ReedLeed

Well instead of leaving this to my fiancée to juggle, we're spending my last day here running papers around Manila. I decided to not wait for Friday to pickup the SECPA at the registrar. So we stopped back just to ask a third time. Should t be much of a surprise that we got another, new answer, even tho some of the people we talked to were the same.
 
I asked about transmitting the PSA info and if we could do ehow expedite this process to get our PSA birth certificate. This time they said we needed to get the early endorsement, as you say. So we waited for some signatures, talked to a few more people, and got our "registration number and date." Took this to Gia in another office and paid P120. After about an hour wait in her office we got what I assume is the early endorsement. Basically a form letter and receipt that we are taking to the PSA in Santa Mesa. We're literally in the back of a cab as I type. They will be able to get us the PSA BC in 12 days apparently. Much better than a year!
 
Thanks to everyone for the help. I need to write up the whole experience in detail, while I still remember the many little details. Hopefully we'll finish this all soon and have a story to share.

Congrats again! Thanks for the help in this thread and others. And thanks to everyone here for compiling all of this super helpful knowledge.
 
So our CRBA interview was yesterday. Everything went well, they basically took only our photos, forms and notarized passport copies and even gave back the binder of photocopies we sent in prior to the interview. 
 
But at the end, the American interviewer said they would hold our application for a little bit. She said she'd try to see how long and left for a few minutes. Then she came back and said she wasn't sure exactly how long it would be. We weren't given an RFE or anything. Only told that it wouldn't affect our daughter's citizenship and to just wait. She didn't say anything about being approved, and definitely didn't say anything about a DNA test. She did make a comment about looking at our materials 
 
I'm really not sure what to think about this. Has anyone out there had anything similar? She gave my fiancee a business card with American Citizen Services Unit contact info (including their very limited inquiry hours). 
 
I will try the email on the card. Is there a way to check the status of a CRBA?
 
Seems like the answer to any question during this process is often just wait!