Manila Embassy Interview

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Hey can you check out my interview checklist. This is what we will have with us.

Interview Appointment Letter original and 1 copy.

Valid photo ID (NBI badge) and 1 copy.

Passport copy (St. Luke’s took the original during the medical and sent to the Embassy).

Original NSO Birth Certificate, original and 1 copy.

CENOMAR original and 1 copy.

NBI Clearance with "For US Travel" or "For Travel Abroad" stamp and thumbprint, original and 1 copy.

Passport-sized photos (2 in addition to those on the DS-156 forms).

VISA Application Forms

- DS-156 (2 completed and signed forms with photos glued on, and 1 copy).

- DS-156K (2 completed and signed forms, and 1 copy). DO NOT SIGN BEFORE INTERVIEW!

- DS-157 (2 completed and signed form – 1 must be stamped with BPI payment, and 1 copy).

- DS-230, part 1 (2 completed and signed forms, and 1 copy).

I-134F Affidavit of Support form (notarized), 2 originals with copies.

Supporting documentation for I-134F (affidavit of support folder)

- Fiancé employment letter (2 originals with copies).

- Fiancé last 3 years income tax forms (copies of 1040 form).

- Copies of last 3 years W-2 forms.

- Bank statements for last 3 months. (NOT REQUIRED)

- SIX (6) MONTHS OF PAYSTUBS (MISSING)

- Bank letter showing date account opened, deposits for last year and current balance.

USCIS I-797C Notice of Approval original and 1 copy.

NVC letter original and 1 copy (this will show spelling error too).

New letter of intent from each of me, signed and dated.

Copy of original I-129F packet with original receipts, etc.

Evidence of ongoing relationship

- Pictures

- Snail mail cards and letters

- Chat logs

- Emails

- Phone records

- Engagement ring receipt

- Receipts and ticket stubs from second trip in October

- Records of Western Union and XOOM money transfers.

Did I leave anything out ???????????????????

Gary505:

1. You are not required to submit any bank statements.

2. However, we did submit six (6) months of paystubs for which you are missing from your list.

3. Please be sure that your pictures are not copies. The USE only accept original pictures. For example, my wife and I made copies of our online photo album on paper for which the USE did not accept. Lucking we also brought our photo album that was accepted and reviewed by the CO and returned subsequent to the interview.

4. I also noticed that you stated the NVC letter has a typo. Did the USE mis-spell your fiancee's name on any of the corespondence with your fiancee? If so, please have your fiancee address that with the CO, and/or call the USE at your earliest convenience to ensure that error is not translated onto the Visa. If this is the case, it's imperative that your fiancee's name on the Visa is correct. Traveling with a misprint on a Visa will endeed cause you unnecessary heartache that you will not need.

Hope this helps...

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - The USE will take one complete copy of your I-134 Affidavit of Support and back-up because only one is required per visa applicant, but do take both copies.

[Danoco 0]

Hey can you check out my interview checklist. This is what we will have with us.

Interview Appointment Letter original and 1 copy.

Valid photo ID (NBI badge) and 1 copy.

Passport copy (St. Luke’s took the original during the medical and sent to the Embassy).

Original NSO Birth Certificate, original and 1 copy.

CENOMAR original and 1 copy.

NBI Clearance with "For US Travel" or "For Travel Abroad" stamp and thumbprint, original and 1 copy.

Passport-sized photos (2 in addition to those on the DS-156 forms).

VISA Application Forms

- DS-156 (2 completed and signed forms with photos glued on, and 1 copy).

- DS-156K (2 completed and signed forms, and 1 copy). DO NOT SIGN BEFORE INTERVIEW!

- DS-157 (2 completed and signed form – 1 must be stamped with BPI payment, and 1 copy).

- DS-230, part 1 (2 completed and signed forms, and 1 copy).

I-134F Affidavit of Support form (notarized), 2 originals with copies.

Supporting documentation for I-134F (affidavit of support folder)

- Fiancé employment letter (2 originals with copies).

- Fiancé last 3 years income tax forms (copies of 1040 form).

- Copies of last 3 years W-2 forms.

