Consulate Review: Manila, Philippines
Review Topic: General Review
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
September 2, 2011 |
| Embassy Review : |
As promised, here's my review 
I slept for only 1 and a half hour the night before my interview. I'm nervous, excited and happy. I talked with my fiance and told him not to break up with me If ever I will be denied. I woke up at 4:00 am, had shower and travel to Manila. I live in Cavite and my friend accompanied me to the embassy.
It's chilly and rainy when we arrived. It's 5:30 am and a lot of people were outside the embassy and falling in line. I met a girl named Rina who is with her fiance. She even had her picture taken again because she is wearing dangling earrings on her US Visa 2x2 picture. It is also allowed to bring your Fiance with you on the interview.
I can't remember if it's 6:30 am or was it 6am? that we finally enter the Embassy. Before you will get in, there's a lady who will get your documents and will check it if it's complete. Be ready with your appointment letter, BPI receipt, DS Forms and passport. After checking if it's complete we went inside the building and put our things on the xray scanner, get out of the door and fall in line again to drop our forms for checking. I was confused when I saw people holding a pink slip and we thought we needed one too. However, don't be confused it's not needed for K1 Applicants. Once you're near those windows where you will drop your form, all the k1 applicant were not segregated anymore, we will join the other immigrant applicants. There are three windows, window 1, 2 and 3. I went to window 1 and gave her the forms that was checked by the lady outside the embassy. Be sure it's complete or else she will get pissed off. She was sort of bitchy while talking with another k1 applicant asking her where the bpi receipt is. I gave her my forms, she told me to push it near her because she can't reach it. I just want to throw it on her face instead (haha). She stapled the forms and told me to drop it on window 39.
When I enter the building, this is where I had my finger scanning, initial interview and final interview. I gave my things on the lady guard and she checked it. I passed another xray or body scanner. I dropped my forms on Window 39 and looked for a seat. Few minutes ago, I can't remember the exact minutes that I waited for my initial interview, I saw my number 6040 flashed and I have to go to window 47.
It is an old filipino man with eyeglasses, which makes me feel more nervous, some old people tend to be moralistic and judgemental. He asked me the ff. questions:
The questions are in tagalog but I'll write it in English because I'll share this post in Visa Journey too. My documents are complete, baptismal certificate is not really needed but some pre screener asked for it. My DS forms are answered correctly too. He even deleted the date on my ds156k but he realized that the date written is correct.
*Name?
*Age?
*Birthday?
*Name of petitioner?
*Birthday?
Then he started murmuring, 25 years age gap. But he did not question me about it. Even if he will I'm prepared for an answer. Besides, even if I'm in a 25 year age gap, I'm already old enough to be in a relationship even if with someone older than me.
*How did you meet?
Through www.okcupid.com last february 2009.
*How many times did he visit you?
3 times already, with the duration of 1 month for each visit.
*What's your job?
I told him I'm a student again taking educational units but I worked for 4 years as an Online English teacher.
*What's the job of your fiance?
I answered, Stripper! (haha, just kidding.)
I told him that my fiance is working as Construction Site Manager.
*When was the last time you've seen him?
November 23, 2010
*Is he married before, with children?
I answered NO. Bachelor at 50, never been married, no kids.
*Did you get married before? Have you tried living with someone or with a boyfriend?
(I answered no. I'm a VIRGIN. How could you ask that immoral question?)
ahahaha.
But that's not my real answer. Just plain NO.
*Do you have pictures together, receipts for money sent?
I showed it to him.
*Do you have baptismal certificate? NBI? CENOMAR, Birth certificate?
I told him that I don't have my Baptismal certificate but I have the other documents I gave the NBI, CENOMAR and BIRTH CERTIFICATE. He asked for my affidavit of support too. He did not bother to look for the pay stub and bank statement. He told me to sit down and my name will be called for final interview.
I waited for few more minutes and saw 6040 flashed again and I should go to window 40. It's for finger scanning, The lady there will ask for your name and birthday and you will give your number to another lady outside the window who will assist you in finger scanning. Scan your four fingers, left and right then after that your left and right thumb.
I'm back to my seat again and I keep on looking at the other applicants, hoping I could see Ann Marie Lim. I saw her but she's not looking at me yet.
Now, I'm starting to get nervous. I had a brief conversation with one IR1/CR1 applicant. She told me that she prefers a man for initial interview than a woman because they asked easy questions. I told her that the man who asked me for my initial interview asked some questions like living together with someone and commenting about age gap.
I think it was 8:30 when I saw my number flashed and I should go to window 62. I'm not sure if you should wait for your name to be called before going to the window. I went there, he was surprised to see me because he didn't call my name yet. He was a young handsome american man who resembles one man from my past. I really thought it's him  I was so scared and nervous. He asked me to raise my right hand and he read something, and I answered Yes.
He started asking questions, I'm still not relaxed that time.
*Have you been to US? Have you worked in US?
NO
*How did you meet him?
Through online dating site, www.okcupid.com.
*When did you meet him on that site?
February 2009.
I gave very short answers. Usually just one sentences. Concise but complete.
*When did he ask to marry you?
January 26, 2010
(The truth is were supposed to file the documents last year but then I was not ready that time. I did not include the reason in answering to avoid further questions.)
*How many times did he visit you?
Three times
*When was the last time you saw each other?
November 23, 2010
*Did he meet your family?
NO. But he wil this October. (I'm not sure if he heard it)
*How come he visited already for three times and he haven't met your family?
(I tried to relax and composed myself for me to answer that tough question)
My mom is working in middle east and my dad is in Bicol.
(It seems that he doesn't know where bicol is, haha. He did not ask further question about it. My mother talked with my boyfriend thru skype already, my siblings saw him on skype too but my father didn't. We started as friends, so how will I introduce him to my family during his fist visit, I don't want to assume. On his 2nd visit, we talked about marriage when he was about to leave the country, not even a formal engagement, no engagement ring. The second visit was suppose to be just for us to know each other better. The third visit, I'm suppose to meet my parents but then my mom started announcing to my relatives that I'm coming with my boyfriend on our hometown. I don't want a circus and I don't want to brag about him and have a big party to introduce him. I want a simple dinner only. I decided not to go to my hometown but this year for his next vacation, we will, just to meet my dad)
*What does he do?
He is a Construction Site Manager.
*Where does he live?
He lives in Honolulu Hawaii.
*Do you have pictures together?
YES. I showed him my file, and he just browsed 2 pages.
*Do you promise to get married within 90 days?
I answered Yes.
It seems that we don't have any problem with your documents. Then I think you will be approved. He put a big check mark on my document and asked me to take a seat and someone will call my name later. I was confused. He didn't tell me the magic line "YOU'RE APPROVED"! He used the word" I think". But then I realized maybe he wants to go over to some of my documents.
The lady at Window 72 called up my name along with other applicants. She gave my appointment letter with a red mark for my address telling me to wait for my VISA to be delivered by 2GO on the address written. I'm very happy
I saw Ann Marie Lim when I was about to leave the Embassy and had a short talk with her. I'm done at 9:00 am Thank you Pretty Ladies
Just be confident and make sure your documents are complete. Organize it so you won't have hard time looking for it and don't be nervous if the CONSUL is handsome My review is really long, I was into it
(updated on September 24, 2017) |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0