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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on June 15, 2008: |
stuck_in_manila
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
You've done all you can, gathered all the papers required for the interview as far back as February, to prepare for the much anticipated/dreaded embassy interview slated on the first week of June.
(Secured nso copies of birth and marriage certificates - check; secured a copy of nbi clearance - check; collated pictures/greeting cards/call cards/gifts bought on the internet - check; bugged the hubby to send the affidavit of support and supporting docs including income tax return for the past 3 years, w2, employment certificates, bank statements - check; paid the $131 visa fee at bpi - check; went to st luke's extension office for an early medical - check; filled out forms ds 156 and ds 157 - check).
You go to the interview with mixed feeling: elated that the journey is almost at end, yet fearful that forces beyond your control would keep you from being reunited with the love of your life.
Still, you remain optimistic and hopeful that everything will work out fine.
The queue outside the embassy premises isn't too long. (Something you're grateful for, since you just can't imagine lining up outside for ages; especially when you only had 4 hours of sleep!).
After checking if you have the appointment letter, two copies of ds-156 and ds-157, and your passport, the guards finally tell you to enter the building. Naturally, you first go thru security check.
Then, you reach your destination: the immigrant visa section.
First, you line up to get a number: 7005. Sans the zeros, you got your birthdate and your lucky number!
Then you go back to you seat again to wait for finger scanning. For this part, instead of waiting for your number to be called/flashed, you'll listen and wait for your name to be called.
If you're bored out of your skull waiting, listening to how the embassy employee enunciate the names of the applicants for finger scanning can be entertaining.
You'r number's flashed for the pre-interview. Window 19! The guy's a bit chubby with a big voice. He's very nice and pleasant.
As soon as you reached the window, he rattled off questions:
- are you ____(my name)?
- who's your petitioner?
- may i have your bc/mc/nbi clearance/affidavit of support/pictures?
- how did you meet? when did you meet?
- can we just say march? (after saying you were introduced on the phone by his cousin while they were attending a family gathering sometime between march and april. you honestly couldnt remember the exact date coz back then, you had no romantic interest in him coz you were seeing somebody else)
- how many times did your husband visit you?
- where did you get married?
Then he says, "okay, good luck on your interview"
You go back to your seat again to wait for the interview. This time, the wait wasn't long - just about 15 minutes, max.
Finally, your number's flashed for the interview: window 29.
The consul is a girl, caucasian and quite young, early 20s.
"Your name please."
"Could you raise your right hand?"
"Who's your petitioner?"
"How did you meet?"
"How many times did he visit you?"
"So you had a civil wedding. Are you planning on having a church wedding?"
"What does he do for a living?"
"Was he married before? What happened to that marriage?
"Were you married before?"
And finally, "Everything seeems to be okay. We're just waiting for the result of the document verification, which is quite normal and is part of the procedure."
"Please wait outside and wait for your name to be called"
"Nice meeting you."
You leave the interview room in a daze. The consul is really nice, yet the phrase, "we're just waiting for the result of doc verification" keeps on playing on your mind. You can only murmur, "Nice meeting you too. Thank you."
Your name's called again. You line up at the release section to retrieve some of the documents you submitted and to get the pink slip (for visa delivery) and of course, the white slip for document verification.
The people around you are just so happy that the interview's over. You are asked by quite a number of them where you're headed/how was your interview? It's quite interesting to note that most of them would easily divulge how their interview went, without being prompted. You'll think, it must be caused by adrenalin.
You, on the other hand, remain numb, yet able to utter the required answers, "I'll be based in California. "Really? that's nice" and other pleasantries drilled on you since you were young.
Your composure slipped up a bit when you pay the visa delivery. You ask the cashier, "Miss, why is it that although I paid the doc verification fee 5 weeks prior to the interview, my papers aren't here yet?" The poor girl can't come up with an acceptable answer, so you just heave a sigh of resignation and fill out the delivery form.
You leave the embassy premises somewhat bitter. The system beat you again, despite all the preparations.
You can only hope that by the time your visa's delivered to your doorstep, you're back to your old self: optimistic and raring to face the challenges this life offers.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3012