The National Bureau of Investigation, with its online application feature, states that it has significantly reduced the time to secure a clearance. It may be true, however, after registering to the NBI website and filling out the online application form, it would seem that the applicant would only be left with four (4) check-out options:
- Over the Counter
- Online banking
- Mobile payment
- Bayad Center
Unfortunately, all of these payment methods are going to cost you extra money.
Here's a tip: To save a few pesos as well as to save precious time of having to go to third-party payment processors, one only has to read the website instructions carefully.
Apparently, there's a fifth option: Paying over-the-counter at the NBI cashier!
So this is what I did. I just jot down the REFERENCE NUMBER of the unpaid application form and went to one of the bureau's satellite offices. At the site, I proceeded immediately to the cashier, bypassing several bystanders (read: fixers) who nag me if I'm applying for an NBI clearance.
The cashier accepted the reference number as well as my payment and then instructed me to just wait for my name to be called for the next step of the application process. The payment was a breeze!
However, waiting for the photo and fingerprint capture was another story. Read it here.
