ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesInterview questions asked? experiences? advice?

hi, nothing to worry about she will be fine, I just had mine last Monday Jan. 4 and everything went well. She needs to be at the embassy at least an hour before her time scheduled. My interview time was 7am and I was there already 5:30am. Interview was really short the consulate asked few questions only like date you met, birth date and etc. mostly on your side. Just let her bring enough proof of relationship. Keep on praying and for sure she can make it. Good luck.


There is absolutely no need to be there an hour before your interview appointment time. All that means is you will wait in line longer.

Edited by Matt & Bing, 06 January 2010 - 11:56 AM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-01-06 11:55:00
Philippinesabout visa pick up
QUOTE (Dakine @ Dec 4 2009, 11:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Angel and Gendy @ Dec 4 2009, 06:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (happywifeymom @ Dec 4 2009, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (robbie jeannet @ Dec 4 2009, 11:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
can we pick up the visa rigth after the interview??? anybody pick their visa???

Yes you can pick up the visa BUT NOT right after the interview. You have to wait a few days for the visa before you can go to USEM to pick 'em up.


(thread hi-jack) So if I can plan a long enough time around her interview can I bring her back? (/thread hi-jack)

Better chance of you guys/your fiancee passing the interview and also being able to pick up the visa if you attend the interview.
NO guarentees for either tho.
Case by case basis.


Yes, exactly right - no guarantees but if USC attends interview and requests visa pick up there is a good chance to be successful. I attended my fiancees interview and we picked up visa 2 days after interview.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2009-12-05 17:28:00
PhilippinesVisa envelope

my visa packet is similar to this one
what should I do?


Similar to what one? The one in the picture? That is what they all look like. What is your concern?
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-01-14 19:39:00
PhilippinesAna is here

Just a word of advice, send your fiance through the visitor's line and you go on to the citizen's line. You'll get yelled at (like I was) if you bring her through the citizen's line.


We just asked which line to go in together - they let us both go through the visitors line. Its very unlikely that they would make you go through separate lines.

Congrats!
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-01-14 19:46:00
PhilippinesK-1 processing

Hi, I am just new to this site.

I have a question. The U.S. immigrations services says the wait time is 5 months...The government received/approved our papers last October 26, 2009...Does that mean I will have my visa in hand at the end of 5 months? And when is it safe to book my flight?



I have questions too:

First, ignore any general "wait time" information you found. If you would enter your time line here: Time line link you will get an estimate of your approval date.

You say you were approved back in October? Or was that the date your petition was recieved?

Assuming you are the beneficiary, its "safe" to book your flight after you are approved (visa in hand).
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-01-16 09:53:00
PhilippinesNBI Certification, public notary needed???

OK, sorry I didn't not make this clear, thus I have two opposing answers. But to clarify,

My fiancee needs the NBI Certification for a K1 visa to the US, she needs to bring this NBI certification to the US consulate in Guangzhou, China, it is not used by the China's embassy in the PI. So again under this circumstances, do I need to have this NBI certification notarized for being used at the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China? If so, where to get it notarized?

Thank you again!


As Pinay Wife said, a document issued by a government would never be notarized. A notarization is the certification that YOU signed something.

No notarized signatures are needed in the K-1 process.

Edited by Matt & Bing, 16 January 2010 - 02:43 PM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-01-16 14:41:00
PhilippinesPhilippine Passport Name Change... I badly need help about this.
Can someone please explain what "one and the same" means in this context?
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-01-18 19:56:00
PhilippinesWhich address did you use when you applied for a Marriage License?

Hi... I was looking over all of our documents again (we just filed our AOS packet) and I realized something... I used my U.S. address when we applied for a Marriage License so in our marriage certificate, it shows my U.S. address.

I was wondering if anyone else did this? Or did you use your address in the Philippines?


Your are living in the US, no? The US address is the right one.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-01-14 19:59:00
PhilippinesJanuary 19 interview

Jakriss (sage1's fiance) and I have the same interview date and she just informed us earlier that she already got her visa. As soon as I knew about this, I immediately entered my tracking number in the air 21 website but it gives the same result over and over again "tracking number not found."

What are the chances?


Chances of what??


Call the embassy to check on the status.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-01-22 12:04:00
PhilippinesLet's offer prayer to our fellow VJer, Maria.
Unbelievably sad.

God bless Maria and her surviving family. (F)
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-02-10 12:24:00
PhilippinesManila K-1

Hi Everyone,

I’m sure I can find the answers to my questions if I do a search but I am a little frustrated right now. We hired a guy to help us out with this process and I’m not sure if using his guidance is delaying the process. He has been great thus far. Last we spoke he said my fiancée has to wait for a letter from the embassy in manila before she can move forward with the medical and interview. My questions are:

No, you do not have to wait for anything from the embassy to attend the medical exam. I think just a copy of the NOA2 (approval notice) is enough.


