Manila Embassy Interview

[Dean iWait 0]

my name is a "hit" on nbi records but they put "no record on file"...should i still secure explaination from nbi why my name hits?

it's really me on the record...about the DOST scholarship...scholars are not allowed to go abroad unless they have returned service for them for 2 years...unfortunately, i didnt availed the scholarship. With supporting certificate from DOST stating that i didnt avail it, nbi released a clearance for me.

ill bring the certificate during my interview. Would this be enough to support my nbi clearance or it would not be needed? im afraid of AR for this . it really bothers me...

Hi Fel,

Only the four (4) notations below require a letter of explanation from NBI:

1) No Criminal Record

2) No Criminal Conviction

3) No Pending Case

4) With Derogatory Record

NBI will not issue a letter unless your notation is one of the 4 mentioned above. I tried to get a letter last year from NBI to explain "No Derogatory Record" because I wanted to cover all bases but NBI refused. Ang kulit ko no?

Oh, by the way, did you put the purpose for NBI clearance as "for travel to USA" or "for travel abroad"? I think NBI has different notations for different purposes.

I suggest bringing your certificate from DOST just in case.

I hope you can join us in our get-together.

PW

Hi PW,

I need your expertise again. I know we already talked about the thumb print. But it also says not valid without dry seal. We don't see any kind of seal on Sheryl's NBI. I guess you could assume the NBI "seal" that is printed on the paper is it. But we are not sure. Wondering if there is some other seal they put on it.

Thanks,

Dean

[sbgwolf1 0]

Well, she said someone told her that she was approved....but not the consulate, it was the person taking information for delbros. She was concerned because the officer took the waiver we had, looked at it for quite a while before taking it to someone else. Since it wasnt her that said we were approved, my baby was concerned. I called later and was told that the officer was on the computer and they didn't want to interrupt, but I could call back later. I didn't call back later, thinking it may be suspicious. This morning, I found that message of "2/5/2007 3:49:08 PM SHIPMENT PROCESS IN THE EMBASSY" on the delbros site, and felt pretty good..

(oh, and the waiver is the 2nd petition waiver).

Yet, this is everything to me, so I called the DOS to get someone that would say 'approved'. They saw in the system that the interview occured, but 'a final decision has not been made'. I asked how long that takes and was told anywhere from a day to a few weeks, if everything is ok. I asked if there were any notes in they system and she said no.

Now I am in Panick Mode. Does anyone have any experience like this? Any ideas?

S&T

Edited February 5, 2007 by sbgwolf1

[BJZags 17]

Now I am in Panick Mode. Does anyone have any experience like this? Any ideas?

S&T

Yes, I have experience with exactly this situation, and NO, I don't have any ideas. We too were led to believe she was "approved", but it was not released by the embassy to Delbros for over 3-weeks. Calls to the embassy, and calls to DOS did me no good. Embassy would only say, "still in process, routine checks", and DOS could only say the "interview did ocurr." Very frustrating, I know. My Congressman contacted the embassy on behalf of me twice during those 3-weeks. Not sure if that had any effect, but almost immediately after his second eMail to Manila, the visa was released. Patience in a gut-check, #######, sort of situation is the only advise I have. Hang-in there and be strong.

[GaryC 7]

(oh, and the waiver is the 2nd petition waiver).

S&T

Second petition waiver? Why would you need that at the interview? Didn't the USCIS already cover that with the IMBRA form? Once they approve you I thought it was no longer any issue.

[sbgwolf1 0]

(oh, and the waiver is the 2nd petition waiver).

S&T

Second petition waiver? Why would you need that at the interview? Didn't the USCIS already cover that with the IMBRA form? Once they approve you I thought it was no longer any issue.

Yea, thats what my understanding was also...I dont see how it could/should have been an issue now. My understanding is that issues should not arise from information that has already been presented and known at the initial processing level....in this case when I sent in the imbra form for the RFE that we all received. Hoping this is quick, but the way this has went so far, i cant help but worry about it.

S&T

[Amerikano 0]

My wife is at her medical appointment right now...she is texting me as she goes through the steps. She got there at 4:30 and already there was a long line. Everything is good so far. Pray for us. Interview is next week, Feb. 13th. I hope all goes well. Good luck to all of you doing interviews/medicals this week!

Gary

[Michael and Milahjean 0]

As Agent of Choice for the CR-1 visa, I received my asawa's Packet 4 in the mail today in Ohio. I've rocketed it off via DHL to her this afternoon, with delivery expected maybe by week's end (we'll see). Wasn't easy to find a suitable express courier given her very remote rural residence on Leyte. FedEx wouldn't give me any delivery date guarantee and UPS told me Feb 16 delivery at nearly $70!! She has tentative plans for her medical exam on Feb 20 or 21. Heads up for the CR-1s here waiting on Packet 4.

