Hope this has NEVER happened to anyone, or will ever happen.

On 5 May, 2005, my wife, Hossana, finally received the Packet letting her know the dates and times for her medical and interview, along with the rest of the required info. Now for the SAD part. Her medical was for 20 April, 2005 and her Interview for 27 April, 2005 at 0830.

Due to the fact of a serious time difference, and little shock involved, it took me about 2 hours to get in motion and drop an email to the embassy in Manila asking questions. The next morning I contacted the National Center here and was told it was all in the hands of Manila concerning this. Comes Sunday night around 1900 here in Texas I'm busy trying to get through to an actual human over there.

almost 2 hours later I FINALLY manage to get hold of someone in Immigrant Visa Processing only to run into someone who REALLY had no idea how to answer my questions. 15 minutes of asking the same questions over and over about what takes 2 months for a courier to deliver a packet from Roxas Blvd to Caloocan City I finally get transferred to the Operations arm of this mess.

All I could be told is they would be asking quesitions of the courier service as to what happened. Nice to know my wife will get to wait until June to have a chance at her interview again, 2 months AFTER the fact. Along the way I asked if I needed to actually fly back to the Philippines from Texas to ensure the information was delivered to my wife. The brought a quick reponse of no I didn't need to.

Delbros Supply Chain Solutions
phone # 632-521-1652/632-521-1641 were both found to be not working when both my wife and myself attempted to call them and ask questions. So, GO FIGURE on that direction

The packet was shipped to the courier on 10 March, 2005. They showed it as being sent out by courier on 11 April, 2005. Actual delivery was 5 May, 2005.

Moral of this, check up on EVERY single aspect of the process at least once a week along the way. Bug the HELL out of people in a polite fashion or you might actally do what I did, call overseas and ask question well after the fact and then turn around and also ask direction questions of the US State Department and anyone else in Congress.

I do not enjoy seeing my pregnant wife become so upset after being on top of the world with that beign delivered to her.

that's just terrible. At least June isn't too far away, but I would cry too if I received that package.

so sad and even more fustrating...glad to hear for June though.. It hurts hearing of these seemingly unavoidable delays! The best to you both and your child on the way!

I'm sorry to hear this happened. Good luck to you and your wife.

Sorry to hear about the mixup and delay. June is not that far away and hope the remainder of your journey goes smoothly.

Mary

I really don't like Delbros as a delivery service. Our packet never arrived -- ever. We had the consulate send a duplicate packet to St Luke's Medical Center and picked it up there. There seems to be many posts here regarding those who never got their packet or got them very late. I guess the lesson is to not count on Delbros... keep checking the interview dates on the Manila consulate website and if you don't get the packet, contact the consulate to forward a duplicate packet to St Luke's.

Seems the embassy is now telling my wife the interview is for her K3 and not the IR-1 that has been pushed by the powers that be here in the states. Time to dig out everything all over again

Nonie

I'm sorry to read of your troubles with all this. I am curious though!! On looking at your timeline it doesnt appear that the I-130 processed through NVC. That being the case it would be correct that the interview is for K-3. Can you shed some light on 'not the IR-1 that has been pushed by the powers that be here in the states'

Lorelle

All this started with the filing of the I-130 back on 2 May, 2005, didn't know I needed to file the I-129 until almost August. Started just trying to get a K3 for my wife but seems somewhere along the way the IR got started. There are two sets of numbers on her case which is weird, both start with MNL but take a different look after that

ughhh! stupid filipino time! trust me I'm also from the phils so i know that filipinos have this "filipino time mentality" (meaning "LATE") and Grrrrrr!!! I'm even planning to call st. lukes that i'd rather pick up my packet there instead of them delivering it to my house here in cebu. I can't risk the delays!

I totally undertand how you feel.

Lord, if they were two months late in delivering the Packet 4, to nearby Caloocan, I'd hate to think of that being worse.

We checked the website and it seems I should have pushed ALOT harder to get the name of the person in operations I talked with. Not to knock anyone but I've seen firsthand there in Manila what happens when you start being interested in giving a "gift" of around 1000+ peso to get things done with governmental employees

cant you get a copy of that packet three on line fromt he embassy and all that medical stuff you should be able to draw down off line if im correct..

Nonie, I am sorry to hear about the terrible delay of your wife's packet 3. Anything in the Philippines dealing with the government was very slow. People (emlpoyees) works like a turtle! It seems that they just get paid half of their salary. You are right the only thing you could speed up the processing to get your wife's visa is to give "cash gift" to someone who work at the Manila embassy. A lot of government employees are money hungry, I am soory to say this but it's true. Anyway, the very best thing you can do is to push hard on the Manila embassy employees. I just don't understand why the Manila embassy have the unreliable courier.

Hope your wife will get her interview date soon...


Princess

well, my wife was finally given a second interview date of 2 August, 2006 when 3 days later she received a package from the embassy at her work.

Seems that when she sent in an email asking for another interview she mentioned she was pregnant. When she faxed the medical reports she seems to have kicked something in motion. On 3 June she found out from that little package it was her Packet informing her that her new earlier date was 14 June for her medical and 21 June at 6:30am.

All of a sudden things had to kick into high gear and I had to ship her the information that was needed a little early. That God for scanners and email. She currently has all the info and will have the originals by FedEx no later than the 13th. seems the embassy is wanting St. Luke's to send them her info along with the medical.

This time around her Packet was delivered by DHL. Guess it pays to be friendly with a Representative who is willing to stick his nose into something like Delbros and their delivery practices. I asked him to see about getting Delbros revoked as the courier used by the US Embassy for anything. Only time will tell

This is rather interesting. Just got a call and letter from the office of Representative Lamar Smith of Texas.

Dear Mr. Darling,

Enclosed for your attention is the response that has been received from the U.S. Consulate in Manila.

I am hopeful that the information furnished will be of help to you.

Please feel free to call should you need my help in the future.


Sincerely,


Lamar Smith
Member of Congress

Copy of the reply to Mr. Smith

Text of Email received 6/7/06

Control No: XXXXX
Reference: DARLING, Hossana Espenili
Date: June 7, 2006

This is in reply to your inquiry of May 31, 2006, regarding the visa case of the referenced individual.

We noted your constituent's request and reschedulded the applicant for another visa interview on June 21, 2006. At that time, a consular officer will determine if the applicant is qualified for visa issuance.

On June 3, we mailed a K Packet (Instructions for K3 Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants) with further details regarding the interview and the required medical examination to the applicant's address of record at xxx xxxxxx xxxxx..............

If the applicant has not received the K Packet two weeks before the scheduled interview, she should contact the Embassy's Visa Call Center at telephone.....................

We understand that the applicant's I-130 immigrant visa case is with the State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) which schedules CR1 cases for us. NVC will forward the CR1 case to Embassy Manila as soon as an interview slot is available. We Will begin processing the case as soon as the visa petition is received from NVC.

If at any time during the K3 process we receive the applicant's I-130 visa petition from NVC, the applicant may choose to switch to CR1 processing rather than continue with her K3 application. As you may know, the CR1 visa would allow the applicant to immediately obtain permanent resident status upon entry to the United States.


I personally find it interesting that after making the request that Delbros be relieved of the duties concerned with the US Embassy they used DHL, who got it to her the next day. Oddly enough the Embassy never bothered sending any emails notifying of the change in dates.

Moral of this would be to contact a congressman or representative who seems to actually try at times and see what happens when a foreign embassy drops the ball.

Nightmare over.

23 June, 2006 my wife's visa was approved. She received her visa and passport on 28 June, 2006.