call embassy direct....

[snowman]

Instead of calling the $6.00 number.. try calling the embassy direct at 011-63-2-523-1001. waited thru prompts till operator came on then told her i had question regarding my fiancee visa, she put the call right thru and they answered in about 2 min.. no fee for calling!!! forget spending the $6
Well the lady was very nice and told me my girl was already issued the visa and a half hour later it arrived at her house... Took 19 days after st.lukes!! Yeah happy now...................snowman

[snowman]

... in response to call embassy direct...., posted by snowman on Jul 30, 2002

A lot of good people on here and very helpful!!!! thanks again... Ray, she will be flyin on sept 2... i have a night class the whole month of august so we r delayin a bit.. It sure would be nice to have her here now but we are just happy having the visa in hand Mog, Somehow weve made it thru this process!! Honestly its been very mentally draining. We are probably pretty close as im in the lake minnetonka area, how bout urself?? Maybe we can get together have dinner and let the ladies chat.. When is Jicelle coming? Snowman is out... peace!!

[The Mog returns]

... in response to Re: thx everyone..........., posted by snowman on Jul 31, 2002

Snowman, Im in Downtown St. Paul, so lets stay in touch! Where in the Philippines is your girl from? Im leaving Aug 14th and returning with Jicelle on the 21st. Seems like a lot of flights were booked up, but I am getting her  one way ticket through Northwest for $764+ a $30 svc. chrg, I think the price seems in line with what people are paying in Manila ticket offices, and then I wont have to bother with it when Im there, and can make sure we are together on the same flight. You are sure right about the mentally draining part, it was on my mind constantly!

[Dave H]

... in response to call embassy direct...., posted by snowman on Jul 30, 2002

Hi Snowman,

That is great news!!! We're happy that you will be reunited soon.

Dave & Marife H.

[The Mog returns]

... in response to call embassy direct...., posted by snowman on Jul 30, 2002

Hey Snowman, that great, congratulations!  We just got ours approved a week ago too! It seems like they approve them in lots or something. Wow, that would be an interesting read, if someone wrote a book or article about  what really went on behind those walls of the Embassy huh? Sounds like you had better luck than I did calling there. I too was not about to pay a $6 connect fee for a questionable service when the embassy number is on their website. In my evening of calling, i was disconnected many times after the operator came on, or hung up on?, sent to extensions that rang and rang. Finally I got mad and told the operator that I was a US citizen and I just wanted to talk to someone, anyone about a very important matter! I did get connected with what appeared to be a helpful girl in another department, she told me that she would stay with me on the line until she could get through to someone on a visa team, but after holding a few minutes, another lady came on, then sent my call through to another extension that rang and rang until my $10 phone card was all eaten up. I did leave my name and phone number at one of the visa teams extensions voicemail boxes however, during that fiasco. I guess it cant hurt to call them. I think I called at the wrong time too, close to lunchtime, and we all know about lunch in the PI's. Calling at 10:00 AM on their time would have been better I think. Anyway, congrats again. Snowman where you from again? Im in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

[Bear]

... in response to call embassy direct...., posted by snowman on Jul 30, 2002

Thats what I did too.

Bear and Honey

[Ray]

... in response to call embassy direct...., posted by snowman on Jul 30, 2002

Glad to hear that the visa came through.

Yeah, I think that $6.00 number sounds like they tried to set up an outside contractor to answer questions about the visas but I think they didn't fully implement the process. If they entered some meaningful status data into their computer system each step of the way and the contractor had access to the current status, it might be a good idea. But it seems that the people answering the phones on the toll call line don't have any meaningful info available to them for any given case.

Good idea to forget the "info" call center and talk directly with someone in the visa section.

When will she fly over?

Ray