Welcome to the Immigrant Visa Unit

You should be able to find answers to many of your questions about the immigrant visa process on this website. If you are interested in filing a petition for a fiancé (e) or family member, please see the Who can apply for an Immigrant Visa and see what steps you need to take to begin this process. If you have already filed a petition or have had a petition filed for you, and your case is current, please see the Immigrant Visa Appointment section on the left side of this page. If you have questions about a specific case, or after reviewing this information have other questions, please contact the Immigrant Visa Unit by fax, e-mail, mail or telephone.

USCIS Requires Appointments Beginning February 19

Beginning February 19, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Manila Field Office will no longer accept walk-in customers.  Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) or Immigrant Visa (IV) applicants who need to visit USCIS Manila must first make an appointment with USCIS.  To schedule an appointment with USCIS Manila, please visit the InfoPass link at http://infopass.uscis.gov/.  Detailed information on how to access InfoPass can be viewed here.

Immigrant Visa Unit customers may need to consult with USCIS about their immigration status in the U.S., to apply for a Boarding Letter, or to make other inquiries.  If you would like to apply for a Returning Resident interview, you must visit USCIS before the IV Unit will consider your interview request.  For more information on the Returning Resident process, click here.

New USCIS Immigrant Fee

Effective February 1, 2013, all individuals issued immigrant visas overseas must pay a $165.00 USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States.  Only prospective adoptive parents whose child(ren) is/are entering the United States under either the Orphan or Hague Process, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants who were employed by the U.S. government, returning residents, and those issued K visas are exempt from the new fee. The below USCIS website has more details on the new fee, including contact information for
USCIS, if there are further questions:

www.USCIS.gov/immigrantfee.

Additional information may be viewed on this link: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023/wwwh3023/useful-information/qs-and-as-uscis-immigrant-visa-fees/qs-and-as-uscis-immigrant-fee.html.

Medical Examination for Immigrant and K Visa Applicants

Part of preparing for the immigrant and K visa interview will include a medical examination with our accredited medical facility, St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLMCEC).  Prior to their visit, applicants are strongly encouraged to register online with SLMCEC at their website: www.slec.ph. Registering online will save processing time and make the visit to SLMCEC faster and more efficient.

SLMCEC is located at 1177 J. Bocobo Street, Ermita, Manila. They can be reached by telephone at (632) 521-0020 and (632) 521-8647. SLMCEC is open from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is best to arrive for your medical examination between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Notice to K Visa Applicants

Effective November 14, 2012, the Immigrant Visa Unit can no longer accept K visa applicants (K1, K2, K3, and K4) who do not have completed DS-156 and DS-157 application forms.  If a K applicant without a completed application form appears for an interview, he or she will be instructed to go to the nearest internet café in order to complete the application.  If the applicant can complete the forms and return to the Embassy by 10:00 am, the applicant will still be interviewed that same day.  If the applicant cannot return to the Embassy with the completed forms by 10:00 am, he or she will be advised to reschedule the interview by visiting the online appointment website at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph or by calling the Call Center at (632) 982-5555 or (632) 902-8930. 

Bank Payment Process Change: Printed Deposit Slips Required To Pay K Visa Application Fees

Beginning September 3, 2012, K (fiancé(e) and K3) visa applicants are required to present a U.S. visa application deposit slip to pay the K visa fee.  Before going to the bank, K (fiancé(e) and K3) visa applicants must print the applicable U.S. visa application deposit slip and take it to the bank to pay the fee.

There is an expiration date on the deposit slip. Bank agents will NOT accept payments based on expired deposit slips. Upon payment, the bank will issue a receipt. This receipt cannot be replaced. Applicants will not be able to schedule an appointment without the receipt number.

For complete instructions and to print the deposit slip, please visit our online appointment website. To obtain more information about this requirement, please call the Embassy Call Center at 982-5555 and 902-8930, available from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DHS/USCIS:

"Starting, Monday, June 4, 2012, waiver applications (I-601, Application for Waiver on Grounds of Inadmissibility), and I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal must be mailed directly to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The appropriate address and filing instructions are on the USCIS website. 

For additional information, please click this link.

• http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023/waiver-applications.html (under the navigation panel, Waiver Applications)

Forms I-601 and I-212

If you reside overseas and a Department of State Consular officer has found that you are ineligible to enter the United States based on an inadmissibility ground that may be waived, you may apply for a waiver by filing Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility. Depending on the applicable inadmissibility grounds, you may also need to file Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission Into the United States After Deportation or Removal.

Where to File

Beginning June 4, 2012, you must mail your waiver application and supporting evidence directly to a USCIS Lockbox. The appropriate address and filing instructions are on the USCIS website.

This may provide you with faster and more efficient application processing and will enable you to track your case status online. You may also request an email or text message confirming receipt of your waiver by completing and attaching Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance to your application.

