BPI payment for US Visa

[confusedshoes 193]

Hi, first of all I know there are other BPI threads but they all seem a bit old.

We payed for the Visa Interview on the14th through BPI online using my Fiancee's sister's account. We have the merchant number and from what it says on their page it should have been ready by 11am this morning. Unfortunately it is not showing up as valid yet. Calling BPI is no help, when we finally got through they dropped the call. Their help online is also non responsive. Honestly I wish I could have just gone to the embassy and paid in cash, Could I have? I guess we cant do anything but wait for now, but we are wondering if others have done this. Her sister has had so many issues with BPI, ATM's not dispensing money but deducting it from her account, or money just disappearing for days. 

 

Is there a reason the US Embassy in manila uses BPI? Couldn't they just set up online credit card payments instead?

Other banks aren't much better but I think I prefer BDO.

 

Edited December 17, 2018 by Penguin_ie
bad language

[geowrian 22,335]

29 minutes ago, confusedshoes said:

Couldn't they just set up online credit card payments instead?

That involves extra fees, PCI compliance, other federal compliance for payment, overhead/management/support, etc. Keep in mind this isn't like a private business where you can just go to Square/PayPal/Stripe...US federal agencies have a massive amount of policies and rules in place. I can't disclose specifics, but it's a very long and cumbersome process to be able to receive funds on credit for a federal agency...think 1-2 years once they get the go business buy-in and funding.

USCIS is much, much larger and only handles US-based items...and they only started taking credit card payments (via writing, not online) for most processes within the past year.

 

They could contract it out. And some embassies do offer credit card payment. I'd be surprised if Manila didn't offer it in the somewhat-near future (years), but it's just not there yet.

[Hank_ 9,172]

1 hour ago, confusedshoes said:

Hi, first of all I know there are other BPI threads but they all seem a bit old.

We payed for the Visa Interview on the14th through BPI online using my Fiancee's sister's account. We have the merchant number and from what it says on their page it should have been ready by 11am this morning. Unfortunately it is not showing up as valid yet. Calling BPI is no help, when we finally got through they dropped the call. Their help online is also non responsive. Honestly I wish I could have just gone to the embassy and paid in cash, Could I have? I guess we cant do anything but wait for now, but we are wondering if others have done this. Her sister has had so many issues with BPI, ATM's not dispensing money but deducting it from her account, or money just disappearing for days. 

 

Is there a reason the US Embassy in manila uses BPI? Couldn't they just set up online credit card payments instead?

Other banks aren't much better but I think I prefer BDO.

14th was Friday ... "government" isn't open on weekend.    Plus it normally takes 12 to 24 hrs before the payment shows up so you can schedule an interview  ... not counting WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS.

 

Figure Monday afternoon if lucky.

 

No you could not have paid the fee at the embassy.   Payment is through BPI only.   

[confusedshoes 193]

Welp, I guess somebody up there in filipino heaven is looking out for us because it cleared right before closing. We got our Interview for the 27th. 😅 I guess we can celebrate with Miss Universe today.

[Hank_ 9,172]