ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
PhilippinesInterview Experience

Now that I confirmed my visa was approved, I want to share to you my visa interview experience :)

My interview appointment was last December 27, 2012, 7:30am. I stayed at Bayview Park Hotel just across USEM. I woke up 4:45am to get ready and went downstairs to eat breakfast about 6am, then left the hotel about 6:30am. When I got into the US embassy, there was a long line but the guard told me not to fall in line anymore and just go straight to the 3rd door. When I was about to have my bags scanned, the lady guard laughed and was amazed how I was able to carry 2 heavy bags and even joked me that I brought my cabinet. She again scanned my other bag and said "Oh, it was a rosary" and smiled. She then instructed me to go to the 1st booth. I saw a note saying I have to show my appointment letter. When it was my turn I gave the lady my appointment letter, then she asked me if my papers were arranged outside, I said no, she then said I have to go back outside and let my papers be arranged by the ladies in blue. and I was like, ok I have no choice. I went back outside and told the guard about it, he said, how come cause nobody is there to arrange papers for the K1, that the ladies in blue and the line there is for another kind of visa, then he said, don't fall in line, go straight to the lady in blue and ask. So as instructed, that's what I did. The lady then asked for my DS 156 (2 copies), DS 156K (1 copy), DS 157 (2 copies) and appointment letter, arranged it and gave me a zip lock. I went inside the 3rd door again and Xray, then gave my arranged papers on the booth with my passport but she told me just to hold on to it. She stapled my papers, handed me my lucky number: 6081 and told me to drop off the papers at window 39 and wait for my number to be flashed on the screen. Then my anxiety began.

When I got inside there was another security check then dropped off my papers at window 39 at around 6:50am. I then saw my other 2 friends Chay and Rizza who are also VJ members and sat down next to them while waiting. I also put my passport inside the zip lock with the biographic page open.

FINGER PRINT SCAN

My number first flashed around 7:30 am at window 43, it was an american guy about mid 20's who did my finger print scan. He asked me for my name and date of birth and to put my 4 fingers left and right first followed by two thumbs together. Then asked me to sit down again and wait for my number to be flashed.

The waiting was not really bad since time seems so fast for me but the thing is you really have to be attentive in watching your number. As I was waiting, I constantly prayed.

INTERVIEW WITH THE FILIPINO CONSUL

I saw my number flashed again around 9:30am at window 47. A Filipino guy about mid 40's. He asked for my passport, NSO birth certificate,NBI clearance, CENOMAR, my fiance's I-134, ITR, W2, he didn't ask me what year so I gave all what I have, from 2009-2011, I also handed him my fiance's tax transcript. He then told me my answer on DS 157 item number 10 was wrong and told me to think of what correct answer should I put there, and I was shaking thinking what that was. He then checked all the blanks that I have to fill in and erased my answer in item #10 with a white out and instructed me to complete them all. The item # 10 was: List all countries that have issued you a passport, I put NONE and I was like, holy #######! what the heck did I do? I then told him, I'm sorry sir, I misunderstood the question and I'm so lucky he was nice, I corrected the papers, filled in the others and handed it back to him. He asked me these questions:
1. What's my current job, I said I'm unemployed. He then asked, how about your last job? I said I'm a nurse. His follow up questions were: Am I a registered nurse? Did I work as a volunteer or an employed nurse?
2. Who is my petitioner?
3. When is his birthday?
4. How did we meet?
5. When did we first meet?
6. How many times did he visit?
7. The date of his first visit.
8. The date of his 2nd visit.
He asked me to show him some of our pictures, just about 2 pages, then instructed me to sit down and wait for my number again and closed his window. I then said "thank you sir" in a loud voice and he responded back :)

INTERVIEW WITH THE AMERICAN CONSUL

9:40 am my number flashed at window 64. My lucky american consul was a guy about mid 30's. He greeted me good morning and asked how am I doing, I then responded as I was smiling :)) Then he asked me to raise my right hand for the oath and started to ask me these questions:
1. Who is my petitioner?
2. Where does he live?
3. How did we meet? (He laughed at my answer, I don't know which part was funny) :))
4. When did we first meet?
5. How many times did he visit? I said 5 times and he said, wow! that's great!!!
6. He also asked me, are you going to get married here? then I said, sir our plan is to get married in the United States within the 90 days of my arrival. Then he said, "Exactly, that's what you have to do or else your visa will be revoked and be sent back to the Philippines" ...and I was like, is that a hint? :unsure:
He then asked for our pictures and told me "your papers look good, we'll review it in a while and just go back to your seat and wait for your number to be flashed for the instructions". I then smiled and thanked him.

