ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesSt. Lukes Medical, Can you have friend go with you?
Annie was not planning on taking anyone inside, but her friend, keeps telling her she can go inside with her.

But maybe that's because her friend is close friends with a couple of the St. Lukes guards.

I guess I'll let the two Loko Girls figure this out.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-26 11:41:00
PhilippinesSt. Lukes Medical, Can you have friend go with you?
Annie's is going to St. Lukes on Tuesday and Wednesday, and is wanting to know if anyone can go with her, and enter St. Lukes.

She is staying with a cousin in Manila, and would feel much more confident if someone could go with her.

I'm sure this has been asked many times before, but my searches are not finding an answer. (Maybe I'm just a bad searcher today.)

Thank you!
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-26 10:31:00
PhilippinesWooHooo.. Yippeee.. Ann passed her Medical
Thanks for all the good wishes.

How did she know she passed? lol, I guess we just assumed that, since they gave her the X-Ray, The Vaccination Results, kept her passport, and told her "Good Luck with your interview".
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-31 06:46:00
PhilippinesWooHooo.. Yippeee.. Ann passed her Medical
Ann finished her Medical at St. Lukes and is busy celebrating at the Mall of Asia (Honey, can you give me your wallet?)

And she only threatened to kill me twice, once for the blood draw (Honey, IT HURT, I'm going to kill you.) , and once for the injections (Honey, It STILL HURTS, I'm going to kick your lubot and kill you.)

Interview coming up on September 13th.. The Excitement is really building..

Ann was able to have a cousin go into St. Lukes with her. (Her cousin is friends with an employee, who everyone was addressing as "SIR"). That made the medical much easier and enjoyable for Annie.

I want to thank everyone for the great documents about the medical. I studied them and condensed them down to 8 text message that Ann carried on her cell phone with her, to remind herself of what was next and where. (She refused to print and take the documents, I was told, that's is your responsible, I want it on my phone.)

She also took my address, phone number, etc. on her cell phone in text message so if she forgot anything, she could look quickly. Obviously that's not going to work for the Embassy. But it worked great at St. Lukes.

Edited by KansasDragon, 29 August 2007 - 07:24 AM.

KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-29 07:20:00
PhilippinesCenomar - Single Status
Ann just picked up her Cenomar from the City Office today, and they spelled her mother's last name wrong. Instead of Sere, they spelled it Zere.

How critical is that she get this corrected? If so, she's going to need to have her cousin in Manila take care of it. It took almost 3 weeks to get this one through the City Office in Mabalacat. They told her minimum 2 weeks.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-31 00:54:00
PhilippinesGetting Paranoid
Glad you received your package, FINALLY.

Just a note to anyone reading this thread..

If you're going to use USPS, use the Global Express Guaranteed option, it is more expensive, but it arrives in 3 days, hand delivered by FedEx.

USPS contracts FedEx to handle the shipping, tracking, and delivery of the Global Express Guranteed, and it is less per package than what FedEx charges. You can track your "USPS" package on FedEx's website.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-31 07:13:00
PhilippinesWhat exactly is "Delbros"?
ah, Sheriff... That explains so much..

Now I understand where all that "Hey Bro", "Wassup Bro", "Pasaload Bro".. comes from.

It's those Black Infiltrators...
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-31 06:58:00
PhilippinesWhat exactly is "Delbros"?
I keep seeing Delbros mentioned, and paying Delbros, but I have no idea what Delbros is...

I know about the St. Lukes fees, I know about paying the fees at the bank for the Embassy... but what is paying Delbros, and how much is it?

Seeing everyone talking about Delbros delivering, I'm guessing it is like the US Embassy's UPS, but not sure.

(Delbros = Delivery Brothers???, How's that for a wild guess...??)
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-09 23:16:00
PhilippinesSept 10 interviewees
Ann's Interview isn't until the 13th. But when she was in Manila for her Medical, she went to the Mall of Asia, and bought a big organizer album.

She's carefully sorted all of her papers, evidence, pictures, NBI, Cenomar, Birth Cert, DS-156, DS-156K, DS-157, Affidavit of Support, etc.. into separate portions of this organizer, so she can quickly flip to whatever they ask for and produce it.

