After the Interview
The Immigrant Visa unit uses a guaranteed courier service to deliver issued visas. 2GO commercial courier is the authorized courier service provider for the visa units. Visas are delivered directly to the applicant’s designated address at no additional cost. Applicants also have the option to pick up the visas at the nearest 2GO branch.
Applicants do not need to return to the Embassy to pick up their issued visas.
- Validity of visas
Generally, an immigrant visa is valid for six (6) months from the date of issuance. The validity of a visa, however, may also be limited because of medical restrictions or other reasons. If an applicant knows that departure will not be possible within this period, he or she should request to have the interview moved to a later date. The Embassy does not extend the validity of an issued visa. However, an expired visa may be replaced if the applicant is able to demonstrate that his/her inability to use the visa was due to circumstances beyond his/her control. If an applicant is determined to be eligible for a replacement visa, he/she will be asked to update his record and will be charged the applicable consular fees.
To request a replacement visa, the expired visa needs to be surrendered at the Embassy with a letter explaining the reasons why the visa was not used.
- Pre Departure Orientation Seminar
Philippine law requires all departing Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad to attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Only emigrants aged 12 years and younger are exempted from attending the PDOS. Although this is not a U.S. Government requirement, we do make this information available to all fiancé(e) and immigrant visa applicants. An information sheet regarding the CFO/PDOS seminar is attached to a visa packet to ensure that applicants are aware of this requirement.
For additional information (registration and counseling requirements, PDOS schedule, and schedule of guidance and counseling sessions), the applicant may visit CFO’s website at: http://www.cfo.gov.ph.
During the visa interview, the consular officer determines if additional documents are required to help establish your eligibility for visa issuance. Though additional documents are not statutorily required, applicants should submit secondary documents to help establish their qualifications. When you are asked to provide additional information or supporting documents, your application is generally refused under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. A consular sheet is given to you after the interview indicating the additional documentation you should provide and the procedure for submitting them to the Embassy.
Applicants should use the 2GO courier service to submit documents to the Immigrant Visa Unit. Information on the procedure may be found at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph.
The Embassy may also conduct further administrative review to determine the qualifications of applicants to be eligible for visa issuance.
When these extra steps are taken, visa issuance may be delayed. Applicants are advised not to finalize their travel arrangements until they have been issued visas.
NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO) DOCUMENTS
For applicants who were refused visa issuance under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) for lack of civil documents from the National Statistics Office (NSO), please follow the instructions below:
Instructions to the applicant
After your interview, you can obtain the documents listed on the Reverification Form in one of three ways. The Reverification Form will be given at the releasing window to those who were refused under 221(g) of the INA for lack of civil documents.
OPTION #1 Submit the Reverification Form in person at the Pasay City NSO outlet
- Go to the Pasay City NSO outlet.
- Complete the colored NSO document request form provided at the NSO outlet.
- Submit BOTH the colored NSO document request form AND the Reverification Form to the NSO clerk.
- Pay the required fee. Keep your receipt. This serves as proof you submitted the form to NSO.
NOTE: This form will only be accepted in person at the Pasay City NSO outlet.
OPTION #2 Call the NSO Helpline Plus to request your documents
- Call (632) 737-1111 (long distance charges apply outside Metro Manila).
- Tell the Customer Care Officer you have a Reverification Form from the U.S. Embassy.
- Answer the Customer Care Officer’s questions about the needed documents.
- Follow the Customer Care Officer’s instructions to pay for the documents.
OPTION #3 Use the NSO e-census website to request your documents
- Go to www.e-census.com.ph
- Click on “Request for copies of Birth/Marriage/Death Certificate/CENOMAR (Singleness).”
- Follow the instructions for using a Reverification Form from the U.S. Embassy.
- Follow the instructions to pay for the documents.
NSO will submit the requested documents directly to the U.S. Embassy. You should then wait to hear from the U.S. Embassy about the status of your visa application. All inquiries regarding your visa application should be directed to the U.S. Embassy Immigrant Visa (IV) inquiry line at (632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185.
Ineligibilities and Available Waivers
Click here to find out what the ineligibilities are for visa issuance and what waivers are available.
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DHS/USCIS:
"Starting, Monday, June 4, 2012, waiver applications (I-601, Application for Waiver on Grounds of Inadmissibility), and I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal must be mailed directly to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The appropriate address and filing instructions are on the USCIS website.
For additional information, please click this link.
- http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023/waiver-applications.html(under the navigation panel, Waiver Applications)
Forms I-601 and I-212
If you reside overseas and a Department of State Consular officer has found that you are ineligible to enter the United States based on an inadmissibility ground that may be waived, you may apply for a waiver by filing Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility. Depending on the applicable inadmissibility grounds, you may also need to file Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission Into the United States After Deportation or Removal.
Where to File
Beginning June 4, 2012, you must mail your waiver application and supporting evidence directly to a USCIS Lockbox. The appropriate address and filing instructions are on the USCIS website.
This may provide you with faster and more efficient application processing and will enable you to track your case status online. You may also request an email or text message confirming receipt of your waiver by completing and attaching Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance to your application.
If You Have Already Begun the Process
If you have already mailed your application to this office and:
- It is received between June 4 and July 3, 2012, we will process it here.
- It is received after July 3, 2012, we will return it to you. Please mail your application directly to a USCIS Lockbox. The appropriate address and filing instructions are on the USCIS website.
If you already have an appointment to file your application at this office before July 3, you may either keep your appointment, or cancel your appointment and mail your application to a USCIS Lockbox. The appropriate address and filing instructions are on the USCIS website.
Expeditious Adjudication of Form I-601
Applicants for Waivers of Inadmissibility, Form I-601, may request that the USCIS office expedite adjudication of the I-601 waiver application when there are extraordinary circumstances that are time-sensitive, compelling, and necessitate the applicant’s presence in the United States sooner than would be possible if the application were processed under normal processing times. The strong desire to immigrate to the United States as soon as possible is not by itself “extraordinary.”
A request to expedite adjudication must be made in writing and delivered to the USCIS Field Office Director. The applicant must provide evidence of the extraordinary and compelling circumstances. If the request to expedite the adjudication of an I-601 waiver is approved, the USCIS office will notify the applicant within 15 days of receipt of the request. If no response is received within 15 days, the applicant must presume the request for the expeditious adjudications has been denied. Please be aware that approval to expedite adjudication of an I-601 wavier application does not guarantee approval of the I-601 waiver application, but only the consideration and adjudication of the I-601 waiver application will be expeditiously handled.
Additional information may be found at the USCIS Manila Field Office website located at:
The Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/USCIS) has sole authority over the acceptance, processing and adjudication of waiver applications. Future inquiries regarding this application should be directed to the DHS/USCIS office at Embassy Manila by telephone at (632) 301-2000, extension 2224 or by fax at (632) 301-2208 (Attention: Field Officer Director). Inquiries can also be made by e-mail at mphinqiry.cis@dhs.gov.“