THE COLOR OF THE JOURNEY: PINK SLIP

[#CHE4CH# 0]

The Journey of my Interview

“GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME” this is all what I had always implanted in my heart, that whatever the outcome of my interview it is God’s will and I am ready to accept any consequences that he will give it to me…

Last July 27, 2008, I depart from our small city to attend for my K3 interview on the 29th of July at the USEM (US Embassy Manila), even at the plane I can feel the pressure on me, I guess every spouse/ Fiancée that will take the last moment of her/his journey would always feel that way, So many stress that I couldn’t think or paying attention to my sister..

So the day has finally come ( July 29,2008) and I often tell myself “ THIS IS IT!”, I wake up around 3:00am and always reading my bible, my appointment time is 7:00am, so I had to be there one hour before 7:00am- I got there exactly 6am, I can say that there’s a long line already in front of the USEM gates, I carried my bag which I think way more than 5 KLS.- until now I can feel the pain of my left shoulder- it is full of documents and papers that I think it would be reasonable for me to bring during my interview. I approach the security guard that I’m under a K3 and my appointment time is 7:00am but he instructed me to wait at the other vacant place, where other K1 and K3 waiting also- I went there and my God! I am so thankful that I was inform before not to bring any electronic gadgets specially the cell phone and my fellow Vj’s member always bear and aware these following things:

1. Don’t ever bring any cell phones (as what I explain earlier)

2. Do not be disturbed to those people who tried to get a picture on you – In this case I argue with an old man, who keeps telling me that my pictures that I paste on my forms can’t be acceptable inside the USEM and I should take another picture to them- what a dumb for him to say that- (Kung magpapaloko ka maloloko ka talaga) and here’s another thing- if you reason out back to them they will threaten you, nakakatakot ano?but you got to be strong and have guts especially if you are in the RIGHT PLACE!

3. Don’t listen of some people there who have pamphlets and handed it to you - telling you that if you’re under K visa- the console will let you cry for the hard interview - and if this things happen according to them - try to consult them because they will help you because they had a very expert Immigration lawyer (another thing I consider FRAUD)

I think it’s alright to approach us but they should learn how to value the respect of others- I really do understand those photographer’s and side walk vendors (hanapbuhay nila iyon) but huwag naman silang mangloko at manakot…

Around 6:30am, We cant wait for the Security guard to call us to fall in line, so we walked out from that waiting area and approach the guard already to let us to fall in line, it was nice for them and they let us- I lined up in the K/CR visa... These are things I prepared:

1. (1) One identification ID with picture of course

2. Appointment letter from USEM

Then, I went inside to a gate were you going to put your bags on the X-ray, Don’t be surprised if the guard will touch your body slightly - they do it- for a security reason- Then I saw the blue sign “ IMMIGRANT VISA” all you had to do is to follow that color that leads you to the immigrant room and once I get there we were assisted by a security guard to sit for awhile in the blue chair and then after a minute the guard call us to fall in line- on the booth which near to the wide and open entrance of the room- here I prepared the following:

1. FORM …(2 seats)

2. FORM ( 2 seats)

(These are for the under K3 visa forms only)

3. Check out your form, if you don’t miss to answer every question because if you did - tendency you will asked to fall in line again after you complied your forms completely.

4. Take note, the personnel for those Forms will asked some question regarding where is your passport?- I simply answered- that, during I had my medical at St. Luke, they inform me that they will be the one to forward it to the USEM.

5. Kept the number that they give it to you, I got the number 7001…

After I had my number, I was instructed to go back on my sit and also wait for my name to be called for finger scanning – After almost one hour my name was called to go at window no.33 for the finger scanning:

1. Since my bag is so heavy to carry, I just put in on my bench and just bring my purse and the number I have:

2. On the finger scanning machine, I put first my four fingers ( left hand) then after that my other four fingers (right hand )then afterwards: all together your left and right thumps ( don’t worry, someone will assist you)

