My CR1 visa interview experience

[Joe's Wife 4ever 0]

Finally, I had a chance to write down my visa interview at US embassy in Manila last Nov. 21. Been very busy since I arrived US last Nov. 28. I just want to help others who are not yet done with the journey. Well, it is very easy, I am just paranoid with the result. lol

I went to my interview with my husband. We had a 8:30 am schedule but I told him to be there 2 hours before the appointment time since I read to some site that better to be early since its a case to case basis. We arrived in USEM 6:30 am of that day and as we are very lucky, no line outside and the guard asked for my appointment letter, and ID and my husband's passport and allowed us to go straight to the embassy premises. Scanned my purse and ourselves too. lol Advice us to go to the immigrant visa unit. Few people are there. The guard inside let us sat down for awhile. Then called me after 30 minutes fall in line in a window that I forgot, asked for my appointment letter and gave me my queue number for the whole interview process. It was 6062. Go back to my seat where my hubby is sitting too. lol After a few minutes, I heard my name called for finger scanning. I fall in line in window 32. I was the last one on the batch but the only one who did the finger scanning very clear. lol The lady from the window and the guy outside who is holding my fingers and pressing it are talking about hollywood actors. Hehehe. And after scanning all my fingers. lol The lady whose doing the computer stuff said that I did very good job. Hehehe. My fingers are not sweating. lol They advised me to go back to my seat and wait for my number to be flash on the queue board. I never get bored since hubby has a lot of story and it was all funny. lol But I got nervous as time passed by. Whew! I dont know whats wrong with me then that I am not talking and felt like I want to faint. lol My husband told me to relax and everything will be ok. Oh, glad I went there with him. Hay. My number flashed for window 22 (this is for the Filipino pre-screener ha?) Me and hubby went there holding my very cold hands. Obviously, I am nervous. I greet the lady "Good morning" while smiling of course. She didn't noticed that I am nervous. She replied with a good morning and a smile too. She asked my husband first if he is Mr. ____. Of course he said yes. She then asked my birthday. I saw her holding all the stuff that we sent to NVC. She let me sign the DS230 part II. She asked my husband when did he arrived in Manila and they talked like they were friends. lol She then asked me how me and hubby met. She is very nice. She asked me for all the proofs of our relationship that I gathered. I gave her our wedding pictures and pictures together, phone bills, money remittances, emails, chat logs (I just got one printed and she said its ok), cards and letters, cards and letters from my mom in law too. That's it. She gave back 2 copies of my husband's phone bill since I gave her 5 copies. lol She just told me that the Consul might ask for it. She then advised us to go back to our seat and wait for my number to be flash again for the Consul's interview. We are watching those who are having their interview with the Consul since we can see it. I noticed this Consul from window 42 who is always laughing and having a good time interviewing the applicants. I told my husband then that I wish he will be our Consul interviewer. AFter an hour or less waiting my number flashed on window 41. I am sad since I like to be in window 42. We went inside and this American Consul is busy doing and talking to somebody inside. I looked at my husband and gave mne a wink. After doing his stuff, he went back to us and so we greeted him good morning. He greeted us back. He is nice and smiling face too. He looked at our papers and asked us to raise our hand and swear that our relationship is true. He then, asked me again where did we met and my birthday. He looked at my proofs and laughed with my pictures coz I made a scrapbook out of it. He said I make fun with the pictures. Hehehehe. Since I put lots of stickers and design it on my own taste. lol We are all laughing. My husband asked him from what state is he from and answered Chicago. They were talking like they were long lost friends. lol He then asked me what part of Florida is our place. *wink* of course, I knew it. Hehehehe. He then said, "ok guys, you are approved. Congratulations." As I heard those words, I felt good and very much happy. He told us to wait for my name to be called again for the visa delivery and giving back my stuff. My husband seemed so very excited and forgot to ask for a visa pick up. We went to window 38 and talked to the lady in the window for the visa pickup since we already had a confirmed flight on Nov. 28. She said that she dont have the right to decied with it and just told us that she will asked the Consul about it and wait for she will call us again. Seated and waited for about 5 minutes. She went back and called us and gave me a violet slip. Asked me to write my contact number and the person who will pickup the visa. SO that means we are approved on visa pickup too. We are both very happy. I asked her then, for how long it will take and she told me, she didnt know and it depends on how fast they will review my stuff. Oh my, I got nervous again coz I though we are on Administrative Review. Hay. But I am still happy coz the Consul told us we are approved. We left USEM around 10 am. We ate lunch at Rob and as we went back to our hotel room, my cellphone rang with inknown number. I answered it and shocked when the lady on the other line told me that my visa is ready for pickup on Friday, Nov 23 around 10 am at window 34. Yehey! I hugged my husband and gave him a sweet kiss. Finally, the long wait will be over. We went back Friday Nov. 23 and hand my violet slip at the guard and proceed to window 34. A guy inside get my slip and id and told me to wait for my name to be called. After 2 minutes, a lady called my name and handed me the brown sealed envelope and told me not to open it. Gave me the stuff for CFO stamping and gave me my passport with my visa on it. Yehey! Im very happy. All of our wait is worth it. We went to CFO for stamping after. No worries about the stamping since I am already done with my seminar. We went to our provibce for a vacation. Now with no worries and less hassle. lol

