Interview Open dates for K1 Visa at US Embassy in Manila

[deozmendoza 0]

Any news when the US embassy in Manila will open for interviews?

[JFH 12,195]

*~*~*country-specific question moved to Philippines regional forum*~*~*

[morry & ren 124]

1 hour ago, deozmendoza said:

Any news when the US embassy in Manila will open for interviews?

Hey folks,

for what it's worth, the embassy is and has been open and conducting interviews for a little while now. My friends wife from Cebu had her interview about 5 weeks ago and finally arrived into the US this past Friday. I'm not sure if they are conducting K1 interviews at this time. I wish I could give you more encouraging news. Hang in there, hopefully it won't be much longer...

[Allovertheworld 355]

6 hours ago, deozmendoza said:

Any news when the US embassy in Manila will open for interviews?

No news 

 

Last month they were doing some K1 if your medical exam was 30 days or less from expiring, but as of late I think they revoked that or are no longer allowing it due to not seeing anyone post about doing a K1 on VJ, and I see a lot of people say they applied for expedited interviews due to expiring medical,  and was refused on FB and other social media.

 

 

 

 

[deozmendoza 0]

My fiance’s NOA2 was only valid til June of this year and its been case ready for A few months now. medical exam is gonna expire in January 21. This delay been hard for us. I hope eveyones Visa app pushes through soon. 🤞🏽

[deozmendoza 0]

My fiancé's been calling the US embassy for a couple of weeks now and said that theres no open sched for K1 interviews yet.

[PWB 213]

They are letting Medicals expire and making you go through the SLEC process again.  Happened to us.

[Allovertheworld 355]

1 hour ago, PWB said:

They are letting Medicals expire and making you go through the SLEC process again.  Happened to us.

That Suxs.........

[PWB 213]

Paying for a second physical at SLEC is only part of this mess.  Because she had to go through the sputum protocol the first time, and it was negative, SLEC is making her go through a second sputum protocol because SLEC claims that is Embassy protocol.  Embassy says it is complying with CDC requirements.  You just can't win.  Almost 9 months of waiting on the Embassy to issue the visa that was approved in February 2020.

[Allovertheworld 355]

6 hours ago, PWB said:

Paying for a second physical at SLEC is only part of this mess.  Because she had to go through the sputum protocol the first time, and it was negative, SLEC is making her go through a second sputum protocol because SLEC claims that is Embassy protocol.  Embassy says it is complying with CDC requirements.  You just can't win.  Almost 9 months of waiting on the Embassy to issue the visa that was approved in February 2020.

What a nightmare

[audreyba 5]

My fiance’s medical exam will expire in december. I requested for expedite last week, still haven’t heard from them. 

[flicks1998 1,044]

1 hour ago, audreyba said:

My fiance’s medical exam will expire in december. I requested for expedite last week, still haven’t heard from them. 

Its the case even where countries have had no COVID cases for 3+ months.  No replies, nothing.  The messaging coming from the US government is completely inconsistent and borderline comical.  My guess may be the 2nd half of 2021 they may start K1 interviews again, but Im basing that strictly when the PI government said they may open back up to tourists again.  I do know that Filipinos are starting to complain to their government about allowing foreigners to enter that are in relationships with locals (ones who are not married, etc), but whether that gains any traction I am not sure.  Im sure it could be abused quite easily.  At the moment they are allowing spouses, foreigners with kids, and now they seem to be letting foreigners who SO is pregnant may be able to enter but the list of rules to jump through is quite extensive.  

 

Im leaving Thanksgiving day to Manila and will not return to the US until an interview date is set.  However even to book accommodation is a nightmare especially if your thinking of going to the provinces.  Not only would you have to do that province quarantine, but I am also be asked to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours, plus a quarantine pass by the local barangay with medical clearance by a doctor.  Its insane, but Ive decided better to be there and not in the follies of the US. 

 

By end of the week Im sending in the documents for my visa and will start a separate thread on the steps I took and any issues along the way.  Although the information could become outdated fast it may help those who can get back.  K1s are not going to start for a very long time.  

Edited October 5, 2020 by flicks1998

[Allovertheworld 355]

9 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

Its the case even where countries have had no COVID cases for 3+ months.  No replies, nothing.  The messaging coming from the US government is completely inconsistent and borderline comical.  My guess may be the 2nd half of 2021 they may start K1 interviews again, but Im basing that strictly when the PI government said they may open back up to tourists again.  I do know that Filipinos are starting to complain to their government about allowing foreigners to enter that are in relationships with locals (ones who are not married, etc), but whether that gains any traction I am not sure.  Im sure it could be abused quite easily.  At the moment they are allowing spouses, foreigners with kids, and now they seem to be letting foreigners who SO is pregnant may be able to enter but the list of rules to jump through is quite extensive.  

 

Im leaving Thanksgiving day to Manila and will not return to the US until an interview date is set.  However even to book accommodation is a nightmare especially if your thinking of going to the provinces.  Not only would you have to do that province quarantine, but I am also be asked to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours, plus a quarantine pass by the local barangay with medical clearance by a doctor.  Its insane, but Ive decided better to be there and not in the follies of the US. 

 

By end of the week Im sending in the documents for my visa and will start a separate thread on the steps I took and any issues along the way.  Although the information could become outdated fast it may help those who can get back.  K1s are not going to start for a very long time.  

How are you getting in? 

 

Do you have a child in Philippines? Or is you fiance pregnant?

 

 

[Will&Christine 52]

4 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

How are you getting in? 

 

Do you have a child in Philippines? Or is you fiance pregnant?

 

 

Are they still not letting in foreigners? I thought foreigners just need to get visa because they stopped doing visa on arrival. Flicks, I also thinking of going to Cebu In January to see my fiancee. I want to stay there until she gets visa. I don't want to leave her at airport again for the fouth time. But if embassy doesn't start K1 until second half of 2021 then it will be long stay for me. I would need a way to make money in Philippines and have leftover for flights and green card application. At least my fiancee said I can stay in her house rent free but have to pay for food and others. We'll see how things are going by Jan. I have until end of Nov to decide to buy plane tickets.

[flicks1998 1,044]

3 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

How are you getting in? 

 

Do you have a child in Philippines? Or is you fiance pregnant?

 

 

From my son, Ive had a work visa for the Philippines since 2010 though and just returned to the US in January this year after 25 years in Europe and Asia.  Ive moved back to the US strictly for this K1 process as that is part of the requirements is to reside permanently in the US.  I did write to the Embassy in Manila for an expedite so I could get my son enrolled in school in the US since he is not going to attend school anymore in the PI.  I made it clear to the Embassy that my request was for my son and not directly related to my fiance but I have never heard back.  So, Ill just go back to Manila until the Embassy decides they want to do K1's again.  Luckily I have an extremely understanding employer who basically will let me work from anywhere.  It will be interesting the developments after this pandemic on the employment aspect.  I work in Global Mobility and we have been moving more into a remote role since about 2010 or so, but now probably 90%+ of the jobs in my field can be done anywhere in the world. 

 

Im gathering my documents today and tomorrow for this PI visa and will write in another thread the experience and any difficulties.