Then I go back to my seat and this time around we should always pay attention to the queue board because anytime your number will be flash for the pre-screening interview, “numbers flashing not in order” it doesn’t mean that if you got number 1, you will be the first priority to be interviewed: I can say also its been almost 1 hour before I saw my number flash on the queue board: I tell you I was really-really nervous and I can feel my knees are shaking and I will put two thumps up for another Vj member name Ruby she is calm and very relax - but its not hard to follow or get confused which window you going to go because it will also- flash on the queue board next to your number- I went to window no.14, Oh! Well, carrying a bag that weight almost more than 5 kilos, makes me feel to relieve the nervous I have ( hehehe) because my attention now was to focused on how heavy my bag was:

I am very thankful to God because; he heard my prayer; I have a very-very nice and well spoken pre-screener interviewer, In fact she is the one who greeted me first ,Good morning : but I showed and response to her right away with a wide smile and don’t let her feel my tensions: Her eyes widely open when I put my bad near at her window screen, She blurted,” You must be tired carrying that bag” and I replied it’s alright…

She asked me to prepare the following:

1. NBI

2. My Birth Certificate

3. Marriage Certificate

4. Affidavit of Support

5. IRS (2007 only)

6. Pictures

7. E-mails

8. Telephone Bills.

More or less, she asked me questions less than I expected …Imagined that?! Yes she did but I handle it in a nice and confident way:

1. What is your name?

2. How old are you/ when is your b-day?

3. Who is your petitioner?

4. Address of your Petitioner? (She was surprised because I answered with the complete details with a Zip-code and telephone number of my husband)

5. How long have you been married? (Again, I struck her out when I answered: Maam, We just celebrate our 1 year anniversary last month, so it would be one year and one month and nine days)

6. What is the Job of your petitioner?

7. Where did you meet?

8. When did you meet? (In this question, I asked her back… what you mean Maam, in person or Online.)She replied both…

9. So, you’re a treasurer in your local mun.?

10. How many times is your petitioner get divorced

11. Do you know exact date where he gets divorced?

12. Does he has children, How many?

13. How long he stayed here in the Philippines?

14. Again, what is the name of your petitioner?

15. Described how much you loved your husband? This is what I answered (Maam, words are not enough enough to tell how much I love my husband, if I could trace a skyway to heaven it would be a trace where I could be in his arms right now, I Love my husband very much!, God knows that And this is the reason why I am here) because of my answer: She smiled to me and said, Oh! Is that a song? I replied… No: It comes from my heart!! Then she smile again…

She instructed me to go back to my sit and I waited again for my number to be flash on the queue board, after that long interview I was relieved with my tension but I can feel that I still have that a little nervous feeling, I looked at Ruby again : SHE IS SO PERSISTEN TO BE CALM and more RELAX whereas I am still nervous and once in awhile I flip every pages of the bible that I bring it with me, Asking for God’s assistance, it was already almost 2 hours past by but I haven’t done my console interview yet , so I can feel my tummy is growling and I am starving already : after that long hour waiting finally my number flash on the queue board.

I was instructed to go into room no.28 and carried my bag, it was funny because I didn’t realized till Ruby told me that once I rise from my sit, I always punch the head of those applicants with my bag who seated close to me (for those people, Pls. Forgive me)

I haven’t went inside into the room yet, so I sit for awhile on the bench were they put near outside the console door… I already know how my console looks like because after my prescreening interview, I and Ruby saw her on that room because sometimes it was left open.

So when the first applicant went out, I dashed right away inside and seated at the bench, I can say my console is very pretty, a young white female American- maybe in the age bracket of 21-25, Very young!... I greeted her and she asked me to raise my right hand: and make me swear to tell the truth and so on…….

