Manila Embassy Interview

[brittaniquec_Chic 0]

I didn't notice how anxious I was with the interview and miss some few words and letters with my last 2 posts here .

Anyway, been busy with some office stuff but here's some notes to ponder on your interview.

----

• When you reach the embassy, ignore the instructions of the people who are just selling different stuff around the embassy. APPROACH the USE GUARD.

• Make sure that you’re holding your APPOINTMENT LETTER when you approach the guard to avoid delay in the line.

• When you are about to enter the USE bldg and you have electronic gadgets (celfone, laptop, IPOD etc.) with you, turn it off because you will need to surrender these together with an ID. These types of items are not allowed inside the building for safety purposes.

• Follow the blue signage.

• Once you’re inside the bldg, you will ask by the guard to sit on the blue chair.

• After some time the guard will ask you to fall in line by the Ticket booth. You need to prepare your DS156 (2 copies), DS157 (2 copies) and DS156K(1 copy). After giving your documents, the person from the ticket booth will give you STUB with number.

- Do not give you stub number to anyone until you reach the window 36. The assigned number will be your number until the end of the whole process.

• You will back to your blue chair and wait until your number will be called in the QUEUE ELECTRONIC BOARD. You need to pay attention because number is called randomly.

• There will be 5 major steps that you will go through. First, is the finger scanning, pre-screening, interview with the consul and the some further instructions on your visa process (window 36).

o Finger Scanning

- Based on my experience my number wasn’t displayed in the queue board but instead I heard my name being called from the speaker which also announced the window number that I need to go to.

- Make sure that you’re really attentive with what is happening around you.

o Pre-screening

- The pre-screener will ask for the following documents:

>> Birth certificate

>> Evidence of support such as Income Tax Return, Form I-134, Employment Letter and Bank Statement.

>> Emails

>> Snail Mail

>> Phone bill

(She didn’t actually ask me to submit this docs instead I ask her if she wanted to see it. She agreed.)

>> Pictures of us

>> NBI Clearance

- The pre-screener asks me few questions about me and my fiancé. Like how many times did we meet? Who introduced us?

- She did actually asks me about my birth certificate(issued year 1999) why I didn’t get a new one I told her that it’s also an NSO paper and when I applied for a tourist visa last Nov. it wasn’t an issue and she said “I know” (mind you, in a very impolite manner ). I thought that will be a problem but it’s not. In fact, there’s this one girl who wasn’t able to present her birth certificate but was able to pass the interview.

**After 3 hours of prolonging agony my number was finally called by the electronic queue board**

o Interview with the consul I bet this is the part that everyone is so anxious to know

- Anyway, his first question is how long is the relationship? Below are some of the questions that the consul asked me.

• What is the meaning of official girlfriend?

• What is his hobby?

• How many times did we see each other?

• When did he propose?

• What’s my family’s opinion with the relationship?

• What is my sport?

• Can I drive?

- Make sure you also know some of the personal details of your fiance like his sisters/brothers name. His parents name. His work. The company that he's working with.

- Final thing. While he’s attaching the K1-Approved to my files. He keeps on talking asking me how long have been I’m driving, traffic style in manila and then we came to a point we’re discussing some car parts (because I’m a car aficionado). The interview took 15 mins according to the other fiancees waiting outside.

o Window 36, further instructions.

- I just showed her my STUB number. And then she reviewed for a moment my documents. Finally, she grabs a pink slip and told me to pay to DELBROS. Yipeeeee! That was a relief!

o Paying DEBROS means that everything is OK . I can get out of the building and can claim my celfone to call my fiancé about the good news .

Edited August 9, 2006 by brittaniquec_Chic

[brittaniquec_Chic 0]

GREAT! Congratulations!!!!

That's good news for all of us recent NOA2 folks - you got your interview just over 2 months from NOA2 and breezed through the interview with success! My NOA2 was 8/3/06, so I'm hoping that a little of your good fortune rubs off so that my Lirio can be here well before Christmas (gives us almost 5 months) and if we are real lucky, maybe she'll be here in November!

