jeffandgop

Because it's a "Spousal Benefit", not a "Survivor Benefit". Her benefit amount is based on her own social security benefit, or a percentage of mine; whichever is greater. Look it up on the SSA website......

You can direct email to the FBU at [email protected]; but that may still not get a response any different than thru the Manila website. If you have a my Social Security account, that will show your application status and no one in Manila will probably have anything else to offer.... Good Luck. We've been waiting for the SSA to approve my wife's benefit start up application since the first week of December.....

For my wife's spousal benefit 15 weeks and counting

UPDATE. The SSA's UPS courier package arrived yesterday. The xxx's in their email identifying the tracking number was no more than the SSA NOT providing a trackable number. Why on earth after my repeated requests to return our documents with a tracking number they would "mask" the number is ridiculous, incompetent, or was with purposeful intent.... I want to stress for those that do not want to send original docs but would send Embassy-notarized copies, be mindful that some embassies require appointments which availability may be AFTER the date the SSA specifies in their email to you requesting those documents......that will then require the originals to be sent.

UPDATE. Yesterday morning I sent this email message back to Manila FBU. "The failure to attend to the timely return of our documents is not acceptable. But for our continuous follow up inquiring as to the whereabouts of my passport and marriage certificate who knows if they would ever be returned? These need to be sent by courier without any further delay AND I insist that your office monitor that these documents are sent AND we are provided all of the shipping details. I don’t want to be in a position of having to send anymore emails asking where these are and not receiving any acknowledgement or information." This morning they replied. "Good morning, Upon checking, there has been delays with mailing out of documents due to the volume received this last month. Your documents were mailed back by our admin yesterday via UPS courier. The tracking number is 1Z 8X9 xxx-xx-xxxx 5983. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ We have transferred your application to our central office in Baltimore, MD for processing. After going through a final quality review, applications are generally processed within 2 to 3 months. Our central office will mail you an official notice once they finish processing your application. Please note that variations in international postal systems may delay the receipt of your notice. " I assume the xxx in their email are to be replaced with the beneficiary's SSN. I tried doing that with and without dashes and/or spaces....UPS did not recognize the tracking number......

True, but the point I was making was their lack of effort to determine if I might be cut off and given a chance to remedy the problem before I was cutoff. Last year I I received the 7162 at my home in Thailand and as I was later in the U.S. I mailed it from a USPO back to Wilkes Barre in late August yet still got that 2nd Notice in Nov. I mailed that from Thailand to Wilkes Barre in Dec and tracked it to their receipt. Without a reply to my inquiries asking if I was still at risk, this just leaves people like me twisting in the wind waiting for months to find out if your not going to receive your benefit or not. If they are making their big announcements to assist you AFTER you got cutoff, wouldn't it be better for them to assist you BEFORE it happens?

When Manila FBU sent email to us for the phone appt they specified it as being Philippines time- most likely same for you.....

I knew that. But you need to make an appointment for notary services and the availability of appointments was later than the Manila FBU deadline to receive those documents. We had no choice but to send the originals. When I applied for initiation of my benefits that took only 5 weeks total

On Dec 4, 2022, my wife applied to initiate her benefits. The online application was received with a response that the process normally takes "2-4 weeks". The application was assigned to the Manila FBU within 24 hours. 2 weeks go by, then 4 weeks, then 8 weeks, then 10 weeks and not any response or action undertaken by the Manila FBU whatsoever. So we sent them an inquiry using their web portal on Feb 6. Another week goes by and then we get an email scheduling a telephone interview for the following week Feb 16. At the appointed time on the appointed date she did not receive the expected call. I tried to call them- this being a Thursday during their "telephone office hours", and no one answered. I wrote them an email the very same day asking why they haven't called; and later that day they did call and completed the telephone interview. However, they informed her that her US Passport and Marriage Certificate needed to be sent to the Manila FBU by Mar 16 to complete their processing. So their very next day, Friday Feb 17, we couriered the passport & marriage certificate which arrived at the Embassy on Tuesday Feb 21. We requested that when returning these to give us the courier info and tracking number. On Wed Mar 1, the Manila FBU sent an email that our docs were "scheduled to be sent back" on Friday Mar 3. The following week we received nothing- no documents, no tracking info. I sent an email to the Manila FBU on Mar 10 asking for information on where their courier package was- no acknowledgement. Again on Mar 13 I sent an email request and on Mar 14 Manila FBU answered "Upon checking, there has been a delay on mailing out of original documents. Your documents are still in our office and will be due for mailing out this week or next." "Upon checking" means no one was paying attention to return our documents as "scheduled" for Mar 3, and only our follow ups triggered their action to find that our documents had not been handled as promised. Their advice that our documents "will be due for mailing out this week or next" is not viewed by us as much of a commitment on their part. I've emailed back that their performance has been unacceptable. The passport is a most critical document that needs to be in the hands of the owner and as soon as the SSA's business purpose was satisfied it should have been returned expeditiously. To wait possible 3 full weeks (or more) for its' return, after they were finished with it, is ridiculous. So as of today it's been more than 16 weeks since my wife applied for her benefits and she still does not have her Benefits approval. Manila FBU. Seriously deficient in their performance and meeting their commitments. (And I am still awaiting Manila's FBU answer to my inquiry I sent last December as to whether I was potentially having my benefit suspended even tho I have submitted the Form 7162 twice last year.)

