Manila Embassy Interview/Visa Status

[gracy_byron 0]

Got my visa today at 12:38pm. Then my husband and I went to CFO (Quirino Avenue) and got my stamp and Green Certificate in about 10 minutes!!!

My husband and I will be flying to the US on May 2, 2007. POE: SFO.

To PW (Ate Cora) -> Congrats also, you have your VISA. Hopefully Delbros will deliver your son's visa soon.

CONGRATS HELEN

[Pinay Wife 47]

Yeheeeeey! Delbros delivered my son’s visa this afternoon. El Mas Guapo, we’re relieved to hear the good news! Now, time to write your request for an expedited interview. Let us know developments. Kim Tung, any news on your visa?

Updating list to welcome GoBruins!

Legend:

OK - Visa approved

AR - Admin Review/Add'l Docs Required

ME - Military Expedite

AO - Age-Out (Derivative approaching age 21)

Name..................NOA2....MNL REC'D..PACKET...INTERVIEW..MNL CASE#..STATUS..DELIVERED/#OF DAYS/PLACE DLVRD

K1 LIST

01..gobdogman.......09-07-06..10-20-06..xx-xx-xx..02-26-07..2006-789xxx..AR..Apr 15/48 days/Dumaguete

02..patrick808......10-18-06..10-30-06..01-24-07..03-08-07..2006-800xxx..OK..Date and place delivered please?

03..Joone745........10-20-06..11-01-06..xx-xx-xx..03-09-07..2006-800xxx..OK..Mar 16/07 days/Bacolod

04..Wes.............11-02-06..11-17-06..12-29-06..03-20-07..2006-818xxx..AR..Pending result of add'l tests

05..49bstreet.......09-29-06..11-21-06..01-23-07..03-21-07..2006-820xxx..OK..Apr 12/22 days/Tuguegarao

06..maylet29........10-27-06..11-21-06..xx-xx-xx..03-22-07..2006-820xxx..OK..Mar 27/05 days/Quezon City

07..kismet..........11-02-06..11-20-06..01-26-07..03-22-07..2006-820xxx..OK..Mar 28/06 days/Cainta

08..iya.............11-02-06..11-20-06..02-02-07..03-23-07..2006-820xxx..OK..Mar 29/06 days/Quezon City

09..boch............11-08-06..11-29-06..01-05-07..03-23-07..2006-820xxx..OK..??

10..B&N.............11-03-06..11-29-06..01-24-07..03-26-07..2006-824xxx..OK..Apr 02/07 days/Makati

11..Alanlvsjudy.....11-06-06..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..03-27-07..2006-824xxx..OK..Apr 02/06 days/Pasay

12..EllaJosh........11-14-06..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..03-23-07..2006-834xxx..OK..??

13..jackieadam......11-20-06..12-28-06..xx-xx-xx..03-23-07..2006-xxxxxx..OK..Mar 28/05 days/Makati

14..DeaniWait.......11-28-06..12-19-06..02-27-07..04-04-07..2006-842xxx..OK..Apr 11/07 days/Picked up

15..wthornton.......11-28-06..12-19-06..02-26-07..04-04-07..2006-842xxx..??

16..DocMay..........11-15-06..12-12-06..02-26-07..04-10-07..2006-845xxx..AR..

17..George&Jenny....11-27-06..12-12-06..xx-xx-xx..04-10-07..2006-845xxx..OK..Apr 13/03 days/Cagayan de Oro

18..genlramos.......11-17-06..12-19-06..xx-xx-xx..04-11-07..2006-845xxx..OK..Apr 17/06 days/Pasay City

19..DaveandFleur....10-17-06..12-19-06..02-28-07..04-11-07..2006-845xxx..OK

20..PatientlyWait...12-04-06..12-27-06..02-26-07..04-13-07..2006-852xxx..OK..Apr 26/13 days/Las Pinas

21..Kayz............12-14-06..12-27-06..02-26-07..04-16-07..2006-854xxx..OK

22..sanfrancisco....xx-xx-06..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..04-17-07..2006-8xxxxx..OK

23..supra...........12-07-06..01-08-07..03-03-07..04-18-07..2006-860xxx..OK..Apr 23/05 days/Cebu

24..elmasguapo......12-15-06..01-08-07..xx-xx-xx..04-24-07..2006-xxxxxx..Interview postponed

