CR 1 US visa interview experience @US Embassy Manila - July 10, 2014

[Carliz0810 1]

Like other hopeful immigrants we also tried to search and read most recent experiences on US visa interview at the US Embassy in Manila. So I thought it would also be helpful for other if I will share my CR 1 with CR 2 US visa interview experience. When I was so anxious waiting for the V-Day (Visa interview day), I have been reading blogs about their experiences from filling to medical at St. Luke’s until they reach the POE (Point of Entry). It is best to have some little knowledge on what would you expect during your interview.

There is a message inside the US Embassy – Spread the secret, “There is no SECRET in getting a US Visa”. It was indeed pretty easy to pass. I guess it is just very important to have all your ***documents completed very carefully and “accurately”.

We filed our application online with RapidVisa (www.RapidVisa.com) which is a pretty reliable visa processor that has an office in front of US Embassy. They offer a lot of assistance and guaranteed Visa approval (or get your money back ).

So after 9 months, we got our interview date – July 10, 2014. My daughter and I went for our medical by June 17^th and completed it on June 20th. Spent 18k pesos for the medical and took the medical for roughly 2 to 3 working days. Lucky enough I did not have to undergo Sputum test which will ruin your interview schedule. Why? – I have read some blogs about their Sputum test experience wherein they were asked to come to St. Luke’s with an empty stomach at 6 AM to spit out phlegm (specimen) for 3 days. If the result is negative, you need to wait 2 more months because they will “culture” the specimen as it may turn out to be positive after sometime. If positive, they will have to cure you for 6 months wherein you need to go to St. Luke’s every single day to be monitored and take some medicine. BUT if you are really a very healthy person, you can complete your medical (if you start very early) in one day.

Reminders: No menstruation. Take note on the first and last day of your last period. If you have taken shots within the last 6 months, might as well have a record of it or get a medical certificate. If you wear contact lens, bring your cases because you will be asked for it to be removed. It is best to stay healthy – means no cough or colds or any illness within 3 months you plan to take your medical.

Take the online application before going to St. Luke’s – it’s for your own convenience.

Once done, they would normally give you the “vaccine report” and a sealed “CD” of your XRAY. It needs to be presented once you are in POE (Point of Entry).

So as we wait for the VDay, I tried to gather as much documents as I can. We were so anxious because we can’t afford to be delayed since we already bought our ticket. We need to consider how much the ticket price might go up if we buy a little late.

When you get your interview date, you will receive an email that has an attachment of the instructions and what other documents you need to bring during your interview. The last page of the attachment has the list of all the documents and its status. You will see letter C, W, R, O, $, I and F. The interpretation of the status is on the 3^rd page. I really didn’t know how to read it until the RapidVisa employee explained it me. I went to their office a day before our interview. And so because I was not aware of such interpretation – I gather as much as documents I can which are as follows:

*Documents asked/taken by Immigration officers

• *Appointment letter
• *Passport (most recent)
• *CEMAR/CENOMAR (NSO)—married or not, this is mandatory. It only takes 5 working days if you get it in NSO Quezon City but as per your convenience if you can afford to get online, much better.
• *2x2 Visa Photo –if possible identical to the one you used during your medical.
• *Wedding Photos – should be in different background, different dress, with different people (friends/relatives). If possible has a date on it from the camera setting and not edited. If it has no date on, it’s fine. **Tips from a VisaCoach in YouTube

Documents they didn’t even care to check –

• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• NBI Clearance – if you already sent this to NVC and they confirmed, most likely it will not be asked. But can’t take my chances so I still tried to get a new NBI clearance.
• Husband Travel Documents (Boarding Passes, Flight Itineraries)
• Receipts
• Money Transfers (Western Union)
• Hotel Vouchers
• Facebook Conversations/ Skype Chat Logs --screenshots of random conversation where you guys were planning or discussing your future together. **Tips from a VisaCoach in YouTube.
• Ds-260 Confirmation –normally this is filed “electronically”. I still printed out a copy –pretty informative.

As expected, the US embassy should have already received all these documents sent by NVC. But just in case (it happened for some) these documents got lost, it would be best to have your own copy. Normally the petitioner already sent the originals to NVC- so scanned copy with the signature is OKAY to be printed out and show/submit when asked by Immigration Officers. I had a co-sponsor so the forms they submitted might also be required.

• I-864 Form
• 1040 ITR most recent
• W-2s most recent
• Pay Stubs – most recent but we printed out the most recent 5 pay stub
• Employment Letter.

You can see the status most of these documents on your interview letter. As a first time, I was really paranoid that we might get delayed or denied if I didn’t bring any of these. I had like an inch of document. But you know what, they only asked for my CENOMAR/CEMAR because it will show the marriage you have and/or had.

I believe documents being asked are case to case basis. There are cases that didn’t go through the NVC that is why they wait for only around 2 to 3 months **roughly. For us, we got a little delay on the Affidavit of Support and Police/NBI clearance that’s why it took us 9 months.

So here is what I have experienced on July 10, 2014 at 6:15 AM - my Vday.

We booked for Bayview Park Hotel which is not really the best hotel you would want to book if you say “walking distance”. Haha. It’s like a - 15 minute walk to the entrance where you will have your interview. (Near the foot bridge). We went out at 4 AM hoping we can be finished as early as 8 AM. As I said, it’s kind of far and there are constructions on your way to the footbridge to cross on your way to the embassy. So we took a cab and pay 50 pesos. Bayview Park Hotel is a good place to stay though, my daughter and mother loved it. Like the other immigration applicants –I was not able to sleep thinking of what the interview might become.

