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Erick and Marj

Contacting family back home in the Philippines

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

My fiance is wondering what alternative methods are best for contacting family back in the Philippines when the internet connection isn't good. Her family lives in a very rural part of Leyte and sometimes the connection isn't very good so she's wondering about phone services to be able to contact her family to talk to them when she is missing them if the internet connection isn't the best. Anyone have suggestions?

K1 Visa Process: (L) (L) (L) (L) (L)



I-129F Packet Sent: 09/02/2015 (Sent to Dallas, TX Lockbox)


Delivery Confirmation: 09/04/2015


NOA1 Received (Electronic notice): 09/09/2015 (Sent to CSC)


NOA1 Received (Hard Copy): 09/14/15


NOA2 Received: 10/01/2015



NVC Received: Unsure, guessing 10/19/2015 but could have easily been sooner. The NVC does not have that information for me.


NVC Case# Assigned:10/22/2015


NVC Sent to Consulate: 10/26/15



Packet Received: Unsure of date, sometime in November


Medical Exam Dates: 01/25/2016 and 01/26/2016


Interview: 01/28/2016


Visa Status: Approved!!!


Visa Received: 02/08/2016


CFO Seminar: 02/15/2016 (scheduled)


POE: Minneapolis, MN


Arrival at U.S. Immigration: 05/16/2016 (scheduled)



Adjustment of Status Process (L) (L)(L)(L)(L)



I-485, I-765, and I-131 Packets Mailed: 7/23/2016


Delivery Confirmation of all three: 7/29/2016



Adjustment of Status NOA: 8/4/2016


Biometrics Appointment for AOS: 8/26/2016



EAD NOA: 8/4/2016


Biometrics Appointment for EAD: 8/26/2016


EAD Approval Date: 10/12/2016


EAD Mailed Date: 10/27/2016


EAD Received Date: 10/29/2016



AP NOA: 8/4/2016


AP Approval Date: 10/12/2016


AP Mailed Date: 10/27/2016


AP Received Date: 10/29/2016



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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Hello.

Viber. Facebook. Or buy fonecards from asian or mexican/liquor stores. :)

K1 Visa

Service Center :California Service Center

Consulate : Manila, Philippines

I-129F Sent : 12/2014

I-129F NOA1 : 2015-01-05

I-129F RFE(s) :2015-02-16

RFE Reply(s) : 2015-02-26

I-129F NOA2 : 2015-03-04

NVC Received :2015-03-20

Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2015-03-23

NVC Left : 2015-03-25

Consulate Received : 2015-03-27

Interview Date : 2015-04-28

Interview Result : Approved

Visa Received : 2015-05-04

US Entry : 2015-05-18

Marriage : 2015-06-22

???❤️

Adjustment of Status

Date Filed : 2015-06-29

Interview Date : 2015-12-10

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Pakistan
Timeline

My husbands family also lives in a rural area. What we do is buy a Skype subscription and then he can call his family on their regular cell numbers through skype. It is much cheaper than other calling methods I've found, and it's reliable as long as the Internet connection in the us is there, either wifi in the house or using mobile data if we are out.

Edited by Kastrs
Spoiler

 

Married December 19, 2014

I-130 Petition sent January 14, 2015
NOA1 date January 20, 2015 (NSC)

NOA2 date May 28, 2015 :dance::dance::dance:

Mailed to NVC June 4, 2015

NVC Received June 10, 2015

NVC Case Number Assigned June 23, 2015

NVC AoS Invoice via Mail June 24, 2015

NVC Selected Agent Over Phone June 30, 2015 (Unable to logon to CEAC)

NVC IV Invoice via email received July 1, 2015

NVC AoS/IV Package Mailed July 2, 2015

NVC AoS & IV Fee Paid Online (CEAC is working) July 6. 2015

NVC Document Scan Date July 6, 2015

NCV AoS & IV Fee marked as paid in CEAC July, 7 2015

NVC DS 260 Completed July 8, 2015

NVC CC July 30, 2015 (24 days after scan date, about 2 months post NOA2)

Interview Scheduled on August 26, 2015

Interview P4 Email Received August 27, 2015

Medical in Islamabad September 2, 2015

Interview Date September 22, 2015 CANCELLED (Embassy is Over scheduled) :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Interview Scheduled on September 10, 2015

Interview Date October 14, 2015 APPROVED

Visa Issued October 16, 2015, 9 months start to finish

POE JFK October 26, 2015

GC in Hand Jan 8, 2016

RoC I-751 NOA1 August 31, 2017 (Vermont Service Center)

Biometrics October 2, 2017

I551 Stamp in Passport August 2, 2018

18 Month Extension Letter August 3, 2018

Applied for Naturalization N-400 Online July 30, 2018

Biometrics August 23, 2018

10 year GC is in production September 17, 2018

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

My fiance is wondering what alternative methods are best for contacting family back in the Philippines when the internet connection isn't good. Her family lives in a very rural part of Leyte and sometimes the connection isn't very good so she's wondering about phone services to be able to contact her family to talk to them when she is missing them if the internet connection isn't the best. Anyone have suggestions?

