Very Confused and Scared now about Booking Manila Interview Early Than NVC Schedule

[kjcamara 6]

I was told by several people on VJ that for the Philippines that you could book your interview date as soon as you know your MNL number assigned by NVC. We got that on 6/10. I booked our interview then because we also have our son CR-2 and his school starts in Late August. So I was able to get an interview for my wife's CR-1 and our Son's CR-2 on Sep 2 (first available date). The lady on the phone was really nice and said that we could do that and we could keep the SEP 2 date and cancel the one that NVC sets. Sep 2 I thought worked well as it would give enough time for our papers to be reviewed at NVC and sent to Manila, my work schedule was the best for me to come to be at the interview as I want to be, and our son would only miss a week or so of school. I scheduled our return for Sep 10. I am arriving in Manila Aug 28. I found out that openings became available for Aug 30 so I called the embassy and rescheduled from Sep 2 to August 30 to make sure we get the visa before Sep 10 departure to US.

Now the new lady I talked with at the embassy was nice enough to reschedule the appointment, but she said that we were wrong to schedule the interview before NVC set the date of interview and that we may loose our Aug 30 date and have to go on the day that NVC schedules. I'm panicking now as I have already bought plane tickets and hotel reservations for the dates I envisioned. Have anybody done this before? Any advice?

IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Date Service Center : Potomac Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Manila, Philippines Marriage (if applicable): 2016-01-11 I-130 Sent : 2016-02-25 I-130 NOA1 : 2016-03-01 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-130 Approved : 2016-06-06 NVC Received : 2016-06-10 Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2016-06-27 Pay AOS Bill : 2016-06-27 Receive I-864 Package : Send AOS Package : 2016-07-07 Submit DS-261 : 2016-06-27 Receive IV Bill : 2016-07-06 Pay IV Bill : 2016-07-06 Send IV Package : 2016-07-07 Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : Case Completed at NVC : NVC Left : Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : 2016-08-30 Submit Review

[Hank_ 9,173]

I was told by several people on VJ that for the Philippines that you could book your interview date as soon as you know your MNL number assigned by NVC. We got that on 6/10. I booked our interview then because we also have our son CR-2 and his school starts in Late August. So I was able to get an interview for my wife's CR-1 and our Son's CR-2 on Sep 2 (first available date). The lady on the phone was really nice and said that we could do that and we could keep the SEP 2 date and cancel the one that NVC sets. Sep 2 I thought worked well as it would give enough time for our papers to be reviewed at NVC and sent to Manila, my work schedule was the best for me to come to be at the interview as I want to be, and our son would only miss a week or so of school. I scheduled our return for Sep 10. I am arriving in Manila Aug 28. I found out that openings became available for Aug 30 so I called the embassy and rescheduled from Sep 2 to August 30 to make sure we get the visa before Sep 10 departure to US.

Now the new lady I talked with at the embassy was nice enough to reschedule the appointment, but she said that we were wrong to schedule the interview before NVC set the date of interview and that we may loose our Aug 30 date and have to go on the day that NVC schedules. I'm panicking now as I have already bought plane tickets and hotel reservations for the dates I envisioned. Have anybody done this before? Any advice?

IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Date Service Center : Potomac Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Manila, Philippines Marriage (if applicable): 2016-01-11 I-130 Sent : 2016-02-25 I-130 NOA1 : 2016-03-01 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-130 Approved : 2016-06-06 NVC Received : 2016-06-10 Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2016-06-27 Pay AOS Bill : 2016-06-27 Receive I-864 Package : Send AOS Package : 2016-07-07 Submit DS-261 : 2016-06-27 Receive IV Bill : 2016-07-06 Pay IV Bill : 2016-07-06 Send IV Package : 2016-07-07 Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : Case Completed at NVC : NVC Left : Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : 2016-08-30 Submit Review

Booking your own interview once you have your MNL # ONLY applies to K-1 visas.

You should have waited for NVC. Only ones that can schedule their own interview date for the IV unit is the K-1, all others have to wait for NVC.

Some immigrant visa chasers have RE-SCHEDULED their interview date after receiving their appointment notice from NVC, in one case I know of they were allowed to complete their interview earlier, another the CO refused them, telling them to come back on the date NVC scheduled.

No easy answers.

Edited July 14, 2016 by Hank_

[kjcamara 6]

ok thanks. I guess I need to really ask before I take advise from VJ here. Guess I'm just going to have to deal with what becomes.

[FxL 39]

I'm a CR-1 and i booked my own interview even though NVC scheduled me an interview. It was OK with the Manila Embassy

[FxL 39]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/599284-reschedule-interview-for-sooner/

[xmaricrisx 25]

I'm a CR-1 and i booked my own interview even though NVC scheduled me an interview. It was OK with the Manila Embassy

The difference is that you already had an interview date scheduled by NVC, meaning your case was already completed. The OP is still in the NVC stage, and does not have a CC yet, so yes, he kind of got a little ahead of himself because he is still not sure if a checklist will be given (hopefully not though).

Just hope for the best! Goodluck!

[FxL 39]

The difference is that you already had an interview date scheduled by NVC, meaning your case was already completed. The OP is still in the NVC stage, and does not have a CC yet, so yes, he kind of got a little ahead of himself because he is still not sure if a checklist will be given (hopefully not though).

Just hope for the best! Goodluck!

Oh! I didn't see the part that he didn't get case complete yet. What he did was actually really risky.

So good luck OP! Pray for no RFEs and a Case complete before August!