Arrived in Honolulu!

[Weatherman 0]

We arrived via Hawaiian Airlines in Honolulu from Manila about 11:00 Honolulu time. We deplaned and went upstairs and outside to ride a little bus called the 'Wiki-wiki". This took us to the Immigration hall. There were staff people directing us where to go.. "First time Immigrants?...to the left, all the way down straight ahead". We went up to the counter and I gave the Immigration Officer all of our passports, including mine, my wife and daughter Visa packages, and the xrays. The IO had us sit and wait a minute, then called my wife and daughter (and I went along, LOL) up to the counter for biometrics( fingerprinting and signature). Then, he had us sit down while he went behind his booth and processed their case paper work. There were a few K-1s and some other IV being processed from the same plane as well. The K-1's went a little quicker, but maybe it had to do with the individual IOs.

Anyway, after about 15-20 minutes of him processing (I watched him read through the papers from the envelope, looking at the computer, writing on some forms, etc, then I KNEW it was ALL GOOD when I saw him stamp their Passports), he called us back to his counter. He told us we had to Remove Conditions starting at 21 months before two years expired, and had my wife and daughter both sign the form ackowledging that they were told they need to Remove Conditions. He confirmed our mailing address for Green Card, and told us the stamped visa would serve as that for the time being until they come in the mail. He said they may take up to 6 months to come. He also gave us some SSN forms and told them to apply. I asked about getting two numbers since we had asked for numbers on the DS-230. He said, "No, you can apply" I said "Ok", but I'm skeptical, hahaha.

***Personal Editorial Comment: After reading several experiences here on VJ, and having lived through it today, I am thinking the best way to get the SSN is to NOT ASK for one on the DS-230, and just apply and get one after getting to America. Just my opinion, but it would make sure you would not get two, and you would also KNOW that it was being processed at the SSN office instead of wondering when it will come in the mail and how long you should wait before going to SSN to apply in person anyway. YMMV and other opinions are just as valid. I'm not a lawyer or US immigration expert, so take this only for what it is... my opinion***

After clearing Immigration (Supervisor IO lady named Mary said "Welcome to America!!" as we were going down escalator) we went to go get our luggage and clear customs. The Customs and Hawaiian Airlines Staff had already collected our bags, cleared us through customs, and had our luggage waiting for us on a two luggage carrying racks!! WOW!!!! All I had to do was hand the Customs Officer the form I had already prepared on the plane...and I don't think he really did anything with it...it was just a formality that he figured he should collect it since it was out in my hand, LOL.

Now, for a little bit of feedback for the VJs to be aware of...

1. Some of the IO's are not clear in their questions or directions. Example: They asked my daughter (she is 9) "Can you write your name?" Of course she nodded her head..so he told her to write her name. Luckily, my wife knew he really meant SIGN her name and she needed to put her SIGNATURE...so they did not have to redo her form like they did for one of the other family's kids... he followed the directions and WROTE his name instead of SIGNING... so they had him redo when they noticed. They asked another girl who was clearing (a K-1)... "Do you have all your luggage?" She of course said "No", because her checked luggage was still waiting for her in customs, LOL. What they meant was do you have all your HAND CARRIED items that you brought with you from the plane into the Immigration Hall, which she DID HAVE. When she said "NO", he said, "Well get all your things". She got a confused look and i knew she was thinking, "How can I get my things from customs from in here??" They were just making sure we did not forget some hand carried item before we left the Immigration hall. I piped up to help clear that up before it got too comical or ugly.