Then she asked me again some questions that the pre-screener asked me, then she flip on my papers- I saw my photo that I submitted at St. Luke for my medical, Then she returned to me the pictures that I submitted, my telephone bills and asked me some pictures that I still have…then that’s it, she said alright, wait for your name to be called again:

I was so hesitant to get up and I was almost at the door when I turned back and asked her, Excuse me Maam, Is that it? Would you like to ask more questions? I know it was silly for me to say that, but it’s the guts feelings I have… She smiled and said, well you’re done… Wait for your name outside to be called, So when I went out, I don’t know what else to do but I saw the applicant who come to me first on that console, I asked her:

What are you waiting her? , She said Im waiting for the releasing area? A siguro ako din po, she asked me. Why tapos kana ba ma-interview nang console mo? And I simply replied upo… then she said Well, have a sit beside me and wait for your name to be called: I sit and wait for around 10 mins. then my name was called, I was so surprised to see the PINK paper but worried attached again by my appointment date why I haven’t got any white paper: then I thought maybe my Document verification was already at the USEM before my interview comes since I paid last June 11, so that’s the reason:

I asked one more time to the lady again, Naku po! Approved napo ba tayo..OO naman, Approved na tayo,,, Then tears streaming down on my FACE and I payed my Visa Delivery at the DELBROS… at the DELBROS:

1. Fill- out the form they give it to you

2. Prepare for 550- this is only for Provinces (Since I am from Mindanao maybe that’s the reason why I pay much compared to those who resides at NCR or other nearby areas in Manila)

So I waited for Ruby and she is approved also, we walked out from the USEM almost 12:30 and as soon as we got out from the USEM building my sister saw me first because she recognized my bag, She was smiling and very happy when I told her… I MADE IT!!

With this journey that I experience, I was thankful that God guide me in every ways that I walked, He makes me strong and give me enough wisdom: I learn to value the patience and being humble , and most of all the self confident that he puts in me… THANK YOU So much to all VJ’s members, You been part of this journey… TO all always BELIEVE and YOU will ACHIEVE it! Because GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!”

Yesterday , I got a messages from DELBROS that I had to prepare my one valid ID or authorization paper for a VISA Delivery….Whoaaa!!! This is Big birthday gift from God for me this coming August 23…..

Honey… like a song “ Im Leaving on the jet plane”

Congrats and have a safe trip.

Wow we have the same birthdate and bisaya pod.

Thanks for sharing your interview experience.

Thanks

THanks a Lot! Oh! dont worry you will be approved: That would be a birthday gift for you: I'll pray...

Take care...PROUD TO BE VISAYA!

[honeybadger 0]

The Journey of my Interview

“GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME” this is all what I had always implanted in my heart, that whatever the outcome of my interview it is God’s will and I am ready to accept any consequences that he will give it to me…

Last July 27, 2008, I depart from our small city to attend for my K3 interview on the 29th of July at the USEM (US Embassy Manila), even at the plane I can feel the pressure on me, I guess every spouse/ Fiancée that will take the last moment of her/his journey would always feel that way, So many stress that I couldn’t think or paying attention to my sister..

So the day has finally come ( July 29,2008) and I often tell myself “ THIS IS IT!”, I wake up around 3:00am and always reading my bible, my appointment time is 7:00am, so I had to be there one hour before 7:00am- I got there exactly 6am, I can say that there’s a long line already in front of the USEM gates, I carried my bag which I think way more than 5 KLS.- until now I can feel the pain of my left shoulder- it is full of documents and papers that I think it would be reasonable for me to bring during my interview. I approach the security guard that I’m under a K3 and my appointment time is 7:00am but he instructed me to wait at the other vacant place, where other K1 and K3 waiting also- I went there and my God! I am so thankful that I was inform before not to bring any electronic gadgets specially the cell phone and my fellow Vj’s member always bear and aware these following things:

1. Don’t ever bring any cell phones (as what I explain earlier)

2. Do not be disturbed to those people who tried to get a picture on you – In this case I argue with an old man, who keeps telling me that my pictures that I paste on my forms can’t be acceptable inside the USEM and I should take another picture to them- what a dumb for him to say that- (Kung magpapaloko ka maloloko ka talaga) and here’s another thing- if you reason out back to them they will threaten you, nakakatakot ano?but you got to be strong and have guts especially if you are in the RIGHT PLACE!

