My Interview Experience (June 5, Thursday)

[timcass_12 5]

This is how my interview went last June 5, Thursday –

4:30am – Woke up

5:30am – Cab ride going to USEM

6:00am – Arrived at USEM (met Vida and Isabel, Vida recognized me because of my bright Yellow blouse)

6:30am – We’re asked by the security guards to line up under the designated visa type areas

6:45am – The security guards told us to prepare our appointment letter and 1 valid ID. The line is slowly moving during this time. I try to locate Rose (dora2x) without even knowing that she was just right behind me holding her big silver bag which is how I recognized her.

7:00am – We’ve already entered the embassy building at this point and was led to the immigration room. We’re asked to seat and prepare our DS-156 and DS-157 forms. The personnel’s attending to us is very strict and is repeatedly instructing us to check our forms to ensure that everything was completely filled-out and that our answers were accurate. He also asked us to glue or staple the pictures on the DS-156 forms and to affix our signatures on it. And as overly prepared as I am, mine was already perfectly glued on my forms (I even wrote my name at the back of my photos... ) with my signature of course.

7:30am - We’re asked to proceed to the document screening and number assignment section. I got lucky 7025 Rose got 7024, Vida 7026 (which we think is luckiest of us all since both her pre-screener and consul didn’t ask her that much... didn’t even ask for evidences) and Isabel 7027.

8:30am – My name was called and was asked to proceed to the finger scanning section (Window 33). The lady and the guy in-charge of the finger scanning process informed me that my file was one of the thickest file submitted to them and was by-far the thickest file they’ve seen at the time of my interview They had a hard time scanning my left finger because I’m starting to feel agitated.

9:30am – My number flashed on the screen and was instructed to go to Window 22 for my pre-screener’s interview. I was assigned to a nice, quite old lady with long grayish hair and spectacles. She happily greeted me with a heart-warming good morning and asked how am I doing to which I excitedly answered, I’m doing great and been waiting for this moment to come. She told me that she’s very pleased to see me and commented that my eagerness to pass the interview is clearly showcased by the quantity of documents I have with me... . I have 2 big bags. She then asked me to prepare the following documents – birth certificate, marriage certificate, NBI clearance, old passport, my husband’s affidavit of support, tax forms (2007 only), pay stubs, W2 (2007 only), certificate of employment, bank statement and money transfer receipts. She also asked me to prepare our photos together, letters, emails, chat transcripts and phone bills (I told her that we don’t have any phone bills because we do voice chat through skype).

She initially commented that she needs my husband’s actual cards and handwritten letters to me but told her that my husband and I talked everyday through chat and wasn’t really into letter writing is why I only have one with me, the one and only card he sent me. She said ok and then she asked me to give her copies of our chats and emails. I told her I have 2 big binders that include a compilation of our old and most recent chats and emails. She asked me to show it to her and so I pulled out my big binders from one of my bags and she was stunned when she saw the amount of files I have. Her eyes grew bigger when I was about to get some of them and told me that she no longer needs it and just reminded me to show it to the consul if he ask for more evidence. I instead offered the print screen summary of our emails and our chat archives to which she happily accepted. She was so amazed with my overly planned folders and even said that she wish that all the applicants are as organized as me because it will help them do their jobs a lot faster. She also mentioned that my file is thicker than others so I should make sure that my husband picks me up at the airport as these are the exact files I’ll be bringing to the US.

The questions she asked me are as follows – what’s my name, what’s the name of my petitioner, how long have you been married, where will you live when you get to the US, how’s the weather in San Diego, what’s the work of my husband, was he married before, does he have kids, how did we met, when was the first time we met (in person and through the internet) and how many times did he visited me. I was a bit confused with the “when was the first time we met” question because I thought she meant the time we met in person and so I replied June 29 but actually she was referring to the first time we met over the internet which is October 2005. I just gave her the dates anyway and she said that I need to ensure that I’m giving her the correct dates because the consul might find it inaccurate if he/she sees an erasure on my file.

I was asked to return to my seat after this and my number will be flashed again for my interview with the consul. She smiled at me and greeted me good luck

Btw, Isabel was assigned to the same consul but was asked why she carried just photocopies of their files when the visa they’ll give them is not photocopied.

10:30am – I saw my number on the screen and was asked to go to Room # 31. I think it was my lucky day since 31 and 13 are my lucky numbers, 13 being the luckiest number for me and my husband. The consul is still interviewing somebody else when I was called and so I waited for my turn outside the room. Rose, Vida and Isabel were also waiting for their turns as the numbers being flashed on the screen were already sequential at that time. Imagine all of us waiting on each of the assigned rooms for interview and earnestly praying that all of us will be approved.

