Civil Document · Updated May 2026
NBI Clearance for U.S. Immigration: How to Get It and What to Submit (2026)
Every Philippine-born immigrant visa applicant age 16 or older must present a valid NBI Clearance (National Bureau of Investigation Clearance) at the U.S. Embassy Manila interview. This guide covers the online application process, what to do if you are in the United States, how to handle a HIT result, and the exact version the embassy accepts.
Quick answer
Apply online at clearance.nbi.gov.ph, schedule an in-person biometrics appointment, and request the green NBI Clearance annotated for travel abroad. Include your maiden name and all name aliases in the AKA field. No apostille is needed. The clearance must be less than 1 year old at your interview date. If you are in the United States, use the NBI Mailed Clearance process through the nearest Philippine consulate and budget 6 to 10 weeks.
If your NBI Clearance will show a criminal record
This guide is for applicants who expect a clean clearance. If your NBI Clearance will reflect any criminal history (arrests, charges, or convictions), consult an immigration attorney before submitting anything to the National Visa Center (NVC) or the embassy. Criminal history can trigger grounds of inadmissibility under U.S. immigration law, and the right response depends on the specific record. Do not attempt to explain or contextualize a criminal record without legal guidance.
At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Who needs it | Every Philippine-born immigrant visa applicant age 16 or older. Foreign-born applicants who have lived in the Philippines for 6 months or more at any point also need one. |
| Official name | NBI Clearance (National Bureau of Investigation Clearance). This is the Philippine Police Certificate for U.S. immigration purposes. The Philippine National Police (PNP) clearance is a separate document and is not accepted. |
| Where to apply | Online at clearance.nbi.gov.ph. In-person biometrics appointment required after online registration. Walk-ins are not accepted. |
| Fee (in Philippines) | PHP 155 total: PHP 130 processing fee plus PHP 25 service fee. Verify directly at clearance.nbi.gov.ph before applying, as fees can change. |
| Processing time | Same-day or next-day release for most applicants after the biometrics appointment. If your result shows a HIT, processing extends to 5 to 10 working days for name verification. |
| Validity period | 1 year from the date of issue. The U.S. Embassy Manila requires the clearance to be less than 1 year old at the time of your immigrant visa interview. |
| Certificate color | Request the green NBI Clearance annotated "for travel abroad." The blue local-use version is not accepted for U.S. immigration. |
| Apostille | Not required by the U.S. Embassy Manila for immigrant visa purposes. Submit the original NBI Clearance. No apostille, no certified translation (the document is in English). |
| Aliases required | Yes. Request the clearance with an AKA field listing your maiden name, birth certificate name, and any alternate spellings of your name that appear on your other documents. |
| If you are in the United States | Apply via the NBI Mailed Clearance process: get fingerprinted at the nearest Philippine consulate (fee approximately $25 for the notarized fingerprint card), then mail the packet to the NBI Mailed Clearance Section in Manila. Or send a representative in the Philippines with a notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA). |
Sources: State Dept Philippines reciprocity table, U.S. Embassy Manila FAQ (verified May 2026).
NBI Clearance vs. PNP Clearance: which one does the embassy require?
The NBI Clearance is the document the U.S. Embassy Manila requires for immigrant visa applicants. It is issued by the National Bureau of Investigation, which maintains a national criminal database. The Philippine National Police (PNP) clearance is a separate document that covers only local police records in a specific jurisdiction and is not accepted for U.S. immigration purposes.
This distinction matters in practice: some applicants who hear "police certificate" assume the PNP clearance is correct. It is not. The U.S. State Dept reciprocity table for the Philippines lists the NBI Clearance specifically, and the U.S. Embassy Manila Twitter account has reminded applicants of this directly, noting that those who arrive without the NBI Clearance will be asked to reschedule.
Which certificate to get
- Philippine-born applicants age 16 or older: NBI Clearance (clearance.nbi.gov.ph)
- Foreign-born applicants who lived in the Philippines 6 months or more: NBI Clearance
- Applicants who never lived in the Philippines: NBI Clearance is not required for this country
- What is NOT accepted: PNP (Philippine National Police) clearance
Three ways to get the NBI Clearance
Which method you use depends on where you are located when your interview is scheduled.
Online registration plus in-person biometrics
Applicants physically present in the Philippines
Register at clearance.nbi.gov.ph and create an account. Select your purpose as Travel Abroad or Immigration. Pay the fee of PHP 155 online. Schedule a biometrics appointment at the NBI branch nearest to you. On your appointment date, bring at least one original valid government-issued ID with photo and signature. Your fingerprints and photo are captured on-site. Clearance is released the same day or next day if no HIT is flagged.