- Bank statements for last 3 months. (NOT REQUIRED)

- SIX (6) MONTHS OF PAYSTUBS (MISSING)

- Bank letter showing date account opened, deposits for last year and current balance.

USCIS I-797C Notice of Approval original and 1 copy.

NVC letter original and 1 copy (this will show spelling error too).

New letter of intent from each of me, signed and dated.

Copy of original I-129F packet with original receipts, etc.

Evidence of ongoing relationship

- Pictures

- Snail mail cards and letters

- Chat logs

- Emails

- Phone records

- Engagement ring receipt

- Receipts and ticket stubs from second trip in October

- Records of Western Union and XOOM money transfers.

Did I leave anything out ???????????????????

Gary505:

1. You are not required to submit any bank statements.

2. However, we did submit six (6) months of paystubs for which you are missing from your list.

3. Please be sure that your pictures are not copies. The USE only accept original pictures. For example, my wife and I made copies of our online photo album on paper for which the USE did not accept. Lucking we also brought our photo album that was accepted and reviewed by the CO and returned subsequent to the interview.

4. I also noticed that you stated the NVC letter has a typo. Did the USE mis-spell your fiancee's name on any of the corespondence with your fiancee? If so, please have your fiancee address that with the CO, and/or call the USE at your earliest convenience to ensure that error is not translated onto the Visa. If this is the case, it's imperative that your fiancee's name on the Visa is correct. Traveling with a misprint on a Visa will endeed cause you unnecessary heartache that you will not need.

Hope this helps...

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - The USE will take one complete copy of your I-134 Affidavit of Support and back-up because only one is required per visa applicant, but do take both copies.

if your self employed like i am you have to have bank statements plus a letter from the bank showing your in good standing

and if you file your taxes monthly and or quartely that will help also.

[Amerikano 0]

Updating list to welcome Kim Tung and to add interview date of dims1. Congrats, dims1!!!

Amerikano, call the NVC!!! They may have scheduled the CR-1 interview for your wife too. At any rate, during K3 interview, your wife should ask consul if the physical file for CR is already at the embassy. She can opt to interview for CR-1 instead and abandon K3.

Thanks so much for the note--On the CR-1 the case is not yet complete at NVC (had an RFE on my wife's security clearance from working in Jordan). So I am counting on the K3 to bring Marivic to me, then do an AOS here. As long as she is here with me that's the only thing that matters. Thanks for the note, PW, and I want to say you are a great help to all of us.

Gary

[Glenn & Rosemarie 0]

Hey can you check out my interview checklist. This is what we will have with us.

Interview Appointment Letter original and 1 copy.

Valid photo ID (NBI badge) and 1 copy.

Passport copy (St. Luke’s took the original during the medical and sent to the Embassy).

Original NSO Birth Certificate, original and 1 copy.

CENOMAR original and 1 copy.

NBI Clearance with "For US Travel" or "For Travel Abroad" stamp and thumbprint, original and 1 copy.

Passport-sized photos (2 in addition to those on the DS-156 forms).

VISA Application Forms

- DS-156 (2 completed and signed forms with photos glued on, and 1 copy).

- DS-156K (2 completed and signed forms, and 1 copy). DO NOT SIGN BEFORE INTERVIEW!

- DS-157 (2 completed and signed form – 1 must be stamped with BPI payment, and 1 copy).

- DS-230, part 1 (2 completed and signed forms, and 1 copy).

I-134F Affidavit of Support form (notarized), 2 originals with copies.

Supporting documentation for I-134F (affidavit of support folder)

- Fiancé employment letter (2 originals with copies).

- Fiancé last 3 years income tax forms (copies of 1040 form).

- Copies of last 3 years W-2 forms.

- Bank statements for last 3 months. (NOT REQUIRED)

- SIX (6) MONTHS OF PAYSTUBS (MISSING)

- Bank letter showing date account opened, deposits for last year and current balance.

USCIS I-797C Notice of Approval original and 1 copy.

NVC letter original and 1 copy (this will show spelling error too).

New letter of intent from each of me, signed and dated.

Copy of original I-129F packet with original receipts, etc.

