Post NOA2

[smccad 0]

Hello all,

I received my NOA2 letter on Feb. 21st. I called NVC to try an obtain an MNL number/Release date from them but wasn't successful in obtaining that information until today. Honestly, I was surprised they had it. They had told me it could take well over a month for them to have that information for me, so to have it this quickly makes me very happy.

They gave me the MNL number and told me that it was sent to the Philippines Embassy on March 8th. Now that I have this info, I was wondering if you vets could provide some clarity on the next steps. Some of the guides I've seen say to basically wait 8 days or so from the date of when it was sent to the Embassy (In this case it'd be March 16th) and try to schedule an interview at UltraVisaDocs (Non Immigrant). If it allows me, my fiancee can pay the BPI fee ($350.00) and get her medical exam taken care of at St. Lukes in Manila.

Is this the correct setup?

[Marizhell 11]

Hello all,

I received my NOA2 letter on Feb. 21st. I called NVC to try an obtain an MNL number/Release date from them but wasn't successful in obtaining that information until today. Honestly, I was surprised they had it. They had told me it could take well over a month for them to have that information for me, so to have it this quickly makes me very happy.

They gave me the MNL number and told me that it was sent to the Philippines Embassy on March 8th. Now that I have this info, I was wondering if you vets could provide some clarity on the next steps. Some of the guides I've seen say to basically wait 8 days or so from the date of when it was sent to the Embassy (In this case it'd be March 16th) and try to schedule an interview at UltraVisaDocs (Non Immigrant). If it allows me, my fiancee can pay the BPI fee ($350.00) and get her medical exam taken care of at St. Lukes in Manila.

Is this the correct setup?

YES..ur on the right track .......your fiancée in the Philippines could start her medical with the manila case number =) goodluck

[smccad 0]

Thanks for your response!

I'm excited right now. Looking at more info, it seems we must pay the BPI fee and file DS-160 electronically first before we can schedule an interview. That's the lone form we haven't completed yet and it looks like it's crunch time.

[Michael-Moneth 6]

yes u have to pay the visa fee to BPI and you could schedule interview.. Visa fee is not $350 but $240...

[Ronn63 41]

Hello all,

I received my NOA2 letter on Feb. 21st. I called NVC to try an obtain an MNL number/Release date from them but wasn't successful in obtaining that information until today. Honestly, I was surprised they had it. They had told me it could take well over a month for them to have that information for me, so to have it this quickly makes me very happy.

They gave me the MNL number and told me that it was sent to the Philippines Embassy on March 8th. Now that I have this info, I was wondering if you vets could provide some clarity on the next steps. Some of the guides I've seen say to basically wait 8 days or so from the date of when it was sent to the Embassy (In this case it'd be March 16th) and try to schedule an interview at UltraVisaDocs (Non Immigrant). If it allows me, my fiancee can pay the BPI fee ($350.00) and get her medical exam taken care of at St. Lukes in Manila.

Is this the correct setup?

That's great news for you!! Please update your timeline so we can compare to our dates!!!

[smccad 0]

yes u have to pay the visa fee to BPI and you could schedule interview.. Visa fee is not $350 but $240...

I'm glad you brought up the pricing, I've seen some discrepancy with the price. Some things say $240 and others say $350. Basically, some docs from US say it's $240 but then the Philippines is telling me it's $350.

[smccad 0]

That's great news for you!! Please update your timeline so we can compare to our dates!!!

Will do so in a bit! talking to my fiance right now, working on DS-160

[Michael-Moneth 6]

I'm glad you brought up the pricing, I've seen some discrepancy with the price. Some things say $240 and others say $350. Basically, some docs from US say it's $240 but then the Philippines is telling me it's $350.

did u go to the Manila US Embassy website? It is there... $350 is the old fee,$240 is the new one... and when u pay in the bank they have this payment slip that you have to print out from the embassy website... they kinda say how much in pesos you would pay in the bank and the validity of the payment slip... the payment is just around 9860 pesos... I have a friend who just paid recently...

[Tahoma 2,292]

Congratz on your getting your MNL case number. Now you're rolling!

1. First, read this letter from the U.S. Embassy Manila. Read it and heed it. (Don't wait around for the Embassy to send you this letter or you will waste a lot of time.)

2. Pay the visa application fee at BPI. It costs $240 (in pesos). Pay it today.

3. Tomorrow, schedule the Embassy interview.

4. Anytime after scheduling the Embassy interview, all the way up to within about a week before the interview, complete the medical at St. Lukes. St. Lukes operates on a walk-in basis...no appointments. Pre-register for the medical on St. Lukes website.

5. Complete the Embassy interview.

6. After getting the visa packet from the Embassy, complete the CFO seminar and get the CFO sticker. Or, you can complete the CFO seminar before the interview and get the sticker after you get the visa packet from the Embassy. Check out the CFO website.

