ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Philippineswhat??!!! i129F copy?
It's a good idea to provide your fiancee with a complete copy of your I-129F filing. In our case, I made a second visit to Manila after the petition was approved so we would have additional evidence of relationship that she could submit at the interview.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-08 09:17:00
PhilippinesReport of Birth to Consulate
Actually we don't need to have someone in the Philippines order the birth record. They can be ordered online at:

https://www.ecensus....re/frmIndex.asp


jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-09 10:19:00
PhilippinesReport of Birth to Consulate
bump
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-09 09:03:00
PhilippinesReport of Birth to Consulate
My wife and I just sent a report of birth for our son to the consulate in San Francisco. I know they'll send us a copy of the completed report back, but will we eventually be sent an NSO birth record as well? Or is that something we will have to order separately?
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-08 21:29:00
PhilippinesWhen my wife becomes a US Citizen...
QUOTE (bluemist @ Jun 9 2009, 12:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi,I have a friend who gave birth here in the US and they reported their daughter's birth to Phil.Consulate.As the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines said to me and to her.As long that you reported the child's birth before the Filipino citizen parent get his/her US Citizensip,the child will be dual-citizenship and it will retain even the Philippine Citizen parent become a US Citizen.Bureau of Immigration said that once the child born to one Philippine citizen parent,the child is automatically dual-citizen.

So my daughter's friend who was born here in the US is already a dual citizen.(US and Philippines).While my daughter born in the Philippines and she had her CRBA at US Embassy,all I need to do is get her a Philippine passport and that's makes her dual-citizen.That's the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines told me before we left.


Thanks for sharing this. I appreciate it.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-09 08:34:00
PhilippinesWhen my wife becomes a US Citizen...
When you naturalize, you give up your claim to citizenship to your former country, so abby n sheryl is correct on that point. However, some countries, like the Philippines, allow you to petition to retain citizenship there after becoming a US citizen.

The situation I describe in my original post is different. My son is a natural born citizen of the US (because he was born here) and of the Philippines (because his mother was a Filipino at the time of his birth). My assumption is that his mother's decision to become a US citizen does not affect his dual citizen status, but I was seeking clarification because he is a child.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-08 23:26:00
PhilippinesWhen my wife becomes a US Citizen...
My wife and I filed a report of birth for our son born here in the US. When she becomes a US Citizen, will he retain his Filipino citizenship or would she have to petition for dual citizenship and list him as a derivitive beneficiary?
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-08 22:08:00
PhilippinesUnemployment Benefits
I was just on unemployment for four months and a half months, so I'm pretty familiar with it. Unemployment is generally considered insurance and is not considered welfare. However, it is a state administered program, so the rules may vary somewhat from state to state. Recipients are actually taxed on their UI benefits. So, I don't think she has anything to worry about provided she disclosed her permanent resident status (if asked to do so) on her UI application.

However, if she applies for public assistance programs like food stamps or TANF, it might cause the authorities to go after her sponsor for failing to abide by the terms of the Affidavit of Support.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-09 16:39:00
PhilippinesImmigration counceling??
The CFO seminar is the one where they'll tell your wife where to get help if you ever try to beat the ####### out of her after she gets to the US. smile.gif Or at least that's how my wife portrayed it to me when she took it.

Edited by jsnearline, 11 June 2009 - 07:42 PM.

jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-11 19:41:00
PhilippinesThat was fast
Yes we can. However, we'll have to plan a trip to San Francisco to do it. Not that I would mind a trip to San Francisco...
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-11 22:36:00
PhilippinesThat was fast
Well I must say the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco is quite efficient. We sent my son's Report of Birth to them via Priority Mail on Saturday and we received our copy and our original documents back today. They processed it the same day they received it.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-11 15:19:00
PhilippinesTragic Story of Thomas Hunt and Filipina Wife
Well, as other posters have said, the young lady in question is welcome to post her side of the story on here anytime.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-20 16:18:00
PhilippinesTragic Story of Thomas Hunt and Filipina Wife
If the accounts are correct, then I think the girl is a real lowlife, but what was Mr. Hunt expecting when he decided to marry someone at least half his age who's family was asking him for money before she even came to the US?