I kept on glancing at my consul while waiting for my turn and he seems like a nice guy to me (blond, blue eyes, must be same age as my husband) though he looks really serious. I was a bit worried as well because he frowned at the girl he’s interviewing at that time but of course I told myself to just stay positive, calm and to answer all of his questions without giving him a hint of doubt and I’ll be fine. I also asked God to grant me the presence of mind, to be at my side during my interview and to bless the heart of my consul.

So my turn has finally arrived. I placed my big bags beside me so the consul will have a good view of what I have brought with me for my interview. The consul greeted me with a smile and a pleasant good morning. He asked how I am doing. I told him I feel great and I am very happy to be there. He asked me to raise my right hand for the oath taking. After which I was asked the following questions (he was typing and asking me questions simultaneously). First question was what’s my name, what’s the name of my petitioner, what’s my relationship to him, how old am I, how old is my husband, where does he work and for how long, what’s his job, where does he live, am I working still, what’s my job, how many times did he visited me (follow-up question, he only visited you once and you already married him, why?), was he married before, does he have kids, have I ever been married (he asked this to me twice, maybe trying to figure out why I married quite late – I was 29 then) and do I have kids. He looked at my papers one more time and wrote something on my folder then he returned my photos and letters to me. He winks at me and said your papers look great and then he told me to proceed at the waiting area and wait for my name to be called.

I knew at that time he winked at me that I am approved and so I didn’t bother to ask if I was approved or not. He also wears a big smile on his face so that also guarantees my approval. I went out of his room and found Vida still waiting outside her consul’s room. I sat near her and she said that I was the quickest among all of them. I look for Rose and Isabel and they’re not finish with their respective interviews yet. A couple of minutes later Rose went out of her consul’s room and immediately run through Window 37 because her name was already called. I then heard my name and was asked to proceed to Window 38. I am having difficulty carrying my 2 big bags so I just drag one of them. The guy at Window 38 stared at my bags and commented that it seems very heavy. He asked me if I still have enough room in one of my bags and I said yes, there’s still enough space – why? He told me that he’ll return to me the chats, emails and photocopies of the receipts that my husband sent to them. I said ok. At first he tried to give me back all these docs by simply putting all of them at the space under the window but told him it looks like it won’t fit even if he forced himself to slide everything all at once. He said ya, I think you’re right so he unfastened the papers and divided it in half. In short, he just added a 6 inches worth of paper on the files that I’ll bring back home but nonetheless, I’m good because the packet that I’ll be bringing with me in the US will not be that heavy.

He gave me the pink slip and the infamous white slip to which I got only because of the documents verification mishap I encountered due to Robbie’s incompetence. I’ve already expected this to happen but still I was saddened knowing that it will hurt my husband and I’s plan to spend his birthday together. I went to the Delbros area got the form, filled it out, submitted it to the cashier and paid Php 250.00 for delivery.

It was such an experience, a happy and memorable one. I’m glad all my preparations and hardwork paid-off and soon I’ll find myself leaving the Philippines and be joyfully reunited with my husband. It’s been 11 long months and we’re still up for more wait because of the docs verification setback but I’d rather wait then be denied. So to everyone else that’s waiting to do their interviews and a medical exam, my heart goes out to you. Just keep on praying and never ever forget to keep a positive attitude towards things. God is great and is a faithful deliverer. He will never forsake us nor hurt us, so the moment you felt like things are not happening the way you want it to be or that you already hit rock bottom, just simply look up and you’ll instantly be reminded that our God is a bigger God compared to all the problems we have combined. He is in control of our lives, our rock, shield and hiding place. Everything happens for a reason and that reason is simply God’s will.

Thanks everyone for the constant support, prayers and best wishes. Keep the faith. God Bless.

timcass_12

[chris-lei 1]

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your experience with us. I'll have my interview on jul 1..im a bit anxious because our proof of constat communication is YM/chats. although i saved every single chats we had. the only few emails we share are the NOA2 and few nonsense email jokes. then our phones calls are limited because we do chat routinely..will these be enough proof of on-going relationship?

thank you for your help..

God is good all the time!

[ammike 0]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[dora2X 0]

congrats cass... it was nice meeting u there.

hhmmmm nag OT ka ba sa work... ang haba nito ah..

Godbless always!

[o0pink0o 3]

congrats!! and hope to get your visa soon

[AllRightsReserved 0]

wowww!! there's really much eagerness in you to share this to us just like how the consul positively commented on you how eager you were to pass the interview. Hats off! Actually you gave me hope after reading that you too don't have handwritten letters...same as mine coz we do talk on a daily basis.

