No More Slots until May?

[GeekyGuy 0]

First, if this isn't the proper forum, please feel free to move this topic.

My fiancee is from the Philippines. We applied for the K-1 visa on 8/27/10 and received our NOA2 on 2/8. I called the NVC a week ago and found out that they had received our case on 2/16 and shipped it to the U.S. Embassy in Manila on 2/18.

However, I (this is Mark, I'm the petitioner) haven't received any notice from the Embassy, which I thought was kind of strange (especially since it's been almost 2.5 weeks), but I read on the American embassy's website that the visa unit got moved to a new building (bigger and better digs, I'm told), and they're closed until this Wednesday.

However, one of my fiancee's friends recently applied for a tourist visa and was told that for the months for March and April, there is no available time slot for an interview. Would this mean interview slots for all visas, or just slots for tourist visas?

Argh...we thought, from reading the guides here, that the visa process moves much faster once our case got transferred to the Dept. of State. Is this no longer true?

[iampatricias 17]

This isn't directly related, and it won't offer much consolation, but I'm interviewing in Montreal, and interviews are booking on June 22nd these days

I've seen elsewhere on this site that the Manila fiance/spouse interviews are full for March and another person was wondering why they couldn't see the April availabilities.

You might want to start reading through the Regional forums to see what the Manila folks are expecting in terms of timing and paperwork.

[crystal01 29]

Time slots are different for tourist and k1 visas Last I saw here, March slots are being filled up so just keep on checking the website to schedule or calling the embassy to see if April slots are already available

[Theresa0828 65]

Just be on the lookout... Tourist visas are different from K-1 visas schedule... I am sure they will open up April schedules soon, If Manila received your case February 18, 2011, i am sure its in the system already... Why don't you ask your fiancee to call the call center at (02) 902-8930 or (02) 982-5555, or you can call (214) 571-1600. The call center is open from Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Manila time

[Kevz 2]

You DON'T need to wait on the embassy. If you have the info from the NVC (the MNL number) your fiancée can pay the fee at BDO. Once that is paid, you can schedule the interview online here (use the k-visa appointment scheduling link):

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ScheduleanAppointment.html

For more info, read this thread, it really helped me:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/293624-after-noa2-detailed-summary/

Kevin

First, if this isn't the proper forum, please feel free to move this topic.

My fiancee is from the Philippines. We applied for the K-1 visa on 8/27/10 and received our NOA2 on 2/8. I called the NVC a week ago and found out that they had received our case on 2/16 and shipped it to the U.S. Embassy in Manila on 2/18.

However, I (this is Mark, I'm the petitioner) haven't received any notice from the Embassy, which I thought was kind of strange (especially since it's been almost 2.5 weeks), but I read on the American embassy's website that the visa unit got moved to a new building (bigger and better digs, I'm told), and they're closed until this Wednesday.

However, one of my fiancee's friends recently applied for a tourist visa and was told that for the months for March and April, there is no available time slot for an interview. Would this mean interview slots for all visas, or just slots for tourist visas?

Argh...we thought, from reading the guides here, that the visa process moves much faster once our case got transferred to the Dept. of State. Is this no longer true?

[dragonlover 6]

First, if this isn't the proper forum, please feel free to move this topic.

My fiancee is from the Philippines. We applied for the K-1 visa on 8/27/10 and received our NOA2 on 2/8. I called the NVC a week ago and found out that they had received our case on 2/16 and shipped it to the U.S. Embassy in Manila on 2/18.

However, I (this is Mark, I'm the petitioner) haven't received any notice from the Embassy, which I thought was kind of strange (especially since it's been almost 2.5 weeks), but I read on the American embassy's website that the visa unit got moved to a new building (bigger and better digs, I'm told), and they're closed until this Wednesday.

However, one of my fiancee's friends recently applied for a tourist visa and was told that for the months for March and April, there is no available time slot for an interview. Would this mean interview slots for all visas, or just slots for tourist visas?

Argh...we thought, from reading the guides here, that the visa process moves much faster once our case got transferred to the Dept. of State. Is this no longer true?

Yes i think thats only particular to Tourist visa.

[dragonlover 6]

You DON'T need to wait on the embassy. If you have the info from the NVC (the MNL number) your fiancée can pay the fee at BDO. Once that is paid, you can schedule the interview online here (use the k-visa appointment scheduling link):

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you sure about this Kevz???? The embassy is closed. And not unless the embassy put your case in the system, your MNL case number will appear invalid if you try to get appointment online.

I know you are trying to help but sometimes you have to know the facts. Thanks!

Edited March 8, 2011 by dragonlover

[dragonlover 6]

You DON'T need to wait on the embassy. If you have the info from the NVC (the MNL number) your fiancée can pay the fee at BDO. Once that is paid, you can schedule the interview online here (use the k-visa appointment scheduling link):

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you sure about this Kevz???? The embassy is closed. And not unless the embassy put your case in the system, your MNL case number will appear invalid if you try to get appointment online.

