interview process

[gretchen_darren 67]

Started at 4 am this morning. Left at 4:50 am. Walked to embassy, arrived at 5:15 am. Walked past embassy gate 1 to embassy gate 2. Went to waiting area which is at south end of embassy area. This is where the crossover bridge is at at he south part of the embassy. Wait towards the road, not towards the back part by manila bay. It will place you farther back in line. Wait up by the bridge area.

You will be lined up in rows according to time. Expect to wait after lines set up. Make sure you are in the right line for your time and purpose.

then you go through "tent check". this is where her parents were denied access. We did paper check and passport check to enter. Here they want to see passport, appointment letter, receipt and forms ds-156, ds-156k, and ds157.

After this you go throug ha scanner into the "ticketing" area. You are in line for windows 1/2/3. Any window will do. they will look at your forms, and issue you a number. For K-1 visa expect a Regular (type IV) number. Our number was 6044. After this you go past the outside waiting area, walk to the left up the stairs through the doors. (go through the right side), make sure to press down on the latch to open the door (and it is heavy to open) Go through another screening. Purses and docs will be searched. (open and place on desk, then go through scanner.

Once through, drop off appointment letter "apck" given at the ticket window at window 39. (This is an unmanned window), do not worry, someone will pick up the forms every so often.

At this point wait for number on board. My girl did not understand the process. This is not something Filipinos are accustomed to as in America. this process makes them more nervous on the number waiting system.

First window called to was pre-screen. I kept my mouth shut, answered questions when asked. Provided forms as necessary to help gretchen. Questions I can remember:

1) who is the petitioner?

2) what is your fiancee's full name?

2a) what is your birthdate?

3) Can I have the following forms?

ds-156

ds-156k

ds-157

NBI

Cenomar

I-134

Last year's tax return

w-2

4) when did you first meet

4) how did you meet?

5) when did you first meet in person?

6) what is your fiancee's full name?

7) Is this you fiancee's second trip?

8) do you have any kids?

9) have you ever been married?

10) Has your fiance ever been married?

11) Do he have kids?

12) Have you been fingerprinted?

13) when did you arrive in Philippines?

14) how long in Philippines?

15) are those photos? (4 photo books)

16) can I see? (flip through one album a few pages)

All done with that section.

Went back and sat down. After a while Gretchen was clled to be fingerprinted.

Fingerprinting is inkless and at window 40 today. Everyone for fingerprinting is window 40 as of right now. Name, birthdate, ok let's scan your hands.

Now to sit and wait again.... and wait and wait. Long wiat this time. People are finishing up. Good sign we are near the end as well.

We get called to the "door" 69. Sit down and get sworn in. We had a lady. She joked about the file. Largest file she has ever seen. My comment was I asked about sending chat logs in. I called twice about it. they said to send it all in. She commented it took two people to bring the paperwork to the desk. She swore us in. And we answered the questions. This was not a quick and simple interview. It was long. She looked for the Divorce decree and looked at it. Commented on when my divorce was. the proceeded to ask

when we met,

first time we met in person.

When I came over this time.

has she ever been married

does she have kids

have I ever been married

has she ever travelled outside of the Philippines

has she ever lived outside of the philippines

do you know you have to marry in 90 days

when is the wedding planned

when are you planning on going to USA

ok everything looks good, you ar epproved. Congrats on coming to the USA. Please wiat for window 73 to call you.

Ma'am could we pick up visa? "What are the circumstances?" Work, her village flooded, taking college courses. We are in manila through Saturday, then in her vilalge through the 18th.

We won't have the visa printed by Friday as of this time. But I will put in an expedite for the visa to be printed and delivered to you. Thank you Ma'am, appreciate it.

window 73, everything is good, we will be issuing a visa. Please go to window 69 for delivery instructions.

Window 69 dor delivery, have to pick at local 2go branch near her home. Will not deliver to village. Will track through 2g0 website. All done and good to go. time to head out into the rain.... walked back past the screening entrance, back throught the outdoor tourism waiting area (covered), back past ticket window, then out the exit door to the area next to the "tent check". walked out the exit on the left to the exit on roxas. bought a couple of umbrellas, and went to crossover to meet her parents and catch a taxi back to the hotel. Lots of water, must have been raining right after we started the process.

took us from 4:50 am to 9:50 am. (hotel door to hotel door) Done very quickly.

[calibob 73]

Congrats on the successful interview!

Bob

[TeddyHoney 42]

Congrats on your successful interview!

May God bless you both on the rest of your journey and lives together.

Take it easy!

[TeddyHoney 42]

Oh, btw I need to ask if you don't mind. Your medical was Monday/Tuesday this week. Your Interview was today. Did the Embassy already have your fiancee's medical file and information already transfered over from SLEC by the time of her interview? Maybe you mentioned about this in previous post and I missed it. Did you guys hand carry the medical results to the Embassy for interview?

My fiancee is concerned cuz we are at the start of her 8 week sputum culture wait (finally!) and we want to reschedule her interview online for about 1 week after the Pulmonologists told her she can call for results (Oct 27) but she is concerned that one week may not be enough time for the electionic records and files from SLEC to be in the USEM systems and files. But seems you guys' medical results files were already at USEM the next day.

Just want to know how you made that happen - because of the special circumstances of your fiancee maybe?

Thanks, and congrats again!

