Question about embassy procedures

[FredAndSandy 0]

So, my fiancee went to the embassy in Manila this morning and after handing paperwork to the person at the counter, she was told she failed to put the word "none" in a few of the boxes on her DS-156 and DS-157 forms. She asked if she could hand-write in the word and was told, no she could not do that. She was then told that she would have to reschedule her interview after correcting the paperwork. While this in itself seems pretty ridiculous, my question is do we have to pay for another interview? I attempted to reschedule the interview online after her initial appointment expired. The online system would not accept the receipt number for payment and I could not reschedule the interview. I am planning on calling them when they open, but does anyone have any experience or knowledge with this? It seems to me that since she never even got to the interview portion that the payment should still be valid. Any information is helpful, thank you.

[Tahoma 2,292]

This information might help: http://manila.usembassy.gov/mobile/appointments.html

[FredAndSandy 0]

Just an update on this. I called the embassy and now they're telling me that the appointment is frozen and being escalated. I cannot set a new appointment date until I receive an email. They cannot tell me how long that is going to take and when I requested to speak to a supervisor they were in a meeting. I'm going to call back in an hour, but this is becoming increasingly frustrating.

[Ratty and C 13]

Can you tell us which boxes needed 'none'? My fiancee has her interview on Monday and we still just have time to correct mistakes.. Thanks

[Tahoma 2,292]

Can you tell us which boxes needed 'none'?

The boxes which were left blank.

[FredAndSandy 0]

The boxes on DS-156 that need the word none (if, of course, you have no information to put there) - 20, 21, 34

DS-157 - 9, 12, 13,

I found out that the DS-156 is the most important to have entirely correct. Since it is filled out electronically, you MUST have it perfect. Right now we are waiting for the embassy visa department to release our receipt number so we can schedule another appointment. I'm on the verge of just paying for a new receipt number so that we can get another interview sooner. I have read a few places that it takes a month or so for them to release that number. Which, in my opinion, is completely ridiculous. But, if $240 means we don't have to pay for another medical interview (her current one will expire by then) and a hotel room for a week in Manila (along with food), then it might be worth it.

[Ratty and C 13]

Thanks Fred and Sandy! Great reply. Good luck with the embassy reschedule, i hope it doesn't take long. I checked and i have the boxes you mentioned filled in correctly.

Tahoma - that was a pretty useless answer. Some boxes are still left blank on the DS156, for example box 19 - you can't fill it in by hand and there's not space for 'NONE' - that was what had me wondering.

Edited May 19, 2013 by Ratty and Celesty

[Tahoma 2,292]

Tahoma - that was a pretty useless answer. Some boxes are still left blank on the DS156, for example box 19 - you can't fill it in by hand and there's not space for 'NONE' - that was what had me wondering.

I thought that one would be obvious. The same with question #22. I guess that I shouldn't assume things. Thanks for pointing it out.

Edited May 25, 2013 by Tahoma