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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on October 18, 2006: |
Rob and Melinda
Rating:  | Review Topic: K3 Visa
Fellow Vjers,
Well the day that we have been dreaming of has finally come for us. Today, We went to the US Embassy in Manila and had our interview and the Visa was approved.
We arrived at 6 am and waited in line for the security checks. by the way, when you get in line make sure it is the farthest to the right, because this is the K visa line and it is very short, the other 2 are very long.
We went through security and into the waiting room where they place you at a window to receive a number that will be your number throughout the entire day, don't lose it!
Then they call you by your name to the finger scan window at window 17.
Next you watch for your number on the screen and then go to windows 14-26 to be pre interviewed. Here they take the documents they want to substatiate their approval. Take them out of the folders and hand them to the interviewer one by one. It will be an filipino interviewer. They took Mel's birth cert. Marriage cert, my past mariage documents, I-134, tax return and W-2 for 2005, a few pictures, e mails and phone records...that was it! I had so much more but they never asked for any of it.
Next you wait again for your number to be called and then go to the actual interview in windows 27-32. Here you sit in a room with a window between you and the american Consul. The Consul told me that he was going to ask Melinda all of the questions and that I should not speak unless he asked for my help. He asked Melinda, "So tell me about Robs background..." she began "Oh he is kind and gentle..." The consul interuppted her and said "I don't care anything about how nice Rob is, tell me about his family and his personal background."
All of the questions were about how many times I was married, did I have kids, their ages, were they married, what was my fathers name, what was the condition of his health, did he live with me, did I have house where did I work, very detailed and pointed questions. Melinda knew all the answers and did very well so he said to us "OK I have everything I need, It all looks good, go wait outside and we will tell you what to do next." I didn't ask if the visa was approved, it just felt like it was, so we went out.
We then waited about another 30 minutes and we were called to windows 32 or 33 for the release of documents where they gave back some of the documents we had given them. Then they gave us a receipt to give to the DELBROS delivery service at the other end of the room for the deliver of the Visa. It cost us P165 pesos to deliver the visa to Metro Manila. It will take 1-3 days in Metro Manila and 7-10 to be delivered to the Provinces and cost about P285 pesos.
Make sure you have your DS 156 abd DS 157 completely filled out but not signed, you will sign them at the pre interview window. Also afix the photos to the 2 copies of the DS 156 before you get to the window where they give you your ticket number for the day. Some people did not have all the lines filled in on their forms and had to start over, by getting out of line and filling out the forms. Only give them the top appointment letter not all the forms behind the appointment letter.
Make sure you pay the P5,100 pesos at BPI before you get there and have the receipt atttached to the DS 157. One girl forgot to get the BPI receipt before she came to the interveiw, and left in tears, missing her interview.
Any way, all in all, it was extrememly stressfull for both of us, but in the end it is very easy if you have all the requested documents. Make sure your spouse or finance knows your background or you may be denied.
Hope that helps a little...we fly into LAX in a few days and are excited to finally start our lives.
Rob and Melinda
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #941