Approved (May 2)

Damien & Rhea · May 4, 2011

Rhea's visa has been approved at our appointment on May 2nd.

We stayed a few nights at Bayview Hotel across the street from the U.S. Embassy.

On May 2 it took us about 10 minutes to walk to the Embassy so we got into line for Immigrant Visas around 6am. There were about 30 or so other folks in line ahead of us and they were slowly letting people in.

At the first checkpoint they looked at our appointment letter and passport.

Next we went to the window outside and we got our number and then went directly to Window 39. After dropping off some paperwork we sat down and waited for our number to come up on the screens.

After awhile our number came up and we went to Window 56 where a lady looked through our paperwork and asked Rhea a few questions. The only evidence she asked us for was a wedding album, which, of course, we had amongst a plethora of other proof of a relationship. Then she told us I could go up to pay and bring a receipt back to her.

My wife sat and befriended an older lady that was going to live with her daughter in the U.S. while I went upstairs to Window 15 and paid my $404. I brought the receipt back to the lady at Window 56 and she told me to have a seat and wait again for our number.

After awhile our number came up and we went to Window 40 for finger printing.

My wife told me that the interview windows wouldn't open until 8am so we relaxed for awhile. My wife went out to the waiting area and had a hot dog and some water.

Around 8:30am our number came up to go to Window 59 where a friendly looking American gentleman was waiting. I wondered why Rhea was so relaxed while the gentleman was talking with us and asking questions, and why she was surprised and delighted when he told us that everything looked good and that our visa was approved. I later found out that she didn't know that was the final interview and that she thought we would have the final interview at a different window.

We were told to go to Window 72 to get the paperwork for addressing her passport for mailing. After we filled out the form we dropped it off at Window 69 and were out of the Embassy and headed for church by 9am.

It was a long 4 months and we are glad it is over. We are fortunate enough that the longest we were apart (or have been apart since our relationship began) was from April 4th when I returned to Japan to April 28th when I came back to PH. Thankfully she can fly back to Japan as soon as she has her visa in hand and her plane ticket paid for by the company I work for since they asked us to leave Japan after the earthquake until it was safe to return.

We would like to give a big heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributes to VJ, the information was really helpful for us and we wish everyone the best in their Visa Journey!

Edited May 4, 2011 by Damien & Rhea