Again, congrats and best of luck...when do you travel?

Hi daveandLirio,

I'm going to leave my beloved country on Sep 1st.

Just pray for your process and everything will be ok. There's this one girl that I've met, she told me that they just file their case last Mar 2006 and her fiance is not military. I guess everything is getting better .

Let's just hope for the best .

[rusty_ash 0]

I had my interview today 8/9/06.................... WE ARE APPROVED!!!!!!!!

[RandyC 0]

I had my interview today 8/9/06.................... WE ARE APPROVED!!!!!!!!

Congrats to you and brittaniquec_Chic! I hope we all have the same result.

I have a question for either of you: did they ask about where your finance worked? Did they question that at all?

[brittaniquec_Chic 0]

I had my interview today 8/9/06.................... WE ARE APPROVED!!!!!!!!

Congrats to you and brittaniquec_Chic! I hope we all have the same result.

I have a question for either of you: did they ask about where your finance worked? Did they question that at all?

Congrats Rusty_ash!!

I think throwing of questions is case to case basis, they will depend their questions from the documents you submitted during the pre-screening. They are reading the emails and snail letters you submitted thoroughly and some questions were based from there.

The consul did ask me where is he working because that's where I met my fiance. Maybe, he's just checking the connecting points between us .

Later I will post some pointers in filling up the DS156, DS157 and DS156-K.

[Pinay Wife 47]

Paying DEBROS means that everything is OK

Not always true. People have been put on AR after being told they were approved and after paying Delbros. In my case, I was given the pink slip and also told to pay Delbros even if I'm on AR.

Updated to congratulate Brittanique and rustyash! Congratulations on your approval Waiting to hear from djcess.

Legend:

b]OK[/b] - Visa approved

AR - Admin Review/Add'l Docs Required

ME - Military Expedite

Name-------------NOA2-----MNL REC’D--PACKET--INTERVIEW--MNL CASE#--STATUS

K1 LIST

PatientlyWait---07-27-05--08-22-05--01-06-06--02-13-06--2005-723xxx--AR

Windchaser------08-29-05--09-27-05--07-25-06--09-01-06--2005-756xxx

ryecatcher25----12-16-05--01-11-06--04-03-06--05-16-06--2005-xxxxxx--OK

spunky66--------12-16-05--01-11-06--03-30-06--05-16-06--2005-86xxxx--OK

djcess----------03-10-06--03-24-06--xx-xx-xx--08-09-06--2006-579xxx--??

