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Integrity Legal

Posts Tagged ‘US Embassy Philippines’

4th February 2011

The following is quoted directly from the official website of the United States Embassy in Manila, Philippines:

Holiday Nationality Legal Date Closing Date
New Year’s Day U.S./PHL Fri, Jan 1 Fri, Dec. 31, 2010
M. L. King Jr. Day U.S. Mon, Jan 17 Mon, Jan 17, 2011
President’s Day U.S. Mon, Feb 21 Mon, Feb 21
Bataan & Corregidor / Heroism Day PHL Sat, Apr 9 Sat, Apr 9
Maundy Thursday PHL Thurs, Apr 21 Thurs, Apr 21
Good Friday PHL Fri, Apr 22 Fri, Apr 22
Philippine Labor Day PHL Sun, May 1 Sun, May 1
Memorial Day U.S. Mon, May 30 Mon, May 30
Philippine Independence Day PHL Sun, Jun 12 Sun, Jun 12
U.S. Independence Day U.S. Mon, Jul 4 Mon, Jul 4
Ninoy Aquino Day PHL Sun, Aug 21 Sun, Aug 21
National Heroes Day PHL Mon, Aug 29 Mon, Aug 29
U.S. Labor Day U.S. Mon, Sept 5 Mon, Sept 5
Eid-ul-Fitr PHL TBD TBD
Columbus Day U.S. Mon, Oct 10 Mon, Oct 10
All Saints’ Day PHL Tues, Nov 1 Tues, Nov 1
Veterans Day U.S. Fri, Nov 11 Fri, Nov 11
Thanksgiving Day U.S. Thurs, Nov 24 Thur, Nov 11
Bonifacio Day PHL Wed, Nov 30 Wed, Nov 30
Christmas Day U.S./PHL Sun, Dec 25 Mon, Dec 26
Rizal Day PHL Fri, Dec 30 Fri, Dec 30
Last Day of the Year PHL Sat, Dec 31 Sat, Dec 31

Those wishing to visit the official homepage of the United States Embassy in Manila, Philippines please click HERE.

Those seeking services which can only be performed at a US Embassy or US Consulate abroad such as issuance of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, US Passport, or additional visa pages for a previously issued US Passport are well advised to contact an American Citizen Services Section of the nearest post with Consular jurisdiction over one’s place of abode. Those seeking assistance from an American Citizen Services Section of a US Post abroad are well advised to try to make an appointment in advance as doing so can greatly streamline the processing of one’s request.

Those seeking non-immigrant visas such as a B-2 visa (US tourist visa), B-1 visa (US business visa), J-1 visa (US exchange visitor visa), or an F-1 visa (US student visa) are likely to see their application processed by a Non-Immigrant Visa Unit at a US Post abroad. It should be noted that those seeking most non-immigrant visa categories are likely to have their application scrutinized pursuant to section 214(b) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act.

Those seeking Immigrant visas such as the CR-1 visa or the IR-1 visa may be required to process an immigration petition in the USA prior to applying for a visa abroad. Those seeking a K-1 visa, a non-immigrant US fiance visa, will likely see their visa application processed in much the same manner as the immigrant visa categories.

Those seeking employment visas such as the L-1 visa for intra-company transferees or the EB-5 visa for immigrant investors will most likely be required to process an immigration petition in the USA prior to submitting a visa application at a US Post abroad.

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4th December 2010

Those who read this blog on a regular basis will no doubt realize that when new information regarding Consular processing comes out this administration tries to post it in an effort to provide insight to those processing a visa application through the relevant Post. It recently came to this blogger’s attention that the United States Embassy in Manila, Philippines is changing their protocols for Immigrant visa processing. The following is a brief quotation from the official website of the US Embassy in Manila:

Effective December 1, 2010, various changes to immigrant visa services are as follows:

  • Immigrant visa applicants whose appointments have not been scheduled through the National Visa Center (NVC) (i.e., immigrant visa petitions approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services Manila) may request a visa appointment by visiting the U.S. Embassy in Manila’s Visa Information and Appointment Service online at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph or by calling (632) 982-5555. The Visa Information and Appointment Service is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Manila time), except on U.S. and Philippine holidays. Callers in the U.S. should call (214) 571-1600, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Callers are able to speak with an English-, Tagalog-, Ilocano- or Cebuano-speaking operator.
  • Visa Information and Appointment Service representatives can provide information on visa appointment-related inquiries only. Inquiries on a specific case may be directed to the Immigrant Visa (IV) Unit by e-mail at [email protected] or by fax at (632) 301-2591. Petitioners and applicants may also call the IV Inquiry line at (632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185 during normal business hours.
  • Immigrant visa applicants who have been scheduled by the NVC for a visa appointment at the Embassy are required to visit the online appointment website to register their delivery address.
  • K visa applicants who have been notified by the Embassy to prepare for their interview, must pay the visa application fee of $350 before they can request a visa appointment via the online appointment website or the Visa Call Center

It should be noted that the above quotation does not encompass all of the information provided upon the official website. Those interested in obtaining further information are encouraged to correspond directly with either an American immigration attorney or the US Embassy in the Philippines.

