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US Embassy in Philippines states they will on their website: She would fall under the elderly part, Mandatory retirement is like 62 in Philippines. When you hit 60 you get all the old people discount offered from the government on food, medicine, airline tickets, and hotel cost Accompanying persons Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview. The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview: Applicants may bring ONE interpreter if they do not speak English or Filipino well enough for an interview. Applicants may bring ONE person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or a minor child. U.S. Embassy Manila, Philippines - MNL (state.gov)

Exactly, I would fall under the Elderly reason.

I would be allowed in and the CO would make the decision if I could be part of interview, I think I would be allowed to attend the actual interview, I have done it before for a K1 at the same place.

That is what happens in Philippines. No electronics allowed when we did our interview, but if your an American Citizen they will hold you phone, Lining up to enter the Embassy their is a long line, and then when you enter and go thru the electronic scanner they have dedicated to US Citizens only I never had to show a passport since I look American, I walked right on in to the Consualte area and everybody else had to show paperwork and Passports to enter, I was very VIP. Then the best part is Americans are always allowed to enter US Embassy and Interview area with your Fiance or Spouse, whether or not you are allowed to partake in the actual interview is the CO call. Have you ever done a visa interview at the US Embassy in Manila?

I 100% agree old people don't want to change, that is why it's major asset and the main reason in my opinion why old people are approved so easily for tourist visas from Philippines. Plus her Father in law is still alive, and they have 4 other daughters living in Philippines, she don't want to leave her family. In case you didn't know CO are the ones whom will determine if the US Citizen is allowed to be part of the interview, When I did mine he even asked me a few questions, but never asked me to be sworn in. I hear if you show up and do a marriage visa interview, the CO will not let you attend the actual interview, but K1's they usually allow it.

I am debating right now, Flight time length and time change is the killer part. 15 hour from USA to Korea, and then 5 more hours to Manila would be my pain to suffer. My other thought is let her Interview which is on tuesday, if she gets a no, then apply again and then I fly and attend and plan it out better. I wasn't expecting her to get a interview so darn fast. Now the Embassy starting September 27th you have to go to some place in Manila I think they are calling it a Visa Application Center, they make you go there and do fingerprints before you can schedule and interivew. That would mean flying her and sister in law to Manila just for fingerprints, probably put up in a hotel for a day and fly back home, then wait for a interview and fly back to Manila get hotel again, which to me is silly.

The Cancun trip would be a no go, No biggie there I booked thru Costco Travel it ain't the first trip to Cancun I have cancelled thru them, it only like $200 airfare each person you get penalized if you don't rebook, no biggie there, I am semi retired so I can travel anytime I want. I am not concerned about AP or when she actually get visa in hand, I just wanted to attend interview with her and she my sister in law can fly home and wait for visa delivery. I am not planning on flying her to USA until April, My wife is starting some class in a few weeks and will be tied up until December and it's too cold to bring her here in Winter time, I want her here for spring when the weather is great.

She has proved she will return already by just applying for a tourist visa and being old. If she wanted to stay in the USA my wife would of petitioned her when she got her Citizenship. And by being old and living in Philippines means she would return. The CO would actually make the call if I could interview with her, that is their decision to make. I wouldn't waste any money on the trip I would just stay a few weeks while I am there. Mother could fly back to her place and I will stay in Manila and have a mini vacation. It's just the flight is so long. It is attached to the US Embassy

Why would you assume that? This is the US Embassy in Manila.

Sounds like you need to schedule the interview in Manila instead, I didn't read you background information. My understanding in Japan it is common for police to ask for visa papers and if you overstay you get arrested.

That's odd, I have never seen a round trip being that much more expensive, What airline? I fly Delta and American quit a bit and check one way vs roundtrip and it always about half price maybe a 20% more for one ways but never seen a one way be that much higher.

Do you think it's worth it me flying over there this weekend, Tickets are available and average price. I feel confident she will pass about 85% due to high success rate for older people getting tourist visa approved from Philippines. The US Embassy is very accommodating to US Citizens, and when I did my K1 interview they had a seperate line for American Citizens that I could enter so we didn't have to wait in line, and I think I was the only American there that day. VIP treatment. My issue is we are supposed to fly to Cancun Wednesday. My wife is too timid and shy, but me I am tall and outgoing and gregarious and people tend to like me. Plus I am sure they haven't seen very many if any Americans show up for a tourist visa interview, but if they ask a question like "Why do you want to go to the USA", I would just raise my hand, or if they ask "Who is Paying", I will just raise my hand. My last interview for K1 the CO was so cool and seemed happy for us passing, he was really cool and we were the last interview of the day, and I saw him leaving the US Embassy in front of the Embassy and he was still giving us congratulations.

