Enrique&Nikki

Hi! Just wanna share my experience.
I scheduled my medical 1 week after I received my MNL number (July 22 and 25) and my interview a week after medical (August 1.)
July 19, I had flu. I cannot get up without feeling dizzy. I was coughing and sneezing badly. I opted not to take medicines. I tried to drink milk, but it made the coughing worse. I tried drinking pure ginger tea. My condition got better, but I still had chesty, dry cough. I thought of rescheduling both medical and interview then I chanced upon this thread.
Anyway, I went ahead with the planned date. I was coughing hard inside SLEC. I thought it was the end of me! Being a bit defensive (and paranoid) I talked to the radiologist and explained my common cough. I immediately had regrets after that when I remembered Greenbaum's message "Do not volunteer information."
So there, I spent the whole weekend worrying and planning and exaggerating things in my head. When I came back this morning, I was instructed to proceed to immunization. XRAY is clear. Thank God

Good news! We decided not to wait for her cough to go away (based on other scheduling reasons), and her chest x-ray was completely clear even though she was still coughing from her cold even while at SLEC. So I guess a chest cold doesn't show up on x-rays unless it turns into pneumonia or something. Anyway, the medical is done and she didn't need to do any sputum culturing and she just got her vaccinations today and we're all done! Woo hoo!

Ok, let me rephrase. If SLEC is going to delay us another 2 months to do their sputum test, I want it to only be because there's a legitimate sign of a problem on my wife's x-rays - not just because she has some leftover phlegm from her cold. Their equipment might be top notch but from what others have described on this site it seems like even if they see the slightest smudge on the x-ray then they'll automatically delay you for 2 months to do the test.
It also seems that the vast majority of people on this site that had to go through the 2-month sputum test turned out to be just fine (no TB), and you might argue that SLEC is just being on the safe side and that it's a good thing because it might save a life etc., but again if she has to go through that process I'd rather it be due to a legitimate sign/symptom on her lungs and not because we just didn't wait long enough until after her chest cold was gone.
The question is, does anyone know how long you should wait after a chest cold before the lungs will be clear enough to have the x-ray?

Hi, everyone! I am new here but I want to share my interview experience in US EMBASSY MANILA yesterday, August 23,2017, 6:40AM.. especially to those who are going to have their interviews in Manila. :)) 
I arrived in US Embassy at 5AM. The guard let us in around 5:40.. You have to show them your APPOINTMENT LETTER, DS160 and passport.. 
we waited for 10-15 Minutes before they let us move to Data entry.. At the DATA entry, they gave us ziplock where we will place the passport.. They also took our ds160.. they will put a sticker on it then they will give you instructions where ypu should go..  They gave us back the DS160..
Next is FULL BODY SCANNER 
And then another FULL BODY SCANNER before you can proceed to the main building where you will have your prescreening, biomedical and FINAL INTERVIEW. 
 
PRESCREENING - Window 52
I was already inside, I was the first in the Letter C lane.. The windows were still closed.. The assistant told us to prepare the documents already BIRTH CERTIFICATE, NBI CLEARANCE, CENOMAR, MRV SLIP AND MEDICAL RECORD(BROWN ENVELOPE).. 
the windows already opened and I went to the first available windows already. I greeted her good morning. She was a Filipino consul.. I gave her my DS160..
Questions:
What is your name? Birthday? What is your relationship to the petitioner? Where did you meet? How? When did the romantic relationship start? If both of us have children? How old are you? How old is he? Have you ever been to other countries? Have you ever been to Mindanao? I said YES. She asked where? then she took my documents, birth certificate, NBI CLEARANCE, CENOMAR and MRV slip.. I couldn't give my brown envelope because the St Luke's was the one who forwarded it to them because I had PSYCH Evaluation. 
Then she gave me back my ds160 and told me to proceed to window 43 for finger scanning
 
FINGER SCANNING Window 43. American Consul. He was the one with a very bad temper and he yells at applicants who cannot follow instructions. 😂 But I still greeted him a very good morning and a wide smile anyway😊I silently talked to myself that I better do well here or else I'll piss him off. I kept wiping my hands with my handkerchief.. 
he only asked me 
what is your name? Birthday SUDDENLY, He was giving me a tissue paper. I thought he was giving it to me to wipe my hands because I was wiping my hands in my handkerchief 😂 I wiped my hands using the tissue paper but he said NO. The finger scanner, wipe it off😂😂😂😂 Omg. *face palm*
Then he told me to place my fingers on the scanner. He kept telling me PRESS HARD. I said to myself. What? Hard?😏 So I did. I pressed it hard. But he kept telling me to PRESS HARDER🤣 So I placed my other hand so I can press it waaaay harder just like what he wants😂 So it's good. Then the other hands and two thumbs. :)) All good. He put a stamp on my DS160. then gave it back to me, said proceed to the interview. 
 
FINAL INTERVIEW- WINDOW 66. A very nice American woman. :)) Always smiling and we laughed together. She just seems like a friend to me. It doesn't feel like an I thought it felt like just a conversation between two friends😂 I greeted her HI, MAAM! Good morning! :)) She smiled at me and greeted me good morning too and asked how I am doing. I said I'm great and I asked her back ☺️
 
I gave her again my ds160. She took it and told me to wait 
When she came back she started to ask me
What is your name? How long you've been together? What do you like about your fiancé? When was the last time he visited you? What did you do when he was here? I said we went to Baguio city, had our engagement photoshoot and then he proposed again for the 2nd time. She laughed 😂 What? Is first time not enough? I said I guess not ma'am, he wanted to propose with ring. Then I showed her my left hand where my ring is. Her smile was really wide already. Do you have wedding plans? I said yes and then she asked me what plans? Where are you going? I said Chicago Illinois  What can you say about Chicago? I just said what I remembered 😂😂 I said, there's a lake in there, Michigan Lake, Sears tower and GIANT BEAN!😂 she laughed again when she heard the giant bean😂 She said, OH YEAH, that's what I like about Chicago, too, I call it giant bean too😂. -- Now I'm regretting I forgot about the DEEP DISH PIZZA🤣  
Then just checked my papers again.. Then she said I SEE NO PROBLEM, looks good.. You are approved. Then she gave me two pamphlet explained it to me.. I couldn't focus anymore, I started to cry.. then she repeated what she told me she said CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE APPROVED! WAIT FOR YOUR VISA IN 6-10 working days.. Have a nice day! 😍 I thanked her so much ☺️
 
 
SHE didn't take any of my fiancé's documents. Not even the form i-134 and the supporting documents! Just my documents. She didn't even asked for our pictures. :)) 
 
THANK YOU, LORD! Finally! I'm done! 
Ticket already booked last August 4 😂 Big risk but my fiancé had so much faith 😊 Good thing I made it! I'll finally be with him SOON 😂
 
Tips for everyone: ALWAYS WEAR A BIG SMILE, BE POLITE AND GREET EVERYONE IN THERE. :)) It will always be a great help to lighten up their moods. 😊
Pray and pray and pray 😊
 

I just finish my crba 3 weeks ago and everything went well we just waiting for DNA results for me and for my daughter and after that we are good to go that's the consular officer promise me and all the requirements on their website is not really limited the important is your tax return, naturalization and the us passport and 5 years residence 

Have you checked your dad's email inbox yourself? Or the spam folder?
That's the exact instructions I gave to another VJ member and he was successful to print another copy of his ds260 confirmation page.

Hello,
For those still waiting. We got a cc.. more like just straight to interview email for US embassy Manila.
 
17 Nov I sent our NVC packet (IV/AOS)
26 Dec I noticed ceac changed to "At NVC" (no idea since when) and the AOS-paid on the login page is not there anymore. Just the IV/DS261.
28 Dec I got an email from AskNVC for an interview appointment at NVC Manila on 13FEB2018.
       No cc notice.  No mail in my wife's or my mailbox. ceac status still haven't changed from At NVC until now. 
       Didn't say anything about requesting missed documents either. Just says what to bring on the day of interview.
 
Happy Holidays and Hang in there everyone. Here I thought NVC was going to slow down due to holidays. I guess not. 

Hello,
For those still waiting. We got a cc.. more like just straight to interview email for US embassy Manila.
 
17 Nov I sent our NVC packet (IV/AOS)
26 Dec I noticed ceac changed to "At NVC" (no idea since when) and the AOS-paid on the login page is not there anymore. Just the IV/DS261.
28 Dec I got an email from AskNVC for an interview appointment at NVC Manila on 13FEB2018.
       No cc notice.  No mail in my wife's or my mailbox. ceac status still haven't changed from At NVC until now. 
       Didn't say anything about requesting missed documents either. Just says what to bring on the day of interview.
 
Happy Holidays and Hang in there everyone. Here I thought NVC was going to slow down due to holidays. I guess not. 

Hello,
For those still waiting. We got a cc.. more like just straight to interview email for US embassy Manila.
 
