Consulate Review: Manila, Philippines
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
|
| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
September 6, 2015 |
| Embassy Review : |
We arrived at the U.S. Embassy, Manila around 1 hour ahead of our appointment time in the morning, with hundreds of various visa candidates and those with them standing outside the entry doors for the visa processing center of the embassy. The lines moved steadily and in time our papers were checked and we entered the initial waiting area inside the embassy. Stan was concerned that he might not be allowed to accompany Roma, but when we got to the initial credentials checker outside the embassy, she quickly figured out Stan was likely an American and asked for my passport for identity, admitting us without any question. After being in the initial waiting area around 1 hour or so, Roma's name/number was called and we entered the main visa processing center area. We progressed through various checkers, who asked straight-forward questions seeking information and various proof documents. There was no question about Stan accompanying Roma through these check-points. We noted perhaps three American males accompanying visa candidates among the many hundreds seeking visas on this day. We noted that it seemed that deference was given to Stan, having come all the way from America to accompany Roma (Throughout the process, it seemed that the various agents noted that Stan had made the effort to travel a long distance to be with Roma for her interview - to add support of a legitimate marriage and our sincerity and commitment). After several hours we reached the final consular officer interview. We felt very fortunate in that this consular officer seemed to be friendly and pleasant - not as intimidating as some seemed as we waited for the random officer we got among the five working on visa interviews at the time. The officer asked some easy, basic questions (such as described in listings elsewhere at the VisaJourney site) and then very diplomatically said she will ask Stan to wait in the nearby waiting area while she interviewed Roma without Stan for some additional questions (again straight-forward). The additional questions weren't difficult for Roma to answer, and shortly the consular officer was finished with the interview - but without a specific indication that Roma would be granted her visa. We then waited a short while until being called to a final window. The friendly agent there said congratulations, you have been granted your visa!! What a momentous and joyful moment that was!! From start to finish, once we entered the first waiting area in the visa processing center, it took around 3 hours.
We were really quite amazed at the large number of persons coming through the U.S. Embassy in Manila on the typical day we were there. There were hundreds seeking all varieties of visas on that day. The embassy has a modern and very large visa processing center that accommodates the many applicants comfortably. There is ample waiting area space with lots of seats. Overall the center and process has good human comforts and seems professional and organized.
(updated on September 6, 2015) |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
|
ver 5.0