Evidence of ongoing relationship

- Pictures

- Snail mail cards and letters

- Chat logs

- Emails

- Phone records

- Engagement ring receipt

- Receipts and ticket stubs from second trip in October

- Records of Western Union and XOOM money transfers.

Did I leave anything out ???????????????????

Gary505:

1. You are not required to submit any bank statements.

2. However, we did submit six (6) months of paystubs for which you are missing from your list.

3. Please be sure that your pictures are not copies. The USE only accept original pictures. For example, my wife and I made copies of our online photo album on paper for which the USE did not accept. Lucking we also brought our photo album that was accepted and reviewed by the CO and returned subsequent to the interview.

4. I also noticed that you stated the NVC letter has a typo. Did the USE mis-spell your fiancee's name on any of the corespondence with your fiancee? If so, please have your fiancee address that with the CO, and/or call the USE at your earliest convenience to ensure that error is not translated onto the Visa. If this is the case, it's imperative that your fiancee's name on the Visa is correct. Traveling with a misprint on a Visa will endeed cause you unnecessary heartache that you will not need.

Hope this helps...

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

p.s. - The USE will take one complete copy of your I-134 Affidavit of Support and back-up because only one is required per visa applicant, but do take both copies.

if your self employed like i am you have to have bank statements plus a letter from the bank showing your in good standing

and if you file your taxes monthly and or quartely that will help also.

I am self-employed also. I furnished my wife with 12 months bank statements (personal and business accounts). 2005 Tax returns, letter from banks, copy of business license, professional license and copy of articles of incorporation. It might have been a bit of an overkill, but the interviewer took everything she brought with her.

[Amerikano 0]

Oh, and Marivic finished her medical with no problems by 2 pm (she went at 4:30 am) yesterday. She just has to pick up x-ray and have one immunization at 9 am. One down and one big one to go next Tuesday. Good luck to all...

Gary

[robhankins 0]

(oh, and the waiver is the 2nd petition waiver).

S&T

Second petition waiver? Why would you need that at the interview? Didn't the USCIS already cover that with the IMBRA form? Once they approve you I thought it was no longer any issue.

Yea, thats what my understanding was also...I dont see how it could/should have been an issue now. My understanding is that issues should not arise from information that has already been presented and known at the initial processing level....in this case when I sent in the imbra form for the RFE that we all received. Hoping this is quick, but the way this has went so far, i cant help but worry about it.

S&T

Wolf, I just saw your posts. My goodness! What in the world? Please help us to understand what happened. I also got approved on a waiver, but I didn't receive any formal waiver from USCIS. My waiver request was approved and USCIS issued an NOA2 approving my visa request. What waiver did the CO see? I wouldn't think it would be an issue for CO as it was a USCIS process/document prior to approval.

How did your fiancee submit a waiver to the CO? Or do you mean that the CO pulled your waiver from the file in front of your fiancee? Had the consulate never seen a waiver before? I actually think mine was the first waiver ever approved, but our interview was delayed because of an over-cautious nurse at St. Luke's.

Hang in there and best of luck. I understand what you are going through as I was all ready to receive Lilia on January 6, but am not waiting for re-interview on Feb 26.

[soulm8z0928 0]

GOT OUR INTERVIEW DATE!!! :dance:

Mike

woo hooo! congrats!!

abt the medical, they don't make appts 4 cr1/ir1, she can go anytime just take her appt letter w/her. again, we're almost there!

[GaryC 7]

This is really starting to bug me. I sent Luz to pay for the interview. She took with her the DS-156 and the DS-157. The bank said the it was no longer necessary to stamp the forms. They only gave her a signed receipt with some sort of stamp on it. I asked my lawyer about it and he also said that the DS forms don't need any kind of a stamp from the bank. Now which is it? The DS forms stamped or not stamped?

Edited February 6, 2007 by Iniibig ko si Luz forever

[GaryC 7]

Ok, I just found the answer to my question.

http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwhniv3.html

The fee can be paid during normal business hours (Mondays to Fridays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at any of the designated banks listed below. The Form DS-157 will be machine-validated by the bank at the back of the form to reflect payment.

