ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesCheapest flights from US to Cebu?
Also, check fares from US to Singapore and US to Manila. then you can take a cheap local flight to cebu.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-08-17 07:29:00
PhilippinesA Description of our USE interview ...
delightful post! thank you. Congratulations and good luck!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-09-13 03:08:00
PhilippinesFlowers and flying to philippines

Hello,
I'll be leaving out of SFO tomorrow to see my honey in Manila. I've bought her flowers from Manila Florist islandrose.net and they seem to be delivered in a timely fashion. But the roses don't seem to last very long. I'm considering taking flowers with me from US to surprise her. Anyone know any tips? I would want to carry on to keep them properly, but I don't know:
1) if US will not allow me to carry flowers out of the country
2) if Philippines has agricultural restrictions

Thank you,
Chris

P.S. I've been lurking around the forums and have found visajourney so helpful. I definitely benefited from the recommendations on how to send the K1 application.


Chris,

1. The US does not worry about you taking flowers with you to another country.


Not certain, but I think that TSA would care and may not let you through departure security with them.

In any case, far better to buy the flowers there in the Manila. That is UNLESS, of course, your concern is to be able to have them IN HAND as you depart the airport arrivals terminal with her waiting to greet you (you big romantic, you!!!) - then how about a different option than flowers? Maybe a Big Stuffed Animal with a Bright Bow or something like that.. :)

Warm Regards,
Samby
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-07-18 02:10:00
PhilippinesHow to Answer Medical Exam Questions
Thanks for the links, Logres!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-09-15 00:36:00
PhilippinesHow to Answer Medical Exam Questions
Is there any reference here that lists the Standard Medical Questions that are asked during the K1 Medical Examination/Evaluation that occurs immediately prior to the Embassy Interview?
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-09-09 19:29:00
Philippineshelp please

i need some answer...i filled out my G325a forms and mail it to my fiance...i use the form from here...when my fiance got to see it he ask me why some of the information i have put there has a plus (+) sign...which means there are more information...were just worried that they will not accept it because more of the plus sign appears in year...for example applicats residence for the last 5 years i put 2002 but 2002 doesnt fit the form so it will look like 200+ but you can see a little of the '2' its just the plus sign covered some part of the '2'..but when he fill out the same form on his computer..he said it shows all and no plus sign appears...i dont know if they will accept the form i sent him already or do i need to fill another form? please help..thanks

cheecks


Hi and welcome!

The + sign is put there automatically by the form software and means that there are more characters (letters and/or numbers) typed into the box than will be able to display on the computer or printer that you are using. It is possible that on a different computer or different printer (like your fianceee's) the same text could display and therefore no + sign would show up. Unfortunately, since your 325a form requires your original signature, there is a bit of bad news here. He will not be able to simply re-fill the form and print it out and send it in, becuase then that form will not have your signature.

You have 3 options:

Option #1: You complete the form again on your computer (making sure first that you have the latest version of Adobe Reader (version 8) installled on that computer). Make sure that none of the boxes display on your computer or printout with a + sign. If any do, then make a plain document in a word processor like Microsoft Word or Wordpad. Put a title on the top of that document such as "325a supplemental Information for I-129F beneficiary, <your name>". Then for each question number in the 325a that still has a + sign showing up, list that item number on the supplemental information sheet. List the Item Number, the Item Question Text and your Item answer text (this time all of the answer text). Make sure that you print out four (4) copies of this Supplementsl Information Sheet and sign *EACH* one. So, you will end up with 4 printed copies of the G325a document (each one signed by you) AND 4 copies of the Supplemental Information sheet (each one signed by you). Total 8 printed pages - each and every one signed and dated with your original signature. Then mail them back to your fiance.

Option #2: Have your fiance fill out the 325a form on his computer (making sure not to have any + signs in any of the boxes. Have him fax those four pages to you. You sign and date each of those four pages and then mail them back to your fiance.

