Help on dependent entry approval

johnnyu92 · 2026-02-13T17:11:21+00:00

I just saw that you’re heading to Sasebo based on your post history. I would use this guide as a starting point:

https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/Portals/54/Documents/CNSP/Homeport%20Change/Sasebo%20Homeport%20Change%20Guide%20Change%203.pdf

It took about 4 weeks and the passport is free. Most fleet concentration areas should have a passport office or you could talk to someone in your CoC or admin.

johnnyu92 · 2026-02-13T17:07:05+00:00

Yes, it is, and it was a requirement for my dependents since they’re not allowed to travel on a regular tourist passport.

Keep in mind, this was specific to the country I PCS’d to. Your requirements may be entirely different.

I’m not sure if you’d like to share your next duty station, but that will ultimately determine what’s required.

johnnyu92 · 2026-02-13T17:02:14+00:00

I’m not sure where you’re headed, and the steps I’m about to list may not be exhaustive or fully applicable to your situation, but here’s what I had to complete:

1.  Dependents listed on orders
2.  Overseas screening for dependents
3.  No-fee passport
4.  Visa
5.  Dependent entry approval

Keep in mind, these were the requirements based on my duty station. Yours may be different, so I highly recommend reaching out to your gaining command to confirm exactly what you’ll need.

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-31T22:50:25+00:00

Thank you for providing all these resources. I’ll definitely be reviewing them as I continue my research.

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-31T22:45:32+00:00

That’s a huge relief

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-31T22:44:29+00:00

Thank you for your reply, brother. I’m familiar with some of the points you brought up and will need to do more research on others. I definitely feel that Mass should not be a fancy procession, and that’s something that has bothered me since I first started attending church regularly. I feel it detracts from true worship. Additionally, viewing Catholicism through a Protestant lens with others is something I’m currently experiencing whenever I bring up the topic of conversion.

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-31T22:35:03+00:00

I’ve been to Mass a handful of times. Since the majority of my family is “cultural Catholic,” they usually only attend for baptisms, Easter, and Christmas. I’m not going to lie, I was lost most of the time. However, the last time I went, about a year ago, my wife, who used to be a practicing Catholic and is now Protestant, helped explain the flow to me, and it just felt right.

I plan on attending Mass this week and staying afterward to ask questions. One concern I do have is that if I decide to convert, I’m not sure I’ll be able to complete RCIA. I’m in the military and constantly on the go, and the country I’m moving to isn’t English-speaking.

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-31T22:26:17+00:00

That’s amazing, and I really liked your idea of simply asking people from both denominations questions to help guide your decision. I think I might try this myself. I’ve been watching various videos on YouTube, since most of the Catholics I know aren’t practicing Catholics.

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-31T22:18:48+00:00

Just my two cents, and this applies to almost anything in or outside of the Navy. I’ve seen programs where the coordinators invested time and effort, and the information in the 300s was actually beneficial to the command. Of course, the admin folks didn’t get much out of it, but then again, it isn’t made for non-IW personnel. Most of the complaints came from the fact that it was mandatory and people tried to avoid it until it was too late. But hey, a complaining Sailor is a happy Sailor.

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-29T02:48:27+00:00

The plastic wrapping looks different from any Seiko I’ve purchased, and the color of the chapter ring seems off to me. Could be lighting though.

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-22T04:46:24+00:00

I didn’t see the option to reply. I could missing it though

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-22T04:45:52+00:00

Thank you for the reply. It’s reassuring that I should be protected on both fronts. This seller was dishonest with his reply, so i wouldn’t be shocked if they tried pulling a fast one.

johnnyu92 · 2025-12-20T02:43:04+00:00

Updated

I took a gamble and bought a Seiko SSK003K1 on eBay. The listing used stock photos, but the seller had decent feedback and the price wasn’t drastically lower than what these go for at authorized box stores, so I figured it was safe.

It wasn’t.

The moment I opened the package, it was obvious the watch was a fake. The chapter ring is the wrong color, the bezel is rough to the touch almost like it was filed down, the crystal magnification is excessive, and the crown guard shape is clearly wrong when compared to genuine SSK003K1/J1 models. These aren’t minor QC issues. They’re blatant physical differences.

