ANSWERED PRAYER - my interview experience, jan 8, 2008

["rylee" 0]

congats....

[Gringita/Morenito 0]

Mabuhay! We (longwait2, pinktulips and james&rachel) stayed the night before in Riviera Mansion, 1 minute away from the US Embassy. Sis Rachel (who will have her interview on February) met us in the hotel and opted to stay with us since she was feeling excited for our interview and she wanted to make some chikka with us. We had a great dinner in my favorite barbeque restaurant in Malate.

We also had a rehearsal for the interview questions. It was like a Ms. Universe Pageant for us! Hahaha!!!

We planned to sleep early but it didn't happen coz we had lots of chatting, girl talk – about our fiancés, love story and kinky stuffs. Around 12 midnight, we felt sleepy and started to sleep with a prayer in our hearts that God will lead our way for our BIG day tomorrow!

I woke up around 2.30AM – feeling so anxious, excited, MIXED EMOTIONS!!! All the girls were up by 3AM. Then, I called Chowking for our breakfast delivery. We had a wonderful breakfast before we proceed to the embassy.

Around 5AM, we prayed before we leave the hotel. Everybody was feeling goose bumps and I even cried a little coz in few minutes, the last part of the K1 journey will about to end.

------------------------------------------

We arrived in front of the US Embassy on Jan 8, 2008 around 5.15AM. We walked a bit from the non-immigrant visa line to the waiting area for the immigrant visa applicants. We sat down at the benches near the gate. We didn't pay for the chairs for rent coz there's one bench, which is enough for us. While waiting outside, all of us were texting and calling our loved ones to pray for us for our judgment day.

Around 5.45AM, one of the manangs who were selling some stuffs shouted that those with 7.30AM appointment can now fall in line. So, we hurried and almost ran. Hehe! We gave our mobile phones and other electronic gadgets to Rachel who waited for us the whole morning outside the embassy.

Flow of my interview proceedings:

1. Fall in-line outside the embassy. >> at this moment, prepare your appointment letter with a valid ID (NBI clearance is ok) to be presented in a while to the guard.

2. The guard checked my appointment letter and my ID. He checked if I'm the one on my ID photo.

3. Electronic scanner portion – all of your things are scanned here. So, if you brought with you any electronic gadget, you will be sent outside and fall in-line again. So better check your bag/s twice!

4. Just follow the line and you will be directed to the immigrant visa unit - right side portion of the building. Take a seat at the blue chairs and wait for the instruction of the embassy staff/guards.

5. I noticed that the family-based visa applicants were first called and directed to a window slot.

6. For us, K filers, the guard called us and we fell in line at the “Ticketing Window†where all of your DS forms (2 ds 156, 2 ds 157-1 on-line & 1 from the bank; 1 ds 156k) which is near the wash room and across the Delbros booth.

7. The lady gave me 7013 as my queuing number and I told that that is my lucky number coz that is my birthday, July 13/ 0713. And the lady smiled.

8. After few minutes, my NAME (not my priority number) was called for the finger scanning. When I was doing this, the embassy staff who was administering the finger scanning was holding a 2-inch thick folder. And I notice that that is our petition documents. Amazing!

9. I waited for 30-45 minutes for my number to be flashed on the board for the pre-interviewer session. I was called to Window 19. The gentleman there was nice. I greeted him good morning and he replied. After reading my name on his docs, he said that I have a nice name coz my last name is one of the angels mentioned in the bible (Cherubims). So I thanked him. Then, he asked if I'm from Lucena City and said yes. He told me that he once worked there. He even asked what is the famous food/dish in Lucena and if the old famous restaurant is still there. After those chats, he asked for my fiance's name and his job. My fiancé is a cook so he said that I'll become bigger when I get there! Hehehe!!! And how we were introduced. Then, he asked for Carl's financial support docs. So I gave him my Folder 1 – financial support docs. Then, he asked for our photos so I gave as well the whole folder of our photos together. Then, he asked how many times did Carl visit me and the duration/date of his visit. Then, he asked for our correspondences so I gave him my Folder 4A which contains our cards, waybills, phone bills, money transfer receipts, cargo and courier receipts, etc plus our emails. Then, he returned to me my Folder 1 – financial support docs and told me to just give him the affidavit of support and Carl's 2006 tax documents. So, I gave them to him. And he said to wait for my number to be called again. I thanked him and told him to please visit our province if he has time since it's very different now.