25..Dean/Gra........12-26-06..01-04-07..02-27-06..04-23-07..2007-503xxx..OK

26..Mike Marivic....01-04-07..01-20-07..02-26-07..04-24-07..2007-508xxx..OK

27..CocoPuff........12-29-06..01-16.07..03-03-07..04-25-07..2007-5xxxxx..OK

28..MarieandBryan...01-10-07..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..04-27-07..2007-52xxxx

29..Skeeter211......01-17-07..02-27-07..04-02-07..05-03-07..2007-52xxxx

30..chadandlira.....01-25-07..xx-xx-xx..04-02-07..05-09-07..2007-536xxx

31..Honeysweet......02-01-07..02-20-07..xx-xx-xx..05-10-07..2007-540xxx

32..imaskin.........02-07-07..xx-xx-xx..03-30-07..05-24-07..2007-xxxxxx

33..gracy_byron.....02-08-07..02-28-07..xx-xx-xx..05-18-07..2007-xxxxxx

34..chadmides.......02-12-07..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..05-10-07..2007-547xxx

35..joemaria........02-12-07..02-28-07..xx-xx-xx..05-22-07..2007-55xxx

36..orion44.........02-22-07..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..06-05-07..2007-xxxxxx

37..David-MaeForev..02-27-07..03-14-07..xx-xx-xx..06-07-07..2007-564xxx

38..JeffK...........03-08-07..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..06-18-07..2007-573xxx

39..CountryBoy......03-29-07..04-23-07..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..2007-608xxx

40..trakon2002......04-05-07..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..2007-xxxxxx

K3 LIST

01..AnneiyandJacky..11-28-06….xx-xx-xx..02-27-07..04-17-07..2006-685xxx..AR..Co-sponsor

02..dj2004..........11-16-06..12-12-06..02-27-07..04-03-07..2006-839xxx..OK

03..luvbugs4ever....12-14-06..12-21-06..03-02-07..04-16-07..2006-8xxxxx..Interview postponed

04..M&M.............11-20-06..xx-xx-xx..03-02-07..04-16-07..2007-503xxx..CR visa approved.

05..Jeff&Boo........12-26-06..01-12-07..02-26-07..04-26-07..2007-5xxxxx

07..CherylandMike...02-05-07..02-26-07..xx-xx-xx..05-16-07..2007-546xxx

08..Robor007........02-06-07..02-26-07..03-30-07..05-15-07..2007-546xxx

IR-1/CR-1

Name.................NOA2.....CASE CMPLT..PACKET..INTERVIEW...MNL CASE#..STATUS

01..w1n78...........09-05-06..11-16-06..02-05-07..03-02-07..2006-764xxx..AR..Mar 23/21 days/Makati

02..soulm8z0928.....09-06-06..11-16-06..02-05-07..03-14-07..2006-76xxxx..OK..Mar 20/06 days/Metro Manila

03..M&M.............09-07-06..11-15-06..02-05-07..03-15-07..2006-765xxx..OK..Mar 19/4days/Taguig

04..dims1...........09-20-06..12-01-06..02-06-07..03-19-07..2006-775xxx..AR..Co-sponsor

05..KimTung.........09-26-06..12-21-06..xx-xx-xx..03-22-07..2006-779xxx..AR..

06..vsmtqhdy........09-25-06..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..04-20-07..2006-xxxxxx..OK..Apr 27/07 days/??

07..randynrose......09-29-06..02-06-07..03-06-07..04-20-07..2006-xxxxxx..OK

08..StarProg........12-28-06..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..2007-508xxx

09..Gobruins........12-20-06..04-03-07..xx-xx-xx..05-23-07..2007-50xxxx

10..Robor007........02-06-07..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..xx-xx-xx..2007-xxxxxx

[Pinay Wife 47]

(1) I have yet to call the US embassy in Manila to ask them where the heck is Packet 4. But I understand that if they still have it I can request them to send it to SLEX for my Mom to pick it up, right?

(2) Also, will my Mom pay Delbros to have her (God willing) visa delivered? Or is the fee included in the $380 that I paid NVC when the application was lodged?

(3) If she has to pay the delivery fee, how much is it and where does she pay for it? I have heard of several successful applicants who were able to pick up their visas the following day after the interview, is there any special reason for this? Can my mom choose to pick up her visa instead of having it delivered to her?

(4) And one more thing, the travel tax (I dunno how much it is currently but when I left in 2004, it was around P1,600) does the passenger pay for this only if the tickets were bought locally? What if I buy the ticket from say, Expedia or any online travel agency, will the travel tax be included so the passenger won't have to pay it at the airport?

