trying to be upbeat

[southcalhog 43]

yes, I am taking PAL and southwest. Because of this being POE, I was being concious of the time to get through customs. SFO and LAX just have the arrival and departure within an hour of each other. Las Vegas would be good had I taken Us Airways ( might still book with them and keep the southwest for later). Southwest does not offer transfer service so I have to claim the bags. I talked with SLCMEC a couple of times via email. The vaccinations and TB shot should outweigh any concerns they may have. However, the information I have is always subject to the medical staff on duty. Nothing is a given. I just know there is no history of TB in her area.

As for work, I told my manager the amount I am out of, and the fact 99% is non-refundable. He also knows how much I was looking forward to this. then you to the fact this all happened right around my birthday.... i thought last year was bad.... Can we suspend birthdays for awhile????

Darren just curious? Why are you having the POE at San Francisco, then change plans to LA, then Phoenix? Seems to me like a lot of changing Planes. I know the POE for you will have to be either San francisco, LA, or LasVegas, then cant you get just one change to Phoenix? I have flown Southwest to phoenix many times!

[bigdog 376]

So just after making all of my travel plans and bookings, the guy who works with me at the site serves his 2 week notice. (and I leave in 3 weeks for vacation.) Had I waited 24 hours more to book, I could easily have just adjusted things until we find someone. Now, I have spent all of this money. The hotels are at peak season. Hotel cost is about $1500. two rooms in manila for 6 days, 1 room in butuan for 9 days. (and it was hard getting a room at the hotel un butuan.) The airline tickets are non-refundable. Airline tickets alone were $3309 (round trip for me, one way for her, and 4 round trip flights between butuan and manila, of which I used my frequent flier miles to get two free round trip tickets.) So now I am in the hole for $4500 if my job tells me I cannot go plus I gave my word. She is going around saying how she is leaving shortly.

Start rescheduling and re booking, explain to everyone.

[∞♥ 17]

A common-sense reminder from the U.S. Embassy Manila:

Do not finalize arrangements for travel to the United States, dispose of properties, or resign from your job until a visa has been issued and delivered to you.

My link.

No doubt! You never know what kind of monkey wrench is going to be thrown in the works...might as well play it safe. Nothing in life goes as planned.

Had I jumped the gun and made plans months in advance, I would have definitely been out a lot of money and possibly lost my fiancee. She didn't pass her LET exam and her parent's house burned down. If she had passed her exam, she would have been home in the house when it caught fire...who knows what would have happened. The LET is real important to her, so she is staying until she can take it again and then flying here 2 days later. It was crushing to me at the time learning she wouldn't be here when I expected...but all things happen for a reason.

Darren, try to stay positive about your trip and possible delays...it will work out.

[tmma 467]

Yes, I am aware I may fly home alone. Nothing is impossible. However, I hope we have avoided the Spetum test by her having her TB immunization 3 months ago. (I paid for her TB immunization and some other major immunizations as well.) We have done a lot while waiting to get her ready for St. Lukes. when I saw her x-ray, I am glad we got her the TB shot.

.........

Can you ' avoid the sputum test' requirements by merely being immunized?.

Also it's worrying that there was a ' blemish' on her x-ray, as it's my understanding that the 'TB shot' won't do much if TB is already present. A sputum test would have solved this and for just the cost of the test and antibiotics if needed. I hope this does not pose a problem for her at the medical or interview. Why didn't she just do the sputum test?

Edited August 14, 2011 by tmma

[A and T 82]

Sounds like your job is trying to screw you over, i wouldn't put up with it. I would tell the boss things are planned and you are going like it or not

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

[gretchen_darren 67]

if they had a problem during her check-up, the clinic would have given her the spetum test. You cannot get the TB immunization shot while having any traces of TB. You have to be clean of all TB. She also has her Hep A shots and a few others. (3 months of Hep A done)

I am hoping all goes well. We have done a lot of prep work. I just know I had planned two short trips (one for embassy and one weekend 3 weeks later), but asked my manager for his input and we decided on one long trip. (If she has to go through a procedure at St. Lukes, I do not know what we will do. I am just taking one step at a time. Believing she will p[#### St. Lukes and the embassy and CFO

[gretchen_darren 67]

oh and I am going through vegas to philippines. SFO and LAX are other options, but not enough time on the way back, not for first entry.

