ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesINTERVIEW PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow Congratulations! I am glad to hear these interviews are going smooth and easy. What has my Sarah have to worry about? :innocent: :whistle: :D
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-04-04 00:19:00
PhilippinesShe's been here for 1.5 months now.
Haha too funny. What a wicked sense of humor. I am so glad it was a joke. I am now looking for mine to hurry up and get here with me. Congrats on your love and happiness. :thumbs:
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-06-21 00:48:00
PhilippinesHappy BIrthDay America
Happy 4th of July baby !!


:dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-07-04 15:02:00
PhilippinesBest way to send $2000
Yeah hands down, Xoom has worked the best for us for sending money. It takes seconds and is most convenient. They no longer require that my fiancee remembers a security code. We have tried the other ways of sending money and they were just a pain and time consuming. With Xoom, use your bank account versus a credit card because its most efficient and cheaper. We love it!
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-07-04 14:54:00
PhilippinesBooking Plane Ticket to fly with your fiancee

U have to call the airlines. When i went home in November last year i had a round trip ticket for me and 2 one way ticket for my 2 kids. I had to find a flight that wud let me and my kids fly together and seat beside each other. It was hard for me to do that so what i did was i asked help from a travel agent and she did it for me with no problem at all.



*****Nice***** Using a travel agent sounds most logical, most convenient, and therefore less stressful. Thanks I will remember this!
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-07-30 00:49:00
Philippinesinterview process
Awesome Thanks for the link! Alot to take in but alot of help here.

yes, they are needed. they are visa application forms. you submit them when you go to the interview.

http://photos.state....3__rtf2_003.pdf


Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-09-08 00:31:00
Philippinesinterview process
First window called to was pre-screen. I kept my mouth shut, answered questions when asked. Provided forms as necessary to help gretchen. Questions I can remember:
1) who is the petitioner?
2) what is your fiancee's full name?
2a) what is your birthdate?
3) Can I have the following forms?
ds-156
ds-156k
ds-157
NBI
Cenomar
I-134
Last year's tax return
w-2
4) when did you first meet
4) how did you meet?
5) when did you first meet in person?
6) what is your fiancee's full name?
7) Is this you fiancee's second trip?
8) do you have any kids?
9) have you ever been married?
10) Has your fiance ever been married?
11) Do he have kids?
12) Have you been fingerprinted?
13) when did you arrive in Philippines?
14) how long in Philippines?
15) are those photos? (4 photo books)
16) can I see? (flip through one album a few pages)


Congrats on the sweet and smooth approval! Let us know how the rest of your journey goes. Darren, or anyone else, these forms were needed? ds-156, ds-156k, ds-157. I didn't read these are required in the interview process. What are they?
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-09-07 11:46:00
PhilippinesVisa Approved
Yes congrats on a smooth approval! I hope it goes as easy for us except my fiancee will be without me at the interview. She is happy but nervous. I know she will be fine because there is nothing to hide. Try telling that to her! Haha.

Congrats again on the painless interview!! Wish us the best!


Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-09-10 00:02:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

:star: Congratz guyz !!! :star:



Thank you very much! You are a superstar in our book and to many VJs on the forum for sure! :star::star::star::star:

She has a stop in Tokyo then Los Angeles and then DFW airport. I am going to try to request a gate pass from AA to meet Sarah on the other side. Wish me luck! :D
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-19 14:57:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

What a great Christmas gift you two have received - being together!!

:D



I know I know! :thumbs: Thank you Hank & Amy! Sarah will be the one picking out the Christmas tree haha. :star:
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-19 14:52:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***
Wow we had chosen for Sarah to pick up her visa at the 2go branch in manila however Sarah called me on Saturday the 17th her time to tell me they delivered her visa. It's ok because i am very happy to know she got her visa. However it is just FYI they delivered instead versus picking the visa at the 2go branch. I am ecstatic. I was able to re-book her flight for Tuesday the 20th given adding one more stop and additional money. It's ok because I am happy. I get to get her here before Christmas. :yes: Love to everyone and God bless!

(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)(L)
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-19 01:44:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

There's nothing to be worried about at this point because you are still well within the average time frame for visa delivery. I just wish the consular officer wouldn't have told you three days because most people don't get their visa in three days. I've noticed lately that most of the visas are taking considerably longer than three days.

