Manila Embassy Interview

[BJZags 17]

Just trying to dot my "eyes" here so to speak. Manila embassy instructions for K1 tell the beneficiary to fill out multiple copies of DS-156 and DS-157 and one copy DS-156K, but NOT DS-230. BUT, under the guides tab of VJ, DS-230 is included as a K1 form, and 9 FAM 41.81-Procedural Notes, found on the Dept. of State web site says: upon receipt of K1 visa petition, the CO should promptly send applicant form DS-230. So, is DS-230 required or not? With all this obsessing on details, its a wonder we all don't end up in therapy!

[Sheriff Uling 3]

BJZags - The DS-230 is not required for the K1 Visa applicants but it's required for all other non-immigrant visas (if I'm not mistaken). To reiterate, the DS-230 is not required for the K1 Visa. I used to think the same think because everywhere you look the DS-230 is mentioned.

...Uling, did you book online or call PAL reservations to book flight?

I personally went to the PAL LA Ticketing Office...

Edited November 1, 2006 by Uling

[windchaser_4 0]

I'm glad i didn't buy a ticket just a waste of money for me. Btw, i just use USPS, it arrived safe to Bohol everytime, Not sure i trust DHL in the Philippines.

What prices are you guys paying for Cathay or PAL coach? Hopefully we'll need to buy one soon

I know i was worried about a few documents but the biggest thing we worried about was what Consular we were getting......we got the wrong one!

Oh that ~ reading the post again, I realized that I used the wrong words hehe. I wanted to sound ironic but ended up sounding inappropriately sarcastic (yaiks!) Sorry <blush blush>

Anyway, I meant that I would be happy to see you get off this waiting list because you are getting approved. I hope and pray that your fiancee gets her visa soon.

Now, where is my NOA2? Hey, CSC wake up!

Hehe, i'm kidding. i know what you meant.

[YnaYeBa0808 0]

hi wind, i bought his tickets using my mileage. but a roundtrip ticket bought here cost me 822 USD. hope this helps. opps this is for cathay pacific.

Edited November 1, 2006 by YnaYeBa0808

[windchaser_4 0]

I mean One-way sorry.

I hope they don't go up too much because of Thanksgiving soon.

Edited November 1, 2006 by windchaser_4

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I paid $574 for a one-way flight via PAL. Don't forget about the Phil Travel Tax of $1,620PHP and the Airport Fee of about $550PHP that are collected at MNL. Yikes! Why don't they just take my wallet at the airport with the freakin extra fees. Goodness!!! LOL!!! They just make up taxes and fees. LOL!!!

Edited November 2, 2006 by Uling

[K3_IR 0]

hahaha crazy peeps. hey arent humans considered as the highest form of ** sapiens which also belongs to the animal kingdom? its weird, now im imagining k3 trying to resucitate a horse. dont ask me why... hahaha thats the first thing that came to my mind.

Yna, I actually did resuscitate a horse a looooooong time ago...hehehe...But sorry, ** sapiens are not within my realm of professional license. I'll have the human doctors worry about that...

hahahah any more bets? im sure keith88gt will be there to witness as well.

K3_IR, not going to st lukes... but going to the interview. the fiance (my boytoy) will be at st. lukes. hahahah boytoy...

Right, I forgot..Sorry..

Anyway, I'd probably take on the lead of Sheriff Uling. I'd post out a sign for "BoyToy Yna". Hmmm...Interesting.

hey i did the same. cut out the middle person, called cathay pacific and asked about rebooking fee. although i used my miles, they said they wont be charging me for changing flight bookings. PICK UP PICK UP... acckkk

My husband purchased my flight through a PAL agent in SFO. We got a one-way ticket MNL-SFO for $670.

Before that, I tried booking a one-way ticket online thru PAL for ~$580 MNL-SFO flight (around mid Oct). But, when I went to the PAL office to pay for it, the lady told me she needs my visa. I do have my tourist visa at that time BUT, she said that since it's a tourist visa, I need to buy a ROUND TRIP ticket. Sucks (an oversight on my part, big time! hehehe)...So, my husband purchase the flight for me instead. And then, the agent from SFO informed us recently that I have to present my K3 visa so I can claim the paid ticket from the PAL office. So I better get that visa. LOL

hey i heard some people stood in line at the embassy at 230AM... although they separated the lines per batches. like if you were in a certain time frame then you go to a certain line. 230 AM? i think it's insane to do that but has anyone considrered doing the same? what time should we stand in line? our interview is at 7 AM was thinking to go there 5AM at the earliest or would that be too late?

