ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesImmigration bureau: Registered sex offenders barred from entering PHL

Does somebody sound an alarm when such a person boards the plane?  I noticed when I went there last July the immigration officer never looked at a computer terminal when I was at her station.  She just inspected my passport and the form I filled out, asked me a few questions and I was in.  If I were an RSO and hid that fact, how would she have known?

 

passenger manifests are sent ahead to the country when the plane has boarded and left. So they have plenty of time to check the list. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-06-05 14:07:00
PhilippinesImmigration bureau: Registered sex offenders barred from entering PHL

The two cases reported here were men wanted on crimes that had not been resolved yet.

 

I wonder if someone who already did his crime and did his time would be treated the same way?

 

Or what about smaller non violent sex crimes like possession of child porn or public lewdness?

 

I am not questioning a country's right to keep dangerous people out.  Just wondering how far they will go here.

 

 

 

 

 

There have been a fair amount of reports recently of people on the sex offender list with past cases being denied entry. Some had cases before the sex offender lists were even created and are not included on them, but information was shared when the AWA created a denial of a petition. The denied petitioner was then barred from entering the Philippines. As written, the statement appears to refer to anyone who gets listed in the sex offender registry, with no judging if it was a serious case to generate a ban on entry, apparently all registered offenders are banned. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-06-05 13:34:00
Philippinesaddress

My husband is confused about my address. I mean every forms that I signed it's all my grandmother's address that I put in to since I am living in a compound of my other relatives. So my question is, is that fine to write my grandmother's address in the form since it will get to me anyway? Thanks

 

You will need to be at the location to sign for delivery of the visa, when the process is complete. My wife used her mother's address as a mailing address when we filed. It was not far from where she was living with her sister, so she was able to run over there to sign for the visa when it was delivered.


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-06-06 07:39:00
PhilippinesWhy CFO? Human Trafficking for one.

 

Ooohhh.. I'm organized (in my standards, of course :D ) and just collect re-usable stuff. If it can't be be used in the near future like within 1 year, I won't keep it for sure.

 

 

The kitchen sink is where I place the plastic bags too! That's why the husband says it's a safety hazard if it's close to the other cleaning stuff or the plumbing pipes.  :blush: 

 

She keeps them well organized under there. I did mention something once, and she kept collecting them. It was on her own that she realized she was saving more than we can possibly use in a reasonable period of time. Which was when she couldn't find anything else under there. :lol:  Now she keeps a reasonable level. The shoe box purge was totally on her own. I don't go into the linen closet since its turned into the shoe closet. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-06-05 10:36:00
PhilippinesWhy CFO? Human Trafficking for one.

Geez ... You guys are hurting my ego! I am also keeping those plastic and boxes you know!   :lol:  Well, I do re-use and recycle.

 

The way Prism handled it before must be a world of difference. Knowing it was handled by nuns, so I'm sure their objective then was to question why a girl is leaving her roots for a man? I'm sure, the Filipino men wouldn't have the same issues then.

 

When she had no room in the shoe closet, formerly the linen closet, she realized she couldn't keep all the boxes. When there was no more room under the kitchen sink, she realized we had a few too many plastics saved  :lol:


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-06-05 10:15:00
PhilippinesWhy CFO? Human Trafficking for one.

 

My wife went through PRISM at the time and the pamphlet was P150 extra.  I am sure she still has it, never tosses anything... 

 

My wife would still have it I'm sure had she gotten it. Maybe she didn't want to spend the 150P  :lol:  I'd have to ask her which outfit she did the CFO with, I forget myself, she may have to. 

My wife is slowly learning she can't save everything here. At first she did, until she started running out of places to put everything. Then she realized there's not need to 1000 plastic bags, or 50 shoe boxes. Now if I can just get her to stop saving those weekly bulletins from our church, which she never reads anyway. I've never figured out why she's saving them, but three years worth is making a good stack.  :lol:

 

I'm glad to hear they've updated the seminar. The concept is good, if they're giving useful and relevant information. But my wife mainly got scare tactics about why she shouldn't leave the country, and no useful advice if she had troubles once she did.


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-06-05 08:54:00
PhilippinesWhy CFO? Human Trafficking for one.

Many would do just fine without CFO but there are those very young and naive that it may help.  

 

Here on VJ we have read of the occasional "bad apple" and the Filipina trying to find help.

