How long does Embassy Interview take?

[RA_PH1 5]

I apologize if this is a dumb question. How long should you plan on spending in the Embassy to do the interview on the date of?

 

I will be traveling with my fiancé and staying with her in Manila while she does her Medical exam and Embassy interview. We plan to get a hotel near the embassy. Her appointment is the earliest at 7:00AM. I understand I won't be able to go in, but I will accompany her outside till she gets in. I also understand that we should get there way before like at 5:00AM to start lining up outside. I also understand that the actual interview with a consular officer is usually just 2 to 5 minutes long. But I am not sure about the rest of the process. I know that she will have to go through several stations before meeting with the consular officer for the actual interview. She will also have to sit for a bit to wait between stations. 

 

Starting timer from when you are in the embassy and stopping when you are good to leave the embassy, how long is that time? 1hr, 2hr, 3hr, 4hr? I just want to gauge how long I would have to wait for her to finish. We plan to just meet up back at the hotel since she can not bring her phone. I am just curious how long I would have to wait before I can expect her to come back to the hotel. Because if she will be at the embassy all day till like 5PM, I will just plan to have a solo day and not wait around at the hotel for her. 

[top_secret 2,458]

My wife was inside the embassy about two hours.  The majority of that time was spent waiting for each of the steps.  I think that's about typical.  Some may complete it in a little faster or slower depending on luck.  It definitely won't take all day.  I don't think there's much sense lining up at 5:00am.  30 minutes before your appointment would be fine.  They will let her in at her appointment time.

[Chancy 6,243]

10 hours ago, RA_PH1 said:

I also understand that we should get there way before like at 5:00AM to start lining up outside.

 

Do NOT get there at 5am.  That would be pointless, as there is typically no line for K1 and immigrant visa applicants outside the embassy compound, and the gatekeeper would not let your fiance in until around 30 minutes before her interview timeslot.  The line outside the embassy is for non-immigrant visa applicants, like tourist or crewmen visas.  The gatekeeper may turn your fiance away and tell her to return closer to her timeslot if she arrives too early for her appointment.

 

[IWander 589]

11 hours ago, RA_PH1 said:

I apologize if this is a dumb question. How long should you plan on spending in the Embassy to do the interview on the date of?

 

I will be traveling with my fiancé and staying with her in Manila while she does her Medical exam and Embassy interview. We plan to get a hotel near the embassy. Her appointment is the earliest at 7:00AM. I understand I won't be able to go in, but I will accompany her outside till she gets in. I also understand that we should get there way before like at 5:00AM to start lining up outside. I also understand that the actual interview with a consular officer is usually just 2 to 5 minutes long. But I am not sure about the rest of the process. I know that she will have to go through several stations before meeting with the consular officer for the actual interview. She will also have to sit for a bit to wait between stations. 

 

Starting timer from when you are in the embassy and stopping when you are good to leave the embassy, how long is that time? 1hr, 2hr, 3hr, 4hr? I just want to gauge how long I would have to wait for her to finish. We plan to just meet up back at the hotel since she can not bring her phone. I am just curious how long I would have to wait before I can expect her to come back to the hotel. Because if she will be at the embassy all day till like 5PM, I will just plan to have a solo day and not wait around at the hotel for her. 

My wife showed 30 minutes before scheduled interview time.  She was finished within 2 to 3 hours 

[RA_PH1 5]

Thank you all for your input. 

 

Glad I asked, because now I know we don't have to go there super early 🙂.

 

We'll plan to get there 30 mins before her appointment time.