Manila Embassy Interview

[garya505 2]

So if you tell the guard you are at St. Lukes to pick up the packet, how does he know you are not really there to take the medical exam? Can't you pick up the packet the same day you take the medical exam?

actually you can have your medical the same day you pick up your packet. when i picked up my packet, the nurse asked me if i wanted to have my medical exam that day. but since it was too early to get my medical done (the nurse's advice was to wait until one month before my interview), i declined.

then again, if you want to have your medical the same day you pick up your packet, you have to go back to the guard and ask for the forms that needs to be filled up. when you go back to them, they'll ask to see your appointment letter and they'll ask for a photocopy.

So if you picked up the packet then you would have to go somewhere to make a copy? Is there an office services place near St. Lukes where you can find a copy machine?

[sillygirl 0]

So if you picked up the packet then you would have to go somewhere to make a copy? Is there an office services place near St. Lukes where you can find a copy machine?

yes and yes. there are many small businesses across the street from st. luke's offering various services like passport pics, photocopying, etc.

[arch and cel 0]

Ok, so now I am confused. You need to bring the appointment letter and a copy? I thought that if you didn't get the packet 4 you could pick it up at St.Lukes. How can you do that if you didn't get the appointment letter in the first place?

i called saint luke's and told them that i will pick up my packet. at that time, the waiting was just driving me crazy so i decided not to wait for the packet. if you are just going to pick up the packet, the guards at St. Luke's will let you in. you just need to show a valid ID. but, if you're there for your medical, they will not let you in without the appointment letter.

hey sillygirl...where can we pick up our packet St Lukes or U.S. emabssy?

Thanks

Cel

[49BSTREET 0]

Anybody else have trouble logging onto appointment site this morning?

Hi.

Appointment site has been down since this afternoon, Manila time. First thing that came to mind was.. "they could be updating!!!"

Don't want to keep hopes up but then.... it's 9:30 p.m. here, Manila time.. so I'm hoping we see some good news in 11 hours or so. More so for you and the others who seem to gotten skipped! Of course me on the border line can wait next month for March skeds.

But still....

Fingers crossed,

Gen

I have been trying the site all day and it is still not working!!!

I hope it is up by the morning and I have an interview date set!!!

Good luck to you... our timeline is close together....

[garya505 2]

Ok, so now I am confused. You need to bring the appointment letter and a copy? I thought that if you didn't get the packet 4 you could pick it up at St.Lukes. How can you do that if you didn't get the appointment letter in the first place?

i called saint luke's and told them that i will pick up my packet. at that time, the waiting was just driving me crazy so i decided not to wait for the packet. if you are just going to pick up the packet, the guards at St. Luke's will let you in. you just need to show a valid ID. but, if you're there for your medical, they will not let you in without the appointment letter.

hey sillygirl...where can we pick up our packet St Lukes or U.S. emabssy?

Thanks

Cel

Along the same lines as that question, if the packet does not arrive at the home address, how do we request it to be picked up at St. Lukes? Do we call the Embassy IVU or do we call St. Lukes, and how much time dot they need to send it?

[Glenn & Rosemarie 0]

Can anyone recommend a service like a pre-paid MasterCard or something that I can send my wife? Western Union is robbing me! I want a service that I can transfer money online to and she will have immediate access to the money in the Philippines.

Thanks

[BJZags 17]

Can anyone recommend a service like a pre-paid MasterCard or something that I can send my wife? Western Union is robbing me! I want a service that I can transfer money online to and she will have immediate access to the money in the Philippines.

Thanks

www.visabuxx.com -- $2 transfer fee, regardless of amount. You'll have to fib and say she is your "teenage child" on the application. Works well for my fiancee.

[dims1 0]

I had my bank give me a second ATM card(visa atm) And I sent it to my wife so she can get her weekly allowance. Costs about 3.00 each time and she just goes to an ATM when she goes to the mall. Its been working real well for about a year now. I had to go to my bank and make my savings acct. availble to that card. Everything was fine after that.

Mike

[garya505 2]

Can anyone recommend a service like a pre-paid MasterCard or something that I can send my wife? Western Union is robbing me! I want a service that I can transfer money online to and she will have immediate access to the money in the Philippines.