Rustyash--------03-07-06--03-29-06--06-08-96--08-09-06--2006-580xxx--OK

davidg----------04-20-06--05-13-06--xx-xx-xx--09-11-06--2006-625xxx

Audrey&Romy-----05-01-06--05-22-06--07-13-06--09-22-06--2006-635xxx

randyandrechie--05-01-06--06-05-06--07-13-06--09-20-06--2006-635xxx

mychelle--------05-03-06--05-31-06--07-06-06--09-14-06--2006-639xxx

danlet----------05-12-06--05-31-06--06-27-06--08-10-06--2006-xxxxxx

Tomnjas---------05-23-06--06-14-06--07-11-06--09-28-06--2006-656xxx

sillygirl-------05-17-06--06-14-06--06-29-06--09-28-06--2006-657xxx

Brittaniquec----05-25-06--06-20-06--07-10-06--08-08-06--2006-660xxx--OK

kevlar_kev------06-30-06--07-18-06--07-27-06--10-05-06--2006-691xxx

YnaYeBa0808-----07-24-06--xx-xx-xx--xx-xx-xx--xx-xx-xx--2006-712xxx

K3 LIST

Rommelandrea----12-19-05--01-03-06--04-04-06--05-12-06--2005-861xxx--OK

sweety_33.......04-11-06--04-25-06--xx-xx-xx--08-24-06--2006-608xxx

phirephly-------05-08-06--05-23-06--07-01-06--09-21-06--2006-635xxx

IR-1/CR-1

jpg-------------08-15-05--xx-xx-xx--xx-xx-xx--07-17-06--2005-xxxxxx--OK

JoelAndAnalyn---12-29-05--xx-xx-xx--xx-xx-xx--09-25-06--2006-510xxx

Shortie81-------02-03-06--05-16-06--05-28-06--06-07-06--2006-544xxx--OK-ME

Biancashey------03-09-06--xx-xx-xx--xx-xx-xx--xx-xx-xx--2006-576xxx

phirephly-------05-02-06--xx-xx-xx--xx-xx-xx--xx-xx-xx--2006-642xxx

Edited August 10, 2006 by PatientlyWaiting

[Audrey&Romy 0]

I had my interview today 8/9/06.................... WE ARE APPROVED!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to rusty_ash. Seems like we are getting a lot of approvals here. I hope your good luck rubs off on us too.

Audrey

[brittaniquec_Chic 0]

Paying DEBROS means that everything is OK

Not always true. People have been put on AR after being told they were approved and after paying Delbros. In my case, I was given the pink slip and also told to pay Delbros even if I'm on AR.

Updated to congratulate Brittanique and rustyash! Congratulations on your approval Waiting to hear from djcess.

Thanks for the correction PW.

When I was there I noticed that most of the fiancées did miss-out some questions, so they were asked to complete their forms and need to fall in line again:

Attached are the most miss-out questions in DS-156, DS-157 and DS-156K

* Bdw, Make sure that every question is answered. Don’t leave anything blank. If the answer to the question is none, put none. If you think that the question is not applicable to you, put n/a.

Hope this helps.

Thanks and FYI.

Note: If you notice something that doesn't sound right, please feel free to correct me.

guidelines.doc

[windchaser_4 0]

* Bdw, Make sure that every question is answered. Don’t leave anything blank. If the answer to the question is none, put none. If you think that the question is not applicable to you, put n/a.

Hope this helps.

Thanks and FYI.

Note: If you notice something that doesn't sound right, please feel free to correct me.

When do they take your passport? At the pre-screening? i didn't see it there.

[brittaniquec_Chic 0]

* Bdw, Make sure that every question is answered. Don’t leave anything blank. If the answer to the question is none, put none. If you think that the question is not applicable to you, put n/a.

Hope this helps.

Thanks and FYI.

Note: If you notice something that doesn't sound right, please feel free to correct me.

When do they take your passport? At the pre-screening? i didn't see it there.

Passport is submitted to St. Lukes during your fiancées medical exam. They(St. Lukes) will be the one who will forward your fiancées passport together with her medical result to the Embassy.

[Pinay Wife 47]

Brit,

You are one diligent lady! The "most missed-out questions" would be a great help to all those still going through the process. For question# 26, I answered "permanently".

Other questions some fiancees have difficulty answering are:

(I also posted my answers)

"what is the purpose of your visit?" - to marry my fiancee (for my kid's DS, I answered "to join my mother who is marrying her American fiancee")

"do you intend to work in the US?" - yes, but after I secure my EAD

"name of employer" - I don't know yet

"do you intend to study in the US" - I answered no for myself and yes for my son

"name of school" - N/A for myself and "I don't know yet" for my son

These questions may seem simple but can be frustrating to answer sometimes. To those who need help answering the forms, please feel free to ask so you don't have to fall in line over and over again at the embassy.

[windchaser_4 0]

When do they take your passport? At the pre-screening? i didn't see it there.

Passport is submitted to St. Lukes during your fiancées medical exam. They(St. Lukes) will be the one who will forward your fiancées passport together with her medical result to the Embassy.

Ah ok thanks!

[brittaniquec_Chic 0]

Brit,

You are one diligent lady! The "most missed-out questions" would be a great help to all those still going through the process. For question# 26, I answered "permanently".

