ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionJUST FOUND OUT BAD NEWS
Here's hoping you can get your papers delivered to the correct place quickly.

Hey, btw, I see you are in Vallejo. I visit my mom often and she's in Benicia (that's where I am as I type this). Greetings from next door.
StarProgMalePhilippines2006-11-13 23:13:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionINTERVIEW TODAY.......
Are you certain the "we will call you" message was not just referring to their SOP. They always call before delivering the visa.
StarProgMalePhilippines2006-11-24 01:28:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionquestion on whether fiance visa interview is videotaped or audiotaped
The consulates are US territory and our freedom to privacy dictates that they have to inform you if you are being videotaped or recorded.
StarProgMalePhilippines2006-11-22 13:46:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionInterview was a success!
Congratulations! And she'll be here in a week, what a great feeling that must be. :dance:
StarProgMalePhilippines2006-12-06 20:36:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionYahflippinhooo!!!! We have an interview date in FEB!!
Very good news, congrats!
StarProgMalePhilippines2006-12-14 01:56:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion? About paying the Manila interview fee
I was under the impression that for the CR-1 the interview fee is part of the fee sent to NVC for the DS-230 package. Am I mistaken?
StarProgMalePhilippines2006-12-18 20:26:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWE PASSED THE VISA INTERVIEW ! ! !
Great news! Congrats!
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-16 02:47:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWe're Here!!!
Welcome Home!
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-16 02:27:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion45 hours to go
Okay, I'll be watching for her plane around that time, ha ha. Hey congrats on getting the the good part of the journey.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-22 04:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionHAPPY SAFE TRIP TO ALL VJ MEMBERS!
Welcome to California to all the new residents.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-23 12:16:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Interview Success
That's great. congratulations!
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-28 03:02:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionHEY EVERYBODY- MARIE WAS APPROVED- YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Hey that's really great news! Congratulations!
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-22 04:55:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
Hi friends,

I just thought I'd check in with an update as well as congratulate all those that have gotten interviews, visas, about to come to USA ro already here, etc, you all know who you are.

Fely and I are moving along at the NVC. I'm currently waiting for her to send me her DS-230 and other documents so that I can forward them on to the NVC and we can finish our case there. I've told her to look for a Fedex office, but she just says she'll go to Iba later this week and find an international shipper. If anyone has any suggestions on how she should go about shipping to me quickly I'd accept any help. Next week she plans to go to Manila to take her CFO seminar. I tried to tell her she really doesn't need to do it yet, but she seems to want to get it out of the way as well as get her passport name changed. After that she has a job turning beds at a resort for a month.

Well that's where we are. Later everyone.

Gary
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-04-03 00:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Hmm thanks for the advice. It seems that is what I am hearing from everybody else too. Yet i hear different things about the co-sponsor. Also it seems like if I am not approved, then i can just refile if I need too, like PW did. I wonder how much pull the OFW has with the consulate, or if they have some kind of love/hate relationship. My mom made a contact with a high ranking person during they visit to the state of Hawaii during the sakada celebration we just had. Well just thinking out loud here. I have 8-9 months to wait until a potential interview. Starprog, so your wife is Ilocano too? Where is she from? My my fiance is from Laoag City in Ilocos Norte.


Oh wow, your fiancée is from way up north. I would love to visit that region on a trip some day, but its such a long long bus ride. It took us 7 hours just to get to La Union when we went to Baguio City. Anyway my wife is from the Zambales province, near Iba.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-03-26 17:52:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

I posted this in the sub-forum of asia, but got no response. And as i browsed through all 460pages of this thread i will post it here. I have lurked alot, but now i need the advice of the VJ members. I live in Hawaii and filing a K1 visa for my fiance in PI. The thing is from 2001-2006 i was kinda poor, and no where near the 20,000 threshold for the 1-34. I only averaged 8000 a year. However I will most likely get a job with the TSA in may or june. So i was wondering if they would look at job and it's 35,000 a year salary and approve the visa? I can get my parents to co-sponsor, but it seems that the consulate does not approve of this. Therefore should i worry about that, which would be 9 months down the road, and just file and pray? Also congrats to everybody who was approved, and good luck living in America. I know my wife will fit in rather easy, coz they are many Filipinos here, and she is Ilocano, which the majority of them here, plus her aunty and cousin live here.