But everyday, she still asks me, "Ok, tell me again, what do I need to have?"
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-31 06:54:00
Philippinespictures
I'm not sure how many Ann will actually take to the Embassy, I suspect she'll take her album. But I carefully selected a half dozen pictures that I sent her to take along.

Some from both of my trips to see her, in popular, easy to identify places, with many of her family members with us. I then wrote on the back of the photos, the date, where, who was with us, etc.

My primary concern was to show we had been together, that her family is very aware of our relationship, and happily approving, by use of pictures to tell the story.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-31 07:06:00
PhilippinesCheapest flights from US to Cebu?
I've used JustFares.com out of Seattle before. They beat BT-Store by about $300 last time.


1-800-766-3601, ask for Mark. He was great to work with.

I'm going to be checking with the Uncle of the Owner of the Local Philippines market in Wichita, KS soon. I've been told by the Filipina's that go to the market that he can get me the best price. I read a Yahoo Group, that is by people who moved to the Philippines, and that was a recommendation by one of them. He said "Always check at your local Philippines Market in any major USA city, they will know someone, who knows how to get the absolute lowest prices." And in my case, it's supposedly the uncle...

(Almost sounds like working in a dark alley trying to get a deal.....)

Edited by KansasDragon, 17 August 2007 - 06:58 AM.

KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-08-17 06:55:00
PhilippinesApproved (Manila!)
good.gif good.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif Congratulations kicking.gif kicking.gif good.gif good.gif

Thank you for your report, too. Any advice I can giveAnnie before the 13th is helpful. LOL, I'm one of those "inlanders" luckily Ann understands about our weater,too. Not only from me, but from a couple local Filipina, that she has been chatting with since I introduced them online months ago.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-11 07:02:00
PhilippinesMy fiancé's birthday coming up
lol, I never tried to send a card. I just always hopped over to the IslandRose website and sent Roses, and told them what to put on the card.

That way I didn't have to worry about postal, and could schedule when I wanted it delivered.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-11 07:05:00
PhilippinesVisa Approved!!
kicking.gif kicking.gif good.gif good.gif Congratulations! good.gif good.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif

That info is great to read, since Annie's interview is the 13th, makes me feel more confident we have everything in place..
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-11 06:56:00
PhilippinesApproved!!!
kicking.gif kicking.gif Congratulations!! kicking.gif kicking.gif
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-12 22:04:00
PhilippinesBig Day Tomorrow..
Tomorrow is Ann's big day for her interview. We both feel prepared, but she's still, of course, a little nervous.

Luckily she was able to get a corrected Cenomar today, since the NSO sent the first one with her mother's maiden name spelled incorrectly.

Any prayer's and good thoughts will be greatly appreciated..(Maybe that will guide her papers through the nice smiling, pre-screener and consul.)

Also, extend your thoughts and praryer's to Steve and Crezvie, their interview is tomorrow, also. Ann and Crezvie have become chat mates and text mates over the last couple weeks, and are hoping to meet at the Embassy.

I feel very excited about tomorrow, I have great confidence in our paperwork, our evidence, and especially in my Honey..

Thanks everyone, for all the great advice during this process, you have all been FANTASTIC.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-12 07:20:00
PhilippinesHurray, YIPPEEE, WOW.. Annie is APRROVED!!
I just had a short phone call with Annie after her interview, and she is approved!!!! good.gif kicking.gif

lol, she wasn't sure, but she told me the Consul told her Congratulations, and asked her how soon is she going to USA, they released her papers, and told her to go pay Delbros for her delivery. (Sounds approved to me.) kicking.gif kicking.gif

Sounds like she had a very easy interview. She had a nice lady as a Consul, who just asked her about 10 questions, mainly about our relationship, her families approval, why she loved me, etc..

The pre-screener was a little less nice, but sounds like it was pretty easy also. They asked for only a few things. They wanted of course the DS-156, DS-156K, I-134, etc..., then they wanted her NBI, NSO Birth Cert, and looked at only a few pictures.

They never asked for her Cenomar (After her rushing around trying to get it, after the name of her mother was misspelled.) They never looked at our phone records, emails, boarding passes.. (Maybe they'd already looked at the large pile of evidence I sent in the original submission.)

Ann did fantastic, especially after having her cell phone stolen from her on the bus in Manila last night.