The Consular Processing phase is usually the last phase of the US visa process for those with immigrant intent. Although in certain cases, a 221g refusal may be issued if the adjudicating Consular Officer feels that further documentation is required to process an application. Furthermore, a visa application may be denied if it is found that a legal grounds of inadmissibility exists in a given case. Under such circumstances, it may be possible to remedy the denial through use of an I-601 waiver of inadmissibility.

In American family based visa cases, the Immigrant Visa Unit of a US Consulate abroad is responsible for the adjudication of a visa application for those seeking a K1 visa, K3 visa, CR-1 visa, or an IR-1 visa.  Those seeking a non-immigrant visa such as a B1 visa (US Business Visa), B2 visa (US Tourist Visa), F1 visa (US Student Visa), or J1 visa (Cultural Exchange Visa) must interview with an adjudicator at the Non-immigrant visa unit of the Post with Consular jurisdiction to adjudicate a visa application.

For related information please see: US Embassy Philippines.

more Comments: 04

13th August 2010

The following is the holiday closing schedule for the United States Embassy in the Philippines quoted directly from the official Embassy website:

Holiday Nationality Legal Date Closing Date
New Year’s Day U.S./PHL Fri, Jan 1 Fri, Jan 1
M. L. King Jr. Day U.S. Mon, Jan 18 Mon, Jan 18
President’s Day U.S. Mon, Feb 15 Mon, Feb 15
Maundy Thursday PHL Thurs, Apr 1 Thur, Apr 1
Good Friday PHL Fri, Apr 2 Fri, Apr 2
Bataan & Corregidor / Heroism Day PHL Fri, Apr 9 Fri, Apr 9
Labor Day PHL Sat, May 1 Sat, May 1
National Presidential and Local Elections PHL Mon, May 10 Mon, May 10
Memorial Day U.S. Mon, May 31 Mon, May 31
Independence Day PHL Sat, Jun 12 Mon, Jun 14
Independence Day U.S. Sun, July 4 Mon, July 5
Ninoy Aquino Day PHL Sat, Aug 21 Mon, Aug 23
National Heroes Day PHL Mon, Aug 30 Mon, Aug 30
Labor Day U.S. Mon, Sept 6 Mon, Sept 6
Eid-ul-Fitr (Subject to Proclamation) PHL TBD TBD
Columbus Day U.S. Mon, Oct 11 Mon, Oct 11
All Saints’ Day PHL Mon, Nov 1 Mon, Nov 1
Veterans Day U.S. Thurs, Nov 11 Thur, Nov 11
Thanksgiving Day U.S. Thurs, Nov 25 Thur, Nov 25
Bonifacio Day PHL Tues, Nov 30 Mon, Nov 29
Christmas Day U.S./PHL Sat, Dec 25 Fri, Dec 24
Rizal Day PHL Mon, Dec 27 Mon, Dec 27
New Year’s Day (CY 2011) U.S./PHL Sat, Jan 1 Fri, Dec 31Th

The administration of this blog frequently posts information such as this in an effort to forestall needless trips to US Embassies and Consulates abroad. This author has traveled to more than one US Embassy abroad only to find the facilities closed in observance of an American or local holiday.

Many Americans overseas find that they require services which can, sometimes, only be performed by an American Citizen Services (ACS) Section of a US Consulate or Embassy abroad.  Services such as this include, but are not limited to: US passport obtainment, visa page addition, promulgation of a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or notarial services. In situations where services such as these are sought, Americans are well-advised to check the official website of the US Mission in their area in order to ascertain if appointments with ACS can be booked online. This can greatly streamline the processing of an American’s request as the Consular Officers can be put on notice of the appointment and also, in some cases, of the services sought.

Those seeking visas from a United States Mission abroad should check with the Mission’s Visa Unit in order ascertain how visa interview appointments should be scheduled. Often Immigrant visa applications are handled differently compared to non-immigrant applications (for those interested in US family visa obtainment, the K1 visa [Fiance Visa] is usually treated as an immigrant visa for application processing purposes).

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