US Embassy Manila interview

[michey8988 2]

Hello,

Just want to ask if anyone here had their interview at Manila embassy ? And if yes is their any tips on what would they ask for questions and docs? I know cenomar will be one and my most recent tax.. Is there anything else we need to be ready for?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Philippines regional forum.

[poolbruce 22]

yes, each interviewer is different. Ours held ours up a month because my wife only brought 10 chats, so my wife had to send in 50 more-really weird

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Hello,

Just want to ask if anyone here had their interview at Manila embassy ? And if yes is their any tips on what would they ask for questions and docs? I know cenomar will be one and my most recent tax.. Is there anything else we need to be ready for?

What visa are you trying to attain? I can't find it in your profile. If it is K1/K2 then the following will apply.

Each interview is different because each applicant has a different background and therefore the prediction that you will pass or they will ask you such and such question cannot be predicted. Having said that, the most important recommendations for your interview are, be positive, look the CO in the eyes when answering questions, be confident and most of all be honest. Your main objective, and what they are looking for is that you have a bonifide relationship and you intend to get married.

The documents you will need are contained in the instructions found here: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/325288/packets/K1%20and%20K2%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_updated%2004%20Feb%202014_.pdf

If you have any questions this is where you ask them. There are many who will help you along the way.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello,

Just want to ask if anyone here had their interview at Manila embassy ? And if yes is their any tips on what would they ask for questions and docs? I know cenomar will be one and my most recent tax.. Is there anything else we need to be ready for?

You are IR/CR-1?

Follow the embassy instructions letter for required documents.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3224.html

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/865058/instructionpackets/IV%20Applicants_%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20_as%20of%2017%20September%202013_%20without%20footer.pdf

[sweet cakes 326]

Hello,

Just want to ask if anyone here had their interview at Manila embassy ? And if yes is their any tips on what would they ask for questions and docs? I know cenomar will be one and my most recent tax.. Is there anything else we need to be ready for?

Follow Hank's listed links for the embassy interview requirements. For consulate reviews, some VJ members added theirs here:http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Philippines&cty=&dfilter=5

-Depends on what type of visa you're applying for, there is a drop down menu in "topic", at the upper right part of the screen.

Also, in google, you might be able to find some useful blogs of those who shared their visa experiences as well. All the best!

[Al422 221]

My view is that there is no such thing as too many documents. If there is anything they could conceivably want, bring it. The worst that can come from that is you print too much.

Candy goes next month. She will have the 50 pages of chats, together with Skype logs showing 120 hours on Skype. She has all the photos of us together plus photos of the engagment party her parents threw for us. She has 42 pages of emails..

In terms of documents, she has her CENOMAR, certified, her NBI, certified, COCs from all foreign nations she has lived in, a color photocopy of my passport and hers, certified copies of both our birth certificates, key documents from our original 129(f), new promises to marry in both narrative and affidavit formats, new statement on how we met, 3 year of my taxes (W-2, 1040 and IRS transcripts), 6 months of my paystubs, letter from the personnel department at my company. I hope I covered it all.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

My view is that there is no such thing as too many documents. If there is anything they could conceivably want, bring it. The worst that can come from that is you print too much.

Candy goes next month. She will have the 50 pages of chats, together with Skype logs showing 120 hours on Skype. She has all the photos of us together plus photos of the engagment party her parents threw for us. She has 42 pages of emails..

In terms of documents, she has her CENOMAR, certified, her NBI, certified, COCs from all foreign nations she has lived in, a color photocopy of my passport and hers, certified copies of both our birth certificates, key documents from our original 129(f), new promises to marry in both narrative and affidavit formats, new statement on how we met, 3 year of my taxes (W-2, 1040 and IRS transcripts), 6 months of my paystubs, letter from the personnel department at my company. I hope I covered it all.

I think you forgot the kitchen sink! I don't think I am wrong in saying this but most here who have past NEVER had that much "support" materials. After the interview you will realize just what I mean by that. Good luck just the same.