17 Nov I sent our NVC packet (IV/AOS)
26 Dec I noticed ceac changed to "At NVC" (no idea since when) and the AOS-paid on the login page is not there anymore. Just the IV/DS261.
28 Dec I got an email from AskNVC for an interview appointment at NVC Manila on 13FEB2018.
       No cc notice.  No mail in my wife's or my mailbox. ceac status still haven't changed from At NVC until now. 
       Didn't say anything about requesting missed documents either. Just says what to bring on the day of interview.
 
Happy Holidays and Hang in there everyone. Here I thought NVC was going to slow down due to holidays. I guess not. 

Hello,
For those still waiting. We got a cc.. more like just straight to interview email for US embassy Manila.
 
17 Nov I sent our NVC packet (IV/AOS)
26 Dec I noticed ceac changed to "At NVC" (no idea since when) and the AOS-paid on the login page is not there anymore. Just the IV/DS261.
28 Dec I got an email from AskNVC for an interview appointment at NVC Manila on 13FEB2018.
       No cc notice.  No mail in my wife's or my mailbox. ceac status still haven't changed from At NVC until now. 
       Didn't say anything about requesting missed documents either. Just says what to bring on the day of interview.
 
Happy Holidays and Hang in there everyone. Here I thought NVC was going to slow down due to holidays. I guess not. 

Hello,
For those still waiting. We got a cc.. more like just straight to interview email for US embassy Manila.
 
17 Nov I sent our NVC packet (IV/AOS)
26 Dec I noticed ceac changed to "At NVC" (no idea since when) and the AOS-paid on the login page is not there anymore. Just the IV/DS261.
28 Dec I got an email from AskNVC for an interview appointment at NVC Manila on 13FEB2018.
       No cc notice.  No mail in my wife's or my mailbox. ceac status still haven't changed from At NVC until now. 
       Didn't say anything about requesting missed documents either. Just says what to bring on the day of interview.
 
Happy Holidays and Hang in there everyone. Here I thought NVC was going to slow down due to holidays. I guess not. 

Hello,
For those still waiting. We got a cc.. more like just straight to interview email for US embassy Manila.
 
17 Nov I sent our NVC packet (IV/AOS)
26 Dec I noticed ceac changed to "At NVC" (no idea since when) and the AOS-paid on the login page is not there anymore. Just the IV/DS261.
28 Dec I got an email from AskNVC for an interview appointment at NVC Manila on 13FEB2018.
       No cc notice.  No mail in my wife's or my mailbox. ceac status still haven't changed from At NVC until now. 
       Didn't say anything about requesting missed documents either. Just says what to bring on the day of interview.
 
Happy Holidays and Hang in there everyone. Here I thought NVC was going to slow down due to holidays. I guess not. 

Hello,
For those still waiting. We got a cc.. more like just straight to interview email for US embassy Manila.
 
17 Nov I sent our NVC packet (IV/AOS)
26 Dec I noticed ceac changed to "At NVC" (no idea since when) and the AOS-paid on the login page is not there anymore. Just the IV/DS261.
28 Dec I got an email from AskNVC for an interview appointment at NVC Manila on 13FEB2018.
       No cc notice.  No mail in my wife's or my mailbox. ceac status still haven't changed from At NVC until now. 
       Didn't say anything about requesting missed documents either. Just says what to bring on the day of interview.
 
Happy Holidays and Hang in there everyone. Here I thought NVC was going to slow down due to holidays. I guess not. 

Our appointment was on December 11, 2017 @ 7:15am
 
We left Laoag City at 6:00pm the day prior and drove for about 9 hours and around 3:00 in the morning. Shortly after breakfast we headed to the US Embassy around 6:30 we went in, he guard checked his list to see if we had an appointment. after that he had to go through security check, now since our baby is bottle fed we brought hot water with us in a thermos. Be warned the lady makes you drink the water at the security check. 
 
When the Security screening was over we were directed towards the pavilion area where the US citizens sit. then we waited patiently until the guard at the door instructed the crba appointments to go through the door. Once we entered we were greeted by a nice lady at the front desk asking for our appointment printout. She then wrote down 3 steps,
Step 1 Pay fees at the cashier(in our case it as $205 or its peso equivalent, 100 for crba and 105 for passport)
Step 2 Pay Courier fee(Air21)
Step 3 Wait for name to be called
 
So after the lady gave us instructions we had to go through more security screening(which is such a hassle like what's the use). Then we went upstairs and straight to the cashier. While paying our baby's name was already being called so I had my wife go tell the nice lady at the window that I was still paying. After that we went to the window and I told her I haven't paid the courier fees yet but she said i was fine I can do it after.
 
