Flights from Cebu to Manila, and best day schedule to book for interview after St Lukes?

[Balamban 113]

Suggestions appreciated.

We paid our DS-160 fee yesterday and will book an appointment tomorrow.

 

Questions:  Fly in Sunday, do St Luke's then schedule for interview that Thursday or Friday?

 

Any suggestions as to best way to find tickets for two adults from Cebu City and back?  I used ITA matrix and the lowest price was about $200 or 10000 piso.

 

Any idea just how far out will be the earliest possible scheduling date?  2 weeks, 3 weeks, four?

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

If you get the medical done say on a Monday, you can in theory do the interview by Thursday/Friday. Generally they like a week between medical and interview to ensure the medical information gets to the embassy. Worst case is they just have to wait after the interview to receive the medical stuff to issue the visa.

 

Assuming it will be mailed to Cebu instead of picked up in person?

[geowrian 22,338]

The medical, assuming everything is clean, should take 2 days. The results would be given to the beneficiary in a sealed packet that they can hand in during the interview. So there's no wait needed there...you could do the medical on Monday-Tuesday then interview on Wednesday if you really wanted.

Just be aware that some applicants take longer to get through the medical...the most common cause for a delay being sputum collection and results (TB testing), which adds ~2 months to the timeline.

 

The earliest possible interview date changes throughout the day. When we picked ours last year, I saw dates as soon as 1 week away pop up (due to cancellations) throughout the day, but most were about a month out at the time. You just need to watch it closely and jump on a date when you get a chance, if you want the soonest one possible.

Edited February 21, 2018 by geowrian

[Balamban 113]

Thanks, does anyone know about ways to buy two airline tickets for cheaper than $200@

 

Yes I know that there are two major scenarios, one = sputum test and two = 6 month antibiotic regime, one can only hope neither are required.

[doggieandsam 765]

from cebu to manila, your best / cheapest bet would be cebu pacific air. they are notorious for being delayed though so make sure you factor that in your schedule. https://www.cebupacificair.com/en-us

 

for a little more reliability (emphasis on a "little more") and some more money, you can also use PAL. 

 

you can certainly find $200 tickets on these two airlines but that depends on the dates you are flying obviously.

[Hank_ 9,174]

23 minutes ago, Balamban said:

Suggestions appreciated.

We paid our DS-160 fee yesterday and will book an appointment tomorrow.

 

Questions:  Fly in Sunday, do St Luke's then schedule for interview that Thursday or Friday?

 

Any suggestions as to best way to find tickets for two adults from Cebu City and back?  I used ITA matrix and the lowest price was about $200 or 10000 piso.

 

Any idea just how far out will be the earliest possible scheduling date?  2 weeks, 3 weeks, four?

No fee for completing the DS-160.   Ya I know, you meant the visa fee at BPI     

 

Medical is 2 days (barring what you are already aware of .. TB).   Your fiancee will hand carry her medical file to USEM the day of the interview, (a week spacing is obsolete info), I know some that have done the interview the day after the medical.

 

The P10,000 price is not too far off from Cebu Air   https://www.cebupacificair.com/en-us

 

You won't know the earlier possible interview date until you get online and "git 'er dun" .. what is available to day won't be tomorrow.  

 

17 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

If you get the medical done say on a Monday, you can in theory do the interview by Thursday/Friday. Generally they like a week between medical and interview to ensure the medical information gets to the embassy. Worst case is they just have to wait after the interview to receive the medical stuff to issue the visa. 

 

Assuming it will be mailed to Cebu instead of picked up in person?

Not true anymore.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

58 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

Assuming it will be mailed to Cebu instead of picked up in person?

Why would It be mailed to Cebu? I know the answer to this but I am just asking why do you think this?

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Just now, cyberfx1024 said:

Why would It be mailed to Cebu? I know the answer to this but I am just asking why do you think this?

 

Sounds like they didn't want to make more than maybe one trip, or spend too much time in Manila perhaps. Seems people try to avoid that, was more asking because after the interview they may be waiting 7-8 days for the visa. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

52 minutes ago, Balamban said:

Thanks, does anyone know about ways to buy two airline tickets for cheaper than $200@

 

$200 for a roundtrip ticket from CEB to MNL and back is about average now a days unless you want to leave in the middle of the night and then the tickets are $100 overall.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

8 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

 

Sounds like they didn't want to make more than maybe one trip, or spend too much time in Manila perhaps. Seems people try to avoid that, was more asking because after the interview they may be waiting 7-8 days for the visa. 

I understand that and that's why they have 2go for them to ship the packet to the home on record. This is what my wife and I did after her interview. She had her interview and then we flew out the next morning to go to Bohol, so by the time I left the Philippines the visa got to her about 4 days later. My asawa hate Manila and we try to spend as little time there as possible whenever we go to the Philippines. Thank the heavenly lord above that they are actually opening air routes from Davao to other places than just Cebu or Manila.

Edited February 21, 2018 by cyberfx1024

[Greenbaum 12,260]

11 hours ago, Balamban said:

Thanks, does anyone know about ways to buy two airline tickets for cheaper than $200@

 

Yes I know that there are two major scenarios, one = sputum test and two = 6 month antibiotic regime, one can only hope neither are required.

The medical is hand carried. Keep in mind that Monday's and Tuesday's are normally busy because children require their test be read 3 days later. So, if you want to avoid long waits and everything else that goes with kids then schedule Wednesday for SLEC and Friday for Interview.

 

I used the local airlines websites for tickets for when we fly. Always more accurate and pricing always seems to be cheaper. Check these airlines. The percent is the Philippine travel they own.

 

• Cebu Pacific (54.66%)
• PAL Express (25.31%)
• Zest Airways (AirAsia) (8.29%)
• Tigerair Philippines (6.41%)
• Philippine Airlines (3.91%)
• AirAsia,Inc. ( ...
• SkyJet (less than 1%)

[nelmagriffin 156]

Greetings!

https://www.cebupacificair.com/en-us

https://www.airasia.com/en/home.page?cid=1

https://www.philippineairlines.com/en

 

 

How I wish you purchase the tickets like 2 to 3 weeks in advance as it is very cheap, maybe next time. If you know the exact date to fly, always consider checking and purchasing tickets in advance as it will go as low as 1,500 pesos.  It is limited and none refundable or changeable. Anyways, I like the plan to fly to Manila early Sunday and relax then walk to the clinic early Monday morning. And maybe interview on Wednesday to give you enough time. I know that there are many hotels near the area but there is this place that is cheap, clean and safe and a walking distance to the clinic.

http://www.casabocobo.com.ph/

 

I am happy for both of you,

Nelma

Edited February 22, 2018 by nelmagriffin