what is the total cost I need to send Pam?

[charlie&pam 1]

I figure she would have to make 3 trips there!!!! 1 for medical then 2nd for interview then the 3rd for after she gets passport back for the CFO .....WOW I almost forgot about the 4th trip !!!!! to get on an airplane to come home to me!!!!

[Tahoma 2,291]

Charlie...here is a suggested budget:

SLEC medical exam..........................................$213.35.......Php9708

Visa fee at Banco del Oro....................................131.00............5961

Air21 visa delivery fee............................................6.00.............273

CFO seminar and sticker.......................................14.29.............650

Food/restaurants: four trips/seven days in Manila...100.00...........4550

Taxi to get around Manila......................................60.00...........2730

Shopping/manicure/pedicure/waxing/haircut.........100.00...........4550

Going-away party for family.................................100.00...........4550

Pocket money for flight to U.S..............................100.00...........4550

Load: she needs your support................................20.00.............910

Bus fares from province.............................................??...............??

Dental work: less expensive in Pinas............................??...............??

Total..............................................................$844.64.......Php38432

Note: the exchange rate is based on $1:Php45.5...your mileage may vary.

~ Tahoma

[~Johnny~ 27]

I figure she would have to make 3 trips there!!!! 1 for medical then 2nd for interview then the 3rd for after she gets passport back for the CFO .....WOW I almost forgot about the 4th trip !!!!! to get on an airplane to come home to me!!!!

That 4th trip is the most important!!!!

And good thing you're going through this now before the fee increases hit. The visa fee is going to be $350 sometime this year!!

[~Johnny~ 27]

Charlie...here is a suggested budget:

SLEC medical exam..........................................$213.35.......Php9708

Visa fee at Banco del Oro....................................131.00............5961

Air21 visa delivery fee............................................6.00.............273

CFO seminar and sticker.......................................14.29.............650

Food/restaurants: four trips/seven days in Manila...100.00...........4550

Taxi to get around Manila......................................60.00...........2730

Shopping/manicure/pedicure/waxing/haircut.........100.00...........4550

Going-away party for family.................................100.00...........4550

Pocket money for flight to U.S..............................100.00...........4550

Load: she needs your support................................20.00.............910

Bus fares from province.............................................??...............??

Dental work: less expensive in Pinas............................??...............??

Total..............................................................$844.64.......Php38432

Note: the exchange rate is based on $1:Php45.5...your mileage may vary.

~ Tahoma

Hey, I like this chart! Except the manicure, pedicure waxing...$100...oh my!! I know for sure my baby's worth it and you now ..she probably deserves it after that ordeal with St Lukes, CFO and the USEM!! My girl would never ask for it but come to think of it...I'd probably double that number!

[Tahoma 2,291]

^ My sweetheart never asked for anything...but she is most definitely worth everything!

[PhiLandShiR 18]

I think the CFO should be closer to 750...

-P

Charlie...here is a suggested budget:

SLEC medical exam..........................................$213.35.......Php9708

Visa fee at Banco del Oro....................................131.00............5961

Air21 visa delivery fee............................................6.00.............273

CFO seminar and sticker.......................................14.29.............650

Food/restaurants: four trips/seven days in Manila...100.00...........4550

Taxi to get around Manila......................................60.00...........2730

Shopping/manicure/pedicure/waxing/haircut.........100.00...........4550

Going-away party for family.................................100.00...........4550

Pocket money for flight to U.S..............................100.00...........4550

Load: she needs your support................................20.00.............910

Bus fares from province.............................................??...............??

Dental work: less expensive in Pinas............................??...............??

Total..............................................................$844.64.......Php38432

Note: the exchange rate is based on $1:Php45.5...your mileage may vary.

~ Tahoma

[RVIANE♛ 5]

I think the CFO should be closer to 750...

-P

its only 650, 250 for seminar 400 for sticker

[Tahoma 2,291]

^ Dianne...I believe that you are correct. My wife paid a total of Php650 for the CFO seminar and the sticker. Maybe the price went up since my wife went through the process. However, I won't argue over $2.00.

~ Tahoma

[charlie&pam 1]

Charlie...here is a suggested budget:

SLEC medical exam..........................................$213.35.......Php9708

Visa fee at Banco del Oro....................................131.00............5961

Air21 visa delivery fee............................................6.00.............273

CFO seminar and sticker.......................................14.29.............650

Food/restaurants: four trips/seven days in Manila...100.00...........4550

Taxi to get around Manila......................................60.00...........2730

Shopping/manicure/pedicure/waxing/haircut.........100.00...........4550

Going-away party for family.................................100.00...........4550

Pocket money for flight to U.S..............................100.00...........4550

Load: she needs your support................................20.00.............910

Bus fares from province.............................................??...............??

