Count down for Maricel and Peter

[Peter Lee]

Count down for Maricel and Peter
Notice of Action
Letter head  THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE  INS
Receipt Received I-130  
Mailed out date       Sep 22 2003
Receive Notice date   Sep 29 2003
Mailed to me date     Oct 10 2003
18 DAYS TOTAL WAITING FOR THE RECEIPT
Immigration & Naturalization Service
Texas Service Center
PO Box 851489 –Dept A
Mesquite Tx 75185 – 1488
Customer Service Tel [800] 375 5283

The above application has been received,  It usually takes 990 to 999 days from the date of this receipt for us to process this type of case.  [33.3 Months or 2.8 years]
We will send you a written notice as soon as we make a decision on this case.  
Any questions call 1 800 375 5283 or www.bcis.gov

The clock is ticking every day gets closer to the big day.
Looks like a long way to go but it is the first step

[Matt]

... in response to Count down for Maricel and Peter, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 11, 2003

http://www.cebu4luv.com/Asawatimeline.htm

Here's a timeline that you might want to look at.

[Ray]

... in response to Count down for Maricel and Peter, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 11, 2003

Peter,

Don't worry about the Texas processing time. Make a photocopy of that notice and mail your I-129F for the K-3. That's the clock that counts so get it started!

Ray

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Wrong Clock, posted by Ray on Oct 11, 2003

okey dokey Ray today is Sat so Mon is the day.  
I will send it and be waiting with trembling anticipation.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Wrong Clock, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 11, 2003

Yeah, Peter, do what Ray said about the K-3 visa. They go through (Chicago? Missouri? I forget) but they don't take nearly as long as the Texas no service center.

Say, about money for the house. I've been reading those threads and here's something nobody's mentioned yet, but it wouldn't suprize me if thats the way it works out. You say let the father make the loan, then if he has trouble you'll step in and rescue him so that he won't lose the farm. May I advise that if you plan on helping him at all that you do so BEFORE he makes the loan? Any shark who charges 20% also probably has either a 'no early payoff' or an 'all interest due' clause in the note as well. In other words, the lender may say 'fine, I accept your payment of the entire principal, but you STILL have to pay 3 years (or 5 years, what ever the orginal term of the note was) of 20% interest'. So in effect, your father-in-law (or you) will have all of the costs and risks of the loan and none of the bennefits of using the proceeds except for a very short time. Your call on if you're going to help him at all, but if you are, why not do it in the most cost efficient and least risky manner?

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Re: Re: Wrong Clock, posted by Michael B on Oct 11, 2003

This is the undecided part of the problem, when to help?  The timing of the help I know the sooner the better.  Already a cow and caribou is sold.   I feel that I do not have enough information to help right away.   A new bride and an unseen farm and Dad. All that in a mountainous unsafe area I may or may never get to see.   The first idea I had was to get half of it together.  $525 is easier to get together than the whole amount.   Access to half would buy some time to keep away from the loan shark.  After your thread the shark loan scenario has me worried. But do the math and 20% is a loss of $200.  So it could still be possible to wait if I don't mind losing that amount to buy more time.  Once I said "No" to helping her Dad Maricel was very quiet about it and never argued to try to change my mind about it.  I think when I chat with her again I will try to get more information to make better decisions.  1- How long before the house is torn down?  2- How much is needed to get the new house started?  3- If half of the amount is paid now when will the rest be due?  4- Where will everyone stay if the house is not finished in time?  5- Who is building the house?  Neighbors, skilled carpenters, semi skilled workers?  6- How big will the new house be? Will it have a concrete floor like the old?

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Wrong Clock, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 11, 2003

Your dealing with a 20 year old. The equivalent of a 13 year old girl in the USA. Getting the answers you want will be difficult to say the least.

Hum (been there done that, first wife 19 Hum 38 1996)

[Peter Lee]

... in response to Remember Peter, posted by Humabdos on Oct 12, 2003

Ya I was on the chat with her yesterday and didn't get many answers.  The loan is 20% and must pay the minimum plus the principal.  The loan has no length of time to pay, as long as you owe you pay the 20%.    The way I understand it he can pay it off any time without penalty.  If that is true I could step in later and help out. The house is going down this month.  They are preparing to build the new house.  She said the carpenters are expensive and he has to have money for their work each day.  The money for the caribou and cow can get it started.   I said I am troubled about her dad getting in all that debt.  She said don't trouble yourself about it and papa is handling it.  It is very frustrating especially when she is hard to communicate with.  Maricel will be going to Cebu next week.  Maybe I can get some better communication then.   About her being 13 in maturity, well maybe and maybe not.  One our 2200 trip on that motorcycle I have to say that she showed more maturity than most.  She probably saved me $1000 getting the cheapest place and good food cheap.   What she lacks is experience and decision making.  Any age under 25 could be a problem depending on how she was raised.  But she is told by her parents and me both not to do anything without approval.   She will say to me that she has done everything I ask and what to do next.  She wanted to buy pigs to rise for a profit, her parents told her to ask me first before she did that.  
There are two things that bother me at this point.