As she looked over my documents she noticed that I didn't renew my filipino passport in 2009 when it expired and why it took so long for me to renew it, so I explained that at the time I had no intention of coming back home. So she asked what I did during the 5 years I didnt renew and I told her I just stayed in California the whole time and went to school, but of course during breaks and holidays we would go out of the state but not out of the country. I forgot to mention if you are a naturalized US citizen You need to show both your old US and Phil passports to show how many years you have been in the US they look at that to see if you're eligible or not. I think you need to have been in the US for 5 years and 2 of which are after the age of 14 or 16 but don't take  my word for it I'm bad with numbers. So after that question she asked what our child's age of gestation was when she was born and and she brought out her little calculator wheel to see if I was in the same location as my wife at the time of conception. At that point she really didnt have anything else to ask she even gave us a compliment at how complete our docs were.
 
After that she had us go pay the courier fees which weren't that much, I believe it didn't even exceed 300 pesos. The Air21 gave us something to fill out, we filled out two separate forms for the crba and passport when we finished filling it out he gave us our own copy of the receipt and two slips to give to the lady at the window. after handing the lady the slips, she had us sit down and wait for the interview.
 
Not even 5 minutes later our baby's name was called and we went to the interview room, it was quiet and It kind of gave a somber feeling. Our interviewer wasn't in there at first, I believe he arrived a few minutes later. He came in and set down and gave us a very big smile asked us to raise our right hand and we swore to tell the truth and handed us the crba and passport form to sign   began asking general questions, just ones about our evidence. He was a really nice guy, I think he's an american born filipino because his english was beyond perfect. any way he told us everything looked good and we were almost to the finish line, he just needed our wedding photos for documentation, which out of all the pictures I brought are the only ones I forgot. he said no worries and told us that even if we didnt have the pics that day they would still begin processing it but he said the pictures need to be sent to the embassy by courier before he can send the documents(crba and passport) to us.
 
everything went well and we were out of the embassy by 8:30am

But why is the process for this so opaque and misleading? It's very frustrating if you are expecting to pay $100 or $205 with passport, and then you're told that you will actually have to pay $800 for a DNA test. And if you can't afford to pay that before the 90 day time limit, then you have just made a $205 donation to the US Consulate: you lost your money.
I just think the Consulate should be more transparent and vocal about the DNA test. It seems that it's a legal issue (they are not allowed to require it) and so they tread lightly and tiptoe around the truth, misleading you into thinking that if you have all your papers in order, you won't need it, it's the exception to the rule. While in reality, in most of the cases, they will ask for a DNA test.
The lack of any clear instruction on what other evidence, besides a DNA test, would satisfy the blood relationship proof, also makes it more complicated than it should be.
How is it that everyone just seems to be like, "Ok another $800 bucks? No problem, not a big deal." Am I so much poorer than everyone else that popping an unexpected $800 fee is not a big deal to anyone except me?

Hi. Yes, it's kinda a lot.
Here's the checklist the US embassy (Manila, Philippines) requires
- Photos of applicant and parents
- Application for Consular Report of Birth Abroad (DS-2029)
- Affidavit of Parentage, Physical Presence and Support (DS-5507) If the parents were not married at the time of the birth of the applicant. (We didn't need this coz we are married before he was born)
- Application for a US passport (DS-11) (We applied too for a US passport to save trips going to US embassy)
- Statement of Consent (DS-3053) is required for passport applications for children under the age of 16 if only one parent is appearing for the interview. (We needed this coz my husband can't come here at the interview date)
PROOF OF IDENTITY AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
- Child's Birth Certificate
- Photo identification and growing-up photos of child
- Evidence of parent's US citizenship. (My husband sent me a notarized copy of his passport)
- Passport/Identification document for non US citizen parent
PHYSICAL PRESENCE/RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES
- Evidence of physical presence/residence
-----Income tax returns for 2012, 2013, and 2014
-----W2
-----High school/college transcripts
-----copy of his recent utility bills
-----copy of his driver's license
-----employment letter stating the date he started
- Parent's marriage certificate
BLOOD RELATIONSHIP
- Prenatal records and/or other evidence of mother's pregnancy
-----ultrasound copy
- Evidence of the couple's physical presence in the same location at the time of conception preferably original passports.
-----My husband had his passport photocopied in all pages to show the stamps
- Evidence of the couple's relationship prior to the conception of the applicant
-----We made a storybook on how we met, pictures from the first time we met, marriage pictures, and pictures when my husband came here when I delivered our baby.
I sent these documents to the US embassy for us to get an appointment date. They then sent me an email telling me that I lack some documents. Yay!
"During our review of your mail-in packet, we found that you are lacking the following documents:
Additional evidence of mother’s pregnancy. Examples may include but not limited to the following: ultrasound reports with sonograms, hospital records/bills, and/or other evidence of mother’s pregnancy Evidence of parents’ relationship prior to the conception of the child. Examples may include but no limited to photos, emails, etc. (arranged chronologically from the oldest document on top)" But it's also a good thing that they informed me this beforehand. I gathered again my hospital records, bills, operative report (cesarean section), discharge summary.
I also printed out some of our emails prior to the conception of the child, Skype screenshots, messenger screenshots.
We hear a lot of applicants being required DNA testing. We are not sure what's the US embassy's criteria for requiring this to some applicants but we, as much as possible, tried to avoid this by complying to all documents they want. DNA testing is kinda costly and also there are only few accredited specimen collection centers. There's only one in the Philippines. My husband will have to go to a different city for the collection of specimen. We also will have to schedule another trip again as we don't live in the same city where the collection center is.
Such an effort for us but it's all worth it.

