Waiting Time for Settlement Visa

[andypaul]

Recently My Wife rang Cava to apply for a spouse Visa Interview. She was given a date In october. Which was an ideal time for us for so that i could get Leave at work and both of us plan all the last details.

So our wait time is approximatly 12 weeks which is fair enough for the time of the year. As its seems to be the time most applications submitted.

Anyway i clicked on the wrong link in my favourites today and it was the uk visas waiting times page. It quotes 45 weeks for manila at the moment this surely can't be right?

I presume its was either a typing error or security has tightened up after 7/7.

[walesrob]

Originally posted by andypaul@Jul 28 2005, 10:45 PM


I presume its was either a typing error or security has tightened up after 7/7.

Quoted post


45 weeks? That must be an error surely?

Pete? What do you reckon?

[Admin]

You find the UK page quotes 'worse case scenario'. My wife's UK passport was quoted as 9 months, it took 6 weeks, her VISA renewal quoted at 3 months, took 2 days!!!

[peterdavid]

Originally posted by admin@Jul 29 2005, 07:55 AM
You find the UK page quotes 'worse case scenario'. My wife's UK passport was quoted as 9 months, it took 6 weeks, her VISA renewal quoted at 3 months, took 2 days!!!

Quoted post


I think they're a bit speedier in the UK than out at the Embassy, who have only just received the official memo informing them of the demise of the shilling and its replacement with this new fangled decimal system idea. It'll never catch on, apparently.

6 weeks is probably the average waiting time for a settlement visa - if they're quoting October, they're either getting busier than normal, or they're just getting even more inefficient.

If immigration in the UK says 3 months, it'll be done in half the time. If the Embassy says 3 months, expect to wait at least 6.

[ginapeterb]

Pete? What do you reckon?


The official waiting time quoted is 13 weeks for Manila, I got this from the Hansard reviews in Parliament, Manila is one of the longest waiting times, of course, who knows with them, not my favourite pals right now, but tell you what,

I am back in country on or around 15th-22nd August I will ask for you, dont hold you breath, they dont exactly like me very much, but I can but try, first, I have to get past the Philippine Marines, a packet of fags each should do the trick.

Then there is the private securitty guard, again same thing a packet of fags, 30 pesos each, not bad, only spent 90 pesos so far.

Then there is the reception at the ground floor Locsin Building, some grinning Filipina with a smile, that looks like a possum eating a sweet potatoe (cant let you in sir, policy)

Then a security check, and a lift to the 15th floor, then just maybe..just maybe I might find out the information you want, but listen pal, if you go out there, dont pinch the yellow lamp post on the pavement, thats Mine....know what I mean..I stand there, thats why I have a bright yellow stripe up my Fred Perry shirt, and one up my ass.

Question: whats the difference between the British Embassy Manila and a toilet ?

Answer: You can flush a toilet !!!

[Admin]

not my favourite pals right nowWonder why? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :lol:

[andypaul]

LOL Pete I know what you mean the Embassy does seem tough to get in even when you have business there and all the correct ID.

Both the Wife and Me are ok with our date for the Interview (would like sooner but then I would like to win the Lottery but lifes never perfect)

But any one looking at the latest waiting time on the web page would be seriously annoyed that the date has gone from about 4 or so weeks a few months back to 45!!!

Your comments should have given some hope to those yet to put in application.

I was surprised that My Wife was told during the call to CAVA, that the Embassy would pick up certain Paperwork before the date of the Interview. Is this a new procedure? It seems it changes every few months.

[walesrob]

Originally posted by andypaul@Jul 30 2005, 09:54 PM

I was surprised that My Wife was told during the call to CAVA, that the Embassy would pick up certain Paperwork before the date of the Interview. Is this a new procedure? It seems it changes every few months.

Quoted post


Its changed again? I know up until August last year, CAVA acted as a courier service for the whole visa process, meaning you sent the application and all supporting documents and passports, etc and then the Embassy checks, verifies, and if they are happy, return the passport with a visa via CAVA. This all changed after the chaos with the problems in Romaina and Bulgaria.

I'm thinking maybe they've partially gone back to using CAVA, but this time to process applications, and to let the Embassy deny or grant visas.

I dunno why they need to keep changing the system all the time, it only leads to confusion, especially when the Manila Embassy website seems to give contradictory information.