I am now here in Florida. I arrived last Nov. 28. I will never forget all the experience I had during the whole process. It made me a strong and positive person. Good luck to the rest who are still waiting. Just be patient and trust in our dear Lord, for He will never let us down. Good luck. :DHope this one would help.

[Roserick 0]

Finally.. Heheheeh.. CONGRATS Lhedy...

[sunandmoon 450]

Congrats have a happy life together here in the USA.

[Ness and Keith 0]

Hi Sis Lhedy,

Im so happy for u sis.. Congrats.. finally ur done :dance: Thanks for sharing ur experienced.. My turn 2moro Dec 5 6:30 am.. . I'm praying that all turn out ok.. we will asking also for visa pick-up..

Sis Does the POE so strick in stuff u bring? Does it ok to bring shampoo, medicine, cologne etc.. (all lady stuff)

~~Ness

Finally, I had a chance to write down my visa interview at US embassy in Manila last Nov. 21. Been very busy since I arrived US last Nov. 28. I just want to help others who are not yet done with the journey. Well, it is very easy, I am just paranoid with the result. lol

I went to my interview with my husband. We had a 8:30 am schedule but I told him to be there 2 hours before the appointment time since I read to some site that better to be early since its a case to case basis. We arrived in USEM 6:30 am of that day and as we are very lucky, no line outside and the guard asked for my appointment letter, and ID and my husband's passport and allowed us to go straight to the embassy premises. Scanned my purse and ourselves too. lol Advice us to go to the immigrant visa unit. Few people are there. The guard inside let us sat down for awhile. Then called me after 30 minutes fall in line in a window that I forgot, asked for my appointment letter and gave me my queue number for the whole interview process. It was 6062. Go back to my seat where my hubby is sitting too. lol After a few minutes, I heard my name called for finger scanning. I fall in line in window 32. I was the last one on the batch but the only one who did the finger scanning very clear. lol The lady from the window and the guy outside who is holding my fingers and pressing it are talking about hollywood actors. Hehehe. And after scanning all my fingers. lol The lady whose doing the computer stuff said that I did very good job. Hehehe. My fingers are not sweating. lol They advised me to go back to my seat and wait for my number to be flash on the queue board. I never get bored since hubby has a lot of story and it was all funny. lol But I got nervous as time passed by. Whew! I dont know whats wrong with me then that I am not talking and felt like I want to faint. lol My husband told me to relax and everything will be ok. Oh, glad I went there with him. Hay. My number flashed for window 22 (this is for the Filipino pre-screener ha?) Me and hubby went there holding my very cold hands. Obviously, I am nervous. I greet the lady "Good morning" while smiling of course. She didn't noticed that I am nervous. She replied with a good morning and a smile too. She asked my husband first if he is Mr. ____. Of course he said yes. She then asked my birthday. I saw her holding all the stuff that we sent to NVC. She let me sign the DS230 part II. She asked my husband when did he arrived in Manila and they talked like they were friends. lol She then asked me how me and hubby met. She is very nice. She asked me for all the proofs of our relationship that I gathered. I gave her our wedding pictures and pictures together, phone bills, money remittances, emails, chat logs (I just got one printed and she said its ok), cards and letters, cards and letters from my mom in law too. That's it. She gave back 2 copies of my husband's phone bill since I gave her 5 copies. lol She just told me that the Consul might ask for it. She then advised us to go back to our seat and wait