Other questions some fiancees have difficulty answering are:

(I also posted my answers)

"what is the purpose of your visit?" - to marry my fiancee (for my kid's DS, I answered "to join my mother who is marrying her American fiancee")

"do you intend to work in the US?" - yes, but after I secure my EAD

"name of employer" - I don't know yet

"do you intend to study in the US" - I answered no for myself and yes for my son

"name of school" - N/A for myself and "I don't know yet" for my son

These questions may seem simple but can be frustrating to answer sometimes. To those who need help answering the forms, please feel free to ask so you don't have to fall in line over and over again at the embassy.

Thanks PW

Below are my version for the questions above:

"what is the purpose of your visit?" - to marry my fiancee and live a life together.

"do you intend to work in the US?" - yes

"name of employer" - don't have definite employer yet

"do you intend to study in the US" - yes (i'm planning to take masters)

"name of school" - no definite school yet

I did miss this part in the DS-156K form, in the very bottom part there's an instruction saying that "DO"

I don't know what happend and it was cut out anyway, here's the full post.

Brit,

You are one diligent lady! The "most missed-out questions" would be a great help to all those still going through the process. For question# 26, I answered "permanently".

Other questions some fiancees have difficulty answering are:

(I also posted my answers)

"what is the purpose of your visit?" - to marry my fiancee (for my kid's DS, I answered "to join my mother who is marrying her American fiancee")

"do you intend to work in the US?" - yes, but after I secure my EAD

"name of employer" - I don't know yet

"do you intend to study in the US" - I answered no for myself and yes for my son

"name of school" - N/A for myself and "I don't know yet" for my son

These questions may seem simple but can be frustrating to answer sometimes. To those who need help answering the forms, please feel free to ask so you don't have to fall in line over and over again at the embassy.

Brit,

You are one diligent lady! The "most missed-out questions" would be a great help to all those still going through the process. For question# 26, I answered "permanently".

Other questions some fiancees have difficulty answering are:

(I also posted my answers)

"what is the purpose of your visit?" - to marry my fiancee (for my kid's DS, I answered "to join my mother who is marrying her American fiancee")

"do you intend to work in the US?" - yes, but after I secure my EAD

"name of employer" - I don't know yet

"do you intend to study in the US" - I answered no for myself and yes for my son

"name of school" - N/A for myself and "I don't know yet" for my son

These questions may seem simple but can be frustrating to answer sometimes. To those who need help answering the forms, please feel free to ask so you don't have to fall in line over and over again at the embassy.

Thanks PW

Below are my version for the questions above:

"what is the purpose of your visit?" - to marry my fiancee and live a life together.

"do you intend to work in the US?" - yes

"name of employer" - don't have definite employer yet

"do you intend to study in the US" - yes (i'm planning to take masters)

"name of school" - no definite school yet

I did miss this part in the DS-156K form, in the very bottom part there's an instruction saying that "DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE" but the lady instructed me to write down my fiance name.

I hereby certify that I am legally free to marry and intend to marry [b]John Smith, a U.S. Citizen, within 90 days of my admission into the US.[/b]

But aside from that part leave everything blank.

[Goodman 0]

I have read elsewhere that you should answer no to the questions about work and school in the U.S. because those might be reasons for the consular to think that you are trying to use the fiancee visa as a means to get to the U.S. The consular might think you should be applying for a work or student visa instead of a fiancee visa.

Anyone's thoughts?

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I have read elsewhere that you should answer no to the questions about work and school in the U.S. because those might be reasons for the consular to think that you are trying to use the fiancee visa as a means to get to the U.S. The consular might think you should be applying for a work or student visa instead of a fiancee visa.

Anyone's thoughts?

Goodman - I also thought the same and I could have sworn that I also read that somewhere, which is why we answered no to both questions and NONE in the boxes. Don't they seem like trick questions because of the wording "Do you INTEND…" However the DS-156 is the Nonimmigrant Visa Application and I'm betting (have not research this yet... just my presumption) that all the nonimmigrant categories complete this form. Therefore those who are coming on work visas and for school more than likely complete this form. In my simple mind, the intent of the K1 is to marry and it should be left as such, which is why we are afforded the option of applying for an EAD. This is a good question for a skilled immigration lawyer.