Manila USE - Assigning interview slots

[Erichu 0]

How cool to be posting in this topic rather than "where's my RFE?" B) B)

We're still celebrating freedom from CSC and the recent delivery of our petition to the embassy in Manlia.

OK, here's the question. I just received an email from the NVC in response to my status inquiry. In part it reads:

Dear Sir or Madam,

The visa petition you mentioned in your inquiry has recently been forwarded to the US Embassy. Please allow 10-15 business days for the Embassy to receive the petition.

Case Number: MNL2006******

Beneficiary's Name: *******

Preference Category: K1

Your Priority Date: 12Jun2006

Foreign State Chargeability: PHILIPPINES

I'm curious about the Priority Date. That's the date our petition first arrived at the CSC (where it sat unopened for over 3 weeks). Does this date factor into assigned interview slots? I thought that the date of arrival to the USE sets your place in line but the PatientlyWaiting Master List shows that it is not the sole determining factor. Does anyone know if the Priority Date matters? Or is it another one of those unfathomable mysteries?

[john_and_marlene 162]

The consulate in Manila assigns interviews based on receipt at the consulate, not your priority date.

[Thersch 0]

Hi! Ive read ur other post about calling the USE in Manila.. What time did you call them? I have been calling them the past few days but i couldnt get a hold of anyone. Just the automated answering operator! and I have called the call centers couple of times but they said our case is not yet there. I want to talk to someone from the USE in Manila but I dont know whens the best time to call them. and I dont want to call the call center coz they're so expensive!

[BJZags 17]

The consulate in Manila assigns interviews based on receipt at the consulate, not your priority date.

I'm not sure I agre with that statement. If that were the case, then we probably would have had a November interview. Since the NVC sits on them awhile until they are mailed to the USE, I figure Manila assigns interviews based on maybe NOA2 date.

[john_and_marlene 162]

The consulate in Manila assigns interviews based on receipt at the consulate, not your priority date.

I'm not sure I agre with that statement. If that were the case, then we probably would have had a November interview. Since the NVC sits on them awhile until they are mailed to the USE, I figure Manila assigns interviews based on maybe NOA2 date.

I guess it would be more accurate to say that they go by the MNL case number assignment which is closely tied to their receipt at the consulate (NVC assigns the case number then forwards them in batches to the consulate). It is not based on NOA2 or priority date.

At any rate, when I called the IV section at the Manila consulate and asked them, they said it was by receipt at the consulate.

[garya505 2]

Does anyone have an email address for the VISA Unit at the USE in Manila?

[Erichu 0]

I guess it would be more accurate to say that they go by the MNL case number assignment which is closely tied to their receipt at the consulate (NVC assigns the case number then forwards them in batches to the consulate). It is not based on NOA2 or priority date.

At any rate, when I called the IV section at the Manila consulate and asked them, they said it was by receipt at the consulate.

I took a look at the embassy interview list and I think you are right that the MNL case number is used to sort the received petitions when doing the monthly assignment of interview dates. That ID is usually assigned based on date received by the NVC although there are exceptions. The USE is definitely not assigning interview slots based purely on date received by the embassy no matter what they say.

Maybe the NVC uses Priority Date to organize their own work. I wouldn't bet on it though!

Thanks for answering our question!!

[john_and_marlene 162]

Does anyone have an email address for the VISA Unit at the USE in Manila?

Contacting the Immigrant Visa Unit

The Embassy website is a useful reference for commonly asked questions. If you, however, have questions about a specific case and the information on our website is not sufficiently responsive, feel free to contact as follows:

By Telephone:

The Immigrant Visa Information Call Center which can be reached at 1-909-101-7878 is available Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm (Philippine Time). There is a fee assessed to callers by the call center for its services.

Call center customer service representatives are able to provide basic information regarding the status on file with the Embassy. They are unable to provide advise or make determinations about legal aspects of cases.

By Mail:

From within the Philippines: Chief, Immigrant Visa Branch. United States Embassy 1201 Roxas Blvd. Ermita 1000 Manila

From outside the Philippines: Chief, Immigrant Visa Branch, PSC 500 Box 26 FPO AP 96515-1000 USA

DO NOT send registered mail

Do not address correspondence to a person by name. Employees are transferred on a regular basis, so any mail addressed to an individual may be forwarded to that person and not to the section where your concern would be addressed.

If you have an e-mail address, please include it in your letter.

By Fax or Email:

The Immigrant Visa Unit fax number is (632) 338-4129 and its email address is Consivmanila@state.gov.

Due to the large volume of messages received, it may take four to six weeks to reply to your inquiry.

Clearly indicate in your communication the applicant's full name and case number.

Please limit your message to the minimum number of pages.

Do not send supporting information about an applicant's case unless it has been specifically requested by a consular officer;

Do not send Affidavits of Support. These are not valid if transmitted by fax, as they must contain original signatures and notarizations.

[Pinay Wife 47]

Maybe the NVC uses Priority Date to organize their own work. I wouldn't bet on it though!

An explanation on how the NVC processes approved petitions

http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwh3225.html

[Erichu 0]

Maybe the NVC uses Priority Date to organize their own work. I wouldn't bet on it though!

An explanation on how the NVC processes approved petitions

http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwh3225.html

Forgive me for my skeptical attitude. The CSC official policy is also first-come-first-served. The question is how well these government agencies actually do in following their standards.

[cguytx 0]

I spoke with several clerks in the IV dept at Manila Embassy. My wife and I have an Oct 12 receipt date at the embassy for our approved K3 spousal visa petition. She told me today that with some luck we should expect to be scheduled for a Feb or March 2007 interview.

On a personal note I think this insane, to wait 5 months for an interview is rediculous. If they approached their backlog with an ounce of business sense they would allow the other consulate offices in other cities to start processing approved petition cases in their regions instead of funneling the entire country through one embassy. At least process approved visa requests submitted by USC's and let the work visas and others process through Manila? hmm, just a random thought.

Sorry I'm not more positive this evening but to wait 6 months to get approval, NVC, and get it to the embassy then to have to wait another 4 or 5 months to get an interview is hard to comprehend and stay positive. I know, in the old days it took years to get a visa.

When I first joined VJ November 2005 I used to be surprised at how negative some of the answers seemed to the newbies but now I understand completely. I feel so stupid getting all excited over the USCIS approvals, that was only the beginning of this insane process. This process and dealing with such an inefficient embassy has shown me how innept of a government agency immigration really is.

Sorry for dumping on you all this evening, it's been a rough day.

I think we are all obsessing and trying to rationalize a process that is seriously screwed up in some vain effort to keep a grasp on our sanity or what is left of it.

[Erichu 0]

I spoke with several clerks in the IV dept at Manila Embassy. My wife and I have an Oct 12 receipt date at the embassy for our approved K3 spousal visa petition. She told me today that with some luck we should expect to be scheduled for a Feb or March 2007 interview.

Having compared info here in VJ with what the government agencies say, I trust what I see here far more. The USCIS, NCV, and USE will always provide the WORST possible timelines. It's strictly CYA communication.

The PatientlyWaiting embassy tracking thread is your best bet to see the reality. It does look like the expected wait time from arrival at USE to interview may have recently jumped from 3 months to almost 4. We'll know when the January slots are assigned.

Good luck to all of us!!! B) B) B) B) B) B) B) B) B)