10. Around 10.30 AM, the K1 queuing numbers were started flashing on the screen and we (girls) retouched our make ups and we're so excited and nervous! Wahahahaha!!!

11. Around 10.45AM, my number flashed and I proceeded outside the Room 32 - the last room for the consular interview. I was praying while waiting – asking for the Holy Spirit to be with me.

12. When I entered the room, I smiled and greeted the Lady consul (who looks like Princess Diana) and she replied. Then, I waited for 10-15 seconds coz she was talking with a staff and typing something on her computer. Then, the ball started rolling! Below were questions to me:

a. How did you meet your fiancé? >> introduced to me by my aunt on the phone

b. What's the name of your aunt? Is she in the US? Since when and how long?

c. Why did your aunt introduce your fiancé to you? I told her the story of our meeting on the phone and she was smiling while I was discussing it to her.

d. What's the job of your fiancé?

e. What was he doing on the new year's eve?

f. Do you have any other relatives aside from your aunt in the US?

g. You went abroad, right? >> yes

h. What did you do in these countries and how long did you stay?

i. Did you talk about if you will be working in the US when you get there? And what job?

At the last part of our conversation, she said that my documents were fine and they are just going to do some verification. Then, I replied to her “Thank you so much Ma'am. Have a nice day. God bless youâ€. And she replied, “you're welcome and wait for your number to be called outsideâ€.

All in all, my conversation with her was really enjoying and spontaneous. It was like talking to a friend who is interrogating me. . It was like talking to a friend who is interrogating me.

13. As I was waiting outside, all the girls were smiling. Meaning, all of us were APPROVED!!! Then, my name was called on Window 38. My number didn't flash on the board so I was nervous. But we were almost 10 applicants that were called on that window and I saw our documents with the nice gentleman on that window. I was the first one to fall in line and then, he asked for my name and queuing number. Then, he told me that they need to do some document verification. So I told him that I already paid the P650 since I saw for their website. He was so surprised. Then, I showed him my receipt and the printed out instruction from Delbros which I downloaded from the USEM website. He looked at it and he gave it back to me. He gave a pink slip with my appointment letter and another document from them. I FELT RELIEVED!!! Then, he returned to me my folders.

14. Then, I paid to the Delbros the P165 courier fee.

Few minutes after this, I was crying softly coz my prayers are answered! THANK GOD and Praise Him! I also felt sadness for the idea that I will be leaving my family especially my mom, my friends and my country…soon.

----------------------------------

When we went outside, we were looking for Rachel who patiently and nervously waited for us the whole morning. I will never forget that moment when I saw her running, teary eyed and so happy to see us. There was also a funny moment that we didn't know where to go out coz we were so excited to tell the good news to Rachel. Hehehe!!!

We met Rachel with our good news. Me and Rachel were crying coz we were so emotional for what happened. All of us were sooooooo happpppyyy and blessed on that day!!! PRAISE GOD!!!

When I was talking to my baby Carl, he told me that he didn't go to work coz he was so excited, nervous and anxious for the result of my interview. My baby was so happy to know that I successfully passed my interview.

