NEED Advice 2

[xtianj 10]

I'm in. But she still needs how to know how to get a passport in Iloilo, I can book an appointment for her but a personal appearance is a must. I'm willing to accompany her for her medical and interview at the embassy. She just need to figure out how to travel in Manila and see me. Then we'll both sop in Divisoria for our wedding gowns. All I am asking is McDonalds happy meal.

Hi teapot girl! She can actually do the passport application in Manila. All she has to do is to get enough confidence to get to Manila. I was sixteen years old when I left my town (small and remote) for the first time, all alone, took ship to get to Manila.But everyone is different. I think there is enough sensible advice for Paul already. I just hope the best for them.

[PaulnUsa 19]

Paul, thanks for your response. Because your fiancée is fluent in Ilonggo, I'm thinking it would make sense for you to find someone in Iloilo City who could help her get her NBI clearance, one of the documents necessary to get her passport. It seems that she already is capable of getting her birth certificate from the NSO, and she will need another one to get her passport since she sent her only copy to you.

Once she has both documents, she could go along with the person helping her to the DFA in Iloilo City and apply for a passport. Since this is your fiancée's first passport, she will be required to apply in person at the DFA. If you can't find anyone to help her in Iloilo City (or Bacolod City), she could hire a reputable travel agent in Iloilo City to accompany her when she gets the necessary documents and when she applies for her passport. Good travel agents in the Philippines routinely handle passport matters.

The same person could also help her get her CENOMAR from the NSO and an updated NBI clearance when she's closer to her interview.

This would save you a lot of unpaid time off from work and it would also keep your expenses down. It would also make it easier for your fiancée to get her passport.

Since your fiancée is 18 years old, she will need a letter of consent from her parents in order to get married. The letter simply gives her parents consent for her to marry you. This is not necessarily a requirement of the U.S. Embassy, and they may not ask for it at her interview, but it's part of Philippine law and the CFO will likely ask for it when your fiancée attends their mandatory seminar.

A potential issue at her Embassy interview is her lack of fluency in both English and Tagalog. Most interviews are conducted in English. It's my understanding that some of the consular officers also speak Tagalog. However, I'm not sure they speak enough Tagalog to conduct an entire interview. The Embassy also allows for their interpreter to translate at the interview. However, I'm not sure if they have any Ilonggo interpreters available. They may only have Tagalog interpreters available.

Perhaps a bigger potential issue at her Embassy interview will be whether or not the consular officer believes you have a bona fide relationship with your fiancée since you two don't share fluency in a common language. This is one reason why it would be good for you to attend your fiancée's interview. The Embassy almost always allows a K-1 petitioner to attend their beneficiary's prescreening and interview.

Another thing you can do if you want to play it safe is to bring her parents to Manila for a day in order to wait outside while your fiancée attends the CFO seminar. There's a chance that the CFO people will not only ask her for a letter of consent to get married, but also to speak with her parents.

This is just some food for thought.

By the way, my wife is Ilongo too. We met online. How did you meet your fiancée?

Problem is her parents have 8 other children still at home so not sure if either would be able to make the trip to Manila and I know for sure they know little to no english and no tagalog. I met my finacee online when she was working for a distant cousin or friend of the family. Long story short the person was taking advantage of her so it was best for her to go back home. I spent 60 days with her and her family.

[Mhayonaise 14]

I wished nothing but the best for the OP and his fiancee. Lots of good advices were given already Goodluck!

Edited October 24, 2011 by Mhayonaise

[TeapotGirl 66]

Ann Marie is right, maganok is a great resource. As for NBI and cenomar to each their own but I have always been told even tho valid for year theres a chance the embassy will ask for a more recent one if more than 6 months old at interview. We timed our so only about 4 months old at interview date. Tahoma had a good idea about the parents being around at CFO.

I've heard this too that's one of the reasons why I put on hold the NBI. I already got the CENOMAR and be ready for a newer one in case. They're just a call away anyway. It's just this girl can't get the passport because she doesn't have any ID at all. BC and NBI Clearance will be her bestfriends. Not sure how far did she go to school but she can use the transcript of records to get the NBI.

Hi teapot girl! She can actually do the passport application in Manila. All she has to do is to get enough confidence to get to Manila. I was sixteen years old when I left my town (small and remote) for the first time, all alone, took ship to get to Manila.But everyone is different. I think there is enough sensible advice for Paul already. I just hope the best for them.

If she is here in Manila, I can help her minor papers all done in a week (CENOMAR, BC and Passport). CENOMAR and BC are peanuts but passport, NBI clearance and CFO seminar needs personal appearance. If she will not help herself and Paul, no one could do it.

