VISA APPROVED!!! Here's my Interview Experience. ^_^

[Marie&Curt 10]

MY CR1 INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE

Didn’t sleep that much the night before my interview because I was nervous and excited at the same time (I kept reviewing all the documents to make sure I don’t forget anything). I think I fell asleep before 12midnight.. then woke up at 3:30AM, so you can just imagine how sleepy and unwilling I was to get out of bed. Haha. Anyways, my brother and I got ready, and we headed out to the US Embassy a lil past 5AM.

When we arrived, a lady directed me to the line for Immigrant Visa applicants. I started waiting in line at about 5:30AM; it was still pretty dark, but there were a lot of people already. Finally, at 6:20AM, they called the IV applicants scheduled for 6:30AM (myself included) and had us form into two lines. At the first check, you need to present your passport (if your passport has a cover, take it off before your turn at the line coz they’ll need to put a sticker at the back) and appointment letter. They will also put your passport inside a plastic packet (I don’t know what it’s called.. Lol). At about 6:40AM we were then directed inside and you’ll need to go through security check. NO GADGETS, FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED. Inside, the first thing you’ll see are the 3 windows where you’ll need to present your passport and appointment letter again. Each window can have a line of up to 10 people, so you can choose which line to follow. I fell in line for Window 3, and got my number: 6160. I was instructed to go to Window 39; I didn’t know where it was, so I just followed my group and realized that it was inside the actual embassy.. Haha. We went through security check again, and a lady took our appointment letters with our numbers on it. We were then asked to wait outside at the IV and K applicants area for our number to flash on screen.

It was 7AM when I sat down with the other IV and K applicants to wait for my number. At 8:10AM, my number flashed on screen for finger-scanning, and I was called to Window 42. I had to go through security check again because I had two bags with me (my shoulder bag and paper bag with all my docs in it) and went straight for my assigned window. The agent was a white guy in maybe his forties. He asked me to state my full name and birthday, then he had me put my first four fingers on my left hand on the green light scanner, then my first four fingers on my right hand, then both my thumbs at the same time. He then told me to wait for my number to be called again.

At this point I was already feeling very, very sleepy, so I opted to buy a Gatorade and some candies. There’s a small stall inside that sells those, right in the middle of the waiting area, so you can get something to eat or drink while you wait.

I got called in for my first interview at 9:30AM, and was directed to Window 52. The interviewer was a nice Filipino lady. She asked me for my passport, then asked me the following questions:

· What is your full name?

· Who is your petitioner?

· What is your petitioner’s name?

· Were you married before?

· Was he married before?

· When and how did you meet?

· Have you been to any other country other than the US? (This was asked to me coz I had an internship in the US before)

· How long were you in the US?

· What did you do there?

· Who is Paul Wilson? (My father-in-law)

· Have they sent you their 2013 taxes? (No)

· Deborah Wilson is your mother-in-law?

· When did you become a couple?

· Is he still a missionary?

· Of what religion?

· Are you a Mormon too?

· What does he do now?

· How many times did he come back here after his mission?

· When was his last visit?

· Is this mobile number still active?

· Is your email ___________@gmail.com still active?

· Is your husband’s email______________@yahoo.com still active?

· Is this your home address?

· Can I see pictures of you together?

I gave her the photo album I brought, and she looked over a few pages, then said “Okay, that’s all I need, you can sit down and wait for your number to be called again.” So I did, and luckily, I got a seat inside the embassy itself, so I don’t have to go through security check again. Haha.

After what seemed like hours and hours of waiting (it just felt longer because I was already hungry and sleepy), I finally got called for my final interview at 10:55AM. I was nervous because I couldn’t see the face of my interviewer from where I was sitting, and I was dreading getting a strict male interviewer. When I finally approached my assigned window (Window 60), I was surprised to see a SUPER GORGEOUS american woman who could very well be a dead-ringer for Daiana Menezes. Plus, she was wearing a very casual, spaghetti-strapped top (I didn’t know if it was a dress, or just a top) and some colorful accessories, so I relaxed a little. Hehe. She instructed me to raise my right hand while reading the oath that’s on the right side of the window. After that, she asked me these questions:

· Who is your petitioner?

· How did you meet? (I told her how I just came back from the US when I met my husband, who was then serving a mission here in the Philippines for our church)

· You’re a Mormon too? (Yes, since birth.)

I relaxed even more when she laughed and said our story is really unusual and cute, because I met my soon-to-be American husband here in the Philippines right after getting back from a 1-year internship in the US. She asked me more questions:

· Have you lived or worked in any other country besides the US?

· Paul Wilson is your ----?

· Deborah Wilson is your -----?

Then she asked me to place the first four fingers of my right hand on the scanner, and said “Alrighty, I think that’s all I need, you can go sit and wait for your number to be called.” I was surprised at how short our interview was, so I asked her “That’s it? Does that mean I’m approved?” She smiled and said “Yes!” I was so happy so I broke into a huge smile and thanked her. I proceeded to the Releasing Area, and after a few minutes, my number was called again. The guy behind the window was Filipino. He checked my files and wrote something on a page, then gave me back my appointment letter with my interview number on it. Since I opted for pickup at SM MOA, I didn’t have to fill out a delivery form. I exited the building and met my brother who patiently waited for almost 6 hours for me outside of the embassy.

So, there you go, my visa interview experience. The best tips I can give to those who are about to have their interview are to remain calm, confident and when you’re talking to the consul, just smile and be yourself. And of course, don’t forget to pray to Heavenly Father for guidance. Goodluck!

[Mr.&Mrs.EMB 55]

Looked like everything went smooth. Congratulations!

[JA_Martinez 81]

Wonderful story! Congratulations!

[Marie&Curt 10]

Looked like everything went smooth. Congratulations!

Wonderful story! Congratulations!

Thank you so much! God bless

[Yanyan 3]

Thanks for sharing your story. Congratulations!

[Marie&Curt 10]

Thanks for sharing your story. Congratulations!

You're welcome, and thanks!

[filirican 3]

Congratulations!

[peace of my mind 12]

Congratulations

[jkelly07 120]

congratulations.

[Leatherneck 693]

Congratulations!

[blk 87]

Congratulations & all the best for the future ☺

[Peace500 28]

Congratulations !!!!! You guys look absolutely amazing together very cute couple

[magda_pearl 5]

Congratulations! Wish you happiness and good luck! *_*

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Congratulations! Great pics too

[Travyz 3]

Congratulations!