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Interview Experience at USEM

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience here. It is very helpful!

Question, why do so many people arrive so long before their scheduled interview time?

You really don't need to be there more than 1 hr prior to appoinment time. Most people like us went early because of nervousness and didn't want to take a chance on being late. just make sure you go directly to the line at gate 2/ 3 depending on which one they are using that day, ours was gate 2. don't stand with everyone else in the consoler area outside because that is non immigrant tourist waiting area. We found that out after an hr wait till I asked if we are in the right spot. If you have changed your appointment bring both the new and old appoinment letters with you.

IR-1 / CR-1 Visa

Event Date

Service Center : California Service Center

Consulate : Manila, Philippines

Marriage : 2007-05-10

I-130 Sent : 2008-06-30

I-130 NOA1 : 2008-07-09

I-130 Approved : 2009-01-27

NVC Received : 2009-02-02

Received DS-3032 / I-864 Bill : 2009-02-11

DS-3032 E-Mail accepted: 2009-02-11

Pay I-864 Bill 2009-02-14

Receive I-864 Package : 2009-02-14

Return Completed I-864 : 2009-02-18

Return Completed DS-3032 : 2009-02-11

IV Bill generated: 2009-02-11

Receive IV Bill : 2009-02-14

Pay IV Bill : 2009-02-14

Receive Instruction Package : 2009-02-18

NVC received both packages: 2009-02-20

DS-230 & I-864 scanned NVC: 2009-02-23

Case Completed at NVC : 2009-02-26

Interview confirmed: 2009-02-27

NVC Left : 2009-03-06

Consulate Received : 2009-03-09

Medical completed: 2009-03-20

Interview Date : 2009-04-03

Visa Received : 2009-04-07

US Entry : 2009-05-10

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wow Congratulations! thank you for this write up.

Can I ask you if I have to know the entire details of your husband's past divorce? Do I have to ask him details about it? Just wondering coz I know the reason and I did ask for the exact details, but I don't feel comfortable sharing this information with anyone else.

thanks

you don't need to know every detail just the basics reason for the divorce and who filed and why. The CO was just making sure my wife knew about the divorce and basics about the reasons. More to make sure we shared everything with each other than the exact details.

IR-1 / CR-1 Visa

Event Date

Service Center : California Service Center

Consulate : Manila, Philippines

Marriage : 2007-05-10

I-130 Sent : 2008-06-30

I-130 NOA1 : 2008-07-09

I-130 Approved : 2009-01-27

NVC Received : 2009-02-02

Received DS-3032 / I-864 Bill : 2009-02-11

DS-3032 E-Mail accepted: 2009-02-11

Pay I-864 Bill 2009-02-14

Receive I-864 Package : 2009-02-14

Return Completed I-864 : 2009-02-18

Return Completed DS-3032 : 2009-02-11

IV Bill generated: 2009-02-11

Receive IV Bill : 2009-02-14

Pay IV Bill : 2009-02-14

Receive Instruction Package : 2009-02-18

NVC received both packages: 2009-02-20

DS-230 & I-864 scanned NVC: 2009-02-23

Case Completed at NVC : 2009-02-26

Interview confirmed: 2009-02-27

NVC Left : 2009-03-06

Consulate Received : 2009-03-09

Medical completed: 2009-03-20

Interview Date : 2009-04-03

Visa Received : 2009-04-07

US Entry : 2009-05-10

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Hello Ate did the CO ask about the domicile issue?

I am curious because my husband last visit he stayed for 6 months.

Then he came back last feb 11 until now we are waiting for everything to get done.

What are the docs you have for the domicile issue?

He is paying his house every month but He sent through Money gram to his brother.

Congrats!!!

The domicile wasn't an issue for us they just asked why hubby here so long and I told he was here using tourist visa and that was it. If your Bana still has his own house in the states then there isn't a domicile issue for you to worry about. Ours was because my Bana gave up his apartment before he came here. They just want to make sure you have a place to live when you arrive in America.