I don't think the tracking will kick in until 2GO actually has the visa packet in their possession. When they do, delivery will usually be the next day. Keep an eye out for their text.

I sure hope you guys can be together for Christmas! :star:



Thank you for the encouraging words. Maybe it's the holiday that is slowing down the visa process. I am trying to look on the bright side which is most of the process is over. It's time to begin our lives together. We do know that what's left is a waiting game. :dance:

God bless and Merry Christmas Tahoma and to all! :D
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-16 13:32:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

Outstanding!!!

Next a flight to frosty Hawaii!! :lol:

Congrats!!


Thank you! Haha Hawaii would be great for Christmas if I could get her here before Christmas! Everything seemed to go by fast after receiving the news that her sputum culture was negative but we are slowed again. Haha come on embassy. What's up with the hold up on Sarah's visa? She wasn't required to do anything other than waiting for her visa. :bonk:

Posted Image


Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-15 19:51:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

Congratz on passing the medical and passing the interview!!! :star:

Sarah must have had no problem convincing St. Lukes that she needed to hand-carry the results of her medical to her Embassy interview because it was scheduled for the next day.


Thank you. I was so relieved on the passing of the medical and interview. No I guess she didn't have any problems with convincing St Lukes to hand carry the results. I had asked Sarah to bring the appointment letter to the medical for verification of her next day interview.

But it's time to be patient again. Visa has not been delivered yet. I had elected to have the visa be delivered to the 2go branch however the 2go has not received the visa. I have been contacting the embassy with no help. I have been tracking the visa on the 2go website with no results which keeps stating invalid. I have emailed the embassy with no response other than their automated reply response. Therefore it has been 6 going on 7 business days with no status. Any input or suggestions would be appreciated? The consular officer did tell her it would take 3 business days.

I would love to have her here before Christmas. :(

Congratulations Trey to You Both!!!:dance: :thumbs:


Thank you thank you! But it's not over yet.
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-15 19:46:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***
Dec 6, 2011- Medical immunizations and exam completed :no:
Dec 7, 2011- Sarah passed her interview! :yes:
Dec 8, 2011- Completed her CFO seminar :D

Dec 12, 2011- Checking on her visa :whistle:
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-11 19:21:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

Just make sure Sarah tells St. Lukes that she has an interview the following day and that she needs to hand carry her medical results to her interview. St. Lukes should be fine with that.

Now you're rolling! :thumbs:


We shall see! Patience patience patience :bonk:

The bad part is I don't have as much patience as Sarah does.
Dude have you seen the way they drive in the city in the philippines much less the countryside? :rofl:

I just texted her to remind her to ask St Lukes when the medical is completed.
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-05 18:10:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

WoW!! That is fast for the interview!! Outstanding!!!!

I know I was grinning from left ear to right ear! haha. I don't know how next week was so open.

I read a few other post on this where they allowed carrying of the medical files... too cool!!

I HOPE SO.
All the best!!! :thumbs:


Thank you and you too!
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-05 18:00:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

Good Luck Trey! :thumbs:



For sure thank you! We appreciate anything and everything. :thumbs:
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-05 17:02:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

From what I have read St. Lukes gives you a CD with the x-ray info anyway as you will need it later. Sort of doubt St. Lukes will give you the whole packet for delivery to the embassy. If the medical is not there for your interview from what I read they will hold your file until its received then send your visa out.

As for the visa delivery the embassy does not mail them, they are delivered by 2GO or you arrange to pick it up at a 2GO branch near you.



Hi Hank_Amy and thank you. Sarah will try and request to hand deliver the results. The interview is the next day after her medical. It doesn't hurt to try. ;)
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-05 02:58:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

Very few K-1 beneficiaries ever find a need for their x-ray CD. They don't need it at their POE and they don't need it to adjust their status. However, it works well as a unique coaster for their beverage of choice.

Chinook actually used St. Luke's x-ray CD here in the states. When she was hired, she avoided her company's mandatory chest x-ray by providing them with the St. Lukes x-ray CD.

Note: Upon request, St. Lukes will allow you to hand carry your medical results to your Embassy review.


