NBI clearance for 13a spousal visa

[MikeyD]

I am starting the process to apply for a 13a visa.  I know a lot of people do it themselves but I am going to use an agency at least for the probationary part.  We have a lot of things going on and I know it’s more expensive than doing it myself but for our situation at this time it makes sense for us.  The agency is scheduling fingerprinting at the NBI and whatever else happens there.  I don’t expect any issues especially with an agency being the go between but you never know how things will go.  I searched online and the only real complaint I found was removing the fingerprinting ink.

Does anyone have any particularly good or bad experiences with visiting the NBI for fingerprinting?

[hk blues]

24 minutes ago, MikeyD said:

I am starting the process to apply for a 13a visa.  I know a lot of people do it themselves but I am going to use an agency at least for the probationary part.  We have a lot of things going on and I know it’s more expensive than doing it myself but for our situation at this time it makes sense for us.  The agency is scheduling fingerprinting at the NBI and whatever else happens there.  I don’t expect any issues especially with an agency being the go between but you never know how things will go.  I searched online and the only real complaint I found was removing the fingerprinting ink.

Does anyone have any particularly good or bad experiences with visiting the NBI for fingerprinting?

If removing the fingerprint ink is the only real issue you face in the process, you'll be doing great!  I Haven't been to NBI so cannot comment, but the BI nowadays use the electronic fingerprint machines so hopefully the NBI have the same.

[Jack Peterson]

12 minutes ago, hk blues said:

the BI nowadays use the electronic fingerprint machines so hopefully the NBI have the same.

 NBI insist on manual Fingerprints for all foreigners and you usually get a HIT first time around, it is so that Interpol can check you out

[gbmmbg]

1 hour ago, MikeyD said:

Does anyone have any particularly good or bad experiences with visiting the NBI for fingerprinting?

If its in cebu bring something to clean your fingers. I know you said your going to hire someone, but its so easyyyyy. also when you apply for the temp and next year for the permanent 13a make sure you are in the country when it is issued. if not you have to submit for a reinstatement. around 7k. ask me how i know......lol

[Mike J]

14 hours ago, MikeyD said:

Does anyone have any particularly good or bad experiences with visiting the NBI for fingerprinting?

It will probably be an easy experience, but could get complicated if you have a common name.

My  experience was bad to say the least.

My first name, Michael, was the second most popular name in the 50s.  My last name is also number two in the USA.  So my name is a "hit" when I go to do the NBI, call it place 1.  That means you have to go to a different place, call it place 2, to get actual inked prints.

We take a taxi to the new place and there is about a hundred people sitting in rows of chairs waiting.  My wife talks to the guard tells them I am a senior and I am escorted to the head of the line.  The guy tells me I was given wrong info and actually have to go to a different place call it place 3.

We take a taxi to place 3.  They say, place 2 told you wrong.  Go back to place 2 and tell them you are on the hit list and need special ink prints,

Take another taxi back to place 2.  After a lengthy discussion am told to go to another building in the rear and take a seat.

Take a seat and get ignored.  Finally someone walks by and I ask WTH (but in a polite way).  This person goes into an office and get the guy who does ink prints.  

I am told to go home, come back in two weeks.

Back in two weeks to place 2 and the building in back.  Told to join a queue in a hallway.  About six people in front of me in the queue.

Finally my turn and I go into a large office, sit in a chair beside a desk with computer.  Hand them my passport.

The guy types info into the computer and his eyes get big.  

Him - You are Michael Johnson

Me - Yes

Him - The police want to talk to you.

Me - What?  Why?

Him - In connection with a homicide.

By this time half the office crew have gathered around behind the guy and watching, murmuring to each other.

Me - There has to be a mistake.  Are you sure you put in the correct info?

Him - Here look.

My picture is on the top half of screen with my info.  Below are 8-10 lines of text describing crimes.  Assault, theft, some others, and the last entry is "wanted for questioning in connection with homicide".  

Me - the top is me, the bottom belongs to someone else named Michael Johnson.

