Question about BPI and embassy interview appointments

[Ratty and C 13]

Hi folks,

I'm the USC, my fiancee is in the Philippines. We got our NOA2 on Friday (YAY!) - anyhow i've been quite prepared and I have almost everything ready to send to her, i134 etc, i just need to wait for the NOA2 hardcopy so i can include that and then send it all to her...so far so good, and then looking at what to do next i think i have the procedure straight except for one question,

If i send her the payment for the interview appointment now and she prints the BPI receipt and makes the payment, then she can shortly book the appointment online right, using the passport # as the receipt? But....we don't have the MNL# yet, should we wait to hear the MNL# from NVC first? It seems to me like it's going to be a few weeks faster to make the payment and book the appointment now, then she can go take the medical and have the interview and that would be quicker than waiting for the MNL#.

Also, how is the interview date decided? Do we have any input on the date or do they just dictate to be there on a specific date?

Thanks in advance for any answers - just looking for the optimal process so we don't waste any time...and good luck to everyone!

[redvelvet 12]

After the payment at BPI, you can wait about 4 hours before the receipt number is registered in their system. Then you can make an appointment online for the embassy interview.

You will need the passpost number, MNL# and priority date (NOA1 date) to make the appointment. As soon as you filled in the required data, you will go to a calendar page, all clickable dates have available slots for interview so you can choose the date you want. Usually, there is available as early as one week out.

Your fiancee can have her medical exam at least one week before the interview.

For the MNL#, you can start calling NVC to ask for your MNL# after 2 weeks of approval.

[Ratty and C 13]

After the payment at BPI, you can wait about 4 hours before the receipt number is registered in their system. Then you can make an appointment online for the embassy interview.

You will need the passpost number, MNL# and priority date (NOA1 date) to make the appointment. As soon as you filled in the required data, you will go to a calendar page, all clickable dates have available slots for interview so you can choose the date you want. Usually, there is available as early as one week out.

Your fiancee can have her medical exam at least one week before the interview.

For the MNL#, you can start calling NVC to ask for your MNL# after 2 weeks of approval.

Thank you, that's just what i was looking for

[Inky 1,111]

Moved from K-1 forums to Philippine regional forums as this is directly dealing with that country.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi folks,

I'm the USC, my fiancee is in the Philippines. We got our NOA2 on Friday (YAY!) - anyhow i've been quite prepared and I have almost everything ready to send to her, i134 etc, i just need to wait for the NOA2 hardcopy so i can include that and then send it all to her...so far so good, and then looking at what to do next i think i have the procedure straight except for one question,

If i send her the payment for the interview appointment now and she prints the BPI receipt and makes the payment, then she can shortly book the appointment online right, using the passport # as the receipt? But....we don't have the MNL# yet, should we wait to hear the MNL# from NVC first? It seems to me like it's going to be a few weeks faster to make the payment and book the appointment now, then she can go take the medical and have the interview and that would be quicker than waiting for the MNL#.

Also, how is the interview date decided? Do we have any input on the date or do they just dictate to be there on a specific date?

Thanks in advance for any answers - just looking for the optimal process so we don't waste any time...and good luck to everyone!

You don't need the NOA2 for anything at the embassy. You do need the MNL #, and once you have that you can do EVERYTHING!

For the NVC:

Check on your embassy case number:

Give them 7 - 10 days before calling. Call after 4:45 PM eastern time for shorter wait times K1's are not tracked through the AVR, ever. They are processed like an immigrant visa, but they are NOT immigrant visas, so they fall into a completely different class of their own. Therefore you need an operator. To get there:

1-603-334-0700 Operator assistance is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 12:00 AM (Eastern Time)

Press 1 for English

Press 5 for an operator

NVC CONTACT INFORMATION:

Website: www.immigrantvisas.state.govwww.immigrantvisas.state.gov

E-mail: NVCInquiry@state.gov (I found NVC to be very quick responding to emails)

REQUIRED SECURITY INFORMATION:

You are required to provide the following security information with each inquiry to receive a case specific response:

* NVC Case Number or USCIS Receipt Number (Place in the subject line of the e-mail).

