no packet from Mla embassy after 2 wks

[militarygf 0]

Hi VJ family! My fiance called NVC a few days after he had received the hard copy of the NOA2; he was told that our application was forwarded to Manila Embassy on April 4th, and gave him our MNL case number. Fiance asked me to check with the consulate office. Since I have not received the packet yet, I called the embassy on the 15th, although I was not really sure if the approved expeditious request extended to the consulate stage, I thought that 2 weeks should be enough time for them to receive/ review our package. I spoke with a customer service representative – I was asked of our names (petitioner & beneficiary); my passport number and its validity date; date of my last entry in US; and our MNL case number. It was a breeze; until I asked them if there is any way I could check if our application had reached their office yet. We went round and about -- they said that the embassy will send me a notification of eligibility which should be my go signal to schedule an interview; I asked again when I could expect for that mail, they said there is no definite lead time, and would depend on their work load. I pressed for my initial question, which is how I could find out if the approved application from NVC had reached their office. I was finally told that I can just email to follow up and ask if it is being reviewed already.

I’d like to ask if this happens normally? Ive seen other timelines and noticed that it just takes days for beneficiaries to receive the packet from the local embassy since their packages were forwarded by NVC. I was even more surprised to read from the flowchart that it only takes 5-7 working days to be received and less than a week to send to beneficiary the forms and checklist.

Had anyone else experienced the same?

My other question pertains to the validity date stated on NOA2. Ours is from 3/28/2011 to 07/28/2011. What does this mean pls? Am I given until July 28 to finish all paperwork, including obtaining the medical and K1visa and should depart for US on or before that date?

Thanks again for any clarifications you can help me with!

[militarygf 0]

oh the customer representative also said that the "notification of eligibility" that I would receive will be sent AFTER the consul had reviewed and approved the application. May i ask if this is accurate pls? This notification of eligibility is what most people refer as the packet 3, where forms and instructions are attached?

much thanks again!

[Jay & Cici 3]

Yes, the letter of eligibility aka Packet 3. but i have read many Filipinas here in VJ that there are many dont receive it. You can actually print it out from the USEM Manila website. With my interview, they didnt look for it but just the appointment letter. And also, I was able to pay visa fee, set my appointment, and my medical without it. It arrived nearly my interview date.

[crystal01 29]

Same thing they told me when I called. But bleh.. I went right ahead and paid BPI as soon as I had my MNL number from NVC. Ours went out of NVC on the 4th too. I used DHL to track when it would be received by the embassy. I found a post about it. It arrived on Apr 8. Yours should be part of that batch. I tried everyday to schedule online and was finally able to schedule on Apr 14. If they dont have your case in the system yet you will get an error "case number is invalid". The earliest schedule they have online is May 6 so I booked that. Then I called again to ask if there is an earlier date. I got April 25. Now I am all set. You should be too! Just try it first!

PS. I never received an eligibility letter via email or post. Let's see if I still get one. But it shouldn't matter at the interview as long as you have the appointment letter printed out. Goodluck!

[Jay & Cici 3]

To Crystal01: exactly what i did with mine go girl!!! as with other Pinays here, we call ourselves "ataters" and makukulit..

To militarygf: dont wait for the letter, its just a piece of paper that you can print online. and dont get tired calling them everyday to see if your case is in the system already : good luck to you and start with your medical soon

[pookaphilus 12]

Yes, the letter of eligibility aka Packet 3. but i have read many Filipinas here in VJ that there are many dont receive it. You can actually print it out from the USEM Manila website. With my interview, they didnt look for it but just the appointment letter. And also, I was able to pay visa fee, set my appointment, and my medical without it. It arrived nearly my interview date.

...I agree to Jay&Cici...start preparing for everything..you can pay for your visa, set your appointment and medical without it..if ever they would ask if you received one, just tell them yes...God forgive me, but that's what we did before, if we kept on waiting until now, I would never be here in the US right now..until now, there's no packet/letter from the embassy that was sent to my home address in the Philippines..sometimes, we need to be initiative, pursue things and risk sometimes..don't worry, just as long as you have a copy of your NOA2 or NVC letter..btw, your letter might arrive before your interview..just have faith and trust the Lord..we are really grateful to God that everything went well for us..God bless us all!!..

