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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on February 24, 2021: |
Mark Fitzgerald
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
We requested an expedited visa interview and it was approved on November 14, 2020. In the email they their was a link to the process of what we needed to do next. In the process it stated that we needed to wait for an email from the US Embassy in Manila with the interview date. It also stated that we would have to schedule the Medical Exam at St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic "after" we receive the interview letter. It stated that we would need the interview letter in order to schedule the Medical Exam. We waited 2 months or so and did not hear anything from the Embassy about my wife's interview date. After looking on the VisaJourney timelines, I was noticing that some people were getting interview dates that had applied after us. It seemed some people were jumping ahead of us. So, I did some research on the US Embassy website and found contact information for the embassy in Manila. I decided to take a chance and send an email to the embassy asking about our status. I thought it would be a long shot since I thought they would be too busy to reply to my email Well, I was wrong and very pleasantly surprised. They replied the very next day. I have to say that I would give them a great review on replying to my email right away. In their email reply, they said that if we intended to continue the process of getting my wife her immigrant visa, we would have to schedule the Medical Exam first before they would schedule and interview appointment. Their answer went against what they have posted on their website and the letter that the NVC had sent me. I was a little confused and upset. I felt like were stuck in a circle. If I had not sent an email to the Embassy, would we ever have gotten an interview appointment. I also was worried about not having the interview email to take to the Medical Exam. I replied back to the embassy stating that we were under the impression that we needed to wait for the interview appointment date letter to schedule the Medical Exam. Once again, they were very quick with their reply. In the reply, they stated again what was in the previous email from the embassy stating that in order to proceed with the visa process and the interview appointment, we would need to do the Medical Exam and then email them back saying the Medical Exam had been completed and she was cleared to travel. Well, I am no dummy and I can take a strong hint, so we scheduled her Medical Exam and she was cleared to travel. I went another email back to the embassy stating the Exam was completed and she was cleared. St. Luke's sent her Medical Exam packet directly to the embassy. 3 business days later, we received the Official Interview appointment email. Her interview is scheduled for March 29, 2021. So the interview appointment letter was not needed for the medical exam. We just showed them the email from the embassy stating that we needed to complete the Medical Exam in order to proceed with the interview appointment. So glad that I sent an email to the embassy in Manila, even though I thought it was a long shot. I was very happy though, that they replied right away. So, if any of you have any concerns, you should email the Embassy in Manila. Their contact information is on their website. I am guessing that the pandemic has messed up the process. Good luck to you all. I will give an update when the interview is finished
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #29206