Manila Embassy Interview

[Glenn & Rosemarie 0]

Hello Everyone,

I have been away a few days on business travel and just returned. Congratulations to all who are approved. Can anyone tell me when the Visa Schedule site is updated? After about 10 attempts I was able to speak to someone at the US embassy in Manila. They have had Rosemarie's file since 09/05, but no Packet 4 yet? We were so much hoping for a December interview.

Maybe I am not entering the numbers correctly? Does MNL proceed the numbers? Does anyone know when they update the Visa Interview site and how often?

Good luck to all!

[BJZags 17]

Maybe I am not entering the numbers correctly? Does MNL proceed the numbers? Does anyone know when they update the Visa Interview site and how often?

Yes, you enter the MNL letters before the number: MNL2006XXXXXX

They update the interview site once a month, usually on the third week of the month. It was around the 19th last month that the dates were posted.

[zethris 0]

A couple questions:

What might "Extended port of entry" mean?

We are doing practice questions for the interview and that one came up. Any ideas?

Elaine will be going to Manila on Friday her time, so the day after tomorrow, and then she will try to get into the medical exam earlier than the 27th.

...does she need to make some calls to reschedule the medical appointment? or is is first come first serve?

[TechnoWeenie 0]

(from the web site)

Announcement

The Philippine Government has declared that December 1, 2006 (Friday) will be the official date of its regularly scheduled holiday (Bonifacio Day). The Embassy will follow this declaration and we will be closed for business on this day.

Immigrant visa applicants with interview appointments scheduled for December 1 have all been rescheduled for interviews on November 29, 2006 (Wednesday ).

For additional details, you may contact our Visa Call Center at 1-909-101-7878 (available only within the Philippines through a PLDT or Smart landline with NDD or IDD access). Its hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M., except on Philippine and American holidays.

[zethris 0]

whew good to know. Our's is on the 4th. I believe thats a Monday.

[BJZags 17]

A couple questions:

What might "Extended port of entry" mean?

We are doing practice questions for the interview and that one came up. Any ideas?

Elaine will be going to Manila on Friday her time, so the day after tomorrow, and then she will try to get into the medical exam earlier than the 27th.

...does she need to make some calls to reschedule the medical appointment? or is is first come first serve?

"extended port of entry" -- never head of it. POE would simply mean where she would go through customs when she arrives in America. Flying to Harrisburg, PA Jen's POE would be Detroit since that would be where she initially lands in America and switches planes.

And you do NOT need to re-schedule the medical, just show-up EARLY at St. Lukes Mon-Fri. Jen's was "scheduled" for Nov. 28th but she did it on Tuesday. She arrived at 5:45 AM and was the 79th person in-line at the time. It's my understanding that they only allow 100 people in for medicals each day.

[zethris 0]

Ok thanks. Just wanted to make sure. We are coming right down to the wire now

Getting butterflies.

[garya505 2]

A couple questions:

What might "Extended port of entry" mean?

We are doing practice questions for the interview and that one came up. Any ideas?

Elaine will be going to Manila on Friday her time, so the day after tomorrow, and then she will try to get into the medical exam earlier than the 27th.

...does she need to make some calls to reschedule the medical appointment? or is is first come first serve?

"extended port of entry" -- never head of it. POE would simply mean where she would go through customs when she arrives in America. Flying to Harrisburg, PA Jen's POE would be Detroit since that would be where she initially lands in America and switches planes.

And you do NOT need to re-schedule the medical, just show-up EARLY at St. Lukes Mon-Fri. Jen's was "scheduled" for Nov. 28th but she did it on Tuesday. She arrived at 5:45 AM and was the 79th person in-line at the time. It's my understanding that they only allow 100 people in for medicals each day.

Based on that, it sounds like if you get there much after 6AM you're probably not going to get an exam that day, whether you have an appointment or not.

You can just show up any time without rescheduling? Do they ask for the interview appointment letter?

Edited November 15, 2006 by garya505

[BJZags 17]

You can just show up any time without rescheduling? Do they ask for the interview appointment letter?