Hi Tahoma,

Thank you very much for your inputs. Sarah called last week her scheduled time to call on the sputum results. St Lukes told her to call back on Monday because they didn't have her medical results ready. I was not so happy but it is what it is. ;) Today on Monday she called and they told her to come in on Wednesday. I requested Sarah to call them back and request to come in sooner. St Lukes allowed her to come in Tuesday. She paid $350 to BPI last friday around 2-3pm. I kept trying to schedule her interview last friday online and calling. They told me to call back on Monday because the payment hasn't registered. Anyways today I tried to schedule online and calling but they again told me it hasn't registered. They told me to wait 24 hours. FYI the online website said it can take 4 hours for payment to register. But the reps first told me 4-6 hours and now 24 hours. What's up with that? Anyhow I called them out on it. The rep then put me on hold. Then came back and told me he requested an emergency request. I don't know what that meant but it worked. I got back online 15 minutes after talking to the rep and it allowed me to schedule. Wow and I was able to schedule Wednesday. I pray the medical appointment for her immunizations etc will only be one day so she can go to her interview the next day. CFO seminar will be Thursday or Friday. Do you see anything that may go awry? Process is moving but the Dec 13th flight schedule is super close.
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-12-05 02:28:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***

Walang anuman po. :star: I hope your journey goes smoothly and quickly.

Salamat po, brother Thomas. :thumbs: :thumbs:


Hi, Sarah is having a difficult time calling St Lukes because it keeps giving her a busy signal. She tried calling yesterday and again today which is her call date 11-30-11 for the results. Maybe the reception is horrible since she lives on a small island off of Bohol. She will try again tomorrow morning when she arrives in the city to catch her plane to Manila. I presume that if she hasn't received a call from St Lukes, then it's good news. Therefore she will catch the plane 12-1-11 to Manila and hopefully squeeze in early Friday morning 12-2-11 to complete her medical.

I have a couple of questions. When she finishes her medical, can she request to have the medical results X-ray CD etc be given to her rather than St Lukes delivering the results to the consulate for the interview?

When she passes the interview, which is quicker for her to receive the visa? That she request to pick up at a 2 GO branch or have it mailed. I don't like the mailing part. If they have to mail the visa, can she request it to be mailed to her aunt in Manila versus her home in Bohol?

Thank you very much.
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-11-30 03:06:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***
Haha I am writing this stuff down! Great stuff. I know there is alot more to this but the more I know and Sarah knows, the easier it will be on the both of us. I am communicating this information to Sarah so she is not lost. She has been a survivor from day 1 lol. Thank you again Tahoma!
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-11-29 16:56:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***
That is true and thank you Southcalhog and Tahoma! Sorry I am under a lot of pressure with work, studies, and this. Any suggestions to make speed this up is greatly appreciated. :)
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-11-29 10:42:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***
1. What is a good contact number to St Lukes for the result? Sarah has tried to call today which is 11-29-11 but cannot get through. Is there a number for me to call? Is this normal that she is having a difficult time of getting through to someone?

Yes, it can be difficult to get ahold of St. Lukes. I believe Sarah should already have the contact number for St. Lukes. Didn't St. Lukes give her their contact number when she underwent her sputum collection?
Yes she did but I was trying to help if necessary.

2. Will she need to be present at St Lukes for the negative or positive(I hope not) result or can she get the result over the phone since they told her to call on 11-30-11? She lives in Cebu so she will need to fly to Manila.

Protocol should prevent St. Lukes from disclosing the results of the TB culture over the phone. However, according to reports here on VJ, St. Lukes has told some patients the results of their tests by phone.

Since Sarah is at the end of her eight-week culture and she has heard nothing from St. Lukes, her culture is almost certainly negative for TB. So, if she has to fly to Manila to find out the results, it won't be a wasted trip because she'll receive her immunizations and be done with her medical.
Yes it's great to know that if she hasn't received a call from St Lukes, the results should be negative. I have already booked her a flight to Manila 12-1-11. Do you know how many days it will take to complete her medical now?

3. If she is negative, how soon can the interview be scheduled and who schedules it? I was reading that St Lukes schedules the interview but I also read that we can schedule it. Which is best considering I have not paid for the interview until I know the result is negative? I will then have Sarah go pay the $350 at the bank for the interview.