Him - You need to talk to a detective, wait here, do not try to leave.

The crowd around the desk has grown to include pretty much the whole office.  I am suddenly feeling the need to urinate.   The detective comes in and sits down at the computer.

He was actually a nice guy, or maybe plays the "nice guy", and after talking with him for 10 minutes or so he tells the computer guy to delete the lines listing the crimes, etc.

Before I leave I ask the detective if deleting those lines was permanent for me or would it happen again with an NBI clearance?

Detective - Unfortunately it would happen again any time police run your name in the system. 

Turns out there is another Michael Johnson who lives here in Moalboal.   I have not attempted to meet, talk to, or ask him about his back ground. 

 

[Gator]

2 hours ago, Mike J said:

Him - You are Michael Johnson

Me - Yes

Him - The police want to talk to you.

Him - Here look.

My picture is on the top half of screen with my info.  Below are 8-10 lines of text describing crimes.  Assault, theft, some others, and the last entry is "wanted for questioning in connection with homicide". 

Could have worse. Be thankful your last name isn’t Jackson or it could have read:

Bleached white male; pedophile; deceased?

[Mike J]

20 hours ago, Gator said:

Could have worse. Be thankful your last name isn’t Jackson or it could have read:

Bleached white male; pedophile; deceased?

When I wrote computer code in the US folks started to call me Magic Johnson. 

[gbmmbg]

4 hours ago, Mike J said:

Magic Johnson

Better "Magic Johnson" then "A Johnson"

[MikeyD]

As a follow up, I did go to the Mandaue NBI office and had my fingerprints taken yesterday.  I am using an agency as previously mentioned.  I met them at their office and they drove me to the NBI office.  At the NBI office, there were only a few people waiting for various things.  I waited outside for a few minutes while the visa agency representative parked and when he came back he conferred with some of the people at the NBI and then I was instructed to go inside and wait.  There was another foreigner that was in the process of having his fingerprints taken and a few minutes after he finished they called me to do mine.  When I went to the window to have my picture taken, they kept saying something about my passport so I presented it to them but what they were actually trying to say was to sign the document in the same way as my passport.  Then they took my fingerprints electronically and then with ink.  They did not use and excessive amount of ink so it was easy enough to wipe off.  The whole process was finished in probably around 30 minutes and then the agency representative drove us back to where we had parked.

Speaking of my passport, at the agency office before going to the NBI, my wife and I had to sign several documents in triplicate which was fine but agency said something about surrendering my passport for 3 to 4 weeks while waiting on the results from the NBI.  I didn’t think I needed to surrender my passport until submitting the application to the BI so I questioned her and she said if I surrendered it then that would save us a trip after the NBI results were available so they could file with the BI immediately.  Although I do feel like this agency is reputable and would keep my passport safe, I did not feel comfortable with being without my passport for that long without needing to, so I declined and told her we would bring it to them when it was actually needed.  I have to say, the thought of handing over my passport to anyone for any length of time makes me nervous, maybe since I haven’t had to do that yet.  The agency said they would make a copy and give me some kind of document that explains why I don’t have my actual passport when the time comes to surrender it for BI processing.  Maybe I’m overthinking this or being paranoid but it still seems odd that I will have to surrender my passport for a few days.  I haven’t read about anyone losing their passport in the process so I guess it’s safe enough and I guess there might be a process at the US Consulate to get a new one if needed.  I do have a scanned copy of passport and probably need to print a hardcopy of the bio page and the last arrival stamp just in case.

Has anyone had any kind of issues when they surrendered their passport for processing at the BI for a 13a visa?

[Mike J]

13 hours ago, MikeyD said:

Has anyone had any kind of issues when they surrendered their passport for processing at the BI for a 13a visa?

I have a 13A and never surrendered my passport.   But I/we did everything ourselves, no agency involvement.  I share you concern and would refuse to give them my passport even if they are a reputable firm.  Even reputable firms can have a dishonest employee.