biggish data

A big communication barrier

I use Skype on a yearly subscription with phone number. About $72/year. I purchase credits in $10 chunks to call China which is about 2 cents/min. I'll call China for 30-40 minutes at a time, can't even feel it. To save my cell minutes I use Skype a lot for daytime domestic calls. If you go with Skype yearly subscription, be forewarned, they will automatically renew your subscription and email you a notice to this effect. You can cancel at any time, but it will not go into effect until after your current subscription expires. Anyone else have a cheaper plan? I'm always game for saving money! But I don't want to sacrifice voice quality as my Skype is pretty decent.

Oh yes, I also do video chat with voice too. That's free. Most, if not all laptops/desktops sold these days have the camera and mic already built in. If you can set it up on both sides you'll have unlimited voice/video chat at no cost--assuming the equipment is already in place. And you can still type to your hearts content if you like.

UPDATE: I now see Skype is pretty expensive for the Philippines. Don't know why. Sorry. I'll leave the post here though as the info may be helpful to someone else.

floridadave

Male

China

2010-07-11 20:33:00

Received 2 emails from NVC

If you sent the 3032 by email, then you should have received an immediate "Auto Response" email saying something like, "Dear Sir/Madam:Thank you for your recent inquiry to the National Visa Center (NVC). This e-mail is an auto response. Please do not respond....." If you got this, then you do not need to send again. I received the same two emails and like yourself, I already sent the 3032 and I did not resend it a second time. No problems.

Of course, if you desire, you can always call NVC to double check your designated agents.

You're on the fast track now. Congratulations and good luck!

Edited by floridadave, 23 March 2012 - 01:01 AM.

floridadave

Male

China

2012-03-23 00:58:00

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions! Based on the recommendations of other VJ members, I'm gonna go with either the Casa Bocobo or Lotus Garden. Thanks again!

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2010-10-05 10:04:00

I think the question the OP asked was if Best Western La Corona in Manila was in a safe area. Most of the hotels mentioned are in the same general area, some closer to St. Luke’s, and some closer to the embassy. I have stayed all around that area, and in general it is safe. There is a nice Robinson’s shopping mall near there. So I think if you pick any of the hotels in that area, she should be fine. She will also most lickly find some friend(s) doing the same thing as here there as well.

Thank you so much! That's exactly what I needed to know since I know about all of the hotels in the area, and I was mainly concerned with the surrounding neighborhood. She'll just be going to the embassy and St. Luke's, so I wanted her to have a safe area in case she had some time to kill and needed to get something to eat, etc. She'll be staying inside the hotel at night, though.

Thanks again

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2010-09-30 11:38:00

[quote name='marriedtomrg' timestamp='1285695453' post='4209229']
Did a quick Google search within the VJ site and found this: http://www.visajourn...ines&cty=Manila

Scroll down to see a list of hotels near the Embassy; one of them was the Bayview Park Hotel, which is directly in front of the Embassy.

I know some of the other members here have also recommended Lotus Garden (for the medical).
[/quote

I saw that site also, and it is very helpful; I'm just wondering if the general area around the embassy is safe for a young woman to stay at or if I should find another neighborhood. Thanks a lot!

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2010-09-28 19:15:00

Has anyone ever stayed at the Best Western La Corona in Manila? I'm looking for a hotel for my fiancee to stay in while she is in Manila for the interview. I read all of the tripadvisor reviews, and it looks like a great hotel, except that some of the people voiced concerns about the safety of the neighborhood. My main concerns are 1) security and 2) convenience (location). Could someone tell me if this is a safe place to stay compared to another area close to the embassy, for example, the Diamond Hotel? Or, are all of the neighborhoods near the embassy basically the same?

Thanks so much!

-Andrew

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2010-09-28 12:29:00

Sorry to keep posting, but I'm still having issues. I've learned from this thread that I just need to keep trying until it eventually lets me schedule. However, I just have one question. Has anyone received the "case is not valid" error even AFTER the embassy sent out the instructions? I called the embassy yesterday, and they said our case was received Jan. 7 and the instructions mailed to my fiancee Jan. 18. So, if they mailed out the instructions (which I have already downloaded from the internet), shouldn't my case already be in their system? That's what is confusing me because when I call the call center, they said maybe the embassy hasn't set it up in the system to schedule an interview, but when I called the embassy, she just told me to call the call center because I should be able to schedule. Did anyone else have this problem?

