who had their interview after November 23 they already have their passport and some are even scheduled to leave this Saturday.

My fiancee had her interview on November 23, 2011. She got her visa yesterday afternoon. She had 2Go mail it out to her parents' house in Bacolod. You should have it some time this week hopefully. Did you go to 2Go's tracking page: http://www.2go.com.ph/CustomerSupport/etrace/index.asp (Enter your ENTIRE MNL Case number. Example: MNL2011890056) The status of your package will show up once the US Embassy hands over the visa package to 2GO couriers. If your status does not show up, it means the US Embassy has not released your visa to be delivered yet.

They probably voted for that policy and thought he would never need firefighter services so he refused to pay the fee also. So good for them, lesson learned.

I guess no money will go to majority of Muslim countries, African countries, etc. I thought this was a good thing... it eliminates less money to foreign countries if they had more requirements.... oh wait nevermind THE GAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

No, that's not the difference. The government just realized that it's cheaper to pay for the oil change than picking up the tab for the new engine. Get it? Man, it's not that difficult. Really.

Problem is... Republicans will always assume government is always bad. When the government tries to intervene to help out the consumer, they are quick to scream out socialism/communism references. You can't win with them. They will complain about rising health care costs, but when the government tries to do something about it, they scream that it's socialist and impedes on capitalism.

Edit:

See, I just noticed how he just referenced that the government shouldn't be in the "car business." Heh.

Relax. The process is quick and straight forward. As long as you have all he required documents you will be fine.

When you arrive at the US Embassy, you will line up at the left hand side of the US Embassy near the walk bridge. Arrive early at least 5am and stand close to the pillars. The guard will assign a line at 6am where you will line up according to visa category. Closest to the pillars/chains the better the chance of getting first in line.

You will arrive at the first checkpoint... have your DS forms and interview letter you printed out from the online site ready to give to them before you enter the building. Then you will go inside a security checkpoint, make sure you do not have any electronic devices whatsoever or you will be denied entry! Once you pass the security checkpoint, you will then go to area (it has like 5 windows) where they assign you a number. When you go into the main building there will be up to 75 windows (some open, some closed) just make sure when your number comes up to go to the assigned window.

You will first drop off your interview letter at an assigned window. Then wait again for your number to be called again by the prescreener, he/she will collect your 2nd copy of DS-forms, NBI clearance, passport, CENMAR/CENOMAR, NSO birth certificate, and your 2010 tax return. She will ask your fiancee a couple of questions. How did you meet, first time you met and met in person, when did you get married, etc. They won't ask too many questions, so relax. They will tell you to wait again. Then you will have your biometrics (fingerprint scan) which will only take 1 minute, then wait again for your CO interview. Your interview will be at either a window or a office. Your CO will have all your information already on her desk and probably has made up his/her mind already if you will be denied or not. He/she will ask you the same questions the prescreener asked... How did you meet, first time you met in person, is this your first marriage, etc. Basic questions you should know the questions to... the interview will last less than 3-5 minutes TOPS! CO will tell you're approved, which I'm pretty sure you will have no problem with considering how well prepared you are. I was well prepared too and they didn't even ask for most of the documents I brought. Your CO will inform you to go to window 74? to fill out the 2Go delivery form for your visa. After that, you're done! Go out and celebrate!

For me, the best airline is the one that gets me to Manila the quickest. That would be Northwest Airlines: under 17 hours from Seattle.

I liked Northwest before they were bought out by Delta. Then it sucked after the merger, but now they seem to have all the kinks out now. Northwest/Delta always seemed to have the shortest flights and their main airport hubs are really easy to get in and get out of... especially Detroit, Nagoya, Narita, etc. I like Cathay Pacific, but it seems all their flights to The Philippines for the east coast region leaves JFK airport and I HATE that airport with a passion. Also my favorite thing about Northwest/Delta was always their Worldperks/SkyMiles program no other program could beat it in my opinion. I have gotten 2 free round trip tickets to The Philippines with it so far. Plus I like that when I fly Northwest/Delta that all the planes I fly are all Northwest/Delta owned planes, so there is no confusion about checked luggage requirements.

I don't understand how people simply judge airlines because of food, how young and pretty their flight attendants are, etc. I want something to get me to point a to point b in the shortest time possible. Also, Northwest/Delta never lost my luggage ever.

i just got here in US yesterday and the place where i stay is very cold (hubby said isn't that cold). i'm having difficulty adjusting with the climate. is there someone here who experienced it too and now overcome it? i wanna know how u guys manage it...

Buy a nice, decent coat.

Set up your heater settings on a temperature you feel comfortable with... maybe 100 degrees Fahrenheit if you want the feel of Manila again.

Buy a Snuggie.

Buy an electric blanket and don't get out of bed.

Buy Long Johns

It's all about layering. You need a nice under shirt, sweater, thick jacket, scarf, hat, gloves, etc.

Your first winter will always be the coldest because it would be the first time you experienced it. Next year won't be as bad, since you will be well adjusted by then.

Yes I thought USPS was the cheapest but I was concerned with the Philippines postal system botching the job. It appears my worries about their postal system are unfounded.

PhilPost has always been a hit and miss for me. There have been on occasion where they opened our letters, I guess suspecting money in the greeting cards. You can use LBC. Even if you don't have any LBC branches in your area. Simply send out the package via USPS to the closest LBC branch and give instructions that you want to mail out the package. Call first to get a shipping quote, so you can send them a money order for the shipping costs. It's usually 12.50 to 14.50 for a Speed Pouch (package weighing less than 2 pounds). I've done this on several occasions. This also works for Johnny Air branches as well.