Anyone else in the same boat as I am ?

[Jared and May 16]

Teamster, I'm in the same boat as you brother.. My fiancee has stayed at the Bocobo Hotel and absolutely loves it.. I wouldn't have her stay anywhere else at this point.. The only thing that we're doing to try and save a little coin is having her do the CFO while I visit in 2 weeks.. We'll already be in Manila, and then she's flying into JFK after she takes the nursing boards in July..

There aren't too many ways to save a lot of $$$ when you talk about all these flights except for maybe comparing some of the airlines.. Philippine Airlines tends to be a bit more expensive than Cebu Pacific so maybe you'll get lucky and find a cheaper flight that way? Also have her look for promos, sometimes you can get a 1/2 price ticket..

The only other thing is maybe you don't have her sister go with her.. I know how you felt in terms of having her fly alone, but if push comes to shove, I know she can do it.. My Milagros is all of 5'2 and she walks around Manila like she owns it. :thumbs:

Good Luck & God Bless!

[sunsetwishes 1]

how about the BOCOBO hotel ? its on the same street and for every 3 days you stay, you get the 4th day free......

Yes, it is also walking distance to St. Luke's (it's nearer to St. Luke's than CherryBlossoms)but I personally don't know the rate and have not seen the inside of its room. Just let me say this: There are no other hotels nearest to St. Luke's but Hotel Soriente and Paragon Tower Hotel (which are just next door neighbors).

[JeNo 0]

Yes, I was surprised myself why Hotel Soriente is not mentioned, when in fact it is just a few steps away from St. Luke's (only 10 meters or less away). CherryBlossoms is a walking distance away from St Luke's. Meaning, it is several meters away from St. Luke's and there's a not so well-lighted part of the road going to St. Luke's which for me is scary specially if I have to walk alone at dawn. But yes, CherryBlossoms is a few steps away from Robinson's. Another hotel that's just a few steps away from St. Luke's is the Paragon Tower Hotel, just next door to Hotel Soriente, but more expensive due to free breakfast for two (P1,900.00). Both hotels are decent.

So great you post all this info on here... I'm beginning to search for hotels online, it's a great help really, though as for now we're in the "waiting and crossing our fingers stage", hehehe...but ohhhh WOW as I see your timelines---it was awesome, really FAST huh???...GLAD for you...

[sunsetwishes 1]

So great you post all this info on here... I'm beginning to search for hotels online, it's a great help really, though as for now we're in the "waiting and crossing our fingers stage", hehehe...but ohhhh WOW as I see your timelines---it was awesome, really FAST huh???...GLAD for you...

Just sharing what I have experienced so other members would know also. I had "zero knowledge" before about this K1 journey. I just learned (a lot!) from reading the experiences of fellow members here who generously share their experiences too. I'm just paying it forward

[George and Movi 1]

Hi, i'd like to inquire what tests they conduct or perform during the medical? would it take longer than a day? How soon can the results be released granting the medical is clear?

They conduct HIV test, hepa test, chest X-ray, pregnancy test, physical examination and other routine tests. The tests are usually done on the first day and once the applicant records and tests are cleared then the vaccination is done the second day. In our case, my son and I had our vaccination shots, one working day before the interview, so St Luke's gave the sealed medical reports to us and we submitted the sealed envelopes to the US embassy during the interview. However, in the case of my daughter, even if she completed the vaccination 2 days before the interview, the medical report was not given to us to be hand carried. We were told by St Luke's that they will submit it to the US Embassy.Both cases worked for us ( hand carried and not hand carried)

The medical results are completed on the 2nd day as soon as the applicant signed and received a copy of the CD xray and vaccination supplemental report.

Good luck!

[Fudpukker 18]

Ok i think this is what I will have her do, I dont want to cram too much in her head so I will take it slow but here goes:

first trip: do CFO and take medical

second trip: go to interview

third trip: finish off CFO and then leave for Las Vegas

Opinions anyone ?

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I can see that working out pretty good. She could do the last trip by flying to manila in the morning...registering with the CFO and fly out later that evening...but I would just have her register one day and fly out the next morning. That way she wouldnt be too stressed and could get some halfway decent rest (yeah right...hehehe) the night before leaving for the US.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Well, as long as the medical would go without a hitch, she could do the medical and interview in one trip...in a week's time....she could even attend the CFO seminar while waiting on the visa interview. She would just have to register with the CFO after she gets her visa. This may be more cost effective in the end. The only thing that could throw a wrench in that plan is if the chest xray wasnt clear.

I am glad that Mhay was only like 2 hours from manila...she did end up making a few trips. We did a trip for her medical..she had to go back to get her immunizations after her period.....then she went to her interview recently....and will have to go back to register with the CFO to get her sticker after she holds her visa. Not to mention the 2 trips it took her to get her passport renewed. (i think she did 6-8 trips in all to manila...to include her to leave to come with me) It is a lot of travelling for them to get a visa finalized.

Best of luck to you and your fiancee!

Definitely! Streamline and optimize the stay in manila. No need for all the back and forth. Save the $$ for the flight to US.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Ok i think this is what I will have her do, I dont want to cram too much in her head so I will take it slow but here goes:

first trip: do CFO and take medical

second trip: go to interview

third trip: finish off CFO and then leave for Las Vegas

Opinions anyone ?

That will work...

[sunsetwishes 1]

Ok i think this is what I will have her do, I dont want to cram too much in her head so I will take it slow but here goes:

first trip: do CFO and take medical

second trip: go to interview

third trip: finish off CFO and then leave for Las Vegas

Opinions anyone ?

[shing 0]

My husband filed I-130 for spouse at Manila USA Embassy Feb 16. We called after 2 months. They say papers still being reviewed. Last Monday embassy said our papers are in final review. Anybody know what the embassy next steps are?

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Have you done the medical? Do you have a case number? Do you have the affidavit of support done along with the DS-230 package?

I would push the embassy with more questions as they didnt send my wife the interview notice until the 6th of april (that is when she received it) and it had a medical on the 8th and interview on 15 April.

Edited April 18, 2010 by Scott and Mhay

[JT114881 2]

Take the medical as early as possible. You never know if they are going to force you to undergo a sputum test or falsify your sputum results.

Yes I am bitter.

[tallcoolone 102]

yeah alot of travelling, I sometimes wish my Fiancee lived in Manila or its surrounding cities...........

Many of the girls from Manila are too fast

Those province girls are the best.......

[Kevin-n-Merlaine 14]

ahahhaa Well there's TCO! I've been watching locked up abroad for weeks hoping to see what happened to ya! You escape or did they let you out??