[TiklingGuy 211]

What are your plans after the interview as far as, where is she going to be when she receives her visa from the 2go service? Monreal stayed in Manila just to avoid any mail complications. I didn't trust the mail would get her visa all the way across the islands. She did her interview on a wednesday and had her visa in her hand the following wednesday.

[gretchen_darren 67]

we are staying in manila through Saturday morning. Just in case anything goes awry and we need an extra day or two. I am also hoping the CO might let us pick up at the embassy. (I am taking my college schedule plus work schedule hoping the CO will allow the pickup at the embassy. I do not expect to be able to pick up at the embassy but no harm in asking though.)

We are going back to butuan on Saturday and wait out the visa if it ships. We will track it on 2go to know when to be at the village for it to be delivered. We expect delivery around 5 to 8 days after interview at the village. Her parents will be with us in manila. So if something comes up, we can discuss and deal with it right then. We can make plans and execute those plans.

As for CFO sticker, I have options: a) we get before leaving manila because we got visa from embassy, B) we get on departure through manila NAIA terminal 2, C)after getting visa delivered, we fly to manila next morning and get sticker, then fly back in the afternoon/evening. d) take a ferry to cebu and back.

our POE is vegas, (airbus A340-300) Vegas gives us more options for flights and times to phoenix. I have allotted 3 hours, but there are a couple of later flights if we need it. If we get done quickly, southwest might put us on an earlier flight. Plus Vegas flight is less layover at manila. SFO and LAX only gave us an hour to get through customs, drop bags, go through security, and get on the plane. I love the 777 and 747 but just not enough connection time in US. (In SFO, it might be possible as I have done it. But I have heard customs interviews you. So all bets on SFO are off. LAX there is just no way. I could fly another airline, but means changing terminals in manila, which I do not like. Also, we could change planes in Vancouver making POE Phoenix, but only have one hour to change planes and from the layout of Vancouver, it looks like a nightmare to get through.) What I like most about PAL is I drop my bags in butuan, and do not see luggage until US Customs.

[gretchen_darren 67]

A common-sense reminder from the U.S. Embassy Manila:

Do not finalize arrangements for travel to the United States, dispose of properties, or resign from your job until a visa has been issued and delivered to you.

My link.

:rofl: :rofl:

This is to just GET her to the embassy ON TIME. :bonk: with medical, CFO, and embassy. This is not to bring her home (although I can hope. the bring her home is only one small part of the trip.) The main thrust of the trip is finishing the Embassy interview plus spending time together before she comes to America.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Now, I have spent all of this money.

The airline tickets are non-refundable. Airline tickets alone were $3309...

the airlines charge a penalty of $200 per booking (or section) for changing dates. If just $200, it is $600. If it is per leg, well it gets quite expensive at 10 legs.

A common-sense reminder from the U.S. Embassy Manila:

Do not finalize arrangements for travel to the United States, dispose of properties, or resign from your job until a visa has been issued and delivered to you.

My link.

I know I am counting on her having the visa on time as well.

:rofl: :rofl:

This is to just GET her to the embassy ON TIME. :bonk: with medical, CFO, and embassy. This is not to bring her home (although I can hope. the bring her home is only one small part of the trip.) The main thrust of the trip is finishing the Embassy interview plus spending time together before she comes to America.

Whatever you say !!!

[tmma 467]

Whatever you say !!!

...but it's 'not the main thrust' of the trip.....

[Tahoma 2,292]

She is going around saying how she is leaving shortly.

...but it's 'not the main thrust' of the trip.....

Darren's fiancée might be surprised to hear that !!!

[tmma 467]

Darren's fiancée might be surprised to hear that !!!

: 0 X ......must resist. typing.....must. leave.thread.now.