 

My wife didn't find CFO an issue, thought it was informative even, but that pamphlet she had was right out of the 50's... :lol:  I have read there is a new pamphlet now.. about time

 

I never saw the pamphlet. Maybe my wife tossed it or they didn't bother giving one out to her. But their advice was to go to the local consulate if she got into trouble. Given its a 7 hour drive away, if she had a car and license at the time, it was pretty useless advice. I asked my wife if they mentioned calling a woman's shelter, and she said "no, what's that?" So in the end it was I who gave my wife advice on what to do if she was abused by me.  :lol:


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-06-02 15:09:00
Philippinescan't believe!

Its funny how they don't feel the cold during that first snow. But after that .....

Here is my wife outside a snowstorm. This was the storm I taught her winter driving skills in, and there hasn't been a worse one since. We did have to wait until our driveway got plowed out though, as the snow was too deep to get her car through. Even my Durango struggled a bit, but it was impossible for her Escort. In the background you can see a neighbor returning home, who wouldn't attempt the drive in with their SUV. They stayed out where the street had been plowed.

 

 

556907_561925280489915_914446442_n.jpg

 

Don't worry ladies, it's not as bad as you think. Here's my wife Jena during her first winter in Illinois. Ask you husband to buy lots of skin lotion and if that doesn't help, get a humidifier. For the cold, Cuddl Duds brand long underwear are great.

 

normal_Hpim3158web.jpg
 

 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-22 12:01:00
Philippinescan't believe!

You all are so funny!!  It hasn't even gotten cold.... yet!!   blink.png laughing.gif

 

My thoughts also go to she's in Virginia where it really doesn't get cold from a Minnesota point of view. BTW it was 12 degrees on my way to work this morning and the fall jacket was officially retired for the season here.


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-22 10:47:00
PhilippinesIs Shipping USPS to Phils Safe via Registered Mail?

 

USPS may insure within the USA but I bet that insurance doesn't work once PhilPost has it.

 

That insurance is worthless when leaving the country. The post office need only say it was handed off to the other country's post office and thats where the responsibility ends. I once had a guaranteed delivery date to the Philippines. Tracking showed the package sat in Chicago for two months, well past the guaranteed date, I couldn't even get my postage back because it was leaving the country and it didn't matter if it sat in some facility in the USA. Don't waste money on insured delivery with USPS if its going overseas. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-25 15:01:00
PhilippinesIs Shipping USPS to Phils Safe via Registered Mail?

Regarding number "you're not supposed to send cell phones via the postal service," it is perfeectly acceptable to ship lithium batteries "that are properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate may be sent internationally."  So, if the battery is in the cell phone it's okay, but outside of the cell phone it is not okay. Source: I called my local USPS and also here: http://about.usps.co...ml/updt_002.htm

 

I like the idea of not declaring the iPhone, however, I'm worried that since registered mail is insured then if I don't claim it and it's lost then I would get anything really back.

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting, my local post office has a sign posted that specifically states cell phones cannot be shipped. Even has the red circle with a slash over the cell phone picture. I guess they haven't updated their posters in a couple years.


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-25 09:07:00
PhilippinesIs Shipping USPS to Phils Safe via Registered Mail?

Bummer.  I sent a package last week via USPS Express Priortity.  They assured me (of course), that it would be fine to arrive safely.  But after reading this thread, I'm not optimistic she is going to receive it, or if she does, she isn't going to have to pay large fees to pick it up.  I should have looked into in more sad.png

 

Don't give up hope, there are things I've sent that have gone without a hitch. Many goods are subject to import duties though, and it is likely there will be a duty fee to be paid. As long as its not being over inflated to line someone's pocket, they can be rather reasonable depending on what you sent. Balikbayan box is really the best way to send to avoid fees, just make sure its a reputable company. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-22 15:03:00
PhilippinesIs Shipping USPS to Phils Safe via Registered Mail?

Hi!  I want to mail my Fiancee a cell phone (iPhone 4S), some pictures of us, and some vitamins.  She didn't ask for these things (excep the vitamins since I am sending the other things), I just want to send them to her.

 

At any rate, what is the best way to mail these?  She is now living in Mactan Lapu-Lapu City if it matters.

 

I see that USPS has the cheapest rates, but I also hear that there is a good chance that the package would never make it  to her, or that she may be extorted for extra money when trying to pick it up fro the Post Office.  Is this true?

 

I priced out USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL.  I can ship via USPS Priority Mail International® Small Flat Rate Box for  $24.99 (vitamins won't likely fit but that's okay, the cell phone and pictures will), while the others all have the price 4 times and much, at about $100.