Dental work: less expensive in Pinas............................??...............??

Total..............................................................$844.64.......Php38432

Note: the exchange rate is based on $1:Php45.5...your mileage may vary.

~ Tahoma

ok i am confused about the pocket money for the flight to the us? 100.00 ? if she is getting on the plane and I am meeting her at LAX why so much ????? Also If yuou wanted to add that you should of added the taxes at the airport and also the airfare so now we are looking at about 1500.00 total

[Calypso 464]

They have good suggestions.

It went a little bit more costly for me because I had to travel to and from Cebu.

Although you may send her a specific amount, just get ready for more in case the need arises.

I haven't read if you have already set an interview date, Charlie. Like what most people advise, when the U.S. Embassy receives your case, give it two or three days before calling even without the letter of eligibility to schedule the interview. If you call too soon, they might have not entered the case into their system yet after receiving it. Don't ring them too late either by waiting for a week to receive the letter. My family in Cebu received the Embassy's letter when I arrived in the U.S.

Hakuna matata.

God bless us all.

FAE

[Calypso 464]

As for the pocket money...

I flew from Manila to Hongkong to Los Angeles.

In my wallet was something like Php 2, 000 in cash and $ 100. I made sure that I had money in pesos and in dollars although my precious baby told me to bring all cash in dollars. The stop in Hongkong was about five hours. I only spent $ 9 while waiting in the HKG airport for the flight to LAX. The wait was quite long and I got hungry. Anyway, Cathay Pacific has served really delectable meals.

I flew alone because my baby attended his sister's wedding and couldn't pick me up from the Philippines.

I'm sure you can evaluate this financial matter.

And oh... my baby trusted so much that I could successfully request the CO to let me pick up my visa that he already had my flight ready even before my interview.

Hakuna matata.

God bless us all.

FAE

ok i am confused about the pocket money for the flight to the us? 100.00 ? if she is getting on the plane and I am meeting her at LAX why so much ????? Also If yuou wanted to add that you should of added the taxes at the airport and also the airfare so now we are looking at about 1500.00 total

[Jasman0717 9]

Do like I did, just send her a couple of grand

[Tahoma 2,291]

ok i am confused about the pocket money for the flight to the us? 100.00 ? if she is getting on the plane and I am meeting her at LAX why so much ????? Also If yuou wanted to add that you should of added the taxes at the airport and also the airfare so now we are looking at about 1500.00 total

Have you checked out the overweight baggage fees lately? I'll bet you wouldn't like the thought of your sweetie standing there in tears at the airport with her suitcases open trying to decide what to leave behind on the airport floor because her bags were overweight and you were too kuripot to send her a few bucks.

Also, she might want to eat something, buy a book or some magazines, or maybe even get you a gift.

I enjoyed a chair massage in the airport once before a long flight.

If she spends nothing, then she will have some walking-around money in her pocket when she is in the U.S. You plan to allow her that small luxury, don't you?

One item I forgot to add to the suggested budget: she could throw a respectable barangay-size going-away party for under $400.00. Just sayin'

[marklovetina 52]

Have you checked out the overweight baggage fees lately? I'll bet you wouldn't like the thought of your sweetie standing there in tears at the airport with her suitcases open trying to decide what to leave behind on the airport floor because her bags were overweight and you were too kuripot to send her a few bucks.

Also, she might want to eat something, buy a book or some magazines, or maybe even get you a gift.

I enjoyed a chair massage in the airport once before a long flight.

If she spends nothing, then she will have some walking-around money in her pocket when she is in the U.S. You plan to allow her that small luxury, don't you?

One item I forgot to add to the suggested budget: she could throw a respectable barangay-size going-away party for under $400.00. Just sayin'

B) ...sigh.................

[Jared and May 16]

Have you checked out the overweight baggage fees lately? I'll bet you wouldn't like the thought of your sweetie standing there in tears at the airport with her suitcases open trying to decide what to leave behind on the airport floor because her bags were overweight and you were too kuripot to send her a few bucks.

Also, she might want to eat something, buy a book or some magazines, or maybe even get you a gift.

I enjoyed a chair massage in the airport once before a long flight.

If she spends nothing, then she will have some walking-around money in her pocket when she is in the U.S. You plan to allow her that small luxury, don't you?

One item I forgot to add to the suggested budget: she could throw a respectable barangay-size going-away party for under $400.00. Just sayin'

This is actually a really great point about baggage allowance.. I'm going out in April to grab a few of my sweetie's bags so that she'll have less to carry through when she comes to see me.. She lives in Davao, so I'll have her fly Mabuhay to Manila the day before, then it's 7:30 AM from Manila to Tokyo.. And then Tokyo to NYC.. Can't wait..