Among all of the world’s nations, one of the largest groups currently seeking immigration to the US is Filipinos. Apparently those numbers are causing some challenges for people trying to set Embassy appointments for the final stages of the K-1 fiancée visa application process.
In order to better accommodate everyone’s requests for visa appointment times that better suit their busy schedules, the US Embassy in Manila has initiated a new telephone reservation system. The new phone system is for any person making an application for a US family-class immigrant visa including K-3 spousal visas as well as K-1 fiancée visas. The phone system can be accessed either from the Philippines or the United States. Effective March 2008, it is the responsibility of the applicant to call the Visa Information Service and set a time for the actual visa interview.
When calling to make an appointment for the K-1 or K-3 visa interview or for any other type of visa, the applicant will need to know their Embassy Case Number assigned by the National Visa Center (NVC) in New Hampshire. Applicants calling from the United States will dial 1-888-877-9888 to reach the United States Visa Information Service. Operators are available speaking either Filipino or English and applicants are entitled to three calls of unlimited length for a flat fee of US$18.00 made payable using either a MasterCard or Visa.
If you are seeking a K-1 or K-3 visa in Manila or will be making the call for an interview appointment from anywhere else in the Philippines then you will need to call the Philippines Visa Information Service at 1-909-101-7878. Operators are available in either language at this number Monday through Friday and the calls cost just under a dollar a minute.
Applicants who need to reschedule the interview for any reason may call those same numbers for that purpose. The US Embassy in Manila requests that any changes to appointment times be made at least 24 hours in advance of the interview.