Option #3: If your fiance has access to Adobe Acrobat Professional (version 8) (note this is *NOT* the free Adobe Reader software), then he can save the G-325a form WITH THE DATA FILLED IN (just like can be done with the I-129F form). Then he can email that file to you. You can open that file with Adobe Reader (make sure it is version 8) (this *IS* the free software) and the data that he filled in will be there. Review the page carefully to make sure that none of the boxes are showing a + sign. (Remember, just because 1 computer shows all text in a box without a + sign, doesn't insure that another will.) Print out the form (all four pages) and sign and date all four pages. Then mail them back to your fiance.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you. Just remember, Keep the faith, stay calm and enjoy life during the journey as well :)

-Samby
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-07-15 20:16:00
PhilippinesRequirements for CFO
QUOTE (jmbilello @ Oct 9 2007, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
hi ive just done my cfo seminar last oct 5 i wen there by 3pm so dont need to go back..our seminar stared 3:30pm i thnk thats the best time to go there so dont need to go back to get the certificate u wi just wait.... they will ask me for the photocopy of the FF: nbi, birth certificate and cenomar.. and payments 250 pesos.. the next step is for the S1... for the picture taking... then i went to S3 for the small dicussion for what we need to do after we got the visa... the one on one interview and they will ask the photocopy of the divorce decree.. and thats all.. and after that they released my yellow certificate and they told me that i will just go to CFO office for the green certiicate..and the sticker caz i still dont have my visa..

reminder: fiancee need to know the middle name of her fiance (the family name of his mother before she got married) and they will ask u the telephone number they will not release the certificate if u dont know those thngs....

and dont worry no need to kiss thier ### caz they are nice.. and nothing to worry... only at the embassy based in my experience hehehe!!!!! hope it will help u...

TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-12 03:00:00
PhilippinesCFO Seminar
QUOTE (jasman0717 @ Oct 11 2007, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
CFO is required for any Filipino leaving on an International flight





Not true. Only those Philipinos leaving the country with intention to emmigrate. For example, many Filipino university students go to Singapore or other countries to do internships. Obviously they require a passport, but do NOT require CFO stamps.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-12 04:13:00
PhilippinesFinally Here!!!!!
Congratulations!!!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-16 22:22:00
PhilippinesCFO seminar
QUOTE (Jim&Gemz @ Oct 11 2007, 07:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well I've been reading a few of the posts about CFO and their requirements. There definitely isn't any consistency in what they ask you to have. Gemma will take everything we have left that didn't get included in the immigration package that we can't open now. Really the only thing that is in there is her CENOMAR. Of course if they demand that I guess we're going to be out of luck as she'll have to get another copy (2 week wait). Also if they get crazy and demand some certificate of singleness for me, or transcripts of divorce then we're really hosed. That'll take up to a couple of months to get. She already has a flight scheduled for the 18th of October. If I end up having to cancel her flight to get some off the wall documents, I cannot tell you how friggin pissed I'm going to be.

The need to post EXACTLY what they require on their website so that the attendees are not surprised by off the wall demands for things they didn't prepare in advance.

I wonder how if would fly if every document we gave them said something different. mad.gif mad.gif mad.gif mad.gif



Hang in there, Jim.... I think you must not have spent much time in the Philippines: NOTHING in that country follows a DEFINED PROCESS!!!! It is indeed, mighty frustrating! You'll make it though..just try to leave your American analytical mind at the border and leverage the heck out of your honey ko and her family's local experiences.. Best of Luck! You'll make it through!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-16 23:52:00
PhilippinesI am complete
Welcome to the USA, Myla! Congratulations to both of you. Best wishes for your upcoming wedding!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-16 22:17:00
PhilippinesFinally here
Welcome to the USA! Congratulations!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-16 22:16:00
PhilippinesAPPROVED
Congratulations!!! Hooray!!!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-20 02:16:00
PhilippinesAre all this requirements would be enough for my interview???
Oh...Ok, Sheriff: Normally I'm the shy type (NOT!) but, for you, here's my two cents.......... jest.gif

hehehehehe

Edited by TinTin and Samby, 23 October 2007 - 03:48 PM.

TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-23 15:48:00
PhilippinesAre all this requirements would be enough for my interview???
Well, Sheriff, I don't have the 5 cents to give you (heheheh)...but....those instructions that you quote about W2s being required are not "Black & White" for all, since , obviously, they would only apply to petitioners who are EMPLOYEES of a company. For those petitioners that are not EMPLOYEES , such as Self Employed Petitioners or Retired Petitioners, their income would be validated via other forms, not W2s. I think the point (which you are correctly making) is that Proof of Income is required, be that WAGE INCOME (W2), SELF EMPLOYED INCOME (either 1099 or Corporate Annual SEC Filings) or RETIREE INCOME (1099 - Interest or Dividend, IRA or 401 Distributions , etc).

