Mission Accomplished: VISA APPROVED! God's glory shines in us!

[RyaNRiza 1]

My interview experience on May 27, was a great and rewarding experience for me and I want to share it with everyone and will give a few tips which I have learned from the said experience for reference of future applicants.

WAITING AREA: OUTSIDE THE US EMBASSY BUILDING

Reached US Embassy at 5:50AM. There were already a bunch of people waiting outside the building. I recognized Cess and Art (thru their pictures on Friendster) and I didn’t have the second thought to approach them. They have the same interview schedule as mine. They were very nice. We had chit-chats while waiting for instructions from the security guards who were supervising everyone. K1 and immigrant applicants with 7:30AM schedule were told to fall in line at 6:30 and we went inside the Embassy building.

TIP 1: You really don’t have to go to the Embassy so early in the morning. 6AM is good enough. Applicants are called by category and the time of their interview schedule. (Thanks dbears and ammike for giving me this tip!)

TIP 2: Always follow the security guards' instructions instead of the vendors outside the Embassy. There are vendors who will ask what category are you and would tell you where to fall in line or would tell you that the said category is not called yet.

TICKET BOOTH: ASSIGNED NUMBER

When we were already inside the building, we were told which area to seat (still it is by category). A few minutes after, we were told to get our assigned number at the ticket booth. My number was 7002. We were asked to submit all of the DS Forms. The number 37 of my DS-156 was encircled with red pen indicating that I had not answered the question completely.

TIP 1: Double check your forms to make sure that you did not miss to completely answer a single question.

TIP 2: Do not forget to staple or glue your picture on DS 156. Cess’ pictures were not stapled on the form. It was the person on the ticket booth who stapled her picture.

TIP 3: Keep the ticket given to you. It is your assigned number for the whole duration of the visa approval processing. Memorize and do not forget your number in case you lost the ticket. There were a few individuals (mostly senior citizens) who lost their tickets. Good thing they remember their numbers

FINGER SCANNING

Finger scanning windows are number 16 and 33. I was assigned on window 16. There was a person assigned to assist the applicants in doing this process. I observed that window 33 didn’t have and the applicants just did it themselves.

TIP 1: Take a hanky or tissue with you if your hands are sweaty because it will affect the image of your fingerprints on the computer and you have to redo the process.

After finger scanning, we went back to our seat and waited our turn for the pre-screening.

TIP: Be attentive of the numbers that are flashed on the screen just in front of the area where you are seated. It is not flashed in numeric order.

PRE-SCREENING

My pre-screening happened around 8:30. I was assigned on window 25 (female pre-screener). She told me to give her my NBI, BC, and CENOMAR (in CENOMAR she said “if I have it”) and AOS (Affidavit of Support). She asked me if I have Ryan’s certification from work then it’s better if I can include it with the AOS. She only asked for Ryan’s 2007 Income Tax and W2. I kept the 2006 and 2005. She noticed the number on my DS 156 that was encircled with red pen. She gave it to me and had me complete answering the question. Of course, I said “I'm sorry Ma’am” with a big smile

QUESTIONS ASKED: (in random order)

1. Who is your petitioner?

2. How did you meet?

3. When did you meet? (the date of our meeting online)

4. When was his first visit? Did he visit you again?

5. What does he do? (She made a follow-up question about the exact task that Ryan does)

6. When is your birthday?

7. Have you ever been married?

8. Has he ever been married?

9. Do you have kids?

10. Does he have kids?

She never asked me for any evidence of relationship, except she asked me if I have pictures of us, but didn’t ask me to show it to her. Everything in my pre-screening was done pretty quick. I think I only stayed there for 3 minutes and went back to my seat waiting for my final interview.

My Personal Review/Assessment of Window 25 Pre-Screener:

She’s very nice and didn’t give me any problem regarding my documents. Before the interview I was concerned without having my baptismal certificate as a support document for my late registered BC. There was no time wasted. She’s pretty attentive and worked with agility. She’s quite generous of her smiles (which I did when I greeted her good morning, hmmm…law of reciprocity?) On a scale of 1 to 10, I will give her a perfect score of 10.

TIP 1: Always wear your big smile that shows your confidence and enthusiasm.

TIP 2: Have your documents ready and easy to retrieve to avoid delays. If you compiled it in a folder with a slider, take off the slider while you are on your seat waiting for your turn on the pre-screening. My screener only got my documents without the folders. Don’t know with others if they did.