I have read several cases in which the CO approved a visa when the petitioner had previously had no job, but for the past few months before the interview had a good paying job, and were approved. I believe you should be okay, but at the same time the consulate in the Philippines is known for being unpredictable, so you should plan on providing as much evidence as possible that you will be able to support your future wife. Having your parents co-sponsor also isn't a bad idea, though they may or may not accept a co-sponsor for a K-1.

My wife is also Ilocano.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-03-26 02:58:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

would anyone give me honest opionon of Philippine Airlines, I flew before, but only on short trips thru Phil Islands, my fiancee is flying from manila to SFO, ok do they feed you all enough, I am used to Korean air and Asiana, they are always so good, shud I tell my honee to bring some junk food and snaks on d airlplane????? I am worried I wanna make sure he has enough to eat on flight


There will be a meal after lift-off and another before landing. They are not large meals but sufficient. In between the meals you don't see much stewardesses much as most are trying to sleep. I was not hungry on the flight, but I did get hungry while waiting for the flight, and the food at the terminal is expensive, so I would recommend he bring some snacks to eat before boarding.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-03-19 02:34:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

anyone have experience with San Francisco POE???? thanks!


I've come through SF POE several times, the immigration officers there are friendly and helpful. True I'm USC not immigrant, but I know others have reported no problems entering through SF, maybe they will also answer you.

Now the customs agents on the other hand, sometimes get a little carried away. Make sure you don't bring any porno, they're on a mission to keep it out.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-03-17 19:20:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Just to add a little controversy since it's been a little quite here. :devil: :lol:

Why not book the domestic flights in their maiden name wherein they have other photo IDs that they can show? They are not really asking one's marital status when letting people check in for boarding.

Even in international flights, one has to use whatever name is in their passport regardless of their marital status (if they haven't gotten around to changing it) otherwise, they will not be allowed to board.

Just a thought.


For domestic travel that might work, but for international travel, my wife was scolded by the immigrations officers for not having her married name in her passport. It was on our honeymoon, and I'm not sure what they expected, since there's no way she could have had it changed immediately after our wedding.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-03-12 22:32:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
Congratulations Vhi, great news!
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-27 02:04:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Meanwhile Fely has been told by a friend whose daughter came to the US on a K-1 visa last December, that the cost of the CFO is 9000 PhP. I have no idea where she got this number from, as I know it's only 400 PhP. But I'm having trouble convincing Fely of the real cost.

Gary, tell Fely that her friend's daughter was scammed out of P9,000 if she indeed paid such amount. They probably paid a fixer.
(F) Cora


Thanks Cora. I'm trying to find out if the friend actually paid that much. Unfortunately Fely's mad at me right now because I didn't believe her when she said the CFO costs P9,000. I'll tell her what you said and see what happens.

Gary
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-26 04:03:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Question for the Manila Listers...is anyone other than me having constant problems with the Cebu Pacfic and Philippine Air online reservation website? Over the past 2 weeks I cannot get the transaction to complete no matter what I do. I've tried different cards, tried different days and times and also calling the agents (Cebu Pacific, who tell me to try online again, which doesn't work) and I've made certain that the Mastercard Secure Code and Verified by Visa registration is correct, to absolutely no avail. I've called my credit card issuers and all is okay. As a last resort my wife last week had to send someone direct to the airport across Leyte to book the trip for her medical. This is absurd. I've tried contacting a travel agent in Manila, but they want funds deposited in a bank account before they will issue the e-ticket. My wife and her wise traveling companion didn't trust that setup. Looks like I may need to have her ramble across the island again. Thanks for any suggestions.

Mike




Not sure. I booked tickets on Cebu Pacific last week and again just now. No problems.