Thank you

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-20 09:22:00

Format for the MNL number is ; MNL123456789
There were two error messages I would receive, I don't recall them exactly, but one had 3 items listed to check. I got that message anytime I enter info incorrectly.
The other message was a one line message, again I don't recall the exact message, but this was how I knew I was entering the info correctly, but just not active yet.
When you call the call center and they try and if they can not schedule, you will know it is only because your case is not active.
Just keep trying after that, eventually it will go through.

I'm finally getting that message that you got "case number is invalid" (Thank the Lord!) Just a tip for everyone who hasn't scheduled yet, try putting the date after you paid the visa fee. That was the reason I was getting a different error message b/c my fiancee paid on Jan. 17, but the payment was validated on Jan. 18. It's a relief to know that now I just have to wait for them to put my case in the system =).

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-19 12:42:00

I doubt if the Embassy has entered your physical case file into their system yet. However, since your physical case file arrived at the Embassy on the 12th, it won't be much longer before it is entered into their system and you will be able to schedule an interview appointment either online or by phone.

The waiting is agonizing isn't it?

Yea, you're probably right. Hopefully, they'll enter it this week so I can schedule an interview for early February since I'm hoping to go get her in March =). Yep, I'm getting anxious, but I know the Lord's in control :thumbs:

Besides, the wait is not half as bad as the 5 1/2 month wait for the NOA2!! There's still a few July filers waiting on that one!

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-18 09:50:00

Actually, I do know the answer to your question because a friend did it through the call center. The call center then sent her an email with the "Address Confirmation Sheet" attached.
I know because she sent it to me to help her open it. They assigned the password and gave it to her. I couldn't open it either. If I remember right, I think she had to have them resend it.

Thanks, again. I'll give it a try and let you know how it worked out.

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-17 17:32:00

Format for the MNL number is ; MNL123456789
There were two error messages I would receive, I don't recall them exactly, but one had 3 items listed to check. I got that message anytime I enter info incorrectly.
The other message was a one line message, again I don't recall the exact message, but this was how I knew I was entering the info correctly, but just not active yet.
When you call the call center and they try and if they can not schedule, you will know it is only because your case is not active.
Just keep trying after that, eventually it will go through.

Thanks again for the info, Richard. I tried it 3 times, entering the same info each time, so I'm thinking the embassy hasn't been notified of the payment yet. I'll try to call the call center tonight and see if they can schedule it. I figure my case is already in the system since it left the NVC on January 7, but I'll call them and see. I followed that format (MNL plus the 10 numerical digits), so I'm thinking they probably just haven't been notified of my fiancee's payment as of yesterday (Philippines time). You may not know this since you scheduled online, but if I schedule it on the phone, will I get any email confirmation of the interview? I was reading on this forum, and everyone was saying that downloaded the appointment letter and got their UID off the scheduling website. I don't know if it's different if you schedule on the phone.

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-17 17:21:00

hi....

tried many times and same message appears.....

double checked each entry before hitting the proceed button.....
and it says the same.....

question..... when entering the MNL number, do you add the symbol #?
what i type is simply MNLxxxxxxxxxx and not MNL#xxxxxxxxxx

i plan to call them up tomorrow.....
wish me luck !!!!

I see that you eventually got your interview scheduled. How did you get it to work? I'm still getting the same message you received above...

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-17 13:01:00

interview sched..

Yep, Feb. 4

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-22 14:03:00

Warning - Interview Scheduling Manila

Thankfully, it was resolved today. I tried those instructions but couldn't find the link they were referring to. That's okay, though, because I called the call center today, and they scheduled the interview for February 4. Thank you, Lord!

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-22 14:03:00

Warning - Interview Scheduling Manila

Did you ever get it to work? I logged in to my profile but couldn't find a way to edit it...

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-21 19:49:00

Warning - Interview Scheduling Manila

I just want to post this as a warning to other VJ members who are trying to schedule an appointment online for an interview in Manila. I was applying today, and when I got to the very end (the part where you select the interview date), I was double checking to make sure I didn't pick a date too early (before my documents arrive that she needs for her interview), and I know I had not left it idle more than 30 seconds when the session expired!!! Unfortunately, there is no way to log back in and pick up where I left off, and when I try to start over, it says "Fee payment receipt date already used." I've tried everything (cancel appointment, reschedule appointment, starting from scratch), and nothing works. I was able to download my appointment letter, and it says my interview is scheduled, but there is no interview date. Unless someone else has a solution, the only thing I know to do is to call the call center to get them to fix it, but I think they're only open Mon-Fri (Manila time). Does anyone know if they will be open on Saturday? I really want to get this off my chest and not have to wait until Monday...