[Admin]

especially when the Manila Embassy website seems to give contradictory information. They still think the site is correct, remember that they don't know yet Harold Wilson lost the election!! :lol:

[andypaul]

Originally posted by walesrob@Jul 30 2005, 10:18 PM
Its changed again? I know up until August last year, CAVA acted as a courier service for the whole visa process, meaning you sent the application and all supporting documents and passports, etc and then the Embassy checks, verifies, and if they are happy, return the passport with a visa via CAVA. This all changed after the chaos with the problems in Romaina and Bulgaria.

I'm thinking maybe they've partially gone back to using CAVA, but this time to process applications, and to let the Embassy deny or grant visas.

I dunno why they need to keep changing the system all the time, it only leads to confusion, especially when the Manila Embassy website seems to give contradictory information.

Quoted post



Well hopefully it means my Wife will stop worrying about how she will carry the excessive weight which is the Paperwork we have collected and which is growing by the day :D

Hopefully it also reduce the waiting time for the Applicants once inside the Embassy.

I have a feeling its wishful thinking but one can always hope.

What happened in Romaina and Bulgaria?

Just hope if the Embassy have reservations about the paperwork they give us the Chance to provide evidence to counter that claim.

Having read a site which speclizes in Imgration matters from all over the world a lot of the Embassies in potential hotspots like pakistan etc. Try to avoid having the Applicants enter the embasy due to security concerns.

[andypaul]

Originally posted by admin@Jul 31 2005, 09:26 AM
They still think the site is correct, remember that they don't know yet Harold Wilson lost the election!! :lol:

Quoted post



What he did next your be telling me we will have a Lady Primeminster :o

[walesrob]

Originally posted by andypaul@Jul 31 2005, 11:41 AM

What happened in Romaina and Bulgaria?


Quoted post


Click here UK Diplomat Punished for Immigration Leak (http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-14-2004-55471.asp)

Seems they were fast tracking visas to anyone and everyone..

[andypaul]

Originally posted by walesrob@Jul 31 2005, 12:29 PM
Click here UK Diplomat Punished for Immigration Leak (http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-14-2004-55471.asp)

Seems they were fast tracking visas to anyone and everyone..

Quoted post



Thanks Rob i remeber now reading and hearing about that now. Just shows you how our lifes can be affected by events all over the world now.

Just hope that we have no problems with the latest procedure.

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by walesrob@Jul 30 2005, 10:18 PM
I'm thinking maybe they've partially gone back to using CAVA, but this time to process applications, and to let the Embassy deny or grant visas.


Quoted post

I'm pretty sure I read today on the embassy puzzle page that settlement visas have to be done in person, not by courier.

Whereabouts does it give the average waiting time on the web page, as I never saw anything like that today in the few hours I spent working my way round the maze.
Cheers, Paul

[ginapeterb]

Originally posted by Pauldo@Sep 4 2005, 08:33 PM
I'm pretty sure I read today on the embassy puzzle page that settlement visas have to be done in person, not by courier.

Whereabouts does it give the average waiting time on the web page, as I never saw anything like that today in the few hours I spent working my way round the maze.
Cheers, Paul

Quoted post



The average waiting time for the British Embassy in Manila, is currently 13 weeks, the next batch of appointments are for October 2005, (accurate trust me)

[peterdavid]

Originally posted by Pauldo@Sep 4 2005, 08:33 PM
I'm pretty sure I read today on the embassy puzzle page that settlement visas have to be done in person, not by courier.


Quoted post


It's both. You need to ring the courier to collect the visa, and pay them for the privilege (even if, like us, you lived a stone's throw from the Embassy in Makati), and then they get in touch and tell you when to go for your interview.

So you still get the fun of queuing outside in the heat, only now, you've paid the courier a day's philippine wages just to collect your package from you as well.

Or something like that - it keeps changing and may have changed again - for a while they experimented on giving straightforward settlement visas out with NO interview!! Can you imagine how good those golden days must have been?

Another possibility they may be doing now is no longer having the courier pick up your stuff for a settlement visa, but you still need to ring their expensive rip off premium rate number which only about 3 phone lines in the Philippines are able to connect to (woe betide you if you don't have pldt, they make it as hard as possible for you right from the first phone call), i order to book an interview date.

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by peterdavid@Sep 6 2005, 08:15 PM
It's both. You need to ring the courier to collect the visa, and pay them for the privilege (even if, like us, you lived a stone's throw from the Embassy in Makati), and then they get in touch and tell you when to go for your interview.

