Anyone "recently" pickup their Visa from USEM??

[~Johnny~ 27]

Hi, I searched and it seems the answer is up and down (2-20 days) depending on dates and of course luck. My fiancee read somewhere that if she stayed in Manila, the Visa could be delivered in 2-3 days. It was always my understanding that you should allow at least a week for USEM/Air21 to deliver your Visa. The USEM website says 7 business from interview. I may be able to get away from my job for about a week to be in Manila during/after interview and if approved, she wants to come back with me to the US. The orginal plan was for her to go to Manila for the interview then back to Cebu and wait for visa, and then I go to Cebu and bring her back to the US.

Has anyone recently picked-up their Visa from the USEM after their interview?

If so, did you just ask the CO? Some people said you need a Visa pickup letter?

How long did it take for the Visa to be ready to pickup??? They called you??

Also, did anyone stay in Manila after their interview and had the Visa delivered to their hotel? How long the wait for that?

Thanks a bunch!!

Johnny

Edited March 2, 2010 by duplantisjj

[mrsean 4]

we had are visa delivered to our hotel [cherry blossoms hotel] next to robinson mall in three days, after interview u tell air 21 that your staying at hotel and give them the hotel address and they deliver it there,close to the embassy

[Princess_Maricar 0]

Hi,

am also waiting for my visa arrive.Just pass my interview march 3 and the air 21 text me that my visa is on their cargo.I think they will send it to the hotel where u stay at.Try to call the air21.

[~Johnny~ 27]

Hi,

am also waiting for my visa arrive.Just pass my interview march 3 and the air 21 text me that my visa is on their cargo.I think they will send it to the hotel where u stay at.Try to call the air21.

Congrats on passing interview! Please let me know how long you have to wait before they deliver your visa. Sounds like air 21 already have it today, which is really fast processing!

[Matt & Bing 56]

Hi, I searched and it seems the answer is up and down (2-20 days) depending on dates and of course luck. My fiancee read somewhere that if she stayed in Manila, the Visa could be delivered in 2-3 days. It was always my understanding that you should allow at least a week for USEM/Air21 to deliver your Visa. The USEM website says 7 business from interview. I may be able to get away from my job for about a week to be in Manila during/after interview and if approved, she wants to come back with me to the US. The orginal plan was for her to go to Manila for the interview then back to Cebu and wait for visa, and then I go to Cebu and bring her back to the US.

Has anyone recently picked-up their Visa from the USEM after their interview?

If so, did you just ask the CO? Some people said you need a Visa pickup letter?

How long did it take for the Visa to be ready to pickup??? They called you??

Also, did anyone stay in Manila after their interview and had the Visa delivered to their hotel? How long the wait for that?

Thanks a bunch!!

Johnny

This is not recent (July 2009) but we picked up our visa 2 days after the interview. They called the day after the interview and said we could pick it up the next day. You just ask the CO if you can pick it up - You could have a written request I guess. I (the petitioner) was at the interview and said that we wanted to fly back to the US together and wanted to pick up the visa and the CO said no problem.

[lbounds 16]

I had the same question. I only have 2 weeks when my time comes to take her to medical, complete interview, get visa and come back. The most I can take off of work is 2 weeks.

If anyone else has had it delivered to hotel or directly picked up I'd like to hear your experiences. That sure would take some concerns away. I want enough time to take her to medical, interview and get visa to fly back together.

Thanks for additional info or comments on this

[roseTX 0]

i was able to pick up the visa of my daughter at USEM. after the interview i ask the consul if i can pick up the visa, the consul ask why, i said me and my daughter had already a ticket going to US of A, and i show them our electronic ticket, the consul said, ok, you can pick it up, then she put a sticker on the documents visa to be pick up and she said congrats, someone will instruct you on how you will pick the visa,, after a while i was called in window 37, the woman said there we will call you after 2 days, so you can pick the visa of your daughter. the interview of my daughter is tuesday and USEM called me thursday.

[~Johnny~ 27]

Thanks to all who replied.

So, let's see.... As I been reading every post I can find on this topic. It seems there's a lady CO that gives folks hard times about picking up their Visas, it seems there's a male CO that asks no questions and gives out the purple sticker just by asking him for it...

Seems if you have already purchased air tickets in advance, you have a better chance of picking up the Visa sooner because you have a reason to need the Visa sooner if asked for a reason, but that could also backfire if you get a CO that's having a bad day and denies your pickup request. I have read about people writing letters but no one seems to have been required to use them. What would this letter say...One sentence?? Most granted requests for pickup have been verbal requests, with some producing air tickets as their reasons for requiring pickup.

So, it would seem likely that if you get interview appointment on say a Monday/Tuesday, you could schedule a Saturday flight back to the states. And have a fairly decent shot of getting your Visa in hand for the trip home. IF all the cards play out correctly.... Of course this all "assuming" you pass the interview...