2. One young lady and her mother were arriving 4 days AFTER their husband/father had travelled and cleared for some personal reason. The Husband had the Marriage Certificate with HIS package and there was not a copy in the wife/daughter package (***HOW does this happen???? I am amazed actually.***) So, all VJ should make sure they have a photocopy at minimum of all of their official diocuments like marriage, birth cert, etc etc in their hand carry just to make sure there are no problems at the end. I AM NOT SAYING TO BRING A HUGE PACKAGE WITH ALL OF THE EVIDENCE YOU BROUGHT TO THE VISA INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT BRING A HUGE PACKAGE!!!!! They went to secondary and it looked bad for a few minutes that they would not be allowed to clear and enter because of a simple issue. They called the supervisors and they all worked it out...they ended up using daughter's Birth Certificate because it listed the Husband as the Husband of the mother and Father of the daughter. They were trying to find evidence of Husband/Wife relationship. If she had copy of Marriage cert in her hand carry... she could have showed it and the question could have been solved by the original IO instead of causing a freak out, LOL. I am quite certain that if they had been VJers, they would have had copy, LOL. In the end, everybody in our plane cleared, but the Wife/Daughter had to rebook their follow on flight since it took so long. The Hawaiian Airlines Staff were waiting for all of "Their People" to clear customs and took them to the ticket counter to rebook another flight. ***From the stories, it is pretty clear to me that all of the Airlines do this...they kind of serve as sherpherds from the background and come forward if their is a clearance problem for any of their flock, etc****

I also seems to me that the IOs are just trying to do their jobs and want to keep feeding the machine... collect the forms, get the fingerprints, check the forms and computer, stamp the visas, say "Welcome to America" and "Next, Please!". The sooner everybody clears, the sooner they can take a break and wait for the next plane load until their shift is over.

3. Throughout our IV Petition experience I have had the building feeling and now that it is complete I KNOW that the average VJer who comes here and researches and asks for help from other VJs KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE RULES AND THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS AS A WHOLE THAN MANY OF THE OFFICIALS WHO ARE WORKING TO PROCESS YOUR VISAS. So, that is a benefit of being a VJ and this forum...use it to your advantage and don't get freaked out or frustrated. Read the FAM 9!!! (Foreign affairs manual section 9, the "notes" have all the info) and the CFR. Make use of the resources available here.

Anyway, I'm glad we are here in Hawaii. I'm also very glad that I was with my wife and daughter as they entered. I'm also sure they would have cleared fine by themselves...just glad I was there, probably more for me, LOL.

Keep the faith...if you are honestly seeking Immigration Benefits for proper reasons and don't have personal history to keep you out, you will get approved in the end... the only difference is how much time and how many twists and turns your personal Soap Opera takes.

Once again, thanks to all, and keep paying it forward.

Good Luck and God Bless.

[Donna A 4]

lucky you to be in hawaii. beautiful place...congratulatons

[DARUMA07 25]

Congratulations! Wishing you many many Happy Years together.....

[sara..... 371]

what a wonderful ending to a beautiful story congratulations :dance: :dance:

[phil and nanz 0]

congratulations and god bless you and your family

nanz

[KC♥MP 0]

Congratulations!!! . Wishing you and your family a lifetime of happiness!!!

[jego ryu 0]

WISH U ALL THE BEST AND LUCK .....GODBLESS

[Abby-Ron 8]

Congrats and welcome to the US. We hope to vist Hawaii soon for vacation once we start saving money from my new job...

[AllRightsReserved 0]

Congratulations on your smooth arrival.

VJ....

[lokashadow04 0]

"Congrats"!!!!!

God Bless,

Irene

[MrsCat 6]

Congrats! Great review.

I'll be moving to the Big Island in a couple weeks. However our POE will be in WA. Hopefully it goes as well.

[Dakine 26]

Just wondered if IO in Honolulu took their Xrays as they have been known to do.

[Weatherman 0]

Just wondered if IO in Honolulu took their Xrays as they have been known to do.

Yes, they kept their Xrays.

[Dakine 26]

Just wondered if IO in Honolulu took their Xrays as they have been known to do.

Yes, they kept their Xrays.

Only reason I can come up with for taking them is maybe they make a buck recycling them!!

Anyway! Aloha nui loa to you and your family here in Hawaii.