Should I pay the interview fee again? (Please Read)

[Saintdog 0]

Her original interview set for middle of June before her visit to St. Luke's. Being that she had a spot on her lung from an x-ray, she was required to come back to several more follow up visits. It was unclear (to me at least), the process of the two month wait. So in the mean time I had reschedule online her interview dates 2 additional times after each St. Luke's visit, therefore not allowing me to schedule a third.

We've waited the 2 months and she is cleared of TB and has now all her vaccinations and may now schedule the interview. Problem my receipt number cannot be used again until the embassy clears or resets it to be used again. It's been over a week now and in typical Philippine fashion, we are asked to be patient (again) and wait for the clearance and that they will EMAIL me when it's been cleared.

QUESTION:

Can I just pay the fee again, get issued a receipt number and just schedule online or does anyone know the approximate time it will take to clear? I haven't seen her in 7 months and dying to get her here. I will do whatever it takes at this point to get her.

Please help and thank you!

[CaliforniaBae 3]

I don't understand. Your receipt number needs to be clear?
How long since you pay for the MRV receipt has been? It's valid for 1 year.

You can pay again but totally in your discretion for it's non-refundable.

[TBoneTX 43,020]

*** Country-specific thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Philippines regional subforum. ***

[Hank_ 9,171]

Her original interview set for middle of June before her visit to St. Luke's. Being that she had a spot on her lung from an x-ray, she was required to come back to several more follow up visits. It was unclear (to me at least), the process of the two month wait. So in the mean time I had reschedule online her interview dates 2 additional times after each St. Luke's visit, therefore not allowing me to schedule a third.

We've waited the 2 months and she is cleared of TB and has now all her vaccinations and may now schedule the interview. Problem my receipt number cannot be used again until the embassy clears or resets it to be used again. It's been over a week now and in typical Philippine fashion, we are asked to be patient (again) and wait for the clearance and that they will EMAIL me when it's been cleared.

QUESTION:

Can I just pay the fee again, get issued a receipt number and just schedule online or does anyone know the approximate time it will take to clear? I haven't seen her in 7 months and dying to get her here. I will do whatever it takes at this point to get her.

Please help and thank you!

The scheduling issue will require some patience on your part as the restriction is two part, If you have rescheduled more than twice you 1) pay a new visa fee unless you get a waiver from USEM (as in your case the TB issue), 2) there is normal 90 day wait before being allowed to schedule again.

I don't understand. Your receipt number needs to be clear?

How long since you pay for the MRV receipt has been? It's valid for 1 year.

You can pay again but totally in your discretion for it's non-refundable.

Sort of good for a year IF.... reschedule too many times and you will have to pay a new visa fee, plus have a 90 "wait"

[CaliforniaBae 3]

The scheduling issue will require some patience on your part as the restriction is two part, If you have rescheduled more than twice you 1) pay a new visa fee unless you get a waiver from USEM (as in your case the TB issue), 2) there is normal 90 day wait before being allowed to schedule again.

Sort of good for a year IF.... reschedule too many times and you will have to pay a new visa fee, plus have a 90 "wait"

Good info. Noted.

[Hank_ 9,171]

Good info. Noted.

90 days (that is, forgot the days )

It is posted on the embassy website.

[Saintdog 0]

So its 90 days OR waiver from USEM OR both??

[Saintdog 0]

Also I just read somewhere that St. Luke's can reschedule you, is that true?

Please give me the link to the 90 reschedule policy please...

Im going crazy

[Saintdog 0]

So if I pay another interview fee and get another receipt number, is there a CHANCE I can set up a new interview appointment?

[Greenbaum 12,258]

So its 90 days OR waiver from USEM OR both??

The shortest wait time is to see if you can get a waiver from USEM otherwise you pay the new fee and wait 90 days to schedule an interview.

A lot of this information is available to you, but you don't know where to look for it, or if your not wearing the secret decoder ring, how do you know what questions to ask. Over and above that, why doesn't SLEC spell out what your options are or what are the next steps to your journey from SLEC to USEM based on the fact you are still under their "care". It boggles the mind how we ever get through this process if someone wasn't giving back with their experience or knowledge.

Also I just read somewhere that St. Luke's can reschedule you, is that true?

Please give me the link to the 90 reschedule policy please...

Im going crazy

How it works is she goes in for TB processing, since there is some doubt from the original x-ray, and SLEC will inform USEM that your case should be put on "hold" till she is cleared. Once SLEC has cleared her, then they contact USEM and tell USEM to flip the switch, and at that time, you can go online and schedule your new interview date.

So if I pay another interview fee and get another receipt number, is there a CHANCE I can set up a new interview appointment?

After you have waited 90 days from when you pay the new interview fee then you be allowed to schedule the appointment.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html#3

Edited August 4, 2015 by Greenbaum

[Saintdog 0]

Thank you very much. I will call SLEC tomorrow and ask for help. I am just looking back and seeing how messy this all got. We will be going on 9+ months after the 90 day wait... I've used up my 2 reschedules, I just think it's horeshit that no one at St. Lukes said anything to her as far as times frames. And you are right, unless you have a decoder ring, there is no way to know about the unexpectedness.

[Saintdog 0]

BTW, I've called the embassy numerous times. There has been no conversation of SLEC putting a "hold" on our interview dates. If so, why would the call center be so eager to reschedule my appointment? See, not even the embassy representative told me of the process after I had explained she was going back for subsequent testing. I feel totally let down

[Greenbaum 12,258]

BTW, I've called the embassy numerous times. There has been no conversation of SLEC putting a "hold" on our interview dates. If so, why would the call center be so eager to reschedule my appointment? See, not even the embassy representative told me of the process after I had explained she was going back for subsequent testing. I feel totally let down

It's a sad day when you can't trust government to not sell you a lemon, but they do it all the time. If you don't ask the "right" questions, guarantee you will NOT get the right answer or even one close.

Be sure to stick to your guns, and don't budge from the conversation till you feel you have been adequately informed. If you are not getting anywhere with anyone, then ask for a supervisor.

One last thing, if you find out that SLEC did not put a hold on your interview appointment, then you might want to consider contacting your senator. You may want to read this thread about this topic. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/505860-letter-to-the-representativesenator/

I feel you pain man. Check in with us if we can help answer any questions you may have.

[Saintdog 0]

I emailed my senator this morning, too

[Hank_ 9,171]

I emailed my senator this morning, too

Not sure your senator can help... in a timely manner.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/niv-application.html#3 ( I don't see mention of paying a new visa fee in this link)

"Please plan your visa application accordingly to avoid problems securing an interview appointment. Even though nonimmigrant visa fees are valid for one calendar year, options to schedule an appointment are limited. Applicants are only allowed to reschedule twice (not including the initial appointment) without penalty. If the second rescheduling attempt is canceled, an applicant will only be allowed to reschedule a new date after a waiting period of 90 calendar days."