Then, we met Mike and Beth for lunch. The VJ family had a great lunch in Chowking! Hehehe!!!

~~~~~~~~~

To Mike and Beth, thanks for the tips. I'm so blessed to have you as my friends.

To Ate Cheng, Ate Kat and Sis Rachel, I enjoyed our time together. You will always be my sisters. I will cherish our bonding moments forever. God bless you and your fiancés/husbands and best wishes to the another chapter of your lives.

Our VJ Family, the word THANK YOU is not enough to express how I feel for being so blessed for knowing and being here in this forum. More power and I am always praying for the continuous success of this site. We love you, our VJ Family!

To my officemates, thanks for the support, understand, patience and prayers throughout this journey.

To my friends, thanks a lot for all your support, guidance and prayers. I will certainly miss you.

To all the people that I met on-line who guided me throughout this process, our warm thanks!!!

To my family especially to my mom and ate flower, THANKS A LOT for everything! I love you and I will miss you…

To my baby, my destiny, my life, my Carl, as what I am always telling you, I am so blessed and thankful to have you in my life. The word LOVE is not enough to describe how I feel for you. I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!!! Thanks for our LOVE that is DEEP and LASTING!!! And I cannot wait to meet you soon… Forever is sooo sooonnn!!!

Most of all, to my Friend, Father, Companion, our Lord Jesus Christ… We offer our success to You!!! Thanks for softening the hearts of the pre-screener and most of all, the Lady Consul. Thank you sooo much for granting my petition! We love you, Jesus! Mama Mary, my mother, thank you and we love you. Thank you for embracing us with your love.

Papa God, you know what is inside our hearts…

AMEN! May God bless you both in your new life together!!!!!

[marie_9 0]

CONGRATS!! it was nice to know that people here are meeting in person and becoming friends..

[cjthel 0]

Congratulations Beng and Carl!!! Another success story!!!!

[RonMay 1]

God is good!!!

Congrats!!!

[bluebelle 0]

congratulations! Thanks for the detailed information!

[amy n 0]

What a wonderful experience you had .... It is very interesting and am moved with you there girl. CONGRATULATIONS. GOODLUCK.

Mabuhay! We (longwait2, pinktulips and james&rachel) stayed the night before in Riviera Mansion, 1 minute away from the US Embassy. Sis Rachel (who will have her interview on February) met us in the hotel and opted to stay with us since she was feeling excited for our interview and she wanted to make some chikka with us. We had a great dinner in my favorite barbeque restaurant in Malate.

We also had a rehearsal for the interview questions. It was like a Ms. Universe Pageant for us! Hahaha!!!

We planned to sleep early but it didn’t happen coz we had lots of chatting, girl talk – about our fiancés, love story and kinky stuffs. Around 12 midnight, we felt sleepy and started to sleep with a prayer in our hearts that God will lead our way for our BIG day tomorrow!

I woke up around 2.30AM – feeling so anxious, excited, MIXED EMOTIONS!!! All the girls were up by 3AM. Then, I called Chowking for our breakfast delivery. We had a wonderful breakfast before we proceed to the embassy.

Around 5AM, we prayed before we leave the hotel. Everybody was feeling goose bumps and I even cried a little coz in few minutes, the last part of the K1 journey will about to end.

------------------------------------------

We arrived in front of the US Embassy on Jan 8, 2008 around 5.15AM. We walked a bit from the non-immigrant visa line to the waiting area for the immigrant visa applicants. We sat down at the benches near the gate. We didn’t pay for the chairs for rent coz there’s one bench, which is enough for us. While waiting outside, all of us were texting and calling our loved ones to pray for us for our judgment day.

Around 5.45AM, one of the manangs who were selling some stuffs shouted that those with 7.30AM appointment can now fall in line. So, we hurried and almost ran. Hehe! We gave our mobile phones and other electronic gadgets to Rachel who waited for us the whole morning outside the embassy.

Flow of my interview proceedings:

1. Fall in-line outside the embassy. >> at this moment, prepare your appointment letter with a valid ID (NBI clearance is ok) to be presented in a while to the guard.

2. The guard checked my appointment letter and my ID. He checked if I’m the one on my ID photo.

3. Electronic scanner portion – all of your things are scanned here. So, if you brought with you any electronic gadget, you will be sent outside and fall in-line again. So better check your bag/s twice!

4. Just follow the line and you will be directed to the immigrant visa unit - right side portion of the building. Take a seat at the blue chairs and wait for the instruction of the embassy staff/guards.

5. I noticed that the family-based visa applicants were first called and directed to a window slot.

6. For us, K filers, the guard called us and we fell in line at the “Ticketing Window†where all of your DS forms (2 ds 156, 2 ds 157-1 on-line & 1 from the bank; 1 ds 156k) which is near the wash room and across the Delbros booth.

7. The lady gave me 7013 as my queuing number and I told that that is my lucky number coz that is my birthday, July 13/ 0713. And the lady smiled.