3. Don’t listen of some people there who have pamphlets and handed it to you - telling you that if you’re under K visa- the console will let you cry for the hard interview - and if this things happen according to them - try to consult them because they will help you because they had a very expert Immigration lawyer (another thing I consider FRAUD)

I think it’s alright to approach us but they should learn how to value the respect of others- I really do understand those photographer’s and side walk vendors (hanapbuhay nila iyon) but huwag naman silang mangloko at manakot…

Around 6:30am, We cant wait for the Security guard to call us to fall in line, so we walked out from that waiting area and approach the guard already to let us to fall in line, it was nice for them and they let us- I lined up in the K/CR visa... These are things I prepared:

1. (1) One identification ID with picture of course

2. Appointment letter from USEM

Then, I went inside to a gate were you going to put your bags on the X-ray, Don’t be surprised if the guard will touch your body slightly - they do it- for a security reason- Then I saw the blue sign “ IMMIGRANT VISA” all you had to do is to follow that color that leads you to the immigrant room and once I get there we were assisted by a security guard to sit for awhile in the blue chair and then after a minute the guard call us to fall in line- on the booth which near to the wide and open entrance of the room- here I prepared the following:

1. FORM …(2 seats)

2. FORM ( 2 seats)

(These are for the under K3 visa forms only)

3. Check out your form, if you don’t miss to answer every question because if you did - tendency you will asked to fall in line again after you complied your forms completely.

4. Take note, the personnel for those Forms will asked some question regarding where is your passport?- I simply answered- that, during I had my medical at St. Luke, they inform me that they will be the one to forward it to the USEM.

5. Kept the number that they give it to you, I got the number 7001…

After I had my number, I was instructed to go back on my sit and also wait for my name to be called for finger scanning – After almost one hour my name was called to go at window no.33 for the finger scanning:

1. Since my bag is so heavy to carry, I just put in on my bench and just bring my purse and the number I have:

2. On the finger scanning machine, I put first my four fingers ( left hand) then after that my other four fingers (right hand )then afterwards: all together your left and right thumps ( don’t worry, someone will assist you)

Then I go back to my seat and this time around we should always pay attention to the queue board because anytime your number will be flash for the pre-screening interview, “numbers flashing not in order” it doesn’t mean that if you got number 1, you will be the first priority to be interviewed: I can say also its been almost 1 hour before I saw my number flash on the queue board: I tell you I was really-really nervous and I can feel my knees are shaking and I will put two thumps up for another Vj member name Ruby she is calm and very relax - but its not hard to follow or get confused which window you going to go because it will also- flash on the queue board next to your number- I went to window no.14, Oh! Well, carrying a bag that weight almost more than 5 kilos, makes me feel to relieve the nervous I have ( hehehe) because my attention now was to focused on how heavy my bag was:

I am very thankful to God because; he heard my prayer; I have a very-very nice and well spoken pre-screener interviewer, In fact she is the one who greeted me first ,Good morning : but I showed and response to her right away with a wide smile and don’t let her feel my tensions: Her eyes widely open when I put my bad near at her window screen, She blurted,” You must be tired carrying that bag” and I replied it’s alright…

She asked me to prepare the following:

1. NBI

2. My Birth Certificate

3. Marriage Certificate

4. Affidavit of Support

5. IRS (2007 only)

6. Pictures

7. E-mails

8. Telephone Bills.

More or less, she asked me questions less than I expected …Imagined that?! Yes she did but I handle it in a nice and confident way:

1. What is your name?

2. How old are you/ when is your b-day?

3. Who is your petitioner?

4. Address of your Petitioner? (She was surprised because I answered with the complete details with a Zip-code and telephone number of my husband)

5. How long have you been married? (Again, I struck her out when I answered: Maam, We just celebrate our 1 year anniversary last month, so it would be one year and one month and nine days)

6. What is the Job of your petitioner?

7. Where did you meet?

8. When did you meet? (In this question, I asked her back… what you mean Maam, in person or Online.)She replied both…

9. So, you’re a treasurer in your local mun.?

10. How many times is your petitioner get divorced

11. Do you know exact date where he gets divorced?

12. Does he has children, How many?

13. How long he stayed here in the Philippines?

14. Again, what is the name of your petitioner?

15. Described how much you loved your husband? This is what I answered (Maam, words are not enough enough to tell how much I love my husband, if I could trace a skyway to heaven it would be a trace where I could be in his arms right now, I Love my husband very much!, God knows that And this is the reason why I am here) because of my answer: She smiled to me and said, Oh! Is that a song? I replied… No: It comes from my heart!! Then she smile again…