Anyway, I hope this saves someone else the stress I've been through this morning, and I welcome any advice.

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-21 11:58:00

St Lukes - Quick Qa

Casa Bocobo is just down the street from St. Luke's. Some others on VJ recommended it.

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-24 09:57:00

Share some Filipino Recipes!

I enjoyed trying lechon kawali when I was in the Philippines for the first time. it's got a nice salty flavor to it like some American meats. We love our pork in America =).

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-26 16:56:00

2GO Visa Delivery

pretty sure you can.. because once visa is approved you will be given another form to fill out which includes the shipping info.

Thanks for the response! I'll tell my fiancee about it so she can change it at the interview

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-02-01 11:05:00

2GO Visa Delivery

Does anyone know if you can change your delivery preference after your interview has been scheduled? When I scheduled my fiancée's interview, I entered her home address because I assumed they needed it. I did it in a rush, so I never saw anything on the interview website about having the visa delivered to a 2GO branch instead of the home address because I assumed that was something she would do after her interview. I want to change it now so that she can pick it up at a 2GO location rather than having to wait for it to be delivered at her house. Is this something she can change at the embassy after her interview? Her interview is Friday, and I don't even want to mess with the online interview website until after her interview because I had so many problems on there lol.

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-31 13:19:00

What is the best time of the day to go PRISM/CFO

Thanks for all the responses and the link showing the requirement. I did some more research and based on the posts, we're just gonna plan on her going to PRISM while she waits for the interview and then go to the Cebu CFO office to complete the registration once she has her visa in hand.

Thanks again!

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-25 15:11:00

What is the best time of the day to go PRISM/CFO

Only suggestion I have is stay away from Cfo/Cebu ... that place had me steaming mad for a month

Can I ask why? I don't know much about the CFO seminar, and my fiancée was planning on attending the one in Cebu since it's on her island, and because I was under the impression that you had to have your visa prior to the seminar. So, she was just going to attend that when she got back home. Was it a bad experience? Also, is it REALLY mandatory? I never found anything on the embassy website about it. The first I heard about it was on VJ.

Thanks

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-24 15:01:00

no vaccinations records for St.Lukes medical exam

I wouldn't worry about it. I had the same concerns, but my fiancée just had her medical exam yesterday, and she also lost her vaccination records from her childhood. They asked her if she wanted to have the shots at St. Luke's or in the U.S. and she told them at St. Luke's (you might as well since it's included in the price). They just gave her 2 shots (MMR and Tdap), and she'll get the rest in the U.S.

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-02-01 10:18:00

nvc

USCIS number is that a receipt number?

USCIS number start with letter A?

Just press the number to speak to the operator (I think it's 5). It's a lot easier, and they can give you more info like your case # and when it left the NVC.

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-02-01 11:13:00

nvc

I scheduled my fiancee's interview a week before she even got the letter with her MNL case number on it. Go ahead and call NVC every day after your NOA2 and ask to speak to the operator. I never could get mine by using the automated system, but the operator gave me the MNL case number. Also, check your hard copy of the NOA2 and see what it says. My NOA2 said that my case had been forwarded to the consulate, which means it had already left the NVC.

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-31 09:58:00

Vaccination Records

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-02-01 10:17:00

Picking Up Visa In Manila

After doing a little searching on the topic I Just wanted to verify that they no longer allow for Visa pick up at the embassy after the interview, correct?

If so, is there any way that i can pick it up at the closest 2go location in manila?

My SO is from Cebu and she will be staying in Manila till its ready to be picked up. The only thing is we decided this after i set up her appointment and on the appointment letter they say they will send it to cebu 2go location.

will this be a problem? And does anyone know how long it takes to be able to pick up the Visa from the 2go in manila?

Thanks in advance.

Hmmm, I need to know the answer to this, too lol. I didn't even realize you could select that when you schedule the interview...

Faith & Andz

Male

Philippines

2011-01-31 13:21:00