TIP 3: Look into the pre-screener’s eyes or face while she asks you questions (they will only glance at you once in while because they are busy encoding in the computer or writing your answers on a piece of bond paper). Answer him/her precisely.

TIP 4: If you can’t hear him/her well, don’t be ashamed to tell the person. Sometimes there are technical problems on their microphones or the speaker installed outside the window (although this didn’t happen to me, but I observed a few encountering this problem).

FINAL INTERVIEW: INTERVIEW WITH THE CO (Room/Window 30)

My final interview was done around 10:25AM. I was assigned on Room/Window 30. It was a lady Consul on her 40s. She was busy typing on the computer when I entered the room and I greeted her. She asked me how am I doing, and I answered her with a big smile and enthusiastically said “I’m doing great! I feel so excited! This day has finally come!” She smiled and replied “That’s great!”

QUESTIONS ASKED: (in random order)

1. What is your name?

2. Who is your petitioner?

3. How did you meet?

4. When did you meet?

5. What does he do? (This time I didn’t wait for her to make a follow-up question. I explained to her the nature of Ryan’s work.)

6. How long has he been doing that if you know? (of course, I know )

7. How old are you?

8. What do you do? (I told her about my work and she asked what do I research online.)

Like the pre-screener she didn’t ask me to hand her any proof of relationship. She asked if I have pictures, but didn’t ask me to show it to her. She just said that she had pictures of us (the one that Ryan sent in the application.) As she was typing on the computer she said that everything looked fine and blah blah blah (positive blahs). In all of the blahs the one that only stuck on my ears and memory was “YOUR VISA IS APPROVED!!!” Wow, just imagine my smile from one ear to another ear On the entire time I was inside the room I couldn’t let go off the smile on my face. It must be of my excitement to finally be given the privilege to marry with one of their amazing citizens

My Personal Review/Assessment of Room/Window 30 CO:

Very nice, lively and charming woman. Everything on the final interview was done pretty quick like the pre-screening. She had not wasted a single second. Her agility in multi-tasking is quite impressive (typing on the computer while asking questions and checking the hard copies of my documents). Full of positive comments and remarks. I can see that she was happy too of giving me approval through her smiles and remarks. On the scale of 1 to 100, I will give her 101 LOL

TIP 1: Same as 1, 2 and 3 on pre-screening. (Some COs ask for proofs as most previous applicants said. If I compare the sound system on pre-screen and final interview, the final interview room has a better and much audible sound system.

RELEASING COUNTER: WINDOW 38

After the final interview we were instructed to wait for our name to be called for the releasing of documents/result (whether you’ll get pink or white slip, or both). A few people on the line were asked if they have already paid DELBROS for the document verification. If they did, the person in-charge will look for the receipt of your payment (Metrobank Deposit Slip). When I was about to hand my receipt, the in-charge told me that it’s not needed because they already got the result of my document verification. Amazing! Thanks to Robbie for a job well done. I was given a pink slip and was instructed to pay my visa delivery at the DELBROS booth.

TIP: Bring along with you in your interview day the receipt of your document verification fee to be shown to the person in-charge as proof of your payment.

VISA DELIVERY FEE: DELBROS BOOTH

They gave us a form to be filled up and paid only 250Php.

TIME CONSUMED DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS: 4 hours and 55 minutes

Arrival at the Embassy vicinity : 5:50 AM

Went Out from the building: 10:45 AM

LAST NOTE

My entire interview experience was quite memorable and exciting. Each person I had talked and befriended with expressed nervousness, of which I definitely felt specially when I was outside the room waiting for my final interview (I don’t know if there were people inside the Embassy who didn’t experience an abnormal thudding of their hearts due to nervousness, except the employees of course ) However, my excitement and joy overwhelmed my nervousness when I was already inside the room, seeing a charming CO who will give me the ticket to enter the US soil so I could be joined and marry my amazing fiancé, Ryan. I didn’t see her as a threat, rather, someone who was my teammate who helped me get my visa approval. I couldn’t explain the wonderful emotions I had when she said that my visa was approved. My smile wouldn’t let go off of me. May 27 is one of my most memorable life experiences. It’s an addition to my list of God’s demonstration of His great love for me.