Edited March 5, 2010 by duplantisjj

[Matt & Bing 56]

So, it would seem likely that if you get interview appointment on say a Monday/Tuesday, you could schedule a Saturday flight back to the states. And have a fairly decent shot of getting your Visa in hand for the trip home. IF all the cards play out correctly.... Of course this all "assuming" you pass the interview...

Your chances of this plan working would likely increase greatly if the petitioner attends the interview. I was not sure if you are planning on attending.

[~Johnny~ 27]

Your chances of this plan working would likely increase greatly if the petitioner attends the interview. I was not sure if you are planning on attending.

Yeah, my plan was to go out to Manila to meet her the week of the interview. But I can only get a week off from work, so that's why I'm asking if the Visa can be picked up sooner.

[Calypso 465]

Thanks to all who replied.

So, let's see.... As I been reading every post I can find on this topic. It seems there's a lady CO that gives folks hard times about picking up their Visas, it seems there's a male CO that asks no questions and gives out the purple sticker just by asking him for it...

Seems if you have already purchased air tickets in advance, you have a better chance of picking up the Visa sooner because you have a reason to need the Visa sooner if asked for a reason, but that could also backfire if you get a CO that's having a bad day and denies your pickup request. I have read about people writing letters but no one seems to have been required to use them. What would this letter say...One sentence?? Most granted requests for pickup have been verbal requests, with some producing air tickets as their reasons for requiring pickup.

So, it would seem likely that if you get interview appointment on say a Monday/Tuesday, you could schedule a Saturday flight back to the states. And have a fairly decent shot of getting your Visa in hand for the trip home. IF all the cards play out correctly.... Of course this all "assuming" you pass the interview...

I went to my interview alone because my then fiance (now husband) had to fly to New York from L.A. to attend his sister's wedding. After the female CO who interviewed me said "congratulations," I asked her if I could pick up my visa. That female CO is not Caucasian.

She replied, "Sure. We'll give you a ring once your visa is ready." No questions why from her, she didn't scrutinize. I had the feeling that she was either in a pleasant mood or that she was just glad that I gave her a good laugh because of my answers during the interview.

I threw another question, "Is there any specific date for that?"

She answered no and that I should just wait for their call.

I went to Window 37 and the guy gave me the pink card-like sheet that serves as my authorization to pick up the visa. I left my contact numbers.

I had my interview on October 20 last year. I picked up my visa on October 27 because they contacted me only on October 26. On the very same day that I picked up my visa, I went to CFO for my sticker, had my ticket printed in Century Plaza Hotel, and boarded the plane to HKG at past 5 p.m. I arrived at LAX on October 27 at almost 9 p.m.

BTW, I come from Cebu, the Queen City of the South.

Arbind did inquire why it took them so long to release my visa when others in the past got theirs fast. The Embassy said that it all depends on how many visas they had to print for pick up and how many are not. That means it varies from one period to another. I had a friend from Cebu who took her interview on the same date as mine. She got her visa on October 24 through Air21.

I suggest that you weigh things out. Picking up the visa isn't a guarantee that you will have it quicker than relying on Air21. It's up to you really.

[LeoLaLit 2]

I went to my interview alone because my then fiance (now husband) had to fly to New York from L.A. to attend his sister's wedding. After the female CO who interviewed me said "congratulations," I asked her if I could pick up my visa. That female CO is not Caucasian.

She replied, "Sure. We'll give you a ring once your visa is ready." No questions why from her, she didn't scrutinize. I had the feeling that she was either in a pleasant mood or that she was just glad that I gave her a good laugh because of my answers during the interview.

I threw another question, "Is there any specific date for that?"

She answered no and that I should just wait for their call.

I went to Window 37 and the guy gave me the pink card-like sheet that serves as my authorization to pick up the visa. I left my contact numbers.

I had my interview on October 20 last year. I picked up my visa on October 27 because they contacted me only on October 26. On the very same day that I picked up my visa, I went to CFO for my sticker, had my ticket printed in Century Plaza Hotel, and boarded the plane to HKG at past 5 p.m. I arrived at LAX on October 27 at almost 9 p.m.

BTW, I come from Cebu, the Queen City of the South.

Arbind did inquire why it took them so long to release my visa when others in the past got theirs fast. The Embassy said that it all depends on how many visas they had to print for pick up and how many are not. That means it varies from one period to another. I had a friend from Cebu who took her interview on the same date as mine. She got her visa on October 24 through Air21.

I suggest that you weigh things out. Picking up the visa isn't a guarantee that you will have it quicker than relying on Air21. It's up to you really.

Great information. Thanks for sharing your experience. My fiancee's interview will be next week, March 15. I will be attending the interview and will be requesting to pick-up the visa as we plan to fly back to the US together on March 25 or depending on flight availabilty.

God Bless!