(1) Yes, you may request Embassy to send packet to St. Lukes so Mom can pick it up.

(2) Yes, Mom needs to pay delivery fee at the Delbros counter located inside the embassy. It is easy to find. No, delivery fee is not included in the $380.

(3) P165 delivery fee for Metro Manila, more pag sa probinsiya. Mom may request visa pick up after interview with the consul. Judging from others who have done it before, there seems to be no special reason for requesting pick up. Some applicants were successful in requesting pick up, others were not. Subject to the mood of the consul if he will grant it or not.

(4) Travel tax of P1,620 will be included in the cost if ticket is purchased in Manila. If you buy it from Expedia and other on-line service, travel tax is not included so Mom has to bring P1,620 and pay at the airport + P750 airport terminal fee.

[joemaria 0]

Congratulations to Helen and Ate Cora for receiving their visa, happy for u gurls!

You deserve trully the best...God bless!

To ElMasguapo, happy to know your fiancee got cleared in her medical thats really a good news.

And again for those successfully had their interview...our congratulations to you guys!

[GaryC 7]

Yeheeeeey! Delbros delivered my son’s visa this afternoon.

Congratulation Cora..happy to hear the good news!!!

[supra23 0]

When your fiancee arrives in Cebu City, let her go directly SMEF-COW, this is where the seminar will be held. As for the CFO Office (DFA Bldg.), she will need to go there when she already have the certificate of attendance from SMEF-COW. This is where the CFO certificate and sticker be given.

I have been there too. Below is the sched for the whole CFO thing.

7:30am Registration

Do not forget to register at the guard. He will monitor the number of attendants, since only 15 participants are allowed in a day. If you are the 16th onward, you have to come back the next working day.

8:00am Filling Up of Form

When submitting the filled out form, you have to submit the required documents too (as stated in the list,along with the seminar fee of Php.250.00). After sorting your document and paying the fee, SMEF will take your picture (same counter for payment) using a webcam. This picture will be used/posted in the Certificate of Attendance that they will give you, in which is required in getting the CFO certificate.

9:00-12:00nn Seminar

As a group, about three documentary films from "Magandang Gabi Bayan" will be shown. Then, after 2 hours, the participants are divided according to country of destination.

12.01-1:00 Lunch Break

1:01pm Individual Counseling

The counselors will call you one by one to have your individual counseling. The counselor will ask you personal questions concerning your relationship with your foreign spouse. The hierarchy will be according to the order of registration list (the one, at the guard).

2:00pm CFO – Certificate

After the seminar, you have to go to the CFO Office (at the DFA Building) to get your

CFO certificate or visa/passport stamping. Do not forget to photocopy your attendance certificate, the Official Receipt from SMEF, your passport and your visa so you don't have to go downstairs just to have it done. Payment of Php.400.00 is required at this stage. You will wait (it depends on the number of people their with the same purpose) for your queue.

Hope this helps.

glad to hear you got your visa finally patientlywaiting

I have one quick questions. I'm a little confused on how the CFO works. I noticed there are two offices in cebu. one is the CFO office and the other is the SMEF-COW Cebu office. which one should my fiancee be attending? will she be required to travel to both locations or just going to the CFO office is enough and everything will take place there to get the stamp she needs on her visa?

You have been a great help thank you for the infomation. what questions will they ask on the one on one interview?

[Cali Gal CPA 0]

(1) I have yet to call the US embassy in Manila to ask them where the heck is Packet 4. But I understand that if they still have it I can request them to send it to SLEX for my Mom to pick it up, right?

(2) Also, will my Mom pay Delbros to have her (God willing) visa delivered? Or is the fee included in the $380 that I paid NVC when the application was lodged?

(3) If she has to pay the delivery fee, how much is it and where does she pay for it? I have heard of several successful applicants who were able to pick up their visas the following day after the interview, is there any special reason for this? Can my mom choose to pick up her visa instead of having it delivered to her?

(4) And one more thing, the travel tax (I dunno how much it is currently but when I left in 2004, it was around P1,600) does the passenger pay for this only if the tickets were bought locally? What if I buy the ticket from say, Expedia or any online travel agency, will the travel tax be included so the passenger won't have to pay it at the airport?

(1) Yes, you may request Embassy to send packet to St. Lukes so Mom can pick it up.

(2) Yes, Mom needs to pay delivery fee at the Delbros counter located inside the embassy. It is easy to find. No, delivery fee is not included in the $380.

