Appointments all booked at Manila Embassy! Help!

[daviddelen 34]

My fiancee and I can't seem to book an appointment because no appointments are available at the Manila Embassy. Does anyone know when they release new times? We have been trying for two days straight with no luck. It would be great to know if they actually have a schedule! It's frustrating to keep going and coming up empty. So close but yet so far! Any help would be appreciated!

[Him and Her 1]

What appointments are you talking about? For interview? If that is the case, this not a good news, my fiancee is, at this moment, on the phone trying to schedule an interview appointment .

[ycel_andy 0]

Did you try online appointment

[Gwapo1ako 14]

It definitely can be a pain in the butt to try to schedule an interview.

This following process is for K-1 visas as for spouse visas, I believe the NVC will schedule your appointment....

First, did you get your visa # from the NVC and then use the visa # you are assigned to pay the visa fee in the Philippines?

If so, then go to: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/

On that site, if you haven't scheduled an initial interview yet, then you should be able to a calendar with available dates. There may not be dates available for some time, but dates do pop up every once in a while.

I would get the first date you see so that at least you have a date.

Then, just keep looking for any dates that pop up so you can schedule for an earlier date (if you want one). You have to be quick about rescheduling for a closer date bec you have to cancel your initial date and then schedule the new date, but since other people are also looking for earlier dates, you might cancel your date, but then someone gets the new date you want.

For us, we got an initial date or May 5, then about 3 days later, while I was looking, a random date of March 12th showed up. Thankfully, it was 1:30 AM eastern US time so maybe not too many people were checking. So I was able to cancel our original date and grab the new date before anyone else got it.

Also, if you grab a much closer date, you have to have all your paperwork set before the interview... tax info, signed affidavit of support, cenomar, nbi, medical, etc.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Gwapo1ako

[Avery Cates 1,141]

My fiancee and I can't seem to book an appointment because no appointments are available at the Manila Embassy. Does anyone know when they release new times? We have been trying for two days straight with no luck. It would be great to know if they actually have a schedule! It's frustrating to keep going and coming up empty. So close but yet so far! Any help would be appreciated!

With the mass amount of expedites from the Philippines that happened in recent months, appointment dates have been gobbled up. You're going to have to be persistent in looking if you want anything within 6 months.

[sirleo1 0]

We have experienced the same thing. You just have to check daily, a few times a day. At some point a bunch will open up, but you will see random ones appear. my fiance had hers initially for may 5th but was able to reschedule it for march 12th a week before.

[daviddelen 34]

Thanks for your responses. The only appointments available have been too soon. I was hoping to schedule it in May or June but it seems like the only slots that are available are those that have cancelled. If this keeps up she may have to quit her job in Hong Kong to be ready at a moments notice. So frustrating!

[daviddelen 34]

It definitely can be a pain in the butt to try to schedule an interview.

This following process is for K-1 visas as for spouse visas, I believe the NVC will schedule your appointment....

First, did you get your visa # from the NVC and then use the visa # you are assigned to pay the visa fee in the Philippines?

If so, then go to: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/

On that site, if you haven't scheduled an initial interview yet, then you should be able to a calendar with available dates. There may not be dates available for some time, but dates do pop up every once in a while.

I would get the first date you see so that at least you have a date.

Then, just keep looking for any dates that pop up so you can schedule for an earlier date (if you want one). You have to be quick about rescheduling for a closer date bec you have to cancel your initial date and then schedule the new date, but since other people are also looking for earlier dates, you might cancel your date, but then someone gets the new date you want.

For us, we got an initial date or May 5, then about 3 days later, while I was looking, a random date of March 12th showed up. Thankfully, it was 1:30 AM eastern US time so maybe not too many people were checking. So I was able to cancel our original date and grab the new date before anyone else got it.

Also, if you grab a much closer date, you have to have all your paperwork set before the interview... tax info, signed affidavit of support, cenomar, nbi, medical, etc.

If you pull that kind of move couldn't you cancel the appointment you have then try to schedule the earlier appointment, that one gets taken and then you have no appointment! I know that didn't happen to you but it would seem quite possible. I don't know how the system is set up so I could be wrong.

[ausomekc 2]

we're facing the same problem, i kept on checking online , but didn't get anything until now. I've been trying for a week now.

[yangsther 1]

we experienced the same thing… we waited more than 3 weeks to get an opening… everything is booked tip the month of may. just keep checking someone might cancel their appointment. coz I'm still checking if we can get an earlier date.

[Gwapo1ako 14]

If you pull that kind of move couldn't you cancel the appointment you have then try to schedule the earlier appointment, that one gets taken and then you have no appointment! I know that didn't happen to you but it would seem quite possible. I don't know how the system is set up so I could be wrong.

Yes, when doing any type of rescheduling, you have to cancel your current appointment first before getting the new appointment and there definitely is that chance that someone can take the appointment you want and at the same time, someone can take the appointment you just cancelled as well, therefore you have no more interview date at all.

There in lies the risk of trying to reschedule to a closer date

[daviddelen 34]

I wouldn't do it then. It's hard enough to make any appointment. I'm still not sure if they have a schedule...like if on the first of the month they open up 2 weeks of interviews or it's completely random. Government usually has a system for things like this. It may not make sense but they have rules and guidelines like any organization.

[daviddelen 34]

we experienced the same thing… we waited more than 3 weeks to get an opening… everything is booked tip the month of may. just keep checking someone might cancel their appointment. coz I'm still checking if we can get an earlier date.

When you made your appointment date were a bunch available all at once or did you just find one lonely appointment you just happened to grab up?

[doug/sherry 26]

I would get the first appointment possible and stick with it... good luck!

[Him and Her 1]

It definitely can be a pain in the butt to try to schedule an interview.

This following process is for K-1 visas as for spouse visas, I believe the NVC will schedule your appointment....

First, did you get your visa # from the NVC and then use the visa # you are assigned to pay the visa fee in the Philippines?

If so, then go to: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/

On that site, if you haven't scheduled an initial interview yet, then you should be able to a calendar with available dates. There may not be dates available for some time, but dates do pop up every once in a while.

I would get the first date you see so that at least you have a date.

Then, just keep looking for any dates that pop up so you can schedule for an earlier date (if you want one). You have to be quick about rescheduling for a closer date bec you have to cancel your initial date and then schedule the new date, but since other people are also looking for earlier dates, you might cancel your date, but then someone gets the new date you want.

For us, we got an initial date or May 5, then about 3 days later, while I was looking, a random date of March 12th showed up. Thankfully, it was 1:30 AM eastern US time so maybe not too many people were checking. So I was able to cancel our original date and grab the new date before anyone else got it.

Also, if you grab a much closer date, you have to have all your paperwork set before the interview... tax info, signed affidavit of support, cenomar, nbi, medical, etc.

Direct link to schedule initial interview in Manila:

https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/SiteRegister?country=Philippines&language=en_US