8. After few minutes, my NAME (not my priority number) was called for the finger scanning. When I was doing this, the embassy staff who was administering the finger scanning was holding a 2-inch thick folder. And I notice that that is our petition documents. Amazing!

9. I waited for 30-45 minutes for my number to be flashed on the board for the pre-interviewer session. I was called to Window 19. The gentleman there was nice. I greeted him good morning and he replied. After reading my name on his docs, he said that I have a nice name coz my last name is one of the angels mentioned in the bible (Cherubims). So I thanked him. Then, he asked if I’m from Lucena City and said yes. He told me that he once worked there. He even asked what is the famous food/dish in Lucena and if the old famous restaurant is still there. After those chats, he asked for my fiance’s name and his job. My fiancé is a cook so he said that I’ll become bigger when I get there! Hehehe!!! And how we were introduced. Then, he asked for Carl’s financial support docs. So I gave him my Folder 1 – financial support docs. Then, he asked for our photos so I gave as well the whole folder of our photos together. Then, he asked how many times did Carl visit me and the duration/date of his visit. Then, he asked for our correspondences so I gave him my Folder 4A which contains our cards, waybills, phone bills, money transfer receipts, cargo and courier receipts, etc plus our emails. Then, he returned to me my Folder 1 – financial support docs and told me to just give him the affidavit of support and Carl’s 2006 tax documents. So, I gave them to him. And he said to wait for my number to be called again. I thanked him and told him to please visit our province if he has time since it’s very different now.

10. Around 10.30 AM, the K1 queuing numbers were started flashing on the screen and we (girls) retouched our make ups and we’re so excited and nervous! Wahahahaha!!!

11. Around 10.45AM, my number flashed and I proceeded outside the Room 32 - the last room for the consular interview. I was praying while waiting – asking for the Holy Spirit to be with me.

12. When I entered the room, I smiled and greeted the Lady consul (who looks like Princess Diana) and she replied. Then, I waited for 10-15 seconds coz she was talking with a staff and typing something on her computer. Then, the ball started rolling! Below were questions to me:

a. How did you meet your fiancé? >> introduced to me by my aunt on the phone

b. What’s the name of your aunt? Is she in the US? Since when and how long?

c. Why did your aunt introduce your fiancé to you? I told her the story of our meeting on the phone and she was smiling while I was discussing it to her.

d. What’s the job of your fiancé?

e. What was he doing on the new year’s eve?

f. Do you have any other relatives aside from your aunt in the US?

g. You went abroad, right? >> yes

h. What did you do in these countries and how long did you stay?

i. Did you talk about if you will be working in the US when you get there? And what job?

At the last part of our conversation, she said that my documents were fine and they are just going to do some verification. Then, I replied to her “Thank you so much Ma’am. Have a nice day. God bless youâ€. And she replied, “you’re welcome and wait for your number to be called outsideâ€.

All in all, my conversation with her was really enjoying and spontaneous. It was like talking to a friend who is interrogating me. . It was like talking to a friend who is interrogating me.

13. As I was waiting outside, all the girls were smiling. Meaning, all of us were APPROVED!!! Then, my name was called on Window 38. My number didn’t flash on the board so I was nervous. But we were almost 10 applicants that were called on that window and I saw our documents with the nice gentleman on that window. I was the first one to fall in line and then, he asked for my name and queuing number. Then, he told me that they need to do some document verification. So I told him that I already paid the P650 since I saw for their website. He was so surprised. Then, I showed him my receipt and the printed out instruction from Delbros which I downloaded from the USEM website. He looked at it and he gave it back to me. He gave a pink slip with my appointment letter and another document from them. I FELT RELIEVED!!! Then, he returned to me my folders.

14. Then, I paid to the Delbros the P165 courier fee.

Few minutes after this, I was crying softly coz my prayers are answered! THANK GOD and Praise Him! I also felt sadness for the idea that I will be leaving my family especially my mom, my friends and my country…soon.

----------------------------------

When we went outside, we were looking for Rachel who patiently and nervously waited for us the whole morning. I will never forget that moment when I saw her running, teary eyed and so happy to see us. There was also a funny moment that we didn’t know where to go out coz we were so excited to tell the good news to Rachel. Hehehe!!!

We met Rachel with our good news. Me and Rachel were crying coz we were so emotional for what happened. All of us were sooooooo happpppyyy and blessed on that day!!! PRAISE GOD!!!

When I was talking to my baby Carl, he told me that he didn’t go to work coz he was so excited, nervous and anxious for the result of my interview. My baby was so happy to know that I successfully passed my interview.

Then, we met Mike and Beth for lunch. The VJ family had a great lunch in Chowking! Hehehe!!!