I know you are u are trying to help but sometimes you have to know the facts. Thanks!

[Maganda 1]

You DON'T need to wait on the embassy. If you have the info from the NVC (the MNL number) your fiancée can pay the fee at BDO. Once that is paid, you can schedule the interview online here (use the k-visa appointment scheduling link):

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ScheduleanAppointment.html

For more info, read this thread, it really helped me:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/293624-after-noa2-detailed-summary/

Kevin

its BPI now not BDO..And as of today,March 8, the online appointment shows April 5 onward slots are already open..

[Kevz 2]

You DON'T need to wait on the embassy. If you have the info from the NVC (the MNL number) your fiancée can pay the fee at BDO. Once that is paid, you can schedule the interview online here (use the k-visa appointment scheduling link):

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you sure about this Kevz???? The embassy is closed. And not unless the embassy put your case in the system, your MNL case number will appear invalid if you try to get appointment online.

I know you are trying to help but sometimes you have to know the facts. Thanks!

You are absolutely right that if the case is not in the system OR the OP enters the incorrect date for paying the visa fee, they will get the response that the case number is invalid.

The only way to be CERTAIN is for the OP to go online after paying the fee. OP stated that NVC shipped out his packet on 2/18. Mine was shipped out 2/8 and I was able to schedule the interview on 2/17. And Jessa (my fiancee) has YET to receive notice from the embassy that her case is now there!

If the OP pays the visa fee as explained nicely in the post I linked before, they will be able to try to schedule an appointment. When the embassy has entered the information in the system he will be able to complete the interview scheduling. MUCH better, IMO, to do it this way than to wait for something that may take more time to come OR never come!!

BTW, the fact that the embassy is currently closed has no impact on being able to schedule an interview using the online tool. The only requirement is, as you stated and I assumed, is that the case has been entered into their system. My assumption was made based on comparing our timelines.

[Kevz 2]

its BPI now not BDO..And as of today,March 8, the online appointment shows April 5 onward slots are already open..

Thanks for catching that mistake, Maganda. Fortunately the link I supplied to the detailed summary by Faith and Andz was correct

There are a number of excellent summaries in the archives here. They have helped us enormously! The one I mentioned above for "what to do after NOA2", another for what do expect at the medical (that one is pinned in the forum), and others.....

I also suggest that once you schedule your interview you go back and check occasionally for another date. When I scheduled Jessa's interview the earliest date was March 25th. But checking every other day or so I was able to move it so that it is now on March 14th. That is important to me because it means we will be together 11 days sooner now

Kevin

[Maganda 1]

Thanks for catching that mistake, Maganda. Fortunately the link I supplied to the detailed summary by Faith and Andz was correct

There are a number of excellent summaries in the archives here. They have helped us enormously! The one I mentioned above for "what to do after NOA2", another for what do expect at the medical (that one is pinned in the forum), and others.....

I also suggest that once you schedule your interview you go back and check occasionally for another date. When I scheduled Jessa's interview the earliest date was March 25th. But checking every other day or so I was able to move it so that it is now on March 14th. That is important to me because it means we will be together 11 days sooner now

Kevin

thanks for the suggestion..I will pay my visa tomorrow and i will get the earliest april date.But i will do what u said as i would like to catch the march interview..

[Tahoma 2,292]

Good luck with your interviews everyone!

[brownskinned 5]

That happened to me too. If I hadn't called their hotline (coz I was waiting for any instructions from them which never came),I wouldnt have been able to schedule an interview.

[chrisana 0]

You are absolutely right that if the case is not in the system OR the OP enters the incorrect date for paying the visa fee, they will get the response that the case number is invalid.

The only way to be CERTAIN is for the OP to go online after paying the fee. OP stated that NVC shipped out his packet on 2/18. Mine was shipped out 2/8 and I was able to schedule the interview on 2/17. And Jessa (my fiancee) has YET to receive notice from the embassy that her case is now there!

If the OP pays the visa fee as explained nicely in the post I linked before, they will be able to try to schedule an appointment. When the embassy has entered the information in the system he will be able to complete the interview scheduling. MUCH better, IMO, to do it this way than to wait for something that may take more time to come OR never come!!

BTW, the fact that the embassy is currently closed has no impact on being able to schedule an interview using the online tool. The only requirement is, as you stated and I assumed, is that the case has been entered into their system. My assumption was made based on comparing our timelines.

Our case was shipped on 2/24 and as of today 3/17 we are still not in the system. I just got off the phone from with the call center in the U.S. and they told me that the case numbers are entered at the discression of the embassy. Does anybody know how I can get them to enter the case number? We paid the visa fee yesterday and the call center said it still wasn't validated yet. I chatted with the online help and talked to an operator and both said I had to wait on the letter of authorization from the embassy. This letter as I've read on line here may or maynot ever show up. I see from an earlier post that another person called the embassy at 02-301-2000 and got them to enter the case number for them. Any other suggestions or does anybody know how long it is taking now to enter the case numbers?