How long is the wait for passport after approved K1 visa interview?

[snowcat 58]

Hi all,

I'll be receiving my renewed passport next week (November 7) and will be scheduling my interview at the US Embassy Manila as soon as I have it (and I'll be taking my medical the day after I receive it as well). I'm planning on scheduling my interview sometime between November 21-30 (assuming there are slots - could be first week of December if there aren't any!). Thing is, my family (including my fiance!) and I have a scheduled trip to Japan from December 27-January 3... Just wondering if that would be enough time for me to get my passport back for our Japan trip? I'm assuming since it will be at least a couple of weeks in between, it should be fine? Or is it too big of a risk?

I'm confident our case won't run into any problems since my fiance and I have been physically together for 3 years (when I was studying in the US) before I had to go back home to Manila and we have been seeing each other at least twice a year since then. We've met each other's families and friends several times, our parents have even met each other, and we have tons of pictures to prove it. Plus he is visiting the Philippines for Christmas this year and is taking that trip with me and my family to Japan before he flies back to the US. Financially, there shouldn't be any problems either since he has been employed at a good company for over a year now and is very well paid. Should this be enough for me to feel secure to schedule an interview before our Japan trip, or is the time taken post-interview not dependent on how legit your case is at all? ALSO is it possible at all to request for my passport back for the Japan trip if they do take long and just return it after? Or will that just be too complicated?

I can also just do my interview after the Japan trip, I just really wanted to get it over and done with as soon as possible as the anticipation and uncertainty is causing me some stress! But yeah, that's a personal problem that I could overcome if need be lol.

Edited October 29, 2016 by snowcat

[Sagot 1,548]

If there are no issues with the visa process you should have your passport w/visa within a few weeks of the interview. You shouldn't have an issue. If there are delays you can ask to retrieve your passport for your trip to Japan, that is not an issue either.

Once you have your passport w/visa you will need to complete CFO and get the sticker in your passport, even if you are only vacationing in Japan. You can not exit the Philippines without that sticker.

Here is a link with helpful information: http://visaconnection-philippines.com/

[notusinganymore 31]

If you live in manila, choose to pick it up from 2go as processing of approved visas already take a week. If you get it delivered provincially it might take more than 2 weeks.

[snowcat 58]

If there are no issues with the visa process you should have your passport w/visa within a few weeks of the interview. You shouldn't have an issue. If there are delays you can ask to retrieve your passport for your trip to Japan, that is not an issue either.

Once you have your passport w/visa you will need to complete CFO and get the sticker in your passport, even if you are only vacationing in Japan. You can not exit the Philippines without that sticker.

Here is a link with helpful information: http://visaconnection-philippines.com/

Perfect, thank you. What is the process like in case I need to temporarily retrieve my passport from the US Embassy? How long will it take before I can retrieve it (i.e., should I call at least a week before my departure for Japan)? Is there a website with more information regarding this I can peruse?

Thanks again.

[Sagot 1,548]

Perfect, thank you. What is the process like in case I need to temporarily retrieve my passport from the US Embassy? How long will it take before I can retrieve it (i.e., should I call at least a week before my departure for Japan)? Is there a website with more information regarding this I can peruse?

Thanks again.

I would call a week ahead. They will give you instructions to go to a selected window to retrieve your passport.

Contacting the Embassy (Manila)

Manila Visa Information and Appointment Service center hotlines at (632) 976-8500, (632) 976-8501 or (632) 976-8502.

The center is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on Philippine and U.S. holidays.

Callers in the U.S should call (703) 520-2235 on its Eastern Standard Time equivalent of operation hours.

Skype: To use Skype to speak to a customer service representative Monday Friday from 8:00am to 8:00pm., please add a new contact to your Skype account with the Skype name ustraveldocs-philippines.