[Retscpo 5]

oh the customer representative also said that the "notification of eligibility" that I would receive will be sent AFTER the consul had reviewed and approved the application. May i ask if this is accurate pls? This notification of eligibility is what most people refer as the packet 3, where forms and instructions are attached?

much thanks again!

Hi! I can relate to your situation because I felt neglected after 3 weeks has passed since the USEM hasn't entered our case in their system. They finally told me they found our case and I can schedule the next day! I received the eligibility letter 3 days after I was able to schedule online.

The eligibility letter will only inform you that your case is eligible to be scheduled for a visa interview, how will you schedule online and the Embassy's website for interview preparation instructions.

[crystal01 29]

Sending them an email might be helpful too but they take FOREVER to reply. Guess what? I sent an email 13 days ago exactly like your problem in this post and I got a response just now.

This is the email ( I think this is the eligibility letter) :

We received the U.S. immigration service-approved fiancée (K1) visa petition from the State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) on April 12, 2011.

You should visit this website: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph to schedule a visa interview appointment. You may also contact the Embassy’s Visa Information and Appointment Service at (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930 to schedule a visa interview date. The Visa Information and Appointment Service is open Mondays through Fridays, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., except on Philippine and U.S. holidays. Callers in the U.S. may contact the Appointment Service at (214) 571-1600 between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time). You should have your case number, passport number, and passport expiry date ready when requesting a visa appointment.

Please note that K1 applicants must pay the visa application fee of $350, before they can request a visa appointment via the online appointment website or the Embassy’s Visa Call Center. For K1 visa payment instructions, please visit a link to our website at http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html.

You should follow all interview preparation instructions for K1 visa applicants located on the Embassy’s website at http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3238.html. The instructions contained on the website will provide you with the required documentation and procedures to follow prior to the interview date.

You should compile all the required documents and complete the medical examination before the interview date (when scheduled).

We hope this information will be helpful to you.

Immigrant Visa Correspondence Unit

Consular Section

U.S. Embassy, Manila

1201 Roxas Boulevard

1000 Manila, Philippines

Telephone: (632) 301-2000

Fax: (632) 301-2037

SBU

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

[crystal01 29]

To Crystal01: exactly what i did with mine go girl!!! as with other Pinays here, we call ourselves "ataters" and makukulit..

To militarygf: dont wait for the letter, its just a piece of paper that you can print online. and dont get tired calling them everyday to see if your case is in the system already : good luck to you and start with your medical soon

haha so true! I called NVC everyday to see if we have an MNL number yet, when we finally had one and it went out of NVC, I started tracking the package every few hours lol. When it arrived, I started harassing the embassy operators to see when they will have it on their system lol. I also tried to schedule online everyday. My efforts paid off. I will have an interview in a few days time.

[militarygf 0]

Yes, the letter of eligibility aka Packet 3. but i have read many Filipinas here in VJ that there are many dont receive it. You can actually print it out from the USEM Manila website. With my interview, they didnt look for it but just the appointment letter. And also, I was able to pay visa fee, set my appointment, and my medical without it. It arrived nearly my interview date.

Same thing they told me when I called. But bleh.. I went right ahead and paid BPI as soon as I had my MNL number from NVC. Ours went out of NVC on the 4th too. I used DHL to track when it would be received by the embassy. I found a post about it. It arrived on Apr 8. Yours should be part of that batch. I tried everyday to schedule online and was finally able to schedule on Apr 14. If they dont have your case in the system yet you will get an error "case number is invalid". The earliest schedule they have online is May 6 so I booked that. Then I called again to ask if there is an earlier date. I got April 25. Now I am all set. You should be too! Just try it first!

PS. I never received an eligibility letter via email or post. Let's see if I still get one. But it shouldn't matter at the interview as long as you have the appointment letter printed out. Goodluck!

