Tips for getting and Interview Appointment "no slots available"

[JDK5130 2]

Hello, when I first scheduled the biometrics and interview they were available immediately after the completion of the ustraveldocs application. I did not have to do anything else. However I had to cancel the interview, but everything else is done. I now have to schedule a new interview.

 

• Does anyone have any tips of when the best time to log in for open slots?
• I think the old website only allowed 3 logins per day?
• Does anyone know if my logins are limited on the new site?
• I have been told that the embassy just randomly opens new slots?
• Is there a certain of the week or time of day that is better to be checking?
• Has anyone have experience scheduling the interview on the website after cancelling? Or any experience at all for that matter?

 

Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

 

JDK

 

[SL2024 84]

1 hour ago, JDK5130 said:

Hello, when I first scheduled the biometrics and interview they were available immediately after the completion of the ustraveldocs application. I did not have to do anything else. However I had to cancel the interview, but everything else is done. I now have to schedule a new interview.

 

• Does anyone have any tips of when the best time to log in for open slots?
• I think the old website only allowed 3 logins per day?
• Does anyone know if my logins are limited on the new site?
• I have been told that the embassy just randomly opens new slots?
• Is there a certain of the week or time of day that is better to be checking?
• Has anyone have experience scheduling the interview on the website after cancelling? Or any experience at all for that matter?

 

Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

 

JDK

 

 

I rescheduled my original interview although that was in the UK but I just kept checking everyday (usually once in the morning and once afternoon) for an alternative date and time that was suitable for me to become available. I only checked 2-3 times a day as I did read online that sometimes only a certain amount of logins were allowed but I don't know how accurate that is. 

[RufusDawes 13]

Yes the new website still has a 3 login limit per day, I have seen others in the chat groups get locked for 24 hours.  Also there appears to be a limit on how many times you can refresh the webpage while you are logged in.

The old website was great, very easy to have several accounts to check for openings right when you login, and avoid the daily login limit... the new website has eliminated all these loop holes and now you can only access the appointments page if you're status is "ready" and you have paid the visa fee.  This will eliminate all the booking services and their traffic, and should make it easier to access the website.  I'm waiting for "received" status so I am right behind you.  

FWIW, when I was "playing" on the old website slots seem to open up most from 7am-10am Manila time during the days USEM was open.

Edited 22 hours ago by RufusDawes

[spicynujac 36]

We've found midnight Philippines time is the best time to schedule (it's worked 3 different times when there was nothing available at other times).

Don't beat yourself up logging in multiple times per day.  There are either free spots or there aren't.  We checked once per day, waiting on them to open up March spots (February has been available but we wanted better scheduling with back-to-back biometrics and interview, while the February calendar didn't allow that.  And March spots became available today.  It's really annoying that they won't show you the more rare interview spots until after you already book the biometric time.  Because this often leads you with huge gaps between them which I'm sure leads to a lot of cancellations like we did.  And let me just add that forcing you to go to two different places on 2 different days is NOT helping (they sold the second facility as something to make the process go smoother lol)

 

FYI We were just able to schedule for March a few hours ago (Midnight / morning of Jan 16th).

Yes we have scheduled after cancelling.  The site is very confusing but I believe you have to "CLOSE" your application, and then it gives you a scary message that kind of sounds like you are cancelling the whole visa process but you are supposed to answer yes and then you start over again.  You have to re-enter a lot of your info like passport #, address to mail passport, etc. but it saved some of the info and then takes you to the scheduling screen.  Or if you haven't yet cancelled your dates you may be able to select "reschedule" instead of "close" and then "start new."  Then it is sort of Russian Roulette--sometimes it will allow you to complete the process after showing you the calendar of dates, other times it looks like you have picked a slot and then it pops up a window "you are not allowed to schedule now."  Haha it's truly a ridiculous site. 

 

By the way I should probably post a new question but is doing the medical exam on day 1, interview on day 2 ok or do you need to allow more time?  (Biometrics is on Monday AM, Medical exam Monday PM, Interview Tuesday AM).  I think my spouse will need some vaccines as she can't find a vaccine card for anything other than Covid-19 so from what I've read that means you need to come back the following day for vaccines, so can that be done after the embassy interview or do you have to have all the medical checks done first?  Hoping to avoid having to stay over a weekend but will do that if it's needed.

 

[top_secret 2,491]

34 minutes ago, spicynujac said:

By the way I should probably post a new question but is doing the medical exam on day 1, interview on day 2 ok or do you need to allow more time?  (Biometrics is on Monday AM, Medical exam Monday PM, Interview Tuesday AM).  I think my spouse will need some vaccines as she can't find a vaccine card for anything other than Covid-19 so from what I've read that means you need to come back the following day for vaccines, so can that be done after the embassy interview or do you have to have all the medical checks done first?  Hoping to avoid having to stay over a weekend but will do that if it's needed.

 

 

I wouldn't try it that close.  Staying over the weekend sounds like its almost certainly required.  It is 'almost' always two days minimum.  Under the new policy the embassy might still let her complete her interview but give her a 221g for incomplete medical and that could cause a significant delay in the visa being issued.

[Edward and Jaycel 432]

4 hours ago, spicynujac said:

By the way I should probably post a new question but is doing the medical exam on day 1, interview on day 2 ok or do you need to allow more time?  (Biometrics is on Monday AM, Medical exam Monday PM, Interview Tuesday AM).  I think my spouse will need some vaccines as she can't find a vaccine card for anything other than Covid-19 so from what I've read that means you need to come back the following day for vaccines, so can that be done after the embassy interview or do you have to have all the medical checks done first?  Hoping to avoid having to stay over a weekend but will do that if it's needed.

 

The medical exam at St. Luke's in Manila is usually done over the course of 2 days and you need to complete it before the interview unless you want a 221g refusal and have to wait for the medical to be sent. It's highly recommended that you do it at least 1 week before the interview

[spicynujac 36]

Thanks all. We decided to just do 2 separate trips to Manila.  With the insanely cheap airfares from Cebu to Manila ($64 round trip and even lower if we had planned more in advance), it's cheaper to do 2 trips there instead of spending a weekend in a hotel room waiting for the medical results to be issued.  So we will have the medical tests done several weeks before the interview, and then she can focus on just doing the interview and maybe some sightseeing and celebration in Manila on the second trip (she is excited and has never been to Manila before--at least the Embassy is by Rizal Park with a lot of museums and attractions--I don't care for Manila one iota personally).  I told her she could have the gross sugary Jollibee spaghetti that's right there in the park haha.  Hard to believe we are this close! 

 

And also hard to believe St Lukes charges a tarsier hair's shy of $500 for a flippin medical exam!  I thought US medical costs were insane!  That's a very significant component of the whole visa cost (which I've been tabulating: FYI $1469 in fees only, excluding travel or costs obtaining documents, and I believe there is one final green card type payment (USCIS Immigrant Fee of $220?) to go.  So any new applicants count on about $1,700 as a starting point for what you will have to cough up going forward.  Thankfully my tax preparer called today and I should get at least that much back in a tax refund from filing an amended married joint return last year!  Another big benefit of the IR1 visa IMHO.

 

I honestly cannot see how someone could complete this process alone without the fantastic (not to mention prompt) help from the VJ community.  I suppose I still could have done it but it may have taken an extra year and duplicative trips and hundreds more $$ as I figured things out on my own because the official instructions and documentation for the process are abysmally poor (and in some cases nonexistent!).  Thanks to all, especially those who have successfully made it through and stick around to help others !!!  Blessings on you all.

[Edward and Jaycel 432]

So glad you guys are close to the end of this part of the journey!!