Manila Embassy Interview/Visa Status

[Bernie4Bien 0]

My advice to all who’ll have the interview is to make sure you got all the necessary documents pretty well-covered so that whatever they’ll ask for, it can be provided. You never know what they will ask from you so better got everything readily available. Wear smile and confidence no matter how nervous you are. Politeness is a virtue as well, especially with the consul. They can ask tricky questions so make sure you are ready for it. Anyway if you are being true and honest, no matter what / how the consul asks you, you’ll always speak for what is true. And oh, keep yourself entertained because the waiting is a lot harder than the interview itself. Look for Mr. Congeniality… he was wearing peach that day… It’s like he’s the one in-charge to help the applicants forget about the nervousness. Make friends with fellow applicants and chat with them to while away the time.

Questions from the pre-screener:

Who my petitioner is

Where, how and when we met

When he visited me, for how long

Documents she asked from me:

NBI

CENOMAR

BC

Pictures

Recent snail mails

My fiancé 2006 ITR and I-134

Questions from the consul:

Who my petitioner is

Where, how and when we met

When did he visit me, for how long, where we went and what we did

If he’s married before (when I said yes and for how many times, he got a follow up question: How can you be sure that you’ll be the last wife?)

If he got kids

His job

His favorite color (I thought it was funny but I realized, he asked because David’s emails to me that we included in our original I-129F application were in bright colors; name a color and we got it; so I just smiled and told him my fiancé’s real favorite color)

His hobbies

And the last but not the least, how did I know that I will be the last wife (yup, that question again but I could tell that he was just making fun of me because he was smiling mischievously)

It took more than 9 hrs before I was called in a 5-minute interview with the consul, so imagine the long and frustrating wait. But it was worth all the hardships, effort, preparations… everything… when I finally got the visa. It was a good sign and I knew right then that I will be approved (modesty aside ) when the consul joked around and made fun of me. When he asked me to raise my hand and swear that I would tell the truth, I asked him if I have to stand up and he said: Oh, ok… (I stood up) raise your right hand (and so I did)… now lift your left foot on the chair… and I was like “Are you serious?” and he laughed heartily as if he was enjoying having me fooled. He then said that he was just kidding and that I could just sit down. I forgot about the nervousness because I was laughing so hard. It was a breeze talking to him like we’re just close friends. I was itching to ask him if I got approved after enjoying himself kidding me but I didn’t want him to think that I was pushing my luck. All in all, the interview wasn’t so bad if not for the long wait. But like I said, having the visa and seeing the future with my honey is worth everything. I also made some friends there, sang songs while waiting for our turns and made fun of Mr. Congeniality. I also met a girl who doesn’t deserve to have a visa with the way she treated her fiancé who’s with her during the interview. I felt bad for the guy because she humiliated and embarrassed him countless times, in front of many people. She’s lucky that he’s with him. She was so nervous when she was interviewed the guy answered all the questions for her. I think she’ll be on AR (being a nosy woman, I asked her fiancé how the interview went) because she got scars on her wrist and St. Lukes asked her to see a psychiatrist first (darn right!) and also, her passport was worn out the consul ripped it (in a nice way, according to them) and asked her to apply for a new one and submit it right away. It’s not that I’m being judgmental but I think he deserves better than her… Oh well, like a cliché goes “love is blind…”

Good luck to all of you who will have their interviews…

--Mae (signing off over the weekend)

Congrats!!!!

And thanks so much for the info!!!

I thought all the waiting would kill me, but now I see that was just preparation for this step...getting all the documents ready for the interview!

CONGRATULATIONS DAVID & MAE!!!!

[Bernie4Bien 0]

'island_princess'

You can bring your NOA2 (and photocopy), or you can print out your schedule at USEM web and that will be your appointment letter/schedule. You can also call SLEC and request for a packet pick-up with them, so when you go there to pick up your packet, you can also go ahead and have your medical. SLEC: 521-0020 or 521-8647. Packet pick-up is located at the ground floor to the right (Window E or F).

'jeng'

Your POE is the first US state you arrived/landed in and that will be HAWAII.