Someone suggested previously clearing the cookies in your browser, maybe trying a different browser, different computer if possible. I know on my Mac I have occasional problems when using Safari but if I switch to Netscape it sometimes works.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-24 21:25:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

hi gary, what DFA told ur wife in regards to CFO is correct. my wife had to attend cfo before she could change her passport. My wife said that it will be listed on the back of the passport app what the requirements are to get a new passport due to name change. of course thats not to say that other people won't have different experiences with this procedure depending on who they talk to, but my wife specifically attended cfo to get the new passport and she remembers it being listed on the back of the app. take care, it gets easier as you get more along in the process and before you know it Fely will have her interview date! good luck!


Thanks soul. We're going ahead with Fely attending the CFO, but not until our 6-month anniversary which was also what they "suggested." Meanwhile Fely has been told by a friend whose daughter came to the US on a K-1 visa last December, that the cost of the CFO is 9000 PhP. I have no idea where she got this number from, as I know it's only 400 PhP. But I'm having trouble convincing Fely of the real cost. Does anyone reading this have any idea where the 9000 P amount came from? That's about $180, which is the fee for the original petition.

Edited by StarProg, 24 February 2007 - 08:53 PM.

StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-24 20:51:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
[quote name='terps76' post='742545' date='Feb 23 2007, 05:36 PM'][quote name='jazzy' post='742233' date='Feb 24 2007, 07:10 AM']Hi,

That's very odd...all you need for the name change on the passport is the NSO marraige certificate....the CFO seminar IS NOT NEEDED!! However, she can take the cfo seminar at any time...then just go back and get her stamp when you recieve the visa, thats what we did. Jasmin got a brand new passport with name change, of course that was in Cebu....but definately the cfo is not required.

Jazzy

[quote name='StarProg' post='741878' date='Feb 23 2007, 02:50 PM'][quote name='w1n78' post='741733' date='Feb 23[/quote]
[/quote]


I wasnt required to attend the CFO as well when I had my name changed last July. However, maybe their policy changed since when I attended PRISM last Feb 19, I was able to know somebody who said that DFA asked her to attend the counselling before she can get a passport. I thought she has a special case and didnt asked for more info. But it seems like it that they do require it now since it happened to Starprog too.
[/quote]

I don't think they have the liberty to change the rules concerning passports without a change in their laws. I have a little more info now that Fely's awake. She says they told her specifically that she must attend the CFO for a name change. But it gets worse. She was also told that our marriage certificate is only 5 months old, and she must wait until 6 months to get the name change. I think the person she dealt with at the DFA had his own personal vendetta.

Well, at least it's only a couple of weeks until our 6 month anniversary.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-23 21:27:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

that's interesting. my wife had her passport name changed months ago and she barely attended the PRISM. CFO would be after the interview and that's when they'll allow her to change her name? did she bring a copy of the marriage certificate?

Ouch, Fely now says they won't give her a new passport or change her name until she attends the CFO. So there's another wasted trip, 4 out of 4. I need to see what docs I need to send to her first. She's pretty much on her own here, doesn't really use the internet to find out about how to do things. This is suddenly so frustrating.



I'm not sure about the marriage cert. This is one of those cases where its hard to get a straight answer, plus she's very tired from the trip and hasn't answered my last two text messages. She knows the marriage certificate is required for a name change. The DFA website says that the CFO is required to get a passport for spouse or fiancée visas, but it does not say its required for a passport amendment. This is another example of govt. officials changing the rules as they see fit at any time. So Fely will have to go to Manila to attend the CFO, but the problem is I'm expecting the IV fee bill anytime and I don't have the money right now to send to Fely to go to Manila (she already used up the money I sent to her for her 4 unsuccessful trips to NSO and DFA). And so we'll probably have a delay while she obtains all the papers we need to send to NVC. Ugh!
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-23 14:50:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
Ouch, Fely now says they won't give her a new passport or change her name until she attends the CFO. So there's another wasted trip, 4 out of 4. I need to see what docs I need to send to her first. She's pretty much on her own here, doesn't really use the internet to find out about how to do things. This is suddenly so frustrating.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-22 20:07:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
Well Fely's at the DFA in Angeles City right now. She went yesterday to get her passport name changed and hopefully get the certification required for her ITIN. But after standing in line for over 4 hours, she didn't get in, they were so busy. So she stayed overnight, I think she said sleeping in a sitting position. Then she texted me this morning and siad her back was sore and she felt sick. I told her to just go rest somewhere and take care of it later. But she insisted since its a 5+ hour bus ride she had to take care of it right now. I wish I could do something to help her, but of course cannot. I just hope she has more luck with DFA then she had with NSO, having been to their office three times to get our marriage certificate and still doesn't have it.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-22 19:10:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Hi,

