January 2014 Interviews Thread!

[RedPepper 9]

For the CFO seminar, go to CFO Manila or to CFO Cebu. PRISM and St. Mary's no longer offer the seminar.

Good luck to everyone with your Embassy interview!!!

Annndd be early. for Fiances and spouses, we were lined up at 2:30 and by 5 a.m. all slots were full.

Minors are really Friday's only.

We will rather take it nalang po siguro after visa issuance. We're coming from Pampanga lang naman po kasi. Less than 2hrs away from Manila kaya medyo okay lang. I've read from the reply above na Friday lang yung PDOS for Minors? Hmmm. will take note of that. I will call them nalang tomorrow after interview to check if Friday lang tlga for Minors...

Good for you! all slots for the Counseling was full by 5am--if it would help to inform you guys so you can plan ahead.

me good positive overflowing energy to all! xxx

Hi! Visa Approved & Issued na po! So happy ) Thankyou Lord.

Though the interview with the Fil Consul didnt went well. Muntikan pa kong mapaaway. haha. I'll share the story nalang po in a later time. Kakauwi lang po kasi from Manila.

Good Luck po tomorrow ate RedPepper!

God Bless!

Thanks Nilo! It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. LOL

Good morning everyone! Congrats nilo jayr & Good luck RedPepper!

Thanks Rose! My interview wasn't so bad. I did not get approved yet, but i did not get denied either, and the fact they gave me a 221g is still a good sign

My fiance is in USEM right now. *cross fingers*

thanks!!! we did it!!!!! yey!!!!! thanks visa journey!!! it is really a BIG HELP for me!!!

Wow! Congratulations! I saw there were so many happy faces today--and one of them could have been your wife somewhere close by! The interviewers were in a good mood. Hehehe! i didn't do very well, but not bad either. Nevertheless i can't complain. Once i re-submit the orig papers they lost--i am good to go.

AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE THEIR INTERVIEWS SOON--and have questions to those who had been there--just go ahead and fire away! i will gladly answer as much as i can based on my experience.

[nilo jayr 4]

Annndd be early. for Fiances and spouses, we were lined up at 2:30 and by 5 a.m. all slots were full.

Minors are really Friday's only.

Good for you! all slots for the Counseling was full by 5am--if it would help to inform you guys so you can plan ahead.

me good positive overflowing energy to all! xxx

Thanks Nilo! It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. LOL

Thanks for the advice about the PDOS ate RedPepper.

We will go po siguro next week friday since minors are fridays only and sure will go there very early.

It wasn't bad at all pero muntik-muntikan ko na po talaga naaway yung filipino officer. she looks she does not know what she's doing and cant decide for herself. she even called the supervisor. -.-

Pero overall okay lang approved din naman!

Ate just keep the faith once na na submit na missing docs nyo po mabilis na lang yan.

God Bless po.

VJ Username ---------- Interview ---------- Result ---------- Visa Issued at CEAC ---------- Visa delivered/picked-up

Roseann01 ---------- Jan 2, 2014 ------ Approved ------------------- xxx -------------------------------- xxx

NiloJr -------------------- Jan 6, 2014 ------- Approved ------------- Jan 6, 2014 -------------------------- xxx

RedPepper ---------- Jan 7, 2014 -------- 221g ----------------------- xxx -------------------------------- xxx

Krisibri ------------------ Jan 7, 2014 ------- Approved ------------------ xxx -------------------------------- xxx

CnYforever ------------ Jan 16, 2014 ------- xxxx ------------------------ xxx -------------------------------- xxx

[apple21 953]

F2A spouses don't need to line up early as we are included in the daily 70 slots available and they don't get full.

[nilo jayr 4]

F2A spouses don't need to line up early as we are included in the daily 70 slots available and they don't get full.

How about for the F2A childrens po? Is it real na fridays lang may seminar for minors? I am 18, my older sis 20, and little siter 8.

[apple21 953]

How about for the F2A childrens po? Is it real na fridays lang may seminar for minors? I am 18, my older sis 20, and little siter 8.

Your 8yo sister is exempted from PDOS but you have to register her at CFO. No need to bring her.

Your 20yo sister will attend the PDOS.

You will attend the Peer Counseling Sessions for Filipino Youth Emigrants (13-19 Years Old). Monday to Friday meron seminar.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1347:for-filipinos-leaving-the-country-with-an-immigrant-visa&catid=139

Edited January 7, 2014 by apple21

[RedPepper 9]

Thanks for the advice about the PDOS ate RedPepper.

