Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	And so it ends...	That is too bad I am so sorry that was occuring. I give you a big hug** Keep your head up high and be very thankful for finding out sooner than later. Once your pain has healed, you will realize what a great decision you made; even though it was very painful. I pray for you.	jmmr	Female	Mexico	2008-07-06 23:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	193 days.....and an RFE	Hey at least you got something! I hope you are only missing something silly so you can finally move on!! WOW! I'm so happy for you that after this RFE is completed, that you can keep going Good luck Sunny	jmmr	Female	Mexico	2008-07-29 22:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NOA2 from CSC!	CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!!!	jmmr	Female	Mexico	2008-07-28 13:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	NOA2	Let's party! Seriously! We all had the same person!	jmmr	Female	Mexico	2008-07-22 20:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	Successful Interview! K1 in London	You guys totally deserve the approval! I'm so glad your guy's journey is over!!! Now you an finally be together!!! Keep in touch with VJ. Best wishes!	jmmr	Female	Mexico	2008-07-30 20:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	So when I thought I still need to wait for at least half more month.....	WOOHOO COngratZ!!!!!!!	jmmr	Female	Mexico	2008-08-01 15:33:00
Philippines	Where's your hometown?	brgy. d alarcio, cabilaoan, laoac, pangasinan, philippines!!!	bmagno23	Male	Philippines	2010-05-25 20:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports	received nvc letter but no noa2	anyone know why i would receive a letter from the nvc but no noa2? is thisgoing to be a problem? my timeline is touched on may29 07 then next thing is i get letter from the visa center mailed on june 11 07. will i get still get a noa2 from the uscis? help	laviaomaha	Male	Philippines	2007-06-16 18:40:00
Philippines	Time from visa approval until delivery Manila Embassy	Any new input about how long it's taking to receive the visa after the interview at US Embassy Manila? Typically, it takes 7-10 business days. We received ours in 11 days. Hope this helps some. Good luck!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-06-14 12:42:00
Philippines	Medical Passed	Congratulations on a successful medical! Good luck with your interview! Keep us posted.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-03 10:06:00
Philippines	Interview - passed	Congratulations! Excellent news! Good luck with the rest of your journey!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-04 09:21:00
Philippines	rice cake	hi guys... i'll be travelling by DELTA air this friday morning going to Seatle.. It's my first time.. so i'm a bit anxious.. My friends ask me to bring them tupig, bibingka- rice cakes.. My question is... Can i bring some? If yes.. Where will i put them? Carry on or checked baggage... i apprecaite your help.. thank u.. We were able to bring back suman this past Christmas break. We had it packed in our checked luggage. We flew Asiana and not Delta...I don't know if that matters. Customs in Seattle just asked us if we had any fruits or vegetables. I think you should be fine. As others have mentioned, you may have problems if it's in your carry-on luggage, though. Good luck and have a safe trip! The weather in Seattle is beautiful this week! Edited by Markieboy, 03 August 2011 - 10:00 AM.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-03 10:00:00
Philippines	Passport renewal	Kizmet is right. Washington state is under the jurisdiction of San Francisco, CA. My wife and I made a trip down specifically to renew her passport. There is no way around it. Good luck!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-14 21:22:00
Philippines	Things to do when you visit Philiipines	What do you plan to do when you visit the Philippines again? Umm...eat real Filipino food again!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-06-05 14:15:00
Philippines	She is taking driving lesson	LOL, I would RATHER my fiance learn in the US then in the Philippines. Yeah, I agree with you on this. IMHO, it would be better to learn driving here in USA. In the Philippines, there really are no driving rules. Drivers don't stay in their lanes, weave in and out of traffic...without any regard for others. Most have no clue what a turn signal is for...or a horn for that matter. Alot of drivers are ignorant with the traffic signs and lights. Pedestrian crossings are a road decoration...nice to look at, but really mean nothing. With perfectly working traffic lights, you still see police direct traffic! Why? Because most drivers don't stop at a red light. I first learned driving here in US, and was shocked when learning how to drive Pinoy style. IMHO, I would not advise learning to drive in Philippines first. She may bring alot of bad driving habits over. And that may cost you. Only my two cents.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-06-08 11:43:00