~~~~~~~~~

To Mike and Beth, thanks for the tips. I’m so blessed to have you as my friends.

To Ate Cheng, Ate Kat and Sis Rachel, I enjoyed our time together. You will always be my sisters. I will cherish our bonding moments forever. God bless you and your fiancés/husbands and best wishes to the another chapter of your lives.

Our VJ Family, the word THANK YOU is not enough to express how I feel for being so blessed for knowing and being here in this forum. More power and I am always praying for the continuous success of this site. We love you, our VJ Family!

To my officemates, thanks for the support, understand, patience and prayers throughout this journey.

To my friends, thanks a lot for all your support, guidance and prayers. I will certainly miss you.

To all the people that I met on-line who guided me throughout this process, our warm thanks!!!

To my family especially to my mom and ate flower, THANKS A LOT for everything! I love you and I will miss you…

To my baby, my destiny, my life, my Carl, as what I am always telling you, I am so blessed and thankful to have you in my life. The word LOVE is not enough to describe how I feel for you. I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!!! Thanks for our LOVE that is DEEP and LASTING!!! And I cannot wait to meet you soon… Forever is sooo sooonnn!!!

Most of all, to my Friend, Father, Companion, our Lord Jesus Christ… We offer our success to You!!! Thanks for softening the hearts of the pre-screener and most of all, the Lady Consul. Thank you sooo much for granting my petition! We love you, Jesus! Mama Mary, my mother, thank you and we love you. Thank you for embracing us with your love.

Papa God, you know what is inside our hearts…

['my_destiny' 0]

Hi Beng...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!

Im very happy for you that you will be with your beloved so soon. The start of your 2008 is wonderful!

Time to pack your things and get ready to face your new life here in the US.

Have a safe flight and congrats again!

vhi

Edited January 14, 2008 by 'my_destiny'

[Thom & Jade 0]

Hi!!! Congratulation on getting your visa. I got a question...I read on the US embassy site that SLEC will give us an appointment slip after getting our x ray film & immunization...I didn't get any... so is the appointment letter from our packet 4 sufficient to show the guard? Pls. pray for me , too... for me to pass my interview w/o any problem , too , next week....Thanks!_Jade

[beng_and_carl 0]

Hi!!! Congratulation on getting your visa. I got a question...I read on the US embassy site that SLEC will give us an appointment slip after getting our x ray film & immunization...I didn't get any... so is the appointment letter from our packet 4 sufficient to show the guard? Pls. pray for me , too... for me to pass my interview w/o any problem , too , next week....Thanks!_Jade

Hi Jade! Well, the SLEC doen't issue any appointment slip for the interview. where did you get this info?

the appointment letter from your packet is the one needed for your interview.

God bless. i know you can make it.

~beng

[bradcherries 0]

Congratulations! Thanks for the summary.

hello,how are you there? is it ok if i ask how to pick up visa at the embassy? coz my interview will be on march 6.hopefully pass the interview.i want to pick up the visa at the embassy or i will let them deliverd it to us to where we stay at the hotel in manila.im hoping and earnestly waiting for your reply,thank you so much and congratulations to you.

[dbears 1]

Congrats.. and thanks for taking the time to post another thorough and very helpful visa journey experience... it will surely help us waiting in line.!!!

[myangel2 0]

congratulation... To God be the Glory