IR-1 / CR-1 Visa

Event Date

Service Center : California Service Center

Consulate : Manila, Philippines

Marriage : 2007-05-10

I-130 Sent : 2008-06-30

I-130 NOA1 : 2008-07-09

I-130 Approved : 2009-01-27

NVC Received : 2009-02-02

Received DS-3032 / I-864 Bill : 2009-02-11

DS-3032 E-Mail accepted: 2009-02-11

Pay I-864 Bill 2009-02-14

Receive I-864 Package : 2009-02-14

Return Completed I-864 : 2009-02-18

Return Completed DS-3032 : 2009-02-11

IV Bill generated: 2009-02-11

Receive IV Bill : 2009-02-14

Pay IV Bill : 2009-02-14

Receive Instruction Package : 2009-02-18

NVC received both packages: 2009-02-20

DS-230 & I-864 scanned NVC: 2009-02-23

Case Completed at NVC : 2009-02-26

Interview confirmed: 2009-02-27

NVC Left : 2009-03-06

Consulate Received : 2009-03-09

Medical completed: 2009-03-20

Interview Date : 2009-04-03

Visa Received : 2009-04-07

US Entry : 2009-05-10

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Hello Ate did the CO ask about the domicile issue?

I am curious because my husband last visit he stayed for 6 months.

Then he came back last feb 11 until now we are waiting for everything to get done.

What are the docs you have for the domicile issue?

He is paying his house every month but He sent through Money gram to his brother.

Congrats!!!

The domicile wasn't an issue for us they just asked why hubby here so long and I told he was here using tourist visa and that was it. If your Bana still has his own house in the states then there isn't a domicile issue for you to worry about. Ours was because my Bana gave up his apartment before he came here. They just want to make sure you have a place to live when you arrive in America.

Ah.. Thanks Ate for the reply.

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Some tears fell from my eyes while reading this experience.. (im at work at this time)

I am imagining myself inside the USEM... What a feeling!!!!

Edited by jiskat08

CITIZENSHIP 06-19-2013 Sent N400 Application (Chicago Lockbox)


06-21-2013 USCIS received my N400 application


06-25-2013 USCIS mailed the NOA1


06-28-2013 USCIS mailed the Biometrics appt


07-01-2013 Received NOA1 and Biometrics appt letter


​07-15-2013 Biometrics Appt.


08-27-2013 Interview/Test passed


10-07-2013 Oath taking


IR-5 MOM AND DAD


02-20-2014 mailed I-130 for my parents


02-24-2014 USCIS received the I-130 docs


03-17-2014 USCIS approved the petition (took 15 days, weekdays only)


03-25-2014 USCIS shipped the approved case to NVC


04-02-2014 NVC received the papers (6 days from the approval date)


05-01-2014 Got the 2 case numbers. (21 days)


05-07-2014 Got an email & paid the AOS fee (4 days); DS-261(Choice of Agent) sent


05-09-2014 AOS status "PAID" (2 days from the date the was paid)


05-22-2014 AOS docs delivered in NVC


06-27-2014 RFE for I864 and I864A (i left the Place of residence blank, 26 days from the date they received the AOS)


06-28-2014 Mailed the corrected forms to NVC


06-30-2014 NVC received the AOS corrected forms


07-01-2014 Received IV Bill Invoice, paid.


07-02-2014 PAID status of the mother


07-07-2014 PAID status of the father


07-08-2014 Mailed the supporting docs


07-10-2014 Supporting docs arrived at NVC


07-11-2014 Submitted DS260 of mother


07-13-2014 Submitted DS260 of father


09-04-2014 Called NVC and the lady said CASE COMPLETE! (136 days total from the day they received the I-130)


09-11-2014 Received an email regarding the Interview (5 days from the day the case was completed)


09-15-2014 Status "In Transit" inCEAC


09-16-2014 Status "Ready" CEAC


10-03-2014 Interview/AP/USEM (no record of their medical,DAD needs to get an NBI explanation letter&new NBI clearance with his "aka"


10-8-2014 Mom called St Lukes and asked about the medical results, they said they submitted it already back in June


10-10-2014 Mom mailed the NBI Clearance of my dad


10-14-2014 NBI clearance delivered in USEM


10-06-2014 Visa Issued CEAC


10-09-2014 Got an email that my dad's visa was issued


10-14-2014 Visa delivered 11-29-2014 POE


12-08-2014 SS Card arrived

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congratulations

feb. 26,2008-----noa1

aug. 26, 2008----transferred to csc

sept. 19, 2008--- approved

NVC:

sept. 26, 2008----got case # from a live operator

oct. 6, 2008 ------received AOS bill/paid online

oct. 7, 2008 ------shows PAID

oct. 14,2008 -----IV fee generated/ paid online

oct. 15,2008 -----shows PAID

oct. 16,2008 -----mailed DS230 overnight

oct. 23,2008 ---- RFE

nov. 3,2008 ----- case complete

nov. 26,2008 --- medical exam

aug. 14,2009 --- remedical finally, passed

aug. 24, 2009 -- interview , passed

aug. 29, 2009 -- visa in hand

sept. 24, 2009 -- POE LAX

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Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Hello Fellow VJ'ers good day to all of u. First and foremost GOD IS SO GOOD!!! and GOD make things possible according to his will. Fellow VJ'ers thank you so much and we are so glad to be in this site.

