Consulate Review: Manila, Philippines
Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
August 9, 2014 |
| Embassy Review : |
What a journey.
No, not the Lea Salonga song.
We live down here in Mindanao, Gingoog city. that's between CDO, and Butuan.
Filed our petition on April 21, was relatively painless, had an appointment, so no waiting. Gave all the requirements, and went to pay at the cashier, but the credit card processing was not working for some reason. Had to go out and get the cash to pay. Got back, payed, and was given the standard 30-90 days speech, then we went back to the hotel.
Emailed and called a couple times, and got an email on the 28th saying the petition was approved on the 25th.
After calling about a dozen times and not being able to get through, I decided to just wait for the emails I sent to come back with a reply. on the 29th we got an email with packet 3, and our case number, yippee, party time. Almost a week later i got a reply to the emails i sent.
Waited for the updated passport to come from DFA, had it renewed in her married name. once that came, we filled out the ds260, and did the pre-registration for St. Lukes. Now we just needed to wait for our situation to be right.
Fast forward to July- time is right now. So we booked a flight to manila, and booked a hotel, without an interview appointment yet. this is when it was slim pickings for interview dates. watched for a date to show up, and was able to grab a date a week after we were going to do the medical.  That was fortunate.
Went to do the medical at St. Lukes, was a long day of waiting. and the paranoia of the x-ray. Went the next morning to find out our fate, tears of joy, immunization. Got the shots, 2 of them. Now we wait till the interview.
Enter Glenda. So glad we were scheduled on the 17th, and not the 16th, embassy was closed on the 16th for Glenda to blow through. was expecting a package from fed-ex though, did not make it there on the 16th, and that means we did not have the cosponsor packet for our interview. darn. expecting 221g already. 
Interview day. Its here, finally. We have everything we need with the exception of the cosponsor packet. (darn you Glenda) Oh well, do what we can, and get it to them as soon as it gets here.
Got to the embassy about 5:45 or so, long lines. waited for the gates to be opened, and made our way inside. watching for our number, and we get called to the pre-interview, a filipina. asks my wife some questions, and asks for our documents. Wife got a little flustered, but refocused, and made it through the interview ok. Sat down, waited. Next we were called to biometrics, fingerprints. Had a quick chat with the american guy there about the cold weather in Illinois. Making the wife nervous about winter now. Waited again. Time came for the final interview. Both went up to the window, and had our introductions, I was asked to have a seat, and the CO talked to the wife. Standard questions, how we met, where, how long till I came back to the Philippines after I left the first time, easy stuff. Found out that we had an issue with the NBI. Had her married name, and maiden name, (abc, acd) but they wanted to see her complete name on there as well (abcd). then i was called back. Asked about why I had not filed my taxes yet. and informed that we did not meet the i-864 requirements for income, yeah, we know. Mentioned that the cosponsor packet was in route. He said that would be fine, to send it in via 2go when it comes. Told to wait for the 221g at the last window, and other than the cosponsor packet, NBI, and letter explaining why I had not filed my taxes, we were good to go.
Sat down to wait, and were called back to the interview window. He forgot to get her prints.
Got our 221g, and then went back to the hotel. Got the NBI started that afternoon, was going to take a week. Next day went to the main NBI office to get it taken care of, lady on the 4th floor took care of the issue, and told us to come back that afternoon to get it, they could not print it out right away due to the power being out. fed-ex showed up that evening, and I had my mom scan some papers that I forgot to mention she needed to include. Got that email on Saturday, and took everything to 2go at Robinsons. Was told that it would be delivered Monday.
Tracking for the 221g package showed up monday, and showed delivered. Sent email making sure it got there.
Then the huge computer crash. Got an email back saying the documents were received, and that the case was referred to a consular officer. Now we wait.
And wait and wait. Checking twice a day or more to see if the status is updated, or the date, anything. Sending emails.
Checked the status last night before bed, expecting nothing, and what a shock.
Status updated to ISSUED on 8-8-2014. PARTY. Did not sleep. :D
Now we just wait for delivery. Planning on getting outta here the last week of the month.
What a roller coaster ride. But worth it to be together. |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0