Can she do her medical before getting anything from the embassy? If so what will she need to take with her? Its copy of NOA2 and NVC letter correct? Yes.

How long does it take St. Lukes to forward the medical information to the embassy? Probably less than a week.

I read on the embassy website that an interview appointment can be scheduled in 3 days? Have you seen that? 3 days from when? After your case is sent to the embassy by the NVC start calling the embassy to confirm when you can schedule the interview. Then call the number that requires a PIN ($18 when I did it) and schedule your interview. You will just have to have your medical done a week or so before the interview.

If we schedule the interview and get an e-mail confirmation is that good enough to take to her medical?

Were trying to set it to where she can do her medical and interview back to back or at least within a week and a half. She lives in Capiz, Roxas city and the less she has to go back and forth to manila the better.

For her interview what are the accepted forms of ID? All she has is her passport and NBI ID. She won't have her passport when she goes to the interview. St Lukes keeps it and sends it to the embassy. Any other ID and her interview appointment confirmation email are all that is needed.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Michael & Heidi



You may want to post in the Philippines forum too. Good luck.

Edited by Matt & Bing, 18 February 2010 - 08:11 PM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-02-18 20:09:00
PhilippinesAnyone "recently" pickup their Visa from USEM??

So, it would seem likely that if you get interview appointment on say a Monday/Tuesday, you could schedule a Saturday flight back to the states. And have a fairly decent shot of getting your Visa in hand for the trip home. IF all the cards play out correctly.... Of course this all "assuming" you pass the interview... :huh:


Your chances of this plan working would likely increase greatly if the petitioner attends the interview. I was not sure if you are planning on attending.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-03-06 16:44:00
PhilippinesAnyone "recently" pickup their Visa from USEM??

Hi, I searched and it seems the answer is up and down (2-20 days) depending on dates and of course luck. My fiancee read somewhere that if she stayed in Manila, the Visa could be delivered in 2-3 days. It was always my understanding that you should allow at least a week for USEM/Air21 to deliver your Visa. The USEM website says 7 business from interview. I may be able to get away from my job for about a week to be in Manila during/after interview and if approved, she wants to come back with me to the US. The orginal plan was for her to go to Manila for the interview then back to Cebu and wait for visa, and then I go to Cebu and bring her back to the US.

Has anyone recently picked-up their Visa from the USEM after their interview?

If so, did you just ask the CO? Some people said you need a Visa pickup letter?

How long did it take for the Visa to be ready to pickup??? They called you??

Also, did anyone stay in Manila after their interview and had the Visa delivered to their hotel? How long the wait for that?

Thanks a bunch!!

Johnny


This is not recent (July 2009) but we picked up our visa 2 days after the interview. They called the day after the interview and said we could pick it up the next day. You just ask the CO if you can pick it up - You could have a written request I guess. I (the petitioner) was at the interview and said that we wanted to fly back to the US together and wanted to pick up the visa and the CO said no problem.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-03-04 12:13:00
PhilippinesQuestions about online Filipina sites like FilipinaHeart and CherryBlossom.
Regarding your religion question, most Filipinas are Catholic and most of those are devout Catholic. Hopefully you can find a pinay that is also an atheist, especialy if you want to have kids. Its best if both parents share the same religious beliefs.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-03-10 12:07:00
PhilippinesMy life is over....
Your life is not over but it sounds like your marriage is. I think you should just let her go - she is not worth fighting for. She is not going to change.

Best of luck.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-03-26 11:12:00
PhilippinesName Change After Marriage

This was my concern also a couple of months ago. I signed our marriage certificate using my 2 first names and my husband's last name. I had my SSN and state ID with my 2 first names, my maiden name (as my new middle name) and my husband's last name (as my new married name) and it is how I had my name also in my AOS application. We had heard about this name change issue and did our research. We asked our county clerk about it but they said I can have my name however I want it and if I need to change it, I can only do it after 1 year of residency.

When I went to my biometrics, the supervisor told me I could not have my name the way I had it written on the application because there is a state law in Michigan that do not allow any other naming convention. She said that I would need to file for a change of name and attend a court hearing if I want to follow the Philippine naming convention. She even tried to scare me by saying that if she was the Immigration Officer handling my case, she would deny my AOS application. Of course this is ridiculous! We told her what the county clerk told us about the timing of filing for a name change so there is no way we can do that while doing the AOS. We also told her that we did not realize that it is going be an issue because other states do not care about how one wants to have their name changed after marriage. We said we will deal with whatever issue we will have with the Immigration Officer when we have our interview. I guess she knew we did our assignment and she cannot possibly intimidate us so she just had my biometrics taken without any more problems.