if her family has Globe celphone, your fiance can subscribe to this,

http://duo.globe.com.ph/

another option is subscribe to vonage, they have a rate that is for to call from USA to Philippines, all you need is reliable internet to connect your VOIP phone..

https://phone.vonage.com/calling-plans?cvosrc=PPC%20Brand.Google.vonage+call+to+philippines&cvo_campaign=Google+%7C+Vonage+%7C+Consumer+%7C+B+%7C+ILD+-+Regions+%7C+Exact&Matchtype=e&cvo_crid=85310569230&CMP=OBR-IP-VON-GOO-PLANS-OTHER&KW=vonage+call+to+philippines&c3apidt=p8431061292

AOS Journey

1/31/16 - Got married

2/24/16 - AOS, EAD, AP packet sent

2/29/16 - Received Date

3/03/16 - Received text and email notification

3/04/16 - Check cashed

3/07/16 - I-797 hardcopy received

3/19/16 - Biometric scheduled received by mail

4/06/16 - I-485 online status changed to Ready to be Scheduled for Interview

4/15/16 - I-485 online status changed to INTERVIEW SCHEDULED

4/17/16 - Interview Notice hardcopy received

4/28/16 - AP & EAD approval date

5/02/16 - AP approval letter received

5/05/16 - EAD card received

5/17/16 - AOS interview

5/23/16 - Online status changed to CASE APPROVE dated 5/18/16

5/23/16 - Received AOS approval letter in the mail

5/23/16 - Online status changed to CARD WAS MAILED TO ME

5/24/16 - Card was picked-up by USPS (online status)

5/26/16 - Green Card on Hand!!! :goofy:

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if her family has Globe celphone, your fiance can subscribe to this,

http://duo.globe.com.ph/

another option is subscribe to vonage, they have a rate that is for to call from USA to Philippines, all you need is reliable internet to connect your VOIP phone..

https://phone.vonage.com/calling-plans?cvosrc=PPC%20Brand.Google.vonage+call+to+philippines&cvo_campaign=Google+%7C+Vonage+%7C+Consumer+%7C+B+%7C+ILD+-+Regions+%7C+Exact&Matchtype=e&cvo_crid=85310569230&CMP=OBR-IP-VON-GOO-PLANS-OTHER&KW=vonage+call+to+philippines&c3apidt=p8431061292

My husband and I use GLOBE DUO INTERNATIONAL. You just need to register one globe number and globe will assign that number with a US number that you can call with any US phone.

I think they have a promo now. My husband used to pay $25 but now pays $10 for 1 month unlimited calls. You can also register the number to automatic renewal monthly.

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We have been using GlobeDUO since 2012. I highly recommend it.

281c4fr.jpgN-400 CITIZENSHIP TIMELINE12-11-2014 = Eligible to apply for Naturalization based on the 5-year rule (90-days rule applied) 01-02-2015 = N-400 packet sent (to P.O. Box Dallas via USPS Priority Mail)01-06-2015 = N-400 packet delivered01-09-2015 = Check cashed01-17-2015 = NOA1 received (Priority Date 01-07-2015)02-02-2015 = Biometrics Letter received (Bio set for 02-11-2015)02-12-2015 = In line for interview03-23-2015 = Interview Letter received (Interview set for 04-22-2015) 04-22-2015 = Interview completed --- = Oath letter received04-24-2015 = Oath Ceremony! I am a U.S Citizen! ♥♥♥ CR1/IR1 JOURNEY ♥♥♥

  • Jun 02 2015: FILED I-130 petition
  • Jun 04 2015: NOA1
  • Jul 01 2015: NOA2 - USCIS APPROVED
  • Jul 10 2015: Case sent to NVC
  • Aug 04 2015: RECEIVED Welcome Letter from NVC
  • Aug 20 2015: SUBMIT DS-261 Choice of Agent online
  • Aug 24 2015: PAID AOS fee online
  • Sep 18 2015: SENT AOS and IV packets to NVC (No IV Invoice yet)
  • Sep 23 2015: Email received from NVC: Documents received (21-Sept-2015)
  • Sep 25 2015: PAID IV fee online
  • Oct 02 2015 : COMPLETED DS-260
  • Oct 23 2015 : RECEIVED email P4 interview letter from NVC
  • Nov 05 2015 : COMPLETED Medical at St. Lukes
  • Dec 04 2015: INTERVIEW Schedule at US Embassy Manila
Dec 08 2015: VISA ON-HAND!!

Jan 25 2016: FLIGHT TO US ?

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we bought a magic jack and registered it here then shipped it in one of the Balikbayan boxes. We gave it a local number here before we shipped it. It does get choppy when internet there is very bad but very low cost.

Finished!