Mike

[Pinay Wife 47]

I need your expertise again. I know we already talked about the thumb print. But it also says not valid without dry seal. We don't see any kind of seal on Sheryl's NBI. I guess you could assume the NBI "seal" that is printed on the paper is it. But we are not sure. Wondering if there is some other seal they put on it.

Yaiks! I'm no expert but I do try to back up any info provided here by providing the links to the law or by researching.

Regarding the seal, sometimes the embossed seal cannot be seen but try to raise it up to the light and you might see a faint depression. Also, try to "feel" for a depression. If you feel even the faintest round depression, consider it sealed.

I double-checked with NBI by calling them at 523-8231 and they confirmed that a clearance without embossed seal and thumbprint is not valid. The guy said that the clearance can be sent back to NBI to get the embossed seal.

Well, she said someone told her that she was approved....but not the consulate, it was the person taking information for delbros

The Delbros person is an outside contractor and is not authorized to say if one is approved or not. Even the embassy warns that no embassy personnel is authorized to say if one is approved or not. As some of us have experienced here, they can still put us in AR even if the CO said “approved”.

She was concerned because the officer took the waiver we had, looked at it for quite a while before taking it to someone else. x x x (oh, and the waiver is the 2nd petition waiver).

If you submitted a waiver when you filed the petition, it should not have been an issue at interview anymore. Did your fiancee offer the waiver without the CO asking for it? I hope she did not.

Experience tells us to never offer anything that is not asked or requested by the CO during the interview. Play it safe by answering only what is asked, and giving only what is requested.

Edited February 6, 2007 by PatientlyWaiting

[Pinay Wife 47]

I have a couple questions for the interview.

1. Does it matter how old my fiancee's birth certificate is from the NSO office? Does it need to be recent like less than 6 months since issuance?

2. Also, I have never been married, do i need to submit a CENOMAR from the states also for her interview?

1) It is always suggested for BC, MC, NBI, Cenomar to be 6 months old or less.

2) The Cenomar is something that is peculiar only to the Philippines. The nearest equivalent to a USC would be the Legal Capacity to Marry (but you will only require that if you are marrying in the Philippines).

[Glenn & Rosemarie 0]

As Agent of Choice for the CR-1 visa, I received my asawa's Packet 4 in the mail today in Ohio. I've rocketed it off via DHL to her this afternoon, with delivery expected maybe by week's end (we'll see). Wasn't easy to find a suitable express courier given her very remote rural residence on Leyte. FedEx wouldn't give me any delivery date guarantee and UPS told me Feb 16 delivery at nearly $70!! She has tentative plans for her medical exam on Feb 20 or 21. Heads up for the CR-1s here waiting on Packet 4.

Mike

Michael, During the process, I was sending everything to my wife via FedEx. She lived in Cagayan de Oro. FedEx was delivering to her consistently in less than 4 days. I used FedEx International Priority. I sent from 2 to 5 pounds each time and the charge was from $82 to $92.

[Pinay Wife 47]

If you submitted a waiver when you filed the petition, it should not have been an issue at interview anymore. Did your fiancee offer the waiver without the CO asking for it? I hope she did not.

Sbgwolf1, just to put your mind at ease, the CO probably did not know what to do with the waiver and he will eventually okay the visa once he figures it out

[sbgwolf1 0]

If you submitted a waiver when you filed the petition, it should not have been an issue at interview anymore. Did your fiancee offer the waiver without the CO asking for it? I hope she did not.

Sbgwolf1, just to put your mind at ease, the CO probably did not know what to do with the waiver and he will eventually okay the visa once he figures it out

I hope that is the case...gotta say we are stressing. This process is exhausting. I thought last night I would hear 'honey, were done, we are approved'. I have vacation scheduled at both jobs so I can spend a little time with her when she gets here. Of course we didnt have any expectation of an additional wait.

All we can do is pray. Thanks for the support.

Good luck again to all you ready to have your interviews.

S&T

[Dean iWait 0]

Thanks PW. You're an expert in my book. Who else here is going through the whole process for the 2nd time? Argghhh. I guess it's another 2 and a half hour bus ride to CDO and back to get the right NBI. Oh well. Sheryl would of had to go back to go to BPI anyway to pay the visa application fee.

[kismet 0]

1) It is always suggested for BC, MC, NBI, Cenomar to be 6 months old or less.

Hi PW. Would you suggest getting recent certified copies of annulment papers from the court, as well as a newly issued annotated MC from NSO to present at the interview? The annulment documents we sent with the petition were dated June 2006. I'm wondering if it would make a difference.

And thanks all. Read all of the 350 or so pages of this thread and also skimmed every page of the Foreign Embassy Forum for posts from Fil-AM couples (yup, i did ), and once more I'm so thankful for this community of very special people.

Gen

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Thanks PW. You're an expert in my book. Who else here is going through the whole process for the 2nd time? Argghhh.

PW has gone through the ultimate OJT (on the job training)... It seems like such a shame, but I'm sure their relationship will be much stronger because of it... Thanks a bunch PW. You are the best!!!