 

Also, then I read this article and it looks like it's actually UPS, FeEx and DHL that are likely to hit up the receiver for extra fees...:

http://liveinthephil...oms-overcharge/

 

Right now I'm thinking the $24.99 USPS Priority with an extra $12 for  Registered Mail. If I understand correctly, Registered Mail required a signiture every time it changes hands for an easy trace, and also included insurance too.  Seems pretty secure, eh?

 

http://www.stamps.co...egistered-mail/

 

Finally, for international shipments I'm suppose to declare the item in detail.  So, i actually need to write "iPhone 4S" and not just a generic "cell phone and pictures", right?  I just didn't want to advertise, but with the Registered Mail I doubt that it would be an issue.

 

Thank you in advance!

 

 

 

Number 1, you're not supposed to send cell phones via the postal service as they have lithium batteries and postal regulations say thats a no no. 

Number 2, declaring the phone will probably result in custom duties above the value of the phone.

Number 3, US postal guarantees end as soon as they hand the package off to FilPost in Manila.

Number 4, all the delivery companies, including the postal service have had trouble with theft and or extorted fees.

 

Given all that, we just sent a small package to my sister in law via the postal service. We declared the vitamins, shirts, and other small items. We did not declare the unlocked iPhone 4S we sent. That is just asking for it never to arrive, or a huge customs fee and likely an extortion fee on top of that. We've been at this game for a while now. My sister in law was charged like 200P duty on the items we shipped. Packages through the postal service always make it to the recipient for us, although customs fees and extortion fees are common where my wife's family lives in Davao City. Cards sent to that same location stand only about a 50% chance of making it, as they're grabbed up looking for inserted cash. 

All shippers into the Philippines are supposed to be collecting custom duties on the items being shipped. So don't think that just changing shippers exempts you from duties. The problem comes in when the local delivery people take a 500P duty and turn it into 1000P or 5000P duty. Or a duty free item and turn it into a big duty. Like when I time I mistakenly wrote immigration documents on the customs for and my now wife was charged 5000P to get them. There is no duty on documents, but when they saw immigration, they saw many pisos to be made.

If you want your package to arrive, what I suggest is list a few things they can charge a duty on, even maybe a little over charging to, if its the custom in the area. But leave off those big ticket items that flag the package for theft and/or extortion fees. Yes there's a chance it may never arrive, and different shippers have differing levels of reliability to get it there depending on location.  


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-22 11:09:00
PhilippinesThe plastic bag....................

Thanks everyone. I just thought you cut a small hole for the passports. She scared the ###### out of me. lol

 

On the CFO topic... She is saying tjhey will want a copy of my passport and birth cert... they dont list any of these requirments on their website?

 

Thanks again

 

They do actually kind of list it, in the "and any other document the counselor decides is necessary" comment. Or something along that lines. My wife was asking for all the originals on a bunch of things to, besides the copies. I swear if asked to prove who I was in the USA, I would have had a hard time doing it until got here with all those documents. Well it wasn't quite that bad, but close. I had to explain to her if they don't get to keep originals and if they want copies to use the ones I supplied with the serious ID parts blacked out. Heck anyone with all that info about me could have gotten a mortgage in my name!

 

 

And I thought this topic was going to be about how Filipina spouses love to horde plastic bags rofl.gif

 


Edited by Caryh, 26 November 2013 - 03:59 PM.

CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-26 15:56:00
PhilippinesWant a Divorce From A Three Year Absent Foreign Husband

Is it possible that I could go to US to file for a divorce even if I have a pending immigrant visa petition? Or at least apply for a visit visa just to divorce my husband.

 

Even if you could get to the USA and file for divorce, you'd need to establish residency in the location where the divorce is filed and follow their rules. As you've elsewhere stated you'd like to remarry in the Philippines, this still would not work. A Philippine citizen can get a divorce recognised in the Philippines only if its filed by the foreigner. In other words, he still has to file for the divorce. The second step is you need to get that divorce recognized in the Philippines, which is another long process. This will also be denied if you were the one who filed for the divorce, leaving you stuck back at filing for annulment again.


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-02 09:09:00
PhilippinesWant a Divorce From A Three Year Absent Foreign Husband

I assume you live in the Philippines, as its the only country in the world without divorce. The answer is simple, you cannot divorce him, in your country or in any other country and have it recognized in your country. You can file to annul the marriage, but I don't believe you've been apart long enough based on abandonment. If he were to file for divorce in the USA, then you could have that divorce recognized there, but you can not be the one to file for it. If you're just concerned about using your maiden name, Philippine law does give the option to every married woman to use her maiden name as her legal name.

