Case Processing times for applications in the Philippines

pheebz0501 · 2015-08-23T15:16:01+02:00

Since the case processing times for us Filipinos are slightly different than most applications from other countries, i decided to start a thread dedicated for this topic. this will be a really long post, so please bear with me :) we all know that the Norwegian Embassy in the Philippines have the power to make decisions on family immigration cases provided that certain conditions are met. This means that we can get decision at a faster waiting time, unlike when an application is forwarded to UDI which can take up to 9 months (or more) which is what normally happens to applications submitted in other countries. Most norwegian embassies in other countries dont have authority to make decisions, so applications are automatically forwarded to UDI.. a change had also happened when starting Feb 2015, the embassy had outsourced screening/accepting of documents for visa applications to VFS global.. that means that applicants no longer meet the case officer for submission of documents, which in my opinion, makes the decision making part more objective since there will no longer be an "interview" of sort and they will just be looking at our papers (which basically what happens at UDI).. this also gives a day or two delay for the embassy to receive the documents from VFS.. i had started a thread about getting married in Norway while on a Visitor's visa... feel free to browse thru it if u need some info about that topic.. moving forward, previous posts had proved that some residence permit application (under family immigration) received a decision after 2-3 weeks of submission.. some took more than a month.. some cases had received an email from the embassy within the first week of submission, that their case will be forwarded to UDI.. I had read someone received the UDI email after 2 months... these are all Filipinas who submitted applications in the Philippines.. for my case, i had applied with my daughter (from previous relationship) and it had been 2 months now since i had submitted our documents.. after 6 weeks of waiting, i decided to call the embassy for a follow-up.. they said that they received my application 2 business days after i submitted to VFS, and its still under processing coz they are still waiting for information from the police. what it is, they cant tell me coz its an internal process.. on the 8th week of waiting, my husband decided to call UDI to know if we had already been forwarded to UDI.. they said that a month ago, the embassy needed information from UDI, and UDI already returned the case back to the embassy... and it is up to the embassy now if they will make a decision or forward it back to UDI if it turns out to be a more complicated case.. a friend here on expat-blog had an observation that it seems like those who had been to norway dont get a decision in under a month, she too had been told about the pending info from the politi... so i decided to do some research in the webiste of Norwegian Directorate of Immigration - UDI which is the website for updates coming from UDI.. i did some further digging about the "info from the police", and here's what i found: Section 17-7f The police At the request of a Norwegian foreign service mission, the Directorate of Immigration, the Immigration Appeals Board or the Ministry, the police shall provide information on the conduct, of a foreign national ..... .... Information on conduct in accordance with the first paragraph includes information about whether the foreign national has been sentenced to a penalty or other criminal sanction or other measures as a result of committing an offence, or is the subject of a criminal prosecution; see also section 36, first paragraph (1), of the Police Register Act. In cases under the first paragraph (m), information may also be collected about identity. At the request of the Directorate of Immigration or the Immigration Appeals Board, the police shall provide information about whether the applicant is being investigated for a criminal offence that may have a bearing on the application, in cases concerning suspension under section 62, second paragraph, of the Act and cases concerning expulsion under section 122 of the Act. The duty of the police to provide information under this paragraph only applies where the interests of the investigation do not argue against providing the information.source: Immigration Regulations - pdf file my assumption is that for those who had been to norway for a longer period of time or given number of times, part of their requirements is a "Certificate of Conduct" (vandelsattest/politiattest) of the applicant from the police.. the certificate can take up to 4 weeks to get from the politi/police.. so i suppose those who submitted their application in the Philippines, can take more than a month for a decision because of this particular requirement.. i had been to Norway for a total of 5 months divided into 4 vacations.. my theory is that those who had been to Norway for more than 3 months OR been going there more than once will need a certificate of conduct from the police.. this is just my assumption tho, based on what the embassy told me what part of the process my case is still "pending" and after reading the immigration regulations.. so i believe that those who get decisions in under a month, did not need a politi certificate of conduct (those who had never been to norway, or been there in under 3 months)... but for us who need them, need to add another month of waiting, or maybe less depending on how busy the politi is.. so until now, we are still waiting... :( its been 2 months.. please feel free to discuss your waiting times after u submitted ur application in th Philippines... :) i maybe wrong for my assumptions so feel free to discuss your experiences on this matter... thank you and i wish us all the best :thanks: :)

Last activity 09 March 2020 by casseyissay

40824 Views

409 replies

Post new topic

Angel_0024Active member28 March 2016 16:30:16

#241

Hi tanyersss! I think you only need your cenomar authenticated. That's what I did now too.

Kea JohnsenActive member21 May 2016 13:45:04

#242

Hi there everyone!

It seems like this forum has stopped updating. Lol

But anyways, I'd like to share that I'm working on submitting our family reunification papers and I need some of your help guys with this.

In regards to Describing the relationship on the checklist, does it have to be written or can I just type it and print it out? I know writing it down looks more personal but we are in 2016 eh??