No it not necessary to go to cfo for that. Just go to where you got the passport, with your nso marraige paper. Tell them you want a NEW passport...some offices will tell you you just need a stamp or something in the old passport, or try to convince you you dont need to change it to married name (i dont know why they do this...we pay for it). Anyway, you just get a new passport with married name. Not changing it will not present problems so long as you have your marraige papers. We had it changed so that the name would match across the board...and in my opinion...makes the marraige look more sincere.


When we returned to PI from our honeymoon, the officer at the POE gave my wife a lecture because she had not changed her passport to her married name yet. Don't know why he thought it would even have been possible by that time, as we're still waiting for the NSO to officially register our marriage after 5 months. Last Friday she was told that she has to go to the Manila office to get her marriage certificate. At least once in Manila she'll be able to take care of that, plus the passport change, new NBI, and all the other papers we'll be needing very soon.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-11 19:15:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
News flash! I too have my interview scheduled for this coming February 13th. Can you believe it?

Okay, it's not for the visa, it's a job interview.

Actually I really just wanted to wish everyone with their upcoming interviews good luck. I do the CO's are in good spirit for this Valentines's Day week.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-11 00:44:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Hi,

Star, yes i'm sure. You said that notaries are ot allowed to notarize US documents...you may be correct, however in this case they are not notarizing US documents...they are notarizing (authenticating) philippine documents....philipine passport and other form of philippine picture id.

Robor, the passport is mentioned in the list as you can see in the below quote taken from the instructions..its mentions VISA in the list...that is the passport (cant have a visa without passport...:) ) Don't know who told you dfz was only place that could notarize these things but that is not correct....we had a notary from Jasmins work do it. The instructions and the irs people i talked to just say to have it notarized....thats all...as you can see below.

Just trying to save you guysa lot of hassle and money....color copy is only a few pesos and regular notary just brato...no need to pay more!!

Jazzy


Again I ask if your wife has successfully received her ITIN. I have read the IRS page you refer to, and also the page I provided a link to about obtaining an ITIN from abroad. And it clearly states that the notary must either be authorized by the U.S., or be in a country which is a member of the Hague Convention, which the Philippines is not.

"There are 13 documents that can be used to prove foreign status and identity. A foreign passport is the only one that can stand alone (i.e., establishes both foreign status and identity). If a passport is submitted, there is no need to submit any other documents. If a passport is not submitted, a combination of at least two other documents, with at least one containing a photograph, must be submitted with the ITIN application. The IRS will accept copies of original documents, if the copies have been properly certified or notorized by:

"the government agency (foreign or domestic) which issued the documents,
employees of the U.S. State Department located in U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, or
a U.S. notary public who is allowed under U.S. state law to notarize foreign documents.
It is strongly recommended that, if possible, authorized "copies" of documents be sent in lieu of "originals".

"In addition to the above, there is an alternative procedure for notorizing original documents when an individual resides outside of the United States. The United States is an official signatory of a multilateral agreement issued in 1961 known as THE HAGUE CONVENTION ABOLISHING THE REQUIREMENT OF LEGALISATION FOR FOREIGN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS ("The Hague Convention"). This agreement is one of many such multilateral agreements issued under the auspices of The Hague Conference on Private International Law, an organization of 65 member states whose official purpose is to, as much as possible, standardize certain legal procedures among nations in order to expedite international legal, commercial, and personal matters. You may find the complete texts of all the Hague Conventions at: List of Hague Conventions.