I am having the opposite experience. I will begin by saying when I applied for my benefits online in 2018, it took only 5 weeks to process and issue their notification of my Benefits Award Notice. The processing time including a telephone interview from the Philippines to my home in Thailand. However. On Dec 4, 2022, my wife applied to initiate her benefits. The online application was received with a response that the process normally takes "2-4 weeks". The application was assigned to the Manila FBU within 24 hours. 2 weeks go by, then 4 weeks, then 8 weeks, then 10 weeks and not any response or action undertaken by the Manila FBU whatsoever. So we sent them an inquiry using their web portal on Feb 6. Another week goes by and then we get an email scheduling a telephone interview for the following week Feb 16. At the appointed time on the appointed date she did not receive the expected call. I tried to call them- this being a Thursday during their "telephone office hours", and no one answered. I wrote them an email the very same day asking why they haven't called; and later that day they did call and completed the telephone interview. However, they informed her that her US Passport and Marriage Certificate needed to be sent to the Manila FBU by Mar 16 to complete their processing. So their very next day, Friday Feb 17, we couriered the passport & marriage certificate which arrived at the Embassy on Tuesday Feb 21. We requested that when returning these to give us the courier info and tracking number. On Wed Mar 1, the Manila FBU sent an email that our docs were "scheduled to be sent back" on Friday Mar 3. The following week we received nothing- no documents, no tracking info. I sent an email on Mar 10 asking for information on where the courier package was- no acknowledgement. Again on Mar 13 I sent an email request and on Mar 14 Manila FBU answered "Upon checking, there has been a delay on mailing out of original documents. Your documents are still in our office and will be due for mailing out this week or next." "Upon checking" means no one was paying attention to return our documents as "scheduled" for Mar 3, and only our follow ups triggered their action to find that our documents had not been handled as promised. Their advice that our documents "will be due for mailing out this week or next" is not viewed by us as much of a commitment on their part. I've emailed back that their performance has been unacceptable. The passport is a most critical document that needs to be in the hands of the owner and as soon as the SSA's business purpose was satisfied it should have been returned expeditiously. To wait possible 3 full weeks (or more) for its' return, after they were finished with it, is ridiculous. So as of today it's been more than 16 weeks since my wife applied for her benefits and she still does not have her Benefits approval. Manila FBU. Not only not helpful, but seriously deficient in their performance and meeting their commitments. (And I am still awaiting Manila's FBU answer to my inquiry I sent last December as to whether I was potentially having my benefit suspended even tho I have submitted the Form 7162 twice last year.)

Waste of time. Even tho I mailed the first 7162 back to the SSA from within the U.S in Aug, I still got a second notice in Oct. I mailed that back and tracked it to delivery in Dec. Numerous attempts to contact Manila to obtain status on whether I was on the possible suspension list were either not successful in reaching them by phone OR their web portal, or were never answered after they DID receive my request for assistance by email. I started trying to get their assistance starting last Dec...never heard anything from them. Being cutoff could potentially be avoided if they had bothered to do their jobs when they were contacted to verify the 7162 status of the person who made requests...

I chose to re-submit online on 22Feb.....as was the initial online submittal being accepted as complete and correct, after 1 week in the "Pending" status I received email notice of approval yesterday......

"Pending" status not going forward has been a reported issue by many others. What is dissimilar here is someone processed my application and chose to reject it with the given cause I've never seen reported before. My submittal is EXACTLY in all respects the same as I have done a multitude of times and I looked at all 4 of last years 90-days submittals I inputted online and all 4 work quickly "approved" with a new reporting date. My wife called CMI yesterday and when routed to someone on the 90-day desk, the person could not explain why my report was rejected nor explain the meaning of "Already Informed". Neither was that person interested in even looking up my record nor offered any assistance. Will go to CMI Central Festival next week.....

Yes- After inputting online my details on 15 Feb, the auto-generated CMI email response read "We have received your information successfully..." That, in turn, place my submission in the "Pending" que as I awaited approval and another email with the new future report date. But what I received 4 days later was the auto-generated CMI email response which read; "Your application for STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS has been rejected"; and in the next line below in bold the words "Already Informed". And online "Pending" status now read "Rejected". Yes, I know I will have to go to CMI to straighten this out. Thanks...

