U.S. Embassy Manila Interview Scheduling

[Hawaii1 25]

Has anybody heard of any delays with the U.S. Embassy Manila in scheduling approved Expediated IR/CR1 visa interviews?  My wife had to complete the 60 day sputum test with St Luke's, which she completed last week...and when I emailed the IVManila department, they responded back that they could not schedule an interview at this time?  Has anybody else been told this??  This is what was sent to me...

 

November 13, 2020

 

Dear Mr. Van Huss:

 

We are writing in response to your November 10, 2020 inquiry to the Immigrant Visa Unit regarding the applicant's immigrant visa case.   

 

Due to precautions and limited resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic, routine visa services remain suspended, though the Department is continually evaluating the presence of conditions necessary to resume services.  Please note that as of March 2020, the United States Embassy in the Philippines suspended routine visa operations.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.  

 

Our records confirm that the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines received the National Visa Center (NVC) expedite request for the immediate family-based visa petitions filed on the applicant's behalf.  While we understand your desire for the Embassy to prioritize processing the applicant's case, due to local conditions and available resources, our operations is currently limited.  The volume of priority cases (i.e. including the immediate families of  U.S. citizen petitioners) preclude us to guarantee an immediate appointment for the applicant. However,  we have considered your request and the applicant will be notified through the registered email address if we are able to schedule the applicant for an appointment prior to resuming our regular appointment services.  Routine services is still suspended but the Embassy continues to prioritize certain immigrant visa applicants as local conditions and available resources allow.  We suggest that you continue monitoring our website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-updates/ or contact the Embassy’s Visa Information and Appointment Service at (+632) 8548-8223 or (+632) 7792-8988 regarding visa operations updates. 

   

Once the applicant receives an interview appointment schedule, the applicant should follow all interview preparation instructions located on the Embassy’s website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/employment-based-immigration/.  The website identifies the required documents as well as procedures to follow prior to the interview date.  

   

We hope this information is helpful.   

 

Sincerely,

 

CONSULAR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

Consular Section | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

 

Just trying to see if anybody else has seen this type of notification.  I responded back to asking why where they were quick to originally schedule her interview appointment before (in Sep)....then I had to cancel because of the sputum delay.  

[SteveInBostonI130 3,477]

I am not familiar with Manila, but if it's similar to Kyiv, then that is the response you will get if there are no appointment dates available.  

 

I found it useful to check back at the last week of the month or the first week.  Their calendar gets cleared/refreshed and interview slots become available.

[Crazy Cat 42,035]

1 hour ago, Hawaii1 said:

Has anybody heard of any delays with the U.S. Embassy Manila in scheduling approved Expediated IR/CR1 visa interviews?  My wife had to complete the 60 day sputum test with St Luke's, which she completed last week...and when I emailed the IVManila department, they responded back that they could not schedule an interview at this time?  Has anybody else been told this??  This is what was sent to me...

 

November 13, 2020

 

Dear Mr. Van Huss:

 

We are writing in response to your November 10, 2020 inquiry to the Immigrant Visa Unit regarding the applicant's immigrant visa case.   

 

Due to precautions and limited resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic, routine visa services remain suspended, though the Department is continually evaluating the presence of conditions necessary to resume services.  Please note that as of March 2020, the United States Embassy in the Philippines suspended routine visa operations.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.  

 

Our records confirm that the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines received the National Visa Center (NVC) expedite request for the immediate family-based visa petitions filed on the applicant's behalf.  While we understand your desire for the Embassy to prioritize processing the applicant's case, due to local conditions and available resources, our operations is currently limited.  The volume of priority cases (i.e. including the immediate families of  U.S. citizen petitioners) preclude us to guarantee an immediate appointment for the applicant. However,  we have considered your request and the applicant will be notified through the registered email address if we are able to schedule the applicant for an appointment prior to resuming our regular appointment services.  Routine services is still suspended but the Embassy continues to prioritize certain immigrant visa applicants as local conditions and available resources allow.  We suggest that you continue monitoring our website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-updates/ or contact the Embassy’s Visa Information and Appointment Service at (+632) 8548-8223 or (+632) 7792-8988 regarding visa operations updates. 

   

Once the applicant receives an interview appointment schedule, the applicant should follow all interview preparation instructions located on the Embassy’s website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/employment-based-immigration/.  The website identifies the required documents as well as procedures to follow prior to the interview date.  

   

We hope this information is helpful.   

 

Sincerely,

 

CONSULAR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

Consular Section | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

 

Just trying to see if anybody else has seen this type of notification.  I responded back to asking why where they were quick to originally schedule her interview appointment before (in Sep)....then I had to cancel because of the sputum delay.  