She instructed me to go back to my sit and I waited again for my number to be flash on the queue board, after that long interview I was relieved with my tension but I can feel that I still have that a little nervous feeling, I looked at Ruby again : SHE IS SO PERSISTEN TO BE CALM and more RELAX whereas I am still nervous and once in awhile I flip every pages of the bible that I bring it with me, Asking for God’s assistance, it was already almost 2 hours past by but I haven’t done my console interview yet , so I can feel my tummy is growling and I am starving already : after that long hour waiting finally my number flash on the queue board.

I was instructed to go into room no.28 and carried my bag, it was funny because I didn’t realized till Ruby told me that once I rise from my sit, I always punch the head of those applicants with my bag who seated close to me (for those people, Pls. Forgive me)

I haven’t went inside into the room yet, so I sit for awhile on the bench were they put near outside the console door… I already know how my console looks like because after my prescreening interview, I and Ruby saw her on that room because sometimes it was left open.

So when the first applicant went out, I dashed right away inside and seated at the bench, I can say my console is very pretty, a young white female American- maybe in the age bracket of 21-25, Very young!... I greeted her and she asked me to raise my right hand: and make me swear to tell the truth and so on…….

Then she asked me again some questions that the pre-screener asked me, then she flip on my papers- I saw my photo that I submitted at St. Luke for my medical, Then she returned to me the pictures that I submitted, my telephone bills and asked me some pictures that I still have…then that’s it, she said alright, wait for your name to be called again:

I was so hesitant to get up and I was almost at the door when I turned back and asked her, Excuse me Maam, Is that it? Would you like to ask more questions? I know it was silly for me to say that, but it’s the guts feelings I have… She smiled and said, well you’re done… Wait for your name outside to be called, So when I went out, I don’t know what else to do but I saw the applicant who come to me first on that console, I asked her:

What are you waiting her? , She said Im waiting for the releasing area? A siguro ako din po, she asked me. Why tapos kana ba ma-interview nang console mo? And I simply replied upo… then she said Well, have a sit beside me and wait for your name to be called: I sit and wait for around 10 mins. then my name was called, I was so surprised to see the PINK paper but worried attached again by my appointment date why I haven’t got any white paper: then I thought maybe my Document verification was already at the USEM before my interview comes since I paid last June 11, so that’s the reason:

I asked one more time to the lady again, Naku po! Approved napo ba tayo..OO naman, Approved na tayo,,, Then tears streaming down on my FACE and I payed my Visa Delivery at the DELBROS… at the DELBROS:

1. Fill- out the form they give it to you

2. Prepare for 550- this is only for Provinces (Since I am from Mindanao maybe that’s the reason why I pay much compared to those who resides at NCR or other nearby areas in Manila)

So I waited for Ruby and she is approved also, we walked out from the USEM almost 12:30 and as soon as we got out from the USEM building my sister saw me first because she recognized my bag, She was smiling and very happy when I told her… I MADE IT!!

With this journey that I experience, I was thankful that God guide me in every ways that I walked, He makes me strong and give me enough wisdom: I learn to value the patience and being humble , and most of all the self confident that he puts in me… THANK YOU So much to all VJ’s members, You been part of this journey… TO all always BELIEVE and YOU will ACHIEVE it! Because GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!”

Yesterday , I got a messages from DELBROS that I had to prepare my one valid ID or authorization paper for a VISA Delivery….Whoaaa!!! This is Big birthday gift from God for me this coming August 23…..

Honey… like a song “ Im Leaving on the jet plane”

Hi!

Praise God! Congratulations!

Thank you for sharing your interview experienced to all of us!

I love reading it!

May God continue to bless you always in all ways!

Have a safe trip soon!