Jump to content

27 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Posted

Definitely start with a used car.. Thank God I was a Manila driver before I came here. The only bad part was I was so used to honking in Manila and I had to learn to tone it down when I got here. Haha :)

Lmao! I feel you.

I was a Manila driver too and I have just learned how to be patient on the road over here. Way back home, my horn was so jaded like a bus drawing attention for passengers. lol .

I used my Phil license to drive around the city where we were living, then I read the Driver's handbook for the state of Louisiana, but I got my driver's permit from another state for "work" related purposes then came back to Louisiana to get my actual driver's license.

The hardest part of learning to drive here in the States for me is on the Interstate. I was not used of driving with a 5 lane highway in just 1 direction, oh how I hate merging lanes, (seems some people doesn't know who does and doesn't have the right of way sometimes) with people cutting in front of you and breaking before you know it and basically learning how to figure out what was posted on those boards along the road (Exits, highway numbers).

As for the husband teaching the wife thingy, we have had few episodes of howling and pointing fingers with each other inside the car while he was teaching me, but I'm thankful that he is patient enough to teach me to drive the US way, and he let loss of me so early. Thankfully, I never hit a thing, nor a wreck , tickets, or whatsoever. :)

F2A

Petitioner (My Mom)

Beneficiary (My Sister 18 y.o)

06-07-19- Sent I-130

06-11-19- NOA1

02-19-20- "Initial Review, Transferred to another Visa Center"

03-11-20- APPROVED!!!

Posted

I personally drove quite well in Manila for my 30 hours of driving lessons with A1. I've always been a "backseat driver" so even my first hour was easy except for the usual beginner's trouble with the clutch which I got better at pretty quickly too. I was navigating through difficult streets and highways even before my 10th hour, that my instructor allowed me to go to more difficult areas earlier than usual.

However, when I got here, my husband was just more scared of me driving that he was more nervous than I ever was (even compared to my first time behind the wheels in Manila). He tried to teach me how to drive in a parking lot, but he got impatient and couldn't understand at first how much trouble I was having with his very very old clutch (that actually just gave up this afternoon so he has to replace it tomorrow) that I had a hard time estimating the half-inch difference between full release and half-level, and how much trouble I had estimating distances because I had very poor visibility on his car. It's a 2001 Saturn SC1, a coupe design and more like a sports-car design because you are practically half lying down on your seat.

After a few minutes of arguments and me trying to explain (and him acting like I'm stupid and feeling that I'm the one who wasn't listening to simple instructions even though he was the one who wasn't listening), I finally got him to my seat and to crouch down to my level, for him to see things from my point of view (down below there). He finally realized why I had to align my car to some lines in the street first (on all sides) and compare that to what I can actually see from down that seat (I'm half an inch smaller than 5 feet without shoes), just so that I actually know the dimensions of the car. To me, when the straight line on the road is right below the door level (or wheels) by the passenger's seat, what I can see in front of me (on the front windshield), that line is actually almost to the middle of the windshield, right to a spot by windshield wiper is. When a car is in front of me (2 meters away), I don't see the bottom of the wheels like most people, and I often don't see the top of the wheels or the bumper at all. That's how low I am on that seat. After that, he finally understood how difficult things are for me, especially with the bad clutch and the added trouble of me having to point my feet forward just to push the pedals all the way down.

We finally decided that I wouldn't drive that car until maybe the clutch has been changed (which I am now thankful that it would finally get replaced this week or the next), and I would instead try to drive the Wrangler jeep when he gets the chance to teach me to drive it. The jeep may prove to be better for me because it's higher and has more visibility, and although it is less responsive, it is smaller and the wheels are closer together so it is so much easier to maneuver especially into tight spaces. I am looking forward to driving the jeep (although it's a guzzler) and maybe even the Saturn when the clutch is finally replaced. I am not worried with the streets and freeways itself, because they look to be so much easier than the streets and highways I drove in while I was in Manila.

I am still looking over for a better car for me though, and I plan to buy one next year. Suggestions on the perfect car for me are welcome. Here are my requirements:

- better visibility (especially for a small girl like me) so it should be a little higher from the floor but still reachable for my short feet

- hopefully good with fuel & mileage, so I just might get a electric hybrid although they don't seem to be stable yet

- simple things inside (as I don't need a radio and all those fancy things), although a bluetooth for my phone (and the navigator in the phone) would be great

- low maintenance as I don't know much about cars

- hopefully cheaper (15-24K) and I don't care if they are older

Your comments and advice is very much welcome!

Thanks!

-Kezia

2009/12/30 - Met online

2010/03/27 - 1st Visit to the Phils

2010/04/03 - Left the Phils back to the US

2010/05/__ - Engagement (unofficial)

2010/07/19 - Filed I-129F

2010/07/27 - Check cleared

2010/08/21 - 3rd Call to USCIS call center, finally got our Case #, still no mail

2010/09/01 - NOA1 official date

2010/09/07 - NOA1 received, FINALLY!!!