Their year closes on Sept instead of Dec... they are on fiscal year instead of calendar year end so I won't count on that.

You won't get any notice, but the importance of the scan date is that's when you start counting down to case closed, or when you should expect something to happen. Currently its 6-7 weeks. 

I have been very friendly and given you the answer to all your questions (it's all in the link), but you keep insisting I'm wrong and that I give you the wrong info. It's hard to help someone who's asking for help, but then doesn't seem to want the help?

Is it spoon feeding you want, or..?

You can stay for a period of one (1) year.
BALIKBAYAN LAW
Republic Act No. 6768, also known as the Balikbayan Act of 1989, amended by Republic Act 9174 providing additional benefits to enable our "balikbayans" to become economically self-reliant members of society upon return to the Country.
Who is a Balikbayan?
1. Former Filipino citizens holding foreign passports, including spouses and children travelling with them2. Filipinos who have been continuously out of the Philippens for at least one (1) year
3. Overseas Filipino Workers
Benefits: (excerpts)
1. Travel tax exemptions as provided under Presidential decree 1183, EO No. 283, and other allied laws
2. Visa Free entry to the Philippines for a period of one (1) year for foreign passport holders
Hope this info helps. God Bless.

Wow ...very interesting that they didn't tell you either approved ,denied or rfe.....that would have me going crazy....
please keep us apprised as to what happens..thanks for sharing...

APPROVED! Yay!!!! *happy dance* It was only 2am here in the Philippines when I got my husband's message. Too happy that I had a hard time getting back to sleep. Lol. Tell me who can sleep with that great news, tell me! 😁

Kidding aside, really feeling so happy and grateful! Not to mention that next month I will be giving birth to our first baby. 👶
I can't wait for our little family to be together. Aahhh!!!
Thank you, Lord! 😍❤

For our dear fellow VJers, thank you for inspiring us with your stories!
For those who are still waiting, don't worry. You'll have your approval soon. Just hang on!

....and yup! It's gonna be worth it. 😉
 

*Service Ctr: Texas
*Priority Date: April 04, 2017
*NOA1: April 10, 2017
*NOA2: Sept. 11, 2017

APPROVED! Yay!!!! *happy dance* It was only 2am here in the Philippines when I got my husband's message. Too happy that I had a hard time getting back to sleep. Lol. Tell me who can sleep with that great news, tell me! 😁

Kidding aside, really feeling so happy and grateful! Not to mention that next month I will be giving birth to our first baby. 👶
I can't wait for our little family to be together. Aahhh!!!
Thank you, Lord! 😍❤

For our dear fellow VJers, thank you for inspiring us with your stories!
For those who are still waiting, don't worry. You'll have your approval soon. Just hang on!

....and yup! It's gonna be worth it. 😉
 

*Service Ctr: Texas
*Priority Date: April 04, 2017
*NOA1: April 10, 2017
*NOA2: Sept. 11, 2017

APPROVED! Yay!!!! *happy dance* It was only 2am here in the Philippines when I got my husband's message. Too happy that I had a hard time getting back to sleep. Lol. Tell me who can sleep with that great news, tell me! 😁

Kidding aside, really feeling so happy and grateful! Not to mention that next month I will be giving birth to our first baby. 👶
I can't wait for our little family to be together. Aahhh!!!
Thank you, Lord! 😍❤

For our dear fellow VJers, thank you for inspiring us with your stories!
For those who are still waiting, don't worry. You'll have your approval soon. Just hang on!

....and yup! It's gonna be worth it. 😉
 

*Service Ctr: Texas
*Priority Date: April 04, 2017
*NOA1: April 10, 2017
*NOA2: Sept. 11, 2017