Embassy of the United States of America — Local services in Manila

some advice: there are multiple entrances for visa/is citizena it is south entrance (across the big Roxas Boulevard would be Padre Faura street) if in a rush get the earliest appointment you can (i had a 10:30am .. got here at 10am .. given a # to wait .. seen at 11:45am .. at 12:20pm was finished - as a US citizen .. i had to replace a stolen passport) bring a pen to fill forms ... and plan your life or a newspaper/info to read .. had to wait 1+ hour... bring your address/hotel and mobile # written to give to Air21 (not on your mobile as that is kept by security) bring an extra photo id - you will need it to leave along with your electronics (phone...) at security; no fruits .. no food .. bottle of water must be emptied but refilled any attire seems fine .. i was in shorts+sandals (but had pants if need be ..) bring your US VISA/MC to pay if you want to save 2% as the rate is a bit off (google shows "135 US Dollar equals 6702.08 Philippine Peso" .. i paid 6885 =~ 183 pesos lost .. no big deal just saying)

very professional .. no hastle for stolen passport wait 3 weeks to get a new passport .. with it go to head imigration office (also in intramurus) window 35 to restore your visa and pay any late extension fees (1000 pesos per month + regular fees).. no way around it .. (done in a few hours if under 6 months late .. 5 days of approval needed) after you can fly out .. 10 officers said no way to do any extension without a any passport! must have some sort of a passport! i got my passport delivered in 11 calendar days! (gf has to go for a Russian passport - its a nightmare - needs to go to Russian Consulat 3 times!! 1st time to declare a loss and request formal records search and wait up to a month! go again in person (no power of attorney possible to do upon behalf) and formally apply for a new passport, pay and wait for up to 3 months! go again and pick up a passport!! and then head over to head immigration office to pay for visa extensions and 1000 peso/month...

Applying for visa to get here in US in Philippine US embassy is a nightmare. I feel so harassed by their questions. My son’s birth certificate is late registered by 5 years because his dad and I, haven’t been married that time. At first, They want to make sure if I’m really his biological mother. They told me to get the medical records including the birthing procedure that the hospital did to me when I gave birth to him from the hospital. So the 2nd time I went to them, I have the records and I even brought some pictures of my son from birth growing up together with me and his dad. But They have a second problem: They want to make sure if my husband is really my son’s father! “What??” I even have my son with me that time (outside the interview room) and they even look like twin!.. So the 3rd time, I brought the picture of my husband when he was a kid together with my son’s pictures, and all of the possible proof that I can bring. But then again, they told me to go back to them, alone, they told me not to bring the kids anymore. 4th time, they asked me more questions, they already have all my documents, they gave me back those pictures and they keep our passport and told me they going to call me if they’ve done investigating my case. It was so frustrating waiting for their call, and It’s already been 3 months, when I came across this organization that I’ve just found in telephone directory(I can’t remember what’s the name) and I’ve found out they are helping families like mine that has problems applying for US visa, called the number and told them all about those harassing interview. The lady on the line promise me they’ll do what they can to help me. After about 2 weeks, 2 ladies came to my house and ask me a few questions about me and my husband and his job in US, then told me they were sorry that I’ve got bad experience and for waiting that long. After a month the embassy mailed me our approved visa. I was crying during those 3 last interview, and the waiting, the...

I speak from the perspective of a Philippine national in the Philippines.

The US State Department's funds are put to good use in the embassy. Everything is clean and well maintained, the staff are stern and strict but fair. The process overall has been streamlined and sped up compared to the last time I was there. In less than 2 hours, I got my visa application processed and approved.

As others have said, be warned that: ALL electronic devices (save for your basic digital or analog watch) are not allowed. You can NOT leave them on a locker somewhere, like what other visa processing facilities for other countries offer. I recommend booking an adjacent hotel for you to stay for the rest of the day, or the day prior to your appointment. Or you can always ask a companion to hold on to your devices. Speaking of companions...

Your companions don't have a proper place to stay while they wait for you. There is a shaded area with a few trees and some concrete 'benches' they can sit but otherwise, they're not going to be the most comfortable. There are also a few 'entrepreneurs' there that will offer to either hold things for you, or sell you the privilege of sitting in one of their plastic monobloc chairs for PhP 50. However, there is a footbridge not far from the main entrance that leads to the other side of Roxas Boulevard. There's a coffee shop nearby you could wait in, but it's hardly ideal and the footbridge itself isn't covered.

I wish they'd do something for the companions as they're not allowed inside, and it get's quite hot in the summer, and obviously soaking wet during the...