Quoted post

My wife called the Manila embassy yesterday, from the UK. She was told you have to phone them to make an appointment, then they give you a date to roll up personally and hand in your application. (13 weeks wait currently)

They will eyeball the paperwork there and then, and decide if you will be one of the lucky ones to be granted a visa that day. It may take two weeks to issue the visa. (course, 'two weeks' in the Philippines means 'less than a year')

If they want an official 'sit down' interview it can take many more weeks to wait for that.

'course, that was yesterday Today may be totally different :(

[Admin]

That's the problem with Embassies/Immigration they change the rules without notice.

Twice we sent immigration papers off to the IND to sort out the wife's citizenship, and twice they sent them back saying they had new forms now, and all this in 3 months!!! ;)

[walesrob]

Originally posted by Pauldo@Sep 7 2005, 07:54 AM
My wife called the Manila embassy yesterday, from the UK. She was told you have to phone them to make an appointment, then they give you a date to roll up personally and hand in your application. (13 weeks wait currently)

They will eyeball the paperwork there and then, and decide if you will be one of the lucky ones to be granted a visa that day. It may take two weeks to issue the visa. (course, 'two weeks' in the Philippines means 'less than a year')

If they want an official 'sit down' interview it can take many more weeks to wait for that.

'course, that was yesterday Today may be totally different :(

Quoted post


Wow they changed it again? Elsa must have been the lucky one - she called CAVA in late December (she also had to pay ££££££££££££££'s to call premium rate numbers - I think about £6 in all) and got interview 3rd February, visa issued 28th February, so we had a fairly short wait, even with the local checks.

So my assumption is that its now standard to issue the visa 2 weeks after it is granted? This was the case with Elsa, so maybe now they are doing local checks on ALL granted visas before issuing them.

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by walesrob@Sep 7 2005, 09:25 AM
Wow they changed it again?

Quoted post


This what worries me about calling for information:the person who aswers the phone is probably just a telephone operative, and don't actaully KNOW any hard facts. As with most asians, telling anybody that you don't know something goes against the grain, so they will often give you their opinion, or what they think the facts are, to save losing face.

When I tried to get the 'Certificate of Non Impediment' to marry my wife, I rang the embassy on three occsions, to see if the information gelled. It did: Turn up any week day between 10am and 4pm.

Nope! :blink:

I rolled in at 2pm, all the way from Angeles in a hire car, and was told, "Oh no sir, you need to come before midday. Just come back tomorrow" :P

Well, I didn't spend four hours in a car, at 3000 pesos, just to do it all again the next day, so made an official complaint there and then, spoke to a 'whitey', who was a touch obnoxious, telling me I should have called up to get the correct information.

"I did" cried I, "three bloody times, and was told to come 'tween 10 and 4" :angry:

Off he went for a few minutes and came back looking a little cowed and far more friendly. It transpired he had asked the telephone operatives what time they were giving out for consular business, and, true to Filipino form, they had the wrong info.

We were allowed to lodge our request that day, and no more problems ensued.

Not right away anyway, but that's another tale :huh:

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by walesrob@Sep 7 2005, 09:25 AM
Wow they changed it again?

Quoted post


This what worries me about calling for information:the person who aswers the phone is probably just a telephone operative, and don't actaully KNOW any hard facts. As with most asians, telling anybody that you don't know something goes against the grain, so they will often give you their opinion, or what they think the facts are, to save losing face.

When I tried to get the 'Certificate of Non Impediment' to marry my wife, I rang the embassy on three occsions, to see if the information gelled. It did: Turn up any week day between 10am and 4pm.

Nope! :blink:

I rolled in at 2pm, all the way from Angeles in a hire car, and was told, "Oh no sir, you need to come before midday. Just come back tomorrow" :P

Well, I didn't spend four hours in a car, at 3000 pesos, just to do it all again the next day, so made an official complaint there and then, spoke to a 'whitey', who was a touch obnoxious, telling me I should have called up to get the correct information.

"I did" cried I, "three bloody times", and was told to come 'tween 10 and 4 :angry:

Off he went for a few minutes and came back looking a little cowed and far more friendly. It transpired he had asked the telephone operatives what time they were giving out for consular business, and, true to Filipino form, they had the wrong info.

We were allowed to lodge our request that day, and no more problems ensued.

