ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesMagic Jack
OH WOW its cheaper than Vonage. We have to pay $239.99 for their Annual Residential Premium Unlimited Plan. Before that it was $24.99 per month. THIS is just $19.95 per month. blink.gif wow.gif

Its the same concept, you need a broadband connection, unlimited calls to US/Canada and you can pick any US area code. Except the voice gateway is a LOT smaller and you connect it to the computer's usb port.

Vonage's voice gateway is connected directly to the modem (thru ethernet ports). Both the computer (ethernet port) and phone (RJ11) are both plugged in to the voice gateway.

Whaaaaa i am amazed! Im going to get that for my family when i move to TX. I thought of leaving the Vonage voice gateway but they dont know how to configure it or set it up *scratches her head*.

Oh sorry.... im rambling hehe. This excite me! Its a must buy! (Parang ahente ako no hahaha)

For comparison: Magic Jack - http://www.magicjack.com/1/index.asp
Vonage - http://www.vonage.com/

For those who doesnt know: THESE are PHONES that uses broadband (cable or DSL) internet connection instead of a regular phone line.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-16 18:42:00
PhilippinesSt. lukes med exam denied :(
I know it may be difficult for you to understand. But know this, your fiance NEEDS you right now. You have to stay strong for her. She needs to know that you will wait for her.... no matter long it'll take.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-11-12 13:54:00
PhilippinesHELLO MGA GWAPA NGA BISAYA DIRI
Ako, bisaya ko. smile.gif
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-30 09:28:00
Philippines40 Good Reasons to be Pinoy™
So true. wink.gif

At huwag mong kalimutan ang ating mga "nguso". We dont point with our finger, we just press our lips together (nguso) and point with it. Hehe

Edited by PingLocalHostess, 01 October 2008 - 02:45 PM.

PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-01 14:43:00
PhilippinesHow can I bring my wedding gown safely on my trip to US?
It varies which airlines, usually you are allowed to have 2 checked luggage (up to 50 lbs, no charge but shouldnt exceed 70 pounds) for couch. You can prolly put the gown in one bag and put fragile outside. Then you can just put the rest of your stuff on the 2nd luggage and your carry on.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-09-29 04:40:00
PhilippinesHow can I bring my wedding gown safely on my trip to US?
Carry-on. smile.gif
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-09-29 04:02:00
PhilippinesSending Jewlery to Philippines

Thank you all so very much. I think I can work with that.


Sometimes the postal office/customs will check on your package and see if there is any valuable like jewelry. I, myself encounter such, good thing they were just a gift for Christmas like stuffed toys and some other goodies and even the customs asked me what is in there, and they checked on the declaration coz they were wondering why is it too big. I knew a friend who asked her brother to buy her a jewelry abroad and they declare it as a gift and when she is about to get it from the postal office, the custom asked her to pay additional 2KPHP++ for tax (because they opened it and saw a jewelry) and my friend said no to just return it to the sender.. after less than a mo. they asked her to come and get it... You may want to send it to a reliable courier like FedEx, she'll get it in her doorstep.
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2007-05-25 10:31:00
PhilippinesAge difference between Filipinas and americans (Poll)
Jade - 24 (filipina)
Jerry - 26 (USC)

