there are currently no available appointments

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi: We are in the same situation. Posting some things to help others. We had passport and visa application paid in late March. We checked for interview dates in early April and there was an early June date available, but my fiance did not want to schedule because we had not received the "eligible to be scheduled for a visa interview" letter from the Embassy. I suggested we just keep the date and the letter would arrive sometime in April (which it did). She didn't want to do that so now we too are waiting for slots to open up. When you call or go online it says no dates are currently available. They tell you the same thing when you call. I'm going to check tonight which will be Monday, May 5 in Philippines.

Oh my, waiting for nothing in reality. You do NOT need the letter from the embassy to start the visa application process. Most never receive the letter from the embassy and then there are those that have completed everything (even have their visa in hand) before the letter ever arrives. I am betting there is a longer list of those that never receive the embassy letter then for those that receive it.

Everything for the visa process is online so the letter offers nothing of value.

Keep checking the scheduling site, soon July will be released and with persistence you may be able to grab a random May or June date.

For details on the complete process follow my link below.

[eddieandgenalyn 0]

You are correct Hank, waiting for no reason. This step is not in the official process, but if Filipinas know a friend who has applied in the past there was a step where the visa approval was mailed in a "package" that the fiance took to the interview. This is all online now. Filipinos are more respectful of the government than us in US. And if you call the Embassy and ask if you should wait for your approval letter before scheduling your interview they will say, "Yes" because they are working off a script. My eligibility letter that arrrived in late April was dated March 7, the same day the visa was submitted online.

[Hank_ 9,174]

You are correct Hank, waiting for no reason. This step is not in the official process, but if Filipinas know a friend who has applied in the past there was a step where the visa approval was mailed in a "package" that the fiance took to the interview. This is all online now. Filipinos are more respectful of the government than us in US. And if you call the Embassy and ask if you should wait for your approval letter before scheduling your interview they will say, "Yes" because they are working off a script. My eligibility letter that arrrived in late April was dated March 7, the same day the visa was submitted online.

I would be persistent with checking the scheduling website, there are still random May dates showing up so you do have a chance of grabbing something early and "making up time"

[eddieandgenalyn 0]

Hank and everyone. It pays to be diligent. Pay attention to making your appointments online early in the month. After we missed a June date, the schedule just came online now at 11 am Manila time on a Monday and we got a May 21 appointment on May 4th. !!!!!!!!! Yeah !!!!!

[Hank_ 9,174]

Very cool!!