ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Philippines2012 Best airlines worldwide
I'm curious who put together the list and what their criteria was? I honestly can't believe Etihad could make a "best of" anything list...unless they get extra points for late arrivals.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2012-09-09 09:56:00
PhilippinesWhat to expect
Hank, that is one truly helpful post. You should consider giving it a topic of it's own and requesting it be stickied. Thanks!
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2012-09-27 14:59:00
PhilippinesRoosters in Talisay
I hear you. Michelle's family's neighborhood is rooster heavy too. Including one that lived just outside of the window to my room. I grew up in rural Virginia, it's not a sound that's new to me...but one ten feet away outside of an open window really can't be ignored. I did find it kind of amusing how one would crow, and the rest of them in the vicinity would follow like a wave.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2012-09-28 16:48:00
PhilippinesZero American Pride!!!!
I used to have to fly domestically often for work and United was always the best of the bunch.

My first international flight in decades (smoking was allowed on board the last time I flew international!) was on a Korean Air flight from IAD to CEB. I honestly didn't know how much better flying could be.

I requested an emergency row seat at check in because I'm tall and the extra leg room really helps (again with all of my knowledge based on domestic flights and airlines). They gave it to me, but it turns out I didn't need it. I was really apprehensive about being on an aircraft for that length of time. Five hours to Vegas with my knees crammed into the seat in front of me on a domestic airline is torture...nearly three times that was a big cause for anxiety. The seat spacing allows plenty of room...even for a fourteen hour flight.

During the first meal course, I was in the last row to be served and they had run out of the "western" meals and only had Korean meals left. The poor attendant was so apologetic, I tried to tell her I would have taken the Korean meal anyhow, but I don't think she quite understood. The Korean meal comes with some assembly required, and the two girls seated next to me in my row were happy to show me how to put things together. I thought they were college kids coming home from a visit, turns out they were flight attendants who started their shift mid-way through the flight.

My only complaint is that there were too many services. Every time I fell asleep someone would be by offering something else (they didn't try to wake me, I just sleep lightly on aircraft). Juice, coffee, hot towels, meals, snacks....they really seemed to want to be too good to us.

Flying domestically has often reminded me of that David Spade sketch on SNL...buh bye, buh bye, buh bye.

I'm going back to Cebu in February on Korean Air...no anxiety at all this time.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2012-11-16 04:48:00
PhilippinesWife's diet changed since coming to US

There is bitter melon here in Illinois in several asian stores. I refuse to eat it though. Jena grows lemon grass and the long purple egg plants as well as sweet potato for the leaves.


I'm in rural Virginia, not too terribly far from Northern Virginia though. There are several Filipino and Asian markets within reach if we're willing to put an hour and a half into the drive...so I'm sure we can get hold of most of her favorites, at least on occasion. I'm with you on the bitter melon though. Can't imagine ever acquiring a taste for it.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2012-12-31 16:44:00
PhilippinesWife's diet changed since coming to US

How has you wife diet changed since coming to the US? My wife is eating less rice and more spicy foods that I like.


She isn't here yet, but I don't know how her diet can avoid changing.

There's very little fresh fish available in the area, and what is available is expensive and generally poor quality. Frozen fish is readily available at least...but certainly not the varieties she's used to. With a few exceptions, virtually all of the fruits that she's grown up on are available here. Again, the price can be high, and the quality questionable. Some of her favorite vegetables just aren't available locally at all (thank God there's no bitter melon :whistle: ).

I did buy a nice rice cooker in anticipation of her arrival...and generally eat a lot of rice myself. Not daily (or multiple times daily) as she's used to...but I wouldn't mind it.

Michelle has lived in Riyadh for most of the last three years. So, she's no stranger to adjusting her diet to what's available locally. As long as there's chocolate cake to be had, she'll be fine. (L)
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2012-12-31 14:58:00
PhilippinesRed Horse beer in America
There's a chain beer/wine place around here (Washington DC vicinity) called Total Wine (and Total Beverage). They carry it in some locations. $9 for a six pack last time I noticed it.

Edited by Jim-Michelle, 18 January 2013 - 11:51 AM.

Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-01-18 11:50:00
PhilippinesTragic Story
Michelle was working as an OFW nurse in Riyadh, KSA until February of this year. Her contract clearly indicated that leaving early would make her responsible for her own airline ticket and she would have to pay a fine equivalent to two months pay (shockingly little but it caused her a lot of undue stress). It was worth every penny to get her out of there eight months before her contract was up.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-31 17:03:00
PhilippinesHealth Insurance

How about travel insurance?