Age diff. - 2 yrs and 3 mos.
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2007-05-22 23:13:00
Philippines4 months baby travelling outside the US
there is no required vaccination, i think current naman ang vaccine ni baby? nobody checks naman about baby/kids vaccine when traveling... all you need is a passport for the baby to travel
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2010-05-27 23:01:00
PhilippinesAdoption of K-2
we went through the process of adoption over a year ago, my son was k2.. me and my son were both conditional permanent residence when we did that, took us 3 mos... my son became US citizen (before me) after the adoption as we received a US birth certificate and were able to file for a US passport... and i am now awaiting for my 10 yrs gc...
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2010-06-13 01:54:00
PhilippinesChanging K2 Child Last Name
i believe it is only thru adoption that you can change your your stepdaughter's last name to yours.. or anyone correct me if i am wrong.. my son was adopted by my husband and his last name was changed to his after the adoption... they gave us a new US BC stating that my husband as his father and such... so i am not sure if there's anyway around changing your stepdaughter's last name to yours w/o adoption..
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2010-06-22 14:15:00
PhilippinesHow much PHP and $$$ to bring=),
if you are leaving the philippines with k1 visa you arent exempted to travel tax but your daughter is since she is a US citizen... also you both have to pay P750/each for terminal fee.. i left the philippines in 2007 with k1 visa and i had to pay travel tax.. 2 yrs later i went home for a vacation, they didnt ask me to pay travel tax since i am a GC holder, i was only asked to pay 200 pesos for travel tax exemption certificate or something like that which i thought i had to pay the full amount of P1620....
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2010-07-13 15:09:00
PhilippinesChanging my lastname in my passport
You need to file a report of marriage, if you are near your consulate, you can just go there and file it and have your passport amended or if its due for renewal then you can jst renew it with your married name... If you live far from your consulate, you could wait until they do their outreach. In my case, since i am from Texas, missed the outreach and had a planned vacation to the Philippines last year, i filed for report of marriage over the mail 3 mos. before the vacation to Philippine consulate in Los Angeles California, when we got to Manila, NSO already have the record and i was able to secure authenticated Marriage cert and got the same exact copy of report of marriage that i filled out in NSO paper, then i renewed my passport in DFA manila with my married name, no hassle.

It doesnt matter if you still have your maiden name on your passport, just bring a copy of your Marriage cert or better a certified true copy. and also USE the name on your passport for your ticket as airlines check passport and ticket and not your green card, so if it still have your maiden name, use it.

Here is the site for list of consulate here in the US and their jurisdiction, just check which consulate you have to go to and you can get the info and forms you gonna need.. http://www.philippin...ulatesinUSA.htm

@rlogan, Passport renewal cant be done via mail anymore, you need to go to the consulate or wait for the outreach since they need fingerprints taken and e-sign.

Hope it helps. :D

Edited by jj1028, 16 July 2010 - 01:52 PM.

jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2010-07-16 13:50:00
PhilippinesI need some advice please
as per above's response, pwede naman mag file sya ng divorce dito sa US kahit sa Pilipinas kinasal, mas mabilis as far as i know... i have a friend, yung hubby nya na pinoy got married sa Pinas din prior to her but the marriage didnt work out... The hubby filed a divorce dito sa US... in order for her to petition you for a fiance visa, dapat pareho kayong free to marry..
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2010-07-25 22:50:00
PhilippinesQuestion on Manila airport fees
No she doesnt have to pay the travel tax, she only have to pay 100PHP or 200PHP for travel tax exemption certificate if she have her green card with her.. I flew to Manila in Nov 09 and only paid the travel tax exemption certificate going back to the US (sorry i cant rem if it was P100 or P200) and also the P750 airport fee. My son (USC) only paid P750 for airport fee
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2010-08-22 08:41:00
PhilippinesWhich city and state are you?
add me up!!

San Antonio, Texas

nobody from SA here? or Texas? waaaaaah c'mon i know meron...

Edited by jj1028, 08 June 2008 - 07:02 AM.

jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2008-06-08 06:58:00
PhilippinesAsiana Airlines
hi, we flew asiana twice roundtrip, LAX-INCHEON-MNL and back in 2009 and 2010... they are ok, great service, good food, very nice cabin crew team.. i will fly with them again. oh, we rode an older aircraft from SEOUL-LAX recently but its not too bad... it doesnt change my mind flying with them again :) and i like Incheon airport :)
jj1028Not TellingPhilippines2011-01-23 11:34:00
PhilippinesXoom money transfer
QUOTE (tallcoolone @ Apr 30 2008, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (fitzee21 @ Apr 30 2008, 09:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've used XOOM at least 50 times and maybe 2 times have had to wait more than 1 day (5 days only twice from what I can remember). Usually, the money is ready in 20-30 minutes.
If you use Paypal or your credit card as your method of payment, it will always be deducted within 30 minutes.


50 times you have sent money.

How many oil wells you have in your backyard?

