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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on November 24, 2009: |
George and Movi
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Our interview was scheduled on November 23, 2009 at 7:00am.
My son and I trotted from the hotel where we were staying to the US embassy. We arrived at 630am in front of the gate of the US embassy. The applicants were already allowed entry to the premises. We presented our IDs and appointment letter and were directed to the waiting area. After a while, we fall inline to the receiving counter and submitted the DS Form 156(2 copies each), DS 156K( 1 copy) and DS 157(2 copies each)along with the validated visa fee payment slip from Banco de Oro.We completed the medical exams late so we hand carried our passports and the sealed medical reports from St Luke's Extension Clinic and submitted the same to the counter.Our forms were all complete and filled out correctly and at 7:01am, we got a number assigned to us.
Waited for a while for my name to be called and together with my son, we went to the fingerscan counter for our fingerprints taken. It was almost 9am and was getting hungry so i asked my son to buy some hard candy from the small stall inside the waiting area. I just started sucking on my candy when our number flashed on the board and we went to the pre screener counter. The pre screener was a filipina and asked the following questions:
1. whats your name, birthdate and name of petitioner?
2. when and how did you met?
Told her we met in yahoomessenger in 2002.she wrote it down.
3. how many times did he visit you? when was the first and last visit?
I answered \"10 times ma\'am.\"
She looked up and said \"what?\" She looked like she cant believe it. I
repeated \"10 times ma\'am\". She wrote it down.
4. Was he married before? how many times? what were the names of the previous wives?
5. Does your petitioner has children? how many?
The she asked for the NBI clearances, birth certificates and the cenomar.I pulled out the docs from my Immigration and Legal documents clearbook. Gave the documents(NBI clearances and birth certificates of my son and I) in the order she asked.I do not have a cenomar, so i handed an annotated marriage contract since my previous marriage was annulled.
She checked the documents and asked if im also using \"Diana\". Just as i heard it, i knew she mistook my middle name as my other name. so i said \"diana is my mother\'s maiden name\"..\"ohh, thought its your other name\".She read the annotated marriage contract and asked the following questions:
1. when did you separate?
2. when was the annulment granted?
3. where is he now?
I was just waiting for her to ask for a copy of the court order declaring my marriage null and void, but she did not.
4.How many children you have and their ages? I answered two, ages 19 and 17
5.Where is your daughter? why is she not with you?
\" She will just follow \" I replied.She wrote something.
6. do you have pictures and cards and can i have them? Also do you have an affidavit of support?
\"yes\", I answered and i pulled out the Proof of Relationship clearbook and took out the pages that has pictures on it. In each page, there were 3 to 4 pictures and colored caption on every picture.The pictures were arranged from latest to 2003. I also handed to her the cards. the cards and the its mailing envelope were pasted on pages of the colored bond paper with caption.She patiently waited for me to finish pulling out from the clearbook the pics and cards.She used a big paper clamp to hold the pages together. Then i opened the Affidavit of Support clearbook and took out the Notarized Affidavit of support, along with the Bank certification, investments statement of accounts, employment certification, certified copies of my fiance's payslips for the last 4 pay period,and a copy of the 2008 Income Tax Return and W2. I have a copy of the 2007 and 2006 Income Tax return and W2 but decided will only present if she will ask for it.
She reviewed the documents and after a while she told us to wait for our number for the final interview.It was barely 3 minutes later when our number flashed on the board.
We were directed to a small room where the consul was a young white american guy who was speaking tagalog. He asked us to raise our hands as we took our oath.Then asked the following questions in tagalog:
1. whats your name and name of petitioner?
2. How and when did you meet?
3. Why is it that since you have known each other in 2002, you only decided to go to the states this time?
\" we waited for the results of the annulment,Sir.\" I replied
\" oh yes, that will take a while\" he said.
\"Let me look at your annulment\" he said as he read my annotated marriage contract. I was expecting he will ask questions regarding my annulment, but he asked the following questions:
4. Where do you reside?
\" General Santos City sir\"
5. where is Sarangani?
\"its a nearby place, next to gensan. Thats where i worked before\"
\"Ohhh\" he said smiling.
6.why is your daughter not with you?
\"She will just follow \"
He asked the following questions from my son:
1. whats your name and age?
2. Are you married?
Lastly, he asked me \"When is your wedding?\"
He typed something on his computer then looked at us and smiled.\" Your visa are approved. Pls wait outside for your name to be called for further instructions as to the visa delivery.\" He returned the pics and cards to me.
We thanked the consul.It was 9:23am when we left the interview room.We waited for our name to be called and we were directed to a counter. The guy just asked where i want my visa to be delivered. He gave me a small sheet of paper and wrote a big number 2 in it. Its colored pink. I said to myself \"so this is the pink slip that i read about\" and he also gave the form to be filled out before paying the visa delivery.
We went to the Air 21 counter and paid P440 for the total delivery fee of our visa. It was 9:45am when we headed out of the US embassy, all smiles and happy that finally, after 6 years 11 months and 16 days from the day George and I met, we got the approval. Thank God!!
My son and i walked as fast as we can from the embassy to the hotel where we were staying. Excited to inform my honey and all my friends about the good news. I didnt expect it will be this easy. I have so many documents, all neatly arranged with colorful tabs in 4 clearbooks/folders to prove our relationship. It weighed 8lbs. But since they were not asked i did not present them. I only gave what was asked.
Overall, it was organized and systematic. We have not experienced at any single instance like those terrifying encounters with the pre screener and the consul that i heard and read about.
To VISA JOURNEY members and friends thank you for helping us.It has provided us with the much needed information in making this an enjoyable and learning experience.
(updated on December 5, 2009)
(updated on December 5, 2009)
(updated on December 5, 2009)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5289