Not right away anyway, but that's another tale :huh:

[Admin]

This what worries me about calling for information:the person who aswers the phone is probably just a telephone operative, and don't actaully KNOW any hard facts.
With the Philippine telephone system, it could be the bloody butcher!!! :o

[peterdavid]

Originally posted by Pauldo@Sep 7 2005, 09:25 AM
This what worries me about calling for information:the person who aswers the phone is probably just a telephone operative, and don't actaully KNOW any hard facts. As with most asians, telling anybody that you don't know something goes against the grain, so they will often give you their opinion, or what they think the facts are, to save losing face.

When I tried to get the 'Certificate of Non Impediment' to marry my wife, I rang the embassy on three occsions, to see if the information gelled. It did: Turn up any week day between 10am and 4pm.

Nope! :blink:

I rolled in at 2pm, all the way from Angeles in a hire car, and was told, "Oh no sir, you need to come before midday. Just come back tomorrow" :P

Well, I didn't spend four hours in a car, at 3000 pesos, just to do it all again the next day, so made an official complaint there and then, spoke to a 'whitey', who was a touch obnoxious, telling me I should have called up to get the correct information.

"I did" cried I, "three bloody times", and was told to come 'tween 10 and 4 :angry:

Off he went for a few minutes and came back looking a little cowed and far more friendly. It transpired he had asked the telephone operatives what time they were giving out for consular business, and, true to Filipino form, they had the wrong info.

We were allowed to lodge our request that day, and no more problems ensued.

Not right away anyway, but that's another tale :huh:

Quoted post


I had the exact same thing happen to me, like everything with the Embassy, you just have to keep fighting your ground. But everything there is a battle isn't it - even going in for what should be the simplest thing will always turn into some form of battle with them. It's a killer for the blood pressure.

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by peterdavid@Sep 8 2005, 11:00 AM
I had the exact same thing happen to me, like everything with the Embassy, you just have to keep fighting your ground. But everything there is a battle isn't it - even going in for what should be the simplest thing will always turn into some form of battle with them. It's a killer for the blood pressure.

Quoted post

You're so right.
Just collecting the wifes visa was another conflict. We rolled up at 8am, as instructed, took our turn in the queue, got served straight away, and were told to go sit down and we'd be called. Well, three hours later, 11am, and we're sat there still waiting, with the daughter, getting a bit cold and bored now as the air con was set to cryogenic. So, I went up and asked how much longer it would be?
"Oh, you have to come back at 3 o'clock to collect it"

WHAT?????

I asked her if she had actually intended we sit there for seven hours or whether she might have used her pea brain to summon the grain of intelligence necessary to tell us we could leave, then come back at 3 o'clock. The arrogant bitch still argued the toss until a white girl heard the commotion and came across, and I explained to her what had happened, and that we had our year old daughter with us, (with no pram due to security guard monkeys over diligence that we may use it as a weapon!).

We often day dream about going back and living in the PI, but things like this always pop up to remind us that every occasion, every operation, will so often turn into a $hit fight against ignorance and apathy.

I hope my ramblings aren't putting anybody off going through the visa process. I see it as more a warning of what to expect than a complaint. I'm sure there are guys out there who expect to arrive at the embassy and be greeted with some respect, escorted in, asked to sit down. Maybe offered tea in the greatest British tradition, and maybe have a friendly word with the embassy staff about cricket or the weather 'back home'. Then a few gentle enquiries and a visa will spring forth unhindered. bwaaahaahaaaaa :D :D

Forewarned is forearmed I reckon B)

[peterdavid]

Originally posted by Pauldo@Sep 8 2005, 01:26 PM
You're so right.
Just collecting the wifes visa was another conflict. We rolled up at 8am, as instructed, took our turn in the queue, got served straight away, and were told to go sit down and we'd be called. Well, three hours later, 11am, and we're sat there still waiting, with the daughter, getting a bit cold and bored now as the air con was set to cryogenic. So, I went up and asked how much longer it would be?
"Oh, you have to come back at 3 o'clock to collect it"

WHAT?????

I asked her if she had actually intended we sit there for seven hours or whether she might have used her pea brain to summon the grain of intelligence necessary to tell us we could leave, then come back at 3 o'clock. The arrogant bitch still argued the toss until a white girl heard the commotion and came across, and I explained to her what had happened, and that we had our year old daughter with us, (with no pram due to security guard monkeys over diligence that we may use it as a weapon!).