FINAL INSTRUCTION

My number was flashed at window 73 by 9:50 am. The lady told me I can go home and just wait for their text if they need anything else or wait at home for the delivery and that she cannot give me exact time frame for it. I then asked how come it's home delivery since I chose pick up. She then instructed me to go to window 69 to ask. The nice lady told me if I arranged "pick up" online then just wait for the text of 2go of when I can pick up the visa. They didn't give me anything and kept my passport.

I left the embassy confused if I was approved. but I rejoiced and was so positive I got approved! :lol: called my fiance immediately when I got back at the hotel. I asked some friends, searched for previous posts and found out how to check the visa status online and I was relieved when I saw my visa status: Your visa has been printed. Depending on local procedures at the location where you interviewed, your visa will be mailed or available for pickup soon. If there are further questions, or if we need updated contact information, you will be contacted.

I'm approved right? :) I just wanted to thank VJ for this site has been my bible from the start, met friends, learned a lot and will continue to be here for more to come in this entire journey. Special thanks to Joy and Richie, Mike and Tin, Hank, Todd and Jessa, and to those of you whom I asked for help and to those who are very open to their own experiences, I really consider VJ as one of my blessings in our journey. and above all to God, who has been my refuge and strength in my everyday life. To everyone, good luck, God bless, and may we all have a very prosperous new year with our loved ones!



Thank you very much for your interview review.. it's such a big help. Congratulations!

I have a question.. I worked as a volunteer nurse in a military hospital for almost 8 months.. but I'm confused if I will include it on my employers' list on DS-157 since I only work as a volunteer.. what do you think?

Thank you very much.
KringFemalePhilippines2013-03-29 01:58:00
PhilippinesDS-157 Questions
Hi everyone! Can someone help me about answering question #12 (last two employers).

I worked as a VOLUNTEER nurse in a military hospital for 8 months.. can I include this on the list? or I'll just write it in question #15 (Have you ever performed military service?) instead?

Please help me. :(
KringFemalePhilippines2013-04-02 10:05:00
PhilippinesUncertain, the use of letter n with tilde (ñ) on documents.

My middle name has ñ, when i applied to get a passport,the encoder told me that ñ is not recognized internationally so he just put n instead,..my BC, NBI, CENOMAR and my TRO has ñ.When we applied for 129-f i still put the ñ coz i want it to match with my BC,NBI etc and everything went fine...


Hi! How are you? Can you help me? I have also the same case.. I have an "Ñ" on my surname.. my BC and passport has "Ñ" on it. Now, I am filling-up my DS Forms, I'm confused if I'll put Ñ or N.. I know in DS-156 it has an instruction to put only N since it is electronic, but how about in other forms? Like DS-156K, DS-157 and D-230? Thanks.
KringFemalePhilippines2013-04-04 03:47:00
PhilippinesQuestion about "Ñ / ñ" in my family name

My family name has "Ñ" on it. In my passport, DFA just typed "N" and my NBI is the same. In my CENOMAR and BC, it is "Ñ" Now I'm confused what to type on my DS forms. I planned to type the usual "Ñ" since that is the proper way to write it. Will this not cause a problem? Anyone has the same case? Your help is very much appreciated.

-Riza <img src="http://www.visajourn...IR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />


Hi Riza! How are you? Can you help me? I have also the same case.. I have an "Ñ" on my surname.. my BC and passport has "Ñ" on it. Now, I am filling-up my DS Forms, I'm confused if I'll put Ñ or N.. I know in DS-156 it has an instruction to put only N since it is electronic, but how about in other forms? Like DS-156K, DS-157 and D-230? Thanks.
KringFemalePhilippines2013-04-04 03:28:00
PhilippinesDS-156 Online Form Question #20

I'm kind of confused on what to answer here.

20. Name and Address of Present Employer or School


My fiancee was recently licensed as an RN in The Philippines, so she's currently unemployed since she's coming to the USA. She just graduated from her university in April 2011.

Do I simply list her as Unemployed or can I list her university?




One Question 21, pertaining to her occupation, I just put Registered Nurse.