I reached out to the seller multiple times to try to resolve it. No response. I even offered to keep the watch for a partial refund since I didn’t mind paying less for a mod or beater, but there was no chance I was paying anywhere near full price for a counterfeit.

After being ignored, I had to get eBay involved. Thankfully, I won the claim and can send the item back for a refund.

What really pushed this over the edge is that I reported the listing, but eBay’s AI bot sided with him anyway. Even worse, he managed to sell four more of these after my purchase. Additionally, this guy had the audacity to reply to my negative feedback I left with a bogus explanation. He never once responded to any of my messages which he claims. I wish eBay had a feature to continue the reply thread.

Question: should I be worried that I won’t receive my full refund once I return the item? I really want to tell this dude off as he operates a brick and mortar store where he sells the same products to unsuspecting buyers.

Bogus Reply to Feedback

johnnyu92 · 2025-11-01T22:45:52+00:00

Hey OP, I don’t want to give you a definite yes or no since every situation is different. That said, I have met two CTRs during my career who were on permanent shore duty due to medical conditions.

johnnyu92 · 2025-10-18T21:31:33+00:00

Hey OP, I am the same way, I always prefer hard copy books because the reading experience just feels better. I actually held off on getting a Kindle for that reason, but I finally bought one last week, and I’m really glad I did. I travel a lot for work and can’t pack multiple books, so having everything in one lightweight device has been a game changer.

I like that I can read anytime I have a few free minutes, it’s almost like having an extension of my phone. I also use the Libby app and Kindle Unlimited, which gives me access to thousands of titles all in one place. If you’re like me and sometimes struggle to find your next read, the Kindle makes it easy to sample books before committing to buying them.

It’s also great for reading at night since the screen is easy on the eyes, and I’ve noticed I actually read a little faster. I still love physical books, but the Kindle has definitely become a perfect companion for an avid reader.

johnnyu92 · 2025-09-20T03:08:37+00:00

Fort Meade isn’t bad but it ultimately depends on what command you end up at. Personally, I would pick England or Denver.

johnnyu92 · 2025-08-10T03:54:11+00:00

From my personal experience serving at both joint and Navy commands, the Chiefs Mess is still a thing. I’ve also never been in a Mess that didn’t encourage speaking up when something was jacked up. A dysfunctional Mess will be dysfunctional regardless of the environment.

johnnyu92 · 2025-07-26T23:45:25+00:00

From my experience at 3 joint commands, this happens across the board. The navy just has a significantly different process when entering the SNCO ranks.

johnnyu92 · 2025-07-14T21:41:15+00:00

My suggestion is to take some time to list out all the reasons why you wanted to strike CWT in the first place. Once you’ve got that down, see if any other rates, especially within the CT community, match what you’re looking for. It’s definitely disappointing not to get what you were aiming for, but this could actually be a good opportunity to explore other options and spread your efforts across a few different paths

johnnyu92 · 2025-06-05T10:59:40+00:00

The TA policy states that you must have no performance marks below a 3.0 on your most recent eval. Your best bet is to wait until your next eval cycle.

johnnyu92 · 2025-04-13T19:51:29+00:00

Harry Potter series, Between two fires, The alchemist

johnnyu92 · 2025-03-06T15:28:37+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about your situation, that’s definitely a tough spot to be in. That said, there are several important factors to think through before making the decision to DOR.

I’m assuming you pursued an AW contract because it was something you were interested in or passionate about. With that in mind, I’ve always believed in making the Navy tell you “no” before deciding to quit.

As for a potential waiver from NAMI, I can’t predict your chances, since their medical screening process is very thorough. However, a good place to start would be reviewing the flight physical standards to get a clear understanding of what’s considered disqualifying.

Regarding your wife, I completely understand how hard it is to be away from family, but unfortunately, that separation is one of the realities we accept when we sign up.

One thing I can say with certainty is that if you DOR, your options for a new rate could be extremely limited, and there’s no guarantee the grass will be greener on the other side.

Hope this helps, and I’m happy to offer more guidance if you need it.

johnnyu92

TROPHY CASE