One- She still is not keen on coming to the USA.  
Two- I am not getting a clear answer on how to help in the house being torn down and the new house being built.  Once I told her no, she has avoided the issue unless I ask specifically.  

My theory is that the parents are worried that if they involve there problems on me it may jeopardize their daughters relationship with me.

Most of the threads I read and warnings I got don't seem to apply in my case.  It makes me a little uneasy coz it is in unfamiliar grounds.

It would be helpful to know more about your last experience with your 19 yr old that might apply to me.  

[HaroldC]

... in response to Re: Remember Peter, posted by Peter Lee on Oct 12, 2003

"Once I told her no, she has avoided the issue unless I ask specifically." ... "I am not getting a clear answer on how to help" - YOU're not getting "a clear answer"! Sheesh. Filipinos want things 'simple' you know. LOL

AND you are demonstrating that 'no' does not mean 'no'. Good luck with that, fella. Did you ever train a dog?

As mature as an American 13 year old? What bizarro planet is that from? Just what has she done that's immature? Marry someone three times her age? "What she lacks is ... decision making"- LOL. I think she's about as mature as you two old farts put together.

One- yeah, find out why she is not keen on coming to the USA. There's something going on there.

Two- Forget about the house. Papa is handling it. (He's pounding nails and you're still agonizing over the financing. I think I like Papa.) How might you increase their productivity at making a living?- we're talking SURVIVAL here. How's he going to work that farm without that carabao's muscle? The only substitute they have is human. (Hmmm. Maybe that motorcycle could become a tractor.) Might this not have something to do with One?

Good luck, y'all.

[Peter Lee]

... in response to None of my business, but ..., posted by HaroldC on Oct 13, 2003

Glad you’re not holding back HaroldC LOL

Of course what you’re saying is what is in the back of everyone's mind.  That is why I said no to begin with.  My mom says the same thing about One- no one believes she don't want to come to the great unbelievable awesome USA.  But!  To a country girl who has traveled around the Islands with me to look for a place for my retirement real-estate and all, could be seeing that as a possibility.  We met Louie in Panglao who was married to a Filipina from a town close to hers in Mindanao.  Louie a Belgium is married 9 years and lived in Panglao for 7, they would never think of living anyplace else.  I was seriously thinking of getting a place there.   At least I have two places in the world I would like to be.  I have to say it is tempting.  This year I will have to pay over 10,000 bucks on property tax.  Cable TV phone water and electric is getting our of reach.  A new jeep there is under $5000, here over $20,000.  I could go on and on, but she was with me when I was seriously thinking of retiring there and I may still do that.
Although condescending in fun you do bring out some points that will have to be addressed sooner or later.  

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: None of my business, but ..., posted by Peter Lee on Oct 13, 2003

[This message has been edited by Dave H]

Hi Peter,

"One- no one believes she don't want to come to the great unbelievable awesome USA."

That's certainly not in the back of my mind! My wife has always prefered for us to live a simple life in the Philippines...no big house, maids, servants, or fancy cars or jewelry. I am sure that there are many Filipinas in the US who feel the same way.

Dave H.

[Peter Lee]

... in response to I Believe ..., posted by Dave H on Oct 13, 2003

Thanks Davd!  I was thinking I was the only one.  So if it is true then I have to think the way she does to solve future problems.  But even my Mom don't believe it, I will show her your thread so she understands better.

[HaroldC]

... in response to Re: I Believe ..., posted by Peter Lee on Oct 13, 2003

that'll be the day.

Believe me, I'm pretty new at this but I've already learned not to assume I can comprehend what's going on in HER mind. It's all neat and logical to our Western MALE thinking that 'Oh, she would prefer to live in the Philippines because yadda yadda yadda.'

There is a reason she is reticent. It will be a simple reason. I'll bet you are surprised when you find out what it is. You won't find out unless you, gently, come at it from several different directions. The most likely explanations are, IMHO, that either she is concerned about her family or she thinks you don't want her to. It cannot be deduced. You have to ask.

[Peter Lee]

... in response to "think the way she does"- Oh, ..., posted by HaroldC on Oct 14, 2003

Ok, I asked,

I get "it is up to you"  Whatever you think is best.  "As long as I am with you" So much for asking.

[HaroldC]

... in response to Re: "think the way she does"- ..., posted by Peter Lee on Oct 14, 2003

Asking straight out will always get such a response. You have to encourage her as to how nice it will be to do whatever it is you want to do and casually ask if she has any concerns about it. It takes lots of practice.