US Embassy Manila - Passport Return Delay - HELP!!!! [merged threads]

[Dave Knapp 47]

My wife's interview was August 9.  They said everything was fine and she'd get her visa in 1 to 2 weeks.  It's been over 3 weeks and no status.  Not through auto email. Not online.  Sent an email to the Embassy 2 days ago.  Still waiting a response.  Anyone have current experience with this.  Thanks.

[Chancy 6,233]

14 hours ago, Dave Knapp said:

It's been over 3 weeks and no status.  Not through auto email. Not online.

 

Nothing from CEAC status check?  https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

 

[top_secret 2,077]

I know of quite a few persons who received their passports from US Embassy Manila recently in just 2 or 3 days.  There are always exceptions and it's not unheard of for it to take quite a bit longer but after 3 weeks you definitely might want to start following up. 

 

Other ways you can check the status of the passport at US Embassy Manila is to e-mail passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com with the subject and body of the e-mail just the passport number.  It should generate an auto-response with the passport status.  They also have a web form here https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-passportretrieve.asp where you can input the passport number and see the status..

 

If her CEAC status is "Issued" or the other status updates say it was already shipped yet she still doesn't have it, you can also e-mail LBC at ustraveldocssupport@lbcexpress.com or call the LBC hotline at (02)8858-5999 to verify if they don't have it and are experiencing some delivery issue.

[Dave Knapp 47]

On 9/2/2023 at 6:00 AM, top_secret said:

I know of quite a few persons who received their passports from US Embassy Manila recently in just 2 or 3 days.  There are always exceptions and it's not unheard of for it to take quite a bit longer but after 3 weeks you definitely might want to start following up. 

 

Other ways you can check the status of the passport at US Embassy Manila is to e-mail passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com with the subject and body of the e-mail just the passport number.  It should generate an auto-response with the passport status.  They also have a web form here https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-passportretrieve.asp where you can input the passport number and see the status..

 

If her CEAC status is "Issued" or the other status updates say it was already shipped yet she still doesn't have it, you can also e-mail LBC at ustraveldocssupport@lbcexpress.com or call the LBC hotline at (02)8858-5999 to verify if they don't have it and are experiencing some delivery issue.

No status.  Nothing.  A virtual black hole.  tried to call 20 times Friday.  Could not reach a human at Visa Services,  only automated attendants that didn't give an option that connected to people. Did speak to the main operator who could not help as visa services has its own numbers and not extensions. Maybe we have to fly to Manila again although I'm not sure how to get to talk with anyone once we get there.  We'll start calling again Tuesday, after the holiday.

[Dave Knapp 47]

My wife had her CR1 interview on August 9 and was told by the Consular Officer that everything was fine and she should receive her passport and visa in 1 to 2 weeks.  It will be 5 weeks tomorrow and no passport/visa.  No change of status, no updates, and no response to the 2 written inquiries that are over a week old.  The one person we spoke to there said not to worry, and at that time I accepted that, but yesterday another VJ member told me they had their interview for a CR1 on August 1 and got the passport/visa back in 2 weeks.  Now I'm worried. 

 

Will it help to get an immigration attorney?  Are there other steps I can take ?  I'm about ready to bring this to my Senators/congressman.  Would it do any good to go to the embassy? 

 

Help. 

 

Thanks,

 

Dave Knapp 

[TBoneTX 43,290]

Thread is moved to the Philippines forum.

[IWander 583]

1 hour ago, Dave Knapp said:

My wife had her CR1 interview on August 9 and was told by the Consular Officer that everything was fine and she should receive her passport and visa in 1 to 2 weeks.  It will be 5 weeks tomorrow and no passport/visa.  No change of status, no updates, and no response to the 2 written inquiries that are over a week old.  The one person we spoke to there said not to worry, and at that time I accepted that, but yesterday another VJ member told me they had their interview for a CR1 on August 1 and got the passport/visa back in 2 weeks.  Now I'm worried. 

