March 28 Interview Experience

[chuck_n_rose 0]

Hi all, I took some paper and pen with me to the interview so I could capture all the moments.

Well, Thursday night ended for us by going to sleep at 7 pm. I woke up at 2 am and so did Rose, so we decided to start our day then. Just taking our time and getting ready. We were out the door at 5am and quickly found a cab. It was your standard Manila cab (beat up, no straights, and a great contibutor to the ozone layer). This guy was one of the wildest driver's I've encountered. The would bet money the guy thought I was a NASCAR scount checking out his talent. I eventually him to slow down n we are not in a hurry. I was tempted to offer him 100php to take his time because we wanted to get there in 1 piece. He continued to jockey for postion and show off his runway talent. We arrived at the embassy at 5:45 and the arena of junk sellers were in full force. I was fed up after about 5 minutes of listening to them. We did have 1 objective: find a person to hold Rose's cell phone will we were in interview and did for a fee of 100php. [i came to find out later that we could have left it at the embassy gate for free, for future reference]. I knew I would be hungry, so we walked across the street to get away from the vultures. I saw 2 Starbuck, neither open it appreared. So, I went into the Yellow Cab pizza and got some half baked potatoes to go. We went back across the street to the embassy, more poeple trying to sell a passport photo. I said we have 2 extra, you want to buy from me, half price. After I finished eating, I noticed that the real line was down the street. I was a little upset. We got in the long line. As I was talking to people, I was getting a random sample survey and quickly dicsovered a pattern, everyone was there for travel or work visa. HMMM I kinda had that feeling since it had been a while since they set any dates. We went through the metal detector, I had 3 bottles of water with me, but only had to drink 1 of them. Once inside about 6:45, we were seated at the infamous bullpen of blue chairs. The guard was sending rows of people up to retrieve numbers. I took a quick scan of the room and counted about 130 people still waiting for numbers and about 50 people already with them give or a dozen. Rose got her number at 7:10, #7004. Wow number 4 of the K1 folks. Next is waiting for finger scanning. It is true what you heard about trying to hear you name being called. The decible level must be set at wisper on the speaker. It was not too bad at first, but once people in front of completed their finger scanning, they had no reason to keep quiet. I was very irritated with the loud mouth guy behind who was trying to teach the history of the stock market. I gave him the customary U.S. look back at him with a little eye roll, similar to the treatment a talker would receive at a movie theater. The funny part was he was still waiting for finger scanning. We were called to window 16 for finger scanning at 8:55 along with the 3 other K1 filers, who all arrived at the embassy long before us. We then went to window 26 at 9:45 for prescreening. The person ask Rose 2 questions and me 2 questions. When she had Rose sign the papers, I noticed she was shaking and just to mess with her, I asked her if she knew the date.

After that we went to winow 27 at 11:10 for the real interview, we had a femal CO. She asked Rose the following questions.

1) Where did we meet? answered correctly

2) Why did she like me?answered correctly

3) What do your parents think about you leaving? answered correctly

4) Does he have brothers/sisters? Yes, answered correctly

5) Is he married? answer Yes, {wrong answer}

6) What does he do for a living? answered correctly

7) What was his previous job? Paramedic {wrong answer, I drove an ambulance}

8) What does he do for hobby? answered correctly

9) What interests do you share? answered correctly

10) What did your fiance learn in school? answer, fire {wrong answer, I have a BS in Environmental Science [ to Rose's defense, I have an AS in Fire Science and AA in Liberal Arts}

11) What kind of wedding do you plan to have?answered correctly

12) What did your fiance tell you about the climate in California? answer, He said it was the same as here, the CO said it was nothing like here.

So, I just sat there in dismay, thinking she doesn't know anything about me. I would have been worried, but I noticed that the CO was just firing questions at here, thinking more about where she will go for lunch than the answers (or incorrect answers ) Rose was giving. The CO said, "Well everything is in order and you are approved to receive your Visa, please wait outside for your name to be called." Rose said thank you and I chimed in, "Maam, I have a letter typed out for a request for Visa pick up because we are leaving next Friday." She responded 'can I see the letter?" I gave it to her and she said OK, you can pick up Monday or Tuesday.

We both thanked her and went outside. At 11:25, we were summoned to Window 38, and it was the moment of truth. Will it be the pink slip or the white slip? The first question the guy asked after looking at the papers was what phone number to call when Visa is ready. As he turned the pages, I saw the pink slip that I saw on some others earlier in the day and was geatly relived. We left the embassy at 11:40 and recovered Rose's cell phone.

As promised, I saved every detail, except for the headache I had all morning I left, and the street vendors did not sell asprin and neither did the 7-11 across the street, go figure. Life is Good, and God has been good to us.

Thank to everyone on VJ, here is to another success story.

PS. Sorry, if I have any grammatical errors, I will not be proofreading.

[Loterly_Richard 0]

hooray to chuck and rose!!! congrats!!! goodluck to your future journey. Godbless!

[David-and-Mae 15]

Congratulations on Rose's successful interview... Have a safe flight together!

--Mae

["rylee" 0]

congrats....

[let-it-be 36]

Congratulations!

[Mike_Zandy 0]

Agreed! Congrats and best wishes to the both of you!

Edited March 28, 2008 by Mike_Zandy

[SweetAngel06 0]

Congrats!

[sara..... 371]

many many congratulations :dance: :dance: thanks for the information about nothing for a head ache .........im sure most embassies in any country has no market with anything for that either.......so i will keep that in mind

[timcass_12 5]

Congratulations Chuck and Rose

[manilaphilippines 0]

Congratulations!!!

[mNr 0]

CONGRATULATIONS

[EricC 0]

Congrats Chuck and Rose, I knew all would be good.

[dbears 1]

BIG CONGRATS!!! :dance:

[nscarnut 0]

congrats we have same shedule for flight going to usa, im taking pal from manila-vancover las vegas 4:45 pm in mnl,

[george and aaiz 0]

CONGRATULATIONS ate rose ang kuya chuck