Ray-J

Technically, I know that we should have filed for AOS as soon as we were married. However, it wasn't financially possible for us until now.

I've put together our packet and we're waiting on an appointment with the civil surgeon to get updated immunizations. Other than that, is there any difference to what paperwork is normally required?

Note: For the past couple of months, i've been unemployed while getting a home-based business off the ground. However, i do have a co-sponsor and have tax forms for the past 3 years that would show income well above the requirements.

Any May 2011 Fliers had their AOS done already????

I may be actually an April 2011 filer, but I've been posting in this forum so much I know I'm family here, too. We've been married since March 3rd and we're still getting everything together for our AOS. The main thing that has been stopping us has been the fee and trying to support our household while going to school (almost done ). I do expect we'll file soon, though. I'd like to not have to have this hanging over our heads anymore for quite a while.

Thanks Ray J, Grace updated our timeline herself. She had her Medical on March 22nd and her Interview on April 16th, She Passed! CFO this Friday May4th in Cebu! She went to Korean Airlines ticket office in Cebu and they had first time immigrant fare for 843.00USD...we going korean.I think ray the Flights leave at Midnite from Cebu???

I don't know about from Cebu, but I can tell you they have a noon and midnight flight out of Manila.

Grace had her Interview on April 16th and armed with the Emails from WWW.travel.State.Gov and IVmanilareplies@ Travel.state.gov that says police Certificate not needed from Dubai UAE. the CO or Prescreener never asked for it and they knew she had worked there for 11months. she PASSED! Now on to the USA! Thanks Me and Him and all others.

Tom,

I just got the notification that you updated your timeline. I've been away from the forums for a while. All I can say is that I'm doing the happy dance for you and Grace.

Congrats to the both of you!

Ray, Kendora, and all:

Congrats to all on the marriages!

As for Inday and myself? Inday and I are trying to get rolling on the AOS stuff. Having a hard time getting started initially because of work, daily routine stuff, tax season, death of close friend but mainly interrupted by Department of Transportation "displacing" us from our apartment. Essentially apartment is being demolished under law of eminent domain to make way for highway. So, in addition to all else, Inday and I have been busy packing, looking for new apartment (found), moving into new apartment (done), unpacking (still).

However, Inday is here in U.S.., we are happily married, and we look at all--even the seeming chaos--as blessings (even though some of these may be currently in disguise). Best and continuing wishes to all our VJ family and friends. --RK

Thanks, RK. I thank God that you can see His hand in all the chaos, bringing order in its wake. Blessings to you and your families as well as everyone's marriage on here. If anyone would like to be a virtual attendee to our wedding, you can see it here:

Nice day to get married ray-j we were married on 03/03/2012 also and like ya'll moving on to a.o.s congrats....

I love the dress and the gazebo.

Hello Emma, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Glad you still here! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You from "Me and Him" amd myself.I am so glad you married now.I know you "Distracted" Now!! But dont forget about us here.Im sure "Me and Him" will be finished and have the Visa soon. As for me? im looking at Summer.I had as you a lot of Setbacks with my fiancee there but we back on track, thank God! Thanks also to "Team Katman" for checking on us! Thanks "KAT" You are indeed a friend, enjoy your Love one there!

Hey, I'm still here, too. Amy and Serena arrived on December 30. Last weekend, on March 3rd, we were married in a small but beautiful ceremony. I have video that I'll be uploading to YouTube later tonight. In the mean time, here's a pic of us together in the receiving line. In the mean time, we're moving on to AOS. However, that doesn't mean that we're not still pulling for you, Tom and Katman.

We are now married!!!!!! We are currently perparing to file our AOS this week! Any tips?

Congrats! So are we as of this past Saturday!

hi ray-j and me&him my filipina got to atlanta on jan. 24th we been busy sight seeing we plan to marry march 3rd. we are going in coulpe days to see if we can get her a ss card but we are excited i hope everyone is doing fine also...........

