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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on October 4, 2008: |
RickieAndEva
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Appointment was at 8:30am but went there an hour early with my Sister.
Since the lane for immigrant visa applicants was empty, the Guard told me to go straight to and enter Gate
2. My Sister and i went separate ways. I headed to gate number 2 while she to the waiting area only to find out
later that she was very uncomfortable because it was hot and there was not enough seats for everyone there.
Another check point awaits you upon entering Gate 2. Then you will see colored arrows with the different visa
classifications telling you where to proceed.
All the guards at the Embassy were very helpful and were watching over every applicant. From time to time,
they would check in on the applicants for follow-up. So I handed over my appointment letter to the lady at the
booth which is to the right upon entrance to the interview hall. She returned to me the appointment letter and
was given a "removing conditions" instruction sheet along with the number stub and was told to wait to be called
in my seat.
Finger scanning
I didnt have a watch so i wasnt really aware of how long the wait was until i was called for finger scanning. I
noticed that not everyone there was properly attired. No offense meant to anyone, but at least we have to look
dignified. I shared this observation with my Sister after the interview and she told me that it could be for
psychological reasons that the Embassy isn't really imposing a dress code to applicants. One will feel better and
relaxed if he's wearing something he's very comfortable in. My husband and I totally disagreed on that. (let's set
that aside for now)
I took a while at the finger scanning. The computer couldnt read my prints. hahahahahaha - i can laugh at this
now, recalling that time. but back then, all it did to me was add a little more worry to a very very very worried me.
The lady assisting us in the scanning had to press down my fingers on the scanner and was told by the other lady
facilitating the scan to rub my fingers on my neck. the effort was of no avail. The last recourse, rub the fingers
with some kind of jelly. Finally, they got my prints. I went back to the waiting area to find a seat. Since the rows
fronting the pre-screeners were almost vacant i decided to sit close to their windows. (major reason of doing so is
for the pre-screener to have a head-to-toe view of me as i approach them - in other words for some good
impression. let me add that, the reason why my Husband and I didn't agree with what my Sister said about what
to wear to the interview is that, in times like having a one-shot engagement like the interview, first impression
really matters - dress to impress) So to make it more clear, i wore something nice, professional-looking and
"i-respect-you-/you-respect-me" outfit.
Pre-screening
The things i anticipated and imagined happened. My number flashed on the screen with the window
number which, believe it or not, was right up front of me. I rose from my seat then walked towards the
Pre-screener. He looked at me up and down. I could tell he liked what he was looking at heheheheheheheh.....He
was very warm - unlike the other guy next to him who was intimidating. We greeted each other. Then he told me
about his friends from my hometown whom i happen to know by acquaintance. That brief conversation we had
outside Consulate concerns eased me. But i was still shaking (since i entered the Embassy ground). I even had
to repeat to him the instruction he gave me on my DS-230 just to confirm if i heard him right. At that time my
muscles were too tensed that it was hard to affix my signature on the form. Before signing the form, he corrected
a field in my DS-230. He told me to write "same as in number 10" on the number 11 box. The best part was when i
was adding the text was him telling me " because that is where your green card will be delivered". In my head i
was saying, "Oh my God! is he serious? is this a sign that i will be approved?" Hearing that from him gave me the
confidence that i needed in facing the CO. I held on to what he said. I kept telling myself that it is going to be okay.
He asked me questions like:
- What is your name?
- What is your husband's name?
- How old are you? your Husband?
- What is his ex-wife's name?
- Do they have children?
- Date of marriage
- When and where did you meet your husband?
- How many times did he come to visit?
- When was his last visit?
He asked for:
- pictures - he commented, "Bagay pa la kayo".....My response was "thank you po"
- other proof of on-going relationship: personal correspondences, financial support
I offered all the rest of my proofs, he told me to just hold them for now and show them to the CO in case they
want more. And so i did. I returned to the same seat where i was earlier.
A little more wait
The Consular Officer
It wasnt long enough when i saw my number and the room assignment flashed on the screen again. As i
have observed from the other applicants when they are up next for the interview with the CO, they had to wait
and be seated on one of the chairs outside the CO's room. And so i did.
The CO who handled my final interview was a gentleman in his mid-50's. He was approachable but thorough
with the documents. He asked similar questions asked of me earlier.
The new ones were:
- What do you like about your husband?
- What do you do?
- Did he have prior marriages? How many?
- Do they have children? What is her name? How old is she?
As he went back and forth encoding and writing from the computer to the sheets of paper before him, the
sight of that "dreaded blue paper" was upsetting. With so much worry, i wondered if "could this be the
blue paper one will get if you have been denied?" With that in mind, i was already trying to put together some
lines i will be saying to the Consul if it were really what i thought it would be. To make the situation worse for me,
i saw him shaking his head as he was looking at the computer monitor. I thought, "what flaw or loopholes could
there still be?" I was becoming so paranoid as i desperately tried to read his actuation.
............And there was LIGHT!....after a few seconds of silence, he finally said the words i so desperately wanted
to hear ---- after the stamping a piece of paper, which happened to be my appointment letter, as i later
discovered, he said THE most beautiful words to me......"OKAY, MA'AM, YOUR VISA IS APPROVED. GOOD LUCK
TO YOU."..... I almost cried in front of him. I thanked him before leaving.
Last stop
After the interview with Consul, you have to again be seated and wait to be called, this time by your name. I
was teary-eyed when i sat myself down. I became a little self-conscious that i looked around and see if others
had the same reaction as me. There was none. It was a little weird for me having been seeing others who got
approved who weren't showing a little emotion.
Every document that was asked from you during the interview shall be returned to you. My Husband and I
have expected to be given the white slip along with the pink one when we are approved because the last time we
called the NSO, we somehow caught on the idea that the verification wont be done until friday of this week. When
my documents were handed to me, i meticulously looked for the white slip. I didnt really pay much attention to
the pink slip. It was like the white one mattered more. hahahahaha....Silly me!......Then i double checked my
documents before putting them back to my bag. Walked up to the Delbros booth. A form has to be filled out
before paying the fee. Upon payment, your personal info will be encoded on the computer. Make sure you also
look at the monitor to counter-check what the Delbros personnel is encoding.
I walked out of the Embassy holding my emotions. I was so happy, that i needed to express it. I hugged my
Sister so tightly when we we're reunited. We headed back to the hotel. I texted my husband to call me when we
got to our room. And so he did. 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3406