DAY BEEN WAITING FOR- PART 3

[bct 0]

The day I had been waiting came. July 29, 2008. My interview day at USEM. I was there at 6am. My mom and I took a taxi from LRT Buendia, and was there after few minutes. I saw few people in line at the gate. I asked the guard where the line for the K1-visa is. He asked me the time of my appointment. When I said 7am, he told us to go to the gate near the yellow building outside the USEM to wait. That’s the place where there are rounded concrete seats. There were lots of vendors who would guide you to that waiting area, but I was really in doubt to follow. Some would really insisted you to have your pictures taken. I just ignored them and told I already have pictures.

I looked for Checraig- VJ member. She recognized me wearing my pink jacket and recognized her with her yellow dress, and REALLY BIG BIG BAG! Some vendors told us to wait in there instead of in that place near the guard because anyway, the guard will instruct us to fall in that line when it is our turn. But, after sometime of chitchats, we didn’t wait for the instruction of the guard, and we went back to the gate and line up. At first , we went into that long queue till one of the guards reminded that those for k1 visa are to use that line with only few people. My tension started to build up. I left mom with che’s sister at the waiting area outside USEM. My cellphone and cam were with my mom.

At the entrance, I showed my appointment letter and ID. There had been scanning of bags, then we just followed the blue signs going to the Immigrant Visa Unit. That area is really cold. So do bring a jacket. Later on, in the process, you wouldn’t know whether it is the aircon or your tension and nervousness that makes you really cold.

STEP 1- SUBMITTING THE DS FORMS TO THE TICKET BOOTH AND GETTING YOUR NUMBER

The guard instructed us to take our seat on one of the blue chairs in there. After some time, we were asked to fall in line to the ticket booth and prepare our DS forms:

DS 156K (ONE COPY), DS 157(2 COPIES), DS 156- (2 COPIES)

• Have your pictures glued on the forms. Scan your forms again. Do not leave blank. Write N/A or none if you don’t have specific answer.

I was asked to go back at the end of the line because I did not have answer to that question : when do you intend to arrive in the US. I told the lady I don’t know yet coz it depends on the approval of the visa. She told me to write N/A. She also asked me to put x to the no boxes in question 37 of DS 156. I just put x to the yes box for fiancé and left others. She also asked me to sign that part of DS 156k which I left unsigned because there is this note “ DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE.”There were two young Filipinas checking the forms- one was ok, one seems intimidating. Just always wear your smile even if you have your turn to that intimidating looking gal. A number will be given to you. Always pay attention to the screen flashing the numbers.

STEP2- FINGER SCANNING

Your name will be called for finger scanning. I had my fingers scanned at Window 33. It would start at your left four fingers, then right four fingers, then two thumbs.

STEP3- PRE- SCREENING

I took my seat again beside Che. I knew , we were both nervous and tensed, but I pretended to be calm. After maybe one hour, my number was flashed to go to the pre screener window. I wore my smile and confidently had my long walk to Window 28, ang layo kasi ng upuan namin

The pre screener asked for my BC, CENOMAR, NBI. She was a Filipina who never smile Seems like there were lots of young Filipinas working in there who doesn’t know how to smile- maybe they were trained to look strict and serious. But there were also some old Filipino guy screeners who even joke around with some applicants.

Questions she asked: (in Filipino)

Who petition you?

Where did you meet him?

When did you meet?

Was he married before?

Were you married before?

How many kids does he have?

How long did he stay in the Philippines?

How old are you?

How old is he?

Are his two kids living with him?

What is his job in the US?

Then she commented on my n/a answer to when do you intend to arrive in the US in one of the DS forms. She asked me for specific answer. Then, I told her, I don’t know yet coz it depends on the approval of the visa, and the lady who checked my forms at the counter told me to write N/A. She seemed irritated, and asked me to give her specific month. So I just said August!

She asked for the affidavit of support and ITRs. I gave three years ITR, W-2s , employment cert. Then, she commented “ ang dami naman!” Sa loob=loob ko, tingnan mo kasi muna kung bakit ang dami! Hehehhe. My fiancé ITR was jointly filed with her ex-wife, that’s why we felt we needed to show the w-2s and employment cert and paystubs. She looked at the forms. Took some notes.

Then, she asked for our mails and remittances and pictures. I gave her the pictures in plastics, our emails and two cards. She commented again” bakit ang dami!” She looked irritated, and returned the emails to me but kept the two cards with her. She told me, just show those to the consul if asked. Then asked me to take my seat and waited for my number to be flashed on the screen.