I do inderstand that the OP as stated is a WAGE EARNING EMPLOYEE, so your advise for them is right on point (as usual good.gif ) , but I just wanted to add these other examples in for others who may be reading the post who may not fall into the WAGE EARNING EMPLOYEE category. Cheers!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-21 04:10:00
PhilippinesUSC fiance's income...
Probably you meant "Required" instead of "Allowed".. For Required Income, depends on household size, but stuart and jazman gave you good info. If you really did mean to say "Allowed", the answer is that there is no maximum income limit. Good luck on your journey!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-23 17:55:00
PhilippinesRequesting CENOMAR after Birth Certificate Clerical Error Corrections
I sent an email to the eCensus site requesting info on this. I am posting their helpful reply here. Maybe it will help others in the future.

From: e-census@census.gov.ph [mailto:e-census@census.gov.ph]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:30 PM
To: Samby
Subject: Re: Question Regarding Ability to use e-Census to Request CENOMAR when BC name is annotated under RA 9048

Dear Samby:

Thank you for your e-mail.

You may submit your request for Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR) via our e-census website (www.e-census.com.ph).

This is to clarify that whatever details the requester submitted during online application will be the same details that will be printed on the document result of the CENOMAR request. These details will also be the basis of document processing. From the time the requester confirms and submits the details of his/her online document application via the e-Census website until the document is processed after payment, there is no human intervention from our end or from the e-Census processing center.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

e-Census Operations

--------------------------------------------------------------------

On Wed, October 17, 2007 12:36 am, Samby wrote:
Good Day:

Can you please advise me if I may utilize the e-Census Web Site to request a copy of my CENOMAR. I have just completed the RA 9048 Correction of Clerical Errors process to correct the spelling of my First Name. That process is now completed and I have in my hand my annotated NSO Birth Certificate that shows the original (incorrect) First Name in the body of the form and the corrected information annotated along the side of the front of the document.

I have never been married. I am not certain if a CENOMAR document request utilizes the information from the Birth Certificate. This is why I am writing to inquire.

1. May I submit a e-Census request for CENOMAR?
2. If Yes, does it matter if my e-Census submission is made with my real (corrected) first name or must I use the original NSO BC incorrect first name?
3. Since I have never been married, will it make any difference which first name I submit, as either will result in a NO Marriage Record found.

Thank you for your quick reply.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-23 18:15:00
PhilippinesRequesting CENOMAR after Birth Certificate Clerical Error Corrections
Hi to all!

This is a question only for those people who have gone through the RA 9048 Correction of Clerical Errors process to fix an error on their NSO Birth Certificate.

After completing that process and receiving your annotated ("corrected") BC, how did you apply for your CENOMAR?

In person at NSO in Quezon City?

Anyone have success with using e-Census?

Did you submit your CENOMAR request application with your original NSO (incorrect) name or did you submit with your corrected (annotated) name?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-17 02:38:00
PhilippinesMaiden name on passport
Excellent and important question! I wish I could offer some info, but I am also interested to hear from those with actual experience in this. As a note, you may want to see a POLL that I posted regarding how many people changed their name when they got married and what variation of change they used. Interestingly, only 2 people out of 28 (so far) indicted that they made the change (which I had previously) thought was most common : Change existing middle name to existing last name and change existing last name to hustband's last name.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-23 18:21:00
PhilippinesWhich Form ? I134 or I864
I-134.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-23 17:53:00
PhilippinesMoving Certificate for Moves WITHIN the Philippines
Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I really appreciate it. I will go back and check with the person that said that to me (filipino). Suppossedly he was getting one of these certificates for himself....I'll post back with what I find out....but regardless, I think I will just not bother with that.

Samby
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-24 00:48:00
PhilippinesMoving Certificate for Moves WITHIN the Philippines
Hi to All! Anyone know anything about needing a certificate of permission from the local baranguy police captain to move your household goods from one province in the Philippines to another in the Philippines? Someone made a comment the other day about going to the local police dept to get this. Suppossedly, it lists the items you are moving so there is no movement of stolen property... But...(sorry for applying western logic here...) that same person said that the police dont come out to inventory your things and there is no need for serial numbers or ownership receipts or the like, so what would prevent someone from getting a certificate to move , oh - say, 500 DVD players????? headbonk.gif Anyone with experience with this, Please share. Thanks!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-23 17:42:00
PhilippinesIs my daugther need to get a CENOMAR?
QUOTE (poweredbyrice @ Oct 24 2007, 06:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
thank you guys for the reply. my daughter is under child visa petition [CR-1]. she went to the embassy last monday and she passed for the interview. they didn't even mentioned the CENOMAR, so I guess CENOMAR is just for K-1 visa.