St Lukes used to reschedule interviews for people who underwent the TB culture, but now you do it yourself. I don't know how soon you can get an interview date. I remember someone here on VJ recently scheduled an interview very soon after the culture. I can't remember if they enlisted St. Luke's assistance to do so or not. Sarah might want to check it out.
I will have her ask about it at St Lukes during her medical. I will have her pay at BPI when she arrives in Manila and then try to schedule online or call.
4. I KNOW I should not have done this but I booked her flight to Dallas for the 13th of December. What is the likelihood of accomplishing this and please help with suggestions?

Anything is possible. However, your plan doesn't sound very probable. I suggest you have a contingency plan which includes enough money to change her ticket to a later date. Good luck on the rest of your journey. :star:
Thank you for at least being somewhat optimistic ;)

Thank you for the quick response Tahoma! Great to have you on this site because you are a great blessing to all.

Any further suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-11-29 03:41:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***
Thank you all for replying. I was so put out by having to do the sputum test, but we are here again waiting patiently. We are suppose to call St Lukes on 11-30-11 for the result of the tb culture. We are praying all will be fine. I have done a few searches on the sputum test here but could not really pinpoint answers to these questions.

1. What is a good contact number to St Lukes for the result? Sarah has tried to call today which is 11-29-11 but cannot get through. Is there a number for me to call? Is this normal that she is having a difficult time of getting through to someone?
2. Will she need to be present at St Lukes for the negative or positive(I hope not) result or can she get the result over the phone since they told her to call on 11-30-11? She lives in Cebu so she will need to fly to Manila.
3. If she is negative, how soon can the interview be scheduled and who schedules it? I was reading that St Lukes schedules the interview but I also read that we can schedule it. Which is best considering I have not paid for the interview until I know the result is negative? I will then have Sarah go pay the $350 at the bank for the interview.
4. I KNOW I should not have done this but I booked her flight to Dallas for the 13th of December. What is the likelihood of accomplishing this and please help with suggestions?

Thank you and God bless!
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-11-29 00:44:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***
Please tell me something different or tell me it is not so. :crying:
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-09-20 01:15:00
Philippines***Question about the SPUTUM TEST in the Philippines***
Hello,

We had planned to have my fiancee do her medical on the 19th and 20th. I am not able to be there with Sarah for the medical nor interview so Sarah has her aunt for support. Sarah had already gone to the first day of her medical. She has gone to her second day today but St Lukes had sent her home. Sarah has told me everything had checked out fine except for her X-rays. They told her she had some phlegm on the X-rays. I hate this long distance when I am talking to Sarah because I don't hear everything clearly. St Lukes has scheduled her to come back for the sputum test on Oct 3,4, and 5. Why???? I want to call St Lukes but I want to get some input from the members first! MY PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN. Anyways my questions are:

* Do you think there is a concern considering her physical and blood tests checked out fine?
* There is not a spot of tb is from what I am told by Sarah so why the sputum test?
* Why do they schedule the sputum test so far out like two weeks?
* Do you think I can call to schedule a closer date for the sputum test?
* Or please advise on my situation....

THANK YOU
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-09-20 00:32:00
PhilippinesInterview dates
We were able to schedule ours within a week. I believe it is better to schedule online because we got to see all the days that were open. ** Make sure your fee has been paid at BPI first before trying to schedule online.** It took 24 hours for ours to register in the system. We scheduled ours in december. :thumbs:
Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2012-01-13 12:39:00
PhilippinesProblems calling the Philippines?
AT&T did that to me alot when I was using them for long distance so it is not the quake. I went to Owtel international and they were ok. Rebtel is great for the Philippines.


Trey7SarahMalePhilippines2011-03-27 01:35:00
PhilippinesMemoirs of a USC (Feb 7th interview and approval)
First the good news, we are approved. This day holds other significance too as it was exactly a year ago (Feb 7th 2007) when I walked off the plane and into the arms of the women I met via a random yahoo event almost 4 years ago.

As the USC I will add a few comments to what others have said..