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-01 09:01:00
PhilippinesSo how long does it take at the embassy?

rofl.gif   ..... you are sooooooooooo bad!      OK.... so was I...

 

 

Only in my dreams. In reality, I make Fred Rogers look like a member of the Hell's Angels. 

 

 

Save your energy. I don't care how good you think you have cleaned the ol' Batch pad, she is going to go thru it like a swat team thru Gitmo cells.

 

Make sure to sanitize the place to any reference to other females.  I.E.  old pics of girlfriends in sexy poses in a shoe box somewhere you forgot about.
 

 

She tells me to leave the cleaning for her every day. I keep telling her there's plenty to go around. In reality, I just don't want the place to be too embarrassing when she gets here. 

 

She would be hard pressed to find pictures of anything except for the dogs, my family and her. So, I'm not too worried about that. I don't think I even have a photo of my ex wife. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-06 18:34:00
PhilippinesSo how long does it take at the embassy?

 

Congrats. Just wait until the day you will track the airplane every 30 mins and get to go to the airport. My wife hs been here 1.5 years and would do it again tomorrow.

Already been there. Whenever Michelle was travelling home from Saudi Arabia or back, I always kept a website up that provides real time tracking of flights. (flightradar24.com)

 

Assuming she takes the same flight that I normally take, which lands around 9am, I'll probably just stay overnight at a hotel near the airport and take their shuttle over to pick her up. It's so much less stressful than dealing with the morning traffic near Dulles airport. 

 

I've spent the last few weeks getting my house out of bachelor and his golden retriever mode. There's so much I want to get done and now it's really starting to haunt me. I changed a ceiling fan in the kitchen because it was much faster than cleaning the one that had been there for the last few decades, started removing the three layers of wallpaper from the bedroom (that was there when I bought the house) in preparation for painting the room the lilac color that she chose, vacuumed (I'm thinking the last time I vacuumed was around 2011), ordered a new mattress set that hopefully won't have springs popping out of it, threw away all of the condiments in the refrigerator and cans from the pantry that had been expired for more than a few years,,,,so much to do, so little time. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-06 14:55:00
PhilippinesSo how long does it take at the embassy?

I just heard from her. She's approved. They wanted her Saudi Police clearance translated (she spent the last few years as an OFW nurse in KSA) so she had that done. For some reason they don't want her to just drop it off at the embassy, they want it returned by 2GO...so it will probably take a couple of extra days for her passport to arrive. Between the clearance and the holiday on the 13th for election day, I'm expecting a long wait. In any event I'm ecstatic, Maybe I can get some sleep now....although I doubt it. It's almost time to get up.  


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-06 03:41:00
PhilippinesSo how long does it take at the embassy?

Well ya know the actual reasons for now electronics... security.  

 

Funny you mentioning cartoons, when we were sitting and waiting we were watching cartoons on the TVs they had scattered about the waiting area at the embassy.

 

Michelle hasn't developed a taste for cartoons yet...but I'm working on it. 

 

She's about two and a half hours in now. I wonder what she's doing?


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-05 20:56:00
PhilippinesSo how long does it take at the embassy?

We were at the embassy from 6:30 AM, walking out the door approved about 10:30AM.

 

Michelle will be approved and you two will be all smiles very soon!

 

Thanks Hank. This whole thing right down to the cell phone rule seems to be an exercise designed to test our patience. On the bright side, the last twenty laps or so of Talladega rocked and the Fox cartoons are all new tonight. So at least my vigil will be an entertaining one. jest.gif


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-05 19:40:00
PhilippinesSo how long does it take at the embassy?

Michelle's K1 interview was scheduled to start forty-five minutes ago. Of course, with the no cell phone rule, I won't know anything until she gets back to her hotel....but in the meantime I'm eating everything in the house worrying. 

 

 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-05 19:16:00
PhilippinesSending Documents to the Philippines

The difference an address makes. Michelle is about midway between Ormoc and Tacloban. It cost around $150 to FedEx her documents (granted the weight was a bit more, coming in at around 2lbs) and took eight days (they had quoted nine). It actually made it to Manila and cleared customs in just two days and was turned over to their delivery agent. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-01 09:07:00
PhilippinesWhat is with the Philippines and hacked email accounts?

Well its not really Yahoo either, its a weak password issue more than anything.  Hotmail when through this for quite awhile (not its gone... Hotmail that is) and it requires updating the password to something strong to keep the hacker from cracking it.