As early as 4:30 you will be called by the Security guard to fall in line within their boundary. There are vendors everywhere selling ballpen, 2x2 photos (you will only need 2 and not 4 as they). I was even only asked for 1 photo. Vendors also tell that you can sit on a mono block chair that is actually for rent. When I was there, no one tried to sit even the senior citizens. I already knew you need to pay and I told my mom not to entertain them. One thing that is very important which you will read on most blogs, NEVER bring any electronic device because they will not allow it inside and due to limited space, the embassy will not keep it for you. The vendors will also offer that they can keep your electronic devices ranging from 300 to 400 pesos – depends on the device and even on the model. Tell me, how can you trust them with your expensive electronic device, pay them and only get an ID? So might as well leave it home or in your hotel.

At exactly 6 AM, security officers will call the Immigrants applicants to go inside. There will be 2 people that will ask for the PASSPORT and FIRST PAGE of the APPOINTMENT letter. They will give you a 2Go form and put a sticker on your passport that will match on the 2Go Form. My mom was left outside because only those with appointment letter will be allowed to go inside. So mom had to wait outside.

As you go inside the security, there is a window where you will get your number. They will instruct you to go to DOOR 2 and drop the APPOINTMENT LETTER at Window 39. There will be assisting officers that you can ask questions where to go and help you. The assisting officers will keep on calling and get your attention that no APPOINTMENT letter should be on hand. Because it will delay you or worst not be called.

FIRST WINDOW/STAGE (Biometrics) – Your number will be flashed to go to Window 42 or whatever window is ready to serve - for FingerScann. During our interview, it was an American who did the FingerScan. Numbers called are in random – Senior Citizen and PWD first.

They take your appointment letter so that they can check and pull up your documents. I had a little delayed on my papers because it seemed that I was being asked to go back to St. Luke’s for medical, but I made it clear that I was already done. So it took us roughly an hour and a half to be called.

SECOND WINDOW/STAGE (Filipino Immigration Officer) – I was called to this window first-Window 51. For verification, you will be asked for your FULL NAME and DATE of Birth. Since I have my daughter, he also needed to confirm her name and date of birth. Then he started asking questions.

1.) Who is my petitioner?

2.) How did we meet?

3.) First time we talk

4.) When did we start the formal relationship?

5) When did we personally see each other?

6.) When was the last time I saw him?

7.) Did he have a previous marriage?

8.) Did I have any previous marriage?

9.) What does he do for a living?

10.) Who is (my co-sponsor)?

11.) Have you ever been out of the country?

Then he asked for my CENOMAR and passport and said okay, good luck to your final interview! Again, he called my attention to ask if I needed an interpreter and said that I don’t need one.

Since we haven’t been to first window/STAGE – we were later called again to first window for Biometrics then went back to our seat and waited to be called.

THIRD WINDOW/STAGE (American Consul) – So our number flashed and was asked to go to Window 60. A pleasantly smiling American lady was waiting for us. She told me to raise my right hand and recite the oath I understand. It was written in English, Tagalog and Visayan. After with the oath, I was asked for my full name and date of birth and scanned my finger prints again. Did it twice on behalf of my daughter which was goofing around while I was so nervous talking with the American consul. (Imagine that).

1. So you guys applied the visa online?
2. Where did you meet?
3. When was the last time you saw him?
4. What made you guys fall in love to each other?
5. What is the relationship of (co-sponsor) to your husband?
6. What does your husband do for a living?
7. Have you ever been out of the country? I said no and she said “Wow big change!”
8. "Are you going to work there, I mean what is your plan?"

And then she asked my daughter:

-What is your name?

-When is your birthday?

-Have you met the petitioner?

-Were you on the wedding? Do you have pictures? - This time, I was the one who answered by showing her the photos. I only had 20 photos with me and looked on each. She made a complement our dress during the wedding.

Immigration officers will only ask questions based on the documents you have. A little more personal and logical question – but all you have to do is be honest.

And then she said, “Okay, that’s it! Everything looks great to me! Please take a seat and wait for the instructions.

I thought that was everything, I was pretty sure we got approved until another window called for numbers.

FOURTH WINDOW/STAGE - (Filipino Immigration officer) – So this officer will call 10 numbers and asks them to fall in line. I was on Window 71 - one by one he told us what was noted on our application. There are some who were asked for some documents that means they were approved but will be a little delayed until the embassy received the requested documents. A little lengthy conversation compared to the first 3 officers (around 5 to 10 minutes). If you are approved and no further documents being asked, he will say – “Okay, you can now go home and wait for your passport and visa to be delivered. But first go to Window 69 first (the 2Go window)”.

I haven’t heard anyone being denied yet during my interview, so I really have no idea how it works for them. And the American consul will not tell anything about your visa being denied or approved. But all the instructions will all come from this window/stage.

FIFTH WINDOW/STAGE (THE 2Go Guy) – So the form from the beginning will be given so you can fill it out while waiting. It will ask for your CASE number and other details. The 2Go guy only validates the CASE number from the appointment letter that will be returned to you when you were given instructions. Once validated, you will be asked to go home. I asked when will I receive the visa and he told me that once I received a text (so it’s important that you memorize your cellphone number) it will be delivered the next day. There is also a visa tracker online where you can check if it has been issued for you. We were done by 9:30 AM. And our visa have been issued the same day .

[dalidali 0]

Very informative and thank you so much for taking the time to share your personal experiences.

Congratulations!!

[Ryan H 3,828]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.