(3) P165 delivery fee for Metro Manila, more pag sa probinsiya. Mom may request visa pick up after interview with the consul. Judging from others who have done it before, there seems to be no special reason for requesting pick up. Some applicants were successful in requesting pick up, others were not. Subject to the mood of the consul if he will grant it or not.

(4) Travel tax of P1,620 will be included in the cost if ticket is purchased in Manila. If you buy it from Expedia and other on-line service, travel tax is not included so Mom has to bring P1,620 and pay at the airport + P750 airport terminal fee.

Wow thanks PW! As always maasahan talaga ang fellow noyPi

Congrats! Finally you got your son's visa. I had a similar experience with our visas back in 2004. All the other applicants who were interviewed the same day received their visas in a span of 2-3 days, mine took about a week. When I got the passports, I found out that the delay was because the embassy made a mistake on my daughter's K2 visa, they spelled her name wrong, so they canceled the first visa and made another one. It's good to know that quality control is working. Anyway, congrats and welcome to America very soon!!!!

[supra23 0]

hmmm...im a little worried now. i looked at my fiancee's visa and under the annotation it has my name spelled incorrectly. everything for her name to her A# is correct but the only part thats wrong is that in my last name, they transposed a letter. all my paperwork i submitted has my name spelled out correct as her petitioner and all of it was typed out. should we worry about this? or not since all of her information on the visa is correct already.

[Alanlvsjudy 0]

Congratulations to Helen and Ate Cora for receiving their visa, happy for u gurls!

You deserve trully the best...God bless!

Joemaria, I noticed your avatar says "my Alabama" will you live in Alabama?

We are very close to the Alabama state line. PM us and let us know where you will be, maybe we will be near enough to visit.

Good Luck!

[Dean iWait 0]

hmmm...im a little worried now. i looked at my fiancee's visa and under the annotation it has my name spelled incorrectly. everything for her name to her A# is correct but the only part thats wrong is that in my last name, they transposed a letter. all my paperwork i submitted has my name spelled out correct as her petitioner and all of it was typed out. should we worry about this? or not since all of her information on the visa is correct already.

I would guess that as long as all her information is correct you will be ok. But, I would call the embassy for sure and ask them just to be safe.

[JeffK 0]

I posted this a few days ago, I'm not sure it got buried in a blizzard of congratulations or there were no opinions about the timing if a visit (or could be bad breath). I'll get a mint and give it another try...

Congratulations to those who got approved!

I might have the opportunity to travel to the PI in time for either Mae's interview or her travel to the US (not both, though). Does anyone have an opinion what would be more helpful to be there for the interview or accompany her back?

(I managed to get a frequent flyer for her that happened to be July 4th, I'm not sure if that has any significance but it reminded me of the movie Avalon, one of my favorites).

-- Jeff

[dave_ehssa 0]

Congratulations ate Cora! sexy mommy in vj...

[Dean iWait 0]

I posted this a few days ago, I'm not sure it got buried in a blizzard of congratulations or there were no opinions about the timing if a visit (or could be bad breath). I'll get a mint and give it another try...

Congratulations to those who got approved!

I might have the opportunity to travel to the PI in time for either Mae's interview or her travel to the US (not both, though). Does anyone have an opinion what would be more helpful to be there for the interview or accompany her back?

(I managed to get a frequent flyer for her that happened to be July 4th, I'm not sure if that has any significance but it reminded me of the movie Avalon, one of my favorites).

-- Jeff

Well in my opinion and in the opinion of an immigration lawyer I consulted, if you have the time and the money you should attend her interview.

[JeffK 0]

I posted this a few days ago, I'm not sure it got buried in a blizzard of congratulations or there were no opinions about the timing if a visit (or could be bad breath). I'll get a mint and give it another try...

Congratulations to those who got approved!

I might have the opportunity to travel to the PI in time for either Mae's interview or her travel to the US (not both, though). Does anyone have an opinion what would be more helpful to be there for the interview or accompany her back?

(I managed to get a frequent flyer for her that happened to be July 4th, I'm not sure if that has any significance but it reminded me of the movie Avalon, one of my favorites).

-- Jeff

Well in my opinion and in the opinion of an immigration lawyer I consulted, if you have the time and the money you should attend her interview.

Thanks! Sort of what I thought. Time and money, sigh.

[orion44 0]

Congratulations to everyone with their visas. It is so encouraging to hear of your success. Thanks to everyone on this site for your help in helping others get approved.

I have a question about the medical at St. Lukes. What does someone do if it is the time of their monthly cycle?

Thanks