NBI letter of explanation and NBI clearance with "aka"

[van&neil 1]

Still same nothing change sigh

[Giskat09 2]

still the same here.. nothing change grrr

[James&Easter 0]

Been in AP since august 13 for the same reason...STill no update!

[van&neil 1]

Visa issued October 22! Flying to Chicago this Sunday. Goodluck everyone!!!

[Giskat09 2]

Finally congrats to you!!! were still in AP. they called my mom and they said my mom is okay but they ask her if she wants to travel with my dad so she said yes... maybe they will issue her visa same day with my dad. my dad is the one who has the issue not my mom. UGH!

[Piaoliang2008 3]

Been in AP since august 13 for the same reason...STill no update!

What was ur issue? Was it also about the nbi explanation?

Visa issued October 22! Flying to Chicago this Sunday. Goodluck everyone!!!

Finally! Congrats to u, have a safe trip!

[jhonster 23]

I went to same procedure too. After I Did my interview at NBI still I'm under AP for a month now. This waiting game really drive me nuts!

Did you have any prior records, police interaction or pending/past legal matters or lawsuits?

NVC said they're sending our case to the Manila U.S. Embassy last Friday and I saw some people having this issue with their NBI and the "no police record" in the comments section. I spoke to someone last night at the U.S. embassy and they said it all depends on the interviewer & if they require an explanation for their NBI clearance.

This is completely stupid in my opinion. Why? If the Philippine govt issued an NBI clearance, doesn't that suffice the requirement of them being "cleared"? I'm trying to get in touch with the Ambassador there to get some clarification on this.

I'm going to the Philippines to interview with my wife. And I'm trying to be proactive about this. If they're going to do this to us....I'm going to be really upset. Because I won't have time to wait 1 month for the NBI to issue an explanation for something that should really be straightforward.

When I asked the lady at the Embassy if we could just get the explanation ahead of time, they said no. That the Embassy must request it. That makes ZERO sense. If this could possibly be an issue in getting your Visa cleared and passing an interview, why wouldn't the Embassy help you in being proactive in getting anything that "might" even be required. This is yet another issue I'm finding in this whole process that follows zero common sense.

Hopefully I won't need to get my Senators and Congressman involved again. I've just about had it with USCIS, the NVC and this whole immigration process. It's sorely dysfunctional to say the least.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Did you have any prior records, police interaction or pending/past legal matters or lawsuits?

NVC said they're sending our case to the Manila U.S. Embassy last Friday and I saw some people having this issue with their NBI and the "no police record" in the comments section. I spoke to someone last night at the U.S. embassy and they said it all depends on the interviewer & if they require an explanation for their NBI clearance.

This is completely stupid in my opinion. Why? If the Philippine govt issued an NBI clearance, doesn't that suffice the requirement of them being "cleared"? I'm trying to get in touch with the Ambassador there to get some clarification on this.

I'm going to the Philippines to interview with my wife. And I'm trying to be proactive about this. If they're going to do this to us....I'm going to be really upset. Because I won't have time to wait 1 month for the NBI to issue an explanation for something that should really be straightforward.

When I asked the lady at the Embassy if we could just get the explanation ahead of time, they said no. That the Embassy must request it. That makes ZERO sense. If this could possibly be an issue in getting your Visa cleared and passing an interview, why wouldn't the Embassy help you in being proactive in getting anything that "might" even be required. This is yet another issue I'm finding in this whole process that follows zero common sense.

Hopefully I won't need to get my Senators and Congressman involved again. I've just about had it with USCIS, the NVC and this whole immigration process. It's sorely dysfunctional to say the least.

What is required is spelled out in the embassy instructions letter. Your senator or congressman is not going to be able to do jack about the visa process. BTW "No Criminal Record" does not mean there is not a record of some sort...

6. NBI CLEARANCE. Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for

Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Clearances should be in

the applicant’s current name, birth certificate name, maiden name and any aliases or nicknames used,

including different spellings you have used of those names. An official letter of explanation from

the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record” or "No pending case”. For

immigration purposes, an NBI clearance is valid for one (1) year from the date it was issued. The

NBI web site is http://www.nbi.gov.ph.

