The Pain of Getting an NBI Clearance
By anne25penn
@anne25penn (3305)
Philippines
May 12, 2012 9:00pm CST
Since I have been living under a rock pretty much last year, I didn't know that our government made changes on how to get an NBI Clearance. I have just landed a job and I thought that getting a clearance was easy and I was so wrong. I applied for my first NBI clearance in 1992. Now, the lines were long and the process took me day. But that was then, because it wasn't computerized. After that whenever I needed to renew my clearance, I could just go to the kiosks that they have set up in the malls and then that was that. Within an hour or sometimes even less, I would have my clearance. And the main office in Taft or Monumento at that time was open.
Now I learned that when you need a clearance, it will be like you are applying for the first time. And the NBI offices are closed on Saturdays, and they have a cut-off. Meaning you have to spend a whole day just processing your NBI clearance. This is really frustrating for me because I am already on training and my hours are from 7am to 4pm, which the same time that the offices are open. I cannot miss a day of work, BPO peeps know this, so I am a little infuriated with these changes. I learned that our government under PNoy trashed the existing system because there was an anomaly/corruption that they linked to GMA. I mean, what the h@ll. It's taxpayers like us that get inconvenienced by such stupidity.
So, anybody else here loving our new NBI clearance application process?
1 person likes this
9 responses
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
13 May 12
So, when did they say that changed?
My husband filed for one last year, but I didn't notice anything different since I got mine in 2006. The lines were still crazy long, and yes, you may need about 2-3 hours to get things done.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
13 May 12
The poster on Taft announced the changes starting September 2011 that the offices are only from Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm. I was able to renew my clearance March of last year at Megamall and it took me less than an hour so I was expecting the same this year, only to find out that I can't get a clearance because you have to be there early morning to get a number since they limit the number of applications being processed per day.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
13 May 12
Oh, so I guess my husband was just lucky to have done it early last year and do away with all the hassle.
Yeah, the mall stalls were really convenient. He was also able to renew his driver's license very quickly at SM.
Was there any other reason behind limiting us from getting the clearance at the malls? Perhaps, broken computer systems, or such?
@yallit (3677)
• Philippines
13 May 12
You should consider yourself lucky. I remember last year when people have to wait for 2-3 days just to get their NBI clearances. Some people stood in line for a whole day in order to get the schedule when they'll be back to present themselves.
I also had that trouble last year since I switch from one company to another and that was mid-July. They changed the system July 1st. I went from one service kiosks to another plus 2 city halls just to try and get my NBI clearance. That's when I found out that the old service kiosks have been kicked out. Luckily, I got news that the application for NBI clearance was open on Saturdays on some of the kiosks. Since there are only a few who knew at that time, I was able to get my NBI clearance in just one day (albeit an exhausting 12hours) compared to those ones who were given a schedule of 2-3 days.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
13 May 12
Good for you that you were able to get it in one day. I am still deliberating if I need to sacrifice a day of training just to get this NBI clearance since the ones even in the malls are closed on Saturday. It's just frustrating.
@ladyhemingway (965)
• Philippines
13 May 12
Hello yallit, thank you for sharing your experience. I just want to ask, would you happen to know what kiosks are open on Saturdays. I will be needing a clearance soon and I really do not know how to start with this and it is only during Saturdays that I am free to get one. Thank you.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
13 May 12
Yes, it is a government clearance that clears you of any criminal record. Which is kind of stupid here in my country because those who commit crimes are the ones who aren't working. And the ones who work spend time and money (because it costs P115 or like $3) just to get this clearance because it is part of the requirements that we submit to employers.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
13 May 12
Glad you pointed that out. The same goes for informal settlers who don't have to pay for the land and house taxes but living in other people's spaces anyway. I understand that that the government need the money that can be generated from these transactions but they should at least bring the price down for a piece of paper. If they can't do anything about the lines, do something about the price. .
@dierdre (2207)
• Philippines
13 May 12
Thank you for the info, i didn't know about the change. I've always disliked Pinoy, since my family is pro-GMA. If Gibo only won, the Philippines would be a much better country today under his leadership as compared to now. His bias against GMA all stems from CGMA's decision to give away a part of Hacienda Luisita. Anyway, thanks for the heads up, i wonder if there are still a small number of kiosks found in SM malls in select areas or were they totally obliterated and none exists nowadays..
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
15 May 12
Getting an NBI nowadays is very stressful. You have to be there as early as you can to beat the queue. Even if you arrive early chances are you'll be spending half of your day falling in line. I noticed that there's an option to pay through SMS using gcash but the process is very complicated. The information on how to go about using their website is as equally confusing. I think they need to tap someone who can do a better job of making their website more user friendly. On the other hand, If they can only tap the mall's customer service counters to accept payments then that's almost half of the time saved. I went there last week and experienced the stress personally, the good thing about the new process is unlike the last time that I have to return due to a "hit", this time I got the certificate at the end of the process.
@cleverland (150)
• Philippines
15 May 12
I had the same gruelling experience. My name is very generic. I've been having the same thing "hit" over and over again.. A good thing to do when you're name is generic or very common. Don't even try their branches/kiosks, never. Just go to the main office, in that way, you won't waste your efforts.
Otherwise, if you're certain that you're name is one in the world (haha, you'd know it only if you're renewing and no "hit" came up.), then just go to kiosks. Less lines, less hassle.
For first timers, I guess the same thing works best.
@rashme317 (250)
• Philippines
13 May 12
yes , you need to get a new nbi clearance ., the government change their ways ., nbi clearance is already not renewable and the process is very hassle and tiring
@chymez_me (186)
• Philippines
13 May 12
i've never really tried getting NBI clearance but i'll get one soon since it's needed to get a passport.. but according to my sister's experience, it took a week for her to get her NBI clearance because there's many people who have names like her.. i do hope it won't happen to me and that it will only take 1 day for me to get mine..i'm not really a person with a long patience.. _________
@ladyhemingway (965)
• Philippines
13 May 12
Thank you for this information. I was not aware that things like getting NBI clearance can be this much hassle. Last time I got a clearance was way back 2006. I'll be needing a clearance soon so I guess I will be experiencing the same ordeal. Thank you for the heads up.