Big , big congratulations!!!!!

Edited June 10, 2008 by AllRightsReserved

[timcass_12 5]

hi chris-lei,

thanks - i'm more than happy to share my interview experience here as i know that reading such posts will be very helpful for fellow VJer's who are not yet done with their respective interviews.

as per your question, YM chats are acceptable but you would need to at least show them some email exchanges from you and your SO. If you don't have many emails, you can also bring a couple of letters and cards as extra proof of ongoing relationship. please take note that they're asking for original letters/cards from the petitioner. as alternative to the emails, i think it would help if you could capture some of your webcam conversations just to add to your list of evidences.

good luck to your upcoming interview and may God bless you always.

timcass_12

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your experience with us. I'll have my interview on jul 1..im a bit anxious because our proof of constat communication is YM/chats. although i saved every single chats we had. the only few emails we share are the NOA2 and few nonsense email jokes. then our phones calls are limited because we do chat routinely..will these be enough proof of on-going relationship?

thank you for your help..

God is good all the time!

Thanks ammike... Have a safe trip and see you in San Diego.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[timcass_12 5]

hi rose - it was nice meeting you too hehe oo nga ang haba... hindi ko na-realized na ang haba na pala ng na-type ko kita ulit tayo bago tayo magpuntang US

congrats cass... it was nice meeting u there.

hhmmmm nag OT ka ba sa work... ang haba nito ah..

Godbless always!

thanks pink sana nga makuha ko na agad visa ko and hopefully makaalis ako before the end of june.

congrats!! and hope to get your visa soon

[vichygurl 1]

HI Cass,

Expected ko na ganito kahaba ang Testi mo,hehehe.. I still didn't have my visa yet! sana dumating na... Nice to see you on our memorable day and finaly met you in person! Ganda mo sis!

Yah sana kita tayo ulit before umalis! take care!

[timcass_12 5]

thanks AllRightsReserved yep, it's better to be overly prepared than to be sorry my husband and I wanted to to do it right the first time is why we really put so much planning into our documents preparations. and ya, as long as you have all the other evidences to prove an ongoing relationship with your SO, handwritten letters will just be optional for them. what i'm recommending is for you to have a summary of your chat and email archive as i find it very useful given that the dates and frequency of your conversations are stated there and on a very straightforward manner. i'm sure the consul and pre-screener will not give you a hard time.

goodluck and God Bless you.

timcass_12

wowww!! there's really much eagerness in you to share this to us just like how the consul positively commented on you how eager you were to pass the interview. Hats off! Actually you gave me hope after reading that you too don't have handwritten letters...same as mine coz we do talk on a daily basis.

Big , big congratulations!!!!!

[timcass_12 5]

bwahaha halata bang madaldal ako? mejo na-carried away lang walang mapagbuhusan ng sama ng loob kay robbie ... expect your visa to be delivered within this week cguro or early next week. kelan ka mag-CFO? si rose nagpa-counseling na kahapon eh hindi na ako nahintay kse nga may work pa ako until friday pero next week i'm free

haha at nambola ka pa tlaga... cge cge kitakits tayo bago tayo mag-alisan ng pinas for sure mauuna ka samin. take care and God Bless. balitaan mo agad kami pagkakuha mo ng visa mo

HI Cass,

Expected ko na ganito kahaba ang Testi mo,hehehe.. I still didn't have my visa yet! sana dumating na... Nice to see you on our memorable day and finaly met you in person! Ganda mo sis!

Yah sana kita tayo ulit before umalis! take care!

[dora2X 0]

hi rose - it was nice meeting you too hehe oo nga ang haba... hindi ko na-realized na ang haba na pala ng na-type ko kita ulit tayo bago tayo magpuntang US

congrats cass... it was nice meeting u there.

hhmmmm nag OT ka ba sa work... ang haba nito ah..

Godbless always!

oo ba... text text

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

Hi Cassy,

Congratulations. That's unforgettable interview experience. Congratulations again. And I hope you receive your visa sooner than mine.

Shape

[timcass_12 5]

Thanks Shape Mag-dilang anghel ka sana

Hi Cassy,

Congratulations. That's unforgettable interview experience. Congratulations again. And I hope you receive your visa sooner than mine.

Shape

[chris-lei 1]

thanks a lot cass..i think i'll print out all our chats in the archive to show regularity of communication. we chat almost everyday except when both of us have work. i've collected some of my phone bills. i have like, only 4 receipts.

i hope you'll receive your visa soon!