Easiest way to complete the visa process is to follow the embassy instructions letter:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/865058/instructionpackets/IV%20Applicants_%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20_as%20of%2017%20September%202013_%20without%20footer.pdf

[jhonster 23]

What is required is spelled out in the embassy instructions letter. Your senator or congressman is not going to be able to do jack about the visa process. BTW "No Criminal Record" does not mean there is not a record of some sort...

6. NBI CLEARANCE. Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for

Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Clearances should be in

the applicant’s current name, birth certificate name, maiden name and any aliases or nicknames used,

including different spellings you have used of those names. An official letter of explanation from

the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record” or "No pending case”. For

immigration purposes, an NBI clearance is valid for one (1) year from the date it was issued. The

NBI web site is http://www.nbi.gov.ph.

Easiest way to complete the visa process is to follow the embassy instructions letter:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/865058/instructionpackets/IV%20Applicants_%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20_as%20of%2017%20September%202013_%20without%20footer.pdf

Once again Hank, you are the voice of reason here =))

So I read everything on the letter and at the NBI website. Obviously it states An official letter of explanation from "the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record” or "No pending case”"....so that means no matter what, we're going to have to get this letter of explanation. But the lady I spoke with yesterday at the Manila Embassy said 1st we will be interviewed, and then the agent will determine if we need this letter. Well unless the requirements set forth on the letter from the State Dept is inaccurate, then she doesn't know what she's talking about. Or, agents have the discretion allow us to by pass getting this letter of explanation. At either rate, I told her I wanted to just get this done anyway just in case. And she said no, you can't. You have to wait for the Embassy to request it....and the NBI will send it back to them directly. What the heck???

Thats why I wanted to speak with the American Ambassador about this. To see if I could just get them to issue this request & get it going. I found his twitter account and tweeted him yesterday and he actually responded. He tweeted back with "For Immigrant Visa-related questions, please e-mail IVManilaReplies@state.gov with the details of your inquiry." I sent a reply to him this morning saying I sent them an email back on 10/27/14 and still haven't gotten a response. And the U.S. phone line is always busy. Plus, when I called yesterday and asked to speak with him....i was kept on hold for 20 minutes with no response. It sounds like the people who answer the phones there aren't really as knowledgeable as say the agents would be.

Thanks again for all your help or any ideas you might have. =))

[Hank_ 9,174]

Once again Hank, you are the voice of reason here =))

So I read everything on the letter and at the NBI website. Obviously it states An official letter of explanation from "the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record” or "No pending case”"....so that means no matter what, we're going to have to get this letter of explanation. But the lady I spoke with yesterday at the Manila Embassy said 1st we will be interviewed, and then the agent will determine if we need this letter. Well unless the requirements set forth on the letter from the State Dept is inaccurate, then she doesn't know what she's talking about. Or, agents have the discretion allow us to by pass getting this letter of explanation. At either rate, I told her I wanted to just get this done anyway just in case. And she said no, you can't. You have to wait for the Embassy to request it....and the NBI will send it back to them directly. What the heck???

Thats why I wanted to speak with the American Ambassador about this. To see if I could just get them to issue this request & get it going. I found his twitter account and tweeted him yesterday and he actually responded. He tweeted back with "For Immigrant Visa-related questions, please e-mail IVManilaReplies@state.gov with the details of your inquiry." I sent a reply to him this morning saying I sent them an email back on 10/27/14 and still haven't gotten a response. And the U.S. phone line is always busy. Plus, when I called yesterday and asked to speak with him....i was kept on hold for 20 minutes with no response. It sounds like the people who answer the phones there aren't really as knowledgeable as say the agents would be.

Thanks again for all your help or any ideas you might have. =))

Really is the ambassor isn't going to be anymore helpful then your congressman or senator with the visa process, he is just a politician.

The lady you spoke to was basically correct, you can not get the request (that NBI requires) for the letter of explanation until the interview, it isn't a matter of the CO deciding - that has already been spelled out in the instructions letter: An official letter of explanation from the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record” or "No pending case”. The 221g requesting the explanation letter quite simply can not be given until the interview ... need the interview to happen to be able to issue a 221g. A 221g is a form of denial, with qualification.