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Hi my wife is using G3 telecom inc. 1-(866)-935-9218. It's only 22.00 a month unlimited calling to the Philippines try it

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I've been using phone cards and it really sucks, I'm glad I read this post, I'm interested with globe duo, do I need to have globe number here in the U.S. Or in the Philippines? ? I'm confused with the video and it's my very first time to know about this.. ?

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I've been using phone cards and it really sucks, I'm glad I read this post, I'm interested with globe duo, do I need to have globe number here in the U.S. Or in the Philippines? ? I'm confused with the video and it's my very first time to know about this.. ?

Your family in the Philippines is the one who needs to have a globe number.

They will then need to register their globe number to GlobeDUO US. They will be assigned a US number. You can then call them with your landline or mobile no.

281c4fr.jpgN-400 CITIZENSHIP TIMELINE12-11-2014 = Eligible to apply for Naturalization based on the 5-year rule (90-days rule applied) 01-02-2015 = N-400 packet sent (to P.O. Box Dallas via USPS Priority Mail)01-06-2015 = N-400 packet delivered01-09-2015 = Check cashed01-17-2015 = NOA1 received (Priority Date 01-07-2015)02-02-2015 = Biometrics Letter received (Bio set for 02-11-2015)02-12-2015 = In line for interview03-23-2015 = Interview Letter received (Interview set for 04-22-2015) 04-22-2015 = Interview completed --- = Oath letter received04-24-2015 = Oath Ceremony! I am a U.S Citizen! ♥♥♥ CR1/IR1 JOURNEY ♥♥♥

  • Jun 02 2015: FILED I-130 petition
  • Jun 04 2015: NOA1
  • Jul 01 2015: NOA2 - USCIS APPROVED
  • Jul 10 2015: Case sent to NVC
  • Aug 04 2015: RECEIVED Welcome Letter from NVC
  • Aug 20 2015: SUBMIT DS-261 Choice of Agent online
  • Aug 24 2015: PAID AOS fee online
  • Sep 18 2015: SENT AOS and IV packets to NVC (No IV Invoice yet)
  • Sep 23 2015: Email received from NVC: Documents received (21-Sept-2015)
  • Sep 25 2015: PAID IV fee online
  • Oct 02 2015 : COMPLETED DS-260
  • Oct 23 2015 : RECEIVED email P4 interview letter from NVC
  • Nov 05 2015 : COMPLETED Medical at St. Lukes
  • Dec 04 2015: INTERVIEW Schedule at US Embassy Manila
Dec 08 2015: VISA ON-HAND!!

Jan 25 2016: FLIGHT TO US ?

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Use Skype with prepaid credits, there's no subscription for unlimited calls like a lot of other Countries..

You can do something like call for 30min every week with a subscription:

Calls to mobiles & landlines:

Philippines 120 mins a month

$12.99, billed monthly.

Edited by guitarjam

Mar 12, 2015 - Filed I-130 via DCF @ US Embassy Manila thru Embassy Outreach visit

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Thanks for the tips! ? using phone cards has delays and it's expensive too.

Edited by 23dave
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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Thanks for all the feedback. Paying more per month with Skype for only 120 minutes isn't very much. I would rather get her one of the unlimited monthly plans for only $9.99. I'll look into these things in more detail as we approach her arrival date since getting it now would be somewhat pointless.

K1 Visa Process: (L) (L) (L) (L) (L)



I-129F Packet Sent: 09/02/2015 (Sent to Dallas, TX Lockbox)


Delivery Confirmation: 09/04/2015


NOA1 Received (Electronic notice): 09/09/2015 (Sent to CSC)


NOA1 Received (Hard Copy): 09/14/15


NOA2 Received: 10/01/2015



NVC Received: Unsure, guessing 10/19/2015 but could have easily been sooner. The NVC does not have that information for me.


NVC Case# Assigned:10/22/2015


NVC Sent to Consulate: 10/26/15



Packet Received: Unsure of date, sometime in November


Medical Exam Dates: 01/25/2016 and 01/26/2016


Interview: 01/28/2016


Visa Status: Approved!!!


Visa Received: 02/08/2016


CFO Seminar: 02/15/2016 (scheduled)


POE: Minneapolis, MN


Arrival at U.S. Immigration: 05/16/2016 (scheduled)



Adjustment of Status Process (L) (L)(L)(L)(L)



I-485, I-765, and I-131 Packets Mailed: 7/23/2016


Delivery Confirmation of all three: 7/29/2016



Adjustment of Status NOA: 8/4/2016


Biometrics Appointment for AOS: 8/26/2016



EAD NOA: 8/4/2016


Biometrics Appointment for EAD: 8/26/2016


EAD Approval Date: 10/12/2016


EAD Mailed Date: 10/27/2016


EAD Received Date: 10/29/2016



AP NOA: 8/4/2016


AP Approval Date: 10/12/2016


AP Mailed Date: 10/27/2016


AP Received Date: 10/29/2016



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We have Tmobile Prepaid with the International plan. She can text to the Philippines as many times as she wants, and if she wants to call then she just adds some money on it to call them. We really haven't really had a problem with it.

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