Advice for Manila applicants

[Nik.R.Sanderson 1]

Hi VJ'ers!

I had a battle with the NBI, but finally it's done!

as you know this process can be tedious when running around...but the sacrifice is so worth it.

I went to the NBI in TAFT.

make the effort to get there by 3:30-4am! and you'll be done by 9am!

same day service!

IF you have a very common name. it takes 10 working days.

that's better than some branches.

30 working days!

-the cloying part is they only tell you that they take a "decade" once you are done!

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!

XX Nik

[Hiker 9]

What is TAFT? My fiancee will have to get her NBI clearance soon, once we get NOA2. She's in Mindanao if that matters any.

Hi VJ'ers!

I had a battle with the NBI, but finally it's done!

as you know this process can be tedious when running around...but the sacrifice is so worth it.

I went to the NBI in TAFT.

make the effort to get there by 3:30-4am! and you'll be done by 9am!

same day service!

IF you have a very common name. it takes 10 working days.

that's better than some branches.

30 working days!

-the cloying part is they only tell you that they take a "decade" once you are done!

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!

XX Nik

[Dean_De 61]

What is TAFT? My fiancee will have to get her NBI clearance soon, once we get NOA2. She's in Mindanao if that matters any.

she still have a lot of time in hand..it better for her to apply for an nbi clearance if possible today.

[Tahoma 2,291]

Taft is a street in Manila where an NBI office is located.

[Nik.R.Sanderson 1]

What is TAFT? My fiancee will have to get her NBI clearance soon, once we get NOA2. She's in Mindanao if that matters any.

TAFT is an area, near a big uni here in MNL.

She'll find it easy if she's not from MNL and takes an early morning cab to NBI Ermita.

make sure she goes early... they only take 2000 applicants a day!

[Hiker 9]

TAFT is an area, near a big uni here in MNL.

She'll find it easy if she's not from MNL and takes an early morning cab to NBI Ermita.

make sure she goes early... they only take 2000 applicants a day!

Egads. Is this another "get up early and spend all day there" kind of event? I guess I should be thankful I can usually get out of the registry of motor vehicles in 30 minutes.

[philhome 1]

Hi VJ'ers!

I had a battle with the NBI, but finally it's done!

as you know this process can be tedious when running around...but the sacrifice is so worth it.

I went to the NBI in TAFT.

make the effort to get there by 3:30-4am! and you'll be done by 9am!

same day service!

IF you have a very common name. it takes 10 working days.

that's better than some branches.

30 working days!

-the cloying part is they only tell you that they take a "decade" once you are done!

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!

thanks for the info, i am from cagayan de oro and no new system installed yet it takes 30 days even name wont hit and n hit name it might 3 months so i went to cebu yesterday arrived at 7 a.m then we in line when were almost on the gate, they said stop giving priority date and come back line again on monday for priority date, i was so upset then go to airport and fly to davao , arrived at 8 pm and going to line but an nbi agent told me to sleep coz the line start there s 4 a.m so i find a hotel to sleep and nbi agent says i am on number one on priority date so woke up 3 a.m then done early at 9:00 a.m but my name on hit , then they cant say 10 days and they said maybe 3 weeks. they are not sure with it. so i think i need to go manila for just nbi coz am done already my interview and CO asked my nbi on my first marriage before they could send my visa..ohhhhhhhhhhhh goddddddddd help... im always delayed

XX Nik

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[Alcheringa 39]

Unless the official you are dealing with is a family member, or you plan on accidentally dropping four or five thousand pesos on the ground, ANY day dealing with the bureaucracy in the Philippines is a "get up early and spend all day" event!

Like in many places in Southeast Asia, corruption is endemic to nearly every facet of the process -- to the point of being natural. Our guy twiddled his paperwork, and spoke of not having enough money for lunch. Magically, when lunch came we leapt to the front of the other eight-hundred people sweltering in the hot lobby below. Until then, there was a "problem" with our documents. And this was with me strategically hiding myself elsewhere to avoid the $$$ popping up in his eyes; it was enough that my wife was simply going abroad.

In a way, you can't blame them. They're under-paid, dissatisfied, and often living in squalor.

We would call and consider that bribery, whereas for them it is simply how the process works. Much like our own government contracting, where backs are scratched and pockets are lined all of the time. The entire war in Afghanistan and Iraq has flourished in this way.

So, yes, get there before the sun is up, and fight the disorderly lines. I think you can infer a great deal about a country by simply watching how people form in a line -- or don't.

[Nik.R.Sanderson 1]

Unless the official you are dealing with is a family member, or you plan on accidentally dropping four or five thousand pesos on the ground, ANY day dealing with the bureaucracy in the Philippines is a "get up early and spend all day" event!

Like in many places in Southeast Asia, corruption is endemic to nearly every facet of the process -- to the point of being natural. Our guy twiddled his paperwork, and spoke of not having enough money for lunch. Magically, when lunch came we leapt to the front of the other eight-hundred people sweltering in the hot lobby below. Until then, there was a "problem" with our documents. And this was with me strategically hiding myself elsewhere to avoid the $$$ popping up in his eyes; it was enough that my wife was simply going abroad.

In a way, you can't blame them. They're under-paid, dissatisfied, and often living in squalor.

We would call and consider that bribery, whereas for them it is simply how the process works. Much like our own government contracting, where backs are scratched and pockets are lined all of the time. The entire war in Afghanistan and Iraq has flourished in this way.

So, yes, get there before the sun is up, and fight the disorderly lines. I think you can infer a great deal about a country by simply watching how people form in a line -- or don't.

I know what you mean... I'm a Euroasian... i look more Euro than Asian... but i was there early... taft seems like a no nonsense system...thus i highly recommend it!