Manila Embassy Interview

[shimmy 0]

Well I just heard you cant use co-sponsers for the affidavit of support?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=40175

That is completely and utterly possibly earth shattering if true.

Hi Zethris.

I am in a similar situation to you. I recently finished my master's degree and do not have much of a full time work history(9months at the time of the interview) as I have been a student for most of my life. I remember that when I first heard about the financial requirements combined with the apparent difficulty using co-sponsors in the Philippines, I became very worried.

I searched a lot of forums and called a few lawyers. From what I was able to gather the most important thing at the interview with regards to the financial requirements for someone who does not have much of a work history is the current income one is earning and whether the job is stable. There does not seem to be an explicit rule about how long you must have worked at your current job. Though the 3 and the 6month mark seem to be the minimum that I have seen.

I have read that the CO will look at the factors behind the reason for your lack of work history, and that having been a college student is an accepted "excuse". That having a degree shows you are future oriented and have a higher earning potential over your life time compared to someone with no degree. I cannot remember where I read it but I vaguely recall hearing someone say that in Manila one of the few times they saw a co-sponsor successfully used was with a college student-though my brain may just be playing tricks on me

To be honest, your situation does not look as bad to me as I think you perceive it to be. You make over the 125% above poverty level if it will just be the two of you and you have been in your job for 7 months. By the time of the interview you will have made more than the poverty line. Also, you don't have to state how much in debt you are because of the student loans. I don't want to present myself as an expert related to immigration and each case has their own unique complexities but I think you can make a case to the CO that you can support her, you just need to present the right image. An upwardly mobile person who has a great degree and a good earning potential.

In the interview I think the best supporting documents you have to show are your pay stubs, letter of employment and a letter made by you describing the situation. It would also be good to prep your fiancée to explain the situation and cast it in a positive light rather than in a negative. Also have the co-sponsor paperwork on hand just in case.

I have this link that described the experiences people had in the manila interviews. http://ducecoop.com/interview/

Of note is this one is the one made by truthseeker in their K3 interview.

I want to wish you good luck and we will both find out if our economic situations are good enough when the interviews come(as I reread my post wow, I wrote alot )

Edited November 4, 2006 by shimmy

[Gomez 3]

My fiance will be flying up from Davao for the medical and interview. she will be returning to Davao after medical since planning on taking it earlier than scheduled date. I know you have to allow two days for the medical. On the second day, are you usaully doe by noontime? trying to plan whether she could take 4pm back flight to Davao or best to wait till the next morning. any thoughts appreciated.

On the second day of the medical, it wont be a first come first served basis anymore. It really depends on how fast they process your medical records from the first day of the medical. On my own experience, I was there so early but I wasnt done until 2 pm. I was with a friend and we submitted our reciepts at the same time and she was done way earlier than me, like 10 am. I would suggest just having her fly back to Davao the next day to be sure, hope this helps.

Uggghh, tommorow would be the big day! A little nervous but quite confident, weve done our homework and hopefully Im gonna give you guys the first approval for Nov. God Bless the Manila Thread!

Jenn

[YnaYeBa0808 0]

im rooting for you jenn! break a leg. will pray for your approval.... tomorrow is my boytoy's medical...

[Gomez 3]

im rooting for you jenn! break a leg. will pray for your approval.... tomorrow is my boytoy's medical...

Thank You YYB, I need every prayer I could get rightnow...LOL..Im just saying a little nervous, pero ang totoo waaaahh nerbyos na nerbyos! Goodluck on his medicals, you guys will be in my prayers.

[sunandmoon 450]

My fiance will be flying up from Davao for the medical and interview. she will be returning to Davao after medical since planning on taking it earlier than scheduled date. I know you have to allow two days for the medical. On the second day, are you usaully doe by noontime? trying to plan whether she could take 4pm back flight to Davao or best to wait till the next morning. any thoughts appreciated.

On the second day of the medical, it wont be a first come first served basis anymore. It really depends on how fast they process your medical records from the first day of the medical. On my own experience, I was there so early but I wasnt done until 2 pm. I was with a friend and we submitted our reciepts at the same time and she was done way earlier than me, like 10 am. I would suggest just having her fly back to Davao the next day to be sure, hope this helps.

Uggghh, tommorow would be the big day! A little nervous but quite confident, weve done our homework and hopefully Im gonna give you guys the first approval for Nov. God Bless the Manila Thread!

Jenn

thanks! better to be safe and wait till next morning.

coming soon, November approval from Gomez and Angelmae. best of luck tomorrow!

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Gomez Gomez Gomez Gomez Gomez... That's me rooting for you... I'm seeing one special word in your future...

APPROVED!!!

You don't have to thank me... I'm sure the checks in the mail... LOL!!!

Edited November 5, 2006 by Uling

[Binow 0]

I think I read somewhere on here the interview schedule gets updated every 3rd Tuesday of the month. Is this right? Like if our appointment date was not released last month then hopefully it will be released this month on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.

[DaveFromCt 0]

Is anyone still waiting for packet 4 to arrive that has a December interview?

Thanks, Dave

[mhel 0]

Gratz, hope the visa gets there fast!

