Tahoma

Greetings 2009 K-1 batchmate. We’re not in the Windy City. We’re representing from Seattle.

I know that all of this waiting and uncertainty is agonizing, but please hang in there. Stay strong. You’ve come a long way and you’re almost at the finish line. Go to your scheduled interview so that you can get that out of the way. Because your medical won’t quite be finished, the nice Embassy officer will kindly give you a 221g which will allow you to have extra time to complete your medical. My Pinay K-1 fiancée received a 221g at her interview, and now we’ve been happily married for over 15 years. There is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! Best wishes.

Did your green card expire?

My Filipino wife and I have traveled to the Philippines many times. We’ve never been asked for any supporting documentation. We have never even had to ask for the Balikbayan benefit. They always automatically give us one year. Since my wife became a dual citizen, she always travels on her U.S. passport. She never brings her Filipino passport. When your wife becomes a dual citizen and travels with a U.S. passport, you’ll notice that her U.S. passport includes her “Place of Birth.” When she travels that way, she will automatically get a one-year stay. If she travels on her Filipino passport, of course she’ll get an unlimited stay. Still, if she’s not a dual citizen, it would be a good idea to have a copy of your marriage certificate in case you run into a cranky Filipino immigration officer.