First, I would highly recommend that the USC go to this interview as its a unique experience that is something to be shared. Its far worse than your worst DVM experience and quite honestly if they tried to have americans do this kind of thing there'd be a serious mango-juice come tea party right outside the USEM in the harbor. Its not the process per say, though someone who has taken basic statistics can spot many ways to improve things. Its the complete lack of information and communications along the way which was mind-boggling

We arrived at 5am into a sea of people wondering around the embassy, there were the vendors outside selling everything from ball-point pens (50php) to Polaroid photos (250php) to plastic seats for places to sit down at (25php, 30php if you want them wiped off) The common thread of all of these folks was the inconsistent information we were given. The whackenhut guards, the vendors, and even random passers by could speak with convincing authority about where you were supposed to stand, or how the process works, but in the end they really have only a small piece of information. We were told by one guard to stand over in a line forming by an entrance blocked by another guard under a awning who was slowly checking papers. We stood there for a while and I noticed that about 70 people in front of us there was actual sign-age. I make my way up to read it and low and behold it says "Non-immigrant visa" so we've stood for 20 minutes in the wrong line .. It gets worse from there, at one point we even had two whackenhutters arguing with each other about where we were supposed to stand (they were lucky enough to give us conflicting information within earshot of each other) There is an announcement of sorts as there is someone on a PA system saying something periodically. I'm sure its important, and it probably has a lot to do with what we need to know. However, the announcer has apparently swallowed a entire bag of marbles prior to going "on-air" and you can't understand them. At least the guards can't as they are willing to argue amongst themselves about what was said. The key however is to get past the guard at the awning. You can do this several ways, I would highly recommend pole-vaulting as its easier though they would probably frown on it. At some point though he just starts waving a bunch of us in.

That brings us to guard #2 .. Guard #2 actually reads your paperwork (more or less) and decides when you can proceed to the security clearing area. This is the area where there are more guards and a x-ray machine and at least one USC who has a bunch of electronic ####### they aren't going to let him take in. Apparently its common for USCs to miss the memo on bringing their Cummins diesel engines along with them to the interview but I'm digressing .. Guard #2 reads your paperwork and randomly selects people to sit in the penalty box. This is a bench off to the side reserved apparently for people that had the wrong aura on. I first postulated that this selection had something to do with the time of the interview but apparently its more random than functional as we had people with 7:30 interviews in the box as well as 7am and some I think from the previous week still sitting there. Eventually he runs out of things to do and waves us in too (no longer reading any of the papers)

This brings us to guard #3 and the hut, maybe this is the infamous whackenhut? This is a small room just outside the embassy interior, it has a x-ray machine from 1943 and a metal detector which basically beeps whenever anyone walks through us. This gives the guards a reason to touch you inappropriately which they do with great vigor and gusto, you then retrieve your papers which are rolling through the x-ray/ microwave before they fall off the conveyer and onto the floor. They are warm to the touch which makes me wonder about the number of rads this thing is giving out. Once collected you then stand at the door which beeps. This is a door with some kind of electronic lock. It emits a loud beeping sound. Its also locked. There's a filipina ahead of us, arms wrapped around a metric tonne of slowly cooling papers and she's trying to figure out how to open it. Its stops beeping after she tugs on it a couple of times, but it still won't open. Noone is paying any attention to this except the crowd thats piling up behind this increasingly flustered girl. I reach past her and try my luck and sure enough its stuck firm, at that point the beeping starts again and someone else tries the door which opens like a congressman's wallet the day before election day. I'm not sure if the beeping has anything to do with the locking mechanism or it was just the mass of the accumulating crowd which endued the opener with Herculean strength.

Once inside the embassy proper we find to my surprise actual marking on the wall giving directions on where to go. We follow these breadcrumbs of knowledge into a largeish waiting area full of hard plastic chairs and nervous filipina. We were lucky enough to meet up with another VJ couple while in the penalty box (i'll let them own up to knowing us after reading this if they are not ) and we were directed into the back row of the middle section. I point this out only because there was a large gap between the back row and the front row of empty seats. This gap is slowly filled with people as they come in well past their appointment times (its now 8:30 and they haven't started yet) I bring this up only to point out to future generations that your pain and suffering will end quicker if you somehow manage to sit in the front row. When it gets right down to it, they send the rows to the ticket booth front to back, left to right. It really doesn't matter what time is stamped on your appointment card, nor what time you arrived, your going to the ticket booth in that order. This process is the most important one of the day as it basically controls how long you will sent in the chairs while waiting for your number to be called. Mind you, these chairs were bought at a surplus auction as they were long since banned by the Geneva convention as being cruel and unusual punishment. Since they are unfit for prisoners they wound up here. Anyway, retrieving a ticket early is important as even though there is a bit of strange randomness to the calling out of numbers, its basically going in order, and the sooner you get called, the sooner you can get out of there and start drinking.

