I stayed at Bayview Park Hotel. As to proximity, it’s the perfect place to stay coz it’s just across the Embassy. But I have to say that I don’t like the service of the hotel. Their staffs are not “that friendly” at all and they are not efficient also. As to the quality of their system, it needs a lot of improvement. They are not organized and you have to wait for a long time during check-in. I waited for 30 minutes before I got my key card. I was already starving. My plane arrived around 12 noon at NAIA and I was able to have my lunch around 2pm. My knees were already shaking. A piece of advice, if you’re from the Visayas or Mindanao, it would be best to fly to Manila two days before your interview appointment so you’ll have enough time to settle at the place where you would stay and an ample time to relax mentally and physically. About me, my flight was Thursday and my interview appointment was Friday. I flew early from Cebu but I was tired and exhausted when I arrived in Manila. I guess the exhaustion was also due to having to report at work the day before my flight. It would also be best if you’ll file an early leave of absence from work before your trip to Manila, maybe a day before your flight.
Well, on the day of the interview, I woke up at 3AM and even requested for a wake-up call to be sure I will not miss my appointment just in case my alarm will not work. I only had Graham crackers and water for breakfast. The hotel will not allow food delivery so I have to settle for crackers. I was “ready to go” around 4:30AM. I checked my papers again after having my “breakfast”. My room was just right across the Embassy and I kept on looking down over my window to check the activity outside. I was on the ninth floor and it was hard for me to see the activity at the entrance of the Embassy. What I can see from above was just the lights on the trees. I end up going down around 5:15AM and yeah, it was already crowded outside and those with 6:30AM appointment were already allowed to get in. Not inside the Embassy but to line up on the benches near the entrance. Before 6AM, the guards had started admitting those with 6:30 appointment. Bags were checked and make sure you don’t have any electronic gadgets with you. There was this lady ahead of me and she was bringing a bottle of body spray. The guard actually asked her to spray it on her body. Well, not the entire bottle of course. They were just making sure that it was a body spray. There was also a lady who was bringing bottled water and the guard asked her to drink a portion of it.
After being checked at the entrance, we were allowed to get inside and asked to occupy the rows of chairs near the CR. This area is also facing the windows were the Filipino pre-screeners are stationed. The guard in that area called us by rows to submit all DS forms on the window located beside the CR and situated on the left side of the rows of chairs. Be sure that your Visa Photos are glued on the DS form. You can also leave the bags containing the rest of the documents and just bring the DS forms when you’ll approach that window. In this window, you’ll be given your queuing number and you can return to your seat after that. Please be on watch coz the numbers are called in random. There are three sets of numbers, these are 70**, 60**, and 50**. The 70** are those for K-applicants. And they will flashed these numbers on the queuing board in random, so keep a close watch.
I noticed that those windows queuing for the pre-screening are up to Window 27. Windows 28, 29, 30, 31, and 44 are for the interview with the consul. Windows 33 and 34 are for the finger scanning and Windows 37 and 38 are for the final instructions, this will include the issuing of the pink slip, instruction for Delbros, and instructions for additional documents that they might ask.
Ok, back to the process. I waited until 9:30AM before my number was flashed on the queuing board. I was assigned on Window 18. The Filipino pre-screener was very nice and she didn’t give me a difficult time at all. Before she started to ask me questions, she instructed me for finger scanning. In some cases, the finger scanning and the interview with the pre-screener are done separately. With mine, I had the finger scanning before the pre-screener proceeded with the pre-interview. Here are the questions she asked:
1. What’s your name?
2. Who is your petitioner?
3. Where did you meet your petitioner? When and how?
4. How many times did he visit?
5. When was the last time you saw him?
6. Is he divorce? When was it finalized?
7. Does he have kids? Is it with his ex or with other woman?
8. Have you ever been married before?
9. Do you have children?
Then she asked for my fiancé’s Affidavit of Support, Employer’s Letter, and his 2006 income tax, and our pictures. She checked the income tax return and then gave it back to me. She said that I can give it to the consul if ever I’ll be asked for it. I offered to give her my fiancé’s Pay Stubs but she said, “It’s ok, just have it ready and hand it to the consul if you’ll be ask for it.” Then she instructed me to go back to my seat and wait for my turn to be interviewed with the consul.