To Crystal01: exactly what i did with mine go girl!!! as with other Pinays here, we call ourselves "ataters" and makukulit..

To militarygf: dont wait for the letter, its just a piece of paper that you can print online. and dont get tired calling them everyday to see if your case is in the system already : good luck to you and start with your medical soon

...I agree to Jay&Cici...start preparing for everything..you can pay for your visa, set your appointment and medical without it..if ever they would ask if you received one, just tell them yes...God forgive me, but that's what we did before, if we kept on waiting until now, I would never be here in the US right now..until now, there's no packet/letter from the embassy that was sent to my home address in the Philippines..sometimes, we need to be initiative, pursue things and risk sometimes..don't worry, just as long as you have a copy of your NOA2 or NVC letter..btw, your letter might arrive before your interview..just have faith and trust the Lord..we are really grateful to God that everything went well for us..God bless us all!!..

thank you all so much for that much needed clarification. I was starting to get worried why i haven't received the packet yet. Wow, who would have thought that Manila traffic extended to DHL mailing system May i further ask if what the packet contains is the 9 page long document from the website? If it is not too bold to ask, may I please be directed to a link of what i should print out and prepare for the interview. Will really appreciate that

Good luck on your interview, Crystal! go get them LOL. Do u have a validity date in your NOA2, and if so, when?

@Jay & Cici and pookaphilus - wishing you all the best on your respective journeys! attaters huh? hehehe.

[militarygf 0]

Hi! I can relate to your situation because I felt neglected after 3 weeks has passed since the USEM hasn't entered our case in their system. They finally told me they found our case and I can schedule the next day! I received the eligibility letter 3 days after I was able to schedule online.

The eligibility letter will only inform you that your case is eligible to be scheduled for a visa interview, how will you schedule online and the Embassy's website for interview preparation instructions.

oh so you mean to say that the packet DOES NOT CONTAIN the information found in the website? only information for scheduling the interview?

The embassy must have the package in their system first then, before I can schedule for an interview even without this notification of eligibility? As long as the application is in their system, Im good to go to schedule for an appointment? Im being redundant, but my head is really spinning on the next steps

Thanks and best regards xx

[militarygf 0]

haha so true! I called NVC everyday to see if we have an MNL number yet, when we finally had one and it went out of NVC, I started tracking the package every few hours lol. When it arrived, I started harassing the embassy operators to see when they will have it on their system lol. I also tried to schedule online everyday. My efforts paid off. I will have an interview in a few days time.

congratulations on getting an interview sched! Brilliant way to do so!Now that is persistence LOL! what did u tell DHL to track your package, im stumped there what info u gave for them to check. Have u scheduled for the seminar yet, or will u wait til you have the visa before u schedule it?

[leoespeso 0]

hi... i may have posted the same topic lolz... and also my letter was on April 5, 2011... probably were also on the same batch

[Jay & Cici 3]

thank you all so much for that much needed clarification. I was starting to get worried why i haven't received the packet yet. Wow, who would have thought that Manila traffic extended to DHL mailing system May i further ask if what the packet contains is the 9 page long document from the website? If it is not too bold to ask, may I please be directed to a link of what i should print out and prepare for the interview. Will really appreciate that

Good luck on your interview, Crystal! go get them LOL. Do u have a validity date in your NOA2, and if so, when?

@Jay & Cici and pookaphilus - wishing you all the best on your respective journeys! attaters huh? hehehe.

this is the link:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction%20Packet%20_3__rtf2_001.pdf

[Jay & Cici 3]

congratulations on getting an interview sched! Brilliant way to do so!Now that is persistence LOL! what did u tell DHL to track your package, im stumped there what info u gave for them to check. Have u scheduled for the seminar yet, or will u wait til you have the visa before u schedule it?

a persistence is needed until you finally have your schedule. and yes, you need to wait for your case to be in USEM's system. You can have your CFO-PDOS seminar when you have your visa already so you dont have to come back for the CFO sticker. (CFO sticker is only given when you have your passport with VISA with you)