Philippines	Affordable Shipping Manila to USA	You could try the local post office. They have the Express Mail Service (EMS). Promised 5-7 working days....But based on not so good experience mine arrived after 3 weeks. (Not that express if you want to know the truth...) I agree. Mailing boxes via PhilPost is, by far, the most affordable option. I mailed balikbayan boxes filled with textbooks to the States. It arrived after a few weeks. It saved me a bundle. OTOH, if you prefer using private couriers (DHL, LBC, etc), be prepared to spend much more. Good luck with whatever you decide!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-30 11:04:00
Philippines	Anyone did an xray prior to their medical exam at st luke's Manila Philippines?	do we need to just swallow whatever they say? Uh, do you want your visa? If you do, then yes, you need to swallow whatever they say. Until the United States Embassy Manila deems another clinic/hospital meets U.S. standards, you really have no choice. Much easier to just go with the flow.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-30 23:10:00
Philippines	Wifes interview today	Good luck to you and your wife! We'll keep you in our thoughts and prayers!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-05 20:39:00
Philippines	Philippines Flag	My fiancee wants to get a Philippines (and US) flag to fly at our house. Has anyone here found/bought a nice one? I would prefer something of quality so that it will last. I have found some sites but there are no reviews on the products, so I am weary to buy from them. Thanks I have U.S. flag made by Annin. It has been outside my house for about 2 years, with no signs of fading or wear. I'm assuming their Philippine flag is made with the same quality. I hope you find what you're looking for!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-09 12:07:00
Philippines	Jom - Thank You for "Parental Consent" Documents	Hi, can u help me too? i just have my seminar. I am 21 and they need the letter of consent for my parents. can i have the draft u made too so i can have an idea on how to do it? please? I have my flight this friday and i need help to have my certificate..help me pls Definitely an old thread. This may help you. Good luck with your marriage!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-13 10:18:00
Philippines	sharing questions asked on interview.	Congratulations on the successful interview! Thanks for sharing your experience!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-13 08:11:00
Philippines	Where to retire.	i think you might need to own your own island to have all that lol With 7,107 islands, that may be possible.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-13 18:51:00
Philippines	Arrival of Wife	Congratulations! Wonderful, wonderful news! Best wishes to you guys!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-15 11:48:00
Philippines	Mitsubishi Boxtype Fail!	Wow... What happened? Brakes fail? Bald tires on wet road? Regardless of what the cause was, it is amazing that no one was seriously hurt...and everyone walked away. They should thank their lucky stars!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-19 11:58:00
Philippines	trying to be upbeat	So, you took her parents to Manila not out of love, not to give them a chance to experience Manila, not for them to have a special trip with their daughter, not for you all to have one last time together before she leaves, not so they can be there to support their daughter; but so they can see exactly how you are.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-07 12:40:00
Philippines	trying to be upbeat	Everything on this is crazy. Either this will work out, or will be one of the worst train wrecks. Expect the latter. Prepare accordingly. OTOH, if you are successful, this may be the shortest time-frame between medical and interview. Again, good luck with everything!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-28 19:53:00
Philippines	trying to be upbeat	A common-sense reminder from the U.S. Embassy Manila: Do not finalize arrangements for travel to the United States, dispose of properties, or resign from your job until a visa has been issued and delivered to you. My link. Again, I agree with Tahoma. Many have gone against this advice. Some have been successful (lucky). But many cases have not been...thus, the need to issue this reminder. Good luck with your plans, Darren. I hope they work out for you.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-24 11:16:00
Philippines	Apply for U.S citizenship or not ?	Hey...this looks like good info and may answer a lot of questions. For those who want to retain their Filipino citizenship after they become U.S. citizens, I'm guessing it's a good idea to file to retain/reacquire their Filipino citizenship soon after they become U.S. citizens. It may have nothing to do with whether their Filipino passport has expired or not. They need to file because they have naturalized in a foreign country. Exactly what we are thinking and are planning!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-16 19:07:00
Philippines	Apply for U.S citizenship or not ?	There is no "allowing it to expire"... when you acquire USC, you have to hand over your passport of your motherland. So yes, you must actually re-apply for PI citizenship. From what I understand, USCIS needs to see all valid and expired passports to verify dates of travel outside of the U.S. USCIS does not necessarily require you to surrender your foreign passport, as opposed to your permanent resident card.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-16 13:07:00