I waited for 25 minutes before my number was flashed on the queuing board again. I was assigned on Window 30. I waited for approximately 3 minutes before I went inside the room. There was a chair outside the door and you’ll be instructed to wait until the one being interviewed inside will get out. The consul was very nice. I think he’s on his 50’s. He said, “Good morning Ma’am, have a seat.” I replied “good morning”. He was checking on my papers. Actually I noticed that it was the documents we sent to USCIS. And he asked me to raise my right hand and took oath. After that he said, “I need to verify your finger prints first.” He instructed me put my left thumb finger on top of that “Reader/Scanner” instrument (I don’t know its exact name). He said, “Hmm, it does not match, ok use your left middle finger.” I did that but then it doesn’t match. He then gave me a tissue and asked me to wipe the surface of the “reader/scanner”. After that he said, “Ok, use your left index finger this time”. I did as instructed and he said, “Ok, verified”. I sit down again and waited for him to start. The questions he asked me are the following:
1. What’s your name?
2. Who is your petitioner?
3. How many times did he visit?
4. When was the last time you saw him?
5. Is he divorce? When was it finalized?
6. Does he have kids?
7. Have you ever been married before?
8. Do you have children?
And then he browsed our papers again, signed some of the pages. He also read the Employment Letter of my fiancé. Checked the Affidavit of Support and filed it on top of our folder. He checked our pictures and he made some notes and he said, “Ok Ma’am, that’s all I want to ask, thank you. You can wait outside for your name to be called for further instruction.” I didn’t have the guts to ask if I am approved. I just assumed that everything is ok base on his facial expression. And he kept on saying “Ok, ok, ok” as he scanned our papers. The interview only lasted for 5 minutes. The questioning was only for 2 minutes. Another two minutes was consumed during the verification of my finger prints and 1 minute for the time he spent on checking our documents. I was relaxed all the time during that 5-minute period and there was no problem at all. I believed the expression on the consul’s face helped me relax. He was very welcoming and polite. It was like talking to an Uncle whom I haven’t seen for a long time.
After that I went back to my seat to wait for my name to be called at Window 37 or 38. And this was the part where I experienced some stress. Around 10:30AM, I was called to approach Window 38. I lined up coz they were calling names by batch to approach that window. When it was my turn, the guy at Window 38 asked me if I have made the payment for Document Verification. I said yes and showed the photocopy and the original copy of the receipt from the bank. He stapled the photocopy on my docs. Then he browsed through my papers and noticed something. He said, “Hmm, ba’t andito to, may kulang.” My heart skipped a beat after hearing that… Then he said, “Ok, wait for awhile coz I need to ask the consul something. I waited and then after 3 minutes he came back and instructed me to go back to my seat and wait for my name to be called again. I was really feeling a little nervous that time, wondering what could be wrong. That was 10:30AM and the clock strikes 12, still I didn’t hear my name being called. We heard instructions over the speaker that we may take our lunch and be back at 1pm. We’ll just have to use our queuing number at the entrance and so the guard would let us in.
I had my lunch at Chowking along with two Bisaya I meet inside. One of my companions was also waiting for her name to be called at Window 37 or 38. And oh, before we left the embassy, we approached the lady facilitator at the Immigrant Visa section and told her about our concern. She instructed us to approach her once we get back inside the Embassy so she can relay it to the staff stationed at Window 38. After lunch, we approached the lady and she asked for our names and queuing numbers. Around 1:10PM, my name was called again. The guy at Window 38 asked me if he already gave me any instruction and I said “No”. He then asked what window did I have my interview. I said “Window 30”. He said, “Ok, go back to your seat and wait for your name to be called”. As in golly, my tummy was in a riot. The rows of chairs near the CR, which was fully occupied that morning was starting to be emptied out. There were only three of us waiting on that section. I kept on glancing to the lady facilitator with that worried look on my face. She gave me a smile and said, “Don’t worry Ma’am, you’ll be called and everything will be ok.” I asked her if there’s a possibility that I’ll be asked to return the next working day (which would then be Monday coz my appointment was Friday). She said “No” and that I’ll be done before 5PM. Well, for me who was doing the “waiting”, it was a torture coz I don’t know if there was something wrong with my docs.
Well, I waited until 2:30PM before my name was called again and it was from Window 37. The guy at this window was very nice. He gave me the pink slip which was attached to my letter of appointment and he instructed me to pay Delbros for the visa delivery fee. He advised not to make travel plans yet coz they’ll be waiting for the result of the Document Verification. Actually, I heard them say that to all applicants. I asked the guy if they still need any document from me. He said “No” and returned the pictures I gave to the pre-screener. And then I made a follow up question if everything is ok. He answered, “No, just pay Delbros and then you can go home.” I paid Delbros and exited the Embassy around 2:45PM. I was so relieved! As in gosh, the waiting was really a torture, but thank God everything was ok!
after that we checked out & checked in somewhere that cost more.. 