* Petitioner's name and date of birth.

( NOTE: If the visa petition is employment-based, include the employer's company/organization name instead of the petitioner's name and date of birth. )

* Principal Applicant's name and date of birth.

Manila Embassy:

NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR MNL # (don't need to wait for the letter from the embassy )

(NOTE: When getting NSO certified copies of your Birth Certificate get a few extra copies for bringing to the States with you. You will need them from time to time)

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

Once you have your MNL # :

You can pay your nonimmigrant visa application fee with cash or debit card at any Bank of Philippine Islands. Before going to the bank, you must print the applicable U.S. visa application deposit slip available below on this page. Take the printed deposit slip with you to pay your fee. If you print a deposit slip in advance of the day in which you plan to make your payment, please take note of the expiration date on the deposit slip. If the expiration date passes prior to using the slip to make your payment, simply return to this site and re-click the appropriate link below to generate a new deposit slip. Bank agents will NOT accept payments based on expired deposit slips. Upon receiving of your payment, bank will issue you a receipt. Save your receipt. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

http://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-paymentinfo.asp

Select the deposit slip that matches your visa application fee from the list below. Values are shown in U.S. dollars and native currency. This page has more information about the different visa application fees.

http://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-visafeeinfo.asp

For K-1 the fee is $240

After you have paid the visa application fee, keep the BANK receipt for your records. It cannot be replaced if it is lost. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without your receipt number.

If you have an account with either Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) or BancNet you may choose to pay your visa application fee online using their online bill pay services. Click on either of the links below if you are a BPI or BancNet customer and wish to make an online payment.

If you are paying for more than one applicant, please DO NOT make a lump sum payment for all the applicants. A UID/receipt number is required for each visa application fee payment for EACH applicant for scheduling an appointment. After you have paid the visa application fee, please keep the fee receipt for your records.

Receipt Format

Note: If you have a Bank of Philippine Islands receipt, your fee receipt number should be your passport number. If something other than your passport number appears in the circled area on the graphic, use that information as your receipt number. This receipt number verifies your payment and allows you to schedule your visa interview

When scheduling online with the embassy you need to use the receipt number as shown on the payment receipt from BPI.

Priorty Date; this is the date the NOA 1 was received. You will not find the priority date entered on the NOA2, you will only find it on the email/letter from NVC when you get your MNL #.

Make sure to print three copies of the interview confirmation letter/page (if you scheduled online) as you will need two for St. Luke's and the other for the embassy.

(open all of these links then save them to your bookmarks so you have them for easy access)

Embassy Letter:

(This is the Instruction Letter from the Embassy - you need to complete everything listed here)

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3224.html

In English: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction_rtf2_002.pdf

In Tagalog: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/K1instructionTag%20rtf3%20_2__rtf2_013.pdf

(The DS-156 can be difficult to complete sometimes, if you have issues try a different browser.)

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/

Information for meeting the Poverty Guidelines and using additional assets (it may be referring to the I-864 but its valid for the I-134 also):

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#22

Poverty Guidelines: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Embassy (Manila) Phone Number (and email)

(632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185 (local number: USEM 301-2000 loc 5184/5185 call them around 3-4:30pm)

** (214) 571-1600 or (646) 254-3546 (these are USA numbers)

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

In order to serve our visa applicants more efficiently, we have created this new e-mail address: IVMNLAppointments@state.gov , for early appointment requests and visa scheduling issues. Please note, however, that early appointment requests will be approved on a case to case basis (i.e., aging out cases, or in cases involving personal or medical emergencies), and only if visa interview slots are available.

For other immigrant and K visa concerns, please send an e-mail to IVManilaReplies@state.gov

.

To enable us to electronically sort the messages and provide better, more timely responses, you should follow the instructions below.

The subject line of your email should indicate the visa applicant’s last name, first and middle name (ex. DOE, John James), case number/USCIS receipt number, visa category and priority date.

Messages should be limited to 500 characters or less. The mail size should not be more than 15 KB.

Do not submit documentation or attachments with your message as our system is unable to receive inquiries with attachments.