Ever watch the movie Catch 22? Taa daa!!

Edited October 30, 2014 by Hank_

[jhonster 23]

Really is the ambassor isn't going to be anymore helpful then your congressman or senator with the visa process, he is just a politician.

The lady you spoke to was basically correct, you can not get the request (that NBI requires) for the letter of explanation until the interview, it isn't a matter of the CO deciding - that has already been spelled out in the instructions letter: An official letter of explanation from the NBI is required for any notation of “No criminal record” or "No pending case”. The 221g requesting the explanation letter quite simply can not be given until the interview ... need the interview to happen to be able to issue a 221g. A 221g is a form of denial, with qualification.

Ever watch the movie Catch 22? Taa daa!!

Oh joy

So since I'm limited as to when I can take time off because of my job, she'll probably have to interview by herself. If the lady who I spoke with at the Manila Embassy is correct, and if by some act of god the Agent decides to give her a pass without the explanation letter, then I could fly to pick them up. If the agent decides to require the explanation letter....this could take another few months. Coupled with the fact that my step daughter does show scarring on her 4 year old lungs from a couple of bad lung infections past, they'll probably require her to get the sputum test as well. Which will in itself hold things up for a couple of months.

Oh well. I guess I should be used to all the delays by now. Especially since we applied way back on July 15th, 2013 for her CR1. The whole boondoggle that the DACA program caused with delays at USCIS and NVC were already disheartening. I guess I shouldn't have expected any better at the Consulate/Embassy level.

We've been married now for a 1 year 5 months. Looks like we "might" be able to celebrate our 2 year wedding anniversary.....MAYBE!!

Thanks Hank. You're a plethora of knowledge.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Oh joy

So since I'm limited as to when I can take time off because of my job, she'll probably have to interview by herself. If the lady who I spoke with at the Manila Embassy is correct, and if by some act of god the Agent decides to give her a pass without the explanation letter, then I could fly to pick them up. If the agent decides to require the explanation letter....this could take another few months. Coupled with the fact that my step daughter does show scarring on her 4 year old lungs from a couple of bad lung infections past, they'll probably require her to get the sputum test as well. Which will in itself hold things up for a couple of months.

Oh well. I guess I should be used to all the delays by now. Especially since we applied way back on July 15th, 2013 for her CR1. The whole boondoggle that the DACA program caused with delays at USCIS and NVC were already disheartening. I guess I shouldn't have expected any better at the Consulate/Embassy level.

We've been married now for a 1 year 5 months. Looks like we "might" be able to celebrate our 2 year wedding anniversary.....MAYBE!!

Thanks Hank. You're a plethora of knowledge.

The odds of that happening are as good as winning the lottery and being struck by lightning at the same time.

[jhonster 23]

The odds of that happening are as good as winning the lottery and being struck by lightning at the same time.

(shaking my head in disbelief)........www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCc-RWIp7XU

Edited October 31, 2014 by jhonster

[Hank_ 9,174]

Edited October 31, 2014 by Hank_

[Giskat09 2]

HI guys, sorry took me some time to reply lol but my answer to your first question is yes, my father has previous case but it was cleared. actually i did some research and mostly some people waited between 3 weeks to 4 months in order for this freaking NBI letter of explanation to be submitted. its horrible knowing the USCIS and NVC process was smooth and it was fast then all of a sudden this NBI will be the cause of delay. my father was the only one who got this issue and he already asked the NBI for a letter of explanation and of course they will not do that unless the USEM will contact them. i dont get it coz i got an email the day of my parents interview about the instructions that they want a letter of explanation and i told my father to print the email and show it to NBI but they still wont do it and they told my dad that me as a petitioner will receive an email from the USEM.... its been 3 weeks and i dont get any email from USEM aside from the first email that they sent me the day of the interview. i emailed them and i only got 1 reply just referring that they got my email but they didnt update or at least inform me if they already sent a request to NBI so its more frustrating..

all i can do is to email again the USEM and keep calling them until i get tired lol joke.