2010/10/06 - Touched (expedite request callback from USCIS, giving us the requirements)

2010/10/07 - Finally got the papers from the doctor and submitted requirements for expedite

2010/10/07 - Touched with callback

2010/10/14 - USCIS website says it's APPROVED!!! mailed

2010/10/19 - received at NVC

2010/10/21 - NVC sent documents to the US Embassy in Manila

2010/10/23 - 2nd Visit the the Phils, touchdown in Manila & flight to Samar, Pamamanhikan for brunch, Engagement Party for dinner

2010/10/24 - Picnic with close family and friends

2010/10/25 - Engagement Party with family in Manila

2010/10/26 - Leave the Phils back to the US

2010/11/22 - Interview at the US Embassy in Manila - VISA APPROVED!!!

2010/12/30 - POE in Las Vegas. TOGETHER AT LAST!

2011/03/06 - Married in Las Vegas

2011/05/03 - AOS, EAD & AP filing date

2011/05/11 - NOA1 for all

2011/05/24 - successful walk-in biometrics (originally 6/10)

2011/06/20 - got online status update and hardcopy of interview appointment dated 6/16 but scheduled for 7/26

2011/07/22 - AP approved, EAD card in production

2011/07/26 - AOS interview. RFE coz they LOST MY MEDICAL!!! GRRR!

2011/07/30 - EAD/AP combo card in the mail

2011/10/21 - finally got my GREENCARD after several complaints all over the place

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

I personally drove quite well in Manila for my 30 hours of driving lessons with A1. I've always been a "backseat driver" so even my first hour was easy except for the usual beginner's trouble with the clutch which I got better at pretty quickly too. I was navigating through difficult streets and highways even before my 10th hour, that my instructor allowed me to go to more difficult areas earlier than usual.

However, when I got here, my husband was just more scared of me driving that he was more nervous than I ever was (even compared to my first time behind the wheels in Manila). He tried to teach me how to drive in a parking lot, but he got impatient and couldn't understand at first how much trouble I was having with his very very old clutch (that actually just gave up this afternoon so he has to replace it tomorrow) that I had a hard time estimating the half-inch difference between full release and half-level, and how much trouble I had estimating distances because I had very poor visibility on his car. It's a 2001 Saturn SC1, a coupe design and more like a sports-car design because you are practically half lying down on your seat.

After a few minutes of arguments and me trying to explain (and him acting like I'm stupid and feeling that I'm the one who wasn't listening to simple instructions even though he was the one who wasn't listening), I finally got him to my seat and to crouch down to my level, for him to see things from my point of view (down below there). He finally realized why I had to align my car to some lines in the street first (on all sides) and compare that to what I can actually see from down that seat (I'm half an inch smaller than 5 feet without shoes), just so that I actually know the dimensions of the car. To me, when the straight line on the road is right below the door level (or wheels) by the passenger's seat, what I can see in front of me (on the front windshield), that line is actually almost to the middle of the windshield, right to a spot by windshield wiper is. When a car is in front of me (2 meters away), I don't see the bottom of the wheels like most people, and I often don't see the top of the wheels or the bumper at all. That's how low I am on that seat. After that, he finally understood how difficult things are for me, especially with the bad clutch and the added trouble of me having to point my feet forward just to push the pedals all the way down.

We finally decided that I wouldn't drive that car until maybe the clutch has been changed (which I am now thankful that it would finally get replaced this week or the next), and I would instead try to drive the Wrangler jeep when he gets the chance to teach me to drive it. The jeep may prove to be better for me because it's higher and has more visibility, and although it is less responsive, it is smaller and the wheels are closer together so it is so much easier to maneuver especially into tight spaces. I am looking forward to driving the jeep (although it's a guzzler) and maybe even the Saturn when the clutch is finally replaced. I am not worried with the streets and freeways itself, because they look to be so much easier than the streets and highways I drove in while I was in Manila.

I am still looking over for a better car for me though, and I plan to buy one next year. Suggestions on the perfect car for me are welcome. Here are my requirements:

- better visibility (especially for a small girl like me) so it should be a little higher from the floor but still reachable for my short feet

- hopefully good with fuel & mileage, so I just might get a electric hybrid although they don't seem to be stable yet

- simple things inside (as I don't need a radio and all those fancy things), although a bluetooth for my phone (and the navigator in the phone) would be great

- low maintenance as I don't know much about cars

- hopefully cheaper (15-24K) and I don't care if they are older

Your comments and advice is very much welcome!

Thanks!