Do not send your inquiry more than once as duplicate inquiries will congest our system and delay our response time.

IN A HURRY? Pick up your visa at MOA! -> -> http://blogs.usembassy.gov/philippines/?p=1533

************ INTERVIEW DAY: Remember no electronics are allowed in the embassy; no cell phones, no cameras, no memory stiks. And no food. **************

***

St. Luke's:

(GUYS if you are in the Phils with your Fiancee before the medical NO contact until AFTER St. Luke's is completed - as in KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS)

http://www.slec.ph/us-visa-applicants.shtml#required-docs

Have copies of passport bio page, confirmation page from scheduling interview online at embassy (or if the embassy mails a confirmation letter bring a copy of that) (NVC Instructions Letter is for IR/CR-1 visa), and of course the 2X2 photos. (copy of annulment is asked for at times)

PREREGISTER at St. Luke's website, it saves time when you arrive. http://www.slec.ph/us/registration/

Information from the embassy about the medical: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3218.html

***

CFO:

ALL exiting required to attend. There have been changes regarding CFO so for sure read through their website.

Update: Please check the schedule of the counseling session before proceeding to CFO because it is country-specific and the slots are limited only to 15 per session (two sessions per day) for Manila and 12 per session (only one session a day) for Cebu. It is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

CFO Online Registration Form: http://www.cfo.gov.ph/pdf/downloadable%20forms/registrationform.pdf Complete this and print a couple copies to bring to the CFO seminar, it will save you time.

http://www.philembassy.no/sites/default/files/downloads/new_gcp_flyer.pdf

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1348:fiancee-spouses-and-other-partners-of-foreign-nationals&catid=140

Required documents & "OTHER DOCUMENTS" they ask for at CFO: originals & copies of; CENOMAR (CEMAR and marriage certificate if married), certified birth certificate. Passport and copies of bio page of passport, visa page from passport, pictures together. From USC (copies of) - bio page of passport, birth certificate, divorce decree (if been married before) are the most common requests. The "other documents" clause can be ANYTHING with those nit-wits at CFO.

** From the Family Code of the Philippines: it's 21-25 years old for advice and 18-21 years old for consent. (Some are posted on VJ that they were not asked for this, yet others have been asked, so be prepared)

Art. 14. In case either or both of the contracting parties, not having been emancipated by a previous marriage, are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, they shall, in addition to the requirements of the preceding articles, exhibit to the local civil registrar, the consent to their marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned. Such consent shall be manifested in writing by the interested party, who personally appears before the proper local civil registrar, or in the form of an affidavit made in the presence of two witnesses and attested before any official authorized by law to administer oaths. The personal manifestation shall be recorded in both applications for marriage license, and the affidavit, if one is executed instead, shall be attached to said applications. (61a)

Art. 15. Any contracting party between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five shall be obliged to ask their parents or guardian for advice upon the intended marriage. If they do not obtain such advice, or if it be unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication of the application therefor.A sworn statement by the contracting parties to the effect that such advice has been sought,together with the written advice given, if any, shall be attached to the application for marriage license. Should the parents or guardian refuse to give any advice, this fact shall be stated in the sworn statement.

Examples (from Quezon City):

Advice of Parents: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/parentadvice.pdf

Consent to Marry: http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/images/stories/downloadables/forms/consenttomarriage.pdf

TRACK YOUR VISA/PASSPORT AT THE EMBASSY

State Dept. visa tracking: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx? (not updated or as accurate as the USEM website)

Here is a link for requirements for receiving your passport with the visa, there are also options for tracking the status of your visa/passport is currently. You can also change delivery options.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-passportretrieve.asp#trackingoptions

If your application was temporarily refused under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, you can now check the status of your application online.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/adminprocessing2.html

2GO CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR CHECKING DELIVERY

2Go customer service hotline (+632) 5287-136 is available Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

TRACK YOUR PASSPORT/VISA THROUGH 2GO

http://supplychain.2go.com.ph/CustomerSupport/etrace/index.asp Enter your MNL number or passport number or UID number off the embassy confirmation letter (online confirmation page by bar code).

