Getting an NBI Clearance

Last month I went to the NBI Regional Office located at U.N. Ave in Manila to get an NBI Clearance. Since a co-worker of mine told us that he passes by this office at 6am and sees a long line, I decided to go at 5am. The NBI office is open from 8am-5pm.

Although I was early, I was expecting a long line. So I was really surprised to see only a couple of vendors outside the gate. Apparently, not a lot of people know that NBI has an office on Saturdays (I found out later it was only for January when they expect a lot of people obtaining the clearance for work). I went inside and saw a table set up just inside the entrance with a guy handing out some papers. This is Step 1: Get an Application Form.

They will then point to you go to the holding area which is like a big basketball court. I was feeling pretty smug that I got there so early. Then I saw this ...

Would you believe this is at 5:30am?

You will not be given a number. You sit on the next available chair and this will thus, then, be the "line". While waiting, I filled out my application form with the help of "Kuya Ronnie" who was manning the information booth inside the holding area, playing Boys to Men music (nice) and announcing how the form is to be answered through the loud speakers.

Note: He lets those with birthdays that day to go first :)

lumpia and lugaw being offered for sale by a vendor
- no need to even get out of the line

At about 6:30 am, they started processing Step 2: Data Check. Basically, they check if you answered the form correctly and you have a valid ID. The valid IDs are:

• Valid passport
• Voter’s ID
• Driver’s License
• PRC License
• SSS ID
• GSIS UMID
• Postal ID
• School ID
• TIN ID
• Philhealth ID
• Authenticated Birth Certificate
• Alien Cert of Registration
• Senior Citizen
• Previous Copy of NBI Clearance

Data check was done quickly. Then the real waiting begins. Apparently, even if the data check people were already doing their job, the next part (Step 3: Payment) has not yet started. So I waited for about an hour before I was able to go to the pay counter. This part was not as fun (hence, no pic) because once you go the pay counters,  you have to stand, there is no clear line and they issue the receipts by hand. Took a very looooong time. 

There are different fees for different purposes. Mine cost P115. For the complete list, see here. 

Step 4: Encoding. I went to the second floor to the Encoding section. At this point, no one was really directing people where to go. I took a seat and just moved when people moved. One of the encoders were talking in a very loud voice berating people who would walk by while another person's picture is being taken against the white backdrop.        

Once my turn came, the encoder got my receipt, application and  put my information in. Their monitor is angled towards you so that you can check the information. She took my picture, 

scanned my fingers and viola, the process is finished! Well, almost.

It turns out that I had a HIT which means that I either have a derogatory record or my name or part of my name is the same as someone else and it needs to be checked.  So, I was asked to return the week after :(
                                         
This was posted inside the holding area:

Seriously? 

They started processing people at 6:30 am and I got out at 9:30 am. I thought that was pretty fast considering I expected to be there until lunch time.

ADVICE

* Get to the place early. They only process a specific amount of application. For Regional offices this is 6,000 per day. For Satellite offices, this is about 300. After they reach their quota, even if it is only 2pm, they won't allow anyone else in.

* Better yet, apply online and fill out the application form at http://nbi.njis-ph.com/ . You don't need to go to step 1 - 3 and you will go directly to step 4 which is encoding, finger scanning and picture taking on the 3rd floor. When I went there, I did not know the online application was already available. A good resource for more details about the online process is this website.

* Make sure to have a valid ID. They will reject you if you don't have one. No exception.

* Dress appropriately. No specific dress guideline but I am willing to bet you will not be welcomed warmly if you come in tank top, shorts and slippers.

* Ask, ask, ask. Sometimes you assume that you are in the correct line but turns out you're not. Better be sure and ask if you are going to the correct place or you are doing the correct procedure. But ask the NBI employees and NOT the vendors or other applicants.

FYI: When I went back to get my clearance, it took me 5 minutes since all I have to do is go to Step 5 : Clearance. Gave my receipt, they typed it in, printed it out and I was done!


NBI CLEARANCE HELP DESK
526-1294
http://www.nbi.gov.ph/