for my number to be flash again for the Consul's interview. We are watching those who are having their interview with the Consul since we can see it. I noticed this Consul from window 42 who is always laughing and having a good time interviewing the applicants. I told my husband then that I wish he will be our Consul interviewer. AFter an hour or less waiting my number flashed on window 41. I am sad since I like to be in window 42. We went inside and this American Consul is busy doing and talking to somebody inside. I looked at my husband and gave mne a wink. After doing his stuff, he went back to us and so we greeted him good morning. He greeted us back. He is nice and smiling face too. He looked at our papers and asked us to raise our hand and swear that our relationship is true. He then, asked me again where did we met and my birthday. He looked at my proofs and laughed with my pictures coz I made a scrapbook out of it. He said I make fun with the pictures. Hehehehe. Since I put lots of stickers and design it on my own taste. lol We are all laughing. My husband asked him from what state is he from and answered Chicago. They were talking like they were long lost friends. lol He then asked me what part of Florida is our place. *wink* of course, I knew it. Hehehehe. He then said, "ok guys, you are approved. Congratulations." As I heard those words, I felt good and very much happy. He told us to wait for my name to be called again for the visa delivery and giving back my stuff. My husband seemed so very excited and forgot to ask for a visa pick up. We went to window 38 and talked to the lady in the window for the visa pickup since we already had a confirmed flight on Nov. 28. She said that she dont have the right to decied with it and just told us that she will asked the Consul about it and wait for she will call us again. Seated and waited for about 5 minutes. She went back and called us and gave me a violet slip. Asked me to write my contact number and the person who will pickup the visa. SO that means we are approved on visa pickup too. We are both very happy. I asked her then, for how long it will take and she told me, she didnt know and it depends on how fast they will review my stuff. Oh my, I got nervous again coz I though we are on Administrative Review. Hay. But I am still happy coz the Consul told us we are approved. We left USEM around 10 am. We ate lunch at Rob and as we went back to our hotel room, my cellphone rang with inknown number. I answered it and shocked when the lady on the other line told me that my visa is ready for pickup on Friday, Nov 23 around 10 am at window 34. Yehey! I hugged my husband and gave him a sweet kiss. Finally, the long wait will be over. We went back Friday Nov. 23 and hand my violet slip at the guard and proceed to window 34. A guy inside get my slip and id and told me to wait for my name to be called. After 2 minutes, a lady called my name and handed me the brown sealed envelope and told me not to open it. Gave me the stuff for CFO stamping and gave me my passport with my visa on it. Yehey! Im very happy. All of our wait is worth it. We went to CFO for stamping after. No worries about the stamping since I am already done with my seminar. We went to our provibce for a vacation. Now with no worries and less hassle. lol

I am now here in Florida. I arrived last Nov. 28. I will never forget all the experience I had during the whole process. It made me a strong and positive person. Good luck to the rest who are still waiting. Just be patient and trust in our dear Lord, for He will never let us down. Good luck. :DHope this one would help.

[Ness and Keith 0]

pahabol sis ..i have a question: ALL the documents that u prepare for the interview for consul review did they get it all from U and never returned it after the interview?

Ingats always and GOD BLESS!!!

