There is only one potential problem with your plan that I can think of. The lady would have trouble traveling to other countries without a visa. For example, you as a British citizen (I assume, given your e-mail address) can enter most countries without need for a visa. The same is not the case for a Philippine citizen. So, I am just unsure how that part will work.

Enjoy your travels.

Hewie

However, if she thinks that it’s really illegal, it’s easy to catch these – go to any embassies that process fiancee/fiance visas – interviewers asked applicants how they met their fiance/fiancee – and if it’s from introductory site – then they should prosecute them. But no, it never happened and will never happen – why? because it has no legal basis. Evidently, she’s not an expert at all. I do believe there are exceptions to the rule. And since, I haven’t seen the show personally, I guess I don’t have the right to judge her.

Also, I do want to hear what will that lawyer say about the remittances that these “mail-order-drides” sent to their families in the Philippines.

Sorry for my comments – I just have to vent. I just hate hypocrites, that’s all.

I wish they will create more laws about child trafficking there – I’ve seen a documentary before – and it wasn’t pretty.

Peace!

Hopefully everything will go smoothly at the interview. So far we have cleared all the hurdles. My fiance passed her medical this week and is now back in Ozamiz. We should have all the T’s crossed and the I’s dotted when we go for the interview. I plan on attending with her, for the most part the interview has to do with the proof of relationship requirement and submitting the affidavit of support. Being there with her takes care of most of that. The one thing I didn’t really take into account when we started on this journey was the cost. I had read on another site that you should plan on about $10,000 to go through the process of meeting, courting and marrying a pinay. This might seem strange to want to know but I guess I wanted to be sure that if I did meet the right one that I could follow through on my commitment. By the time my fiance walks through my door in the US it will be more in tune to about $16,000 and I did most of the petition paperwork myself. That may be a little high for some because it includes the money spent traveling together in the philippines on my first two trips and I stayed for several weeks on each trip. I can’t even begin to tell you how glad I am to see the exchange rate reaching 49:1 in the Philippines. I have exchanged many dollars at the 40:1 rate. How is it possible to spend that much? Just the flights to PI and our traveling account for about 8K ( that includes her flight here), sending suport after our first meeting (yes, I wanted to after seeing what a difference the money will make in the life of the average Pinay), dental work, driving lessons, clothes, gifts and all the costs associated with the visa process (passport, Cert of Non-Marriage, NBI check, birth certificates, petition fees, medical fees, visa fees). Oh, and not to forget that phone bill, over the last two years that has creeped easily over a $1000. I know I’m just getting in on the end of the thread but hopefully it can shed some light on what the realistic expenses are. As I said in the beginning the cost was kind of a surprise. I don’t think there is any way to put a value on love and commitment, although lawyers here in the US have tried. I can say the last two years have been some of the most exciting in my life. I had traveled some outside of the US before, but never to the extend that I have lately. Learning about other cultures, meeting new friends and just seeing how other people live has been enlighting. Looking back the money is actually the easiest part of the process, meeting the right pinay was the hard part. The real investment was one of time, writing letters, emails, chatting, phone calls and then being able to spend time together. Do I think it was worth it, yes, every minute and every peso. I still owe Bob another thank you, if it had not been for the things I had read here I would have never ventured Mindanao.

Like the new format of your site Bob. Your insight has helped me alot over the last couple of years. I should include that also goes for your contributing column writers.

Keep up the good work.