What do we do now? The bank refused to do anything with the DS-157 that she took with her. Am I out the $200 for her and Robin?

[wittynbear 0]

Hello update my sched...

Mpgirl is the handle i used.

Medical March 16

Interview March 23

Thanks

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Phil-Am Families...

If you are self employed (petitioner), then it is definitely in your best interest to submit bank statements to substantiate your ability to support your future queens. For those who are employees with an income over 125% of the poverty level, bank statements are not required.

Thanks guys...

Sheriff Uling

if your self employed like i am you have to have bank statements plus a letter from the bank showing your in good standing and if you file your taxes monthly and or quartely that will help also.

I am self-employed also. I furnished my wife with 12 months bank statements (personal and business accounts). 2005 Tax returns, letter from banks, copy of business license, professional license and copy of articles of incorporation. It might have been a bit of an overkill, but the interviewer took everything she brought with her.

[BJZags 17]

What do we do now? The bank refused to do anything with the DS-157 that she took with her. Am I out the $200 for her and Robin?

I wouldn't think your out the $200. The instructions in the K1 packet has always said the bank will "validate" the DS-156 form, but the Bank has always validated the incorrect DS-157 form anyway. I believe the embassy looks for the receipt instead of the validated form due to that confusion. (something lost in translation I suspect)

[macky 0]

This is really starting to bug me. I sent Luz to pay for the interview. She took with her the DS-156 and the DS-157. The bank said the it was no longer necessary to stamp the forms. They only gave her a signed receipt with some sort of stamp on it. I asked my lawyer about it and he also said that the DS forms don't need any kind of a stamp from the bank. Now which is it? The DS forms stamped or not stamped?

When I went to BPI Magallanes last January 2, they didn't ask for anything,except the money of course. They gave me a validated DS157 with the branch,date and time and the amount at the back. So I will use that form together with the one embassy sent us.

[GaryC 7]

What do we do now? The bank refused to do anything with the DS-157 that she took with her. Am I out the $200 for her and Robin?

I wouldn't think your out the $200. The instructions in the K1 packet has always said the bank will "validate" the DS-156 form, but the Bank has always validated the incorrect DS-157 form anyway. I believe the embassy looks for the receipt instead of the validated form due to that confusion. (something lost in translation I suspect)

Someone has their wires crossed. I did a little more digging. Here is another page from the Embassy web site.

DS-157 Form – Applicants should also complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Supplemental Application DS-157 Form. The form is provided at the bank where fees are paid. Applicants must ensure that the back of the DS-157 Form is machine-validated with check-rite. The U.S. Embassy does not validate DS-157 Forms.

Applicants whose DS-157 Form is not machine-validated with check-rite will NOT be allowed to enter the Embassy premises. The applicant will then have to book another interview appointment. Re-bookings do not require another application fee.

http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwhniv1.html

Is this just out of date info on the embassy web site or is it current policy?

[BJZags 17]

What do we do now? The bank refused to do anything with the DS-157 that she took with her. Am I out the $200 for her and Robin?

I wouldn't think your out the $200. The instructions in the K1 packet has always said the bank will "validate" the DS-156 form, but the Bank has always validated the incorrect DS-157 form anyway. I believe the embassy looks for the receipt instead of the validated form due to that confusion. (something lost in translation I suspect)

Someone has their wires crossed. I did a little more digging. Here is another page from the Embassy web site.

DS-157 Form – Applicants should also complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Supplemental Application DS-157 Form. The form is provided at the bank where fees are paid. Applicants must ensure that the back of the DS-157 Form is machine-validated with check-rite. The U.S. Embassy does not validate DS-157 Forms.

Applicants whose DS-157 Form is not machine-validated with check-rite will NOT be allowed to enter the Embassy premises. The applicant will then have to book another interview appointment. Re-bookings do not require another application fee.

http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwhniv1.html

Is this just out of date info on the embassy web site or is it current policy?

Maybe I was wrong before. Jenalyn said that during her interview last month that one lady was sent packing when her DS-157 wasn't stamped. They told her to go back to bank and get the stamp. So it sounds like current policy.