Is there any limit to the pictures I can submit btw? Bcoz when I applied for tourist visa they only took one at VFS as instructed by embassy. I'm planning to create a scrapbook if possible..hahah

Any response is appreciated.

Thanks a lot

Kea

Nadkiz007Active member21 May 2016 13:54:25

#243

Hi Kea.u can type in no issue i dd th same.photos u can copy nd paste into word which i did.from the start of relation thru the years till wedding 10 or 12 pics in 1page with titles for each pics.and it was fine

Kea JohnsenActive member21 May 2016 14:26:28

#244

Great!

Thanks a lot

Jouba33New member04 June 2016 20:49:06

#245

Hi. I have garented résidence permit .udi send me msg Month at 15/04/2016 i waitting 15 Month too have answer.and tell me the consulat contact me.but i dont here nothing.my question is:how much time theconsulat used tout call? Excuse me for bad english

Nadkiz007Active member05 June 2016 00:45:13

#246

You have to call them nd find out

Jouba33New member05 June 2016 01:10:36

#247

I. Call but tell only waitting.im tired to waitting.only I want to naw how much time to send udi answer at consulat

Jouba33New member09 June 2016 19:01:19

#248

How much i must waitting to have m'y visa

ab4cdActive member30 June 2016 21:41:36

#249

Jouba33 wrote:
Hi. I have garented résidence permit .udi send me msg Month at 15/04/2016 i waitting 15 Month too have answer.and tell me the consulat contact me.but i dont here nothing.my question is:how much time theconsulat used tout call? Excuse me for bad english

Dear Jouba,
You can either call or email the embassy regarding your case.

Tél: (+212) (0)5 37 66 42 00

Courriel: emb.rabat@mfa.no

http://www.norvege.ma/

Or you can call contact Udi https://www.udi.no/en/contact-us/

and last thing your spouse can call embassy in your home country or Udi. There is bit wait for calls but they will respond and guide you.

Jouba33New member01 July 2016 00:33:19

#250

Thank ab 4cd .i get my
visa. I waitting 17 Month .really is hard time for me

benzerian3107Member30 September 2016 02:45:49

#251

HI

I have submitted my documents for fiance visa on 20th September 2016 and received email from Norwegian embassy on 26th sept that my application has been forwarded to UDI.

Then received email from UDI on 27th with DUF number and my application is being received.

Thought my application would be decided by Norwegian embassy here. but maybe becoz i'm Thai citizen who worked in the Philippines.

I hope the embassy here in the Philippines just doesn't familiar with my Thai documents that why they forwarded to UDI instead. .

michcabs2013Member07 October 2016 06:16:19

#252

i have sent all my documents for fiance visa in VFS makati august 31 2016 and just this sept 23, norwegian embassy received my application and until now havent receive any email..

Nadkiz007Active member07 October 2016 06:40:08

#253

That is normal.you will recieve eventually

Hazel06Member29 October 2016 15:51:07

#254

How how long it will take to process a family visa now?i get married to norway and born my baby in norway.now planning to go home and apply for family visa?anyone know how long it will take ?

Hazel06Member09 November 2016 08:17:57

#255

Hi guys I have a big problem ,I am here in Norway and my daugther also for 2 years. And I am 7 month pregnant and im Married here in Norway for 1 year 1/5, now still waiting for UDI process my family visa. I read many good news about apply in Manila Embassy,im planning to go back to Philippines after i birth my baby here and apply there a Family Visa going back here since I been here for 2 years I think I miss Philippines and I need vacation.😉😉😉 Can i Ask anyone here?my husband still Married in Philippines and we wanted to file an annulment so we can Get Married in Philippines. My husband and her Ex wife Married on 2006 and Get divorce here inNorway 2014,But still not annul to Philippines since we dont have divorce in philippines. Did anyone have same case like me?i need advice plsssss 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😔😔

lady_diverActive member20 November 2016 10:49:29

#256

Hi everyone! I just want to share that my application for family reunification for spouse was granted on November 16, 2016. Submitted Oct 10, 2016 at VFS Manila. No email from UDI that they receive the application so I assumed the embassy handled the application. Been to Norway twice.

Goodluck to those who are still waiting, hope to get yours very soon 😊

Hazel06Member20 November 2016 13:54:45

#257

Wow really? Congrats ... You are granted and not wait too long. Do you kids also ?

lady_diverActive member21 November 2016 03:45:09

#258

Thank you Hazel. 😊 No we don't have a kid yet.

Hazel06Member21 November 2016 08:07:45

#259

You are so lucky that you grantre so fast. Are you Married to him?

lovelyengelNew member22 November 2016 13:40:54

#260

Hi Everyone,

Applied for family immigration in May 2015
forwarded to UDI
then to UNE in Jan 2016
it's been 10 months waiting to date.

I wonder, @TextheNorse, is your fiancee in Norway now? How long did you wait? I cannot see any update on here.

The UDI and UNE has been updating processing times every month now.