 

Will it help to get an immigration attorney?  Are there other steps I can take ?  I'm about ready to bring this to my Senators/congressman.  Would it do any good to go to the embassy? 

 

Help. 

 

Thanks,

 

Dave Knapp 

Have you emailed them? It often takes two weeks or so for them to respond 

Edited September 12, 2023 by IWander

[Mike E 11,725]

1 hour ago, Dave Knapp said:

Will it help to get an immigration attorney?  Are there other steps I can take ? 

You can hire an attorney to file a wom.
 

 

Or DIY wom.

 

 

 

[Dave Knapp 47]

We check her status on CEAC and through the passport number email twice a day. We spoke today, to a Human, in the US somewhere ( NVC? ) who assured us that the embassy is reviewing her case.  It's hard for me to imagine a scenario where there is an ongoing review and they don't want some kind of additional evidence. We've heard nothing from the Embassy.  The real issue is that her Medical clearance was only for 90 days and it expires on November 2.  That's only 51 days from now.  If she isn't boots on the ground at a POE by that date, she can't go.  And my guess is that the medical ####### will have to be done again.  She'll have the same issue with the chest xray and it will be another 4 months to get a new medical clearance.  Starting to get desperate.  

[Chancy 6,233]

*** Merged related threads.  Please post your questions/updates related to this topic in this thread to keep the discussion in one place. ***

[W199 264]

8 hours ago, Dave Knapp said:

We check her status on CEAC and through the passport number email twice a day. We spoke today, to a Human, in the US somewhere ( NVC? ) who assured us that the embassy is reviewing her case.  It's hard for me to imagine a scenario where there is an ongoing review and they don't want some kind of additional evidence. We've heard nothing from the Embassy.  The real issue is that her Medical clearance was only for 90 days and it expires on November 2.  That's only 51 days from now.  If she isn't boots on the ground at a POE by that date, she can't go.  And my guess is that the medical ####### will have to be done again.  She'll have the same issue with the chest xray and it will be another 4 months to get a new medical clearance.  Starting to get desperate.  

How did you speak to a human at the NVC, as they have disabled their customer support phone lines to focus on the backkog?

[Dave Knapp 47]

On 9/12/2023 at 9:48 PM, W199 said:

How did you speak to a human at the NVC, as they have disabled their customer support phone lines to focus on the backkog?

I may have assumed he was at NVC.  We called a number in Manila, but the gentleman we spoke to continually referred to "the Embassy Staff"  which made me believe he wasn't in Manila.

[W199 264]

32 minutes ago, Dave Knapp said:

I may have assumed he was at NVC.  We called a number in Manila, but the gentleman we spoke to continually referred to "the Embassy Staff"  which made me believe he wasn't in Manila.

You must have called ustraveldocs,  ..  https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-main-contactus.asp   The NVC is in NH

 

 

[Dave Knapp 47]

6 hours ago, W199 said:

You must have called ustraveldocs,  ..  https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-main-contactus.asp   The NVC is in NH

 

 

Agreed.  But this guy was not in the US Embassy in Manila.  He talked about Embassy staff as if they were not co-located. Doesn't much matter.  He knew only what was in the in the "system" and that was that it was under administrative review. I just cancelled all flights and reservations.  If Murphy's Law is applicable here, now that I've cancelled everything, we should get a green light from the embassy any minute. 

[Dave Knapp 47]

On 9/1/2023 at 3:58 AM, Chancy said:

 

Nothing from CEAC status check?  https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=IV

 

Nada.  It says "ready" which I am told means that the visa was digitally generated by the State Dept and sent to Manila.  No letters, no 221g, no nothing. Consular Officer said "You're approved" and gave her 2 pamphlets. Going there on Sep 22 to speak to someone. No other way to proceed except maybe an attorney, but they would have to be here in Manila, and that sector is riddled with scammers.