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Philippines travel ban lifted May 1st.....

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7 hours ago, Adventine said:

 

I feel for you and your family. I was born and lived my entire life in the Philippines. I found the last year intolerable. I miss my family but I do not regret one bit my choice to stay in the US.

Thank you for understanding.  I don't mean to paint the whole country with a broad brush of negativity.  Covid has brought out the flaws in the "democratic" system.  Family dynasties that keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor.  Those families make up a good part of the oligarchy that controls everything.  Lack of true free speech is amplified during Covid.  Up until Covid, I was isolated from most of this and didn't think about it much.  Now, I don't want my kids growing up in that environment.

 

When I moved here, I had high hopes that everything was improving.  Good economy, growing middle class.  Unfortunately Covid has changed all that for years to come.  And the trend of the best and the brightest of the Filipinos leaving for greener pastures will continue forever, while the same old stuff continues on forever here.

 

We have made some good friends here and they will be missed.

Spouse

Nov. 29th, 2020: I-130 submitted online, NOA 1 Nov. 30th, 2020

Feb. 19th, 2021: Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS

Feb. 19th, 2021: I-130 Approved 😊

Feb. 25th, 2021: Welcome letter from NVC

Mar. 9th, 2021:  Received Hard Copy NOA 2 I-797 in mail

October, 2021: One Year Postponement of Move, Visa Completion On Hold

Feb. 4th, 2022: Submitted DS 260

 

Stepdaughter

Nov. 29th, 2020: I-130 submitted online, NOA 1 Nov. 30th, 2020

Dec. 9th, 2020: Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS

Feb. 19th, 2021: Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS

Feb. 19th, 2021: I-130 Approved 😊

Feb. 25th, 2021: Welcome letter from NVC

Mar. 9th, 2021:  Received Hard Copy NOA 2 I-797 in mail

October, 2021: One Year Postponement of Move, Visa Completion On Hold

Feb. 4th, 2022: Submitted DS 260

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22 hours ago, Trompie said:

I'm boarding that plane to Cebu next Wednesday come hell or high water.

Just FYI, an acquaintance who used the same strategy (come hell or high water) went to check in today for a flight to MNL (at LAX) and was refused boarding.  He has a pre-approved 9a but his spouse is in the Philippines.  He was told he needs an "exemption waiver" document from the Philippine's DFA.  They told him he must travel with his spouse and/or child.  If you decide to try this next week, please let us know how it goes and if you were able to secure an exemption waiver.  I actually have no idea what that is or how to get or how long it takes, but I would imagine it would be a convoluted mess of a process.  However, you may also want to call the Consulate that issued you the visa and get information from them, asking if your current visa is still valid and if not, how to apply for one with the exemption waiver.

 

 

The United States is now a country obsessed with the worship of its own ignorance.  Americans are proud of not knowing things.  They have reached a point where ignorance, is an actual virtue.  To reject the advice of experts is to assert autonomy, a way for Americans to insulate their increasingly fragile egos from ever being told they're wrong about anything.  It is a new Declaration of Independence: no longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones that arent true.  All things are knowable and every opinion on any subject is as good as any other.  The fundamental knowledge of the average American is now so low that it has crashed through the floor of "uninformed", passed "misinformed", on the way down, and now plummeting to "aggressively wrong."

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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1 hour ago, flicks1998 said:

Just FYI, an acquaintance who used the same strategy (come hell or high water) went to check in today for a flight to MNL (at LAX) and was refused boarding.  He has a pre-approved 9a but his spouse is in the Philippines.  He was told he needs an "exemption waiver" document from the Philippine's DFA.  They told him he must travel with his spouse and/or child.  If you decide to try this next week, please let us know how it goes and if you were able to secure an exemption waiver.  I actually have no idea what that is or how to get or how long it takes, but I would imagine it would be a convoluted mess of a process.  However, you may also want to call the Consulate that issued you the visa and get information from them, asking if your current visa is still valid and if not, how to apply for one with the exemption waiver.

 

 

Thanks for sharing this story. I've heard mixed accounts, some got lucky and where let in, and some not like your acquaintance. DFA announced today you DO need this exemption letter, so it's looking bleak. I'll wait until the day before and decide then, hoping there is a positive change, but I think that announcement today was pretty clear.

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23 minutes ago, Trompie said:

Thanks for sharing this story. I've heard mixed accounts, some got lucky and where let in, and some not like your acquaintance. DFA announced today you DO need this exemption letter, so it's looking bleak. I'll wait until the day before and decide then, hoping there is a positive change, but I think that announcement today was pretty clear.

Yes what a mess.  It seems this guy doesnt know exactly what he is talking about, but you may find some guidance down in the comments.

 

 

The United States is now a country obsessed with the worship of its own ignorance.  Americans are proud of not knowing things.  They have reached a point where ignorance, is an actual virtue.  To reject the advice of experts is to assert autonomy, a way for Americans to insulate their increasingly fragile egos from ever being told they're wrong about anything.  It is a new Declaration of Independence: no longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones that arent true.  All things are knowable and every opinion on any subject is as good as any other.  The fundamental knowledge of the average American is now so low that it has crashed through the floor of "uninformed", passed "misinformed", on the way down, and now plummeting to "aggressively wrong."