 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-25 10:36:00
PhilippinesProblem with ex

http://www.visajourn...c/420923-forms/

So, she never divorced the fella in the PI.
His hesitancy to do anything makes sense, now.



She said she did divorce him here (USA???) which is legal everywhere but the Philippines. Given the children and the father are in the Philippines, he's holding all the legal cards. And likely will be willing to deal for the right sum. But given a typical attitude over there is Americans are all rich, he may be asking more than the op can swing. In these situations, the father can create serious problems. If they were never married, then the father has no power at all. She really has little choice but to negotiate with him.

CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-02 19:06:00
PhilippinesProblem with ex

 

Sorry - don't see that.

 

I don't find anything other than this post listed with Octagon, and I find nothing mentioned about her divorcing him while in the states (or any other country).  If that were true how did she complete the DCF which means she was living in the Philippines at the time.

 

I will leave this one as something "fishy" ...

 

Post #9 by Octagon, posting as the OP, although through a second account? Neither account has posted anything else besides this topic.

Can't agree more with the fishy statement yes.gif yes.gif  Possible troll accounts? Last login by either of them was Nov 14th within 10 minutes of each other, so it probably doesn't matter much. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-02 10:49:00
PhilippinesProblem with ex

 

Did I miss something?  The OP is IR/CR-1 (DCF), she is not still married in the Philippines, she married her USC husband in the Philippines.

 

The mother has custody of her children, unless a specific document exists stating otherwise.

I think you missed where she said she divorced her ex here under another user name. 

Quote 

Octagon

"Hi guys, thanks for the answers. I was married to him and filed divorce here. He can't move on and he keeps giving me hard time with the kids. He was even trying to extort money from me. He really though that people in the US are just picking money everywhere. "

 

If she's a DCF IR/CR-1, it would have needed to have happened in a third country, not the USA, to be legal. If it was done with funny paperwork in the Philippines, then he ex could create some trouble with her green card. As we both know, a Filipino citizen cannot have a divorce from another person recognized in the Philippines if they are the filer. 

 

Which brings us back to the situation where under Philippine law, the married father overrules the wife in matters with the children, if they disagree.

 


Edited by Caryh, 02 December 2013 - 10:18 AM.

CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-02 10:16:00
PhilippinesProblem with ex

What about the fathers rights??? I don't know the whole story. Was he a good father??? The us has laws that prevent one parent from moving kids out if the country. for very good reasons. just saying.

 

The father in this case has pretty much all the rights, as in the Philippines, they're still legally married. Under Philippine law, the father's decisions trumps the mother's if they fail to agree. That is her major issue, she can't remove the children from him and move them to the USA. The father is also threatening some things about her green card status to, unless she lied to get to the USA, those threats are baseless. An example of such a lie is using a doctored CENOMAR to come on a K-1, get married, and later divorcing the Filipino husband in the USA. Don't laugh stranger things have happened. 


  Taking the children from the father without the proper court papers is considered international kidnapping and could affect your green card. ( you would be deported for life no possibility of a waiver)   The US takes this very seriously as good number of foreign spouses do the opposite ( take a shred child out of the US and refuse to share access )  Do NOT bring the children over until you straighten this out.  

 

The Philippines does not have reciprocity agreements on child custody with the USA and/or other countries, as they have some rather different laws that are not compatible with the rest of the world when it comes to family matters.


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-02 08:38:00
PhilippinesProblem with ex

 

Not knowing the circumstance to how the relationship ended, of course separation is never a happy situation, but having said that she may want to sit down with the X and work something out while using a civil tongue. From the sounds of the BF he is thinking that she is marrying a USC and they have lots of money so it's only natural for him to extort from their relationship. There can be some options along those lines if she works things out with him. An annulment alone is $2,500 so let the negotiations begin.

 

We expressed through the grapevine to my fiancée's X, who 7 years ago abandon his children and wife after he moved to another country that if he keeps his mouth closed and let's this happen he will be free to remarry again all on MY Dime. We never heard anything from him and she is legally free to remarry and her visa has been approved.

 

It might be an approach that she/USC use to have the children, especially if she points out to him the opportunity the children will have in the US and that he still will remain their Bio DAD and they can communicate with him via Skype or some other means.

 

Let's stay tune and see how this plays out.
 