[Hank_ 9,174]

My view is that there is no such thing as too many documents. If there is anything they could conceivably want, bring it. The worst that can come from that is you print too much.

Candy goes next month. She will have the 50 pages of chats, together with Skype logs showing 120 hours on Skype. She has all the photos of us together plus photos of the engagment party her parents threw for us. She has 42 pages of emails..

In terms of documents, she has her CENOMAR, certified, her NBI, certified WILL ONLY TAKE THE ORIGINALS FROM NSO & NBI ON THEIR SECURITY PAPER, COCs from all foreign nations she has lived in, a color photocopy of my passport and hers WON'T ASK FOR THEM NOR WILL THEY TAKE THEM, certified copies of both our birth certificates WILL ONLY TAKE THE NSO CERTIFICATE , key documents from our original 129(f) EMBASSY HAS THE ORIGINAL PETITION FROM USCIS, new promises to marry in both narrative and affidavit formats (YOU CAN HAVE OURS, EMBASSY NEVER TOOK THEM), new statement on how we met FOR SURE WON'T ASK FOR THIS, 3 year of my taxes (W-2, 1040 and IRS transcripts) WILL ONLY TAKE THE MOST RECENT (WILL REFUSE TO TAKE OTHER YEARS IF YOU TRY TO HAND THEM TO THE CO), 6 months of my paystubs, letter from the personnel department at my company. I hope I covered it all.

What to bring or not bring to the interview at USEM? The EMBASSY INSTRUCTIONS LETTER lists it all, and is good to print out and use as a checklist, if it is not listed there it is not needed.

Now under tab "h" Evidence of a Genuine Engagement there is a whole lot of latitude as to what you can bring... let your imagination run wild is the rule for some. Do remember the interview is 3-5 minutes long, DO you think the CO is going to read 50 pages of chat, or 120 hours of skype logs, or 42 pages of emails, let alone look at hundreds of photos?

Will bringing all the extra documents change the outcome of the interview? ... heck no. Will it improve your chances of being approved? Highly doubtful.

as the saying goes - never DO-DO when DO will DO.

Good Luck

Edited April 29, 2014 by Hank_

[Al422 221]

Hi Hank,

I appreciate your advice as I always do, but I am more on top of this than you think:

WILL ONLY TAKE THE ORIGINALS FROM NSO & NBI ON THEIR SECURITY PAPER: Candy already know this, and that is exactly what we have.

A color photocopy of my passport and hers WON'T ASK FOR THEM NOR WILL THEY TAKE THEM: We have them; I figured mine was a waste but threw it in anyway, and if they don't want hers, we will toss that too. No problem.

WILL ONLY TAKE THE NSO CERTIFICATE , Got that.

Key documents from our original 129(f) EMBASSY HAS THE ORIGINAL PETITION FROM USCIS: I know that but I heard of cases where it wasn't in their file, so we are prepared for that.

New promises to marry in both narrative and affidavit formats (YOU CAN HAVE OURS, EMBASSY NEVER TOOK THEM): I heard they wanted them. If they don't we throw them away, no problem

New statement on how we met FOR SURE WON'T ASK FOR THIS ,: No problem, more lining for the garbage can

3 year of my taxes (W-2, 1040 and IRS transcripts) WILL ONLY TAKE THE MOST RECENT (WILL REFUSE TO TAKE OTHER YEARS IF YOU TRY TO HAND THEM TO THE CO), 6 months of my paystubs, letter from the personnel department at my company. I hope I covered it all: I heard 3 years; if they want only one, no problem, but i also heard cases of people running into trouble with only 1

As for genuine engagement, I agree with you that the man is not going to want to read 42 pages of emails or 50 pages of Yahoo. But he can see that they exist, and if he wants to read one or two pages,. he may have whatever he likes.

The Skype is just a list of dates and times, and I totaled the online time myself.

Photos: About 12 of us and about 8 from the engagement party showing her whole family.