I know I may get flamed for saying this, but I'm surprised that big age differences don't raise more red flags at the interview stage. I'm not saying that all K1 applicants with such a big age gap should be denied, but the embassy should take a close look at those cases, particularly when the beneficiary comes from a relatively poor country and has a big incentive to get to the US to improve their economic conditions. For starters, they could require the petitioner to attend the K1 interview so they could interview the couple before deciding whether to grant the visa.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-18 21:28:00
PhilippinesTragic Story of Thomas Hunt and Filipina Wife
So is the USCIS investigating this girl?
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-18 18:26:00
PhilippinesFlights to philippines
QUOTE (DEDixon @ Jun 17 2009, 04:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
www.walmart.com


Walmart doesn't seem to be offering travel services anymore. This is the message they have on their site:

QUOTE
Attention Walmart.com Travel Customers

Walmart.com is no longer offering customers the ability to book travel reservations online.

For questions regarding existing cruise or vacation package reservations, please contact Vacation Outlet directly at 1-800-333-3870.

For questions regarding existing airline, hotel or car rental reservations, please contact OneTravel.com directly at 1-800-291-9647.

For any additional travel needs, visit Sam's Club Travel at http://travel.samsclub.com/ or contact Sam's Club Travel directly at 1-800-955-7267.

Edited by jsnearline, 17 June 2009 - 07:24 PM.

jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-06-17 19:23:00
PhilippinesPhilippine passport for baby
I'm still trying to find out whether we can submit my son's passport application by mail or if we have to appear at the consulate in person. Anyone know the answer?
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-20 15:18:00
PhilippinesPhilippine passport for baby
From what I've been reading on the embassy and consultate sites, it's confusing whether or not I can mail in the passport application with the Report of Birth. Some places on the websites indicate that the parent has to bring the child to the consulate. Others say that a minor child does not need to be personally presented if they are under 8 years of age.

Has anyone applied for a new machine readable passport for their baby while here in the US? If so, can you advise whether you were able to do so by mail or if you had to go to the consulate or embassy?

Edited by jsnearline, 15 May 2009 - 10:46 PM.

jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-15 22:46:00
PhilippinesPhilippine passport for baby
Also, it is unclear from the instructions whether we need to send my wife's origiinal passport with the application and report of birth or if we can send a notarized photocopy of the data page.

Also, where would we go to get a passport photo taken with a royal blue background per the form instructions? Passport photos taken here usually have a white background.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-15 17:30:00
PhilippinesPhilippine passport for baby
It appears from the instructions that we can apply for my 16 month old son's passport via mail to the consulate in San Francisco by submitting the application along with the Report of Birth and required supporting documents. Is this right or do we have to file Report of Birth first and then wait until they approve it before we can apply for his passport?
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-15 16:53:00
PhilippinesRenewal of Philippines Passport under marriage name
Keep in mind that for renewals you have to personally appear at the embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your state. So why not wait until you get there and ask the embassy or consulate if they have a photo service you can pay for.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-17 21:50:00
PhilippinesRenewal of Philippines Passport under marriage name
A green card isn't required to file report of marriage and get passport amended or renewed. My wife and I reported the marriage before we filed for AOS.

If your wife doesn't change the name on her passport and you book the ticket in the maiden name, then she'll have problems when you come back to the US because the name on her green card won't match the one on her passport.

jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-14 10:01:00
PhilippinesRenewal of Philippines Passport under marriage name
I found these on the Embassy website...

Report of Marriage (the instructions are on page 2):
http://www.philippin...loads/ROMDC.pdf

Passport Application (see instructions on pages 3 - 4)
http://www.philippin...DC21Oct2008.pdf

The amendment is cheaper, $20 vs. $50 for the passport (that's why the suggest it), but I think it's worth paying the $30 extra to get the new passport.