 

There's a big difference between a BF who fathered a child and husband who fathers a child in the Philippines. A BF has next to no rights with children he father's there, a husband has rights that trump what the mother my want. I don't know what happens to a father's rights if the marriage is annulled there. Presumably that is spelled out by the court during the annulment. Did he abandon the children and not return to the family home, or was he an OFW who returned ever couple years for a while and the wife got tired of it? Then found a way to get to the USA, filed for divorce and has now married an American. This is one of those very confused situations caused by the Philippines not recognizing divorce except in very limited situations. Technically the OP could be considered a bigamist and an adulterer by Philippines law, both of which are punishable crimes in the Philippines. So how does one who could be charged with that in her home country make a case that she is a fit mother and the father's parental rights should be denied? Had the Filipino husband not found out, I think the kids would have been better off, but now they're caught in a messy situation.


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-01 12:55:00
PhilippinesProblem with ex

 

I agree with you that the OP who is Filipino living in the USA cannot file a divorce on a Filipino who remains in the Philippines. Like you said, it will not be recognized by any Filipino governmental office. The OP has only one option and that is she needs to be in contact with DSWD and seek through them a remedy. This is not going to be done in one week so she needs to adopt a more realistic view. Legally she does have a leg to stand on but it depends on her tenacity, DSWD and what the X is willing to do.

 

I hope the OP continues to update this post as it will be a good learning exercise.

 

Good luck to her,

 

------------------

"You see how the odds of this divorce being legal and recognized in the Philippines is getting smaller and smaller?" - I do not. The only way that will happen is if the Filipino government changes the law that allows this and I know that will not happen as hell would be paid by the  Muslim loose infractions who will inflect harm to Filipino's and the Government. Sharia divorce is here to stay.  I think there will be a day when divorce is legal for all Filipino's, but only if the Church wanes on it stand and their grip on the Filipino mindset.  It will take a "power to the people" moment for these changes.

 

Yep, she's going to need to work through DSWD there to get permission to take the kids out. I'm not sure how the entire (assumed) divorced in the USA then remarried thing is going to play out. Sounds like the kids are over 7 years of age, and he's taken physical custody of one of them. Or did the older one run back home to the OP's mother? This is certainly not a DIY case. Legal representation in the Philippines is called for. Maybe she can get the courts to declare she has sole custody due to defacto separation from her spouse. But at the current time, she doesn't have physical custody either. Maybe her mother could be officially declared the guardian and help get the DSWD permit for the children to leave?


Edited by Caryh, 01 November 2013 - 11:46 AM.

CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-01 11:45:00
PhilippinesProblem with ex

There are many post on this subject and most are saying that there is not a divorce in the Philippines and I am hear to say there is a divorce allowed and recognized by the Filipino government. The divorce is a Muslim Sharia Divorce and it is recognized, as I know from personal experience. If indeed she received a divorce in a Sharia Court in the Philippines then she is free to take her children and not look back. But if she did not then she has a number of other avenues to go down.  She does have legal custody under the Family Act as some have pointed out.

 

Please people stop saying there is no divorce in the Philippines because there is but under certain circumstances of which not all Filipinos can avail themselves to.

 

In general there is no divorce in the Philippines, but yes 5% of the population is Islamic and could have a Sharia Divorce. The op, who appears to have posted from two different accounts posted this " I was married to him and filed divorce here." which leads me to believe she got divorced in the USA, because that is where she is now. That divorce would not be recognized in the Philippines, unless like you mentioned, it was a Sharia divorce. But a foreign divorce would still first have to go through the procedure of of being recognized by the Philippines courts first, making sure it was done proper under the laws where it was given. Which means Sharia divorce must be legal in the location which gave the divorce, and both parties would need to be muslim. You see how the odds of this divorce being legal and recognized in the Philippines is getting smaller and smaller?


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-11-01 10:55:00
PhilippinesProblem with ex

You actually do have problems. These are not children born out of wedlock, and no annulment has terminated his parental authority. As a Philippines citizen,  you are still married to him, and he's the father of the children. The Philippines does not allow divorce between Philippines citizens and will not recognise a divorce obtained in another country between Philippines citizens. It would be different had you divorced him after obtaining citizenship in the USA, which you currently are not. Theoretically he can bring a case of bigamy against you, for marrying when you are already married. None of this will affect your status as a green card holder, but it does create a problem when trying to get your children or ever returning to the Philippines. Also no Philippines court has given you total custody of the children. 