You may want to check out my comment about CFO certification....It would be a shame to get to the airport and then not be allowed to leave the Philippines.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-25 01:49:00
PhilippinesIs my daugther need to get a CENOMAR?
I dont have any direct experience with your situation with your daughter, but My guess would be that she will also be required to attend the CFO Predeparture/Peer Seminar (PDOS). Here is an excerpt from the CFO Web Site where you can find more info. http://www.cfo.gov.ph/pdos.htm

Pre-Departure Registration

Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad are required to register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Part of its registration requirements is attendance in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) to prepare them for settlement overseas. Those who are 12 years old and below are exempt from attending the PDOS. They must, however, be registered, even if by proxy. Children of emigrants, aged 13 to 19, are required to attend the Peer Counseling Program to help facilitate their adjustment to a new environment.

The registration of Filipino emigrants started in 1981, or a year after the CFO was created. The registration process generates an information resource on Filipino emigrants, which provides reference for policy formulation and program development.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-23 18:06:00
PhilippinesBank Drafts for foreign Country Police Clearances
QUOTE (TinTin and Samby @ Oct 23 2007, 03:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks Ron/Sharon. No one else had to file requests for foreign country police clearances??



Here's an update for anyone that may be interested:

After visiting mmore than 5 different banks in the Philippines, I consitently received the following reply:

"Sorry Sir, we can not help you unless you are both an account holder in our bank AND your account is a US DOLLAR based account" Even if you are an account holder (which I was in one of the large Phillipine bank), if your account is a local in-country (Phillipine Peso) currency account (duh!!!) , then we can not provide you this service. Ay Naku!!!

I finally gave up, Called my bank in the US, had one issued in 5 minutes and mailed off to me here to attach to the Police Certification Applicaiton Form for submittal to Singapore.

As I always say..."Everything is harder in the Philippines..."
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-25 02:12:00
PhilippinesBank Drafts for foreign Country Police Clearances
Thanks Ron/Sharon. No one else had to file requests for foreign country police clearances??
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-23 17:58:00
PhilippinesBank Drafts for foreign Country Police Clearances
Hi to all.

Can anyone share their practical advice on where in the Philippines they went to get a bank draft issued in other country currency (ie Singapore Dollars or Japanese Yen) to send as payment along with application forms to those other countries for Police Clearance Certificates. Thanks!

Edited by TinTin and Samby, 16 October 2007 - 10:12 PM.

TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-16 22:11:00
PhilippinesMYMP schedule
QUOTE (stu1232 @ Oct 27 2007, 01:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone know if the band MYMP has plans for an US tour next year? I saw them with my mahal this past July on my last visit to Phillipines and would love to surprise her with going to one while they are here. (Provided VSC starts approving petitions sometime again.) I enjoyed the bands soft mood songs but she and the rest of the crowd just went nuts on anything they performed.



Second that! MYMP ("Make Your Mother Proud") is a great band!! Love their music! It would be great if they toured the US. I would go for sure!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-27 03:29:00
PhilippinesWork Related Issues
HI JelloShotGirl,

I can relate to your situtation. It has been my expereince that "drive" and "initiative" are not as widely promoted ideals in the Filipino culture as they are in the US culture. Certainly there are strongly driven and high initative Filipinos just as there are those Americans for whom drive and initative are not their 'gifts'. In the aggregate, however, i think the distribution of those traits across the population, in general, are less in the Philippines then the US. This has been my experience. Other's may have different experiences.

I too get frustrated when I feel I have to keep 'reminding' my fiance about things. One thing I have done is to encourage her to write things down (ie, "Make a List") so that she can see those things and serve as a reminder and motivation to work toward them.

The balance I struggle with is how to best convey my feelings without impugning her feelings and self confidence. In all honesty, its a struggle. However, there are so many wonderful things about my gal, that it is a struggle that I gladly stay with. Besides, while maybe I am helping her a bit with follow-through, I look at the rewards that I am getting too: She is helping me to be a better and more patient man. I wish you much success.

-Samby
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-25 00:13:00
PhilippinesI am finally with my honey...
Congratulations to you both!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-18 21:01:00
PhilippinesWife's K3 interview approval in Manila
Great news to hear of your approval. Congratulations to you both!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-11-09 23:42:00
PhilippinesNOV.08,2007 K1 VISA USE INTERVIEW EXPERIENCES
Thank you so much for taking the time to post and share your experience with the Manila Embassy interview! Congratulations in advance, it sounds like once you get that additional document, all will be good!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-11-09 23:52:00
Philippineswrong spelling of my name on noa2
QUOTE (joy&maryjoy @ Nov 15 2007, 05:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
my fiance sent me our noa2, then i just noticed that my name wa spelled wrong . instead of mary joy , its may joy. is this really important ? what we should do?


