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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on March 27, 2009: |
Tom and Novie
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Long wait.. we were among the first to arrive and were directed to a waiting area. If we had simply stayed where we were when we arrived we would have been first in line .. As it was.. we went to the waiting area which over the next couple of hours filled in behind us.. then when they called everyone to line up to enter.. the line formed with the most recent arrivals first and those who were in the waiting area last.. It is not intentional.. just the way the layout tends to work. There is no need to arrive early unless you intend to hold a place in line.. the guard will tell you to go to the waiting area.. he will insist.. some people ignored him.. You just need to be near the entrance to the waiting area rather than on a bench in the back..
The waiting area is at the far right as you face the embassy. It is just a little blocked off area with a few benches and vendors.. The entry is nearby. Once they call to line up there is a pavillion with roped off lines where you are to line up.. be near that as 0700 approaches.. There is nothing to prevent you from lining up early other than the guard..
You go from there to another little waiting area and enter the embassy a few at a time so as not to overwhelm the metal detectors and such.. once inside there are blue chairs.. sit as near the front of these as you can and as close to the entry to this room as you can.. The guard in there will organize things with people up front getting their numbers first.. From there it is easy... all questions at the pre-screener and the consul are simple and aimed at determining if you have a bonafide relationship.. less than 5 minutes with each.. very polite and professional.. very efficient.. and we received the visa in Mindanao the same week.. interview wednesday.. visa in hand in Mindanao on Saturday.. 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #4138