Contacting Manila embassy

[davidandroda 0]

Does anyone know how to actually talk to someone there at the Manila embassy about an immigration issue that they have made a mistake on? (mnl-iv-22 never emailed out). All the numbers posted are recorded messages and we have tried emailing--but no responses after over a month (although their auto response claims they will be in contact in 7 days). Even sent a fax, which was next to impossible as the machine is usually down (no response to that either). My fiance even tried going in person from Tarlac back to the embassy but the guards refused to let her talk to anyone and gave her instead a phone number that is again a recorded message telling her to email the embassy. Is there a complaint department or do you just have to write your Congressman and let him find out what is going on?

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from K1 Process to Phil. Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is embassy-specific~

[Greenbaum 12,258]

davidandroda, on 02 Dec 2014 - 9:39 PM, said:

Does anyone know how to actually talk to someone there at the Manila embassy about an immigration issue that they have made a mistake on? (mnl-iv-22 never emailed out). All the numbers posted are recorded messages and we have tried emailing--but no responses after over a month (although their auto response claims they will be in contact in 7 days). Even sent a fax, which was next to impossible as the machine is usually down (no response to that either). My fiance even tried going in person from Tarlac back to the embassy but the guards refused to let her talk to anyone and gave her instead a phone number that is again a recorded message telling her to email the embassy. Is there a complaint department or do you just have to write your Congressman and let him find out what is going on?

Your stuck in a cycle. Need to do something different to get a different result. I suggest your Senator or Congressperson. See below for someone who had success and the steps they took.

1, What will happen is someone in the senator's office will take the constituent's complaint and attach a cover letter that basically asks for the appropriate agency to review the complaint and explain "their side of the story" to the senator. If you are complaining, the clarity of your complaint, and the clarity of your desired resolution is pretty important, because the responding agency will end up essentially responding to exactly what you wrote. Incomplete, vague, or factually inaccurate complaints make it very easy for the responding agency to dodge out of dealing with the issues.

Assuming the process is similar to how we do it in my agency, a congressional inquiry will go to the State Department in DC, who will then assign it to the Embassy in Manila to draft an answer. We always have to route our answers back through DC so that they can track the response, and if someone recycles their complaint with another elected official, the agency can re-use the response we gave the first time. We have received phone calls from congressional staff if we don't respond fast enough, and sometimes we have to ask the congressman to go back to the complaining constituent for more information before we answer.

The advantages of a congressional complaint are that the agency will answer every question or issue you raise, and quickly. Even if they won't agree to your requested resolution, you now have in writing exactly what their issue is, which is my main problem- no one from the embassy will speak to us. On the other hand, If I were to get a call from an attorney regarding a complaint with my agency, I would simply transfer him to the legal department who would probably stonewall him, but if an elected representative's office calls, I have to get some senior management involved, and they will at least do everything possible to appear cooperative with a legislator. Finally, it is free- lawyers are not.

There have been other members here that have had success with congressional complaints. Even if it's not successful, a congressional complaint will give you valuable intelligence on the embassy's position that you could give to an attorney if you do want to litigate later.

When doing a letter use a chronology timeline showing the dates and what you have done on those dates. Governmental officials tend to look at the bottom line so they can see just what you have done and what has happened so far. The letter outlined, is easier to read and is faster to get through and it flows better.

The more you lay it out clearly and concisely, the easier it will be for them to act on it.

Be detailed with the times and dates you spoke with NVC, USCIS etc and explain their response from each time. The more you lay it out clearly and concisely, the easier it will be for them to act on it.

Then your last paragraph should explain that your petition will expire and this is a matter of urgency.

2. Another approach is using names and email addresses you can find on VJ (and cross-referenced through Google searches and some guesswork about how USCIS email addresses are structured) Send an email to senior managers inside USCIS, including the inspector general for USCIS. On applicant's file was "found" and sent to NVC within a DAY of them sending that email. The email is what worked for them. Nothing else worked. The did spend several days hunting down the names and email addresses but well worth the time.

From <http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/505860-letter-to-the-representativesenator/>

[Hank_ 9,171]

Does anyone know how to actually talk to someone there at the Manila embassy about an immigration issue that they have made a mistake on? (mnl-iv-22 never emailed out). All the numbers posted are recorded messages and we have tried emailing--but no responses after over a month (although their auto response claims they will be in contact in 7 days). Even sent a fax, which was next to impossible as the machine is usually down (no response to that either). My fiance even tried going in person from Tarlac back to the embassy but the guards refused to let her talk to anyone and gave her instead a phone number that is again a recorded message telling her to email the embassy. Is there a complaint department or do you just have to write your Congressman and let him find out what is going on?

Your timeline is blank. When was your interview?

Many times USEM emails the form MNL-IV-22 or the 221(g), you may only get one or the other. Have you checked your spam filter?

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/IV_221g_submission_slip.pdf

Embassy Contact Information

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhnv10.html

local number: 632-301-2000 extension 5184 or 5185 ( 011-632-301-2000 ext 5184 or ext 5185 )

The Embassy’s main trunk line 301-2000 is experiencing technical issues and prone to congestion. If your call can’t get through please use these numbers: 301-2166 or 301-2177

For visa appointment related inquiries, please contact the Embassy’s Visa Information and Appointment Service at (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930.

** (703) 520-2235 (this is a USA number)

For inquiries on a specific case, please call the Immigrant Visa (IV) Unit's during normal business hours, except between 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m.

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

In order to serve our visa applicants more efficiently, we have created this new e-mail address:IVMNLAppointments@state.gov , for early appointment requests and visa scheduling issues. Please note, however, that early appointment requests will be approved on a case to case basis (i.e., aging out cases, or in cases involving personal or medical emergencies), and only if visa interview slots are available.

For other immigrant and K visa concerns, please send an e-mail to IVManilaReplies@state.gov

.

To enable us to electronically sort the messages and provide better, more timely responses, you should follow the instructions below.

The subject line of your email should indicate the visa applicant’s last name, first and middle name (ex. DOE, John James), case number/USCIS receipt number, visa category and priority date.

Messages should be limited to 500 characters or less. The mail size should not be more than 15 KB.

Do not submit documentation or attachments with your message as our system is unable to receive inquiries with attachments.

Do not send your inquiry more than once as duplicate inquiries will congest our system and delay our response time.

Edited December 3, 2014 by Hank_

[seannah 6]

your fiance can call this number 9768500 -02, she can talk to embassy agent

[Hank_ 9,171]

... newbie came, newbie went.