biggish data

US and PH name change discrepancy

Hi,

I just had my PH passport renewed, and the PH consul told me that they will move my old surname as my new middle name since it's the law in the Philippines. Problem is, when I got married, I just replaced my surname with my new surname and kept the old middle name.

I wanted to keep everything consistent but I wasn't aware that it was a law to move surname to middle name when you get married.

Is this going to be a problem as identification (esp in the US) in the future? Anyone who experienced the same thing?

Thanks.

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2010-02-20 12:04:00

visitor visa

I hope I am in the right forum... :blink:

I am in "pending AOS" status right now, and my family (mom, dad, sister) is planning to visit me here because they weren't able to attend my actual wedding (the wedding was a small and unrehearsed one) so when they get here we plan to have a small reception with my husband's family so they can at least be part of the celebration. They have never ever gone to the US (except my dad when he was very young), and since they really are not too internet-savvy, they are having a hard time to figure out where to start. I am getting confused too, since I came here thru an L1 work visa and never expected to get married, and now in the midst of the AOS filing (waiting for biometrics) - I have no experience whatsoever in getting US tourist visa.

I want to get things started for them, however I am somewhat concerned about the paperwork and evidence to present. I don't want them to present too much stuff to make the USEmb think twice. I have some questions in my mind right now:

1) I am now in "pending AOS" status and although my I-94 is still valid till 2011, I have quit my job under L1 and now just waiting for AOS results. Should I file for an affidavit of support or something on behalf of them or is it okay for them to handle all expenses etc without paperwork from me saying I will support them while they're here, blahblah...?

2) My parents are retired but they can present the title of our Manila residence and other properties, and my sister has a job in PH and can present evidence that she will return, so everything should be fine from their end. I have pictures of my wedding that I could send them too. I just want to know what sort of stuff is good evidence and what sort are not. I have been into a USEmb interview (it's going to be freaky for them) so I just want to know how much is too much for evidence?

Hope someone could help a bit about my qualms... I so want to see them visit me here and show them my new life - to give them some peace of mind that I am doing all right here... :help:

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2010-03-30 22:47:00

HAHA! Stupid me. :bonk:

I meant I am pretty sure we'll keep the meds in carry-on. It was a mistype.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Why, after all the advice and experiences that you have asked for, would you do that?

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2012-01-26 11:11:00

Sorry I posted the topics twice. Thank you for your responses!

I'm pretty sure we'll keep the meds in checked bags.

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2012-01-03 20:47:00

My USC husband has some prescription meds that he needs to bring for his clinical anxiety, plus travel meds (he consulted a travel clinic and they prescribed him some stuff just in case he contracts an illness in PH since it's his first time to go there). We are flying to the Philippines next month, and because it's a 17-19 hour flight, psychologist provided him the meds he needed to cope with his anxiety. He has a variety of meds, all with the dosage and prescription info on each bottle of pills.

I am a PH citizen, and while I never really carry that much meds, will my husband be given a hard time going through customs with his prescribed medications? Besides the pretty detailed label stuck on the pills, will we need to bring anything else?

I definitely don't want customs confiscating his anxiety meds, he really needs it -- but given the fact that some people can't understand medically diagnosed anxiety, I am a bit concerned.

Any thoughts?

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2012-01-03 13:49:00

My USC husband has some prescription meds that he needs to bring for his clinical anxiety, plus travel meds (he consulted a travel clinic and they prescribed him some stuff just in case he contracts an illness in PH since it's his first time to go there). We are flying to the Philippines next month, and because it's a 17-19 hour flight, psychologist provided him the meds he needed to cope with his anxiety. He has a variety of meds, all with the dosage and prescription info on each bottle of pills.

I am a PH citizen, and while I never really carry that much meds, will my husband be given a hard time going through customs with his prescribed medications? Besides the pretty detailed label stuck on the pills, will we need to bring anything else?

I definitely don't want customs confiscating his anxiety meds, he really needs it -- but given the fact that some people can't understand medically diagnosed anxiety, I am a bit concerned.

Any thoughts?

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2012-01-03 13:37:00

Delta Airlines, the fastest flight -- US to Tokyo to Manila (and vice versa).

Which airline and route did you take?

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2012-02-29 19:00:00

Well, just came back from my trip. All I needed to present was the green card and PH passport on the entire trip. Just make sure the ticket is named after the name on the passport. Then make sure all the stamps are in there from immigration -- both arrival and departure.

Terminal fee as of when we departed was Php550/pax (I think it varies by exchange rate, so it's about US$13+). I went straight to the little booth out front for the Php200 travel tax waiver. Then straight to check-in line, then terminal fee line.

We were lucky we didn't need to pay any overweight baggage fees. Domestic flights though (e.g. Cebu Pacific), are pretty weird in terms of carry-on items, as they assess it by weight PLUS size. So a small carry-on that can actually fit on the overhead bins may possibly need to be checked in.

:ot:

Return trip was hell. There was a long line in NAIA due to a similar flight being canceled the day before, and the airline looked like this never happened in all their lives. :wacko:

We waited for at least 2 hours just to get checked in (we were still in line during the set boarding time). Needless to say, the flight was delayed.

And we had to go through 3 bag/body scans through the airport, which I don't remember doing before. It drove us nuts. :bonk:

I laughed and said "It's more fun in the Philippines!"

We enjoyed the trip, though. The airport experience? Not so much.

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2012-02-28 11:32:00

Thanks for the responses! Does my USC husband need to pay any airport fees, too?

Wow. I would think after years NAIA would've improved their process. I guess I hoped for too much.

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2012-01-26 11:05:00

Thanks, we didn't know that! Just booked the flight, excited and anxious!

Your husband is entitled to a balikbayan visa which will be stamped on his passport, no fee to avail it because he is married to a Filipina which is valid for 1 year stay. You might want to bring a copy of your marriage certificate in case you need it. Just ask the immigration officer about it before they stamped your husband's and your passport. We also just got back from the Philippines a month ago and my US citizen husband and 2-year old US citizen son have them in their passports. We stayed there for 30 days.

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2011-12-16 22:37:00

God, I was too busy to before I had the time to check back in here. Thank you -- this is good info. Me and my US husband are planning to visit the PH this coming Feb 2012. Having grown up in the PH, I know nothing's free, but at least I won't ignorantly walk straight to the plane assuming I don't need anything else.

Oh yeah -- and that's assuming I don't need to bring anything besides the ticket, passport and GC when departing the US, right?

Since you seem to have the same scenario as I am, did you need to bring anything upon departure to PH and back (as a US citizen)? We are staying at most 2 weeks only (I know there's a 21-day limit before you have to go to US Emb and file some papers).

It sounds stupid but I know there shouldn't be anything required for him, but I wanted to make sure that we both have the necessary docs (if any) prepared before we fly. I am what you call "sigurista" (ask your wife

My wife (PI citizen; US Green Card holder) and I just returned from the Philippines this past Saturday. Her PI passport and US Green Card were the only documentation she needed upon return to the US. One clarification from the previous post. It is correct that you must go to the desk in NAIA to get the travel tax exemption, but it is not free. For PI citizens who do not resided in the PI (e.g. US Green Card holders) you have to pay a 200 piso fee. Just show them your Green Card and you will be good to go upon checking in. It was my wife's first return trip in two years. She stayed for 6 weeks.

Safe travels.

kittens_0117

Female

Philippines

2011-12-15 20:23:00