Got the PINK SLIP!

[Mari_S 1]

Hi There Guys,

Very happy day for me and my wife today because WE GOT APPROVED TODAY! WOOHOO!

Anyways, wanted to share you my interview experience...this will be quite a long post so i apologize...

Woke up at around 3:30 AM. Did not get enough slip due to anxiety and tension plus the bad dreams wherein i was denied my visa and there was this trycycle driver from our village trying to stab me with a knife due to unpaid debt...

Took a bath, cooked, ate my breakfast and called up my Tartie 15 minutes before 5 AM. Was picked up by the taxi around 5 AM and breezed past Coastal Rd then Roxas Blvd. and arrived at the Manila Embassy around 5:45 AM (READ: Taxi driver was a speed freak.)

Ignored all the fixers trying to coerce me to get my 2x2 pics and some other documents from them and fell in line outside. Didn't think that one of the fixers would actually be of help when she told me that all applicants with the 6:30 AM interview has already been admitted inside the waiting area. So I proceeded to the waiting area but was asked for my appointment letter and ID by one of the Whackenhut guards (hahaha, now i get it...Whackenhut!) before i was allowed entry.

I was lucky because i was sandwiched by 2 talkative ladies petitioned by their fiancee's which helped me pass the time while i was waiting for the guards to let everybody in. At around 7 AM, we were ushered into the embassy and instructed to follow the BLUE arrows going to the Immigrant Visa Unit. However, i was surprised that i was not told by one of the guards to drink from the bottled water i brought during the X-ray. Heck, they just gave me my bag and did not seem to see that i had a liter of water and some crackers in my knapsack...talk about security huh?

Went in..sat at one of the blue chairs and waited for our turn to fall in line at the ticket booth. Got to the ticket booth like 30 minutes after and i was number 7040. Tip: Arrange your DS forms in this order - DS-156, DS-157, DS-156 and DS-157. It'll be easier for them to fix and provide you with a number.

After another 30 minutes, i was called up to do Fingerscanning. Just listen and your name will be called.

After another 30 minutes or so, my number flashed on the screen and i was instructed to go to Window 26 for pre-screening. The pre-screener was a chubby Filipina who spoke fluid Filipino (hahahaha! get it?) and asked who i was , how old i am and who petitioned me. She asked for my Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and NBI. She then asked me another set of questions: Where did i meet my wife? When did she arrive in the U.S.? Where we already dating when she got to the U.S.? When was the last time i went to the states? What was the purpose of my visit there? When was the last time me and my wife see each other? Then she asked me for 5 pictures, 5 letters, the Affidavit of Support and latest W-2. I took my seat back and waited for my number to be called again for the actual consul interview.

Again, after 30 minutes, i saw my number flash right above room 30 for the consul interview. I went in, greeted the consul Good Morning but he, in his good ole jolly nature, ignored me haha! I sat down and calmed myself. As far as i can remember, he asked the same questions as what the pre-screener asked. He even got one of my wife's cards, opened it up and asked whose name was written below the letter. He also asked me i was married previously, do i have kids, if my wife was previously married and if she does have kids and answered a big NO to all of them. After that, he smiled and told me i am APPROVED. However, i noticed that an "approved" sign was already stamped to my papers while the interview was on-going. The interview was quite short around 5 mins i guess.

Bit of a bad news though: my request for visa pickup was denied - the consul saying that they are now being strict about that. I also asked when i will be able to get my visa and he said that they do not have a time frame on that. Anyways is that normal? Did you encounter the same response?

After the interview, i was told to wait for my name to be called outside. After 15 minutes, i heard my name and proceeded to window 39 for release. I was given the pink slip and was told to pay the delivery fee at the delbros booth. At the delbros booth, i was asked to fill up the delivery sheet and paid the visa delivery fee of 250 Php.

I was home sweet home after an hour of bus ride. Hah! The sweet taste of success still in my lips...

Anyways, under normal circumstances (no AR, no document verification problem - I'm sure of this!), how long does it take for the visa to arrive?

Thanks and congrats also to those who got approved today!

[chuck_n_rose 0]

Very BIG congrats to you. Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us.

[✿Ice Rain✿ 0]

Hi there, wow! that's long... hehe, but i read all.. Thanks for sharing it with us.. Im happy for you, and congrats... Hope ours will be next..

[Pinaylang 0]

Congratulations!!!

["rylee" 0]

congrats

[dawnlake23 0]

BIG CONGRATULATIONS!!!

As per the release of visa, I think it's a case to case basis. I was also given pink slip and not on AR as I believe, document verification was never mentioned and NO white paper (221g) was given, yet I am still waiting for my visa after more than a month.

[RyaNRiza 1]

God is good, all the time!!! CONGRATULATIONS!

ryaNriza

[jayzar 1]

WOW!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

[warwick8 0]

Congratulations, Mari!!!

we were given the same reason after I asked for a visa pick-up too. 6 days since the interview and I'm still waiting....

delbros said they will deliver today.

[manila_2005 0]

Hello MariEnMichelle,

Congrats and thanks for sharing your experience.

It seems the pre-processing is a lot faster now. Your waiting is on the average of 30 minutes from one window to another. That wasn't the case during our Feb 8 interview. I notice the increase in delivery fee from Php165 to 250. I presume your delivery address is within Metro Manila, that could be the reason your request for visa pick up was not accepted. From my readings here, those from the province or those accompanied by their petitioner were given priority or allowed visa pick up. USEM website says the presence of the petitioner is not necessary during the interview, but I believe it has a plus factor in immediate release of visa. That is assuming the primary and secondary evidences are complete.

Delivery within Metro Manila takes 2 days from the time your visa is released to DelBros. You may try checking it out at www.delbros.com your MNL2008xxxx as tracking number. The website is usually up between 8am to 9am, then again at 1:30am. The rest of the hours, it is down or somewhat restricted for visa delivery inquiry.

Enjoy the moment. I know it feels good to get done with the interview, after months of waiting and document preparations.

Best regards,

Manila

[Mari_S 1]

Thanks everyone! You just don't know how lucky we are that we are part of this very big and informative community!

I guess its really a case to case basis with regards to the visa release. Anyways, let's all hope for the best!

[ilovecookies 0]

congrats!

[RonMay 1]

hey congrats!!!

dont worry about the visa pick up since ur living in manila. hopefully they will mail it to you soon! ive got a friend in manila before and she got her visa same day as mine, 3 working days! happy trip soon!!!

[Zee Bee 61]

Congratulations!!!

[dbears 1]

BIG CONGRATS!!!