Fees everywhere ... now BPI

[EllisAndRenz 196]

Just now, gregcrs2 said:

Curios as to how much money was requested to open a bank account.

None.  She asked me if she really needed it.  She said "Find out if it's true so we don't mess this up."

 

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, EllisAndRenz said:

It might not be a P3.  It might just be a letter they sent.  I didn't see it yet. That could be mis-terming it.

I've been scammed by a cop down there for money for some violation I didn't do.  I wouldn't put it past people to scam her.  But that's my question right:  Are these "fees" legitimate or a scam?  I'll follow up to see if they were paid.  But ...

 

The embassy communicates via email if they have an email for either of you 

[Jay Jones 261]

2 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

It might not be a P3.  It might just be a letter they sent.  I didn't see it yet. That could be mis-terming it.

I've been scammed by a cop down there for money for some violation I didn't do.  I wouldn't put it past people to scam her.  But that's my question right:  Are these "fees" legitimate or a scam?  I'll follow up to see if they were paid.  But ...

 

The fees are NOT legitimate.  

[EllisAndRenz 196]

Just now, payxibka said:

The embassy communicates via email if they have an email for either of you 

It was on the status that they sent it in the mail.  So I believe the US Embassy web site.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Yea embassy rarely communicates with the beneficiary, it's up to them to follow through with the process and complete requirements. They don't "nudge" them along... but if they did it would be email most likely as was noted above.

 

All these "fees" just aren't right. Yes people get scammed in the Philippines, it can happen... but everyone, everywhere, at every step in the process is scamming her? Unlikely. 

 

But again, in the overall sense of it, still this is small money compared to what's coming later hah.

Edited January 18, 2019 by Ben&Zian

[payxibka 10,045]

8 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

It was on the status that they sent it in the mail.  So I believe the US Embassy web site.

I believe what I actually experienced.  Embassy EMAIL!

 

[icanbenobody 187]

10 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

None.  She asked me if she really needed it.  She said "Find out if it's true so we don't mess this up."

 

Fees is not legitimate..the only time the k1 visa need to pay is when their application is ready..bpi might charge for service fee but its not that much..i think its not even a hundred pesos?

 

The only mail i received from embassy is some applications that my fiance "now husband" sent together with 129f but they sent it after i got approved. They rarely communicate with the beneficiary. 

 

Ask your fiance what she received in the mail/email.. it might a nvc letter or something and she just misunderstood whats on it?

 

[icanbenobody 187]

8 minutes ago, payxibka said:

I believe what I actually experienced.  Embassy EMAIL!

 

I think thats what she received.

 

I received that email too after i scheduled my interview(but dont follow how i schedule my interview because i was just lucky,im not supposed to do it) 😂😂

Edited January 18, 2019 by icanbenobody

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

1 hour ago, Paul & Mary said:

No she doesn't need a bank account.  Mine did set one up and it was cheaper for me to put money from the US into that account.

 

To quote my asawa "Welcome to the  Fee-lippines"

Kano tax...:-))))

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

45 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Have her produce the receipts.   

🍿 'eating popcorn and watching..'

[icanbenobody 187]

If @payxibka is right and thats what your fiance received then its completely normal. 

 

Question is: why did your fiance go to bpi and knows about this fees without reading the instructions on how to pay her visa application in bpi?

Take note: it called MRV slip that she needs to download and print before she could go to bpi and pay for visa application.

 

I hope she didn't ask one of her neighbor about this process because usually neighbors are smart ### they know everything but to ruin things.

[EllisAndRenz 196]

1 minute ago, icanbenobody said:

If @payxibka is right and thats what your fiance received then its completely normal. 

 

Question is: why did your fiance go to bpi and knows about this fees without reading the instructions on how to pay her visa application in bpi?

Take note: it called MRV slip that she needs to download and print before she could go to bpi and pay for visa application.

 

I hope she didn't ask one of her neighbor about this process because usually neighbors are smart ### they know everything but to ruin things.

Yes, I had her go to print the slip.  Then she went to BPI bank to pay Visa application.  They took the slip.  They took the money.  They charged an extra "fee" for taking the money (which she had and didn't ask me for).  

 

 

[EllisAndRenz 196]

14 minutes ago, icanbenobody said:

I think thats what she received.

 

I received that email too after i scheduled my interview(but dont follow how i schedule my interview because i was just lucky,im not supposed to do it) 😂😂

Neither one of us got an e-mail in spite of email being on file.  I think that's the letter she got.  I'll have her photo and send it to me.  

I just learned how to schedule from the embassy web-site and we did that.  

[payxibka 10,045]

there could be confusion between the market exchange rate and the Embassy exchange rate which is "paddded" to include any "fee" for BPI

 

One thing I have learned is that ALL filipinos know exactly what the peso/dollar rate is on a daily basis

 

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by payxibka

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

3 minutes ago, payxibka said:

One thing I have learned is that ALL filipinos know exactly what the peso/dollar rate is on a daily basis

 

 

 lol That is very true