U.S. Embassy Consular Update: Certain Visa-Related Services will be Unavailable on September 26 and 27 There will be a scheduled interruption of some visa services on September 26 and 27 during the transition to a new visa appointment scheduling system. Scheduled visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy are not being canceled and will continue as normal. During the two-day transition period, immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants will not be able to schedule or reschedule visa appointments, pay visa application fees, or contact the call center. Visa fee payment services will be unavailable as early as September 25 and will resume on September 28. Delivery services may also be partially affected. The LBC courier will deliver documents and visa packets received prior to September 26 on the normal schedule. Customers may continue to submit interview waiver applications and other documents to LBC branches during this period. For urgent visa application concerns or requests during these dates, applicants may reach out to the Consular Section directly via the online visa inquiry form at ph.usembassy.gov/contact-us-visas/. All regular services will resume on September 28 with the launch of our new visa systems platform. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this transition.

Actually this is the OP exact words " Does the CO expect to see proof of return flight such as reservations or flight itinerary? If so, what is the accepted way of obtaining that without purchasing tickets? I have seen multiple companies offering “dummy tickets” but they seem sketchy and from reviews not always reliable." The question to me was does CO (that is the person doing the interview) wants to see return flights reservation or itinerary. A simple No would of been a good the correct answer I have seen a few tourist visa interviews go down in the US Embassy in Manila, I have never heard any CO ask about showing tickets, nor have I known anyone who bought a ticket out of the Philippines without a visa for a tourist visa. Used to be in the Philippines they airlines would not sell you a ticket out of the country unless you had a visa in hand, Not sure what the policy is now of days.

Be aware starting the September 28th if she is in Manila that she may be required to send her updated information to the new Visa Application Center (Near Mall of Asia in Manila Area). Did they give her instuctions on where to send her updated police clearance? U.S. Embassy to Launch New Visa Application Center, Additional Consular Information Services - U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (usembassy.gov) Hopefully she will get paperwork in time and not have to do medical again. I never dealt with police clearance thankfully.

You good, I was just letting you know if you planned on picking up passport at Mall of Asia that will all change on the 28th and you go to this Visa Application Place. Calling the US Embassy seems to be futile, I remember me trying to call them years ago, Phone would just ring and ring and ring.

Starting September 28th the US EMbassy will be using the new Visa Application Center, (Near Mall of Asia) now that is where you can pick up your passport in Manila and not deal with LBC. U.S. Embassy to Launch New Visa Application Center, Additional Consular Information Services - U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (usembassy.gov)

You must be confused, Power of Attorney is a document that you sign in front of a notary. POA you basically assign someone to represent you. Powers of Attorney | Texas Law Help

I have purchased a few last minute tickets from Philippines to USA, like trying to leave in a couple of days, if you watch you can find deals, and they pop up and are gone quickly as well, of course you can pay alot as well, you just have to keep checking and prices change frequently and vastly when trying to catch last minute tickets.

Here is some reading for you to explain more about tourist visa. Even the US Dept of states not to buy airline tickets until you have visa in hand. There is no guarantee you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa. Visitor Visa (state.gov)

No CO doesn't expect to see tickets or pre arranged flights for a tourist visa interview

She/He doesn't have an apporved Tourist visa would be preventing, it would be silly to purchase booking a flight before doing interview.

Sure thing........

You actually sign to verify your information the day of the actual interview after you do your fingerprints. "Unless you are exempted from appearing in person, your fingerprints will be electronically scanned on the day of your interview. By providing your fingerprints, you will again certify that that you have answered all questions on the DS-160 truthfully and to the best of your knowledge, and that you will tell the truth during your visa interview. You will be directed to read the following statement prior to having your fingerprints scanned: “By submitting my fingerprint, I am certifying under penalty of perjury that I have read and understood the questions in my visa application and that all statements that appear in my visa application have been made by me and are true and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Furthermore, I certify under penalty of perjury that I will tell the truth during my interview and that all statements made by me during my interview will be complete to the best of my ability.” DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions (state.gov)

My wife just did the appliction for her mom about a month ago Mother has her tourist visa interview next week in Manila