Confused about CRBA appointment system Manila

[omegaman 0]

Hello:

I am spinning a bit on the website ( http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship.html) and am asking for guidance. I am American living in the US and my wife of two years is Philippina living in the Philippines (Tarlac Province). We have a 14 month old son who we are looking to establish US citizenship for.

I was under the impression I needed to send the docs listed on the Checklist for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad to the US embassy before I leave for the Philippines next week and pray they email me for an appointment during the upcoming 28 days I will be in the Philippines. I just read in another thread here that if I am a US citizen, I can just walk into the embassy with everything in the check list, my wife, and son and wait to see an official.

I quote:

"Posted 15 June 2015 - 06:39 PM

you can file a CRBA application at US Embassy Manila - as a USCitizen, you not need an appointment.

http://manila.usemba...itizenship.html

it mentions an appointment there, but as a USCitizen, you can walk in with the paperwork."

Which is correct? Do I need to mail in and make an appointment and wait for an email response or "walk-in" fully equipped? That said, there seems to be an appointment calendar but everything is grey signifying there is nothing available for over a year in the future. I hope I did not confuse anyone. Please help me clear this up. I thank you in advance.

[ch3john 308]

Hello:

I am spinning a bit on the website ( http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship.html) and am asking for guidance. I am American living in the US and my wife of two years is Philippina living in the Philippines (Tarlac Province). We have a 14 month old son who we are looking to establish US citizenship for.

I was under the impression I needed to send the docs listed on the Checklist for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad to the US embassy before I leave for the Philippines next week and pray they email me for an appointment during the upcoming 28 days I will be in the Philippines. I just read in another thread here that if I am a US citizen, I can just walk into the embassy with everything in the check list, my wife, and son and wait to see an official.

I quote:

"Posted 15 June 2015 - 06:39 PM

you can file a CRBA application at US Embassy Manila - as a USCitizen, you not need an appointment.

http://manila.usemba...itizenship.html

it mentions an appointment there, but as a USCitizen, you can walk in with the paperwork."

Which is correct? Do I need to mail in and make an appointment and wait for an email response or "walk-in" fully equipped? That said, there seems to be an appointment calendar but everything is grey signifying there is nothing available for over a year in the future. I hope I did not confuse anyone. Please help me clear this up. I thank you in advance.

Have you tried emailing them? I will be filing a CRBA in Indonesia next month. I had a few questions myself so I emailed them and they were very responsive and informative.

I know every country is different but thought I would throw it out there in case you hadn't emailed them.

[omegaman 0]

Have you tried emailing them? I will be filing a CRBA in Indonesia next month. I had a few questions myself so I emailed them and they were very responsive and informative.

I know every country is different but thought I would throw it out there in case you hadn't emailed them.

Yes, I just did. I expect someone here knows the answer to this query. Thanks and good luck too. I emailed to ACSInfoManila@state.gov

[omegaman 0]

Here is the fast reply I got via email:

In order for any person below the age of 18 born overseas to a U.S. citizen parent or parents to be documented as a U.S. citizen and be issued an American passport, that person’s parent(s) must first apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). CRBA application approval will depend on the parent’s(s’) ability to prove that the various requirements for registering as a U.S. citizen have been satisfactorily met during an interview with a U.S. Consular officer.

All appointments for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and Adult Derivative Citizenship applications at U.S. Embassy Manila are made through a mail-in appointment scheduling system. We do not accept walk-in applications.

To request a citizenship appointment and download the CRBA checklist, kindly visit our website at http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship/first-time-report-of-birth-abroad7.html

Once your packet is received in ACS, our staff will e-mail you the date and time of your citizenship appointment and, if needed, a list of items you are missing.

Please note that the child/applicant must be present at the interview. Both parents are strongly encouraged to accompany the child.

Should you require further assistance, you can contact the Citizenship Unit at (63)(2) 301-2000 extension 2532, between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays except Philippine and U.S. holidays).

We trust that you will find the above information helpful.

Sincerely,

Citizenship & Passport Unit

American Citizen Services

US Embassy Manila

Privacy/PII

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

[AprilS. 0]

Me and fiance will be applying for crba next month and we are already gathering all the douments needed.my friend just had the crba for her friend and now guiding me with the process so she told me to mail everything with the adress she sent to me and the embassy will mail you for the time and date of the appointment.

I am not sure if you could do walk in there without the appointment date regarding the application for crba.

[GuidedbyGODkatval 1]

I'm from tarlac too. I also applied for my daughter's CRBA before. We had to make an appointment at the embassy. I think you can check their calender and from there, you can see what dates are still available. Good luck:)

[wizzie1980 20]

Hi Omegaman,

Just want to check with you the timeline of your CRBA application:

1) Date when you sent the packet to ACS to schedule appt

2) Date when you received a reply via mail with appointment date and time

3) Date of Appointment

4) Date when your received CRBA

5) Date when you received passport if you have applied for one

Thanks and regards,

Liz.

Here is the fast reply I got via email:

In order for any person below the age of 18 born overseas to a U.S. citizen parent or parents to be documented as a U.S. citizen and be issued an American passport, that person’s parent(s) must first apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). CRBA application approval will depend on the parent’s(s’) ability to prove that the various requirements for registering as a U.S. citizen have been satisfactorily met during an interview with a U.S. Consular officer.

