Consulate Review: Manila, Philippines
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
December 10, 2016 |
| Embassy Review : |
Interview date : December 8th
I got there at 7am, my schedule was 8.15am. There was a queuing area, just right outside the embassy. The applicants lined up according to their schedule in that queue area. It would have been good, except that those who assisted looked a bit confused as well with where to put K1 applicants. I mean initially I went to the 8.15 non immigrants line. But then someone among the embassy assistants told all k1s to line up at the immigrant line, so we did. Then someone called all K1s to approach the area near the gate at 7.45 so we all went to the gate, wearing our heels and all, only to be told to walk back to the queuing area and line up again under the immigrants line.
It was okay, I am not complaining, it was just inconvenient not knowing where to go. I know k1 visa is classified as a non immigrant visa, but, is also classifies as "immigrant" in some embassy tracking system. We, the k1 applicants, were as confused as the assisting personnel. Lol
But , inside the embassy, my experience improved so well. Overall, from the time I got inside the gate from the queuing area, I was done in 2 and a half to 3 hours.
There were no flashing signs, just embassy personnel assisting us, telling us where to sit, where to go, who goes next and etc.
We were lead to windows 53 to 66 for the application process.
First window, window 53, the lady asked for my passport and my confirmation letter.. Here, i was asked to
1. Verify my name
2. Verify my birthdate
3. Verify my petitioner's name
4. How many are petitioned
5. Final address in the US.
6. Then, she asked for a 2x2 passport picture
After this,i sat down again to wait for my turn for Pre Screening.
After a few mins, I was asked to stand in line for pre screening. That was for Windows 54, 55 and 56.
I stood in line for maybe 10 mins and got to Window 56. I got a Filipina lady, who asked me to give her my Confirmation letter. By the way, the passport was no longer returned after it was obtained from Window 53. It was placed inside a ziplock.
From.Window 56, I was asked by that Filipino lady who never smiled, and asked questions like:
1. My full name
2. My birthday
3. My petitioner's full name
4. Where i met my petitioner
5. When my petitioner and I became a couple
6. If my petitioner was married in the past
7. Asked for my petitioner's xwifes nationality
8. Asked why they divorced
9. Asked from where the xwife was
While i was answering her questions, she typed my answers and was consistently checking her screens and my embassy file.
She also asked me for my St Luke's brown folder, however, St Luke's did not give that to me and informed me that they would forward it to the embassy. I told the Filipina lady that but told her I have and can give her the vaccination paper plus the xray cd. She said that those are no longer needed, she went up from her seat and seemed to check something inside, then came back. I guess she checked my St Lukes brown folder that should have been forwarded.
Last thing she asked was for some pictures so i showed her our album mahal. Our album cannot fit the lil pigeon hole glass that separates the applicants from the interviewers so I just flipped the album pages for the lady and gave some description about what she was seeing.
After a few pages, she told me I can show the album to the consul later during my interview and that i can proceed to Finger Scanning, then returned my confirmation.
I went in line again, I was I think 3rd or 4th in line for finger scanning.
This just took maybe 5 mins, it was done at Window 57. I was glad that though my fingers were sweaty from being so nervous, my fingers were scanned with no issues at first attempt.
So, after this came the increasing nervousness. I was lead by the embassy personnel to sit down with the interviewees. We sat based on who would come next.
Wait time for me was about 45 minutes... I had the chance to freshen up (there was a powder room/toilet/cr nearby) and to calm my nerves while waiting.
When it was my turn, i stood across window 63 while waiting for the couple whom the consul was interviewing to get finished with their interview. From where i was standing then, i actually heard that the consul apologetically had to explain to the couple why he was denying their application.. i couldn't hear exactly, but I believe they just got married here in the Phils and applied for a visa, but the visa they applied for has restrictions etc.. i didn't understand the rest but i know it wasn't k1 they were applying for ... the window beside window 63 had a very old woman who chose to have an interpreter. She was nervous and was shaking but she has a relative with her.. from where i was standing, i could hear the interpreter explain to her that she needs to still register the birth certificate of her child, though late registered. I don't know what happened but i was thinking the old lady 's child maybe son or daughter was petitioning for her but she has no birth certificate of said child.. so heartbreaking really. In my head, i wish they would just grant her the visa, she was so old....... she cant even walk alone now.. but I know too that the embassy has to follow rules to find out if her petitioner is really her relative.. so sad.
Anyway, when the Consulate Window 63 was done with the couple he was interviewing, i did not approach immediately. I waited for him to acknowledge my presence. He seemed to be typing some info on his screen.. he might have been completing his notes from the last case.. then after maybe 2 to.3 minutes he looked at me and smiled. So i smiled back confidently (but i was so nervous inside) and approached the window.
First he said was Hello. So i said Good Morning! He made me raise my right hand for an oath taking. I looked straight in the consul's eye as i listened intently to the oath. Basically, it was an oath that everything I would say and anything i would provide during that interview would be TRUE... To which I said Yes, I do.
His first statement was, "So ... Philip is petitioning for you.." then looked at me, I said, "Yes, that is correct." And then I think I smiled. I reminded myself to smile despite my nerves lol.. I even smiled constantly at that lady from.Window 56 hahaha but she never smiled back.
Anyway, this consul at Window 63 opened my embassy folder which I assumed contained all my petitioners documents.
The consul looked at me again, saying "you met online?". I smiled again, thinking of a positive way to say No. So i told him, "oh, actually, Philip and I technically, are office mates." Then I explained how we are 3rd party vendors with one mutual client.
After that, he asked me how we met,so i gladly explained that to him. Easy question. I was always asked that even at work and I always would state that it was the fault of our work.
Then he asked when did he migrate to the Philippnes. So i had to explain again. I asked him, "Are you familiar with how the BPo works?" He said, yes of course. So i gave him a quick overview of remote access, IM, calls and emails those that allowed for our first interaction to take place. That cleared it.. and he asked, when we first saw each other, then when you last visited. After that he asked how many times you visited me.
I answered using specific dates. I told him exact number of days too etc. And for his last question, even if he only asked "how many times", I still gave him the dates plus I stressed that he proposed in Sept.
He just kept nodding and then after that he said "so I am approving this petition, congratulations i just need to give you a pamphlet and a piece of paper...." etc he was still explaining but I was so happy I cant remember what he said javascript:emoticon(' ')
Then he said wait 5 to 10 days for your visa. Etc. I still stood there and I said thank you, I appreciate it. Then i said Bye.javascript:emoticon(' ')javascript:emoticon('')
(updated on December 22, 2016) |
| Rating : |
Good |
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Lakwatsera on 2018-11-02 said:
ver 5.0