LOL, well I do live in Texas! wink.gif
fitzee21MalePhilippines2008-05-01 21:02:00
PhilippinesXoom money transfer
I've used XOOM at least 50 times and maybe 2 times have had to wait more than 1 day (5 days only twice from what I can remember). Usually, the money is ready in 20-30 minutes.
If you use Paypal or your credit card as your method of payment, it will always be deducted within 30 minutes.
fitzee21MalePhilippines2008-04-30 21:53:00
Philippineswhere did you met your wife/husband/fiancee
My fiancee is the niece of my stepmother. I was introduced with a small letter and photo, I replied, she didn't sad.gif So my stepmother arranged a phone call and after that, we began e-mailing and having regular chat sessions and once-a-week phone calls biggrin.gif
fitzee21MalePhilippines2008-06-19 13:02:00
PhilippinesPhilippines has no identity.
The culture makes no sense.....China, Korea, Japan own the philippines.

Gloria Arroyo threw everyone in debt and stole money into her bank.

Corrupt leader.

Teenagers marrying 60+ american white men.

Gays acting like trans.

Trans acting like gays.

everyone wants to sing.....

stupid show for getting stuff.....the Hipp hipp horray game.....the stupid host.

arrrggg your country is worthless....
Crunchy RollNot TellingPhilippines2008-11-23 17:34:00
Philippinesfiancée engagement ring
thanks everyone :)
paulAndMichelleMalePhilippines2010-10-01 16:22:00
Philippinesfiancée engagement ring
I'm not sure if there is where I would ask this question. I bought my fiancée a engagement/wedding band ring in the US. I'm planning on taking it with me on my trip to see her in the Philippines. Will I have to pay for taking it to the Philippines?
paulAndMichelleMalePhilippines2010-10-01 14:12:00
PhilippinesThe Truth of the Matter,at the NVC,USEM,DELBROS,NSO
That is true though. Its USEM to delbros to NSO for documents verification every monday. Then NSO to USEM (they pickup the results themselves) every friday.

This is according to the staff (who was very helpful) whom we talked to under immigration visa department at USEM last tuesday.

Hmm... one thing though, if your results are done on tuesday... it has to wait till friday. *sigh*
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-09-25 13:26:00
PhilippinesGROUP LETTER TO THE I. G.
John,

I would like to join in BUT.... im not a US citizen. As far as the US embassy is concerned, non-US citizens has no say in this. They made that pretty clear in USEM. Thats probably why its so easy for them to tell us to wait (forever) and then just send us off everytime we inquire about our visas.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-04 00:49:00
PhilippinesUPDATE ON OUR VISA
good.gif
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-14 03:36:00
PhilippinesVisa Development
Kulam? laughing.gif
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-14 03:43:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
good.gif boyceedith
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-14 23:29:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
The amount of time spent on waiting is torture. Its beyond our control. :/
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-10 05:15:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
Same case with mine. DV is done and CO has reviewed it but it hasnt been approved yet. Call next week for updates.

I still dont know if thats good news or not.

My DV took 5 weeks.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-10 02:39:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
Me... me... me. But im expensive though. Hehehe
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-09 03:42:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
Again i will ask, Why are we being punished for their mistakes? They cant blame applicants for their backlogs. It is their issue, not ours. Why, we submitted our documents on the right time (effing DV!). So its like, its okay if THEY are late and slow? And instead of apologizing when we call and inquire, they get irritated and upset. The nerve! Mahfah! girlwerewolf2xn.gif

*think think think happy thoughts* dry.gif
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-09 02:10:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
I will call them whenever i wanna call them. Nobody can tell me when i should or should not call. Its my effing prerogative!
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-08 00:16:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
QUOTE (Filiricans @ Oct 7 2008, 11:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello 'dith, haba na ng thread na ito 'ALL WAITING FOR VISA' my God what happened to USEM? ARE these people normal or whole bunch of stupids working overthere. I know when the visa comes the wait is all paid off but this is totally #######! is it really hard for them to check/verify/approve visas? I don't think so! My analysis here: it's not actually the CO's holding &/or delaying the visa approval but the USEM sets of team working on each/group visa cases. They got lots of backlogs that cause the documents MISPLACED & NOWHERE TO BE FOUND! plus the fact of the INFLUX of ADDITIONAL WORKLOADS from those applicants who just finished their interviews also! as a result their documentation files are totally messed up & the working place is in chaos! just to play safe on their part, they said the famous unbelievable & unreliable answers to the applicants queries:

1. Call Delbros
2. DV is still on process @ NSO
3. Ur Case is still under review process
4. Consul is still reviewing the case
5. Processing would take between 4-6 weeks

I know we're done on this visa process thing, but it really saddened me that there are lots of fellow VJ'erRS still waiting for the VISA. I just wish that in God's mercy finally all ur visa/s will be released soonest and God will touch USEM people's heart to speed up the process.


