K-1 Visa Interview Experience at the US Embassy (Manila, Philippines)

Here is my US Embassy Interview Experience at Manila Philippines.

Interview Date: January 17, 2006

I stayed in Lotus Garden Hotel in Ermita. It is probably 10 minutes taxi ride from the U.S Embassy in Manila, Philippines. I stayed there too during my Medical Exam which was held a week before the interview. I liked the hotel because aside from being nice and tidy, the hotel service was also great. It is also close to the venue of the medical exam, just one block from St. Luke Extension building where they do the Medical exam for all the U.S. Visa Applicants. Some U.S. Visa applicants stayed in Miramar hotel (located opposite the US Embassy).

I was getting ready for the my big appointment around 3 o' clock in the morning. I figured the embassy would be crowded. I arrived outside the Manila U.S. embassy around 3:40 am and I was right, there were so many people already, waiting in line and some sitting. I heard some of them were already there as early as 2 o' clock in the morning.

Before the security guards let us inside the embassy waiting shed, they checked our Appointment letter and Valid ID (with picture). He checked the applicants appointment time too and guided us which line to join. US. Visa applicants were arranged according to their appointment time.

We were sitting on the waiting shed until around 6:30 as our appointment time set. When the U.S. Embassy finally opened, another guard checked our appointment letter and Valid ID (with picture). Yes! AGAIN. Upon entering inside the embassy building, we went through a scanner. We were told to turn off our cellphones and were asked to deposit phones to a counter. Those that left their cellphones on the counter were given a claim stub to claim it later after the interview. I didn't have to fight the crowd there because I already knew that I had to leave my phone in the counter (from reading other applicant's experiences online). I heard it takes longer to get it back because if there are many applicants that leave their cellphones, you'll have to wait in line again. That's why I didn't bring my cellphone. I left it in my hotel room.

Inside the Immigrant Visa Room, we were lining up at the ticket booth area. There, we showed our appointment letter, DS 156,DS157, and DS156K and the proof of payment; the assigned stuff asked for my passport and I told him that the crew at Saint Luke's Extension took it when I had my medical appointment (it is part of St. Luke process that they get applicants passport and will forward it to the embassy). Another U.S. Embassy staff at the entrance took the 2 sets of DS 156 and 157 (stapled sets A and B) and DS 156K. I am thankful that my forms were completely filed up because some applicants recieved back their forms and were to fill up the missing lines and that caused delays for minutes.It made their processing and wait longer.

We were asked to sit down and wait for our name to be called at either Window X or Y. The Manila U.S. Embassy used Overhead speakers in paging for our name and directed us which window to go. I was given my appointment number stub. That time, I and the rest of the applicants had to stay focused on the monitor where they flash numbers along with the cubicle number in which applicant need to go. We were all focused on the monitor because the numbers were not flashed or called in order. The flashing boards is located in front where all applicants are asked to sit down.

The various cubes that we need to go were manned by Filipino interviewers. There's a flat-paneled glass between you and the interviewer. The Filipino interviewer checks and decides whether or not our papers are complete. They don’t make the final decisions, but they do forward their reports to the consul. All Visa applicants will pass them first, before applicants can face the U.S consuls.

When it was my turn, the Filipina US Embassy interviewer asked me to hand her over our pictures, emails, cards I've received from my fiance', my Birth Certificate, NBI Clearance, Affidavit of Support(notarized), W-2&1040 forms(I've given my fiance's last three years). As I handed her my documents she asked me few questions like;

• my name
• my petitioner's name
• my relationship with my petitioner
  
• how I met my fiance
  
• when did we met
  
• when was the last time we met
• have we seen each other in person
• some questions about our love story
• what my fiance' does for a living
• when is his birthday
  
• have I meet his parents

While I am answering the questions of my Filipina interviewer, she was also scanning at my paper works and looked at some of our pictures and the details I wrote below each pictures. She smiled at me and told me that my papers were complete and gave me a compliment of the way I arranged my papers. That felt good knowing the hard works I'd done arranging those documents and pasting those pictures. After that she gave me back some documents, she showed me my Fiance's paper works too, the folder he sent to petition me and smiled at me again saying that my fiance's papers were also complete and well organized. Ah!!!! double compliments. It felt very very good. She seemed friendly and in good mood. I guess I didn't gave her headache with my papers. Some other Filipina applicants said, they were asked more questions by their Filipino interviewers. I guess it depends who's handling your case. I am thankful that I wasn't nervous that day. I knew all about my sweetheart important details and our relationship is genuine. I am thinking that they do all these checking and questioning to check and catch fraud relationships. She gave me my number back, told me to sit and watch for my number in the blinking board for my fingerprinting. She bid me Good luck.

