Interview duration

[Hiker 9]

Don't worry...the interview is easy....she'll be in and out of the consular officer's office in five minutes. She's already completed the difficult part...the medical.

Just wondering, what makes the medical difficult? If my fiancee is otherwise in good health, is there something we need to be worried about for that?

[Hiker 9]

BUT if you are sitting there looking at the paperwork and appear studying the paperwork, rather then comparing each others photos. I would say to expect a denial.

Why would looking at the papers matter? Some people are nervous about whether any papers were forgotten, or worrying about what order they are in so that they can be presented right away when asked for, etc.

I was there in 2000, and I didn't get the sense that anyone was watching us in the waiting area. I suppose they could have been, but there's also the issue that they wouldn't know who to watch until they were called up for the interview. I also didn't see too many Filipinas interacting with each other and sharing photos, etc. Most were sitting there looking nervous and not saying much. But, that was 11 years ago... I suppose things can change, and I'm also not aware if they remodeled the embassy at all to make it easier to observe people.

And I agree, the interview was about 5 minutes. I was there and went up to the window with her when called; he asked if I'm the fiance. I answered yes, then he asked me to just sit down in the waiting area and wait. That was the only interaction I had with them. (But, there's nothing to keep them from deciding to ask me stuff since I'm there, should they feel the need.)

[sunandmoon 450]

Why would looking at the papers matter? Some people are nervous about whether any papers were forgotten, or worrying about what order they are in so that they can be presented right away when asked for, etc.

I was there in 2000, and I didn't get the sense that anyone was watching us in the waiting area. I suppose they could have been, but there's also the issue that they wouldn't know who to watch until they were called up for the interview. I also didn't see too many Filipinas interacting with each other and sharing photos, etc. Most were sitting there looking nervous and not saying much. But, that was 11 years ago... I suppose things can change, and I'm also not aware if they remodeled the embassy at all to make it easier to observe people.

And I agree, the interview was about 5 minutes. I was there and went up to the window with her when called; he asked if I'm the fiance. I answered yes, then he asked me to just sit down in the waiting area and wait. That was the only interaction I had with them. (But, there's nothing to keep them from deciding to ask me stuff since I'm there, should they feel the need.)

I'm sure they have security cameras in the waiting area, but doubt they monitor and analyze each applicant's every move. I think the comment was streaching things a bit too far.

[Norwood 6]

Yes they have cameras in the interview hall. I do not believe they are watching you and making judgements about your credibility while waiting to be interviewed. The pre-screener's impression given to the CO and the CO's concurrance to appove/deny/hold are what matters and believe me they do not have time to watch the cameras. They don't even have time to talk to someone who is watching the cameras. This would create a very unrealistic logistical challenge. That's my observation at the new Manila interview hall, where there were 250 people waiting and the staff said it was just a 4 hour working day that day.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Stupid sputum test.

Just wondering, what makes the medical difficult? If my fiancee is otherwise in good health, is there something we need to be worried about for that?

Eight weeks of waiting for the sputum test (TB culture).

[Tahoma 2,292]

Yes they have cameras in the interview hall. I do not believe they are watching you and making judgements about your credibility while waiting to be interviewed. The pre-screener's impression given to the CO and the CO's concurrance to appove/deny/hold are what matters and believe me they do not have time to watch the cameras. They don't even have time to talk to someone who is watching the cameras. This would create a very unrealistic logistical challenge. That's my observation at the new Manila interview hall, where there were 250 people waiting and the staff said it was just a 4 hour working day that day.

^^^ Agreed.

For a guy who's never stepped foot inside the U.S. Embassy Manila, Darren has a very vivid imagination.

[rlogan 2,036]

My wife said five minutes in the actual interview. They told her to go to the office that delivers the visa to your home, located inside the embassy. LBC? She had some kind of slip of paper she got from the delivery people. That seemed to be something they were doing for people who were approved. They confirm the delivery address.

[jrmejia 31]

I don't mean to be rude but OMG are you really asking this question. I know interview will be in Philippines but each case is different, just go to interview with open mind and chill. No 2 cases are the same

I do not know why you found his question strange? I think he stated average time. I would not mind asking same question the OP asked.

Be nice to the op and have a lovely day.

[gretchen_darren 67]

Thanks for the very vivid imagination comment... I love it. Can anyone tell me if mount weather is real or imagined?

BTW: Never ever underestimate security and processes. Even those people you talk with at the counters do not know all of the procedures. They just know their assigned duties. The waiting is the paperwork being reviewed and checked plus they do have your photo... BTW, what is the CO checking when he types into the computer?????

[Tahoma 2,292]

Can anyone tell me if mount weather is real or imagined?

Huh?

Even those people you talk with at the counters do not know all of the procedures. They just know their assigned duties.

How do you know?

The waiting is the paperwork being reviewed and checked plus they do have your photo...

How do you know?

BTW, what is the CO checking when he types into the computer?????

He's trolling VJ.

[sjr09 155]

[sjr09 155]

Thanks for the very vivid imagination comment... I love it. Can anyone tell me if mount weather is real or imagined?

BTW: Never ever underestimate security and processes. Even those people you talk with at the counters do not know all of the procedures. They just know their assigned duties. The waiting is the paperwork being reviewed and checked plus they do have your photo... BTW, what is the CO checking when he types into the computer?????

Be careful what you say, when your at the hot dog stand by the front gate!

[sjr09 155]

"Can anyone tell me if mount weather is real or imagined"?

Few Americans - indeed, few Congressional reps - are aware of the existence of Mount Weather, a mysterious underground military base carved deep inside a mountain near the sleepy rural town of Bluemont, Virginia, just 46 miles from Washington DC. Mount Weather - also known as the Western Virginia Office of Controlled Conflict Operations - is buried not just in hard granite, but in secrecy as well.

Ted Gup, writing for Time, describes the base as follows:

"Mount Weather is a virtually self-contained facility. Aboveground, scattered across manicured lawns, are about a dozen buildings bristling with antennas and microwave relay systems. An on-site sewage-treatment plant, with a 90, 000 gal.-a-day capacity, and two tanks holding 250,000 gal. of water could last some 200 people more than a month; underground ponds hold additional water supplies. Not far from the installation's entry gate are a control tower and a helicopter pad. The mountain's real secrets are not visible at ground level."

The mountain's "real secrets" are protected by warning signs, 10 foot- high chain link fences, razor wire, and armed guards. Curious motorists and hikers on the Appalachian trail are relieved of their sketching pads and cameras and sent on their way. Security is tight.

The government has owned the site since 1903; it has seen service as an artillery range, a hobo farm during the Depression, and a National Weather Bureau Facility. In 1936, the U.S. Bureau of Mines took control and started digging.

Mount Weather is virtually an underground city, according to former personnel interviewed by Pollock.

Buried deep inside the earth, Mount Weather was equipped with such amenities as

• private apartments and dormitories
• streets and sidewalks
• cafeterias and hospitals
• a water purification system, power plant and general office buildings
• a small lake fed by fresh water from underground springs
• its own mass transit system
• a TV communication system

[gretchen_darren 67]

"Few Americans - indeed, few Congressional reps - are aware of the existence of Mount Weather,... "--- hmmm, I have a vivid imagination......

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Don't worry...the interview is easy....she'll be in and out of the consular officer's office in five minutes. She's already completed the difficult part...the medical.

Agreed.

Stupid sputum test.

Indeed.