We have a red flag for genuine engagement that I am trying to overcome. We only met in person once, but I have a reason: I have cancer, and my health will not allow multiple trips to the Philippines. The one trip I did made such a mess of me that my oncologist made it clear that further trips would be against his medical advice. I don't want to play this card because it opens up a Pandora's box of worries by the consular officer that maybe I will be too sick to work and cannot support her. If she is asked about my health I told Candy to not lie but to put a positive spin on things. But I also told her to not open Pandora's box if he does not ask her to. So I want to overcome this red flag in other ways.

Hope it will work. What do you think?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi Hank,

I appreciate your advice as I always do, but I am more on top of this than you think:

WILL ONLY TAKE THE ORIGINALS FROM NSO & NBI ON THEIR SECURITY PAPER: Candy already know this, and that is exactly what we have.

A color photocopy of my passport and hers WON'T ASK FOR THEM NOR WILL THEY TAKE THEM: We have them; I figured mine was a waste but threw it in anyway, and if they don't want hers, we will toss that too. No problem.

WILL ONLY TAKE THE NSO CERTIFICATE , Got that.

Key documents from our original 129(f) EMBASSY HAS THE ORIGINAL PETITION FROM USCIS: I know that but I heard of cases where it wasn't in their file, so we are prepared for that.

New promises to marry in both narrative and affidavit formats (YOU CAN HAVE OURS, EMBASSY NEVER TOOK THEM): I heard they wanted them. If they don't we throw them away, no problem

New statement on how we met FOR SURE WON'T ASK FOR THIS ,: No problem, more lining for the garbage can

3 year of my taxes (W-2, 1040 and IRS transcripts) WILL ONLY TAKE THE MOST RECENT (WILL REFUSE TO TAKE OTHER YEARS IF YOU TRY TO HAND THEM TO THE CO), 6 months of my paystubs, letter from the personnel department at my company. I hope I covered it all: I heard 3 years; if they want only one, no problem, but i also heard cases of people running into trouble with only 1

As for genuine engagement, I agree with you that the man is not going to want to read 42 pages of emails or 50 pages of Yahoo. But he can see that they exist, and if he wants to read one or two pages,. he may have whatever he likes.

The Skype is just a list of dates and times, and I totaled the online time myself.

Photos: About 12 of us and about 8 from the engagement party showing her whole family.

We have a red flag for genuine engagement that I am trying to overcome. We only met in person once, but I have a reason: I have cancer, and my health will not allow multiple trips to the Philippines. The one trip I did made such a mess of me that my oncologist made it clear that further trips would be against his medical advice. I don't want to play this card because it opens up a Pandora's box of worries by the consular officer that maybe I will be too sick to work and cannot support her. If she is asked about my health I told Candy to not lie but to put a positive spin on things. But I also told her to not open Pandora's box if he does not ask her to. So I want to overcome this red flag in other ways.

Hope it will work. What do you think?

A copy of the BIO page of your passport (USC) is not a waste, nor is a copy of your birth certificate... for CFO.

If the embassy does not have your I-129F file from USCIS... you will not be interviewed, it's that simple, whether you brought your own personal copy or not.

3 years of tax returns has not be required in many years. Old BS still floating around clogging the facts. I have never heard of anyone having issues with only the most recent tax return unless the income was inadequate for meeting the poverty guidelines.

Having new letter of intent to marry I agree with, it is just that the embassy just hasn't ask for them in years, but it is one sheet of paper I don't disagree with... yet

Only having met once in person is very common with this process, no worries there. No red flag.

Cancer sucks... you get all my best wishes with that battle (I lost my past wife to cancer) I don't see the embassy asking on this at all.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Hank_

[Al422 221]

Thanks so much Hank.

Luckily for me I have one of the best cancer surgeons in the world, Dr. Myron Schwartz, working on this, and he is confident he can give me a complete cure. I have always allowed my doctors to do whatever cancer screenings they want, and it paid off for me big time.

And my income is more than enough to meet the minimum, several times over in fact, but in the most expensive city in the USA it is still chump change. But that is not relevant here. Getting the visa is.

Thanks again for your advice. I feel better knowing how (over)prepared we are.