'imaskin'

They did not get my CXR plates. The Immigration officer is Pinay and she told me I can even throw it away and that it is not really needed since the results are already inside the "envelop" and that is what they need. But just keep your CXR plates in your home as souvineer.

'Bernie4Bien'

For the Medical:

Appointment letter (and photo copy)

3 pieces Photo (write name and put signature at the back of the photos, I also put there my MNL#

$95 (to be paid in pesos depending on the current exchange rate at USEM)

Passport

For CFO: They have 3 sessions every day (For Filipino Spouses and other Partners of Foreign Nationals) and they can accomodate about 12-15 per sessions. If you want to finish early, you may want to attend the 10AM session, next will be at 130pm and the next will be at 330pm.

honeysweet'

CONGRATS!!!

THANK YOU!

I am done with my CFO today.....got my certificates! Yippeyyyy

[vsmtghdy 2]

Just wanted to let everybody knows that I finally got my visa yesterday - 7 days after my interview. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Now it's time to pack my things and be with my David!

--Mae

CONGRATS DAVID AND MAE!!! And thanks for sharing your Interview experience, that will be a great help for those who are still waiting for their interview scheds...

[Bernie4Bien 0]

Just wanted to let everybody knows that I finally got my visa yesterday - 7 days after my interview. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Now it's time to pack my things and be with my David!

--Mae

CONGRATS DAVID AND MAE!!! And thanks for sharing your Interview experience, that will be a great help for those who are still waiting for their interview scheds...

CONGRATULATIONS DAVID & MAE!

[Bernie4Bien 0]

'Bernie4Bien'

For the Medical:

Appointment letter (and photo copy)

3 pieces Photo (write name and put signature at the back of the photos, I also put there my MNL#

$95 (to be paid in pesos depending on the current exchange rate at USEM)

Passport

For CFO: They have 3 sessions every day (For Filipino Spouses and other Partners of Foreign Nationals) and they can accomodate about 12-15 per sessions. If you want to finish early, you may want to attend the 10AM session, next will be at 130pm and the next will be at 330pm.

THANK YOU VSMTGHDY!!!!

I completed my CFO in Cebu yesterday......got my certificates as well!!!!

Next preparation will be the medical, then the most awaited interview.....getting closer now...

God bless us all!

[David-and-Mae 15]

Just wanted to let everybody knows that I finally got my visa yesterday - 7 days after my interview. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Now it's time to pack my things and be with my David!

--Mae

CONGRATS DAVID AND MAE!!! And thanks for sharing your Interview experience, that will be a great help for those who are still waiting for their interview scheds...

Thanks (Ate) Helen! Thank you for all the advices that you and Ate Cora gave me... It took so long for me to post my interview experience. Been busy packing things and spending more time with my family.

I thought my experience would help others who are dreading and getting nervous about their upcoming interview appointments...

Good luck all!!!

-- Mae (signed in for a minute, signing off again )

[Christine n Carl 0]

HELLO VJer's

I have a tough question here. When I filled out the G-325A biographic information (part of K1 visa petition package) for my fiancee she supplied me with the information for it. One of the things they requested was work history of last five years. Well when filling out DS-157 Form today with fiancee, it asks for last two jobs and also education history. SO when Im filling the date information out, I discover she gave me incorrect dates for work history that now conflict with her school dates of attendance. Not really sure what to do? Should I just make sure everything matches up on DS-157 form? or leave school attendance dates blank and make work history same as G-325A? ANy thoughts?

Thankyou

Carl

[RonMay 1]

HELLO VJer's

I have a tough question here. When I filled out the G-325A biographic information (part of K1 visa petition package) for my fiancee she supplied me with the information for it. One of the things they requested was work history of last five years. Well when filling out DS-157 Form today with fiancee, it asks for last two jobs and also education history. SO when Im filling the date information out, I discover she gave me incorrect dates for work history that now conflict with her school dates of attendance. Not really sure what to do? Should I just make sure everything matches up on DS-157 form? or leave school attendance dates blank and make work history same as G-325A? ANy thoughts?

Thankyou

Carl

you could ask her or who knows she's a working student back then like i was. i was working as a student assistant in our school for a yr so the date of school and work contradict... i hope it'll work out fine though good luck!