Five minutes later I was called for fingerprinting. It was a quick one. Then I had to wait again and wait for my number for the consul interview. I was a little nervous this time because I seen some fellow US Visa applicants crying after coming out from the U.S. consul room. Later my number was flashed and I went to the room I was assigned to go. Inside the room, I smiled and greeted the American Consul, he was in his 40's. I was asked to raise my right hand and take oath to tell the truth. Then he told me to sit and we had the interview proper. He did not asked me much question, he checked my documents first (these are the papers that the Filipina interviewer handed her) and asked then he asked me;

• when was I and my fiance' last talk or saw each other?

I told him we talked on the phone just lastnight before I went to bed. I told him that my fiance' and I do chat eveyday, we see each other on the webcam and talk on the phone almost twice a day. I waited for his next question. He scan the documents again, he silently read some sample chats and emails we submitted, looked at our pictures together during ,my fiance's visit and looked at me again. Then he asked me again.

• what is my fiance's work?
  
• asked if me and my fiance's parents have seen each other in person

I answered him about my fiance's job and I told him that I and his parents have not seen in person yet but we talked on the phone. I was waiting for his next question but he didn't asked anymore. I was a little surprised because most applicants that were interviewed told me the Consul asked them several questions. I believe them too because many of them took so long inside the U.S consul booth.

He didn't asked me again. The American Consul took the huge diagonally striped green and white sticker with the print APPROVED IV, a stack of it was clipped at bottom of the glass window. There’s another stack beside it, but don't know what those are. I was glad he took the one that says approved. He said we're done and told me to pay attention to the blinking number board and wait for my number. He did not told me if I am approved or not, but seeing that approved sticker he was holding, even though he had not stick it to my folder yet made me think I am approved. I thanked him and left the room. Some other applicants, those that are still waiting for their number to be called, were wondering why I came out from the booth already. My interview was quick.

Our personal documents (photos, snail mails, receipts) were returned at window 35. All financial documents were kept by the US Embassy. When I was called, the man in window 35 gave me a a pink slip and said that I have to proceed to DELBROS to pay for the visa delivery fee. That's the time that I felt relieved and this time I am sure that I am approved. I was so happy.

For those US Visa applicants, If you missed seeing the sticker while at the consul’s cube, you may try and take a quick peek during this last step. The sticker should be at the bottom part of your folder cover. Should you be taken into AR (Administrative Review), you will also know during this last part, as they will give you a paper that says so. The person in this counter will also tell you that you are indeed in Administrative Review and to wait for further advice from the embassy.

I paid Php315 at the US Embassy Cashier. I and some other U.S. Visa applicants were glad that we were approved. In the few days that I was processing, I eventually met some US Visa applicants in Manila. For US Visa applicants out there, K-1 or K-2 and other Visa applicants, your path will cross in the Medical Exam building, internet cafe's close to different hotels near the Embassy, you will meet friends or companions as you go through the process. After I got my K-1 Visa delivery receipt, I hurried back to Lotus Garden Hotel. I was so happy and was so excited. I could not wait to tell my fiance' that our application was approved. For a while I thought that I should have brought my cellphone, but then seeing the long line of applicants waiting to get their cellphone back inside the embassy, I thought I made the right decision of leaving my cellphone at the hotel.

I was approved and we will finally be with each other again, and this time, its for keeps. Three days later, I got my visa. Truly, God is so good!!! When I went outside the embassy, I saw groups of ladies that were looking so sad, their application was put to AR. I was sorry for the delay of their papers and visa processing. For those applicants who will soon have their interview, be sure you have your papers complete and make sure you know whats in your form, know your inputs, remember important dates and just be ready to anything interviewers might ask. There is nothing to be scared about, as long as you know your fiance/ spouse details and your relationship is for real. It's okay to be nervous but don't fear. Just be yourself and don't forget to bring your heart!