Sorry, weh. You can't have our day. lol. Of course, I'm just kidding. At least I know I won't forget your anniversary.

No, follow linK and read why; http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/348445-usps-tried-to-delivered-my-package-to-chicago-lockbox-on-saturday/page__p__5116954__hl__package+delivery__fromsearch__1#entry5116954

Well, I did follow your link and read what was posted, but didn't see any reason why. However, I did use Google Maps' street view and found out why. I thought the address was the same as the Chicago office for USCIS, but it's not. So, as the guides tell us, I will send it in. Thanks for the replies.

Does anyone know or heard of anyone who's done this before? I live in Illinois and get into Chicago quite frequently. I figure that there'd be no possible way of the packet getting lost if I'm the one delivering it.

It sure got weeel quiet awound heeah. HELLOOOOOO!!! ANYBODY HOME? (insert Elmer Fudd laugh)

omg im so confused now ray-j told me having the ticket issued in the philippines i called delta 3 times talked to 3 differant people asking them about that they all assured me it would be ok to get it online but id have to go to delta office at atlanta airport to verify credit card and my id..... i have seen others say they bought theres online i assumed delta knows this and would have a system to run the purchase through the office in the philippines.

Go ahead and follow Delta's instructions about going to the airport with your ID. I'm sure it will be okay. However, I would have your mahal find the local Delta office to have her e-ticket re-issued at the Philippine office a few days before departure. We had to do that with Amy when she flew Korean Air. However, they seemed to be more strict in terms of following the rules in the Philippines. They won't even allow a person to look at flight schedules or purchase tickets from their website if they are in the Philippines. Other airlines, such as Continental and Delta, seem to have no problems with allowing purchases from the Philippines online.

thats what i found out,by Law ticket has to be issued in the Philippines! Ray I know you have to pay 1,650 or something like that for one fee and another 850+ for another???

It's 1,620 Php for the Immigration Exit Tax and another 750 Php for the Airport Use Tax.

reissued? I heard that rumor before but we didn't have any problem. I bought our tickets for ANA online thru vayama. I had to buy them separate because hers was a one way. Brought the printouts and they gave us our boarding passes.

I would have to say that you got lucky. Congrats on having her home with you.

tom i did buy it on delta.com website the agent asured me it ok to buy it there. my soon to be asawa has already told me she will not be bring much things so theres no worry bout over weight baggage she wants to leave from manila so she can spend a couple days with her younger sister and cousin that live in manila before she leaves to u.s.a .

She will have to have the ticket re-issued in the Philippines due to how the laws are there. KAL did this for free. I would have her check to see where her local ticketing office is in the Metro Manila area. Amy had to go to Makati to do this. However, everything went as planned for her travel. Also, she will need too bring about 3,000 pesos with her for the taxes that the airlines don't cover. If she has any plans of leaving anything behind, she can always have them shipped to her new home at a later date.

Wow...Yea Ray_J im thinking of having Mahal Ko travel here on KAL.She doesnt have to travel to Manila for connecting Flight just transfer in Seoul at Ichean.then on to LAX. My Plan is to go there between february -March for her interview. we havent gotten interview date yet. Also she wants to attend her BEST Friends wedding on March 28th. I told her time is of the essence now and she understand there is a remote posiblility she wont attend and shes fine with that. But for me going there? I have looked at all the Airline Websites and also contacted travel agents also and the best deal is KAL from LAX to Manila with transfer in Seoul South Korea, with a 14 hour layover in Seoul going there for 955.00 round trip. I dont want to stay that long in Seoul although Inchean is a fabulous Airlport but im leaning toward Philippine Airlines, direct Flight from LAX to Manila for 1,055.00!

14 hours?!?!? Wow!! I would look into the possibility of other schedules on KAL. Both times I've been over there have been on KAL with only 2 hour layovers at ICN (Seoul). The first trip was from LAX, also. If that's not an option, then the extra $100 on PAL sounds like the way to go.