Edited October 24, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[TeapotGirl 66]

We have a saying here "Pag gusto may paraan, pag ayaw maraming dahilan" meaning "If there's a will, there's a way." If you keep on sending money but nothing is getting accomplished and they won't run out of alibis then I will assume they are using it as a rice and milk subsidy. A person who's in love will do crazy things. If you have to cross mountains and swim oceans you'll do it. I feel that in you Paul, we all do. Hopefully your fiancee has it too. If you make it, your story will be my favorite here on VJ. Goodluck!

Edited October 24, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[Jim N Augie 16]

I've heard this too that's one of the reasons why I put on hold the NBI. I already got the CENOMAR and be ready for a newer one in case. They're just a call away anyway. It's just this girl can't get the passport because she doesn't have any ID at all. BC and NBI Clearance will be her bestfriends. Not sure how far did she go to school but she can use the transcript of records to get the NBI.

Yeah ok I see what you mean, makes sense, BTW it's awesome your both so willing to help

If she is here in Manila, I can help her minor papers all done in a week (CENOMAR, BC and Passport). CENOMAR and BC are peanuts but passport, NBI clearance and CFO seminar needs personal appearance. If she will not help herself and Paul, no one could do it.

[Jim N Augie 16]

Wow...It's surprised me that when applying passport first time in PI, all those things need to prepare. In my country, when apply passport for 1st time, They only asked my birth certificate. The additional papers can be my certificate from my university and employee letter from my work. I wonder why...

Yeah philippines will really jump you thru hoops t every step. In The US I filled out a one page form with a copy of my BC and bout 10 days later my passport was in my mailbox.

[Tahoma 2,292]

applying for a passport for the first time they need any school id elementary/highschool/college, yearbook/ library card.postal id not allowed -- don't know why. but they honor Philhealth wc anyone can apply just pay the fees even she doesn't have a work. birth certificate, nbi, voters id if non she can bring voters certification. copy of form 137 from elementary, college transcript, any ids with a picture of her will do.also live birth from civil registrar. she has to bring everything what she can show so she wont keep coming back on forth.

:thumbs: Agreed.

[Tahoma 2,292]

I've heard this too that's one of the reasons why I put on hold the NBI. I already got the CENOMAR and be ready for a newer one in case. They're just a call away anyway. It's just this girl can't get the passport because she doesn't have any ID at all. BC and NBI Clearance will be her bestfriends. Not sure how far did she go to school but she can use the transcript of records to get the NBI.

If she is here in Manila, I can help her minor papers all done in a week (CENOMAR, BC and Passport). CENOMAR and BC are peanuts but passport, NBI clearance and CFO seminar needs personal appearance. If she will not help herself and Paul, no one could do it.

Agreed.

[paul_kay 31]

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Edited October 27, 2011 by paul_kay

[paul_kay 31]

Sorry to hear about your situation. I speak Ilonggo too. I agree about mag-anak.org as a good source of help. Some members from the website helped me go through the consular processing.

Did you take lots of pictures? If yes, that will be a great help with your case. Chat logs are considered minor evidence and will be needed more in the embassy interview but for the I-129F, all you need are pictures, entry stamps, itineraries and receipts as proof of meeting within the last 2 years.

Guimaras is near Bacolod and Iloilo too. I got my BC, CENOMAR and NBI in Bacolod and it was very easy for me. For BC - 1 day, CENOMAR- 3 days, NBI-2 days (supposed to be 1 day but they ran out of ink).

I got my passport in Bacolod as well and I was asked for only 1 school ID and an old ID that shows my face because I was a student back then and had no govt IDs. They also asked for my Birth Cert and Baptismal Certificate. You can expedite it. Got mine in 3 weeks and paid P1,700.

It may be hard for her family but I hope at least one of them will take time off to accompany her because she will be needing a lot of moral support.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Paul.......Here's a good thread regarding passports: click here.

[amerisian 5]

Hi Paul,

I live in Iloilo City and I live very close from NSO ( walking distance) where she can get her birth certificate as well as from DFA where she can apply for a passport, 1 jeepney ride from NBI. If you want too, I can help her in acquiring those civil documents.

Regards,

Speedy

[amerisian 5]

Hi Paul,

Send her in Iloilo and I will meet here and start gathering her documents. I am close to the Port where the boat from Guimaras dock. I can pick her up there, if she wants too. I am renting a small room here in the city which is $3 dollars per day, I guess it is isn't bad for her to stay here as well while we will be doing the paper work or she can stay in our house for a while. The reason I didn't stay in our house because its noisy there. . And my husband wanted me to rent a room to be a in a quiet place while preparing for my visa, that's why I am here.

Regards,

Speedy

[Liliboracay 0]

Hi Paul, I live about 6 hours trip by bus to Iloilo City, I got renewed my passport at DFA Iloilo City last month, where she will get hers also. Let me know how I can help you, it is my pleasure to help. I can use 2 days of my holiday to help her up, or if I need to meet her at Iloilo to accompany her to get her NSO and passport but first she needs to get a valid ID, postal id is very easy.