I did post in the local CM Forum but did not receive any knowing responses. So, I've been successful in using the CMI online 90-day report tool for many times. Next 90-day being due 26 Feb, I submitted my report online 15 Feb...absolutely all data being exactly the same as prior reporting...in response, auto-generated email acknowledging "We have received your information successfully..." Then, on 19 Feb, I received an auto-generated email from CMI "Your application for STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS has been rejected"; and in the next line below in bold the words "Already Informed". Anybody knows what "Already Informed" means? And No, I only submitted my latest report online once.

The Sunday acknowledgement is auto-generated and may reflect that the system records match my input and was correctly completed. It did not reject my submission. Nothing suspicious at all. As I wrote, the auto-generated rejection was received days later and gave the reason “Already Informed” and did NOT stipulate that I needed to report in person to Immigration (which is the usual statement included with rejection notices). The 90-day system for my record reflects the one submittal has been rejected as well. No hacking here. So my original question of what “Already Informed “ means remains; and if anyone has had this occur in response to their 90-day submittal or knows the meaning please share.

Been successful in using the CMI online 90-day report tool for many times. Next 90-day being due 26 Feb, I submitted my report online 15 Feb...absolutely all data being exactly the same as prior reporting...in response, auto-generated email acknowledging "We have received your information successfully..." Yesterday 19 Feb, received an auto-generated email from CMI "Your application for STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS has been rejected"; and in the next line below in bold the words "Already Informed". Anybody knows what "Already Informed" means? And No, I only submitted my latest report online once.

Recommend giving ALLTECH SOLUTIONS @082-180-7080 or 0562-180-7002 a call- or better yet, go visit their shop. I replaced my original security camera system 3 years ago with the HIKVISION cameras they distribute, install and service. Here's a link to their FB page and a map of their location: https://www.alltechsolutions.co.th As I wrote a few years ago in response to another individual seeing advice: After extensive researching the internet of security camera attributes, current technology, Thailand marketplace resources; I chose to purchase and have installed the cameras and DVR by a local factory authorized dealer of a particular manufacture’s product line- HikVision. Before I began my search for a specific manufacturer, I created a list of my priorities ("Home Security Camera System Reqts" file) I purchased 6 model DS-2CE16D0T-IT3F HD 1080p EXIR Bullet Cameras (outdoor) & 2 model DS-2CE56D0T-IT3F HD 1080p EXIR Turret Camera (indoor) and DS-7200HQHI-K1 HD DVR. I chose the HikVision product because of their extensive offerings of camera systems in Thailand; their clearly understandable and detailed website of their products and technologies; and their high Customer satisfaction ratings I came across. They work great. As you consider your options, a couple of key fundamentals to consider and decide upon. Cameras require a power supply to operate. Electrical wiring may have to be installed where each of the cameras are to be located. This will add to the installation costs. Cameras require their signal to be broadcasted to your monitor, and/or DVR. This is accomplished by either (1) cable (coax or Ethernet or fiber optic, depending on the speed and resolution desired/required), or (2) Wifi. If you don’t have cabling already installed, it may be the most expensive part of the system cost (this is normal) and you can avoid cabling costs by using Wifi. However, wifi depends on enough bandwidth and speed to transmit and your location may not have the speed you need; or it will use significant amount of bandwidth which degrades your internet and streaming needs that you use today. You’ll have to explore the feasibility of wifi with whomever you decide to purchase your camera system from; it certainly can significantly reduce the cost of installation (as opposed to installing cable). You’ll have to decide what external and/or internal areas you want covered by security cameras- that drives per camera cost, power needs, and camera’s transmission of the view. You’ll need to decide if you want continuous recording, or recording only when motion is detected; camera resolution daytime and nighttime; if you want sound to be recorded; or???.

Right you are....thank you.

Not quite correct. There are AGI limits to use OLT, depending on age as well....

I tried again to submit a request to Manila SSA FBU via their https://ph.usembassy.gov/services/fbu-inquiry-form/. Again, when I selected the Reason for Inquiry being the Annual Questionnaire from their drop down menu, "Access Denied" was the return response after submitting. Then I chose as my selected Reason for Inquiry "Apply for Social Security Benefits" and requested an update on my wife's 8-week old long wait for any response relative to her application, THAT inquiry went thru successfully. Surmise that the FBU is simply blocking any inquiries on the 7162 thru their own portal not wanting to work this issue....

Before I even looked at that high reading I could see coming from the north a thick hazy smog layer heading for where I live...it is now dissipating...but at 8am monitors at Tonkla are reporting readings of 116 and Ruamchok 70....both locations were reporting higher levels at 6am...

My own device made by a CMU Professor in his lab....very reliable

2.5 measurement at my home in Sansai ballooned from 44 (7am) to now 185!!!! What????????

Thanks for the tip! Except I am using Apple IOS/OS, not Windows...;(