[rjp44 1]

Finally, I had a chance to write down my visa interview at US embassy in Manila last Nov. 21. Been very busy since I arrived US last Nov. 28. I just want to help others who are not yet done with the journey. Well, it is very easy, I am just paranoid with the result. lol

I went to my interview with my husband. We had a 8:30 am schedule but I told him to be there 2 hours before the appointment time since I read to some site that better to be early since its a case to case basis. We arrived in USEM 6:30 am of that day and as we are very lucky, no line outside and the guard asked for my appointment letter, and ID and my husband's passport and allowed us to go straight to the embassy premises. Scanned my purse and ourselves too. lol Advice us to go to the immigrant visa unit. Few people are there. The guard inside let us sat down for awhile. Then called me after 30 minutes fall in line in a window that I forgot, asked for my appointment letter and gave me my queue number for the whole interview process. It was 6062. Go back to my seat where my hubby is sitting too. lol After a few minutes, I heard my name called for finger scanning. I fall in line in window 32. I was the last one on the batch but the only one who did the finger scanning very clear. lol The lady from the window and the guy outside who is holding my fingers and pressing it are talking about hollywood actors. Hehehe. And after scanning all my fingers. lol The lady whose doing the computer stuff said that I did very good job. Hehehe. My fingers are not sweating. lol They advised me to go back to my seat and wait for my number to be flash on the queue board. I never get bored since hubby has a lot of story and it was all funny. lol But I got nervous as time passed by. Whew! I dont know whats wrong with me then that I am not talking and felt like I want to faint. lol My husband told me to relax and everything will be ok. Oh, glad I went there with him. Hay. My number flashed for window 22 (this is for the Filipino pre-screener ha?) Me and hubby went there holding my very cold hands. Obviously, I am nervous. I greet the lady "Good morning" while smiling of course. She didn't noticed that I am nervous. She replied with a good morning and a smile too. She asked my husband first if he is Mr. ____. Of course he said yes. She then asked my birthday. I saw her holding all the stuff that we sent to NVC. She let me sign the DS230 part II. She asked my husband when did he arrived in Manila and they talked like they were friends. lol She then asked me how me and hubby met. She is very nice. She asked me for all the proofs of our relationship that I gathered. I gave her our wedding pictures and pictures together, phone bills, money remittances, emails, chat logs (I just got one printed and she said its ok), cards and letters, cards and letters from my mom in law too. That's it. She gave back 2 copies of my husband's phone bill since I gave her 5 copies. lol She just told me that the Consul might ask for it. She then advised us to go back to our seat and wait for my number to be flash again for the Consul's interview. We are watching those who are having their interview with the Consul since we can see it. I noticed this Consul from window 42 who is always laughing and having a good time interviewing the applicants. I told my husband then that I wish he will be our Consul interviewer. AFter an hour or less waiting my number flashed on window 41. I am sad since I like to be in window 42. We went inside and this American Consul is busy doing and talking to somebody inside. I looked at my husband and gave mne a wink. After doing his stuff, he went back to us and so we greeted him good morning. He greeted us back. He is nice and smiling face too. He looked at our papers and asked us to raise our hand and swear that our relationship is true. He then, asked me again where did we met and my birthday. He looked at my proofs and laughed with my pictures coz I made a scrapbook out of it. He said I make fun with the pictures. Hehehehe. Since I put lots of stickers and design it on my own taste. lol We are all laughing. My husband asked him from what state is he from and answered Chicago. They were talking like they were long lost friends. lol He then asked me what part of Florida is our place. *wink* of course, I knew it. Hehehehe. He then said, "ok guys, you are approved. Congratulations." As I heard those words, I felt good and very much happy. He told us to wait for my name to be called again for the visa delivery and giving back my stuff. My husband seemed so very excited and forgot to ask for a visa pick up. We went to window 38 and talked to the lady in the window for the visa pickup since we already had a confirmed flight on Nov. 28. She said that she dont have the right to decied with it and just told us that she will asked the Consul about it and wait for she will call us again. Seated and waited for about 5 minutes. She went back and called us and gave me a violet slip. Asked me to write my contact number and the person who will pickup the visa. SO that means we are approved on visa pickup too. We are both very happy. I asked her then, for how long it will take and she told me, she didnt know and it depends on how fast they will review my stuff. Oh my, I got nervous again coz I though we are on Administrative Review. Hay. But I am still happy coz the Consul told us we are approved. We left USEM around 10 am. We ate lunch at Rob and as we went back to our hotel room, my cellphone rang with inknown number. I answered it and shocked when the lady on the other line told me that my visa is ready for pickup on Friday, Nov 23 around 10 am at window 34. Yehey! I hugged my husband and gave him a sweet kiss. Finally, the long wait will be over. We went back Friday Nov. 23 and hand my violet slip at the guard and proceed to window 34. A guy inside get my slip and id and told me to wait for my name to be called. After 2 minutes, a lady called my name and handed me the brown sealed envelope and told me not to open it. Gave me the stuff for CFO stamping and gave me my passport with my visa on it. Yehey! Im very happy. All of our wait is worth it. We went to CFO for stamping after. No worries about the stamping since I am already done with my seminar. We went to our provibce for a vacation. Now with no worries and less hassle. lol