We had our interview last Monday (April 12) and the Immigration Officer did not even mention anything about the name change issue. Today, I received my welcome letter and it has my name the way I have written it on my application.

So I guess there is really nothing to worry about the name change.


Interesting as I am in Michigan too. Yes, there is nothing to worry about ... depending on your IO!
(A woman at our biometrics also told us we could not change the middle name unless by doing it legally).

Edited by Matt & Bing, 16 April 2010 - 12:51 PM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-04-16 12:50:00
PhilippinesName Change After Marriage

You can do it anyway you like...when you get married that is your free time to change your name...if you want to do it differently after that it could cost you by going through the courts to do it right. There is no set way to do it in the US...just the ways "so and so" wants you to do it....but its your choice because it is your name. do whatever is customary for you.


Well, not really. My wife began using her former last name as her middle name after marriage. There really was no place on our marriage license to indicate your new last name. She signed it using her new middle and last names however. We applied for AOS using the desired new middle name. At AOS, the officer said we could not change the middle name and the green card was issued with her original middle name. We would of had to change it legally through the circuit court. We decided we had had enough hassels with all the AOS paperwork etc. and decided to not change it legally. We had already changed her middle name on bank accounts and SS card so we had to change those back.

Edited by Matt & Bing, 15 April 2010 - 11:16 AM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-04-15 11:13:00
Philippineswhere did you met your wife/husband/fiancee
UFH (University of FilipinaHeart.com) :thumbs:
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-04-05 11:17:00
PhilippinesPOE question
We came through Detroit too and we were allowed to go through the Non-US citizen line together. And yes, you will have to claim your bags and go through customs before going on to your connecting flight.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-05-03 11:13:00
PhilippinesRetiring in the Philippines

As one member posted "I love putting the cart before the horse."

Careful Planning is advised.

It is frequently reported that the divorce rate in America is 50%. This data is not accurately correct, however, it is reasonably close to actual. The Americans for Divorce Reform estimates that "Probably, 40 or possibly even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue.", which is actually a projection.

The divorce rate in America for first marriage, vs second or third marriage
50% percent of first marriages, 67% of second and 74% of third marriages end in divorce, according to Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri."

Just some food for thought!Posted Image


Yea, well I bet the divorce rate for Americans marrying Filipinas is much lower!
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-04-15 11:20:00
Philippineshelp in interview question

thanks guys for your advice, really am confused.. i put 34 in my application form besides its 2010 now, maybe they will check my birhtdate and computed it.


You should have put your current age when you completed the application but don't worry - It shouldn't be a problem.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-05-14 10:52:00
PhilippinesFiancee Visa - Pick Up

Does anyone able to pick up their fiancee visa? How many days from the interview? Thanks :help:


We picked up ours 2 days after the interview.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-05-18 11:11:00
PhilippinesHow did your fiance propose to you in the Philippines?
On the beach in Boracay ...
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-05-18 11:09:00
Philippinesinterview

sorry if u dnt understand my question,,i dnt need any comment or suggestions of anybody who really dnt understand any tagalog,and i dnt need to pretend that im fluent in english even if im not bcuz im not MAYABANG ,all i want was,masagot lng ang tanong ko kung sino yung naka2intindi ng tagalog,,ok,,

by the way ,my visa has been approved!!!!


The suggestion to use english if possible was made so that there are a lot more people available to potentially help you.
And then many more can benefit from the knowledge gained.

LOL - you don't have to be fluent in english to post in english on VJ :lol:
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-05-21 10:52:00
PhilippinesQuestion about interview in usem manila
Just ask the CO if you can pick up your visa as you want to return to the US together on the same flight. We were able to pick up our visa 2 days after the interview.

Good luck!
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-05-27 11:09:00
PhilippinesManila K1 Interview Schedule
The first thing you should do is call the NVC and confirm that your case has actually been sent on to Manila. Sometimes they get hung up in "additional processing".
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-06-11 11:19:00
Philippinespre-booking plane ticket one week after the interview
It is totally up to your CO whether you can pick up the visa or not. I think having the petitioner present increases your odds greatly though.

I attended my fiancee's interview and we picked up the visa 2 days after the interview. I just asked - didn't really give a reason (but we did already have our flight booked for about 10 day later).

Edited by Matt & Bing, 10 May 2010 - 11:25 AM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-05-10 11:23:00
PhilippinesMy nephew wins on the PGA Tour!

This is great. Congratulations to him.


We were watching that yesterday and my wife says "he looks like he could be Asian". I guess she was right. Congrats!
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-05-24 11:09:00
PhilippinesManila - I-134F
If you meet the income requirements there is no need to provide any informaiton at all on assets, bank accounts, etc. It would be a waste of time as they won't even look at it if your income alone is enough.