 

As for taking the children out of the country, below is the problem you're going to run into, because no court has terminated his parental rights. These are legitimate children born within the marriage. A marriage which is still valid by the laws of your country.

 

Per the family code of the Philippines

Art. 210. Parental authority and responsibility may not be renounced or transferred except in the cases authorized by law. (313a)

Art. 211. The father and the mother shall jointly exercise parental authority over the persons of their common children. In case of disagreement, the father's decision shall prevail, unless there is a judicial order to the contrary.

 

Art. 228. Parental authority terminates permanently:

(1) Upon the death of the parents;
(2) Upon the death of the child; or
(3) Upon emancipation of the child. (327a)

 

If none of these actions have been made upon the father, given the current marriage status, the father's right to authority prevails.

Art. 229. Unless subsequently revived by a final judgment, parental authority also terminates:

(1) Upon adoption of the child;
(2) Upon appointment of a general guardian;
(3) Upon judicial declaration of abandonment of the child in a case filed for the purpose;
(4) Upon final judgment of a competent court divesting the party concerned of parental authority; or
(5) Upon judicial declaration of absence or incapacity of the person exercising parental authority. (327a)




CaryhMalePhilippines2013-10-31 11:28:00
PhilippinesMy fiancee character

Funny, I'm the Kano and my wife is the Filipina and she also does these jokes that used to hurt. Part of if comes from her insecurities, part of it comes because she's a pretty big joker. Took me a while to get used to her ways, but I did. Sometimes I still don't care for some of her jokes, but then sometimes she doesn't care for some of mine to. We tell each other and accept we're not always going to like everything the other person does. But what does do is let me know I'm loved and that means so much more than a joke I don't care for. Mostly though our jokes are shared and we go about life laughing together. I guess what I'm saying is don't get pissed off by his jokes, but let him know about the ones you don't like. They may not totally go away, but they should be reduced. After all when joking, often we're not thinking, it just comes out, still over time we learn what jokes our spouse doesn't appreciate. No person is perfect and no relationship is either. When you learn to accept your spouse's lesser qualities, the relationship grows stronger, as you both will have your lesser qualities to your spouse. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-03 09:41:00
PhilippinesTravel to Bohol and surrounding areas?

Thanks for all of the replies.  I have decided to go and we will just be somewhat flexible in our plans if things aren't as we hoped.  But I'm looking forward to another stay there.  Amazing country!

 

Even under optimum conditions, being flexible with your plans is rather important there. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-06 08:11:00
PhilippinesTravel to Bohol and surrounding areas?

"functional" can be rather scary in the Philippines  laughing.gif

 

Yes, I've visited many truly functional places there over the years rofl.gif


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-04 09:57:00
PhilippinesTravel to Bohol and surrounding areas?

my f and i were supposed to be there last month to help out a bit on their tourism problem but the typhoon had happen and we heard that they still have problems with the power outage so we cancelled it.. but i think now, the power is back!stay in panglao island for there are not that affected by the earthquake and typhoon..or you could always stay in cebu..

 

This facebook page has some good updates on the status of things in Panglao Island. Doesn't sound too bad right now. Power has been restored for the past few days, and bridges to the main island are functional. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-04 09:02:00
PhilippinesAdvance Chest X-Ray

I sent my wife in to get a complete physical and check for TB even before we filed the petition. I was worried because she kept getting a cough, and she had TB I wanted her to be treated and cured before the immigration medical even came up. The doctor figured it out though, she was from from TB. But she was burning the cut grass from her house and that was constantly bringing on the cough. Served the purpose, as she no longer did the grass burning, and the cough never returned. BTW she flew through the St Lukes medical with no issues when that time came. 

 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-09 09:05:00
Philippineswill my fiance fail her medical exam? it makes her so worried

Do you have a government source that includes hiv as part of what they test for?

HIV is not one of the diseases that can make an applicant fail. Neither is hemorrhoids. 

 

http://www.cdc.gov/i...ion-faqs.html#5

 

What are the communicable diseases of public health significance that would cause an applicant to fail a medical examination or be inadmissible?

Communicable diseases of public health significance include?

  • Tuberculosis
  • Syphilis
  • Chancroid
  • Gonorrhea
  • Granuloma Inguinale
  • Lymphogranuloma Venereum
  • Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)

And the following two disease categories--

  • Quarantinable diseases designated by any Presidential Executive Order. Current diseases include: cholera, diphtheria, infectious tuberculosis, plague, smallpox, yellow fever, viral hemorrhagic fevers, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and influenza caused by novel or re-emergent influenza (pandemic flu).
  • Events that are reportable as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) to the World Health Organization (WHO) under the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005 (currently polio, smallpox, SARS, influenza, and other public health emergencies of international concern.)

CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-09 09:11:00
PhilippinesNeed some advice from the guys that were at Fiancee's Interview

In some cases the two way ticket won't be any cheaper than a one way. Sometimes the one way can even be more. Usually depends on how close to the travel date you buy them.

This is when booking through a real live travel agent can be helpful. They can set up a one way ticket to work with your round trip at the same time. I would make sure those tickets can be changed either free, or for a low cost. Some of the online tickets, if you need to change the date you can't or pay a huge fee to do so. You could open two different web browsers, and coordinate your ticket purchase at the same time. But often when buying online, its hard to find out what the reschedule cost is until after you have the ticket purchased. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-18 15:14:00
PhilippinesThank God, the day we start as a family in USA is soon

So True Caryh!

 

As the date gets closer, his family also does. Not just him and Lola but Aunt who one is a lawyer and has a 10 year visitation visa to USA, She has actually met with the kids while they were in Manila for embassy and she now says she would just like to visit our house in USA. It appears she is honest and knows the Moma and me have the best interest in the kids. My Fiance was asked by her if she could visit us in USA, I'm all for family and said yes. Seems there is not a threat anymore about leaving Phill. but until they are on that plane I still hold some mistrust. The Lawyer Auntie asked if if USA living Sister of Lola can also visit, and me and my girl said yes and even invited to my/OUR house to stay. My Girl said to her. I'm not a hateful man just protective and welcome her to for our house to stay. I guess sometime times you need welcome folks you may never have thought your friends but only for the sake of the kids and pray it all works out. Jan 20th can't come soon enough..

 

 

Glad the threats are going away, and the family is starting accept it. I totally understand the lack of trusting them at this point. If their family wants to stay in contact, well thats good if its for legitimate reasons and not to screw with you and your fiancee. You've got 17 more days to go. I pity your wife and the kids arriving on the coldest winter we've had in a long time though. The kids will probably adjust quick, hopefully your fiancee will to. I spoil mine keeping the temp up, but my place heats pretty cheaply, luckily for us, as the wife is rather cold sensitive. I think in another 5 years I might finally have her used to more normal indoor temps for Minnesotans lol.


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-01-03 08:47:00
PhilippinesThank God, the day we start as a family in USA is soon

I would be highly careful of letting father see the kids. You never know what his intentions are, maybe only in a really public place like a mall .  You don't want someone to kidnap the kids or take off with them and demand money. You never know it never hurts to be extra careful. 

 

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His opportunity to marry the mother of his children and make them legitimate is long past. Traditions in the Philippines, and the laws, are not nice to children born outside marriage. Unless this guy is trying to maintain contact and caring for the children while they're in the USA, I wouldn't even let him know when you return to visit. Odds are he's not going to really care unless he sees money to made off of the situation, if and when he does marry, caring might even become a problem in his new life. Again unless the opportunity for money arises. Don't judge Filipino culture and values by American culture and values. In some areas they are close, and in others they are nothing alike.


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-27 12:17:00
Philippinesname difference green card passport
Is your green card in your married name or your name before you were married?
You can carry your marriage license with you to show it is the same person. Usually we hear about the green card being in the married name and the passport with the maiden name. Where you might run into trouble though is the expiration date in your passport. Usually you're required to have a passport that does not expire in the next 6 months to travel internationally. If you're traveling now, you barely have 6 months, in June and you do not have 6 months. You need to register your marriage with the Philippines Consulate before you can change your passport name to. Hopefully you've completed that step, but it can be completed at the same time as renewing your passport. Just make sure you bring all the requirements they ask for. They also may ask for a copy of any divorce decrees when you register your marriage. Its not in the instructions, but they mailed back to us requesting my divorce decree when we registered our marriage.
CaryhMalePhilippines2012-05-01 10:28:00
PhilippinesWhat's the best way to end a marriage?

Not necessary.  It's part of the Family Code.  If the foreigner files the divorce, it's recognized by the Filipino Gov.  I know been here done that.

 

http://www.philippin...AQS-legal.htm#4

 

Actually they do have to get the divorce recognised as being properly done first before the CEMAR can be annotated and show the Philippine citizen as single again. In other words if there's a CEMAR, the divorce needs to go through the Philippine courts before the NSO can annotate the CEMAR and make the Philippine citizen single again. If its still a CENOMAR at the NSO, foreign marriage not reported, there is no reason to bring the divorce through the Philippine courts to have it recognized as nothing changed the status of the CENOMAR. 