Sounds like they don't consider it an expedite.....or there are other expedited cases ahead of you.  On what grounds did you request the expedite?

Edited November 15, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[Hawaii1 25]

Thats exactly what I thought.....when I sent them the reply, I indicated that the Expedite Request was APPROVED by their Embassy.  The rationale for my request was my son has COVID-19 and I need my wife to help me care for him (and and IF he is released from the hospital). 

[3naD 34]

3 hours ago, Hawaii1 said:

Has anybody heard of any delays with the U.S. Embassy Manila in scheduling approved Expediated IR/CR1 visa interviews?  My wife had to complete the 60 day sputum test with St Luke's, which she completed last week...and when I emailed the IVManila department, they responded back that they could not schedule an interview at this time?  Has anybody else been told this??  This is what was sent to me...

 

November 13, 2020

 

Dear Mr. Van Huss:

 

We are writing in response to your November 10, 2020 inquiry to the Immigrant Visa Unit regarding the applicant's immigrant visa case.   

 

Due to precautions and limited resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic, routine visa services remain suspended, though the Department is continually evaluating the presence of conditions necessary to resume services.  Please note that as of March 2020, the United States Embassy in the Philippines suspended routine visa operations.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.  

 

Our records confirm that the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines received the National Visa Center (NVC) expedite request for the immediate family-based visa petitions filed on the applicant's behalf.  While we understand your desire for the Embassy to prioritize processing the applicant's case, due to local conditions and available resources, our operations is currently limited.  The volume of priority cases (i.e. including the immediate families of  U.S. citizen petitioners) preclude us to guarantee an immediate appointment for the applicant. However,  we have considered your request and the applicant will be notified through the registered email address if we are able to schedule the applicant for an appointment prior to resuming our regular appointment services.  Routine services is still suspended but the Embassy continues to prioritize certain immigrant visa applicants as local conditions and available resources allow.  We suggest that you continue monitoring our website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-updates/ or contact the Embassy’s Visa Information and Appointment Service at (+632) 8548-8223 or (+632) 7792-8988 regarding visa operations updates. 

   

Once the applicant receives an interview appointment schedule, the applicant should follow all interview preparation instructions located on the Embassy’s website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/employment-based-immigration/.  The website identifies the required documents as well as procedures to follow prior to the interview date.  

   

We hope this information is helpful.   

 

Sincerely,

 

CONSULAR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

Consular Section | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

 

Just trying to see if anybody else has seen this type of notification.  I responded back to asking why where they were quick to originally schedule her interview appointment before (in Sep)....then I had to cancel because of the sputum delay.  

Looks like they are dealing with the volume of expedited cases and appointments cancelled due to the lockdown. In our case, the expedite request was approved September 3, and I only received the email regarding the "expedited appointment date" on October 1 (interview schedule Nov. 6). 

[Hawaii1 25]

Hi 3na3....many thanks!  Did you get a similar response back in Sep 3?

[3naD 34]

47 minutes ago, Hawaii1 said:

Hi 3na3....many thanks!  Did you get a similar response back in Sep 3?

Actually, around 2 weeks after the request for expedite was approved, I emailed the embassy re completion of medical exam and I asked them too about interview schedule. I only received an automated reply - they didn't really respond to my inquiry. The next time I heard from them was already in October for the appointment schedule. 

[Hawaii1 25]

Roger that.....I really do wonder I received the above response from them....it really does sound like they don't understand my Expediate Request was approved (not just submitted).  Depending on how they respond tomorrow....I might be bugging them a lot since my wife's physical expired the 1st week in Feb.  

[3naD 34]

1 hour ago, Hawaii1 said:

Roger that.....I really do wonder I received the above response from them....it really does sound like they don't understand my Expediate Request was approved (not just submitted).  Depending on how they respond tomorrow....I might be bugging them a lot since my wife's physical expired the 1st week in Feb.  

In my email, I provided a timeline from the time our case was documentarily qualified up to expedite approval and completion of medical examination, but no response. 

 

It may be best to inquire about the expiration of your wife's physical examination results to avoid any further delays. I understand this needs to be current/valid at the time of the interview and departure. 

 

Just hang in there, you're almost there! 

[TShayne 12]

10 hours ago, 3naD said:

In my email, I provided a timeline from the time our case was documentarily qualified up to expedite approval and completion of medical examination, but no response. 

 

It may be best to inquire about the expiration of your wife's physical examination results to avoid any further delays. I understand this needs to be current/valid at the time of the interview and departure. 

 

Just hang in there, you're almost there! 

Just to give another time frame.  We were expedite approved September 25th. Did medical October 6th. Emailed the embassy October 7th. Was contacted by the Embassy on October 27th and given an interview date on December 9th. I requested an earlier date if available on November 9th. Response was no date available.  They may schedule you if someone cancels sooner, but last I know they are scheduling now after December 22nd from people I've seen who just received scheduling.  