UNE family immigration processing times is now 1-6 months as of Nov. 18, 2016.

We have been waiting for 10 months now.

Any help would be totally appreciated.

lovelyengelNew member22 November 2016 13:50:50

#261

I wonder if those who has applied after the refugees in Syria started to flood UDI submissions.

Applications starting May 2015.

How long did it take for you to be approved?

What are the other documents that you have submitted.

UDI or UNE doesn't send monthly notification.

Any information would be of great help.

lovelyengelNew member22 November 2016 13:54:13

#262

Congratulations!

lovelyengelNew member22 November 2016 13:57:04

#263

how is your family reunification application?

approved?

waiting?

rocelaNew member22 November 2016 19:20:33

#264

lovelyengel wrote:
how is your family reunification application?

approved?

waiting?

Hi! I have lodge my family reunification application onshore on march 2016. My application was initially denied (5 mos after I lodge my application) but reversed 3 mos after I submitted an appeal.

I waited 8 months in total.

I hope you get some good news soon...

lovelyengelNew member23 November 2016 09:59:21

#265

my family reunification appeal was submitted to UNE in January 11, 2016

It's now been 10 months of waiting.

They have updated their processing times to 1-6 months now.

Still haven't heard from them.

3 months isn't bad. I envy you.

michcabs2013Member24 November 2016 14:48:57

#266

Just want to share that my fiance visa has been granted submitted in august 30 in VFS manila then approved in october 12 ..
Im here in trondheim now and waiting for some approval in the office then we can finally get married.by the way im 8 months pregnant.just want to know that when i give birth,will my baby be half filipino and half norwegian?just wondering..thanks for the answers.

lonelysoulseekerMember29 November 2016 10:46:43

#267

hi michcabs2013,, your baby wil be Norwegian if you give birth here in Norway. And you can apply him philippines passport too if you wanted too..

By the way i am just new here and i am wondering until now i didnt recieve my residence card yet after i report the politi in trondhiem days after i come here. I am just wondering if you get your residence card already how long you wait for it? We are processing our papers for to get married here too. Thank you.

glendora_19Active member12 December 2016 08:42:31

#268

Hi Im Glendora from Philippines. Im living in Stjørdal for 2 months now using a fiacee visa.Anyone can help me about Norskkurs? Please I really need your help.

katrieneMember12 December 2016 09:41:09

#269

Fiance visa is not free norskkurs...

glendora_19Active member12 December 2016 09:51:05

#270

Thank you

lyndeMember12 December 2016 12:28:55

#271

after you get married then you will get free norskurs

glendora_19Active member13 December 2016 10:29:17

#272

Just got married, How can I apply free norskkurs?
I'm not processing my family reunification yet

Hazel06Member13 December 2016 10:37:31

#273

Only go to The kommune, and Apply for norskkkurs and tel that you are Married automatically you free from norskkurs.😊👍🏻😉

glendora_19Active member13 December 2016 10:45:02

#274

Hazel06 Thank you so much😃
Kahit hindi pa ako nag apply ng family reunification ok lang ba?

Hazel06Member13 December 2016 10:56:29

#275

Yes ITS OK. No problem with that. That is The ryke here in Norway. once you are married with norwegian you have the rights to go to free Norskkurs.👍🏻😊

glendora_19Active member13 December 2016 11:20:53

#276

Ohh thank you so much for helping me Hazel06

Hazel06Member13 December 2016 11:27:25

#277

Your welcome. Just bring your marriage certificate to school and show them . 😊👍🏻 God jul. 🎄

glendora_19Active member13 December 2016 11:31:39

#278

tusen tusen takk God jul

glendora_19Active member13 December 2016 11:39:32

#279

Just wait 2 to 3 weeks for your residence card

TadassNew member15 January 2017 18:59:17

#280

Hi guys!

How long does normally now take for fiance visa will be graded?
It past over 2 months,we received letter that there that missing health insurance,and later that is still on process?

Thank you all,God bless you

Articles to help you in your expat project in Norway

General visa requirements for Norway
Norway is currently one of the most sought-after destinations for expats. Perhaps because of that, the ...
Getting a Visa: One step closer to becoming a Norwegian
Today I am officially a person in Norway. My existence is confirmed through a number and a visa by all the ...
Buying A Property in Stavanger
So, you’ve been here for a while and you’re thinking, this is a nice place to settle down or maybe ...
Buying property in Oslo
House prices in Oslo have been on the rise for the past decade, and although the market is beginning to stabilize, ...
Accommodation in Oslo
Rental places in Oslo are competitive, and prices are overall high. High living costs are well-expected across the ...
Developing your social circle in Oslo
Norwegians are not known for their eagerness to befriend newcomers. Most locals have well-established social ...
Sports in Oslo
Norwegians are an active bunch and weather is no obstacle. You will see youngsters playing soccer in the pouring ...
Childcare in Norway
Norway is probably one of the best countries in the world to raise kids. Besides the clean air, the safe ...