Edited by jsnearline, 14 May 2009 - 09:23 AM.

jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-14 09:21:00
PhilippinesRenewal of Philippines Passport under marriage name
File the report of marriage and then apply for a passport renewal under your married name. Don't get the amendment. My wife got her passport amended at the embassy in DC and has had nothing but trouble with it. Even Philippine Immigration gives her dirty looks when we go back to Manila for visits. She was almost denied boarding on a flight from Denver to Vancouver because the airline personnel said her boarding pass had to match the name on the ID page of the passport regardless of what the handwritten amendment said )we had to get a supervisor involved for her to fly. The Italian embassy insisted on issuing her a visa in her maiden name because they would not accept the amendment either.

So, save yourself the trouble and get a new passport once you've reported the marriage. Don't bother with the amendment.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-05-13 13:44:00
PhilippinesRequesting interview date for non-immigrant visa
Thanks very much for the info.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-07-11 21:15:00
PhilippinesRequesting interview date for non-immigrant visa
Is it possible to schedule a non-immigrant visa interview at the US Embassy in Manila for a specific date or do you just have to take whatever date they give you? I'd like to arrange for my mother-in-law to have an interview while my wife and I are in Manila visiting and I'm wondering if it's possible to do?
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-07-09 23:08:00
PhilippinesDoes my son need a Philippine Passport?
I suppose it would only be an issue if we listed him as Filipino on his landing card but he didn't have a Philippine passport to prove it. If we identify him as American, I would assume he'd be fine.

Thanks for the feedback.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-08-07 15:29:00
PhilippinesDoes my son need a Philippine Passport?
This is what made me ask the question. It's from the San Francisco Consulate's website (I've bolded some sections for emphasis):

QUOTE
13 What documents shall be presented by a dual or multiple citizen upon arrival in the Philippines?

Filipinos with dual or multiple citizenships are advised to present both their Philippine and foreign passports. Arrival details shall be stamped on both.

In case only a foreign passport is presented, the traveler may still be admitted into the Philippines for an indefinite period of stay, provided he presents a valid Identification Certificate.

On the foreign passport, the immigration officer shall stamp either of the following, whichever is applicable:

“PP” – if a Philippine passport is also presented, or
“IC” – if an Identification Certificate is presented.

14 What documents shall be presented by a dual or multiple citizen upon departure from the Philippines?

Again, Filipinos with dual or multiple citizenships are advised to present both their Philippine and foreign passports in order to avoid paying the Emigration Certificate Clearance (ECC) fee. This is also to ensure that all arrival and departure records are reflected completely on both passports. Those who had presented only a foreign passport at the time of their admission into the Philippines may be cleared for departure without need of surrendering a certificate, permit or proof of payment of imposable immigration fees, provided they present, at the time of departure, a genuine and valid Philippine passport or an Identification Certificate.

On the foreign passport, the immigration officer shall stamp either of the following, whichever is applicable:

“PP” – if a Philippine passport is also presented, or
“IC” – if an Identification Certificate is presented.

If the traveler fails to present both his Philippine passport or Identification Certificate, at both arrival and departure, he shall be assessed an Emigration Certificate of Clearance (ECC) fee of P710.00 for using a foreign passport upon departure.

http://www.philippin...zenship_faq.htm


Can we obtain an Identification Certificate for our son from the Consulate and use that with his US passport?

Edited by jsnearline, 07 August 2009 - 12:27 AM.

jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-08-07 00:24:00
PhilippinesDoes my son need a Philippine Passport?
We recently reported our son's birth to the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco. He has dual (American/Philippine) citizenship.

Are we required to obtain a Philippine passport for him before we go back to Manila again or can he enter on his uS passport? I'm a US citizen and my wife will be three weeks from tomorrow. It would be a real pain and expense to have to fly to San Francisco to apply for a passport for him that he would only use a couple times over a five year validity period. Keeping a US passport current for him is expensive enough, but at least for that, we can just go to the local post office every five years.