"One of the Hague Conventions is called the " CONVENTION ABOLISHING THE REQUIREMENTOF LEGALISATION FOR FOREIGN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS"

"After the Hague Conference issues a convention on a certain subject, then each nation that wishes to avail itself of its provisions must become an official signatory in order for the provisions of the convention to apply in that nation. The United States is an official signatory of this convention. Translations of this convention into certain foreign languages may be found at: Translations. The complete list of the nations which are signatories of the Hague Convention mentioned above may be found at: Signatories.

"Under the provisions of this Hague Convention, an individual in one signatory country who is required to present certified copies of certain documents to government officials of another signatory country may have these copies of documents certified, not by the agencies which issued the documents but rather by certain "competent authorities" of each country listed at the latter website noted above. These competent authorities will complete a one-page form known as an "apostille", which they will then either sign or impress with a seal. This apostille can then be attached to the copies of the documents needed by the other government, and serves as a legal authentication of the signatures on the documents, a certification of the capacity in which the person signing the documents has acted, or as a certification of the identity of the seal or stamp which is on the documents. The attachment of this apostille to the copies of the documents avoids the necessity of having the copies of the documents certified by the government agencies which issued them, or by diplomatic or consular officers of either government, and it avoids having to send the originals of the documents to government officials of the other country.

"Thus, in the case of an individual who lives abroad and who is filing Form W-7 with the IRS Service Center to apply for an ITIN, instead of attaching his/her original passport, national identity card, birth certificate, etc. to Form W-7, he/she can attach "copies" of these documents to Form W-7 accompanied by an apostille properly signed or sealed by one of the appointed competent authorities of his own nation. A model apostille may be found at: Apostille."
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-10 08:03:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Hi,

As far as the ITIN, w-7, and taxes are concerned. You can go to dfa office but its NOT necessary. You guys can save yourselves alot of time and aggrivation by just making a color photo copy of passport and a second picture id like drivers licience and just have it notarized...no need for special dfa certification ect....the w-7 and 1040 must be signed by the philippine spouse. You can have sign the forms and fill them out when they arrive in the mail. The w-7 along with notarized copy is sent along with 1040 to the address indicated in the w-7 instructions, not to the usual tax processing center.

Jazzy


Jazzy, are you sure about this? That is, have you filed your taxes with W-7, and your wife received her ITIN? The reason I ask is because what I have read says that the notaries in the Philippines are not authorized to notarize U.S. documents per the Hague Convention.

http://www.irs.gov/b...d=96690,00.html

Besides getting the certified document from the DFA, you can also use obtain help from abroad using an Acceptance Agent, and the only one in the Philippines is in Angeles City.

http://www.irs.gov/i...d=96906,00.html

And here is the link the the IRS ITIN page for those wondering what we are talking about.

http://www.irs.gov/i...d=96287,00.html
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-09 21:58:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

:help: my husband will apply an ITIN for me... my question is:

is it required that a copy of passport be notarized when applying for ITIN?
do i have to go to US embassy to have it notarized or the public notary will do?


:unsure:

thanks! :help:


I have been dealing with this issue recently myself. The latest I've been able to read is that the officers at the US Embassy are not authorized to notarize a Philippine passport. What is reccomended is to go to the nearest DFA office where the passports are issued, and get a certified copy of your passport. You will receive a copy of the biographic page which has been certified by the DFA. Submit this along with a xerox of the pages of the passport with information or stamps, along with your tax return and the W7 form.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-09 12:41:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
Correct, the DS-230 is for the immigrant visa (CR-1,IR-1), not the K1/K3 which are non-immigrant.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-06 03:12:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

I just received the affidavit of support papers from my sister-in-law, Fely's sister. She is the joint sponsor. There are two mistakes she made on the I-130, and I wonder if they are important enough to have her redo them. First on item 1 she checked e. second of two joint sponsors. She is the only joint sponsor. I figured I'd just white this one out and mark d. only joint sponsor. I doubt this one matters much. The second issue I'm not so sure about. Item 19 she marked "I am a lawful permanent resident. My alien res number is...". But she also sent a copy of her U.S. Passport. Doesn't that make her a U.S. citizen? Does this matter? Should I just leave it and let NVC figure it out? Any thoughts or opinions? Thanks.