A bit about the process, its relatively straight forward. There are several video monitors in the room which explain it more or less. They do this on a loop which includes an english explanation, a taglog explanation and between the explanations about 10 minutes of badly pixilated images pictures of "americans" mouthing the words "Welcome" or "Haha!" I'm not sure which. The progress of events goes in this order "ticket booth" "finger scanning" "pre-screening" "Interview" "clearing" "delbros" "standing outside for 30 minutes to flag down a taxi" "drinking heavily". As previously mentioned. The ticket booth controls your fate for the day. Its where you hand over some (but not all) of your paperwork and are given this tiny piece of paper which your number is printed with quick-fading thermal ink. I mention this because several people (including ourselves) noticed that it doesn't take long to rub the numbers right off the ticket. So be careful with it. Putting it inside of a folder seems to be the smart thing to do, holding it in your hand on the other hand, not so smart. Above all else memorize the number as its your destiny for the day. They also get really cranky if you don't pop out of your chair as your number shows up on the board (its announced visually not audibly unless they are looking for you) . I'm not sure what happens if you don't show but several times the board would have the same number up on it several times for the same window and the guards would all scurry about going "6711" "6711" trying to get someones attention. Eventually you'd hear the echos of them in the loo as they would open the doors and yell "6711" in hopes of finding the hapless soul who was lost in there. I did resist the urge to hang out in the CR and yell back "Number 2" "Number 2" when this event occurred again. Successfully resisted, I might add, though my legs did twitch a couple of times at the thoughts.

Once you have your ticket number, your fate is sealed (at least as far as this process is concerned) the next stop on the train is finger-print scanning, called biometrics. This is the point where you meet the first cranky person who works there "Press harder" she yells at a flustered girl "No pressy no visa" is another comment I overheard. I'm quite sure this is the first time most of these people have ever seen a biometrics scanner and despite the signs scattered all over the place telling you what to do (though none of the signs are actually anywhere near the scanning window itself) most people seemed to be somewhat scared of the little box. Perhaps its the lady behind the counter, or perhaps its the green glow coming from the box that makes it look like its full of some high-grade form of kyrptoniite . Most of them walk up to it and look at it with that same look the american gives the person offering them Balut just after they find out what it is.

After the biometrics, you return to your seat, and after several eons your called to the pre-screener. This person actually asks questions and accumulates more papers. In our case she asked my fiancee if she was who she was, asked her daughter if she was who she was and asked me if I was who I was .. at this point I almost said "No, I'm Ed McMahon and you might already be a winner!" But I resisted with even more leg twitching and a nervous tick. She collected the police clearances and some other papers not picked up at the beginning. Asked questions about my previous marriages "why did you leave your wife?" .. "I didn't" ... "why did you get a divorce?" ... " It was cheaper than the annulment" ... " why did you want an annulment?" "my ex-wife was already married to someone else, committed fraud by marrying me and oh is serving time in the state lockup for theft, larceny and extortion having nothing to do with me or our marriage. " Apparently, that was the right answer ( and oddly enough, the honest one) After staring at me for several seconds like I'd suddenly grown a third eye, she eventually looks down at the papers (which actually say these things, along with, get this .. "irreconcilable differences") reads them for a little while and then waves us back to the chairs without further comment.

We wait for a long while and suddenly its lunch time. We don't know its lunch time, there's not an actual announcement or anything, just the window shades are closed and the board showing which numbers go to which window goes dark. A bunch of people get up and start filing out. We ask the guard whats going on and he says its lunch time. be back at 1pm. I think I'm the first person to ever ask the question "How do we get back in?" Because he looks at me like like a scientist examining a new form of bacterium. "Just show the guards your paper" he says. "I can't do that, they've already taken our appointment documentation" There is that look again, like he's counting the clil along the edge of the cell structure ... "No, your number paper" Oh wait, he means our now-serving number. I show it to him "You mean this?" He replies in the affirmative and in such a way to make you believe he's decided that the microbe under examination is not in-fact infectious, we quickly retreat to the door.


