Manila K1 Interview Experience - 2/12/2014

[sevenrider860 9]

My fiancee had her interview today and I went with her. I thought I would provide my experience for anybody interested.

We drove into Manila Wednesday night and stayed in the Marriott Hotel across from Terminal 3. My fiancee's appointment was at 7:30. Not knowing how the traffic would be we left the hotel a 6:15.

We arrived at the embassy at 6:50 AM and there was no outside line for the Spouse or K1 interviews. A woman looked at the appointment and DS-160 confirmations, placed a label on the passport and put it into a plastic bag. Were were then directed through security.

** For any US Citizen attending the interview, you can go through the US Citizen security door and meet your fiancee on the other side. What is the difference? If you are a US Citizen you can have any of the "Not Allowed" items in your possession (phone, lighter, usb stick, etc) and they will hold them for you until you leave.

After security we stood in a short line to get a number assigned and stapled to the DS-160 Confirmation form. We were then directed to enter the building and hand our form in at Window 38. The main building has a second basic security check for everybody. Before we could proceed to Window 38, a lady looked at our appointment letter and had us go back outside to the waiting area. The electronic number boards were not working so every so often they would announce ticket numbers (about 20 at a time and have the group enter the building). There is a small snack bar in the outside waiting area to get something to eat and drink if you missed breakfast.

At 8:20 AM the group with our number was called and we were brought in to process through Step 1 (BIO / Finger Scan). we completed this step and waited for Step 2 which is Pre-Screening.

At 8:45 we went to Step 2 Pre-Screening. The Filipina worker collected the required papers and asked my Fiancee a few questions.

Papers requested:

• Appointment Confirmation
• Birth Certificate
• CENOMAR
• NBI Clearance
• St Luke Medical Envelope
• BPI visa payment receipt.

Questions asked:

• How, when and where did we meet
• Was I previously married
• Did I have any kids (minors or adults)
• Were my parents in the US
• What was her final address in the US
• She asked me how many times a year I visit the Philippines
• She asked if I had any updated pictures together and then returned them

We were then told to go to Step 3 for the Oath taking.

At 9:00 my fiancee read her oath and confirmed it with a finger print scan. This was the only step in the process where I was asked to step away from the window. Once completed we sat down and waited for for Step 4 which is the Interview.

At 10:55 we were at the Step 4 Interview window. The CO asked my fiancee a single question - "Where will you be living.". He asked me a few questions about how many times I have visited over the last two years, what I was doing (working, vacation, etc). He actually asked me more questions than my Fiancee. He was a very nice guy. Flipping through the packet he asked me if I had any recent pictures together so he did not have to look for them. Once completed he told my Fiancee that the visa was approved and handed her a domestic violence pamphlet.

I took this opportunity to ask about the Affidavit of Support no longer being required. The statement back to me was "It was never really required. At this point in the process we have an idea about things and will only ask for it if there are any concerns." I did not ask any other follow-up questions on the subject.

At 11:05 were were at Step 5 where we confirmed the delivery address and the final comment made to my fiancee was "Go home and wait for your visa".

We left the embassy around 11:10, caught a cab and were back at the hotel by 11:45 AM.

Even with the electronic number board not working, it was not that bad of a process. The only person who did not seem to be outgoing and friendly was the person doing the finger print scanning. I did not find him rude in anyway, but he was not as friendly as everybody else we dealt with.

I hope everybody has a similar pleasant experience. Now we play the waiting game for the visa delivery....

Edited February 12, 2015 by sevenrider860

[Greenbaum 12,260]

Congrats. The difficult climb up the hill just got easier not that you have the visa interview behind. Many of us have attended our wife's USEM interview and walked away with a similar experience. I for one, will never forget and advise anyone else thinking about attending their fiancé's interview.... just do it.

[Hank_ 9,174]

You should add this to your Embassy review in your timeline. That way it sticks around for others to read much later.

Yup, I agree attending the interview is a great experience and I highly recommend it also.

Interesting the CO's commend about the I-134, which does fit with the wording change in the new embassy instructions letter. Looks like the I-134 is heading the same way as the LOI, and the DOO-DOO bird.

[VOL 425]

I think we had the same CO, He was cool cat and happy, He asked me most of the questions also and told us we were approved.

That was good you asking him about the Affidavit of Support, Interesting his comment........

Congrats...

[Blueblood 5]

Sevenrider, that is one excellent Embassy Report and I thank you very much. I'm just sad I cannot attend my fiancé's interview, but it is what it is.

How hard was it to find the K1 line (or lack thereof) in the morning?

Congratulations, and your fiancé is clearly a very lovely young lady. You are blessed.

[Hank_ 9,174]

The guards outside the embassy will get everyone situated in the correct line.

[sevenrider860 9]

Sevenrider, that is one excellent Embassy Report and I thank you very much. I'm just sad I cannot attend my fiancé's interview, but it is what it is.

How hard was it to find the K1 line (or lack thereof) in the morning?

Congratulations, and your fiancé is clearly a very lovely young lady. You are blessed.

As Hank indicates, there are covered lanes with numbers outside the embassy and a guard will look at the appointment confirmation and direct you to the correct lane. From that point things are pretty easy. Go through security and get a number. Once inside the main building it is a process of Step 1 through Step 5 and certain steps are split based on the last digit of the number assigned. Plenty of assistants directing folks around and every one of them seemed to be friendly. If there is a question at any time, just have your fiancee ask one of the assistants.

[sevenrider860 9]

Congrats. The difficult climb up the hill just got easier not that you have the visa interview behind. Many of us have attended our wife's USEM interview and walked away with a similar experience. I for one, will never forget and advise anyone else thinking about attending their fiancé's interview.... just do it.

I never considered not attending the interview...of course I come out here 3 to 4 times a year, so my circumstances certainly allowed it. I did tell my fiancee that she was on her own for the CFO!

[Blueblood 5]

Thanks for input, Hank and Seven. Great thread!