Status of Interviews in Manila

[Grandpa Ed 3]

Has anyone had a recent interview for an immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy in Manila lately?  How long did it take to get an interview?  Any idea what the backlog is?  I’m checking for the daughter of a close friend.  She’s in the B2A category. I think she has been waiting for an interview since mid-June but I know there is a long wait. 

[nelmagriffin 148]

Hello!

I am not so sure if this is updated, i just looked at this page.it says the waiting time is 133 days. it might be more.

reference: Visa Appointment Wait Times (state.gov)

[nelmagriffin 148]

Hello again.

Here is the latest update for nonimmigrant applicants, dated October 17, 2022.

reference: VISA UPDATE: NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPOINTMENTS - U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (usembassy.gov)

OCTOBER 17, 2022

 

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines is increasing the number of routine visa appointments in all nonimmigrant visa classes starting in October 2022.  If you paid a visa application fee but have been unable to schedule an appointment or have an appointment many months from now, you now have an opportunity to schedule or move up your appointment.  If you made your visa (MRV) fee payment prior to October 1, 2022, you must schedule your visa appointment or submit an interview waiver application before September 30, 2023.

• Appointment Scheduling: To schedule or reschedule a visa interview appointment, go to our online appointment system at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-visaapply.asp .  There is no fee to change an appointment, but you can only reschedule up to four times.  If you have difficulties rescheduling a pending appointment, you may send an email to support-philippines@ustraveldocs.com or call (+632) 7792-8988 or (+632) 8548-8223 for specific guidance.
• Expedited Appointment Requests: While we have decreased wait times for all visa classes, business/tourism (B1/B2) visa wait times are still longer than the pre-pandemic norm.  If you have emergency travel needs, please follow our guidance for requesting an expedited appointment before submitting your request via our website at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-expeditedappointment.asp . Please note that you must book or already have a regular appointment through our appointment system before requesting an expedited appointment.  Previous and/or current interview waiver applicants are not qualified to submit expedited appointment requests.
• Interview Waiver:  We continue to process renewals of business/tourism (B1/B2) visas for applicants eligible to have their interview waived as well as offer biometrics-only (fingerprint) appointments for applicants who received their last visa prior to age 14.  To renew your visa through the interview waiver program, go to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-visarenew.asp .  The program includes  H, L, O, P, and Q employment visas , and seafarer/airline crew visa reissuance.
• Group Appointments: If you are a group of five or more applicants, such as a sports team, school group, or service organization, traveling as a group for competition or events and are applying for the same purpose of travel or visa classification, you are encouraged to apply together for a group appointment. Please note that family groups are not eligible for group appointments.  To learn how to apply as a group, go to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-svc-groupappointment.asp .
• Priority Interview Program: If you are an established business in the Philippines with strong business ties to the United States and regularly send your employees to the United States for business activities, you can learn more about joining our Priority Interview Program at https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-svc-businessvisaprogram.asp .

[Grandpa Ed 3]

Thank you for this. It is good to know these wait times are posted. These wait times are for non immigrant visas.  I wonder if there are comparable data anywhere for immigrant visas.