221(g) in Manila

[Budee 0]

My wife had had her embassy interview in Manila. She was told she did not have a police clearance from HK, where she had worked before. Hong Kong sends that directly to the US Embassy, so all we did have ready was a paid receipt for the police clearance. My wife explained our original plans was to process out of Hong Kong. Instead she went home to the Philippines. The CO kept her passport and said they would contact our consulate in HK to retrieve the police clearance.

I sent HK IV an email. They were prompt and replied two days later. Yes they had it. On March 17, HK IV scanned, emailed and mailed the hard copy to the US Embassy in Manila. Great, we don't need to order another police clearance I thought to myself. However, so far the case is still in administrative processing. The 221(g) only listed that one document that was required. And to this date, I still haven't had an answer to my two emails if Manila has actually received the police clearance. I tried to call but all I got was a local Filipino sounding man who didn't know anything in particular.

The status update date was changed twice. Originally from March 16 (interview date) to March 29 and again April 06. I finally got a reply last week to one email, which simply said: We have referred your communication to our processing team for appropriate action. We will notify you once further information is available.

Does anyone have personal experience when Manila requires additional documents? Is my wait time normal or not? Is it normal not to get reply to emails that I sent 2 and 3 weeks ago?

[NikLR 13,231]

~~moved ro AP and waivers from IR1/CR1 process and procedures~~

[Tahoma 2,292]

Is my wait time normal or not?

Is it normal not to get reply to emails that I sent 2 and 3 weeks ago?

1. Your wait time is normal.

2. The embassy can be pretty bad about answering their email.

Hang in there. You should be getting some great news in the next couple of weeks.

[Ed and Gina 45]

We went through the same thing. Took about a month. Be patient. It might help if your wife has a friend in HK to possibly check on the status of the police report. But, at this stage, not likely to be of much help. Best of luck.

[Budee 0]

A month for what? She already has the police clearance. But since Hong Kong doesn't give it to us, it was sitting all this time in the the US Consulate in HK. When we changed our plans I didn't think to ask for that to be sent to Manila. Fortunately the consulate in HK sent it to Manila right away. Manila on the other hand can't even answer if the got it. So it's frustrating.

[Budee 0]

Ed -

What took a month? getting your needed document or a month for the Embassy to process it?

[teachermarites 3]

I am having the same scenario. My mother who was interviewed on December 2015. She was put on AP because her Police Clearance was not release before the interview. HK said it was sent on December 17 and US embassy manila told me after 3 months, that they have got no HK police clearance. It's now April and we're running 5 month since the interview and it is really frustrating. I never failed to follow up every after 2 weeks.

I am having the same scenario. My mother who was interviewed on December 2015. She was put on AP because her Police Clearance was not release before the interview. HK said it was sent on December 17 and US embassy manila told me after 3 months, that they have got no HK police clearance. It's now April and we're running 5 month since the interview and it is really frustrating. I never failed to follow up every after 2 weeks.

[Budee 0]

teachermarites-

You follow up every two weeks. What type of replies do you get?

[teachermarites 3]

teachermarites-

You follow up every two weeks. What type of replies do you get?

I always get the same response lol!

Once, that's how I got them to email me what's going on... they told me on email that HK police clearance is not yet received when in fact it was already mailed few months ago. smdh

Just be patient and give them a call every once in a while so they keep opening your case. Everytime I call, after a day, I see a status update on the case. That alone helps me feel better coz I know they are working on it.

[Budee 0]

teachermarites-

That's discouraging to see how long you've been stuck in AP. I wonder if they give a higher priority to some immigrant visas over others to account for the long wait times some get and the shorter times others receive. As for my case, it's my wife. I know she had priority to get her case approved and sent on to Manila. But I wonder now how things work out.

[teachermarites 3]

teachermarites-

That's discouraging to see how long you've been stuck in AP. I wonder if they give a higher priority to some immigrant visas over others to account for the long wait times some get and the shorter times others receive. As for my case, it's my wife. I know she had priority to get her case approved and sent on to Manila. But I wonder now how things work out.

Today, I was about to go to bed and I had a feeling that tells me to check the visa status online.....and voila!! it said "ISSUED". Thank God finallyyyyy after 4 months in AP.

I called the embassy customer service on Monday, April 18th and updated the case on 19th...... and today it was issued.

If I was able to hang for these long, then you should b able to and your beneficiary... Hang in there and always keep them in check about the status.. Parents/Spouse of citizens always get priority but when it comes to AP, it depends on the complexity of case. Hope your wife will have her visa issued soon.

[Budee 0]

teachermarites-

Congrats! Good news.

I finally got a real reply that the police clearance hasn't arrived. It was mailed from the US Consulate in HK to Manila over 1 month prior to learning it has not yet arrived. I wonder how long things take to go from the mail room to the the case file? If I have to wait 4 months my wife is gonna be miserable. Anyways, glad to hear your case has a happy ending.

[teachermarites 3]

It has probably arrived and still sitting in their mail room waiting to be sorted. If you have a copy of the receipt from HK office, send a copy and give them the referrence number that starts with CNCC-----.

Good luck...