Leaving the USEM for lunch you've got basically a couple of choices .. Chow King and Yellow Cab. For those of you americans in the audience, yellow cab is a pizza place, not in-fact a transportation company. Though honestly their namesake may make better pizza. For reasons of allowing the 7 year old step daughter to make the decision (after all, what are kids good for if not deciding which form of junk food you'll consume) we chose yellow cab. We had a Hawaiian pizza with extra grease. We tried to order more grease, but apparently therese a saturation limit on how much grease they are allowed to soak a pizza in before serving it to you. Its a good thing too as its likely it would no longer be considered a solid. As it is, the pizza ranks up there with the taste of ham, pineapple and 30 weight motor oil. At that moment though, it was the food of the gods, because quite frankly theres nothing else to eat while waiting through this process. Sure their is "The Pavilion" This is a adjunct area outside of the visa rooms and there's a counter there where you can buy snacks (of a sort) by 10am when I went to check this out, they were down to saltines to eat and diet-sprite to drink. Maybe its just me, but the idea of diet-sprite is nauseating on a good day. So we quickly thanked the gods for our pizza flavored grease patty and coke and ate the entire thing.

Returning to the Embassy we waved our little piece of paper at the guard who waved us through the gate we arrived at our seats promptly at 1pm as instructed. At 2pm the process started up again pretty much where it left off. By 2:30 we were called into the interview room. The CO we met with was this nice round-face girl who was all smiles and had a great attitude .. in fact, we had a great time. I can honestly say this was the best part of the entire process. She swore in my fiancee and then the comedy act begin. She asked her who she was, if the little girl with us was her daughter and who I was. After that formality kind of vanished in a puff of humor. If there were more questions they were lost in the interaction between myself and the CO. She said she was from Houston (which I graduated from high-school in) and we spent the next 20 minutes talking about how big the US was, how flat Houston is (The highest mountain range is called "an overpass" and how my fiance was really crazy thinking she wasn't going to have to learn how to drive once she got to our home. I even got a variation of my Ed McMahon crack out which busted her up. My fiancee just stared at us not-unlike I've stared at her many times while she's carried on with someone in tagalog. Even though my Fiancee has a pretty good grasp of english, I'm sure she had a hard time following the conversation and especially the wisecracks. Eventually she folded up the papers and said we were approved. I then asked for expedited processing (handing her the letter we prepared) and she pulled a purple slip, wrote a bunch of notes on it and told us we could probably pick the visa up in the next couple of days. There is one point (in all seriousness to make here) the interview is conducted in english. If your fiancee has trouble with english, now is not the time to learn it. Make sure they've practiced the questions and answers IN ENGLISH. One of the early questions which was asked of my fiancee "How many times has your fiance been married? Was answered with "Really soon now" This actually helped us as it got the comedy act rolling. However the poor girl in front of us was really struggling with the questions (you get to easedrop on the interview prior to yours as you sit outside the door)

After the CO interview we went to the window where they cleared our papers, made sure we'd paid uncle sam his fees and we were done ..

Now we are in the hotel in makati where I flew in the morning of our interview (landed at 1am, arrival at the embassy at 5am that day) if you need us, we will be in the bar, waiting for the phone to ring.

Take care all, and good luck
doug & angelMalePhilippines2008-02-07 19:03:00
PhilippinesCredit Cards in the Philippines.
QUOTE (garya505 @ Feb 7 2008, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What equipment does SEAAIR fly, little puddle-jumpers? laughing.gif


Mostly Dornier 328s of a relatively recent vintage. I'd fly asian spirit's jet service more, but they are to big of a pain to deal with from overseas.
doug & angelMalePhilippines2008-02-08 09:19:00
PhilippinesCredit Cards in the Philippines.
QUOTE (sofia2009 @ Feb 7 2008, 04:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I used my debit card with mastercard logo on it, and I don't have any problems using it internationally..I even used my debit card to pay my fiance cenomar and birthcert online and booked the hotel at hoteltravel.com..Maybe, it's about ur bank policy..I don't know about credit cards because I have only one credit card with $350 credit limit on it laughing.gif laughing.gif ..i hate credit cards!!!.