Edited by Matt & Bing, 09 August 2010 - 11:14 AM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-08-09 11:13:00
PhilippinesNVC will send Case to USEM

Hello everyone,

I just want to ask some few questions here..
I emailed an expedite request at NVC on August 5, 2010. I had a log in failed as you can see on my timeleine, and called/talked to a NVC operator August 18, 2010 and she said that the expedite request was approved and they will mail it at US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. She also told me to call the embassy to request for an interview date.

Ok, so, I haven't received any response yet from NVC through email regarding the expedite request. No case complete, no confirmation.

How will I know if USEM already received our case? When should I call the USEM? The operator told me to wait for a week, but I knew it won't be that long..

Any experiences??? Please help...

Thank you!


Just call already. :bonk:
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-08-19 11:07:00
Philippines2008 VJ's Where are you now??? update!!

PRESS 1 FOR ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :alien:


Maybe you should learn tagalog! (This is the Philippines forum).
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-08-12 11:06:00
PhilippinesMedical & Interview Fees
The medical exam is not by appointment - you just show up. Your fiancee will need a copy of her approval notice or embassy apointment confirmation email I believe.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-08-22 18:36:00
PhilippinesQuestion on Manila airport fees

i know i had to pay some fee (under 20 US i think) before i left the philippines. I was like what? luckily i still had some cash on me after leaving my money with my honey in the philippines. I'm a USC too.


Yes, you paid the 750php terminal fee (around $15). We were discussing the travel tax that Filipinos have to pay.

I can confirm that my wife only had to pay the 200php exemption fee :thumbs:
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-08-26 11:53:00
PhilippinesQuestion on Manila airport fees
Thanks so much for the replies. My wife has her green card so it looks like she will only pay the exemption fee.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-08-22 10:07:00
PhilippinesQuestion on Manila airport fees
When my wife (then fiancee)and I flew back to the US last year, in addition to the 750php (I think) terminal fee, she had to pay some other kind of fee. Does anyone know if she will have to pay that again and what it was for (and how much)? She is flying Tuesday morning.

Thanks.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-08-22 07:50:00
PhilippinesCan A Filipina Really Be Taught How to Drive? A Car?
If my wife can learn to drive any filipina can! :D It only took 6-months and $500 worth of driving lessons (plus all of my patience). She had to take the written and driving tests twice but now she is a decent driver. But she needs GPS to not get lost in the small town we live in! :wacko:
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-07-19 11:04:00
PhilippinesUS EMBASSY Manila Letter

Keep calling them until you get your appointment. Don't wait for the letter. My wife was a K-1er and she never received a letter (nor an email) from the USEM.

Good luck and bring home the pink! :thumbs:


Same here - my fiancee never received a letter from USEM. Call the embassy and ask if you are eligible to schedule the interview.

After the interview is scheduled your finacee will get an email confirming the interview date & time which you should bring to the actual interview.

Edited by Matt & Bing, 02 June 2010 - 11:18 AM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2010-06-02 11:17:00
PhilippinesSleet in Texas
15 inches of snow overnight and a 4 foot snow drift in my driveway this morning. Luckily my neighbor has an industrial sized snow blower!
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2011-02-02 15:42:00
PhilippinesIs middle name suppose to change with marriage?

The green card will come in the name that you apply for it in. You fill out the forms in the name she wants the card in when she is here.


Not necessarily.

We applied for AOS using my wife's maiden name as her new midddle name but at our AOS interview they would not allow it and issued the green card with her original middle name. They said we would have to do it legally (petition the local court) to change it. We decided we had had enough hassels with government agencies and fees in the last couple of years and will just keep her middle name the same.

Edited by Matt & Bing, 07 February 2011 - 12:15 PM.

Matt & BingMalePhilippines2011-02-07 12:11:00
PhilippinesI'm a bit Nervous and paranoid:(:(

I watched this documentary in history channel about becoming a US Citizen to people who are seeking to be one and there was one segment there that they showed how AOS interview looks like if you came in with K1 visa. The consul interviews you and your spouse separately/one at a time and ask you sensitive questions such as " who sleeps in the right side of the bed?" " What type of family planning are you using?" so if one says differently, I guess its up to the consul how s/he'd come up with the decision.

But, like what others have mentioned, just relax and try to touch that other "personal"side of being married, who knows you'd really be ask these questions. Just make sure y'all both know what to say. :)

Good luck!


Our AOS interview was nothing like that. They just interviewed us together. No questions about sleeping arrangements or birth control. It was pretty easy for us.
Matt & BingMalePhilippines2011-03-05 13:12:00