We will go po siguro next week friday since minors are fridays only and sure will go there very early.

It wasn't bad at all pero muntik-muntikan ko na po talaga naaway yung filipino officer. she looks she does not know what she's doing and cant decide for herself. she even called the supervisor. -.-

Pero overall okay lang approved din naman!

Ate just keep the faith once na na submit na missing docs nyo po mabilis na lang yan.

God Bless po.

F2A spouses don't need to line up early as we are included in the daily 70 slots available and they don't get full.

Ganun nga--ang daya nga e.

How about for the F2A childrens po? Is it real na fridays lang may seminar for minors? I am 18, my older sis 20, and little siter 8.

Your 8yo sister is exempted from PDOS but you have to register her at CFO. No need to bring her.

Your 20yo sister will attend the PDOS.

You will attend the Peer Counseling Sessions for Filipino Youth Emigrants (13-19 Years Old). Monday to Friday meron seminar.

http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1347:for-filipinos-leaving-the-country-with-an-immigrant-visa&catid=139

As usual, tama si Apple21. It didn't hit me to ask and check your ages Nilo and what petition category you are. hehehe! She is right. it's also on the CFO website. ;-)

Edited January 8, 2014 by RedPepper

[Manileña Heart 0]

Hi to all

1. for k-1 do we need to line up as early as 2:30 also??

2. What time do they let people in?

3. And from the time they let you in, how many hours to finish the whole process?

4. If I ask someone to go with me, will they allow them to go inside too?

thanks so much!

[RHG 0]

What were the questions they asked you during the interview? Thanks!

Annndd be early. for Fiances and spouses, we were lined up at 2:30 and by 5 a.m. all slots were full.

Minors are really Friday's only.

Good for you! all slots for the Counseling was full by 5am--if it would help to inform you guys so you can plan ahead.

me good positive overflowing energy to all! xxx

Thanks Nilo! It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. LOL

Thanks Rose! My interview wasn't so bad. I did not get approved yet, but i did not get denied either, and the fact they gave me a 221g is still a good sign

Wow! Congratulations! I saw there were so many happy faces today--and one of them could have been your wife somewhere close by! The interviewers were in a good mood. Hehehe! i didn't do very well, but not bad either. Nevertheless i can't complain. Once i re-submit the orig papers they lost--i am good to go.

AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE THEIR INTERVIEWS SOON--and have questions to those who had been there--just go ahead and fire away! i will gladly answer as much as i can based on my experience.

[nilo jayr 4]

Hi everyone!!! So Happy! Visa delivered!

Jan 8, 2014

US Travel docs status: Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery.

2go: Invalid

Jan 9, 2014

2go: 9:00AM Via text. Informal message informing that our visas wiil be delivered today.

2go: Website tracking - Invalid

2go: 12:30PM delivery man arrived. VISA ON HAND!!!

2go: Website tracking - Invalid (Do they really update their tracking sytem? LoL)

VJ Username ---------- Interview ---------- Result ---------- Visa Issued at CEAC ---------- Visa delivered/picked-up

Roseann01 ----------- Jan 2 ----------- Approved ------------------- xxx -------------------------------- xxx

NiloJr --------------------- Jan 6 ----------- Approved ------------------- Jan 6 ----------------- Jan 9 Delivered Pampanga

RedPepper ----------- Jan 7 -------------- 221g ---------------------- xxx -------------------------------- xxx

Krisibri ------------------- Jan 7 ------------- Approved ------------------ xxx -------------------------------- xxx

CnYforever ------------- Jan 16 ------------- xxxx ------------------------ xxx -------------------------------- xxx

[RedPepper 9]

Hi to all

1. for k-1 do we need to line up as early as 2:30 also??

You know what? Why don't you give them a call so you could address all your questions about the whole process. All the info you need are are actually on their website, but I know how it feels when you think something is still amiss. hehehe! Call them. Tel. No.: (02) 552-4700

2. What time do they let people in?

around 6am they start opening their doors and accept registration, but after the registration and all, they make you come back for your time slot (either 9am or whatever time slot available for you)

3. And from the time they let you in, how many hours to finish the whole process?

Registration was quick, about 10 minutes or so at the desk--waiting in line not included.