To future interviewees, I wish you all good luck. I will have you in my prayers. Everyone will surely be approved. Just make sure that your documents are complete to avoid RFEs. Definitely bring all of your proof of relationship. Pay your document verification in advance as almost everyone did. Hopefully your docs are already verified before your interview, just like mine and other previous May interviewees. The most important thing of all, always make God the supreme part of every endeavor you will go through. I myself is His witness of His great love and grace. I have experienced and tasted the works of God’s hands during the entire trip of my mission to Manila. I have claimed our victory in advance and our Almighty God gave me my reward.

I give back the glory to the One who made everything possible and beautiful. TO MY GREAT ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER BE THE GLORY!!!

- Riza

P.S. Here is a picture my friend Grace took of me before we headed to USEM.

Do I look like I am going to have my duty in the hospital? LOL, I am carrying the bag full of docs

These are the docs that the pre-screener and CO didn't ask of

The scrap book I patiently made for my interview

[sunandmoon 450]

the first Congrats of many to come

[KC♥MP 0]

Congratulations!!! . I'm sure posting your experience will help those who are still waiting for their interview date.

[o0pink0o 3]

CONGRATULATIONS te Riza!!! and thanks for sharing your interview experienced it is totally a detailed one ., . hoping to get your visa the soonest :D

PiNk

PS.

you look great in your pic

Edited May 29, 2008 by o0pink0o

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

Congrats!

[RyaNRiza 1]

Thank you Roy and Yazi, KCMP (I don't know how to make that heart shape, sorry ), o0pink0o, and ThaiStyleUSA

You were one of my inspirations

[jego ryu 0]

BIG CONGRATS RIZA...IM SOOO HAPPY FOR YOU...WOW,,YOU LOOK CUTE ON YOUR ATTIRE,,i like you dimples...wish i have lol....again congrats ,,best wishes GOD IS SOOOO GOOD TO US.... PRAISE THE LORD....

[RyaNRiza 1]

BIG CONGRATS RIZA...IM SOOO HAPPY FOR YOU...WOW,,YOU LOOK CUTE ON YOUR ATTIRE,,i like you dimples...wish i have lol....again congrats ,,best wishes GOD IS SOOOO GOOD TO US.... PRAISE THE LORD....

Hi dear! Oh I forgot to mention you. You were one of the first persons I exchanged infos with when I was a newbie here. Thank you so much for your support and prayer.

[AllRightsReserved 0]

Thanks for sharing, another experience I am bookmarking..LOL. and yes, at frist glance I thght of you wearing a duty uniform, hehehe. sinabi mo din yun sis ha!lol. But your beauty could of made the CO said yes, you're approved.joke Ryan.

Congratulations!!!!!

[RyaNRiza 1]

Thanks for sharing, another experience I am bookmarking..LOL. and yes, at frist glance I thght of you wearing a duty uniform, hehehe. sinabi mo din yun sis ha!lol. But your beauty could of made the CO said yes, you're approved.joke Ryan.

Congratulations!!!!!

Thank you All Yeah, akala din nga ng taxi driver na sinakyan namin nurse ako na mag duduty sa UST Hospital dahil nong una pandinig nya sa US Embassy eh UST. Nakakaloka, buti na lang di kami dinala sa UST ang layo non from USEM

[GOLDEN.247 0]

Congratulations to you

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

Congratulations Ate Riza.

[RyaNRiza 1]

Congratulations to you

Hi GOLDEN, thank you for dropping by and sharing the joy

[JSRF 0]

CONGRAD ON YOUR APPROVAL. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET TOGETHER AFTER YOU HERE TO THE US. WE WILL LIVE IN GLENDALE, AZ. I PLAN ON PICK UP MY FINACEE AND SON IN JULY OR EARLY AUGUST TO BRING TO US.

AGIAN CONGRAD. GOOD LUCK. GOD BLESS. HOPE WE WILL MEET SOME DAY.

[beauty2783 0]

Hi RyanRiza,

I agree with you, there is really no need for the applicant to be so early in going to the US embassy since it is not on a first come, first served basis. That was my mistake. I went there around 4:30 am or so, and I could just about fall asleep waiting for 7:30 am to come, and it was raining at that time too! So, in this case, being the early bird is not necessarily a good idea. hehe

Anyway, Congratulations for passing your interview! Hope you get your visa soon! I was interviewed last May 20 and I got my visa already. God is really good, HE rewards those who wait patiently!