I am now here in Florida. I arrived last Nov. 28. I will never forget all the experience I had during the whole process. It made me a strong and positive person. Good luck to the rest who are still waiting. Just be patient and trust in our dear Lord, for He will never let us down. Good luck. :DHope this one would help.

Congratulations on completing the journey and best of luck in your lives together. Thanks too, for the great report on your interview.

[Joe's Wife 4ever 0]

Finally.. Heheheeh.. CONGRATS Lhedy...

Yes finally. Thanks Roserick and good luck. Your turn will be sooner.

Congrats have a happy life together here in the USA.

Thank u po..

[Joe's Wife 4ever 0]

Hi Sis Lhedy,

Im so happy for u sis.. Congrats.. finally ur done :dance: Thanks for sharing ur experienced.. My turn 2moro Dec 5 6:30 am.. . I'm praying that all turn out ok.. we will asking also for visa pick-up..

Sis Does the POE so strick in stuff u bring? Does it ok to bring shampoo, medicine, cologne etc.. (all lady stuff)

~~Ness

Thanks sis. Good luck tomorrow. Just smile and be confident. Hehe.

Not so sis. Just dont put any liquid in your hand carry luggage. If u have some, be sure u put it in a zip lock and it should be 3 oz. less

Congrats in advance. I know u can make it.

[djturbo 0]

Congratulations!!!! I've been waiting to hear how your experience was from the beginning!! I am very happy for you guys!!!

Don't forget to Post this all at the IR-1/CR-1 forums!!!!

Edited December 4, 2007 by djturbo

[mikeandlani 0]

Congratulations Lhedy and thank you for your interview review. it surely will help a lot of us here, i know it will be for me.

God Bless you and your hubby! Enjoy your first Christmas in the US and wishing you a life full of happiness and love!

[rjp44 1]

Gels are also included in restrictions on liquids. The zip lock bag is supposed to be the 1 quart size.

[Joe's Wife 4ever 0]

pahabol sis ..i have a question: ALL the documents that u prepare for the interview for consul review did they get it all from U and never returned it after the interview?

Ingats always and GOD BLESS!!!

The pre-screener didn't get all the documents that I prepared like BC, MC, NBI, and everything. She just asked me with my proofs. All the things that u sent to NVC, they will not ask u since they have the copy. They will give it back don't worry in case they will ask u to pass it. Good luck sis.

[LuzyC 0]

Congratulation to you both! So happy to hear that you both have an easy interview and pleasant flight to your new home.

Welcome to America and wish you both a happy blessed life together forever !

[jom 4]

Congratulations and welcome to Florida

[Joe's Wife 4ever 0]

Thanks Luzy and Jom..

Edited December 4, 2007 by Lhedyjoe