Almost identical to what happened to us; and in fact it obviously happens so often to so many people you would almost tihnk they do it deliberately! We were told be there to collect it at 8am, we arrive at 8am to be looked at incredulously and told "why on earth would you come this early, you fool, you can't get it before 11am". So we stagger off, already bleary eyed and knackered (an 8am arrival time at the Embassy meant a 6am wake up time to make sure nothing goes wrong), headache now starting to pound through lack of sleep combined with the oppressive heat, return at 11am to be told "no, you should have come at 8am, like you were told, you've missed it now, you hae to come back at 3pm". Teeth now being ground almost to dust in my mouth, we actually went off to the cinema, went into some japanese horror flick (used to watch a lot of those when we were there) and basically had a couple of hours kip, returned at 3pm (having now spent 7 solid hours just waiting for the day to pass because of the Embassy), returned at 3pm, expecting to walk in, have the visa and passport handed over and walk out, and get told "yes, you just need to wait in there", along with all the normal 3pm people waiting for their visa INTERVIEW, and then have to wait a full 2 hours more, until we are finally called in, LAST, not for an interview, but just for the passport to be handed over. Couldn't they have given it to us first??? They knew we didn't need an interview, it was just a case of returning the passport, what the f@ck were the playing at?

The veins in my temple almost throbbed out of my head and exploded by the end when, at just after 5pm, 9 HOURS AFTER WE HAD BEEN TOLD TO COLLECT THE VISA, we were finally given the passport back in a process which took all of 2 minutes to confirm name, date of birth, and, oh yes, you actually match the photo in there, it must be you.



We often day dream about going back and living in the PI, but things like this always pop up to remind us that every occasion, every operation, will so often turn into a $hit fight against ignorance and apathy.



Exactly the same here. For every dreamy, lazy moment I remember lounging around Greenbelt, just enjoying doing nothing, I remember the million times a corrupt traffic **** pulled me over for no reason at all and extorted money from me. I remember queuing for hours in the SM because, despite having 500 tills, they only open about 3 during the busiest periods. I remember being manhandled by security guards pressing my shirt against my sweaty back to check I'm not carrying a gun(!) and forcing me to hand over shopping bags to a check in counter in the SM, in whom I wouldn't entrust the security of a beach pebble. I remember the bill payment counter, after we'd queued for half an hour, refusing to accept the CASH payment for the PLDT/Meralco/Sky Cable bill because the crappy postal system didn't bother delivering it until after the due date, meaning we had to make a pointless trip to the PLDT/Meralco/SkyCable main office just to pay a bloody bill. I remember the simplest job, or the simplest journey, taking up almost a whole day because the infrastructure is so poor and the people/processes so lazy. I could basically sort out a whole months business in the Uk over the internet in half a day, and yet it took longer than that just to pay one telephone bill in the same city in which we were living.

I also remember the sheer and utter panic when my daughter got a cold - you don't just get the sniffles over there, you get a full blown tropical fever which lasts for days and you never know if this is going to be the one with dengue, or malaria or any other of the tropical nightmares which simple aren't an issue in a clean, healthier country of the West. The absolute morons who drive with their lights off down small streets in the middle of the night, the idiot coach drivers who reduce a 5 lane road to two and a half lanes whilst they stop in the middle lane and wait for new passengers to embark from the pavement, two lanes away. The infuriating and regular confrontations with taxi drivers (like the Embassy, you know every experience will involve a battle and a pressure raising fight for just a basic service). The same type of infuriating battle when 9 out of 10 of your brand new household goods breaks down but the appliance centre refuses to exchange/refund it wthout a 2 hour argument. The depressing knowledge that, whatever you buy, it won't last because the quality will be so poor. The DSL cutting out at least once a week, for extended periods at a time, normally when you really needed to use the internet, mainly cos all the phone lines, electricity lines are strewn across the streets in a huge jumble of disorganised crap which looks like it was connected together by a blind 3 year old. The roads which look like they were never repaired since 1944 when they had the crap bombed out of them, and the filipinos, on gaining independence, just left them like they were.

But then you remember the over abundance of fit filipinas, hopelessly over staffed, squeezed in 4 to a till, all in little mini skirts, taking it in turns to press a digit each on the calculator whilst they double checked their ability for the 6th time to correctly add up three items you are purchasing. The fact you can't walk more than 2 minutes without seeing at least one stunning head turner. The fact that you never need to worry about a babysitter. The fact that all the films there come out earlier than in the UK.