If You Have Already Begun the Process

If you have already mailed your application to this office and:

• It is received between June 4 and July 3, 2012, we will process it here.
• It is received after July 3, 2012, we will return it to you. Please mail your application directly to a USCIS Lockbox. The appropriate address and filing instructions are on the USCIS website.

If you already have an appointment to file your application at this office before July 3, you may either keep your appointment, or cancel your appointment and mail your application to a USCIS Lockbox. The appropriate address and filing instructions are on the USCIS website.

Expeditious Adjudication of Form I-601

Applicants for Waivers of Inadmissibility, Form I-601, may request that the USCIS office expedite adjudication of the I-601 waiver application when there are extraordinary circumstances that are time-sensitive, compelling, and necessitate the applicant’s presence in the United States sooner than would be possible if the application were processed under normal processing times. The strong desire to immigrate to the United States as soon as possible is not by itself  “extraordinary.”

A request to expedite adjudication must be made in writing and delivered to the USCIS Field Office Director. The applicant must provide evidence of the extraordinary and compelling circumstances. If the request to expedite the adjudication of an I-601 waiver is approved, the USCIS office will notify the applicant within 15 days of receipt of the request. If no response is received within 15 days, the applicant must presume the request for the expeditious adjudications has been denied. Please be aware that approval to expedite adjudication of an I-601 wavier application does not guarantee approval of the I-601 waiver application, but only the consideration and adjudication of the I-601 waiver application will be expeditiously handled.

Additional information may be found at the USCIS Manila Field Office website located at:

www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?
vgnextoid=73b714836a14d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=
1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

The Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/USCIS) has sole authority over the acceptance, processing and adjudication of waiver applications. Future inquiries regarding this application should be directed to the DHS/USCIS office at Embassy Manila by telephone at (632) 301-2000, extension 2224 or by fax at (632) 301-2208 (Attention: Field Officer Director). Inquiries can also be made by e-mail at mphinquiry.cis@dhs.gov.“ 

New Medical Examination Fee in Effect May 14

Beginning May 14, 2012, the medical examination fee for adults (15 years and older) will increase from the existing US$213.35 to US$223.35. The fee for children (below 15 years of age) remains the same, US$185.

For further clarification regarding the new medical fee, please contact us at (632) 301-2000, extension 5184 or 5185. Alternatively, written inquiries may be sent to IVManilaReplies@state.gov.

Changes to Visa Fees

Beginning April 13, 2012, changes to visa fees will take effect.  All immigrant visa fees will decrease, while the fees for some nonimmigrant visa categories will increase.

Because the Department of State was able to obtain reimbursement under the Economy Act for services performed on behalf of other federal agencies, immigrant visa fees are decreasing.

The new fees are as follows:

Immigrant Visa and K Visa Processing Fees

The application fees will be assessed based on the date of the payment, not on the date of the visa interview.  Since the immigrant and K visa fees are decreasing, no refunds will be given to those who paid the fees before April 13, 2012.

Changes to Filing I-130 Petitions Overseas

Effective August 15, 2011, petitioners residing overseas will no longer be able to routinely file Forms I-130, Petitions for Alien Relative, with U.S. Embassies and Consulates except in locations where U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a public counter presence within the Embassy or Consulate. Petitioners residing overseas in countries where USCIS does not have a public counter presence will be required, starting August 15, 2011, to file their Forms I-130 by mail with the USCIS Chicago lockbox.  U.S. Embassies and Consulates that do not have a USCIS presence will only be able to accept and process Forms I-130 in exceptional circumstances.

Forms I-130 that were properly filed at an Embassy or Consulate overseas where USCIS does not have a presence before August 15, 2011, will not be affected by this change.

Filing Instructions beginning August 15, 2011:

Beginning August 15, 2011, petitioners residing overseas who wish to file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, may do so as follows:

- If the petitioner resides in a country in which USCIS has a public counter presence, the Form I-130 may be filed directly with the USCIS field office (see instructions below) or through the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of the below addresses.

- If the petitioner resides in a country where USCIS does not have a public counter presence, the Form I-130 must be filed with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at one of the addresses below, unless the petitioner requests and is granted an exception:

USCIS Chicago Lockbox addresses for regular mail deliveries:

USCIS
P.O. Box 804625
Chicago, IL 60680-4107

USCIS Chicago Lockbox address for express mail and courier deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-130
131 South Dearborn-3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

For additional information about how to file a Form I-130 with the USCIS Chicago lockbox, please see the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov or contact USCIS by phone at 1-800-375-5283.

Filing at USCIS Overseas field offices:

Petitioners should contact the USCIS field office with any questions regarding the filing of petitions.  
For more information on where USCIS has overseas field offices and contact information, please visit: http://www.uscis.gov/international.