Gary, did you mean mistakes she made on the "I-864" and not I-130? I believe your sister-in-law is a USC. US passport is proof of US citizenship. LPRs cannot get US passports if they are not naturalized.

I am not familiar with CR-1 and the I-864 but you may want to read below [highlight mine].

http://travel.state..../info_1328.html

What does the NVC do with the I-864?

The NVC will review the I-864 for technical completeness and correctness. If the I-864 is not technically correct or complete, the NVC will ask the petitioner/sponsor to correct and complete the I-864 a second time. It will explain what is lacking in the previously submitted I-864.


Oops oops oops, yes of course I meant I-864. Hmm, it sounds maybe like the NVC will be picky to a fault, doesn't it? Maybe I will try whiting out the x by permanent resident and put an x at U.S. Citizen. It will still show her alien reg #, but don't see how that could hurt. Thanks for the link PW, I forgot about reading that probably a year or so ago.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-01 23:29:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
I have another question. Actually I should probably post it in the CR-1 forum, but there are many smart people here, so I'll try here first.

I just received the affidavit of support papers from my sister-in-law, Fely's sister. She is the joint sponsor. There are two mistakes she made on the I-130, and I wonder if they are important enough to have her redo them. First on item 1 she checked e. second of two joint sponsors. She is the only joint sponsor. I figured I'd just white this one out and mark d. only joint sponsor. I doubt this one matters much. The second issue I'm not so sure about. Item 19 she marked "I am a lawful permanent resident. My alien res number is...". But she also sent a copy of her U.S. Passport. Doesn't that make her a U.S. citizen? Does this matter? Should I just leave it and let NVC figure it out? Any thoughts or opinions? Thanks.

(By the way, concerning the PAL website, when I made reservations last August it wouldn't accept my credit card either. But then I tried a week later and it was working.)
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-02-01 18:57:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Although I am a doctor, I can only share what I am thinking the way Starprog describes it. Its hard to make a concrete diagnosis without seeing the lesion myself. Since you say that she has this pimple like lesions for awhile, with recurrences and affecting most of her family then I considering acne conglobata vs. furuncle(boils). I would still suggest for you to tell your fiance to seek consult to a dermatologist who will identify the lesion and the predisposing factors causing its recurrences. :)


Okay, well I googled and read about acne conglobata, and that didn't match at all. But I found Hidradenitis suppurativa, and it sounds pretty close. Although I'm not sure why I was able to rid myself of the boils without treatment. That is why I think it's caused by something in her environment. Anyway, I'll ask her again to see a doctor or dermatologist, after she takes care of some immigration paperwork that is urgent. Thanks for the info.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-01-31 06:37:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Okay, I have a question. This may be difficult for anyone to answer, but her goes. Fely is plagued by frequent boils (she call them pimples) on her back. Her entire family gets them, but they have been particularly bad for her since I visited her last May and we both had them. I believe I caught them from her (through intimate contact). Since I have returned to the US, I've stopped getting them (though my scars remain). She goes through periods when she has none, then suddenly several break out. I believe something in her environment is causing them (maybe the water?).

I have been trying to get her to go see a doctor. Probably a shot of penicillan would make them go away. But the scars will remain for a long time. I am now worried, after reading about other's visits to Saint Lukes, that these scars may cause a problem for her when she goes to her medical. These boild are communicable though contact.

The scars that St. Lukes watch out for are cuts that appear to be a "slices" in the following places:

(1) wrists - for sign of suicide attempt

(2) arms - for sign of drug use

(3) abdomen - for sign of caesarean cut and stretchmarks [especially for single ladies who claim not to have given birth]

(4) "down there" - for sign of childbirth

The St. Lukes doctors also routinely ask patients to show them scars left behind by chicken pox.

Does Fely live near the former Clark Air Base? There was an issue there before about toxic wastes left behind by the Base. I would suggest a visit to the dermatologist to identify the cause of the boils or pimples and to prescribe medicines.