Having the right to be considered single again, does not mean there isn't a required process to get that distinction again.


CaryhMalePhilippines2013-12-17 15:29:00
PhilippinesCivil vs Church Marriage in the Philippines

 

I didn't know there was a difference between a legal annulment and church annulment. When applying for a marriage license I believe you have to present any annulment papers, and that license is what you give the pastor for a church wedding...so I thought they were the same thing. Our lawyer over there said we could get married as long as the legal paperwork is done and registered at the NSO, but maybe he just meant civil wedding?

 

The legal annulment process isn't that much different than legal annulment here in many states in the USA. Of course they put their own twist on it, with paid headshrinks to claim conditions on why there can be one. Without legal divorce, do they have any other choice? 

The lawyer is referring to legally getting married, or a civil wedding. Yes you can get a license to marry, but that doesn't mean a church has to marry you. I know at least in the USA, a catholic cannot remarry in the church without a catholic annulment. I can't imagine the Philippine Catholic church being any different in that regard, given its a dictate out of Rome, and if anything the church there is even more conservative than it is here. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-01-17 15:17:00
PhilippinesCivil vs Church Marriage in the Philippines

We're both catholic and I'm single with a clean record smile.png We're going to wait until her annulment case is completely finished before we get married.


 

That's one of my fears, that we get married in the Pi, register everything legally...but then somehow get denied at her interview! Hopefully my lawyer can handle this..

Isn't K-1 more difficult than Spousal visa? Because they want to make sure that you are a legitimate couple. I figured if we were married over there, then the Spousal interview might not be as bad, and they may even grant us a Green card on the spot...

Oh, I didn't know you could do that.. K-1, get married in US, then get married again in the Philippines. Hmm I'll have to take that into consideration..
 





 

But she's doing the legal annulment? That is not the same as a Catholic church annulment.

You're not really getting married legally when you return. It would probably better be called a delayed church wedding ceremony.

 

Very few people actually get denied a K-1 and even fewer get denied a CR-1 visa in the Philippines. Usually the denial comes about because of a rather serious issue, like the immigrant is already married to someone else, or the petitioner doesn't make enough income to qualify. Being afraid to answer the questions, or not knowing their fiancee or spouse well at all, can also be an issue that leads to denial. But it sounds like you and your fiancee know each other pretty well.


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-01-17 09:32:00
PhilippinesCivil vs Church Marriage in the Philippines

It sounds like she is getting a civil annulment. If she was married in a catholic church before, she may not be allowed to be married in a catholic church again unless she gets a catholic annulment to. Also the catholic church is going to want to see your baptism certificate and confirmation certificate. Different religion? There's another issue. Previous marriage for you? That can be an issue with the church to. Those are things she'd need to talk with her church about. Depending on the church, and other things you mentioned makes it sound like its the Catholic church, can throw some headaches in your path. Much would depend on her parish and their local rules. 


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-01-16 16:00:00
PhilippinesDHL, Fedex, UPS, or US post office Manila?
Fedex is the only way to go the Philippines with your immigration papers. You might save when you ship via USPS, but once in country its subject to the Philippines postal service which is getting really bad with demanding outrageous "customs fees" which they will give no receipt for. My wife was charged 4000P to be allowed to have one such document package last summer. After I had paid the USPS, it would have been cheaper sending via Fedex, and much faster to. All further documents I sent were all via Fedex. Very fast and no issues with ransom demands.
CaryhMalePhilippines2012-02-02 14:13:00
PhilippinesAdvice of Parents refused.....

Tony...Mariel's parents fear that their daughter will forget about them and they will lose their support when she goes to the U.S. How much monthly support does Mariel now provide? Perhaps you and Mariel could convince them that their monthly allowance would actually increase if Mariel goes to the U.S. You could get this ball rolling by sending this month's (increased) allowance to them yourself. That might help ease their fear.

 

It might work, but I'd guess it will create future problems. They're already acting entitled, how much worse are they going to be when they start deciding how much money can get picked off the American money trees? How many times have we seen problems here when the family in the Philippines is demanding more money than a couple can afford and creating conflict between husband and wife because she's feeling guilty? I foresee this as a future issue already with her family, why start raising expectations in her family?


CaryhMalePhilippines2014-01-30 12:24:00