The seminar was less than 3 hours (video and lecture), and the counselling from 2 minutes to longer--some took longer depending on their situation (i.e. 18 year old girl marrying 75 year old man--is fishy, so they take a lot longer for counselling, sometimes some participants are put on hold for a month or to complete counselling. CFO will send an "investigating team" on both sides to make sure the Filipino is not in danger upon immigration) If you do not have that kind of complication, and your relationship and the person you are going to live with in the US is a non-threat to your safety and your life, then it should not be a problem.

4. If I ask someone to go with me, will they allow them to go inside too?

At the CFO? You mean? Up to the registration, they can come. But on the seminar/counseling per se, you have to come alone. Your chaperon will have to wait outside the building.

thanks so much!

What were the questions they asked you during the interview? Thanks!

Step 1. Biometrics with American Consul (5 minutes waiting on queue (waiting for my number to flash on screen), 2 minutes runtime)

1) Your name and date of birth

2) Petitioners name and date of birth, relationship with petitioner?

Step 2. First interviewer (Filipino Consul) (2 hours waiting on queue (waiting for my number to flash on screen), around 5 minutes runtime)

1) What is your name, and date of birth

2) Who is your petitioner? Date of birth? Relationship with petitioner? When, where, how did you meet?

3) Where does he live? Address in the US? Is that where you will stay?

4) Have you traveled abroad, what country? for how long?

5) have you traveled to the US before? Applied for a tourist visa/any visa before?

6) Do you have a joint sponsor? Name? Relationship with the joint sponsor?

Step 3. Second Interview (American Consul) (10 minutes waiting on queue (waiting for my number to flash on screen), around 5 minutes run time)

1) Ask the same questions as above except for the following...

2) have you been communicating with your spouse? how do you comm with him? when was the last communication? Do you have proof (call and chat logs)?

3) Does he send money, or do you share any financial resources? Please show me evidence. (showed orig western union remittance slips at window, seeing it was enough, he said he did not need me to hand it over for checking)

Step 4. Releasing Officer. (20 minutes waiting in line (our names were announced and we were asked to wait in line at window 69), i was 5th in line, around 2 minutes run time)

(Asked basic profile info just to make sure its you, then will give you instructions on what to do next)

Before i realized, i was done! Easy breezy! i was trembling when the first consul, filipino, told me some of my papers went missing. it wrecked my calm composure, but I regained it after I was told it wasn't bad as long as I send in the orig papers that were missing (and it wasn't our fault it was missing--because NVC confirmed they received it and sent it to the US Embassy. To learn that my AOS was not there was a shock. Good thing I had a photocopy with me. It saved my ####--but it would have done the trick if only i had original documents with me.)

OVERALL:

The Filipino interviewer projected a "snobbish" first impression, but as the interviewer went on, she was still formal but smiling, casual friendly. I had trouble telling what year I was 17 (that was when I met my husband) She asked How I met him--on a camping trip they organized. I was 17 he was 25. Then the WHEN I met him--I couldn't answer. I said, I was 17 then now I am 36...then I started counting with my fingers! I said "1993...1994...???" Then the consul answered for me "1995" Then memories came rushing in, I laughed, she laughed! Then I said "sorry, I am real bad with numbers." It was hilarious.

It was the missing AOS that sent me trembling and nervous from the calm and composed I was when I first got to the interview window--geez! I asked her if I was in trouble because of that, she said no. (If she said yes, I would have started ranting. How could NVC lose my documents!) But she said no, so I kept my calm.

The American Interviewer was friendlier, when I said I met my husband on a camping trip to Mt Pulag in 1995, he said he was going there too (and seemed excited about it!) Small talk...small friendly talk) then my interview was done. I had missing papers on my AOS--when I asked if I was in trouble (for the second time, he said no). All I had to do was send in the original copies they asked me to send on my 221g then I should be good to go.) Approved! I am an IR1--married for 5 years with a US citizen, so...it was an advantage.

LESSONS LEARNED FOR FUTURE INTERVIEWEES:

--one photocopy of each document you want to bring is fine, no more than one, if you have more, keep it in your hotel or for your own file. In my case it saved my life. But at our embassy, they only take-in original documents. If I had a back-up ORIGINAL AOS with me, then that should have sealed my approved visa, but I didn't. After my interview, I went rushing back to my hotel and called my husband and said, "I told you so! You should have listened to me. You should have sent me original docs"

hahaha! I was venting.

Bottomline, Do not fully trust the rundown of documents on your Interview Appointment Letter/P4. Have the same ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS with you at the interview as much as possible--just to make sure. Or if you want to make sure everything is in place, you can call the embassy and ask them if your papers are all in place. If your AOS is complete (with sponsor and co-sponsor) so you do not need to bring too much.