I think you need to be able to supply them the appointment letter, I know that's what Jenalyn showed the guard. I believe I have read where even the original NOA2 letter got them in the door. But I'm not sure I would want the medical done before receipt of the appointment letter. There really is no "scheduling" involved, it seems to be done on a first-come, first-served basis, with there being a cap of 100 or so people each day.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

You can just show up any time without rescheduling? Do they ask for the interview appointment letter?

I think you need to be able to supply them the appointment letter, I know that's what Jenalyn showed the guard. I believe I have read where even the original NOA2 letter got them in the door. But I'm not sure I would want the medical done before receipt of the appointment letter. There really is no "scheduling" involved, it seems to be done on a first-come, first-served basis, with there being a cap of 100 or so people each day.

You can bring the NOA2 letter only if you don't have the appointment letter. Remember some folks don't receive their Packet 4 information from the USE and pick it up at SLEC. So whether you bring one or both.. either way... there will not be a problem. Best of luck!

BJZags - Was your fiancee able to complete the medical exam an vaccination the same day?

[sunandmoon 450]

You can just show up any time without rescheduling? Do they ask for the interview appointment letter?

I think you need to be able to supply them the appointment letter, I know that's what Jenalyn showed the guard. I believe I have read where even the original NOA2 letter got them in the door. But I'm not sure I would want the medical done before receipt of the appointment letter. There really is no "scheduling" involved, it seems to be done on a first-come, first-served basis, with there being a cap of 100 or so people each day.

it's best to send only a copy of the NOA2 to your Fiance(e). keep the original in a safe place. pretty sure you need it when you AOS. I heard they can be a pain to replace if the original is lost.

[BJZags 17]

BJZags - Was your fiancee able to complete the medical exam an vaccination the same day?

That would be a big negative sheriff Uling. Originally she thought she wasn't going to need any vaccinations which is why she thought maybe she'd be done in one day. Turns out the second-day for the vaccinations was even longer then her initial medical on the first day. And I'm not sure, but due to the "pain" she expressed, it seems like they adminster the vaccinations with cattle prods or something.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

BJZags - Was your fiancee able to complete the medical exam an vaccination the same day?

That would be a big negative sheriff Uling. Originally she thought she wasn't going to need any vaccinations which is why she thought maybe she'd be done in one day. Turns out the second-day for the vaccinations was even longer then her initial medical on the first day. And I'm not sure, but due to the "pain" she expressed, it seems like they adminster the vaccinations with cattle prods or something.

LOL! Many of the fiancees that were there with mine all had bruises on their arms for the needles. I mean huge bruises. The kind that take about a week or so to go away... I'm going to be laughing about the cattle prods thing most of the day...

[sunandmoon 450]

Hello Everyone,

I have been away a few days on business travel and just returned. Congratulations to all who are approved. Can anyone tell me when the Visa Schedule site is updated? After about 10 attempts I was able to speak to someone at the US embassy in Manila. They have had Rosemarie's file since 09/05, but no Packet 4 yet? We were so much hoping for a December interview.

Maybe I am not entering the numbers correctly? Does MNL proceed the numbers? Does anyone know when they update the Visa Interview site and how often?

Good luck to all!

start checking appointment link in couple of days. should be released 17th to 19th. Packet 4 is not sent till after the interview has been scheduled.

[garya505 2]

BJZags - Was your fiancee able to complete the medical exam an vaccination the same day?

That would be a big negative sheriff Uling. Originally she thought she wasn't going to need any vaccinations which is why she thought maybe she'd be done in one day. Turns out the second-day for the vaccinations was even longer then her initial medical on the first day. And I'm not sure, but due to the "pain" she expressed, it seems like they adminster the vaccinations with cattle prods or something.

LOL! Many of the fiancees that were there with mine all had bruises on their arms for the needles. I mean huge bruises. The kind that take about a week or so to go away... I'm going to be laughing about the cattle prods thing most of the day...

Hmmm, that reminds me of my vaccinations before the first time I went to the Phils. Hep A, Hep B, Influenza, Pneumonia, Tetanus/Diptheria, and Polio I think. I got 3 in each arm and had the chills that night, which the doc told me was a normal reaction.