Any thoughts?
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-08-06 17:22:00
PhilippinesNaty is in the air and on her way
If she's anything like my wife (then fiancee) was, she'll be very tired after such a long flight and all she's going to want to do is spend time with you, eat some decent food, and get some rest.

I went alone, but I made the mistake of taking my then fiancee to a family New Year's party two days after she got here. I felt so bad for her because my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins kept grilling her about everything because they wanted to get to know her a bit, and all she wanted to do was sleep. It didn't help that the heat in my aunt and uncle's house went out during the visit.

My advice... Go alone. Save introducing your friends to her for a time when she's gotten over her jetlag a bit. That way, she won't have to deal with overcoming any shyness along with jellagged at the same time.

You'll have plenty of time for photos of the two of you once she feels human again.

Edited by jsnearline, 10 August 2009 - 09:12 PM.

jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-08-10 21:10:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport book waiting time
I have to say our mail carrier is superb. I told him yesterday that we had been expecting my wife's naturalization certificate back but it wasn't in yesterday's mail. Today, there was a knock on our front door about 11 AM. It was our mail carrier, hand delivering my wife's certificate. He told us he was worried it would have gotten bent had he just put it in our mailbox, so he figured he might as well deliver it in person. How cool is that?
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-09-26 23:54:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport book waiting time
Thanks KikiDoug.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-09-26 15:49:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport book waiting time
Can someone update the list with my wife's information?

Username: jsnearline
Location: Denver, CO
Application: Sept 4, 2009
Passport Back: Sept 24, 2009
Certificate Back: Sept 26, 2009
Service: Routine

Thanks
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-09-26 14:58:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport book waiting time
I must say I find it rather ironic that the passport we paid $100 for arrives back by Priority Mail, while the naturalization certificate that we spent $675 to get is returned by regular First Class Mail.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-09-24 20:59:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport book waiting time
We just got an email tonight that my wife's passport was approved and mailed today. Not bad, considering we submitted the application on September 4th requesting routine service and the 7th was Labor Day. The system says she should have it by the 28th.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-09-22 22:49:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionPassport book waiting time
QUOTE (jeangab75 @ Sep 21 2009, 09:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
HORRIBLE PASSPORT PICTURE though.


It's supposed to be a horrible picture. It's a passport photo. smile.gif You should see the picture from my expired passport. My hair is standing up straight like a rock star and I have this goofy grin on my face. I'm surprised I didn't end up on a watch list just because of my photo.

You could have done what my wife did. She had three sets taken before she got a photo she liked well enough to submit.

Edited by jsnearline, 21 September 2009 - 04:32 PM.

jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-09-21 16:32:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionCan US citizens use a foreign passport to travel?
If you try to enter the US on a foreign passport and they discover you are a US citizen, you can face a steep fine at the minimum. A friend of mine's daughter made this mistake using her UK passport to enter the US and she was fined because she wasn't carrying her US passport.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-07-02 22:25:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionNewark, NJ Office - Oath
My understanding is that name changes cannot be done same day because a federal court must first approve the name change.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-07-08 12:18:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSpeeding Ticket and Naturalization
In my response above I was not specifically referring to question 15. I was referring to those situations where people know they have citations for speeding but choose not to disclose them at all on the form. It seems to me that reasonable people can disagree about how to answer question 15 if 16 is marked "yes", but a complete failure to disclose an incident involving a citation on the application, even a minor one, CAN result in a denial.
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-04-21 16:43:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSpeeding Ticket and Naturalization
Regardless of whether speeding is considered a federal offense, failing to disclose it on your application can result in having your application denied for a lack of good moral character. I really don't see what the downside is about being honest, but I sure see a lot of potential downsides to failing to disclose information that USCIS deems relevant.

The simplest solution is to avoid speeding in the first place. If my wife hadn't been speeding on her way to work, we wouldn't even be worried about this at all, and our car insurance rate would be half what it is now.


jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-04-21 14:30:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionSpeeding Ticket and Naturalization
The horse is DEAD people!!! smile.gif
jsnearlineNot TellingPhilippines2009-04-21 10:22:00