[B_J 2,752]

For what it's worth, when we finished our sputum test, she had her vaccination on a Wednesday and her interview on Thursday. She just made sure that St. Luke's knew the interview was the next day and they somehow got it there. I'm not saying they get this done every time; but apparently it is possible.

Oh, btw I need to ask if you don't mind. Your medical was Monday/Tuesday this week. Your Interview was today. Did the Embassy already have your fiancee's medical file and information already transfered over from SLEC by the time of her interview? Maybe you mentioned about this in previous post and I missed it. Did you guys hand carry the medical results to the Embassy for interview?

My fiancee is concerned cuz we are at the start of her 8 week sputum culture wait (finally!) and we want to reschedule her interview online for about 1 week after the Pulmonologists told her she can call for results (Oct 27) but she is concerned that one week may not be enough time for the electionic records and files from SLEC to be in the USEM systems and files. But seems you guys' medical results files were already at USEM the next day.

Just want to know how you made that happen - because of the special circumstances of your fiancee maybe?

Thanks, and congrats again!

[TeddyHoney 42]

For what it's worth, when we finished our sputum test, she had her vaccination on a Wednesday and her interview on Thursday. She just made sure that St. Luke's knew the interview was the next day and they somehow got it there. I'm not saying they get this done every time; but apparently it is possible.

Ah, okay. Thanks, that helps a lot!

[paul_kay 31]

Ah, okay. Thanks, that helps a lot!

St. Lukes allow applicants to hand carry the results of the medical exam.

[Trey7Sarah 0]

First window called to was pre-screen. I kept my mouth shut, answered questions when asked. Provided forms as necessary to help gretchen. Questions I can remember:

1) who is the petitioner?

2) what is your fiancee's full name?

2a) what is your birthdate?

3) Can I have the following forms?

ds-156

ds-156k

ds-157

NBI

Cenomar

I-134

Last year's tax return

w-2

4) when did you first meet

4) how did you meet?

5) when did you first meet in person?

6) what is your fiancee's full name?

7) Is this you fiancee's second trip?

8) do you have any kids?

9) have you ever been married?

10) Has your fiance ever been married?

11) Do he have kids?

12) Have you been fingerprinted?

13) when did you arrive in Philippines?

14) how long in Philippines?

15) are those photos? (4 photo books)

16) can I see? (flip through one album a few pages)

Congrats on the sweet and smooth approval! Let us know how the rest of your journey goes. Darren, or anyone else, these forms were needed? ds-156, ds-156k, ds-157. I didn't read these are required in the interview process. What are they?

[sunandmoon 450]

Congrats on the sweet and smooth approval! Let us know how the rest of your journey goes. Darren, or anyone else, these forms were needed? ds-156, ds-156k, ds-157. I didn't read these are required in the interview process. What are they?

yes, they are needed. they are visa application forms. you submit them when you go to the interview.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/19452/public/Revised%20K1%20Instruction%20Packet%20_3__rtf2_003.pdf

[Tim/Mav 305]

Congrats Darren.

[HotPinay-KoolKano 10]

CONGRATZ. If it is of any help my Fiance was already here in the States by the time she finally received the email from 2GO stating the Visa was ready for pickup. I've read the online tracker is not reliable either. I might reccomend calling the embassy 2 or 3 days after the interview, then giving 1 day for delivery (if MOA, cannot speak to other 2go outlets).

[sunandmoon 450]

Started at 4 am this morning. Left at 4:50 am. Walked to embassy, arrived at 5:15 am. Walked past embassy gate 1 to embassy gate 2. Went to waiting area which is at south end of embassy area. This is where the crossover bridge is at at he south part of the embassy. Wait towards the road, not towards the back part by manila bay. It will place you farther back in line. Wait up by the bridge area.

You will be lined up in rows according to time. Expect to wait after lines set up. Make sure you are in the right line for your time and purpose.

then you go through "tent check". this is where her parents were denied access.

congrats on the approval. looks like the parents were not required to be present at the interview.

3) also if you fiance is under 21, the parents must be present for medical AND embassy interview.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/300126-cfo-for-fiancee-in-manila-philippines/page__view__findpost__p__4540512

[Trey7Sarah 0]

Awesome Thanks for the link! Alot to take in but alot of help here.

yes, they are needed. they are visa application forms. you submit them when you go to the interview.

http://photos.state....3__rtf2_003.pdf

[gretchen_darren 67]

hmm, the required forms at the embassy:

1) ds-156 (2 copies)

2) DS-156k (2 copies)

3) DS-157 (2 copies)

4) NBI need the whole NBI not just the personal stub (they keep the top portion)

5) CENOMAR (or affidavit of marriage)

6) Police clearance

7) Birth certificate

8) Valid passport

9) I-134 completed and signed by petitioner

10) prior year tax return

11) prior year copies of w-2

12) Photos of evidence of meeting

13) passport photos -- 2in by 2in. 2 attached to DS-156 and 2 loose for for in visa issuance.

this is what is required at the embassy. Hope it helps. Check your embassy for more information on the right forms. Some embassies are now using ds-160 instead of ds-156. Manila, Philippine embassy is still using ds-156 for K-1 visa.

The paretns were needed for the CFO. Going to post that here in a minute....

[rhenzhen 5]

Thanks for the input eventhough this is fiancee interview. We are CR-1. My wife's interview is in 11 days... I can't wait to buy a tickets!