Maybe Some Good News

[John & Rose 7,239]

16 hours ago, Bugs said:

New or not, we are planning on applying for B1 visitors visas for her parents.  Should we do so now, so that we are “in line” when they open up, or wait until they actually open up before applying?

I would do it right away.  I have a friend who is in line.  She had interviews cancelled in July 2020, November 2020 and February 2021.  They have not rescheduled her yet.  She originally applied in April 2020.  Get in line now because it will only get longer.

 

[John & Rose 7,239]

16 hours ago, Bugs said:

Normally I would agree with you, however, the MRV fee expires after one year under normal circumstances, and the embassy remains closed for B visa interviews.  Granted, they extended the expiration to Sept 2022, but I wonder if that is for those already in line.

They also told my friend that she will be OK once they start interviews again.  She paid over a year ago.

[John & Rose 7,239]

4 hours ago, Joe Kano said:

I don't see anything in the press release that is good news

 

I am thinking it going to be a year away before things start to get back to normal as in routine visa processing, which will have a backlog and also Philippines opening up for tourism

 

I have given up on going back anytime soon to Philippines.  I have started taking trips to Cancun area and so far it has been great

 

 

My guess is late 2022 before they start allowing some tourists back in.  It is just a guess but it feel accurate to me.  They originally said they wanted about 70% of the Philippines to be vaccinated before they opened the borders.  Last I checked (a few months ago) they were at 1.09% vaccinated. Now i see months later and it is just 4%.

Edited June 29, 2021 by John & Rose

[Bugs 455]

7 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

I would do it right away.  I have a friend who is in line.  She had interviews cancelled in July 2020, November 2020 and February 2021.  They have not rescheduled her yet.  She originally applied in April 2020.  Get in line now because it will only get longer.

 

 

6 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

They also told my friend that she will be OK once they start interviews again.  She paid over a year ago.

Thanks!  Is there a “line” or is it just a matter of being the quickest to snatch interview slots when they open up again?

[John & Rose 7,239]

Just now, Bugs said:

Thanks!  Is there a “line” or is it just a matter of being the quickest to snatch interview slots when they open up again?

My guess is they will handle it like they are handling the K-1.  Older applications first.

[Bugs 455]

Just now, John & Rose said:

My guess is they will handle it like they are handling the K-1.  Older applications first.

Is that how they handled B2 interviews in the past (pre-pandemic)?

I get what you’re saying about possible new pandemic rules.  But from what I gather, before the pandemic, it was just a matter of selecting an interview time online once you’ve submitted an application and paid a fee.

[John & Rose 7,239]

14 minutes ago, Bugs said:

Is that how they handled B2 interviews in the past (pre-pandemic)?

I get what you’re saying about possible new pandemic rules.  But from what I gather, before the pandemic, it was just a matter of selecting an interview time online once you’ve submitted an application and paid a fee.

That is how it used to be. Now they set up the appointments. I doubt if they will allow someone to just file now and get an appointment quicker than the thousands that already had interviews cancelled. I am pretty sure that they will do something like the tiered approach for tourist visas too. 

[Bugs 455]

17 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

That is how it used to be. Now they set up the appointments. I doubt if they will allow someone to just file now and get an appointment quicker than the thousands that already had interviews cancelled. I am pretty sure that they will do something like the tiered approach for tourist visas too. 

That would make sense.  

Regarding your friend who applied in April 2020, was she automatically rescheduled by the embassy when her initial July 2020 interview was canceled, and when her subsequent November 2020 interview was canceled?  Or did she reschedule those herself online picking available slots?  And if it was the latter, was she given any sort of priority?

[flicks1998 1,044]

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

My guess is late 2022 before they start allowing some tourists back in.  It is just a guess but it feel accurate to me.  They originally said they wanted about 70% of the Philippines to be vaccinated before they opened the borders.  Last I checked (a few months ago) they were at 1.09% vaccinated. Now i see months later and it is just 4%.

They will never get to 70% of the population with the effects of Dengvaxia only a few years ago and the majority of the COVID vaccine coming from Sinopharm and the distrust people have with China in general.  It just wont happen.  

 

 The below article shows that one country in Asia, actually gets it.  Singapore is moving to drop all restrictions as they have smartly realized that COVID is here for the long-haul and will not be going away.  

https://www.wsj.com/articles/singapore-shows-the-way-out-of-pandemic-policies-for-asia-11624956110  (Paid subscription)

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9724311/Singapore-plans-life-Covid-19-Australia-no-road-map.html (Free)

[John & Rose 7,239]

100% correct. The Dengue vaccine has a lot of people afraid for sure. They don’t trust the government or the vaccine. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

For those that are not aware:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengvaxia_controversy

 

It does a relatively good job of conveying the damage done to the psyche of the Filipino people in relation to vaccine safety.  Dengue is extremely widespread in SE Asia and I have been lucky to never get this, however I know many many foreigners to contract this, not just in the Philippines but Thailand, Cambodia, etc.  I dont know of anyone who died from it, although some where near death.  Some took 6 + months to recover. 

 

While living in Singapore, the government would send officials around to all of the houses as well as condos looking for anyone who had pots or containers that would capture and hold still water.  There was a 500 SGD fine for each infraction.  

Edited June 29, 2021 by flicks1998

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

On 6/29/2021 at 3:38 PM, flicks1998 said:

For those that are not aware:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengvaxia_controversy

 

It does a relatively good job of conveying the damage done to the psyche of the Filipino people in relation to vaccine safety.  Dengue is extremely widespread in SE Asia and I have been lucky to never get this, however I know many many foreigners to contract this, not just in the Philippines but Thailand, Cambodia, etc.  I dont know of anyone who died from it, although some where near death.  Some took 6 + months to recover. 

 

While living in Singapore, the government would send officials around to all of the houses as well as condos looking for anyone who had pots or containers that would capture and hold still water.  There was a 500 SGD fine for each infraction.  

At this point in time I am really pissed off that I did not move to Singapore last year like I was supposed to. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

2 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

At this point in time I am really pissed off that I did not move to Singapore last year like I was supposed to. 

If that opportunity comes back up, hopefully you can take advantage of it.  Everything that I experienced with the country was great and extremely efficient.  Every aspect of life was incredible.  People sometimes bring up the cost of living, but there are so many ways to make it affordable without sacrificing quality.  Plus you have the worlds greatest airport by far and away.  At one point when I was flying between Manila and Singapore each weekend, NAIA was rated the worlds worst airport and Singapore was the worlds best airport.  Quite the contrast.   

 

For the Philippines it will be interesting to see which way they go concerning foreigner travelers.  Singapore is looking to basically open completely up while China has recently announced that they will most likely remain closed until June/July 2022.  My guess is they will follow the China way.  

[Joe Kano 327]

4 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

For the Philippines it will be interesting to see which way they go concerning foreigner travelers.  Singapore is looking to basically open completely up while China has recently announced that they will most likely remain closed until June/July 2022.  My guess is they will follow the China way.  

I can see Philippines waiting until June/July 2022 to open back up as well, I can see the embassy being at least a year before the start back routine visa interviews as well.

 

 

[Joe & Jer 7]

On 6/28/2021 at 1:41 PM, flicks1998 said:

Yes its a new bulletin, but the information in the bulletin appears to be the same as before.

No, wait, I think the part about special visas for Iraqi and Afghans is new... I wonder how many of those have a case pending at USEM, hmmmm....