I should not worry about the scars at the back Gary. They can be explained away as "galis" (translation? scabies?). Lots of Filipinos get "galis" while growing up. I know I did yaiksss!!! :lol:


Thanks PW (you really do know everything don't you?) and the others that responded. No she does not live near Clark, she's lived at the Zambales coast all her life. Though she did go to college in a town near Mt. Pinatubo (I don't think it exists anymore) and she does go to Angeles City often to sell her bbq sticks. I will definitely have her see a doctor. I keep asking her to go, and she has been to get treated for low blood pressure, but the boils have never come up. I'm just fishing for more information here so I can intelligently let her know what she is dealing with. Wow "galis", haven't heard that before, I'll have to google it.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-01-30 23:12:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

We would like to encourage the "silent majority" of Manila thread and the "lurkers" to join in our discussion. Don't be shy to ask questions. Someone would always try to find answers for you.


Okay, I have a question. This may be difficult for anyone to answer, but her goes. Fely is plagued by frequent boils (she call them pimples) on her back. Her entire family gets them, but they have been particularly bad for her since I visited her last May and we both had them. I believe I caught them from her (through intimate contact). Since I have returned to the US, I've stopped getting them (though my scars remain). She goes through periods when she has none, then suddenly several break out. I believe something in her environment is causing them (maybe the water?).

I have been trying to get her to go see a doctor. Probably a shot of penicillan would make them go away. But the scars will remain for a long time. I am now worried, after reading about other's visits to Saint Lukes, that these scars may cause a problem for her when she goes to her medical. These boild are communicable though contact.

I'm wondering if anyone reading this thread is familiar with this condition. And if so if you know what is involved in curing them. For Fely it has been something she has grown up with and accepts it as normal. But I know that is not the norm for most Filipinos. Any suggestions anyone might have would be appreciated, and if this is something that won't be a problem at the medical, please let me know. Thanks.

Gary
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-01-30 21:07:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
Another thought about the text messages. The last time I visited Fely I noticed that she'd run out of load quickly even though she was only sending 1P messages to her friends and family. Since she always let me carry her phone for her, I got to playing with it one day. And I discovered she was subscribed to several daily "hints" messages from Globe. She thought they were free, and I found otherwise. She was being charged about 10P per day for useless messages. Of course, I unsubscribed her to all of them.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-01-21 00:08:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview

Mike too many factors to give you a definite answer. It depends on the provider (Smart/Globe), depends on whether they are sending the text to your cell with Smart/Globe roam, ur U.S. Cell, using Chikka...etc.
If I remember right it is between 2-3 peso per text via chikka. My daughter's cell is on Smart roam and it is like 3 peso for her friends to text her here in Hawaii but like 20 Peso for her to reply. My Nextel cell charges me 20cents to reply to a text messgae from the PI.
It is a lot cheaper to use Chikka via you computer. Ken

Hi.
I'm curious how much a cell phone text message costs to send from Philippines.

Thanks,
Mike


Yes I agree, Chikka is the cheapest way I've found yet. Although I heard T-Mobile had a cheaper way, but not sure of that. My wife used to send me texts from her Global phone at 15P each, and my replies were 25 cents fro Verizon. We were spending nearly $100/month just for text messages. Then we switched to Chikka. It costs here 2.5P to send a phone message to my email account, and it is free for me to send to her. Now our text messaging costs are negligible. It's not as convenient when it doesn't go to my phone, and it's not always reliable (occasional messages never delivered), but the cost savings is worth it. And if I wanted I could have her messages to me forwarded to my cell phone, but that would cost more.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-01-20 23:30:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionManila Embassy Interview
Well that was cool! I just decided to give NVC a call to see if they have received my petition yet, and sure enough, they received it on Jan 15th. And they sent out the 3032 and AOS fee bill on the same day. Now that just seems too efficient to me. I'm away from home for another week so I won't get my bill until next week. In the meantime I need to try to get Fely to go to the internet cafe and email the NVC for choice of agent. She hates going to use the computer.

Update please, MNL2007508xxx.

Thanks.
StarProgMalePhilippines2007-01-17 02:36:00