Philippines	Apply for U.S citizenship or not ?	Urrgghhh Thanks for pointing that out. Couple of things there need to consider about in the future lol. Guess I'll do and give up anything for my child and my husband . But for right now, this is not something I make my self crazy about and need to do it right away... who knows maybe in next 10 years LOL. Still not looking forward to it if I dont really need it in the future for my hubby and our daughter. I don't see what the fuss is about. You won't "give up anything" for you child and husband. You can actually have BOTH U.S. and Philippine citizenship. I don't understand why you're "not looking forward to it." You should really be ecstatic that Philippine law allows citizen to retain their former citizenship. Remember that it is very difficult to see, today, your future years down the road. It is a more wise decision to have more options available, than to limit it to one. Good luck with whatever you decide.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-14 18:51:00
Philippines	Apply for U.S citizenship or not ?	Just a quistion in my head for couple months now. I have couple friends here in the U.S that already a U.S citizen, and they keep asking me if when I'm going to apply for my citizenship. I keep telling them I dont know and It's not in my mind to give up my filipino citizenship, but they thought It's an Idiotic descision of me lol. All my family is in the Philippines and 100% for sure they have no plan to come live here in the U.S lol. I'm only here in the U.S because of my husband and coz of his work. But as of what he promise me we will move in Philippines as soon as he retire in 11 years and have enough savings to build a small business there for us... well atleast that's the plan lol. Also now that we are having a baby, It only makes me more think to just keep my filipino citizenship so our baby can also partially filipino citizen. I dont know if that is right though LOL. So I'm just curious if what is really the benefits of being a U.S citizen if you are already legally living here ? You can reacquire your Philippine citizenship. Your child can be a dual citizen, as well. Please refer to Philippine Consulate New York for Citizen Retention and Re-acquisition. Edited by Markieboy, 14 September 2011 - 03:27 PM.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-14 15:22:00
Philippines	Interview 10/7 Manila	Congratulations! Good luck with your medical and upcoming interview!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-21 14:26:00
Philippines	Driver license	Good afternoon Vj'ers, I have seen posts regarding getting a drivers licenses in the states, but i havent seen any definative opionions as to weather its benificial to get one first in the Philipines. Does it help at the DMV here to already have one? Is the training in the Philipines even worth it? Is it a benifit when getting insurance, rather than saying your a new driver? So if anyone has any experiences I would love to hear them. Thanks as always Philippines driver's license? No, it is not beneficial. International driving permit, issued in the Philippines? Yes, it can be beneficial. My wife had some driving "training" in the Philippines. IMHO, it was absolute garbage. Why? Because no one follows the rules of the road. Traffic lights, pedestrian crossings are all decorations in the Philippines. They look nice, have pretty colors...but don't really mean anything. I told my wife it's great she learn the handling of a car (ie steering, braking, etc), but DO NOT adopt their way of driving. If she brings that mentality of driving to the States, she will get cited for sure. She was able to drive in Washington state, using her International Driving Permit, until she took the road test. During that time, I taught her the proper way of driving here in the States. Here in Washington state, the Dept of Licensing does NOT honor driver's licenses from foreign countries. I hope this helps you some.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-18 21:58:00
Philippines	help with mama	Hmmm...settle for Darren or wait for someone else who may never show up. Decisions, decisions, decisions...that's a tough one. it's unfair to make unnecessay comments as to why they entered into their relationship. They entered into a relationship because of true love, of course!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-25 19:25:00
Philippines	help with mama	Shhh...that's supposed to be a secret, Tahoma! I don't mind being a typical Kano (sarcasm intended), ignorant of tribal customs. ^^^Correction made. Me wanna passum the peace pipe witchoo, Fellow 'Kano!! Not really a 'Kano, but I'll take a puff. Edited by Markieboy, 20 September 2011 - 02:23 PM.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-20 14:21:00
Philippines	help with mama	Do you even realize that Markieboy is Filipino? Sheesh... Shhh...that's supposed to be a secret, Tahoma! I don't mind being a typical Kano, ignorant of tribal customs.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-20 13:40:00
