Have Visa delivered to hotel where I'm staying?

[Flamecutter 0]

I am here with my wife in Manila helping her with all the final documents for her Interview on March 2. I have planned to stay until March 7th assuming we would have Visa by then and we could leave for US so I won't have to take more time from work and come back another trip. She lives in Mindanao so it wouldn't make sense to have it delivered to her place there since we are in Manila now. I was wondering if I should have the Visa delivered to our hotel or can I ask to just pick up at embassy when approved? If it takes longer than 5 days to approve then maybe I should leave for US and back to work for a couple of weeks on 2nd after the interview and return later when Visa approved? Can I find out how long Visa will take for approval at the interview? Not sure what is best way to go.. How long did it take VJ couples for average to get Visa approved after interview??

[MMW 2]

I would suggest at the interview to explain to the CO what your concerns are (after they approve the visa of course) and ask to just pick it up at the Embassy since you will be staying in Manila and not returning to Mindanao. We are going to ask the same when the times comes for my wife's interview, she is also from Mindanao.

[ruby_jade 0]

you can accompany your wife during her interview and request a visa pick up, others have done it!

[Jasman0717 9]

What happens is it takes the embassy a month to issue the visa?

[HappyDancer 7]

I had a staff before who requested to have a pickup for his visa. Being from Mindanoa is a good point to raise with the consul.

[MMW 2]

And when you tell them you won't be returning to Mindanao, make sure you mention the recent concerns regarding the MILF activity there as being unsafe for an American with all the kidnappings, Ect. going on in the southern islands. Lay it on thick!

[HappyDancer 7]

Ditto MMW. My staff's hometown is in Pagadian City in Zamboanga... The main hub of the scoundrels.

Edited February 25, 2009 by HappyDancer

[MMW 2]

We are in Iligan City and my wife hates it when i want to go into the city. Got to love her though, she always makes sure I am safe no matter what.

[Flamecutter 0]

Ditto MMW. My staff's hometown is in Pagadian City in Zamboanga... The main hub of the scoundrels.

Thank you for the replies, I have been reading here on VJ that many people have received their visa's 2 to 4 days after interview. I am curious as to what the average is to receive visa after interview. Does anyone know?

[happywifeymom 4]

Ditto MMW. My staff's hometown is in Pagadian City in Zamboanga... The main hub of the scoundrels.

Thank you for the replies, I have been reading here on VJ that many people have received their visa's 2 to 4 days after interview. I am curious as to what the average is to receive visa after interview. Does anyone know?

Yes you can tell the CO before the interview process that you want the visa picked up.I had mine picked up coz am also from Mindanao,,Cagayan de oro city.

Some are lucky to receive their visa in a week even take a month.

[Cherel & Bob 0]

There is no embassy pickup of Visas anymore. This changed when Air21 picked up the embassy's contract for deliveries. As far as changing the address for delivery purposes, I caution you. One of Cherel's friends on this website tried to do just that. She received the text from Air21 with her tracking # stating that they had her visa, this was 3 weeks ago. Her visa still has not been delivered and it is actually back at the embassy since it could not be delivered.

Bob

[HappyDancer 7]

uhoh...

I got my visa after 3 days. Some areas in Mindanao is a hotspot so I hope the visa delivery will not take a long time.

[Jasman0717 9]

And when you tell them you won't be returning to Mindanao, make sure you mention the recent concerns regarding the MILF activity there as being unsafe for an American with all the kidnappings, Ect. going on in the southern islands. Lay it on thick!

I spent a lot of time on Mindanao, Negros and Cebu and never felt unsafe. I kind of like that though, keeps the rif-raf off my island

[Dakine 26]

We didn't want to hang around Manila so I had the visa delivered to a hotel in Boragay

[john_and_marlene 162]

Ditto MMW. My staff's hometown is in Pagadian City in Zamboanga... The main hub of the scoundrels.

Thank you for the replies, I have been reading here on VJ that many people have received their visa's 2 to 4 days after interview. I am curious as to what the average is to receive visa after interview. Does anyone know?

Many receive the visa in 3 or 4 days. Many receive the visa in 2 or 3 weeks. Some receive the visa after longer waits. You are cutting it very close. Don't be shocked if you have to reschedule a flight. We allowed about 10 days for Marlene's visa. We rescheduled our flights when it looked like 10 days wouldn't be enough. I finally had to come home alone and Marlene rescheduled her flight again after she received the visa 19 days after the interview.