All appointments for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and Adult Derivative Citizenship applications at U.S. Embassy Manila are made through a mail-in appointment scheduling system. We do not accept walk-in applications.

To request a citizenship appointment and download the CRBA checklist, kindly visit our website at http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship/first-time-report-of-birth-abroad7.html

Once your packet is received in ACS, our staff will e-mail you the date and time of your citizenship appointment and, if needed, a list of items you are missing.

Please note that the child/applicant must be present at the interview. Both parents are strongly encouraged to accompany the child.

Should you require further assistance, you can contact the Citizenship Unit at (63)(2) 301-2000 extension 2532, between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays except Philippine and U.S. holidays).

We trust that you will find the above information helpful.

Sincerely,

Citizenship & Passport Unit

American Citizen Services

US Embassy Manila

Privacy/PII

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

[n7josh 0]

This CRBA process is confusing to say the least! My fiance is pregnant and will be giving birth to our son very soon. We got confirmation a couple of weeks ago from USCIS that her application had been approved and forwarded to the National Visa Center. The Manila embassy says we have to mail-in an application just to get an appointment(very efficient!) but only to include copies. Does that mean copies of literally everything on the checklist including passport photos and the NSO which takes months to get???

[lbounds 16]

I need some help as my wife will be mailing the CRBA paperwork to Manila soon. We are waiting for the NSO birth certificate which is needed which we will have on Nov. 18th.

I want to go to be with my wife and newborn son (who I have not yet seen in person) but I need to know:

1. How long after the CRBA paperwork is submitted does it take for them to give you an appointment schedule?

2. Typically when they give you an appointment how many weeks is it from the time you get the notice?

I'm asking because I don't want to burn my vacation time just waiting with my wife in Philippines not knowing how long CRBA appointment time and processing may take.

Any info would be much appreciated. Thank you

[sy1983 31]

This CRBA process is confusing to say the least! My fiance is pregnant and will be giving birth to our son very soon. We got confirmation a couple of weeks ago from USCIS that her application had been approved and forwarded to the National Visa Center. The Manila embassy says we have to mail-in an application just to get an appointment(very efficient!) but only to include copies. Does that mean copies of literally everything on the checklist including passport photos and the NSO which takes months to get???

Hey I have a question in regards to making the appointment with the birth of the child yet.

I looked over the checklist and it asks for photo of the baby, but we have everything else (US passport, PI passport of mother, NSO marriage cert, residence of the U.S, pre-natal record)

We met when I went to med school in Cebu, we got married and had conceived a baby in our honeymoon then I went back to the U.S for a few months now, started her spousal visa petition as well.

But, shes gonna be having the baby in Philippines (because its a lot cheaper) and will be expecting in 2 months.

How do I start this whole process ? I am afraid we might have some criteria that are not under their approval.

Thanks

[JKLP 37]

This CRBA process is confusing to say the least! My fiance is pregnant and will be giving birth to our son very soon. We got confirmation a couple of weeks ago from USCIS that her application had been approved and forwarded to the National Visa Center. The Manila embassy says we have to mail-in an application just to get an appointment(very efficient!) but only to include copies. Does that mean copies of literally everything on the checklist including passport photos and the NSO which takes months to get???

Hi there! I recently sent application for appointment for CRBA for my daughter and yes we sent all copies of the documents needed. we did send original photos since we have extra copies. here's a tip for a speedy NSO birth certificate. Usually it takes months yes for them to release birth certificate but you should apply for advance endorsement to the local civil registrar where your son's birth certificate will be filed and just tell them you need it asap for application for crba. and it will take just a month or 2 (if from outside Manila) and a month or less (within Manila) and you'll get your NSO.

[JKLP 37]

I need some help as my wife will be mailing the CRBA paperwork to Manila soon. We are waiting for the NSO birth certificate which is needed which we will have on Nov. 18th.

I want to go to be with my wife and newborn son (who I have not yet seen in person) but I need to know:

1. How long after the CRBA paperwork is submitted does it take for them to give you an appointment schedule?

2. Typically when they give you an appointment how many weeks is it from the time you get the notice?

I'm asking because I don't want to burn my vacation time just waiting with my wife in Philippines not knowing how long CRBA appointment time and processing may take.

Any info would be much appreciated. Thank you

hi did you receive your appointment date?how many days after did they reply when you submitted your application?

[lbounds 16]

A few days after we sent the paperwork I followed up by sending an email explaining I would be in the Philippines in a few days hoping to attend the interview and asked for the appointment date. They replied within 24 hours with an appointment date.

We completed our interview on dec 2nd. I found the whole interview process easy and stress free.

The hardest part had been waiting for the NSO birth certificate for our son born in the Philippines. That took 2 1/2 months and we couldn't submit for our interview without it.

We needed two copies of it and we only had one handy at the interview.

We are waiting now for delivery of the passport and CRBA which will be delivered separately

[PaoSelle 35]

So do they need a notarized copy of your passport? Like it says on the check list? Or will a photocopy suffice?

[TBoneTX 45,572]

On 9/22/2017 at 1:52 PM, PaoSelle said:

So do they need a notarized copy of your passport? Like it says on the check list? Or will a photocopy suffice?

Read the checklist accurately and interpret it literally.

"Copy" would seem to be the same as "photocopy."