Philippines	help with mama	Oh boy...here we go again... I understand the fact that you're not the most articulate person in the world, but do you think about what you say before you say it??? Some comments you made are very degrading and humiliating. Other comments just contradict themselves. I believe much of the problems you are experiencing are the same problems YOU created. (she is mine now. i told Gretchen "your parents no longer control you. I do. Do you really believe this? Even though she may marry you in the near future, you must remember that she'll always have ties to her parents. She probably holds their advice and opinions with very high esteem and respect. That doesn't mean that her parents "control" her, and neither should you. I'm hoping you would want Gretchen to be a successful, independent woman who is capable of making her own intelligent decisions. Gretchen is extremely happy I said this. It seems to have really improved our relationship. I highly doubt both of these claims. In general, women don't appreciate being treated like #######. They don't like to have their minds made for them. Instead, they prefer to be treated with love, respect and admiration. Putting these qualities into practice helps improves relationships. gretchen is not property. Gretchen is mine just like I am hers. The idea is Gretchen and I are a family unit belonging to each other. Gretchen can make her own decisions. the idea is Gretchen and I make decisions together. Again, contradictions. Is she capable of making her own decisions? Or do those decisions need approval from you first? (Gretchen told them but not me which upset me) Either way, it has upset me and Gretchen now knows hiding things from me is a bad, bad thing. I have told Gretchen to tell me her needs and wants. Gretchen did not yet see herself as belonging to me while we were there. It upset you that Gretchen willingly decided to give her mother P6,000? Seriously? Perhaps if you weren't so controlling and dominating, Gretchen wouldn't feel the need to hide things from you. Have you considered that? I hope I have finally cleared this up. Nope, not in the slightest. Gretchen now understands fully where I am coming from. That's not necessarily a good thing.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-20 11:54:00
Philippines	Any filipina?	Is some filipina here going to seattle? i never meet a lot of pinay here.. There are plenty of Filipinos/Filipinas in Seattle, and the other parts of Pacific Northwest. Best places to meet them? Church. St. James Cathedral in downtown Seattle has many Filipino parishioners. They also host the Simbang Gabi celebration, with addition of other surrounding parishes. It was not the same as in the Philippines, but my wife and I enjoyed it just the same. Seafood City has just opened up last year. There are literally hundreds of Filipinos there shopping during the weekend. go to Seafood City in Seattle there's a lot of filipinos there Agreed.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-08-30 18:37:00
Philippines	XOOM money transfer	Chinook completed her ROC in record time...she got her permanent green card only two months after she filed. Tahoma, belated congratulations on Chinook's ROC! I'm sorry, I just noticed that now.	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-09-11 19:46:00
Philippines	Package stuck in customs	Back on October 1st I sent a package from Portland, Oregon USA to my wife in Montalban, Rizal, PI. I sent it using USPS and was told it would reach her in 6-10 business days. Well...here is it 47 days later and according to USPS, the package reached customs in Manila on November 4th. It's almost been 2 weeks since and I still haven't heard anything from USPS or customs. Any ideas who I can call or what I have to do? Believe it or not, USPS said they didn't have a number I could call in the Philippines to get more information. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! (By the way...never again will I use USPS to send packages to PI!) Been there, done that. I completely understand your frustration. However, you should be upset at Philippine postal service and NOT USPS. When I sent packages before, using USPS Express Mail, I tracked the packages from U.S. to Philippines. They arrived in the Philippines within days. But from Manila to the respective provincial city/town, it literally take weeks...if not months, to arrive. Who is to blame? Definitely not USPS. USPS is an American federal office. They provide service to the destination country. Then the local postal service is supposed to deliver the package within the specified time period. From experience, it is less stressful sending via FedEx or DHL. Packages will be delivered on time...not on Philippine time! I sure hope you didn't send anything valuable. Customs will find any possible way to charge a tax on it. Here's some contact information for you: EXPRESS MAIL SERVICE OFFICE Central Mail Exchange Center, Philippine Postal Corporation Domestic Road, 1300 Pasay City Metro Manila, Philippines T +63 2 854 3580 F +63 2 854 4621 Email: ems.cs@philpost.gov.ph ph.ems.cs@gmail.com emso.philpost@gmail.com Good luck with tracking it! And keep us posted!	Markieboy	Male	Philippines	2011-11-17 18:59:00