I use mine on SEAAIRs website without a problem. I've also had the bank issue one in my fiancee's name and her PI address as an alternate. This allows her to use it there for things like checking into the hotel or picking up the tickets.

I did have to go through a little security red-tape to set that up, but it was a phone call and a faxed form.

Also as a rule, whenever I travel overseas I always call the credit card companies and inform them of the dates of my travel, its a process I've been doing since the 80s after a particularly embarrassing incident with Mastercard while standing in a store in a mall in japan.
doug & angelMalePhilippines2008-02-07 19:11:00
PhilippinesFebruary interviews at US Embassy Manila
St. Luke's Appointment Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 (7:00:00 AM)
Embassy Appointment Date: Thursday, February 07, 2008 (7:30:00 AM)

Finally ..
doug & angelMalePhilippines2007-12-21 19:20:00
PhilippinesAge difference between Filipinas and americans (Poll)
Native American (41)
Native Filipina (29)

My Daughter: 6
Her Daughter: 7
doug & angelMalePhilippines2007-07-30 19:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAs of today USCIS now says they are working on January I-129F's
I was wondering about that as we filed (and received) our NOA1 in April .. Looking at the timelines, they've processed right up to the week before us .. but now it appears that they've stopped as its been two weeks since there were any updates on the folks around us.
doug & angelMalePhilippines2007-07-18 14:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMore USCIS processing BS? K1
QUOTE (beckypua @ Aug 21 2007, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
In fo Operator told him because his fiancee petition is for a Filipina they are processing peeps from the Philippines that filed April 30 now.

How I wish that was true .. our receipt date is April 19th. crying.gif crying.gif crying.gif crying.gif crying.gif crying.gif crying.gif crying.gif crying.gif
doug & angelMalePhilippines2007-08-21 18:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAPRIL FILERS NOA2 LIST
What is considered the NOA1 date? The "Received date" or the "Notice Date" on the NOA1 itself?
doug & angelMalePhilippines2007-08-04 22:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCalled CSC Today (april filer still waiting for noa2)
ZOMG CSC Touched our case on a sunday!

Last Updated

Form # Form Title (mm/dd/yyyy)
I129F WAC0714xxxxxx Y 08/26/2007

Still pending, but at least I know we are not completely lost, who knew uncle sam worked on Sundays. (or at least his computers do)
doug & angelMalePhilippines2007-08-26 20:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCalled CSC Today (april filer still waiting for noa2)
QUOTE (doug & angel @ Aug 24 2007, 11:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Called CSC today, with my lawyer, spoke to the lady with the indian sounding accent others have reported talking to, she said "Your case is already with the officer and you should have a decision today" She was very pleasant to us, I suspect having an attorney on the line makes for better conversation.


Well, here it is 48 hours later and no touches .. nothing .. its like we don't exist blink.gif

I'm guessing "Your case is already with an officer" is secret code for "We were moving the office and your file is now buried behind a filing cabinet"
and "you should have a decision today" translates to "Don't worry, it will be of archeological significance when its unearthed in 2032"

cray5ol.gif
doug & angelMalePhilippines2007-08-26 10:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCalled CSC Today (april filer still waiting for noa2)
QUOTE (Mirla @ Aug 24 2007, 10:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
First I thought it was a big waste of money to hire a lawyer for our K1 visa process but since I read your post, I think I'm gonna start calling my lawyer on monday....I haven't called him in a month though, maybe he will get some good news for me.....


I don't think the lawyer will help much there, I think its a matter of they won't blow you off as it gets witnessed by someone who if they complain gets paid more attention to than just any old random person.

The real reason I hired a lawyer (outside of checking our paper work and being present at the POE to represent my angel in case something happens) is to have one more person to complain too that at least has to have the pretense of doing something.

They are not infallible though, just a second set of (hopefully better educated) eyes. After all the filings and papers we did, it was reading here on VJ that lead me to find out that we need a police clearance from japan (where she once worked) at the interview. My lawyer who is ranked very high in the state (and by far not the cheapest) didn't know this was a requirement, but once I read it here, they were able to do the research and confirm it.

You should consider them an extra resource, but they are no substitute for your own mind, nor your own research.

My $0.02 billed at $350 an hour wink.gif
doug & angelMalePhilippines2007-08-25 11:02:00