How is the spelling on NOA and the original application? If it were me, I would pursue it in either regard as It really should be correct and will need to match all of your identifications.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-11-15 09:56:00
PhilippinesIs CENOMAR required for CR1/ IR1
Hi. I dont know how many days you have before your interview, but you may want to take a look at this info I posted in another thread. Per the email exchanges with NSO, you will see that if you order your cenomar through ecensus web site, YOU are in complete control of entering in your Correct Name and other info, no possibility that some other human will retpe it with a clerical error. Check out the ecensus site and see if you can submit right away when the delivery will be to you, if that will occur before your interview..that way you will have it "just in case". Good Luck!

I sent an email to the eCensus site requesting info on this. I am posting their helpful reply here. Maybe it will help others in the future.

From: e-census@census.gov.ph [mailto:e-census@census.gov.ph]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:30 PM
To: Samby
Subject: Re: Question Regarding Ability to use e-Census to Request CENOMAR when BC name is annotated under RA 9048

Dear Samby:

Thank you for your e-mail.

You may submit your request for Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR) via our e-census website (www.e-census.com.ph).

This is to clarify that whatever details the requester submitted during online application will be the same details that will be printed on the document result of the CENOMAR request. These details will also be the basis of document processing. From the time the requester confirms and submits the details of his/her online document application via the e-Census website until the document is processed after payment, there is no human intervention from our end or from the e-Census processing center.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

e-Census Operations

--------------------------------------------------------------------

On Wed, October 17, 2007 12:36 am, Samby wrote:
Good Day:

Can you please advise me if I may utilize the e-Census Web Site to request a copy of my CENOMAR. I have just completed the RA 9048 Correction of Clerical Errors process to correct the spelling of my First Name. That process is now completed and I have in my hand my annotated NSO Birth Certificate that shows the original (incorrect) First Name in the body of the form and the corrected information annotated along the side of the front of the document.

I have never been married. I am not certain if a CENOMAR document request utilizes the information from the Birth Certificate. This is why I am writing to inquire.

1. May I submit a e-Census request for CENOMAR?
2. If Yes, does it matter if my e-Census submission is made with my real (corrected) first name or must I use the original NSO BC incorrect first name?
3. Since I have never been married, will it make any difference which first name I submit, as either will result in a NO Marriage Record found.

Thank you for your quick reply.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-31 23:26:00
PhilippinesEdited Photo in the Passport
QUOTE ('my_destiny @ Nov 20 2007, 10:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think the POE immigration officer will check her visa. But it is better to have unedited picture on her passport.


The DFA in the Philippines is famous for being picky about accepting photos that don't meet "their" definition of good. Examples include, bare shoulders, no collar, too light (white), eyes too dark, hair in face, etc, etc... The photo being asked about is the photo in the Philippines passport, diba? If it didnt bear a good resemblance to the passport holder, the DFA office would not have allowed it. Therefore, edited or not, I would think that no one else (including some POE officer) will even think twice about it. No need to disclose, no need to comment. That's my opinion.

Regards,
Samby
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-11-21 08:59:00
PhilippinesVisa's Brown Envelope in plastic, Can open plastic?
Congratulations!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-11-21 02:18:00
PhilippinesSurvey Says?
TinTin is from Eastern Samar. She speaks Waray, Tagalog and English. She also has done some studying of Japanese at the University, but hasn't had an opportunity to utilize it much.

-Samby
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-10-26 19:22:00
PhilippinesNOA2 APPROVED
Congrats!!!!
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-11-10 01:17:00
PhilippinesIs the beneficiary allowed to travel using tickets purchased in the petitioner's country?
The only thing to be careful about is if the tickets were purchased as electronic tickets with a credit card, some of the airlines require the presentation of that credit card at check-in for the flight. So, if you will be traveling alone with an E Ticket purcahse via credit card by someone else, You may want to call the specific airline to be sure you wont have a problem.
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2007-11-01 22:02:00
PhilippinesMedical slowdown
Will hold a good thought for the two gals and you. Best Wishes. -Samby
TinTin and SambyMalePhilippines2008-01-03 12:21:00