[Crazy Cat 42,035]

5 minutes ago, TShayne said:

Just to give another time frame.  We were expedite approved September 25th. Did medical October 6th. Emailed the embassy October 7th. Was contacted by the Embassy on October 27th and given an interview date on December 9th. I requested an earlier date if available on November 9th. Response was no date available.  They may schedule you if someone cancels sooner, but last I know they are scheduling now after December 22nd from people I've seen who just received scheduling.  

Wow!  Looks like they are swamped with priority cases.  That would explain their response to the OP.  Good luck to all....

[user555 196]

17 hours ago, Hawaii1 said:

Has anybody heard of any delays with the U.S. Embassy Manila in scheduling approved Expediated IR/CR1 visa interviews? 

I was approved for a expedite in the middle of September. I never heard from the embassy. My wife did her medical and got flagged for an unclear x-ray. We have to wait until December to find out the results. I emailed the embassy because they never contacted us. It had been 6 weeks since they approved the expedite. 

 

expedite - make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly.

 

The embassy does not know what this means. I contacted the embassy right before Halloween to have them schedule us an interview. Thousands of people get an email from the embassy stating their interview is confirmed, and they now need to go do their medical. 

I told them we are just waiting on our results, and I'd like to have an interview right after SLEC updates us in Dec. 

 

The embassy replied with an email that looked almost identical to yours that said, "Your medical eligibility is currently pending. Please be aware that we are unable to schedule the applicant for an interview without a valid medical report from St. Luke's Extension Clinic in Manila."

What?! You schedule thousands of interviews BEFORE a valid medical report is even issued. 

 

I asked for clarification. They said:

"We are unable to schedule the applicant for an interview without a valid medical report from St. Luke's Extension Clinic in Manila.  The volume of priority cases (i.e. including the immediate families of  U.S. citizen petitioners) preclude us to guarantee an immediate appointment for the applicants."

 

Ok. I'll just wait until after SLEC updates us in Dec. 

 

Last week, they sent me an interview appointment for late Dec. 

Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne must be working at the US embassy.  

[Vermyndax 33]

17 hours ago, Hawaii1 said:

Has anybody heard of any delays with the U.S. Embassy Manila in scheduling approved Expediated IR/CR1 visa interviews?  My wife had to complete the 60 day sputum test with St Luke's, which she completed last week...and when I emailed the IVManila department, they responded back that they could not schedule an interview at this time?  Has anybody else been told this??  This is what was sent to me...

 

November 13, 2020

 

Dear Mr. Van Huss:

 

We are writing in response to your November 10, 2020 inquiry to the Immigrant Visa Unit regarding the applicant's immigrant visa case.   

 

Due to precautions and limited resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic, routine visa services remain suspended, though the Department is continually evaluating the presence of conditions necessary to resume services.  Please note that as of March 2020, the United States Embassy in the Philippines suspended routine visa operations.  We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.  

 

Our records confirm that the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines received the National Visa Center (NVC) expedite request for the immediate family-based visa petitions filed on the applicant's behalf.  While we understand your desire for the Embassy to prioritize processing the applicant's case, due to local conditions and available resources, our operations is currently limited.  The volume of priority cases (i.e. including the immediate families of  U.S. citizen petitioners) preclude us to guarantee an immediate appointment for the applicant. However,  we have considered your request and the applicant will be notified through the registered email address if we are able to schedule the applicant for an appointment prior to resuming our regular appointment services.  Routine services is still suspended but the Embassy continues to prioritize certain immigrant visa applicants as local conditions and available resources allow.  We suggest that you continue monitoring our website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-updates/ or contact the Embassy’s Visa Information and Appointment Service at (+632) 8548-8223 or (+632) 7792-8988 regarding visa operations updates. 

   

Once the applicant receives an interview appointment schedule, the applicant should follow all interview preparation instructions located on the Embassy’s website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/employment-based-immigration/.  The website identifies the required documents as well as procedures to follow prior to the interview date.  

   

We hope this information is helpful.   

 

Sincerely,

 

CONSULAR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

Consular Section | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

 

Just trying to see if anybody else has seen this type of notification.  I responded back to asking why where they were quick to originally schedule her interview appointment before (in Sep)....then I had to cancel because of the sputum delay.  

This is a form letter that is automatically responded to every email that you send to them. They will contact you to schedule the interview. My wife just had her interview on the morning of November 13, so they are processing them - just slowly.

[Hawaii1 25]

Thanks to all!  Nice to have some insight from other members in the same boat I am in....

[Hawaii1 25]

Good news!  Just received interview date...12/07/2020!