Scheduling Problems with USEM

[Retscpo 5]

Hi VJ members! I was wondering if anyone was having issues with scheduling an interview appointment with USEM? NVC sent our K-1 package to Manila February 24th and they received it February 28th. My Fiancee tried to call to set up an interview appointment but was told the package wasn't uploaded yet. (No problem wait a few days and try again!) She waited a few days and called again to try to set up an appointment but by that time they were moving the Immigrant Visa Unit to their new building! She tried to call after the move and they still had not uploaded the package. I tried calling them the other day and they still cannot find the case in the system... I was told to let Liberty know she had to wait for the Letter of Eligibility! I have read the threads for the last 8 months and this is kinda new... from past experiences some vj members say that they never got a letter from USEM! So I guess I am asking if anyone has heard of a new policy for scheduling interview appointments? The website for scheduling appointments now has a warning about scheduling appointments that are not returning visas? (something about if you schedule the appointment and its not the proper visa you will be turned away at USEM...) Any thoughts or suggestions? Salamat po!

[Tahoma 2,292]

The Cliff Notes version:

1. The Embassy should have entered your physical file into their system by now. Don't wait for the Embassy's letter/email because it may never arrive.

2. Pay the visa fee at BPI.

3. Try to schedule an interview every day either online or through the call center (or both).

4. If you don't have any luck in the next week, call the Immigrant Visa Unit at the Embassy and find out if there's a problem. Occasionally they overlook someone's physical file and it doesn't get entered into their system.

5. Ignore all of the above and call the Immigrant Visa Unit today. Call every day. Be polite, but persistent.

[Retscpo 5]

Hi Tahoma! I already did numbers 1-3... the last time I talked to Ms. Castro in the USEM inquiry line, she made a call to the unit in charge of uploading the cases, and i was told they will double check the box! In fairness, she made several follow ups on our behalf as well as the call center. She would say, it's only electronically sent.. the physical file is not there yet but the NVC emailed Gerry and was informed that the case was forwarded on February 24, 2011 and he even called the NVC to make sure of the date it was sent and the operator told him it should be there by now! I'm calling the Immigrant Visa Unit on monday, maybe you're right about number 4..

Thanks Tahoma! you've been a great help here in VJ especially to Filipinos! Mabuhay!

[tim & Melody 0]

Hi! we have the same case here. I just would like to make a follow-up question for tahoma. What if I never receive the letter from the USEM but have my appointment scheduled already? Will I be denied of visa if I don't have that physical letter brought to the embassy during the interview?

[Tahoma 2,292]

Hi Tahoma! I already did numbers 1-3... the last time I talked to Ms. Castro in the USEM inquiry line, she made a call to the unit in charge of uploading the cases, and i was told they will double check the box! In fairness, she made several follow ups on our behalf as well as the call center. She would say, it's only electronically sent.. the physical file is not there yet but the NVC emailed Gerry and was informed that the case was forwarded on February 24, 2011 and he even called the NVC to make sure of the date it was sent and the operator told him it should be there by now! I'm calling the Immigrant Visa Unit on monday, maybe you're right about number 4..

Thanks Tahoma! you've been a great help here in VJ especially to Filipinos! Mabuhay!

gerrynlibby...Thank you so much for your kind words...and good luck to you on Monday!

Hi! we have the same case here. I just would like to make a follow-up question for tahoma. What if I never receive the letter from the USEM but have my appointment scheduled already? Will I be denied of visa if I don't have that physical letter brought to the embassy during the interview?

No, you won't be denied a visa if you don't have the letter from the Embassy informing you that you are eligible to schedule an interview. It's not necessary to have that letter. Besides, you already have the confirmation sheet for your interview appointment.

Chinook (and others) never received an eligibility letter from the Embassy, yet they were still allowed to complete their interview and receive their visa.

In case the Embassy never sends you an eligibility letter, click here to read it for yourself.

Best wishes to you for a smooth visa journey!

[Retscpo 5]

As of this morning, they finally found the physical case file I was informed that they will upload it today and to set my interview schedule tomorrow afternoon!