Foreign Travel?

[JTKub]

When I cancelled my Philippine trip over safety concerns I can’t help but thinking I may have over reacted.

The people telling me not to go are hospital co-workers from the Philippines…

I finally said ok… I will cancel and just stay home in East Oakland California where I know I am safe!

The same people said you live in Oakland… we never go to Oakland!!!

My 22yr/old son much to my dismay, began communicating with a Filipino gal online when he (both) were 18. He's been there to visit her 4-5x and goes for 1-2 months at a time, having to quit a job here every time which is whole 'nother point of contention for me. He stays with her and her family in the Mabalcat City/Magalang area. I now have a 1yr old grandson there that my wife and I have only interacted with on facetime, etc at this point. The whole family is very sweet and excellent to My son that has little to offer. He is there now for a visit and to hopefully tie the knot with her to make things official. I would like him, mom and baby to come here, but it's been a struggle. Anyhoo.. Welcome to my Philippines story and my life. LOL

 

[kenmbz]

Expedia bought out most of their competitors a while back.
We try to avoid them and their sub companies at all cost:

Expedia Group - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Quaffer]

My 22yr/old son much to my dismay, began communicating with a Filipino gal online when he (both) were 18. He's been there to visit her 4-5x and goes for 1-2 months at a time, having to quit a job here every time which is whole 'nother point of contention for me.

Well if you have to pick ideal circumstances these would not be at the top. But .... many couples have overcome even much larger hurdles ... plus he has family support.

Best of luck to all of you ...

 

[m7040]

Worked in SF downtown in the 1970's but lived outside across the bay and often took the ferry to the office. We always enjoyed visiting in the city and see the sights.

Daughter has done more foreign travel than most people. I have lost count of how many countries she has visited either as part of her job or being a tourist
Mostly safe traveling alone but she had several incidents. Robbed at the ATM twice, once in Egypt and once in London. She started to chase down one of the thieves but gave up catching him.
Took a bus in Egypt traveling down to a ferry to go over to Jordan and a passenger started to accost her. She got the bus driver to let him off in the middle of the desert
Took a spill down a mountain with injuries on a bike but recovered
She was out of communication for a week at a time of a bombing attack. Used a lot money on phone bills to try to track her down but she was safe and holed up in the area

 

[JTKub]

Well if you have to pick ideal circumstances these would not be at the top. But .... many couples have overcome even much larger hurdles ... plus he has family support.

Best of luck to all of you ...

Thank you and this is very true. Things could be much worse. What saddens me is I've got a little grandson out there in the world that I can't scoop up and play with and there's not much I can do about it. Mom is very tight with her family and there doesn't seem to be any urgency for her to come to the states. That is and has been the ultimate goal I'm told, but communication between my son and I has been lackluster for years, for many reasons. I also don't know the immigration process or what it would take to get them here, other than what I've poked around on online.

 

[JasperFrank]

Expedia bought out most of their competitors a while back.
We try to avoid them and their sub companies at all cost:

Expedia Group - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Absolutely avoid Expedia and its subs. They are fine if nothing goes wrong, but if something does, you are in a world of hurt because Expedia is an OTA third party. We have found it is well worth the extra few hundred to book directly with the airlines. If there is some error in your booking, the airline can directly correct it. With an OTA is may or may not be the case.

 

[WinterDeere]

The agent claims they get their payback from resorts but I have ran loose numbers and can get a better price.

My own limited experience and comparison shopping has indicated that they usually make their profit by buying tours and events at discount prices, and charging either full-retail or above for the same. I'm fine with that, for the convenience of someone local who knows all the best things to book... assuming they're actually local and know the best things and ways to book.

When I check pricing on my own, I find that I could've usually found the same at half price, but really... I'd have never thought to actuall find the same, without their guidance.

Welcome to my Philippines story and my life. LOL

There's a good chance that 20 years from now, you'll look back on this as a blessing, and won't be able to imagine your family without that daughter-in-law and grandchild in the mix. Here's to hoping, anyway.

 

[ultrarunner]

Thank you and this is very true. Things could be much worse. What saddens me is I've got a little grandson out there in the world that I can't scoop up and play with and there's not much I can do about it. Mom is very tight with her family and there doesn't seem to be any urgency for her to come to the states. That is and has been the ultimate goal I'm told, but communication between my son and I has been lackluster for years, for many reasons. I also don't know the immigration process or what it would take to get them here, other than what I've poked around on online.

Some I have found have little desire to come to the USA unless a job is waiting in the case of Registered Nurses and then it’s often to make money as overseas foreign worker.

I work with many from the Philippines in the medical profession and many do go home even after decades here.

It’s much easier for you to visit than for her to come to the states.

As for the child there are essential steps to take if the desire is to have American citizenship…

A friend was happily married with a young son and wife there… he passed suddenly but had taken the steps of registering the birth with the US embassy which turned out to be a godsend…

I’ve never been but the biggest issue I here is the heat and humidity is very hard for some… even those born there but coming from colder climates…

 

[NoTrespassing]

Thank you and this is very true. Things could be much worse. What saddens me is I've got a little grandson out there in the world that I can't scoop up and play with and there's not much I can do about it. Mom is very tight with her family and there doesn't seem to be any urgency for her to come to the states. That is and has been the ultimate goal I'm told, but communication between my son and I has been lackluster for years, for many reasons. I also don't know the immigration process or what it would take to get them here, other than what I've poked around on online.

www.visajourney.com has all the information you need to get a fiancé or marriage visa. I think the US will recognize a Filipino marriage, but a fiancé visa was quicker when my wife and I went through the process 20 years ago. I believe a fiancé visa requires proof of income.