NBI Mailed Clearance (for applicants abroad)
Applicants living in the United States or other countries outside the Philippines
Go to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General and get fingerprinted using the NBI Fingerprint Card Form (Form No. 5). The consulate notarizes the fingerprint card for approximately $25. Mail the completed packet to: NBI Mailed Clearance Section, 3rd Floor, NBI Clearance Building, UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000. Include NBI Form No. 5, two 2x2 colored photos with white background, copies of your passport and one other valid Philippine government-issued ID, and a money order or bank draft equivalent to PHP 200 (PHP 130 clearance fee plus PHP 70 mailing cost). NBI processes within 5 working days of receipt and mails the clearance back to you.
Authorized representative with SPA (in-Philippines proxy)
Applicants abroad who have a trusted relative or friend in the Philippines
Prepare a notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA) authorizing a specific person to apply for your NBI Clearance on your behalf. Have the SPA notarized by the Philippine consulate in your area (apostille is not required for this step). Your representative submits the SPA, your NBI Form No. 5, your ID copies, and the fee to the NBI Mailed Clearance Section in Manila. Your representative can collect the clearance and mail it to you or bring it to your interview on your behalf.
What happens if your NBI result shows a HIT
A HIT means the NBI system found a name in its database that matches or closely resembles yours. It is not a finding that you have a criminal record. Filipino surnames are among the most common in the world: Santos, Reyes, Garcia, Cruz, and similar names appear thousands of times in the NBI database. A large share of HIT results are nothing more than a name collision.
When you receive a HIT, go to the NBI Quality Control Section at your processing branch. Bring valid government-issued IDs (passport, any Philippine ID with photo and signature). An NBI officer will compare your information against the record in the database. If the record belongs to someone else with a similar name, your clearance is issued as a clean record, typically within 5 to 10 working days of the HIT determination.
If the HIT matches your actual record
If the NBI verifies that the record belongs to you and reflects an actual criminal history, consult an immigration attorney before proceeding. A positive HIT that matches your record is not the same as automatic inadmissibility, but the consequences depend on the nature and severity of the record under U.S. immigration law. Do not submit the clearance to the embassy without legal guidance in this situation.
What applicants report
Aggregated from r/Philippines and VisaJourney forums about NBI Clearance in the context of U.S. immigrant visa applications. Experiences vary. Use as context, not as instructions.
Tips from the community
Get the clearance no more than 2 to 3 months before your interview
The clearance is valid for one year, but the U.S. Embassy Manila checks the issue date carefully. Applicants who got a clearance 10 to 11 months before their interview sometimes needed to renew it. A safe window is 2 to 3 months before the scheduled interview date, leaving time to resolve a HIT if needed.
Source: VisaJourney and r/Philippines forums, 2024 to 2025
A HIT is usually a name match, not a criminal record
Common Filipino surnames (Santos, Reyes, Garcia, Cruz) frequently produce HITs because someone else in the NBI database shares the same or similar name. If you receive a HIT, proceed to the NBI Quality Control Section with your valid IDs. Officers verify your identity against the record in the database. Most common-name HITs resolve within 5 to 10 working days and result in a clean clearance.
Source: NBI Clearance official guidance and r/Philippines community reports, 2024 to 2025
Include all your name variations in the AKA field
The U.S. Embassy requires the NBI Clearance to include your maiden name (if applicable), your birth certificate name, and any alternate spellings across your documents. If your marriage certificate spells your name differently than your passport, both spellings belong in the AKA field. Applicants who omit an alias have been asked to get a new clearance with the missing name added.
Source: U.S. Embassy Manila FAQ page and VisaJourney reports, 2024 to 2025
Mailed clearance from the U.S. takes longer than you expect
The NBI processes the mailed clearance within 5 working days of receiving the packet, but the packet itself takes 1 to 2 weeks to reach Manila from the U.S. by standard international mail, and the return mailing adds another 1 to 3 weeks. Budget 6 to 10 weeks total from the day you drop the packet at the post office.
Source: Philippine Consulate General New York and Los Angeles consulate guidance, 2025
In their own words
“Got my NBI HIT because there was another person with the same full name in their database. Went to the Quality Control window, showed my passport and two IDs, answered a few questions, and they cleared it the same afternoon. Took about 3 hours total. Don't panic if you see HIT. It is extremely common with Filipino names.”
