How to get a Philippine Multi-Purpose NBI Clearance for Travel or Visa

Getting an NBI(National Bureau of Investigation) clearance has been easy-peasy!  It is now a multi-purpose clearance and only costs 150Php ( 130Php for clearance and 20Php for online fee).

Here are the steps that took me a total of 30 minutes, travel time going to the NBI office included.

Disclaimer:  The time frame may vary to factors such as location, queue, and efficiency of your local NBI staff.

1. Go to NBI clearance website. It looks like this :

2.  Register and create your username using your email address and a password for this site.

3.  Once you are logged in, you fill up the form. After that you can click on APPLY FOR CLEARANCE.

4.  You will be directed to this page where you will get to choose the location of the NBI office and the mode of payment for your clearance.  For me, I chose the option using Bayad Center.  When I went to LBC the next day was told that it will take time for the payment to reflect thus was directed to Western Union instead.  Making a payment at WU was very quick. I was the only client so there was no queue.  I only paid 3Php service charge for it, so all in all paid 153Php to get an NBI clearance. 

5.  Finally, got myself to ride a tricycle to go to the NBI office.  It was around 1pm so was lucky that I was the only client, again! Just my luck indeed.  I gave my payment receipt as well as my indicated ID which was my PRC card. I was told to take a seat then after just a few minutes was asked to look at the camera so they get a snap then asked me to have my digital fingerprints. Then, was told again to take a seat to wait for the printing.  It did not take long to warm my seat when I was told to go to the next window to get the printed NBI clearance. Voila! NBI clearance on hand in just 10 minutes!  Thanks to the NBI staff on duty that time as they were very courteous and efficient.  By the way, NBI Clearance is the Police Certificate asked when applying for Canadian Spousal Sponsorship Visa. 

I hope in one way or another this blog entry will help you,too, and would love to hear how your securing an NBI Clearance experience was for you. 

LAZADA Review - Ordering and Request for Refund Process

I have been ordering from Lazada since last year --- from diapers, scents, hand mixer, then recently phones. Those orders were qualms-free. Until...

Last March 3, 2017, I ordered a Lenovo Vibe Shot at 7,795Php with free powerbank. It comes with 32GB memory and it has 16mp for its camera. I was quite excited because it was very sleek and the specs are all that I have been hoping for. It even came to my mind to also write a review.  However, just few weeks after, I noticed that the network signals (dual-sim as it is) are sometimes gone and back again. I tried to Until the signals were totally gone! Zilch! Nada! I was forced to buy a very basic phone at 499Php just for me to receive texts and calls. So here is my Lazada convenient inconvenience experience with them.

April 26. I returned the item through their LBC return facility. I was glad it was just a few meters away from our house. It was fuss-free and was given a return form with its corresponding return reference number. That evening, I immediately sent through email the return item reference number to Lazada.

May 3. I received an email from Lazada that they have received my returned item and that my refunds is forwarded to the 'Refunds Team'.

May 6. I received another email response after my follow-up that my refund is on queue.  Contrary to their FAQ on refunds, processing refunds when a customer paid cash on delivery only takes 1-2 days.

May 8. I received a call telling me they sent me the LBC details to my email and that I should check my inbox or spam folders for the refund and even sent me a google verification yet no confirmation still of my refund!

May 9. No word from Lazada considering I sent them 3-4 emails to follow up my refund.

May 10. No word from Lazada still...Haist.

May 11. I called Lazada asking on the status of my refund and once again was told that they have already forwarded my concern to their Payments Team. The same yiddi yaddah. I told them that I need my refund today. After 2 hours I received an email informing me that they will be sending my LBC remittance details within the day, fingers-crossed.

Their customer service is very poor in relation to providing exact resolution to your problem yet in all fairness, I can say how calmly they handled my rant.

So what now?  After 15 grueling days, I finally got my Lazada refund thru LBC remittance.

This experience really traumatized me big time and tested my patience.  I guess I will no longer buy gadgets online (save from the Gigaset Me Pro) that I have already ordered and now on the process.

At the end of the day, shopping online is a big risk although very convenient. Just hoping it won't be a ticket for inconvenience and stressful life.