On my P4 NVC noted: Financial Evidence sent to Embassy--

At the interview, there was NO Financiall Evidence sent. :-( Good thing I had a photocopy with me. But it should have been better if i had the original documents with me.

My experience wasn't bad at all! No harassment that took place.

Edited January 9, 2014 by RedPepper

[RedPepper 9]

Hi everyone!!! So Happy! Visa delivered!

Jan 8, 2014

US Travel docs status: Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery.

2go: Invalid

Jan 9, 2014

2go: 9:00AM Via text. Informal message informing that our visas wiil be delivered today.

2go: Website tracking - Invalid

2go: 12:30PM delivery man arrived. VISA ON HAND!!!

2go: Website tracking - Invalid (Do they really update their tracking sytem? LoL)

VJ Username ---------- Interview ---------- Result ---------- Visa Issued at CEAC ---------- Visa delivered/picked-up

Roseann01 ----------- Jan 2 ----------- Approved ------------------- xxx -------------------------------- xxx

NiloJr --------------------- Jan 6 ----------- Approved ------------------- Jan 6 ----------------- Jan 9 Delivered Pampanga

RedPepper ----------- Jan 7 -------------- 221g ---------------------- xxx -------------------------------- xxx

Krisibri ------------------- Jan 7 ------------- Approved ------------------ xxx -------------------------------- xxx

CnYforever ------------- Jan 16 ------------- xxxx ------------------------ xxx -------------------------------- xxx

Congratulations! I envy youuuuuuu!!!! that was only 3 days after the interview, ang bilis! hahaha! Let's pop up the champagne!!! So...kailan ang alis?

Edited January 9, 2014 by RedPepper

[Manileña Heart 0]

Hi everyone!!! So Happy! Visa delivered!

Jan 8, 2014

US Travel docs status: Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery.

2go: Invalid

Jan 9, 2014

2go: 9:00AM Via text. Informal message informing that our visas wiil be delivered today.

2go: Website tracking - Invalid

2go: 12:30PM delivery man arrived. VISA ON HAND!!!

2go: Website tracking - Invalid (Do they really update their tracking sytem? LoL)

VJ Username ---------- Interview ---------- Result ---------- Visa Issued at CEAC ---------- Visa delivered/picked-up

Roseann01 ----------- Jan 2 ----------- Approved ------------------- xxx -------------------------------- xxx

NiloJr --------------------- Jan 6 ----------- Approved ------------------- Jan 6 ----------------- Jan 9 Delivered Pampanga

RedPepper ----------- Jan 7 -------------- 221g ---------------------- xxx -------------------------------- xxx

Krisibri ------------------- Jan 7 ------------- Approved ------------------ xxx -------------------------------- xxx

CnYforever ------------- Jan 16 ------------- xxxx ------------------------ xxx -------------------------------- xxx

[Manileña Heart 0]

Hi RedPepper THANKS soooo much for your reply to me, super helpful and thanks for posting the interview questions too

BTW, Has Nilo jayr posted her interview questions too?

[nilo jayr 4]

Congratulations! I envy youuuuuuu!!!! that was only 3 days after the interview, ang bilis! hahaha! Let's pop up the champagne!!! So...kailan ang alis?

Thank You po ate RedPepper! Should have been 2 days nga lang po eh ginabi lang sila kahapon kaya today na lang po na deliver. Haha. Don't worry po once na okay na missing docs nyo mabilis na din po nyan. Every night na nga po neto party eh. haha kasi for sure pag dating doon di na katulad dito. Sa 25th po alis..

[nilo jayr 4]

Hi RedPepper THANKS soooo much for your reply to me, super helpful and thanks for posting the interview questions too

BTW, Has Nilo jayr posted (her) his* interview questions too?

Hello ate CnYforever! Regarding our interview questions po not much question asked since children lang po kami and kasama po namin si Dad nung na interview kaya obvious na obvious na anak po talaga kami. lol

Basic questions lang po ni-ask samin like:

Name and DoB?

Petitioner?

Where will be living in the united states?

Yan lang po yata tinanong samin nung fil consul. No hard questions. haha

tapos nung sa american po. Name and DoB lang then nagbigay ng advice po. ganun lang.

Nakatulong po siguro talaga pagsama samin ng Dad namin during interview kasi konti lang po in-ask samin.