Hi! I would like to ask if this answer worked out for you since I think you are already done with this. :) I'm a K visa applicant too and planning to answer the same way because I am a registered nurse but unemployed right now. Is it right to put Registered Nurse in present occupation and Unemployed in Present employer? Thanks.
KringFemalePhilippines2013-04-11 04:29:00
PhilippinesBuying wedding dress and rings in the Philippines

QUOTE (JANETandLYLE @ Oct 29 2009, 07:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'd love to hear advice from other VJ members concerning buying Janet's wedding dress and our wedding bands while we are in the Philippines. Would this be a hassle to bring this stuff back to the US? Is it worth the savings, or are we just better off to wait until we are back in the US, and just buy it all here? Any advice is appreciated. We will be marrying in the US within the 90 days. Lyle


Hi lyle & janet...we would highly recommend you to buy (or order) a wedding ring in Suarez at Mall of Asia for only 3-5 day...they makes beautiful and fantastic wedding/engage rings...

 



 

Hi! Thank you for the info. Can I ask about the price range of wedding rings there? Thans.


KringFemalePhilippines2013-05-06 22:52:00
PhilippinesContinuation of TDap shots in the US

Hi guysI think you can help me on my confusion. I had my medical exam last April 22-23, 2013 at St.Luke's. I had four shots of vaccines, HepaB, Varicella, TDap and MMR. These vaccines have follow-up/booster doses. Do you have an idea if I can just have them from our private doctor here in the Philippines (not in St.Luke's) before going to U.S. because if I am not mistaken they are more expensive in U.S.? It's just that I'm not sure if it will be accepted by USCIS. If it's acceptable, do the private doctor need to fill-up the same vaccine record that SLEC has given to me? or they should provide another record for the booster doses?

 

Thank you very much. smile.png



KringFemalePhilippines2013-05-18 23:53:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmedical exam shots

The OP is under CR/IR type of visa. Vaccines are different compared to K1 since we don't adjust status when we get there. Just like what Magdasal said, you don't have to worry about the vaccines since they are already included in the medical fee. Before vaccinations, a doctor will look into the results of the exam first. Whatever it is that your wife needs (vaccines), SLEC will give it to her with no charge. I don't think you need to see a private doctor to have your wife's shots done before the medical because your wife can get them all (if needed) at SLEC.

 

Hi Yhang! I think you can help me on my confusion. I had my medical exam last April 22-23, 2013 at SLEC. I had four shots of vaccines, HepaB, Varicella, TDap and MMR. These vaccines have follow-up/booster doses. Do you have an idea if I can just have them from our private doctor here in Tarlac City before going to U.S. because if I am not mistaken they are more expensive in U.S.? It's just that I'm not sure if it will be accepted by USCIS. If it's acceptable, do the private doctor need to fill-up the same vaccine record that SLEC has given to me? or they should provide another record for the booster doses?

 

Thank you very much. smile.png


KringFemalePhilippines2013-05-18 23:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFilling-up DS-156 Form

Welcome, Kring... :star:

The issuing authority of your passport is "DFA Pampanga."

That information should be stamped toward the bottom of the biographics page.



Yes Tahoma.. I just got confused since I applied for my passport and was also released here in Tarlac City. But now I already know the answer because of you guys, thanks for that! But I'm just wondering now what city would I right because the province is Pampanga, but I'm not sure which city would I right.. because if I am not mistaken Pampanga has many DFA branches. hehe! Something I have to I to find out. :help:
KringFemalePhilippines2013-04-02 09:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFilling-up DS-156 Form
Thanks everyone! It's indeed a good start for me here in VJ. You are so helpful. God bless.
KringFemalePhilippines2013-04-01 09:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFilling-up DS-156 Form
Hi everyone! it's my first time to start a topic here. :yes:

I would like to ask about filling-up DS-156 Form. On question #2 Place of Issuance.. I'm confused about what to write. The issuing authority written on my passport is DFA Pampanga, but my passport was acquired and released through mobile passporting here in Tarlac City, which was facilitated by the local government. Will I write Pampanga or Tarlac City?
Any immediate response is highly appreciated.


Thank you very much.
KringFemalePhilippines2013-03-31 22:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK2 follow-to-join process for US embassy in manila,philippines???

im planning to get my son soon before he expires the follow to join visa,i want to know if he needs permission to travel from his biological father?my son surname is the biological father and i dont have contact info.with him anymore..

 

Hi! I have the same situation with you. Do you now have an idea? Thanks.


KringFemalePhilippines2013-05-06 21:42:00