-Kezia

I don't know much about Japanese car because I am like German cars. But those Hyundai are pretty nice. I think elantra or sonota. They even come with rear view camera. I looked at it for my fiancee just in case. The Hyundai elantra fully loaded with rear-view cam, nav, voice command, etc goes for $18k. The only problem is that they don't come in AWD. Here in New york we get snow and I want something for her good in snow. I think i want for her AWD (All wheel drive).

3.gif

"The perfection/respect/credibility of a man decreases by the number of marriages he has had and by the number of kids he has outside his current marriage. ", Quote by Bite YourDust
  • Met on yahoo chat through a friend.
  • April 2010 - Decided to meet in person
  • 06.01.2010 - She flew from Dubai to Philippines for vacationing
  • 06.21.2010 - We met in Philippines
  • 06.24.2010 - Engaged
  • 06.28.2010 - Came back to USA
  • 07.05.2010 - She flew back to Dubai (work)
  • 08.02.2010 - Mailed I129F to VSC
  • 08.03.2010 - Delivered to VSC. Signed by D RENAUD.
  • 08.09.2010 - Check cashed
  • 08.14.2010 - NOA1 (Dated 08/06/2010)!!!!!!!!
  • 08.19.2010 - Touched!
  • 08.27.2010 - Received snail mail that typographical error was fixed.
  • 10.03.2010 - Touched!
  • 11.21.2010 - Visited her for a week in Dubai!
  • 02.14.2011 - NOA2 Approved on St. Valentine day!!!!!!!
  • 02.17.2011 - Packet left from NVC to ABU DHABI (Dubai)
  • 02.19.2011 - NOA2 hard copy received
  • 02.22.2011 - Packet reached ABU DHABI's consulate
  • 03.02.2011 - packet 3 & 4 received by email
  • 03.02.2011 - Confirmation of Interview on 04.14.2011 -
  • 03.07.2011 - Fiancee passed medical exam.
  • 04.14.2011 - K1-Visa Approved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 04.21.2011 - Picked up Visa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted

One of the best thing when my wife got her driver licenses

I can drink like a fish, and she can drive me home.............

youregonnalovemynutsf.jpg

"He always start the fire here in VJ thread and I believe all people will agree with me about it"

Posted

I was smart enough to hire a driving instructor for my wife. If I would of taught her I would of hurt her feelings and she would of cried. Teaching your wife to drive has disastrous written all over it.

I taught her the basic, start car and gas and brake, I let her drive a couple of time.

I hired a guy who charged $40 per hour that included gas, she took about 3 one hour lessons and then went down and used his car to take the driving test.

She came home with a Driver Licenses, I tosssed her the keys to a car I had purchased her and told her to run to the store and pick me up some food.

I hope she bought you some Beer home with that food?

Was the car in one piece when she arrived?

I plan on doing similiar when my wife learns to drive. :pop:

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

One of the best thing when my wife got her driver licenses

I can drink like a fish, and she can drive me home.............

:rofl: My problem is she likes to drink also. So we will play the alternate game :D

3.gif

"The perfection/respect/credibility of a man decreases by the number of marriages he has had and by the number of kids he has outside his current marriage. ", Quote by Bite YourDust
  • Met on yahoo chat through a friend.
  • April 2010 - Decided to meet in person
  • 06.01.2010 - She flew from Dubai to Philippines for vacationing
  • 06.21.2010 - We met in Philippines
  • 06.24.2010 - Engaged
  • 06.28.2010 - Came back to USA
  • 07.05.2010 - She flew back to Dubai (work)
  • 08.02.2010 - Mailed I129F to VSC
  • 08.03.2010 - Delivered to VSC. Signed by D RENAUD.
  • 08.09.2010 - Check cashed
  • 08.14.2010 - NOA1 (Dated 08/06/2010)!!!!!!!!
  • 08.19.2010 - Touched!
  • 08.27.2010 - Received snail mail that typographical error was fixed.
  • 10.03.2010 - Touched!
  • 11.21.2010 - Visited her for a week in Dubai!
  • 02.14.2011 - NOA2 Approved on St. Valentine day!!!!!!!
  • 02.17.2011 - Packet left from NVC to ABU DHABI (Dubai)
  • 02.19.2011 - NOA2 hard copy received
  • 02.22.2011 - Packet reached ABU DHABI's consulate
  • 03.02.2011 - packet 3 & 4 received by email
  • 03.02.2011 - Confirmation of Interview on 04.14.2011 -
  • 03.07.2011 - Fiancee passed medical exam.
  • 04.14.2011 - K1-Visa Approved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 04.21.2011 - Picked up Visa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

Then finally after months of hubby's convincing me to practice driving through his Xbox driving assimilation game.. found out that tha;s the best way to learn how to drive really.