 

Its helps to test the password.  http://www.passwordmeter.com/

 

I think Yahoo has some blame too since the system doesn't seem to respond to brute force attacks....which is where having a weak password will get you into trouble. Yahoo seems to be the target of choice for hacker/spammers. It seems like every time there's a spam/trojan link sent to one of the mailing lists I follow, it comes from someone using a Yahoo mail account. There's obviously some reason the bad guys target these accounts.


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-12 17:03:00
PhilippinesFlying your significate other(s)

The best flight for Michelle was on Korean Air...and they don't allow tickets for flights originating in the Philippines to be purchased outside of the Philippines. So, I just sent her the money, she went to a travel agent next to the hotel she was staying at during her CFO, and she's presently about midway between Mactan and Incheon. 

 

20 hours plus whatever customs takes to go!

 

 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-30 14:37:00
PhilippinesWhere is the visa? Automated email check

For some reason, neither the usatraveldocs.com nor 2GO sites ever updated for Michelle's visa. In fact, the one still says "In Transit From Post"....Michelle has been in the US for over a week. 2GO says not found using her passport number and MNL number. So, don't trust them too far. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-06-10 14:34:00
Philippinesshipping cost to FEDEX I-134 and supporting Visa documents to Bacolod Philippines?

 

This is as safe as using FEDEX or UPS?  I have a post office right across the street...that WOULD be ideal, but it HAS to be safe....

From what I understand, Global Express relies on the Philippine postal service for final delivery. FedEx uses Air21, a private company (at least in the provinces). If the post office that serves your fiance is reliable, it's probably fine. If not, FedEx will probably provide a bit more piece of mind. 

 

I went with FedEx and my only real complaint is that once they turned over the package to their agent, there was no tracking available until days after it was delivered (one day ahead of schedule). 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-31 05:07:00
PhilippinesHow did you get married in US?

We decided to take the middle road between a "real" wedding and a trip to the magistrate's office.

 

Tomorrow, we're getting married in a nice little formal ceremony at a rural bed and breakfast. There will still be flowers, music, rings and cake...but not much more. We're still planning on the grande sized wedding in the Philippines next year...but for our government mandated quickie marriage,the bed and breakfast seemed like a nice way to go. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-06-16 18:12:00
PhilippinesRequirement for getting a DMV ID in Va

Good timing on this topic. I was going to take Michelle for her learner's permit when her SS card arrives. More waiting. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-06-19 15:50:00
PhilippinesConsulate in Washington DC

It's been years since I've accually STOPPED in DC!! lol

And even then it was mostly 14th st  he he he

 

Never rode the Metro but good advice I may try it

Maybe I can get on in Fredricksburg? That'd be GREAT

 

You can take the VRE (Virginia Railway Express) from Fredericksburg to Union Station and switch to metro from there. The VRE station is on Lafayette Street downtown. You can also take Amtrak if you want to be guaranteed a seat. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-07-10 04:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWell, here goes...

Well, good luck!! Hopefully this goes quicker than we expect it to.


I think it comes down to expecting the worst, but hoping for the best. In any event, Michelle in in Riyadh until early next year anyhow. We've tried to time the filing so that she's likely to be home long before she can set her embassy appointment.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2012-09-18 10:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWell, here goes...

Sent off the packet for the K-1 visa today! USPS says it should arrive at the Dallas lockbox on the 19th. Wish us luck!


We're in the same boat. I mailed ours on Monday for arrival Wednesday too. Last site I visited before coming here this morning was the USPS tracking page...it's moved out of the county, but still in the state.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2012-09-18 04:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA2 SEPT 21 FILER VERMONT
Congratulations! I'm jealous. The waiting is a lot harder now that it's this close.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-09 16:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsK1 Visa approved today in Manila

Thank you everyone for all of the nice messages. My fiance will post something online later, but she told me that they did not ask her any questions about me. I couldn't believe that. She said that they spoke about her working abroad and only asked for my I-134 and ITR. We had so much information and photos to provide but they were not needed.

Thanks again everyone and good luck to everyone. :thumbs:


What's an ITR? I checked the glossary page and nothing. Now I'm worried that I'm missing something. :)
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-25 15:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsK1 Visa approved today in Manila
That's fantastic news!
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-25 11:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsTimeline Question

It's not unusual for the beneficiary to never get anything in the mail. Michelle's interview is Monday, and she never got a thing. As long as you have the MNL number (it should be on the paper you received or you can call the NVC), you can move ahead with the process now.