“I was in California when my interview got scheduled. Went to the LA consulate for fingerprinting, paid $25, mailed the packet to NBI Manila. The clearance came back to me in about 7 weeks. I had it 3 weeks before my interview. Start early if you are doing it from abroad.”
Sources
- U.S. Department of State: Philippines Reciprocity Table (NBI Clearance requirements) (verified May 2026)
- U.S. Embassy Manila: FAQ on Immigrant Visa Application Requirements (verified May 2026)
- U.S. Department of State: Manila Post Supplement (MNL) (verified May 2026)
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI): Mailed Clearance Process (verified May 2026)
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI): Citizens Charter (verified May 2026)
- Philippine Consulate General Los Angeles: NBI Clearance for Those Living Abroad (verified May 2026)
- VisaJourney: Philippines immigration community forums (community data)
Frequently asked questions
Is the NBI Clearance the same as the Philippine National Police (PNP) clearance?
No. They are separate documents issued by different agencies. For U.S. immigrant visa applications at the Manila embassy, the NBI Clearance is the required document. The PNP clearance covers local police records only and is not accepted in place of the NBI Clearance for immigration purposes.
Does the NBI Clearance need an apostille for U.S. immigration?
No. The U.S. Embassy Manila does not require an apostille on the NBI Clearance for immigrant visa purposes. Submit the original clearance. The document is issued in English, so no certified translation is required either.
How old can my NBI Clearance be when I submit it for my Manila interview?
The U.S. Embassy Manila requires the NBI Clearance to be less than one year old at the time of your immigrant visa interview. Because processing and mailing can take weeks (especially from abroad), plan to have the clearance issued 2 to 3 months before your scheduled interview date.
What does a HIT result mean, and does it mean I have a criminal record?
A HIT means your name matches or resembles a name already in the NBI database. It does not mean you have a criminal record. HITs are common for applicants with common Filipino surnames. If you get a HIT, go to the NBI Quality Control Section with valid IDs for identity verification. Most HITs caused by name matches are resolved within 5 to 10 working days and result in a clean clearance being issued.
Do I need to include my maiden name on the NBI Clearance?
Yes. The U.S. Embassy Manila requires the clearance to include your AKA (also known as) field listing your maiden name, your birth certificate name, and any alternate spellings of your name that appear on your other documents. If you omit an alias, the embassy may ask you to obtain a new clearance with the missing name included.
Can I get an NBI Clearance if I am already in the United States?
Yes. You have two options. First, the NBI Mailed Clearance process: get fingerprinted and notarized at the nearest Philippine consulate for approximately $25, then mail the packet to the NBI Mailed Clearance Section in Manila. Processing takes a maximum of 5 working days after NBI receives your documents. Budget 6 to 10 weeks total with international mail. Second, you can send a representative in the Philippines with a notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA) to submit on your behalf.
I have a criminal record. Will the NBI Clearance show it and affect my visa?
If your NBI Clearance will reflect any criminal history, consult an immigration attorney before your interview. Criminal history can trigger grounds of inadmissibility under U.S. immigration law, and the right response depends on the nature of the record. This page is for applicants who expect a clean clearance.
I lived in the Philippines as a child and then emigrated. Do I need the NBI Clearance?
If you are Philippine-born, yes: the NBI Clearance is required for all Philippine-born applicants age 16 and older applying for an immigrant visa at the Manila embassy. The requirement applies regardless of how long you have lived outside the Philippines since turning 16. If you were born outside the Philippines but lived there for 6 months or more at any point after turning 16, you also need one.
Key takeaways
- ✓
Every Philippine-born immigrant visa applicant age 16 or older must present an NBI Clearance at the Manila interview. A PNP clearance will not substitute for it.
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Apply online at clearance.nbi.gov.ph and attend an in-person biometrics appointment. Walk-ins are not accepted.
- ✓
Request the green clearance annotated for travel abroad, and include your maiden name and all name aliases in the AKA field.
- ✓
The clearance must be less than 1 year old at your interview date. Plan accordingly, especially if you need extra time for a HIT resolution.
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A HIT is usually a name match in the NBI database, not a criminal record. Go to the Quality Control Section with your IDs and most cases resolve within 5 to 10 working days.
- ✓
If you are in the United States, use the NBI Mailed Clearance process via a Philippine consulate fingerprinting appointment, or send a representative in the Philippines with a notarized SPA. Budget 6 to 10 weeks for the mailed route.
- ✓
No apostille and no certified translation are required. Submit the original NBI Clearance to the embassy.
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