7. Buy plane ticket after the visa is in hand.

8. Fly to the U.S.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Congratz on your getting your MNL case number. Now you're rolling!

1. First, read this letter from the U.S. Embassy Manila. Read it and heed it. (Don't wait around for the Embassy to send you this letter or you will waste a lot of time.)

2. Pay the visa application fee at BPI. It costs $240 (in pesos). Pay it today.

3. Tomorrow, schedule the Embassy interview.

4. Anytime after scheduling the Embassy interview, all the way up to within about a week before the interview, complete the medical at St. Lukes. St. Lukes operates on a walk-in basis...no appointments. Pre-register for the medical on St. Lukes website.

5. Complete the Embassy interview.

6. After getting the visa packet from the Embassy, complete the CFO seminar and get the CFO sticker. Or, you can complete the CFO seminar before the interview and get the sticker after you get the visa packet from the Embassy. Check out the CFO website.

7. Buy plane ticket after the visa is in hand.

8. Fly to the U.S.

Congrats and good luck!

[smccad 0]

Thank you for the replies, you all are wonderful

We've got everything on that link Tahoma which is great. My fiancee will be paying the Application fee at BPI in the morning. I was unaware about the CFO situation. When exactly should this be done? I see that it's a 2hr seminar. The sticker is provided at the end of the seminar correct? Judging by the way things look, We'll need to have the Visa already for us to do the Seminar as it asks for visa info I've noticed on the registration. So this is something we'd do after the interview? Just trying to avoid any form of delays.

Thanks everyone!

[jkelly07 120]

congratulations on your noa2

[Riza D 0]

congrats and goodluck i pay may visa jan 7 2013 10,80 pesos!

[smccad 0]

Thank you everyone, you're all so kind

My fiancee will be paying the Application fee at BPI in a few hours and hopefully able to schedule an interview 4 hours later. I hear it's better to schedule it online rather than via phone but I'm not sure.

A question about the medical exam. I see this as the requirements:

Regular Immigrants and K-Visa Applicants

Valid passport

Photocopy of Passport Biographic/Data Page, the page in the passport that contains the applicant's photo and information

3 pieces recent 2x2 visa photos (2 for submission to the U.S. Embassy, 1 for clinic file)

The US Embassy requires you to bring the 2x2 photos for your visa issuance. We regret not to release the medical report until such time that you can provide this requirement.

Appointment letter from the Embassy or Instruction letter from the National Visa Center (NVC), if available,

2 photocopies of your Appointment Letter/ Instruction Letter

Applicants are also required to provide the name, address and contact number of their petitioner in the U.S.A.

The visa photos and passport aren't an issue. But I see it asks for an Appointment/Instruction letter from the embassy. If we register using the online method for the interview, would we receive an email that would essentially be the Appointment letter and in turn act as the Appointment letter they're asking for at the medical exam? I ask because I hear the embassy is very slow with sending out things to people and I don't want a situation where we've scheduled an interview but don't have what's necessary to complete the medical exam causing issues.

[Tahoma 2,292]

I was unaware about the CFO situation. When exactly should this be done? I see that it's a 2hr seminar. The sticker is provided at the end of the seminar correct? Judging by the way things look, We'll need to have the Visa already for us to do the Seminar as it asks for visa info I've noticed on the registration. So this is something we'd do after the interview? Just trying to avoid any form of delays.

You can complete the CFO seminar before the Embassy interview and then go back to the CFO and get the CFO sticker after receiving the visa packet from the Embassy. Or, you can wait to get the visa packet from the Embassy and then complete the CFO seminar and get the CFO sticker at the same time. If you opt to complete the CFO seminar before the Embassy interview, and get the CFO sticker after you receive your visa packet, don't forget to take your CFO seminar certificate of completion with you when you go back to the CFO to get the CFO sticker.

My fiancee will be paying the Application fee at BPI in a few hours and hopefully able to schedule an interview 4 hours later. I hear it's better to schedule it online rather than via phone but I'm not sure.

The medical:

I see it asks for an Appointment/Instruction letter from the embassy. If we register using the online method for the interview, would we receive an email that would essentially be the Appointment letter and in turn act as the Appointment letter they're asking for at the medical exam? I ask because I hear the embassy is very slow with sending out things to people and I don't want a situation where we've scheduled an interview but don't have what's necessary to complete the medical exam causing issues.

Scheduling online is easy. Scheduling by phone is easy too. Either way will work fine.

While you are booking your Embassy interview online, just print out two copies of the confirmation sheet. You'll need one of those appointment confirmation sheets for the medical and the other one for the interview.

If you book the interview by phone, you will be sent a confirmation immediately by email. Print out two copies of the confirmation.