So you got her ticket on PAL to Manila? What about the extra luggage fees, or what i mean is Overweight fees if any??? from Cebu to Manila??? Thanks for your reply! Did you get the Ticket from manila to Atl on their website??? or you said agent?

There are some advantages to paying a little more to fly Korean Air. I also looked at other airlines (Continental, for one) and KAL allows 2 checked bags where others may only allow 1. It all depends upon how much stuff your mahal has. Secondly, the taxes you pay won't cover the Philippine Emigration Departure tax or the Airport Use tax. Amy had to pay 1,620 pesos for her and 1,220 pesos for Serena in addition to the 750 peso Airport Use Tax before getting on the plane in Manila.

My fiancee arrived here last Dec 20, 2011... and it went smoothly for her at the immigration (POE- La). We were just enjoying the holidays together and now planning for a simple wedding. Is it true that AOS can be filed within a year?

As I understand it, AOS can be filed as soon as you have everything you need to send in with the paperwork. See the AOS guides for a detailed explanation of the required supporting documentation. However, if your question is more about how much time you have before you absolutely have to file then I've heard that while it should be done as soon as possible you can wait for a brief period if necessary to file. However, I wouldn't wait too long to file since this might raise some red flags.

Im looking at KALs Website and I have called at least 3 Travel agents for Flights between February and April and I see and have gotten Quotes for offseason Flying for that time, the cheapest being 955.00...... Round trip to Manila during that time!

Yeah. I know I brought my ladies over during one of the busiest travel periods. Still, I paid just a little over 1,000 for Amy. Serena's ticket and the travel agent fees was what brought the total to what it came to. However, I consider it a small price to pay and worth every penny to have them here to ring in the new year with me.

Weh..........2000 plus on KAL????? WOW!! I didnt know it was that High???

I spent 1,300 for the both of my ladies.

If anyone would comment on this plz im getting my fiancee plane ticket frum philippines to u.s.a this weekend but im concerned what if they want to see the credit card that purchased the ticket has this been a problem for anyone?

I just brought my fiancee to the US from Manila. I went through a travel agent and had her fly Korean Air. There is a law that all airline tickets must be issued in the Philippines, but Korean Air will take an e-ticket and re-issue at their office in Makati for free. Just make sure this is done about 3 days prior to departure. You will spend a little more on 3rd party fees going through a travel agent, but it will be worth it. As for needing to see the credit card I used to purchase, all Korean Air was able to see in their system was that the ticket was purchased through a travel agent. The method of payment is between you and the agency.

She will become Acquainted with the things before long. I know shes in a lil Shock about things here.Enjoy your time!! BTW how is Sabrina?????

Who's Sabrina? My daughter's name is Serena. Close, but no cigar. She's doing well. We're trying to get her adjusted to the time difference, but I don't think Amy quite has a handle on how to do that yet. She lets her sleep during the day and is surprised when she's up all night. She counters this by putting Serena in her swing and rocking her to sleep.

Well even after New Year iam still stuck at NVC. After I was told last week that I was out of AP im still not out. I called today just to check if it was mailed to the embassy and was told it was "being reviewed" the first time I called. The second time I was told its in additional processing. its been 3 weeks since NVC received my case. Not sure how long I will be stuck at NVC. Today also marked 8 months since I originally filed. This is taking a lot longer than I expected. Anything and everything that could go wrong with my case had gone wrong in terms of waiting and being delayed either at USCIS and now NVC.

Have you thought about contacting your Senators and Congressmen?

I just wanted to let everyone know how much fun I'm having explaining our little "modern" conveniences that we, as USC's, take for granted here; such as, dryer sheets, gas clothes dryers, brewed coffee makers (she's used to Nescafe instant), multiple monitor PC's, crock pots, cordless phones with caller ID, etc. It's like watching a little kid in a candy store go nuts. I had to explain to her what that little beep in her ear was when she was using the phone. Then, I showed her the flash button on the phone and told her about call waiting.

I feel so complete now that my other half is by my side with my mini-me.