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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1 hour ago, flicks1998 said:

Yes what a mess.  It seems this guy doesnt know exactly what he is talking about, but you may find some guidance down in the comments.

 

 

By the way, was it PAL airlines that your friend was refused to board?

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3 minutes ago, Trompie said:

By the way, was it PAL airlines that your friend was refused to board?

Yes it was PAL.

The United States is now a country obsessed with the worship of its own ignorance.  Americans are proud of not knowing things.  They have reached a point where ignorance, is an actual virtue.  To reject the advice of experts is to assert autonomy, a way for Americans to insulate their increasingly fragile egos from ever being told they're wrong about anything.  It is a new Declaration of Independence: no longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones that arent true.  All things are knowable and every opinion on any subject is as good as any other.  The fundamental knowledge of the average American is now so low that it has crashed through the floor of "uninformed", passed "misinformed", on the way down, and now plummeting to "aggressively wrong."

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5 minutes ago, Trompie said:

By the way, was it PAL airlines that your friend was refused to board?

Ive heard it was a number of passengers, all foreigners of course. 

The United States is now a country obsessed with the worship of its own ignorance.  Americans are proud of not knowing things.  They have reached a point where ignorance, is an actual virtue.  To reject the advice of experts is to assert autonomy, a way for Americans to insulate their increasingly fragile egos from ever being told they're wrong about anything.  It is a new Declaration of Independence: no longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones that arent true.  All things are knowable and every opinion on any subject is as good as any other.  The fundamental knowledge of the average American is now so low that it has crashed through the floor of "uninformed", passed "misinformed", on the way down, and now plummeting to "aggressively wrong."

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I contacted BI yesterday and they confirmed that you need a 9a visa + DFA waiver and gave me the contact info. The thing I hate is if I jump through all the hoops and am able to go, then they change the rules again. I want to go see my wife and 2 children very much but they make it so hard. She should be getting her visa soon so I will probably wait until I go get her.Going there for 2 weeks to only spend 1 week with them and then quarantining here for 10 days before going back to work is not a good plan.

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1 hour ago, RO_AH said:

I contacted BI yesterday and they confirmed that you need a 9a visa + DFA waiver and gave me the contact info. The thing I hate is if I jump through all the hoops and am able to go, then they change the rules again. I want to go see my wife and 2 children very much but they make it so hard. She should be getting her visa soon so I will probably wait until I go get her.Going there for 2 weeks to only spend 1 week with them and then quarantining here for 10 days before going back to work is not a good plan.

I have a buddy in the same situation.  They live here but his job is in Japan.  He has not seen his twin girls in over a year.

Spouse

Nov. 29th, 2020: I-130 submitted online, NOA 1 Nov. 30th, 2020

Feb. 19th, 2021: Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS

Feb. 19th, 2021: I-130 Approved 😊

Feb. 25th, 2021: Welcome letter from NVC

Mar. 9th, 2021:  Received Hard Copy NOA 2 I-797 in mail

October, 2021: One Year Postponement of Move, Visa Completion On Hold

Feb. 4th, 2022: Submitted DS 260

 

Stepdaughter

Nov. 29th, 2020: I-130 submitted online, NOA 1 Nov. 30th, 2020

Dec. 9th, 2020: Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS

Feb. 19th, 2021: Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS

Feb. 19th, 2021: I-130 Approved 😊

Feb. 25th, 2021: Welcome letter from NVC

Mar. 9th, 2021:  Received Hard Copy NOA 2 I-797 in mail

October, 2021: One Year Postponement of Move, Visa Completion On Hold

Feb. 4th, 2022: Submitted DS 260

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I received an update that as of today, the quarantine period is now 10 days and then 4 additional days at your residence.  

The United States is now a country obsessed with the worship of its own ignorance.  Americans are proud of not knowing things.  They have reached a point where ignorance, is an actual virtue.  To reject the advice of experts is to assert autonomy, a way for Americans to insulate their increasingly fragile egos from ever being told they're wrong about anything.  It is a new Declaration of Independence: no longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be self-evident, even the ones that arent true.  All things are knowable and every opinion on any subject is as good as any other.  The fundamental knowledge of the average American is now so low that it has crashed through the floor of "uninformed", passed "misinformed", on the way down, and now plummeting to "aggressively wrong."

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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4 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

I received an update that as of today, the quarantine period is now 10 days and then 4 additional days at your residence.  

I can't believe how often they change the rules. Is there any country in the world doing this? Most seem to have had stable policies, whether open or restrictive.

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4 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

I received an update that as of today, the quarantine period is now 10 days and then 4 additional days at your residence.  

Is this at your final destination LGU?

Finally done...

 

 

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6 minutes ago, Trompie said:

I can't believe how often they change the rules. Is there any country in the world doing this? Most seem to have had stable policies, whether open or restrictive.

 

At my former job, I had to closely follow travel regulations for many countries in 2020-early 2021. The Philippines isn't unique in constantly changing lockdown rules, but I think it must be a leader in how inconsistent the rules are. Just in Metro Manila you had to contend with constantly shifting rules per city.

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