This has merit because one major difference between the US experience and the Philippines is that people in the US, especially the men, get a lot of practice at similar things - bicycles, bumper cars, mini-bikes, go-carts, video games, etc. that teach a person to think ahead and act in a moving environment before they ever drive a car. A person who has never even ridden a bicycle is going to be blown away just by the terrain moving past them.

Husbands and wives absolutely can be teacher and student. No problem. What it takes is the conscious and sincere agreement between both of you about your attitude. I've been a teacher all of my life. I had the patience and even temper for it, but my wife had a bad attitude about taking directions. We had to make an agreement about her attitude every time we practiced. She had to get rid of the pride and arrogance of thinking she needed to be convinced she should stop and to stop immediately when she heard the word "stop" because it was a life and death matter.

Getting over that attitude has made her capable of driving bulldozers, skid-steers, loaders, four-wheelers, and snow-machines too. One of the things we did that helped was to have her repeat each instruction back to me. If you can't repeat what was just told to you then you weren't listening. Filipinas seem to have a bad habit of saying "yes" when they aren't listening. It's sort of a way to pretend you are being cooperative when what you are really doing in this case is placing people's lives at risk because you aren't even listening to what you are being told.

Posted (edited)

Stereotypes are generalizations or assumptions that people make about the characteristics of all members of a group, based on an image about what people in that group are like. :whistle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noq_oR1a0gs

Edited by Vi-Jay

Be Shrewd! Be Astute and be aware who's watching ya!

Posted

I am so nervous everytime my husband teach me how to drive (para ako hihimatayin lol). Share naman your experience.

hi, i came here may 6 and haven't done anything yet...so maybe next week we will do something to get married..can we exchange experience here?. i know i'm way out of topic but i only want to know what to do here...

Posted

hi, i came here may 6 and haven't done anything yet...so maybe next week we will do something to get married..can we exchange experience here?. i know i'm way out of topic but i only want to know what to do here...

I'd suggest you start a new thread. Ask your questions. You will get lots of answers.

Good Luck! :)

Immigration Timeline Summary

10.21.2008 – CR-1 Visa Application Filed (By Hubby's Sec)
09.04.2009 – Visa Interview | Passed
09.10.2009 – Visa Packet Received
09.17.2009 – US Entry | Home
07.05.2011 – ROC Petition Filed
05.01.2012 – ROC Approved (No Interview)
05.18.2012 – 10-year GC Received
06.19.2012 – Eligible to apply for Naturalization
(procrastinated)
06.24.2013 – N-400 Application Filed
09.30.2013 – Civics Test / Interview | Passed
10.03.2013 – Oath Taking Ceremony | Became a USCitizen!
04.14.2014 – Applied for "Expedite Service" Passport (as PI travel date was fast approaching)
04.16.2014 – Passport Issued & Shipped
04.17.2014 – US Passport Received

Our timeline vanished into thin air.

I've contacted the admin several times but I got zero response.

https://meiscookery.wordpress.com

Posted

When I arrived here I was taking a bus..I almost know all the bus no. by heart..Lol

Eventually, I used my very limited pocket money to enrol in a driving school without my husband knowing it.. . Every time He goes to work, I had my driving lessons - did it for 3 days.

I took the test (without him still not knowing anything) and went home. When my husband arrived from work, I showed the paper license to Him together with my driving test result with 1

mistake on it.

So far, Im doing fine. As much as possible, I avoid driving on Freeways but If I have no choice then I do.

Whenever husband's home, I always let him drive.. It still feels good being on a co-pilot seat after all :)

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

Definitely start with a used car.. Thank God I was a Manila driver before I came here. The only bad part was I was so used to honking in Manila and I had to learn to tone it down when I got here. Haha :)

Hhahhhahahhaahah! Beep! LOL

TIM/MAV K1-JOURNEY
3/27/2007....We first met on myspace
1/30/10 ......My Honey proposed
8/15/10 ......He visit Philippines(2wks) & met my family
12/17/10 ....USCIS received the Filed I-129F for K1-visa
12/21/10 ....Received hard copy,NOA1
5/25/11.......Received RFE
6/09/11.......NOA2 approved
12/07/11.....Visa fee paid at BPI

6/11/13.......2nd visa fee payment
7/10-11/13.. Medical Exam completed@St.Lukes Clinic
1/15-16/14.. 2nd Medical exam updated
1/21/14...... k1 interview-Visa Approved
.....................................................................
8/29/14...... Submitted AOS application
10/03/14.....Biometrics
01/07/15.....Received my EAD card

01/31/15..... I got my SSN from the mail

04/20/15......AOS Interview - Approved :star:

4/24/15 .......Got the Driving Permit Card

4/30/15 .......Green Card Received :) (Exp.4/20/17)

http://youtu.be/BVf45EcdFwQ

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...