She managed to meet Crezvie, of VisaJourney's "Steve and Crezvie" at the Embassy, so she was very happy about that.

She visited with several other Filipina's who were at the Embassy, also. So had a pretty good experience...

Then after 10 minutes on the phone, she kicked me off the phone crying.gif , and said "I'm hungry, we're going to eat, cya later" See how she is...lol (I'd be hungry too if I hadn't ate since last night, and the stress was over.)

Now we start getting the airplane tickets arranged. We're waiting a little while, since we both decided, it would be really nice for us to spend Christmas with her family, before she moves to the USA.


Thanks to all of you for your prayers, advice, and friendship.


P.S. Can anyone help pay for my new carpet.. I wore a path in it pacing tonight..
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-12 23:45:00
PhilippinesPhone Stolen, but that is the number on Visa
What kind of problems is this going to cause for us? Ann's phone was stolen from her purse while she was on a bus in Manila, for her Embassy Interview.

All the paperwork shows her phone number, which she now does not have.

Is this going to cause a problem with Delbros delivering? Or with anything else?

How can I contact Delbros or the Embassy about this?
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-16 23:21:00
PhilippinesAirline Transit through Taipei, possible overnight
I am traveling to the Philippines for Christmas, and then Annie is returning to the USA with me.

Our tickets take us into Taipei on Cebu Pacific Airlines the afternoon before our flight to the USA leaves on United Airlines.

Does anyone know what the rules or regulations are for a Filipina traveling through Taipei? I'm not sure if we are going to have to stay in the airport overnight, or whether we can leave for a Hotel for overnight.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-20 23:13:00
PhilippinesWARNING - ALERT - Lorraine at Embassy!!
When I called the Embassy to ask a question about Annie's Visa, I called the number that was provided here on VJ for Lorraine. She is a JEWEL, very sweet, very helpful, just simply FANTASTIC.

When I immediately called her by name, we had a short discussion about me knowing about her from VisaJourney, and she told me she had just talked to someone from Colorado who also mentioned VisaJourney.

She asked me for the website, because she wanted to come see...


So, we may have our Angel from the Embassy looking over our shoulders..
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-20 23:37:00
PhilippinesVisa travel question...
It's interesting that when Annie had her interview, she told the pre-screener that our plans were for me to be in the Philippines for Christmas, and then us flying back together in early January. The pre-screener said "That's long, it is not good for you to wait so long". Which of course made Ann nervous.

Her visa was signed on September 18th, and she received it on September 20th. I'm guessing that means she would technically have until March 18th to arrive in the USA.

So sometimes, it's the bad information being floated around right inside the Embassy itself.

Edited by KansasDragon, 20 September 2007 - 11:31 PM.

KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-20 23:30:00
PhilippinesBank Ignorance
They did the same thing to Annie.

If you search the forums, you'll find this is a regular thing, the banks want to use their forms. Ann went ahead and filled out by hand the form they gave her, and then took both the nicely printed ones we had filled out and the copy from the bank to her interview.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-28 06:55:00
PhilippinesBuying Tickets - One Way, Round Trip..??
Some great advice here, thank you all.

We ended up getting a round trip for me, and a one way for her. United Airlines hung on the phone with me for almost two hours working out details, and getting me the best pricing I'd received from anyone (For the Christmas Season).

Her one way ticket ended up being about $500 less than my round trip, so was good savings to stick with the one way ticket in our case.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-27 21:23:00
PhilippinesBuying Tickets - One Way, Round Trip..??
In trying to get the tickets purchased for me Round trip to Philippines, and Annie's ticket back with me, I'm finding my round trip ticket is on many quotes cheaper than her one-way ticket.

Is there any reason I can't buy two identical tickets, departing from the USA, and only have her use the return portion of the ticket?
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-17 07:10:00
Philippineshelp please
We had a similar circumstance. I just typed up a separate page, detailing the full information, that had been cut off with the +, I then signed that page, as the petitioner.

I started the page with an explanation of what form it was associated with, and the reason for the page, and also referenced each line number that the information went with.

It was accepted with no problems.