After maybe, 45 minutes, I saw my number and the room where I would go for the interview. Every time a new number would be flashed on the screen, the tension built up.

STEP 4- INTERVIEW

The interview room looks like the pre screener window too, only difference is you can have a full view of the consul and you can sit. And, seems like this American (guy) consul is nicer than my pre screener. He wears a smile a lot. I greet him Good Morning, and he responded with a good morning too with a big smile. Compare to that Filipina pre screener, I greet her good morning, but she never replied.

He asked me “ How are you doing today?” I said, I’m great. Then He said , Great!!!

Questions he asked:

Who is your petitioner?

Where does he live?

How many kids does he have? ( He asked me this twice)

Where did you go when he was here?

How many people are living in his house?

Do you wanna have a baby?

How long did he stay here in the Philippines?

Is this your first time to apply for a US visa?

Then, I saw him writing ok in one of the forms. Looked at our pictures. Smiled then he typed something in the computer….

Then, he looked at me with a smile again. And said:

Well, Congratulations! Your visa is approved! Is this your first time to go to the US? I said yes!

Then he said, Great! Happy Trip!

And I thanked him a lot! He asked me to take my seat again and wait for my name to be called at the releasing area.

I went out of the interview room with a big smile. I uttered a prayer thanking God for guiding me in the process.

My name was called again, and all the things I submitted to the pre screener were given back to me. I received the pink slip and was asked to pay the delivery fee at Delbros. I’m happy I don’t have the white slip. I went to Delbros counter, filled out a form, then pay 300 pesos for visa delivery.

Che and I were so happy when we went out and saw her sister and my mom outside the Embassy. That was maybe before 12pm.We went to Mall of Asia and had our lunch there.

Finally, we are done. It took us sometime to loosen down the tension. YEhey! God has been so good! My hany booked the flight August 29 (NWA) to Detroit then Detroit to our home- Middle River, Maryland. Can’t wait to see our shanty (houseboat).

To all VJ members : thanks to all of you. Thanks Sherif for the guide...

Goodluck and God bless to all who are about to have their medical and interview. Just remember to always smile, and God will just be there for you.

[reijoandedlet 0]

C O N G R A T Z....

[chadherm 0]

Congratulations! I am happy for you!

[yuki-lyka 0]

congratulations to both of you and have a happy life together with ur hubby..

[Filiricans 3]

Congratulations Ruby. You got it girl so happy for you. Nice outfit simple and well mannered type enough to convince the consul to give u a visa. A first impression lasts.

[gabrielle08 0]

Congratulation's... and thanks for the sharing..God Bless

[RyaNRiza 1]

Congrats Ruby!!! You will be flying soooooooooooooooon!

[PinayAko 0]

Congrats sis ruby..................... buti ka pa wait nlang sa visa, then fly fly ka na soon........Happy Trip.........Welcome to US of A!!!

Edited July 30, 2008 by KandI_usa

[o0pink0o 3]

YEHEY! Congrats!

[SeiChii 1]

congratz

[honeybadger 0]

WOW! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing this to us! I had fun reading it!

HAve a safe trip soon! :dance:

[dAlip 0]

Congratulations !!!

K-3 Visa

Event Date

Service Center : California Service Center

Consulate : Manilla, Philipines

Marriage : 2008-01-05

I-130 Sent : 2008-03-14

I-130 NOA1 : 2008-03-20

I-129F Sent : 2008-03-14

I-129F NOA1 : 2008-03-31

I-129F NOA2 : 2008-05-12

NVC Received : 2008-05-22

Packet 4 Received : 2008-06-05

Interview Date : 2008-07-18

Visa Received : still waiting ...

US Entry :

I-130 Approval : 2008-05-12

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Thanks for sharing that and congratulations, Ruby!

I think it's worth pointing out the part where your DS forms were not filled out properly. For one, throughout this WHOLE immigration process, NEVER leave anything blank unless it specifically says to. Also, for the question: "When do you intend on arriving in the U.S." - the key word is 'intend.' They know that of course it depends on whether you are granted a visa or not. What they want to know is when are you planning to come here to the U.S. if you are approved. I don't mean to pick on you, Ruby. Knowing how my wife interprets some things, she gets confused also, but that is why it's extremely important to go over those DS forms with your fiance before your interview date. It's too bad the pre-screener lost her patience, but she probably thought you simply weren't understanding the question as it was written in English. Don't let it bother you though - you'll find out through your life in the U.S., there are many forms where the questions could have been worded better to be less confusing.

Hope your visa arrives soon.

[AllRightsReserved 0]

Congratulations to both of you!

[prettynpink 0]

COngrats!!1