So true. It just started last August.... up till now. Seemed like people who got interviewed and approved last July got their visas.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-07 13:15:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
QUOTE (JamesRachel @ Oct 7 2008, 10:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I paid im DV Last July 17. Two months before my Interview date I just really dont know how come it takes so long even i get a pink slip. What the heck they are doing our visa? Guess, they want to see how long the file for the people who has waiting their visa. headbonk.gif


You are confusing me JamesRachel. You said your DV was sent to NSO just Sept 26.

Jose Rizal and natassja, welcome to the club smile.gif. Theres a whole lot of us thats been waiting...

Edited by PingLocalHostess, 06 October 2008 - 09:57 PM.

PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-06 21:54:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
QUOTE (JamesRachel @ Oct 6 2008, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Edith, we are in the same boat. I just been wondering that some of us ahead from us was get there visa in after 2 or 3 days. I was got a pink slip only and wondered why it takes so long our visa. I was been called at Delbros this morning and ask about my DV. Delbros said that embassy ask their request my DV last sept 24 and they sent to the request to NSO last Sept. 26 as what they said it takes 2 weeks to verify at NSO. He told me to called NSO and ask when they sent back to embassy but richard told me to called the call center number. I guess they are not allowed now to talked about our case. It will be 2 weeks now this coming Friday and wish i will heard something about our visa next few days. TO much delayed our papers, so much alibi they told us.


Hmmm So your DV was sent Sept. 26? Did you pay DV on the day of your interview? On the Delbros text hotline, they will tell you DV takes 1-4 weeks. But if you call the USEM, lorraine or grace will tell you it actually takes 4-6 weeks. Most of the people on this thread, we paid DV last August and still we are waiting for the results of our DV from NSO. We are all done with our interview and waiting for our visa as well.

I hope your DV will be done in two weeks... if not, you really have to wait 4-6 weeks. We cant followup NSO, they are prohibited to give any info by the USEM. You can ask your petitioner to call USEM if you want updates at 301-2000, press 0 for operator. Ask for Lorraine or Grace. If busy, just keep pressing 0 until they answer.

QUOTE (boyceedith @ Oct 6 2008, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (PingLocalHostess @ Oct 6 2008, 02:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Okay, talked with Grace this morning. Now i was told that they received a response from NSO BUT they dont know if its the result from my DV coz its very recent and my case hasnt been updated yet.

Im presuming they just got my DV last friday. I dont know if its with the CO or not. I guess i will have to wait a week to call for an update again.


You know there's no guarantee even our DV is done look , my Dv is done also for over 3 weeks but still i haven't yet my Visa but i do hope that your's will be different now that your Dv is done hope you can hear good news sooner


Im well aware but im crossing my fingers Edith wink.gif. I hope we'll get our visas soon. Im thinking positively.... its getting harder with each passing day tongue.gif.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-06 13:58:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
What?! Tsk tsk....

So your visa is okay but your son's is not yet? It has to be reviewed? Didnt they review it together with yours? Im so confused.

*sigh* See, thats the reason why i didnt jump for joy when they said my DV was done. Coz i was thinking ermmm its gonna be a long wait.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-06 04:44:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
Okay, talked with Grace this morning. Now i was told that they received a response from NSO BUT they dont know if its the result from my DV coz its very recent and my case hasnt been updated yet.

Im presuming they just got my DV last friday. I dont know if its with the CO or not. I guess i will have to wait a week to call for an update again.
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-06 01:35:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
Its monday again!
Lets see if there are any updates with our "delayed cases". *crosses her fingers*
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-05 18:07:00
PhilippinesUSUALLY A MONTH !!!!
I havent the slightest clue coz they dont give us any definite answer. They just say.... "Wait."
PingLocalHostessFemalePhilippines2008-10-04 11:05:00