The guards at the main entrance of the US Embassy will only allow people in approx 30 minutes to 1 hour before their scheduled interview time. At least, that's what happened last September when I was there (for another visa interview). My sched was at 9:30am, I was allowed to pass through the gate at 8:30 - 9 am. For the K3 visa interview, I'd prolly be there around 6am.

For those who arrive too early at the US Embassy, there are monobloc chairs for rent (P10 per hour; P20 unlimited) on the right side of the building. They sell some food too, on that side. And then, you would see people carrying digital cameras and white cloth enticing visa applicants to have their pictures taken. Their sales pitch is: "Make sure that your visa pictures are according to the specification prescribed by the US Embassy (both ears are exposed). Or else, you will have to go back for another interview". I haven't heard or read here in the forum that have been rescheduled for another interview just because their ears were not AS VISIBLE on that frontal shot (my ears are small and hard to "expose" on that frontal shot).

But for K applicants, St Luke's will collect the 3 visa photographs during the medical exam, right? (Please fill me in on this as I don't know..)

keith88gt, see you too.. Good luck to all of us..And pray we won't faint..hehehe

[windchaser_4 0]

That seems crazy to require to show a visa to get a plane ticket, what does that have to do with it? not to mention to require a roundtrip. Anyways, i think i can get one for around that in a Bohol Travel agent.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

K3_IR - I have also read that 3 passport photos are required for SLEC... So I told my fiancee to take 6 just in case. LOL!!! It's always better to have more than less. Can anyone that recently had their medical exam let us know the real deal? Cheers!!!

p.s. - Yeah! It's November!!! I'm as happy as the little boy bouncing in my avatar.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Uling

[kirk and Jenny 0]

I paid $574 for a one-way flight via PAL. Don't forget about the Phil Travel Tax of $1,620PHP and the Airport Fee of about $550PHP that are collected at MNL. Yikes! Why don't they just take my wallet at the airport with the freakin extra fees. Goodness!!! LOL!!! They just make up taxes and fees. LOL!!!

$574 from where to where; that is a great price, what cheap flight search engine are you using?

[K3_IR 0]

That seems crazy to require to show a visa to get a plane ticket, what does that have to do with it? not to mention to require a roundtrip. Anyways, i think i can get one for around that in a Bohol Travel agent.

My husband said exactly the same thing! Is it their business to do that? Or they just want to make money?

Anyways, i think i can get one for around that in a Bohol Travel agent.

I just checked the PAL online Book and Buy facility today. MNL-SFO now is P28, 757 ($586+ at P49/$1 exchange rate).

K3_IR - I have also read that 3 passport photos are required for SLEC... So I told my fiancee to take 6 just in case. LOL!!! It's always better to have more than less. Can anyone that recently had their medical exam let us know the real deal? Cheers!!!

Sheriff, yup, I'll bring some extra just in case...Better safe than sorry..

p.s. - Yeah! It's November!!! I'm as happy as the little boy bouncing in my avatar.

[RiggerAF 0]

Is US embassy closed today? In manila?

[garya505 2]

Should have been closed Nov 1 for All Saints Day.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Is US embassy closed today? In manila?

All Saints Day was yesterday... The USE was open today because I spoke to the woman in the IVU.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Uling

[YnaYeBa0808 0]

uling why do you keep calling lorraine? hahahahah is there something we should know? any top secret information that you can share???? this is turning out to be a habit... hahahahahahhahh kidding

K3... am... okay when i pass out just teach my fiance to do the CPR thing... i dont know how a horses mouth taste like but i dont think id like to know... hahahaha kidding...

im getting different emotions right now... hey guys, someone said to drink milk right before the xray... what does milk have to do with clearing out lungs and what not? any scientific explanation? my fiance is lactose intolerant, i dont know how milk will settle in his tummy. i said if worse comes to worse to drink milk in any case and if something comes out (pfft) just cough and excuse himself. hahaha or just say hes nervous .... hahahahahha

Edited November 2, 2006 by YnaYeBa0808