Sadly, the bad outnumbers the good, and when it's bad, it's f@cking awful. And most of it is of the Philippine's own making, and they're too damn ignorant/stupid/lazy to make it better, but just expect someone else to. It's certainly no place for a child to grow up, and that is the biggest reason we won't go back, not for at least 18 years!

[walesrob]

Originally posted by peterdavid@Sep 8 2005, 03:35 PM

But then you remember the over abundance of fit filipinas, hopelessly over staffed, squeezed in 4 to a till,

Quoted post



Having worked in retailing for years in the UK, it shocked me that in the shops in Philippines there are so many staff doing absolute sod all. I remember going into a department store in Tacloban and guessing there must have 1 staff for every 3 feet of store space, not including till girls. Elsa tells me that the majority of staff in these places get paid no more than £4 a week. Even the store manager will be lucky to make £10k a year.

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by peterdavid@Sep 8 2005, 03:35 PM

....................Sadly, the bad outnumbers the good, and when it's bad, it's f@cking awful. And most of it is of the Philippine's own making, and they're too damn ignorant/stupid/lazy to make it better, but just expect someone else to. It's certainly no place for a child to grow up, and that is the biggest reason we won't go back, not for at least 18 years!

Quoted post

Oh man, you remember even more of the $hit fights than I do, and I've only been out of it properly for three years.

But the wierdest part I found was: YOU GET USED TO IT!!!!!!!! :o :( :unsure:

I actually found myself ENJOYING piloting my big yank car through five lanes of traffic on a two lane highway. Trying to pass cars coming the opposite way in my lane because they were too selfish to wait in the traffic queue in their own direction.

I actually began to enjoy going shopping on my own! Walking into stores with a stupid great $hit eating grin nailed to my face, because the slightest frown or possible look of annoyance from the 'kano' would freeze the staff into total senseless insolent robots, instead of the ever so slightly useful retards they are if you smile and grin at them like they are petulant schoolkids. Playful rejecting the household 50 amp fuse they hand you when you ask for a 5 amp automobile blade type fuse, or the can of matt green paint they hand you when you ask for gloss black, and all the time with that stupid happy grin on your face.

And should you ever raise your voice when the frustration finally gets too much??? Ohh man, that's it, enemy for life. Don't even bother thinking of going into that store again, as you're a marked man!!

We bought a vacuum cleaner from a store in Angeles City once. Took it home, tried to use it: there's no dust bag in it. So, all the way back to the store to get a dust bag. "We don't sell them sir, you have to go to Manila" Calm logical discussion followed, to try and explain that the thing they sold us does not work, so we would like a refund. Bwaaahaaahaaa. Never in a million years. It was never going to happen. They just could not understand my logic.

And therein lies the problem with the Philippines: They don't want to improve things. They are HAPPY with second best. The motto I coined when I lived there, on behalf of 'The Filipino':

SECOND BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH.

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by walesrob@Sep 8 2005, 06:02 PM
Having worked in retailing for years in the UK, it shocked me that in the shops in Philippines there are so many staff doing absolute sod all.

Quoted post

I remember in a small shopping mall in Angeles once, in a long queue to get served, the lone serving girl totted up the items for the snotty looking Filipino lady in front, took payment, then, as the snot bag stood watching, she started putting all the goods into plastic bags for the lazy old bitch. I waited a minute or so watching this scenario of elitism and subserviency play out, then I could wait no longer and stepped forward and tightly voiced my opinion :angry:

It was a tense moment, as the store girl was torn between the ages old master-and-slave, haves and have nots, Pilipino class war, and the towering barely controlled anger of the rather large, sunburned and well tattooed foreigner, at the front of by an equally frustrated long queue of her fellow countrymen. With a nervous look she made the decision and shoved the half filled bag at the elderly bitch (we've all met them, snobbery amongst the poor and all that) and started totting up my goods. Success :P :rolleyes: :D

[Eljohno]

Hi Guys,
a guy i know got a reply just yesterday from the British Embassy in Manila when he asked what is the latest about waiting for settlement visas.I have posted the reply.

[COLOR=blue]Thank you for your email.

She may apply for a wife visa after your wedding.

[B]Effective 05 September, all visa applications are now qualified to use our courier service. All applications will all first be assessed on paper and if an interview is needed the Visa Call Centre representative will advise the applicant shortly. The initial assessment process may more or less take around 4 working days upon receipt at the embassy. If the application is approved, the whole process may take around 7 -10 working days.