[Christine n Carl 0]

HELLO VJer's

I have a tough question here. When I filled out the G-325A biographic information (part of K1 visa petition package) for my fiancee she supplied me with the information for it. One of the things they requested was work history of last five years. Well when filling out DS-157 Form today with fiancee, it asks for last two jobs and also education history. SO when Im filling the date information out, I discover she gave me incorrect dates for work history that now conflict with her school dates of attendance. Not really sure what to do? Should I just make sure everything matches up on DS-157 form? or leave school attendance dates blank and make work history same as G-325A? ANy thoughts?

Thankyou

Carl

you could ask her or who knows she's a working student back then like i was. i was working as a student assistant in our school for a yr so the date of school and work contradict... i hope it'll work out fine though good luck!

Hi

Sorry I should have added, now that we were working on DS-157 form I have all the correct information (dates) from her. The problem is it contradicts what she gave me earlier on immigration forms we filled. After much thought we have the correct dates now but will that be a problem because they dont match DS-157 to G-325A?

Oh well how inportant is it to put dates of attendance on DS-157?

thanks

[RonMay 1]

HELLO VJer's

I have a tough question here. When I filled out the G-325A biographic information (part of K1 visa petition package) for my fiancee she supplied me with the information for it. One of the things they requested was work history of last five years. Well when filling out DS-157 Form today with fiancee, it asks for last two jobs and also education history. SO when Im filling the date information out, I discover she gave me incorrect dates for work history that now conflict with her school dates of attendance. Not really sure what to do? Should I just make sure everything matches up on DS-157 form? or leave school attendance dates blank and make work history same as G-325A? ANy thoughts?

Thankyou

Carl

you could ask her or who knows she's a working student back then like i was. i was working as a student assistant in our school for a yr so the date of school and work contradict... i hope it'll work out fine though good luck!

Hi

Sorry I should have added, now that we were working on DS-157 form I have all the correct information (dates) from her. The problem is it contradicts what she gave me earlier on immigration forms we filled. After much thought we have the correct dates now but will that be a problem because they dont match DS-157 to G-325A?

Oh well how inportant is it to put dates of attendance on DS-157?

thanks

let say an honest mistake??? as long as what she'll gona bring to her interview (all the DS-forms) are all correct infos then it should be fine. that's my opinion. i think my then fiance (now husband) had a mistake on our I-134 a good thing they didnt ask for it during my interview. and my friend had a different answer to her G325 from the DS-157, but we were told that we'll just have to correct everything, make it "right" in the final DS-forms for the interview... i hope itll work on you too

[Sheriff Uling 3]

This was something quick and fun that someone made for me...

Hehehehehehe!!!!

[busycharlie 0]

That is too cool!!!!

Charlie

[Christine n Carl 0]

Hello

Got another question regarding DS-156 Form. Block 24 ask's "At what address will you stay in the US?"

Well I do not recieve mail at my physical address but at a PO BOX. I have been using the PO BOX on all references to my address in the past to ensure any mail would make it to me. This question implies a physical address. Should I put my physical address vice my mailing address?

Thanks

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Hello

Got another question regarding DS-156 Form. Block 24 ask's "At what address will you stay in the US?"

Well I do not recieve mail at my physical address but at a PO BOX. I have been using the PO BOX on all references to my address in the past to ensure any mail would make it to me. This question implies a physical address. Should I put my physical address vice my mailing address?

Thanks

Physical Address!!!

[Dakine 26]

Hello

Got another question regarding DS-156 Form. Block 24 ask's "At what address will you stay in the US?"

Well I do not recieve mail at my physical address but at a PO BOX. I have been using the PO BOX on all references to my address in the past to ensure any mail would make it to me. This question implies a physical address. Should I put my physical address vice my mailing address?

Thanks

I had a problem with one form when I just put my physical address and my PO sent it back to USCIS.

It wasn't the DS 156 [did it on it also]! but ever since that happened I type Physical address ! BLAH BLAH and Mailing Address! Blah blah. and if not enuf room I put an attachment.

Worked all the way thru AOS