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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on February 25, 2022: |
JLJoseph
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
The consulate interview was as expected. I was there to help my wife.
The worst part was the long line outside and the confusion as to where to go. The consulate employees who "direct traffic" are not helpful and often wrong. Once you get inside, it is easy. You are directed to the proper waiting area and you wait until your name is called.
In our case, the gentleman behind the window was nasty. He was in a hurry, impolite, and he did NOT want me any where near my wife. As a result, I had to be called back to the window by my wife five times to explain things to the person questioning. Among the things that he did NOT understand were: the fact that I was retired and had been for some time (I retired at 45); my assets were well in excess of the requirements but I was asked up to explain why my brokerage account was not a checking account; I was asked why the assets were not on a tax form (because we are not taxed on assets); I was also asked for my rent even though my wife had brought the deed to my house and the real estate tax receipt.(for some reason, the agent did not like that I didn't have a mortgage nor rent. )
Among the other questions the person asked my wife were:
-Where she met me. We met in person at the place I was renting in Bohol. The agent asked her FOUR TIMES if we met online. He even said, "But of course, you met online first?". We didn't. I was living in the Philippines. He seemed determined to find some fault with how we met.
-How long I lived in the Philippines.
-How many times we met (which really baffles me since we lived together in the Philippines for over a year...)
-What I liked to eat
-How many trips back to the US I made
-Where I lived in the US
-How I earned a living (even though he knew I was retired!)
-If she had children with anyone in the Philippines (he asked that twice)
-How long we had known each other (and "you really met online, didn't you...")
All in all, I would describe it as a little confusing for my wife and a little hostile toward me. I think he was pissed that I had initially gone to the window with my wife. (The woman directing people to the windows had said it was just fine.... ) After the interview, we were told alll was in order and we had to wait for biometrics to be taken.
The Embassy would give us no indication when they would get the passport back to us but it only took 2 or 3 days. It was a little tight because we had the CFO interview on day 3. The CFO doesn't allow the husbands to attend. Mostly they try to tell the women that these American men are evil and willing to sell women into prostitution and can beat them. I don't know where they come up with this. Remember that even though you have your visa to the US, you still need the CFO stamp to take her out of the country if you are married (if you are single you don't.... go figure....)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #30779