Most of the forms allow you to attach another page for more detailed information.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-28 07:01:00
PhilippinesCebu Pacific
You are correct, they do not accept USA Visa or Mastercard on the website, but they will accept it by phone. Figure out which flight you want from the website, and then call them at:

Manila Office:
Tel: +63-2-70-20-888


Cebu Office:
Tel: +63-32-230-8888

I just talked to them on the phone last night, about this exact issue.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-28 22:33:00
PhilippinesCFO, Do they close between Christmas and New Year's?
I'm going to the Philippines for Christmas and then we are returning together.

I arrive in the Philippines on December 21st, and we head back to the USA on January 7th.

Somewhere in that time window, we need to squeeze in the CFO Seminar. Does anyone know if there are any closings during that time?

Thanks,

Barry
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-02 07:10:00
Philippinesmarriage in the USA
Thank you for the link, that will come in very handy in the future. That's not an issue I'd even considered.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-03 17:26:00
PhilippinesWelcome to the United States
kicking.gif good.gif Congratulations good.gif kicking.gif

lol, I think the girls are so hungry after the interview, because too nervous to eat before the interview. Annie did almost the identical thing to me. I received a 3 minute phone call, and then "Honey, I'm hungry, we need to eat."
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-02 07:07:00
PhilippinesMy Interview Experience
Congratulations on your successful interview. Sounds like you were very well prepared. I love the parts about your child. Best wishes on your travel, and Welcome to the USA.

Thank you for sharing your experience.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-04 16:55:00
Philippines4 days till the wedding
Wow! What a cool place to get married. That will create great memories for your long and happy lives together.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-02 06:51:00
PhilippinesPoint of Entry - Changed since interview..
On Ann's paperwork for the interview, we listed Minneapolis at the POE, since that's where I've always traveled through with Northwest. But of course we did not purchase tickets prior to the interview.

Our tickets are now on United Airlines, and we are entering the USA through Seattle.

Do I need to contact the USCIS or Manila Embassy about this change?
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-02 07:14:00
PhilippinesHow long after Visa approval can you wait before entering USA?
Ann received her Visa approval on September 18th. We have planned that I go and visit her family for Christmas and that we return together.

All of her friends and cousins keep telling her "Visa is only good for 3 months, you can't wait for Christmas".

So, what is the official time you have before the visa expires for entry to the USA?
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-27 07:11:00
PhilippinesFinally!!!! WE HAVE APPROVAL!!
kicking.gif kicking.gif good.gif good.gif That is Fantastic News!! Congratulations!! good.gif good.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif

Have a Fabulous Trip to the USA, Crezvie!!

KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-05 00:10:00
PhilippinesVISA approved and she is HERE!!!!!
good.gif kicking.gif Congratulations!! kicking.gif good.gif

btw, Very nice Video..
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-14 08:05:00
PhilippinesCFO Seminar - What do I do?
lol, I told Ann if no waiting area, then I chase the girls..

We're going to just play it by ear. I've already been informed that we MUST go to the Mall after success. So I think the movie is later..

thanks for the ideas. I like the Internet Cafe Idea.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-15 15:03:00
PhilippinesCFO Seminar - What do I do?
Ann is waiting to attend the CFO Seminar until I arrive in the Philippines.

After reading Deputy's guide, I understand that I will not be allowed to attend the seminar with her. Is there a waiting area? Or is there somewhere else that I can wait while she takes the seminar? She will attend the seminar in Manila.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-14 08:41:00
PhilippinesDriving experience
devil.gif innocent.gif What part of Illinois? Want to make sure I avoid driving there for a while. Joking!! innocent.gif devil.gif

Congratulations on your success! Have fun driving!

KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-04 16:44:00
PhilippinesDriving experience
lol, I'm looking forward to teaching Annie how to drive. It should be fun.

Luckily, being in Kansas, I can find her lots of good wide open spaces to start learning in, and the start with easy traffic, and then get into heavier traffic later.

Good luck to both of you, Hope you have great success on your tests.
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-09-27 21:20:00
PhilippinesI'm new here
Welcome to VJ, and best wishes for a smooth journey..

You've found the greatest resource available for your journey. I've talked to several people who have used attorneys for the process, and I've discovered, that by doing the paper work and the processes yourself, not only do you save a lot of money, but you also understand what is going on, you prepare better, you're not nearly as nervous, because you have the great support of the VJ Family.

This site and it's members are absolutely FANTASTIC!
KansasDragonMalePhilippines2007-10-14 08:21:00