I hope this clarifies your enquiry.

Yours faithfully,

Pamela Maria Gauna
Entry Clearance Assistant


Was wanting to know what difference this makes in the time it takes for the whole visa process for the settlement visa.They give the impression it is not long but after reading through this website i doubt it but was looking your views on this.Sorry if you have answered this somewhere else on this website..

Thanks,
john

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by Eljohno@Sep 21 2005, 05:26 PM
Hi Guys,
a guy i know got a reply just yesterday from the British Embassy in Manila when he asked what is the latest about waiting for settlement visas.I have posted the reply.

[COLOR=blue]Thank you for your email.

She may apply for a wife visa after your wedding.

Effective 05 September, all visa applications are now qualified to use our courier service. All applications will all first be assessed on paper and if an interview is needed the Visa Call Centre representative will advise the applicant shortly. The initial assessment process may more or less take around 4 working days upon receipt at the embassy. If the application is approved, the whole process may take around 7 -10 working days.

I hope this clarifies your enquiry.

Yours faithfully,

Pamela Maria Gauna
Entry Clearance Assistant
Was wanting to know what difference this makes in the time it takes for the whole visa process for the settlement visa.They give the impression it is not long but after reading through this website i doubt it but was looking your views on this.Sorry if you have answered this somewhere else on this website..

Thanks,
john

Quoted post

Coincidentally, my wife phoned my aunt today, who has just phoned the embassy/CAVA about just the same thing, and she was given a very similar reply too: Call up, make an appointment to have a courier collect the paperworks, and they'll let you know within 21 days as to the status of the visa application. If you need an interview it should be around 10 days.

Application is currently 27,000 pesos for settlement, paid by Equitable banks managers cheque.

Of course, this is the theory behind the current scheme. What it pans out to in reality is probably a different, more familiar, story......... :unsure:

[peterdavid]

Originally posted by Pauldo@Sep 21 2005, 08:27 PM
Coincidentally, my wife phoned my aunt today, who has just phoned the embassy/CAVA about just the same thing, and she was given a very similar reply too: Call up, make an appointment to have a courier collect the paperworks, and they'll let you know within 21 days as to the status of the visa application. If you need an interview it should be around 10 days.

Application is currently 27,000 pesos for settlement, paid by Equitable banks managers cheque.

Of course, this is the theory behind the current scheme. What it pans out to in reality is probably a different, more familiar, story......... :unsure:

Quoted post


Get in quick then. They flirted with this idea before and ran it for a few months - and people were having their visa issued, interview free, within a week. Then they seem to get cold feet and go back to the old, painful method.

Not sure why they stopped doing it first time round (too many fraudulent visas being issued...?), or whatever has prompted them to try again, other than to reduce the backlog, but if that's what's happening now, then I'd go for it quicksmart before they stop it again.

[misterfixit]

Just to add,

Just back from 6 weeks in manila. And my now wife is waiting for her visa application to be seen!

Made all the visa appointments the day I landed under the CAVA system, and then went on to be married. My wife and I then started to assemble the papers ready to collect, and I phoned to understand some ambiguity in the instructions.

I was told then the appoinments had been cancelled and the process had changed. But the f*&king wastes of space did NOT contact us to tell us they'd cancelled the appointment. We'll just have to see what happens as to visas and interviews over the next weeks.

But I'm hopping mad they did not inform us the appointment was cancelled.

Richard

[Pauldo]

Originally posted by misterfixit@Sep 22 2005, 01:17 PM
...But I'm hopping mad they did not inform us the appointment was cancelled.
Richard

Quoted post


What exactly has changed then, if you made the appointment through the CAVA scheme? I thought that had only just been implemented? For settlement anyway. Isn't the rest of it as it has always been?

I think we need to keep right on top of this situation as it seems extremely volatile and is costing people money with all the hanging around and changing of minds. Some official complaints seem to be in order.

I'm going through this process right now to get my wifes mum over, so I can relate it blow by blow here as time passes. Right now we're just getting the last bits of the paper trail together, then we'll Fedex it all over, complete with sponsorship letter, then it can be collected by the CAVA boys. Then we wait! :( :(

[Eljohno]

Hi,
it is really hard to know what to think as it seems to be to good to be true.I am due to get married at the end of November so i hope it is still the same after my wedding.Thanks so far for your input...John