13a Probationary With An Agency

[BrettGC]

Yesterday (Wed 30th Oct) I completed my 13a probationary interview/biometrics at BI in Cebu.  It was 6 days later than previously scheduled due to ferry cancellations and as a result we incurred a BI induced 3k PHP rescheduling fee. That's not a whinge, it's just a reality. 

All the paper work had been submitted by the agency on the Friday prior to the initial interview on Friday18th of October, the initial interview was scheduled for the 24th.  We asked the agency for the reschedule on the evening of the 22nd (Wednesday) when it became apparent the ferries would be cancelled on the 23rd due to Trami and there was no way we could make the 10am appointment if we travelled on the same day.  As it turned out ferries were cancelled on the 24th as well. 

No problems, by Monday 28th we received an email from the agency the appointment was rescheduled for the 30th.  

Why am I highlighting all this?  The only effort it took on our part was one simple email to our agency and it was done.  

Now down to the process from the start:

When doing a tourist extension we dropped into one of the agencies co-located with BI in Dumaguete and asked for a list of requirements. All they needed from me was my passport, latest extension, my ACR-I card, our marriage certificate and NBI clearance.  All they required from my wife was her birth certificate (more on that later) and a government ID; she provided her passport.  Just on the NBI clearance, unlike the local employment same day clearances, for immigration they require a fingerprint check.  If you're applying outside of Manila, this can take up to a month due to them having to send the physical prints and photo to Manila for verification and then return the result, and in our case it did take the 4 weeks - plan accordingly.  If we'd attended NBI with an agent, it would've only taken 2 weeks we were told.  Lesson learnt. 

Just on AM's birth certificate: She still had one of the old NSO (pre-cursor to PSA?) certificates - no longer valid at immigration.  PSA no longer allows walk-ins and you have to make an appointment online only.  Much like many of the organisations that insist on online appointments here, all that really does is get you in the door and the appointment time itself goes out the window and you just have to wait for your number to come up.  For whatever reason AM's issued certificate is just about illegible so we were asked to obtain the City Hall certificate, which we did, and couriered it to the agency.  All good.  For info, we used J&T and after giving it to them about 4pm in the afternoon, it arrived first thing the next morning - yes, they do more than deliver Shopee and Lazada.  We then had to sign all the letters and documents etc that the Agency had already completed/filled in.  They then submitted the application. The timeframe from submission to actual interview date - about 5-7 days. 

On day of the interview itself we showed up at our agency's office just across from BI in Grand Mall of Cebu about 30 mins prior to appointment time.  We gave the agent the 3k rescheduling fee and at 10am we walked in and she paid it.  After waiting about 3 mins we were called up for our interview.  The questions asked were:

When did you meet?

How did you meet?

When did you physically meet for the first time?

Have you ever been divorced?

Are you going to have any kids?

What is the source of your income? No evidence asked for.  

How much is your income?

That was it, we were in front of the BI officer for about 4 mins and then went to do biometrics which took about 10 mins.  I suspect it only took 10 mins due to it being a supervised trainee.  

The agent then gave me my passport back, my next extension already done (we asked them to do it) and a reference number to check online for the application status.  Out the door we went.  

The agency we used charges 35K PHP and that includes all fees - other than the rescheduling that is. They ask for 17.5k when ready to submit and the balance is due when the visa is approved.  Oh, plus the tourist visa extension fee which they didn't charge us an extra service fee for.   

We used RJ Visa Services and would highly recommend them to anyone.  Why did we use an agent?  Running back and forth to Cebu multiple times to sort it all out was not something I even considered given we live so far from there so I wanted things done right the first time without having to muddle through Pilipinas bureaucracy myself - potentially more than once - peace of mind basically.  It was only two visits to the agency and one visit to BI in Cebu.  Because we used an agent, we were told the timeframe for approval could be as soon as 4 weeks as it has happened with the agency in the past, but not to expect it. 

RJ has offices in Cebu (4), Dumaguete, Moalbaol, Bohol and Manila.  

Edited October 31 by BrettGC

[Freebie]

No idea why its anyones business asking " are you going to have kids" but we know where we live.

[BrettGC]

7 minutes ago, Freebie said:

No idea why its anyones business asking " are you going to have kids" but we know where we live.

Me either but I just went with it.  Honestly, no skin off my nose. 

I forgot to add another question:  Are you renting or living in your own home?

I suspect the fact I answered the mostly closed or single word answer questions and didn't elaborate at all but without sounding like a recalcitrant probably has a lot to do with how brief our interview was. 

Edited October 31 by BrettGC

[Freebie]

And were you asked fathers name and mothers name because thats everywhere too.... what relevance it has again, who knows. If you have already shown documentation to show who you are, the mother /father nmae isnt exactly relevant. I was suprised to see that particular question isnt on the etravel form !!!!!

[BrettGC]

30 minutes ago, Freebie said:

And were you asked fathers name and mothers name because thats everywhere too.... what relevance it has again, who knows. If you have already shown documentation to show who you are, the mother /father nmae isnt exactly relevant. I was suprised to see that particular question isnt on the etravel form !!!!!

Lol no, I wasn't asked that but yes, a little surprised now I think about it.  I didn't even see the application forms so it may be on there 

[BrettGC]

1 hour ago, BrettGC said:

I didn't even see the application forms so it may be on there 

Ignore that, they didn't ask for the information so it's obviously not on the form 

[Jack Peterson]

6 minutes ago, BrettGC said:

Ignore that, they didn't ask for the information so it's obviously not on the form 

  When I did mine through my Lawyer in Cebu I had to submit both our Birth Certs and all that info is on them 

[BrettGC]

32 minutes ago, Jack Peterson said:

  When I did mine through my Lawyer in Cebu I had to submit both our Birth Certs and all that info is on them 

Good point but no birth cert for me, only for AM so may have only needed her details?  Can't even check the application form as the one online is very out of date. 

[Jack Peterson]

10 minutes ago, BrettGC said:

Good point but no birth cert for me, only for AM so may have only needed her details?  Can't even check the application form as the one online is very out of date. 

  Well yours will have been on your Marriage cert so they will have that as You must have submitted  that to to them

Edited October 31 by Jack Peterson

[Mike J]

18 hours ago, BrettGC said:

Me either but I just went with it.  Honestly, no skin off my nose. 

I forgot to add another question:  Are you renting or living in your own home?

I suspect the fact I answered the mostly closed or single word answer questions and didn't elaborate at all but without sounding like a recalcitrant probably has a lot to do with how brief our interview was. 

Trying to see if the marriage is real or sham?  When they ask you those questions were you alone or with your spouse?