**

Travel Fees:

Exit Fee for all those immigrating: 1620 Php (currently) Can be paid at the airport if its not included with the purchase of your airline ticket.

Airport Fee: 550 Php (currently)

*****

[Tahoma 2,292]

After the payment at BPI, you can wait about 4 hours before the receipt number is registered in their system. Then you can make an appointment online for the embassy interview.

You will need the passpost number, MNL# and priority date (NOA1 date) to make the appointment. As soon as you filled in the required data, you will go to a calendar page, all clickable dates have available slots for interview so you can choose the date you want. Usually, there is available as early as one week out.

Your fiancee can have her medical exam at least one week before the interview.

For the MNL#, you can start calling NVC to ask for your MNL# after 2 weeks of approval.

^^^

Also, I understand that the calendar page times out fairly quickly, so you might want to have some interview dates in mind before you click on that screen.

[Bayareaguy 156]

A couple of questions:

1: NOA1 priority date. Nowhere on the NOA1 or the NOA2 does it say "priority date" . The NOA1 has "received date" (August 14 in my case), "notice date" of August 16, and to make things as clear as mud, the NOA2 has a"receipt date" of August 16. So priority date is August 16?

2: K-1 fee is $240 (converted to PHP). Is there also a fee (the same fee each?) for her two K-2 children as well?

edit: OK, for 1: it looks like it should be August 14, the received date, according to Hanks guide.

Edited April 29, 2013 by Bayareaguy

[Bayareaguy 156]

Also, is there a link to look at the approximate wait times to schedule an interview? This link says it excludes K visas.

[Hank_ 9,174]

A couple of questions:

1: NOA1 priority date. Nowhere on the NOA1 or the NOA2 does it say "priority date" . The NOA1 has "received date" (August 14 in my case), "notice date" of August 16, and to make things as clear as mud, the NOA2 has a"receipt date" of August 16. So priority date is August 16?

2: K-1 fee is $240 (converted to PHP). Is there also a fee (the same fee each?) for her two K-2 children as well?

edit: OK, for 1: it looks like it should be August 14, the received date, according to Hanks guide.

Yup its the received date on the NOA1, I only learned this when NVC replied to my email with the MNL# as they had the Priority Date listed in the email, it was not listed in the letter from NVC. (yes in your case 14 August)

Yes you will need to pay a fee for the K2 also.

I believe when you schedule the interview online for your fiancée it will give you the option for additional appointments. I don't know this for fact (didn't do K2) but have read on VJ from a few others that had K2 and if memory serves that is how they said it is done.

Edited April 29, 2013 by Hank_

[Hank_ 9,174]

Also, is there a link to look at the approximate wait times to schedule an interview? This link says it excludes K visas.

You are not going to know what openings there are until you go online at the embassy website to schedule... that link your provided doesn't mean much of anything. Go to the links in the embassy letter.

The links and info I provided earlier has the link to the embassy letter which has the link for scheduling the interview.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction_rtf2_002.pdf

Edited April 30, 2013 by Hank_

[Stevephoto 230]

You are not going to know what openings there are until you go online at the embassy website to schedule... that link your provided doesn't mean much of anything. Go to the links in the embassy letter.

The links and info I provided earlier has the link to the embassy letter which has the link for scheduling the interview.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction_rtf2_002.pdf

Perfect timing or this post for Joan and I and the exact questions I had (Hank---do you ever get tired of hearing "THANK YOU!"?)

OK...here is a question: Joan has not got the best internet connection--can she send me the information (receipt numbers etc) and can I book the appointment for her?

[Hank_ 9,174]

I booked the appointment for my wife then made a PDF file of the confirmation page and emailed that to my wife, plus brought copies with me when I flew over. In fact we were on Skype when I made the appointment so if I needed information she was right there.

Who has a good internet connection in the Phils? Its been raining........

[Stevephoto 230]

I booked the appointment for my wife then made a PDF file of the confirmation page and emailed that to my wife, plus brought copies with me when I flew over. In fact we were on Skype when I made the appointment so if I needed information she was right there.

Who has a good internet connection in the Phils? Its been raining........

That's funny! Great...I will do that once we get the MNL#