Windchaser,

Did your fiancee had her interview alreaady??So she's under AR but did they ask her if she needs to submit more documents or she was given 221g with mark wait til you hear from us.Just curious im also under AR since my interview Oct.12,2006

[TimR 0]

I think I read somewhere on here the interview schedule gets updated every 3rd Tuesday of the month. Is this right? Like if our appointment date was not released last month then hopefully it will be released this month on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.

Once the USE in Manila receives your actual physical file from the NVC, you (Filipina fiance) will receive a "pre-interview letter," telling you that they have received your file and that the waiting time for an interview will be approximately 120 days from the date they received your file. Actually, the Immigrant Visa Unit is now saying that the waiting time is 120-150 days. My fiance and I are still waiting for an interview date, which we hope will be in January but it might be as late as February (our physical file was "documentarily qualified" on September 11). You are correct about the USE in Manila releasing the appointment schedule in the middle of each month, but they only release one month's schedule at a time. January's schedule will be released the middle of this month (November). From your timeline, it looks like Manila has not yet received your file from the NVC...so, unfortunately, you still have a lot of waiting to do. Join the club...that's what we do best around here is WAIT. It's really difficult being away from the one we love, but we have to trust that the future is in God's hands and that, when the time is right, everything will fall into place.

TimR

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Angelmae Gomez Angelmae Gomez Angelmae Gomez Angelmae Gomez Angelmae Gomez... That's me cheering for them... I'm seeing one special word in your futures...

APPROVED!!!

You don't have to thank me... I'm sure the checks are in the mail... LOL!!!

Edited November 5, 2006 by Uling

[Binow 0]

I think I read somewhere on here the interview schedule gets updated every 3rd Tuesday of the month. Is this right? Like if our appointment date was not released last month then hopefully it will be released this month on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.

Once the USE in Manila receives your actual physical file from the NVC, you (Filipina fiance) will receive a "pre-interview letter," telling you that they have received your file and that the waiting time for an interview will be approximately 120 days from the date they received your file. Actually, the Immigrant Visa Unit is now saying that the waiting time is 120-150 days. My fiance and I are still waiting for an interview date, which we hope will be in January but it might be as late as February (our physical file was "documentarily qualified" on September 11). You are correct about the USE in Manila releasing the appointment schedule in the middle of each month, but they only release one month's schedule at a time. January's schedule will be released the middle of this month (November). From your timeline, it looks like Manila has not yet received your file from the NVC...so, unfortunately, you still have a lot of waiting to do. Join the club...that's what we do best around here is WAIT. It's really difficult being away from the one we love, but we have to trust that the future is in God's hands and that, when the time is right, everything will fall into place.

TimR

Thanks for the reply. My fiancée has received documentation about the interview. I don't know the exact documentation she has received though because it was sent to her parents house and is waiting for her there to come back on a weekend or something.

I don't have the following parts updated in my timeline because I don't really know where to find out the information at. Maybe I can update it once my fiancée checks the letter she received?

Date Package Left From NVC :

Date Received By Consulate :

Date Rec Appointment Letter (Pkt 4):

[mychelle 1]

My fiance will be flying up from Davao for the medical and interview. she will be returning to Davao after medical since planning on taking it earlier than scheduled date. I know you have to allow two days for the medical. On the second day, are you usaully doe by noontime? trying to plan whether she could take 4pm back flight to Davao or best to wait till the next morning. any thoughts appreciated.

On the second day of the medical, it wont be a first come first served basis anymore. It really depends on how fast they process your medical records from the first day of the medical. On my own experience, I was there so early but I wasnt done until 2 pm. I was with a friend and we submitted our reciepts at the same time and she was done way earlier than me, like 10 am. I would suggest just having her fly back to Davao the next day to be sure, hope this helps.

Uggghh, tommorow would be the big day! A little nervous but quite confident, weve done our homework and hopefully Im gonna give you guys the first approval for Nov. God Bless the Manila Thread!

Jenn

according to my fiancee, eventhough the second day for the medical is not first come first serve, if you came early the day before, you are asked to come back the same time next day. his medical was done by 11 am. his flight back was for around 4 pm but he went to Cebu Pacific and changed it to the earlier one at 2 pm for a 100 pesos fee.

i think it's ok to book a flight for her to get back that second day...4 pm is reasonable but in case she runs a little late, she can always rebook for the later one...maybe 6 pm or 7 pm for a fee. i think PAL also has a 100 pesos rebooking fee.

it's just a thought...if she is in Manila by herself...she would probably hate to stay one more night in a hotel.

[sunandmoon 450]

Is anyone still waiting for packet 4 to arrive that has a December interview?

Thanks, Dave

was your fiance's current phone number in her G-325A? DHL would have used it to contact her for delivery.

you can call the Embassy to see if delivery has been attempted already. if delivery has already been attempted, you can arrange for it to be picked up at St Lukes. you can download everything except the appointment letter from the Embassy website. http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwh3023.html

scroll down page to the links.

[sunandmoon 450]

Jenn and Angelmae, almost time to wake up. ( now 4am Manila time ) rise and shine, it's your big day. we're all rooting for you. good luck to the both of you!