Thanks

www.visabuxx.com -- $2 transfer fee, regardless of amount. You'll have to fib and say she is your "teenage child" on the application. Works well for my fiancee.

Is it $2 when you transfer into the account or when she takes cash out, or both?

[dims1 0]

Hey BJZags,

I've been watching hoping for your visa delivery.... Any news at all yet?

Good luck,

Mike

Can anyone recommend a service like a pre-paid MasterCard or something that I can send my wife? Western Union is robbing me! I want a service that I can transfer money online to and she will have immediate access to the money in the Philippines.

Thanks

www.visabuxx.com -- $2 transfer fee, regardless of amount. You'll have to fib and say she is your "teenage child" on the application. Works well for my fiancee.

[robhankins 0]

I had my bank give me a second ATM card(visa atm) And I sent it to my wife so she can get her weekly allowance. Costs about 3.00 each time and she just goes to an ATM when she goes to the mall. Its been working real well for about a year now. I had to go to my bank and make my savings acct. availble to that card. Everything was fine after that.

Mike

Another solution is from Netspend.com. It is a prepaid MC or Visa. I got one from Cash Express in my neighborhood. You can add funds at many supermarkets and convenience stores. There is a good online system to view your deposits and withdrawals. I just printed each month with the various withdrawals in the PHils as evidence of support, with a photo of the card with her name on it.

[BJZags 17]

Hey BJZags,

I've been watching hoping for your visa delivery.... Any news at all yet?

Good luck,

Mike

As of friday morning Manila time, no news. "Almost approved" just waiting on document varification I've been told. (kind of like being almost-pregnant) Must be a busy morning at the embassy because I can't seem to get through. But I've heard that the filipina operator is only reading what little "notes" the CO puts in the system as he/she works, and you'll likely see the good news on Delbros web page before x5184 knows. But, at the very least I check to ensure they are "working" the case and it hasn't simply been re-shelved and forgotten.

[God is Good 0]

Yes, I forgot to include bring with you your original Appointment letter and a photocopy of it- the guard will not let you go inside until you have the photocopy. I had my medical last Thursday -December 14, 2006. So far I brought with me 8..it doesn't hurt if you bring more than what's needed. If your fiance doesn't have any vaccination history or any medical reports that's fine and even if she does have those and didn't bring it with her it's still A-ok!!! It's recommended though that if she has vaccination history so that she will not have the shots anymore... just like the girl that's with me during the medical she brought her vaccination history, after the medical procedures and interview she just waited for her medical result on the ground floor, she did not wait for another hour or so for her name to be called for the vaccination.

Ok, so now I am confused. You need to bring the appointment letter and a copy? I thought that if you didn't get the packet 4 you could pick it up at St.Lukes. How can you do that if you didn't get the appointment letter in the first place?

If you don't have the appointment letter, you can show them your NOA2 and a copy of it as well because the guard will attached that to the forms and then the orginal will be given back to you, which you will use as well at the interview - will show it to the guard. I don't have the knowledge with regards to picking up the packet 4, but from what I';ve heard people do that and there's no problemo!!

God bless.

Elizabeth

[BJZags 17]

Is it $2 when you transfer into the account or when she takes cash out, or both?

There will be an initial $12 set-up fee to sink-it to a bank account.

$2 for every transfer into her account. (They waive the transfer fee if you have an account at one of the 3 sponsored banks)

I think one free ATM withdraw each week, and then $1.50 after that.

I'm not sure the fees on visa point-of-sale, probably the normal 1-percent fee for transactions in a foreign country.

[Glenn & Rosemarie 0]

Is it $2 when you transfer into the account or when she takes cash out, or both?

There will be an initial $12 set-up fee to sink-it to a bank account.

$2 for every transfer into her account. (They waive the transfer fee if you have an account at one of the 3 sponsored banks)

I think one free ATM withdraw each week, and then $1.50 after that.

I'm not sure the fees on visa point-of-sale, probably the normal 1-percent fee for transactions in a foreign country.

Thanks, this will prove to be far less expensive than Western Union. Their fees are ridiculous.