What a conundrum. The US Embassy in Manila has a courier agreement with 2GO to deliver your passport to the embassy and return. The fee from Dumaguete 2GO is 130 pesos. BUT, here is the problem, they cannot accept the $110 embassy fee payment so it really doesn't work. I imagine the same for visas. The US state department will not allow couriers to accept payments. The only way around this, other than going to the Cebu consulate or Manila embassy itself, is to have a person in Manila or going to Manila that you can give a signed authorization letter to go to the embassy and make the payment for you. I was told a local, if he or she has your authorization letter, would be allowed to go in and make the payment for you. I would guess the receipt would have to go back to you and then you would send that along with the DS-82 signed form and 2 passport pictures in the 2GO package. After hearing this, I will have to take a trip to Cebu, unless a member here will be going to the embassy or consulate soon? Thank you.
So, I guess a credit card over the phone or sending a check with your application is out of the question?
In One! Well I can't say Much about the US Embassy but this is how I do any Postal/Courier paper Work In,Manila, Hong Kong and London British Embassies. I can Quite understand The Embassies, not allowing CASH to be paid Via a Courier. @Pat, maybe a phone call to the Embassy/Consulate would be a good Idea to Clarify the situation. Jack P.
For years the embassy has been having problems with couriers, some of our visa clients have received documents from the embassy using 3 different couriers in a matter of weeks. About 6 months ago they announced that 2go would be their official and only courier. As for visa clients, the embassy is picking up the tab (so far) on courier fees. I'm sure they will be working this glitch out of the system someday. IN the meantime... Larry
Jack, I did call the embassy and they confirmed the information I posted, or I wouldn't have posted it.
I got this from the website: Once your documents are received, the embassy will notify you through email for the instructions on when to come to the embassy to pay the application fee. Alternatively, you may send a representative to pay the application fee on your behalf. Please bring: $110 in cash (U.S. dollars or Philippine pesos equivalent) or credit card A printout of the email notification sent to you by the Embassy So they process and then tell you when to come and pay. That just means a little vacation in the bowels of HELL, errrrr Manila. Maybe we can pay in Cebu??
It sounds like the U.S. Embassy needs to get set up with Western Union or LBC. Both accept payments and deliver $.
I suspect they will eventually set it up as they have with non immigrant visas, one can pay the visa fee at Metrobank or BDO. Larry