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6-7 weeks if you get assistance.

emvaningen wrote:

6-7 weeks if you get assistance.

6-7 weeks in Makati?
Iiiiii         I have problem to stand more than a day in a big city. So if so SRRV isnt an option for me.   

I hope it isnt similar needing to be in city long time to get 13a.

For the 13A Visa, one does that thru the BI (Bureau of Immigration), NOT the PRA, BUT...I'm not sure exactly how long it takes. I do know there's a lot of paperwork involved, including a joint letter u have to do with your Filipina wife, that's submitted as part of the paperwork to the BI commissioner. Good luck!

I live in Angeles city, so I had to set up a bank account with the Commerce Bank.

I used a visa company to help with the navigation.  I had to open a savings account with $200 cash, and then once I received the bank account info I had to wire money to that account.  I had my military dd214 so I only had to wire $1500.

After setting up the bank account and filing the application (requires sending in your passport), it took around three month to get an approval, and then a week or two to schedule the oath taking.

I hope that helps some.

Thanks, I am only looking for the time it takes to get started. I don" believe I have to be in Makati for the whole time. And I believe I can also finish at the site in Clark?

Takes approximately 4 weeks.  You’re free to go.  Just have access with phone or email to come back and pickup papers.

Of course not @coach53
Only a day or two, unless you need to open a bank account, which will be another day.

emvaningen wrote:

Of course not @coach53
Only a day or two, unless you need to open a bank account, which will be another day.

??? It was you, who wrote the quote saying 6-7 weeks   

Correct, but you don't hsve to be in Makati to wait for it.
You, or your marketer submit the application,open the bank account, and then wait for PRA to inform when the VISA can be picked up.
No need to stay in Makati for that.

I'm in the process now. Mine is a little different since I've been in the PI on a balikbayan visa for about 8 months. Since I had been in the PI past 30 days (I think that is the limit) I went to the main NBI clearance office in Manila ( My SIL knew someone that worked there). I had done the application online but it had to be redone as they said my middle name had to be put in the same block as my first name (apparently in the PI I don't have a middle name). WTF? So my SIL went into an office and redid the online app, had to pay again (OMG, anotheer 130 pesos!). So this was all done, they said a couple of weeks to get my clearance....SIL went back the next day and picked it up....who you know right. Then we went to the PRA. Signed 2 affidavits that I would have my apostiled DD214 and SS Benefits back to them within a year. Picked up the Letter of Intent authorizing me to open a bank account. Walked about 2-3 blocks over to the authorized BDO bank office. Got my account setup, did not have to supply any funds. That night I did the wire transfer. After they received that they opened the account. I did not have to return to get the certificate of deposit for the PRA, they get that from the bank. So after the bank, back to PRA, paid my application fee (paid in pesos), gave them my passport and left. I came back to get my physical at Sacred Heart a few days later. 2 xrays, a little blood, pee in a bottle, paid 2500 pesos....a hell of a lot cheaper than the US....(less than an hour easy for this) done there, they send the results direct to the PRA. Stopped by the PRA and dropped off my NBI clearance. On a side note I had to get my finger prints done for my FBI check. The PNP office next to the NBI would not do them without a letter from the embassy. So I had them done in a local PNP office. The FBI charged $18 for the check. I printed out the fingerprint cards on regular paper as the FBI said, not required to use the standard cards. I had 2 sets done and sent both to the US. About a week later I got my emailed report from the FBI. Now I'm waiting to get my signed SS Benefit letter. The FBU office in the embassy will not provide a signed letter even though they are the local SS office equivalent. Once I have that I will send the SS lettere, FBI paper sheet and DD214 to the US to be apostiled. But I' have months to get that done. So I'm just waiting for the PRA to approve/issue the visa now. We live in Lipa City so it's only about 1.5 hours to Manila. Note: The PRA application and affidavits if you need those have to be printed on A4 paper. I imagine your PRA marketer would print those for you, I had my own printer.

I just applied for my SRRV also. Did they tell you how long it would take to process and when they would have your passport ready?

Hi. First I’ve heard of fingerprints?

lcdrski wrote:

Hi. First I’ve heard of fingerprints?

Talking about finger prints, the NBI is woefully behind the times. They use real ink and roll your thumb & fingers. Then they have a trough with a pitcher of water, no soap and no towels to dry your hand.

For the background check, I think I was told that because I "lived" in the Philippines (commuter to HKG...) for more than 5 years, they would accept the NBI report. Otherwise, would have had to contact my home country.

Only the main NBI office in Manila could process a foreigner's request for a report, even as Filipinos can request online!

I applied for 13a visa not even a month after I arrived and thought I needed FBI report but surprisingly they only asked for NBI Certificate.  I have had fingerprints taken 3 times since I've been here.  NBI certificate was with black ink only for foreigners,  ACR card was done electronically.   Drivers license was done electronically.

NBI did the scan only for Filipinos, foreigners was the scan and manual.

portuguesevet wrote:

I just applied for my SRRV also. Did they tell you how long it would take to process and when they would have your passport ready?

I did my application on Feb 22. I did my physical on Mar 1. I received a copy of my passport page with a stamp on the paper showing  "received original passport for SRRV application" dated 4 March. I haven't asked how long it will take.