 

Here's a very good thread on the subject from the Philippine forum here. 

http://www.visajourn...etter-from-nvc/

 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-04 18:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

Quick update, Michelle will arrive in the US on Friday morning. At least we'll be together for the wait for the AOS.


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-29 19:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

Good luck! looking forward to see the happy news from you!dancin5hr.gif

 

I saw on your timeline that Michelle was approved today! Congrats!!!kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif

Thanks. We're both excited. Just a few more weeks to go. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-06 15:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

wow! are you going to the interview together?

 

Best wishes for the interview...

I wish I could be there. Unfortunately, this is the beginning of our busy time at work and I took a week off to visit her in February. I'm taking two weeks off to get married in June, our busiest time of year...so considering I'm the new guy at work, I'm pushing things as it is.

 

She's going a bit makulit at the moment. She and her sister have settled in to their room in Manila. Her flight from Tacloban was delayed by an hour...so she's really wound up. I doubt she'll get any sleep tonight. Just to make matters worse the hotel wifi sucks and she doesn't have a strong 3G signal. At  least I can chat with her on Yahoo Messenger until she either falls asleep or has to go to the interview.


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-05 07:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

Congratulations everyone

 

Has anyone had their interview yet?

 

Michelle's interview is this Monday morning. She'll be leaving for Manila this afternoon. If all goes well, we'll be tortured for just a couple more weeks waiting for her passport to be delivered with the visa in it.

 

 

And Congratulations to everyone! It's been a long trip....but well worth it. 


Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-05-04 15:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers
Congrats to those who've been approved! Looks like it won't be long before the September thread will be history. Good luck everyone!
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-04-16 05:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

Hey everyone - I have a question for the US petitioners...

My fiancé is having a problem getting hold of his tax return transcripts. We've ordered them TWICE online and once through their automated phone service. First time we tried was two months ago and he still hasn't received anything. He called the number that claims to be their 'customer service' but just got connected to the automated service again. I think he needs to speak to a real person to try to find out the problem...

Anyone had any similar problems? Or can anyone point me in the direction of how to actually speak to someone at the IRS to figure it out? I don't want this to cause an extra wait for us so I need to get it sorted!



That does seem to be a problem. When I ordered mine (online) they arrived in under a week.

A quick googling found this about getting through to a genuine human being at the IRS. It's a little dated but worth a shot:
http://answers.yahoo...18202149AAXKDa3

Here's another:
http://gethuman.com/...nue-System-IRS/

Good luck!

Edited by Jim-Michelle, 30 March 2013 - 01:28 PM.

Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-30 13:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

Finally thank you god!!!
On March 27, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.



Spectacular!
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-28 03:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

Our RFE hard copy finally arrived to the lawyer's office today. They need original signed statements of our intent to marry within 90 days of my fiance arriving in the US. It's something we can easily provide but I could KICK myself for not having sent it originally. Our lawyers told me (the petitioner) to write a letter establishing our relationship...not our intent to marry. You'll see it here 1,000 times...use this site and save yourself the $$ of hiring a lawyer. I wish I had found these guides first.

Frustrations aside, we'll provide the letters as soon as we can and I'm also going to have my father provide one as well. Let's hope that's all they need and the approval will come within the next month. My fiance and I haven't seen each other since July...the time is starting to drag!

Good luck to everyone still waiting on some sign of life from the service centers...


You're absolutely right. I'm glad I found this site before we filed. I was planning to hire an immigration attorney. This site gave me the confidence to do it on my own though.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-26 20:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

Our status changed 3 times today over several hours. It's RFE. I'm losing my mind right now.


That's awful. Hopefully it will be a quick and painless delay.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-26 18:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers

Is anyone out there tonight/today ;-) to tell me what the heck does the following mean?!?

"On March 26, 2013, your address was changed relating to the I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E) that you filed. Please check our website at www.uscis.gov for further updates on your case. Please wait until the end of normal processing time before calling customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for live assistance."

The status of our case hasn't changed though :/


Did you file a change of address? If not, it's probably just a clerical error.

Perhaps it's really your NOA2?

Might be time for a call.

Edited by Jim-Michelle, 26 March 2013 - 03:57 PM.

Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-26 15:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSeptember 2012 filers
Endlessly reloading the USCIS webpage has finally paid off!

On March 26, 2013, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice.

I'm so happy I'm in tears. I just can't decide if I should wake Michelle up. She just went to bed an hour ago....I'm waking her up.
Jim-MichelleMalePhilippines2013-03-26 12:24:00