Interview Appointment : April 3,2009 @ 7am

April 1, 2009 - We arrived in Manila (9am) and we stayed at City State Tower Hotel

room rate ( 1,515.00 / free breakfast for 2)

* we went back to sleep as soon we were in our hotel room LOL afraid to missed our flights so we didn't sleep that night and we left our house at 3am bound for Cagayan de Oro Airport

* Hubby got me a new outfit to wear for my interview

April 2,2009 - The Day that I don't understand my feelings mixed emotions then i got slight fever probably because I am so scared specially after a fellow VJ'er had her interview

- I am all prepared with all our documents, but still I have all those kinds of emotions ( scared,nervous, and in fact I got stomach pain and chills. so what we did we went to church with my husband and we attended a mass at 12 noon mass from there, as I was praying I really cried and i told God, that's the first time I felt that kind of scared and nervous that I can't explain Why? maybe because as i heard from others, from their interview experienced and specially I am afraid that they will be a domicile issues since my husband is here with me in the Philippines for over a year now although we have enough evidence to support for that.

- The night before my interview, my nervousness wont let me sleep I was chilling and I really cried all I feel was I am so scared!!! so my husband hug me and comfort me. Then we both sitting on the bed and holds our hands together and we both prayed to GOD as I am crying ( sorry VJ'ers during this time super iyakin kc nga takot na takot me) my husband lead the prayer and we ask god to be with us during my interview. Then we both fall asleep hugging each other.

April 3, 2009 - The most awaited Day!

- We woke up at 3am we say our morning prayers before starting our day

5:30 am - We arrived at Embassy consular area waited there until 6:45am. Till my husband decided to ask the Guard why we haven't been given instruction since our appointment was 7am the guard then told us to go to Gate 3 because the consular waiting area was for visitors visa only. Once we got into the correct line we waited to enter the embassy.

7:00 am - Falling inline at the embassy at the correct gate, the guard at the front of the line asked for my interview appointment letter we gave him my Identification Folder I prepared which had my Interview Appointment letter ( a re-scheduled letter and the original appointment) my passport copy Bio-Page, Postal ID etc.....

7:30 am - seated in the Blue chairs waited to get our ticket number

8:00 am - Finally got my ticket number 6035

9:00 am - After waiting an hour with our ticket, got called for finger scanning at window 16 (calling me by Name not my ticket number)

10:00 am - Another hour waiting and called for pre-screening by ticket number at window 14

- A filipina pre-screener she's in her early 50's , she was very nice but made my husband so nervous LOL

- As she was asking me I keep looking in her eyes and telling myself I can do this....

Question she asked me:

1. When and how did we met

2. How old we are ( my age and my husband age)

3. How many times my husband got married

4. What's my husband work

5. She asked me about my work before

6. Date of our Marriage ( she asked me this question many times)

7. She also asked me, my husband health condition

8. How many times did my husband visited me before we got married

9. She asked me also why is it my husband stayed here for this long

10. She was asking me if I was married before and If I have kids

11. She asked my CENOMAR

12. She asked me, if my husband has kids and how many

13. She was asking also the reasons of my husband divorce and last wife passing away

* She asked me a lot but still i know God touched her heart for me coz she even called me anak because every time I answered her question shes making a note so she said dahan2x anak ko and it makes me comfortable after I heard her saying those words.

10:30 am - Final Interview with CO

- At window 28 with a super gwapo CO LOL his in early 40's

- He greeted me "Magandang Umaga u may please sit down"

- He let me raised my right hand and swear the truth

- Then he greeted me again Hello Mrs Whicker how are you today? and I answered him back I am okay but my butt is shaking because I am so nervous and he laugh at me and he asked me Why I am nervous I just told him I love my husband so much and I want to be with him forever and he reply me Awwwwww!!! Anyway Mrs Whicker just relax and I have some question for you but first I want to tell you that being an officer its really a tough job because we are protecting the Government as well as the applicant and he says " Does it make it sense to you?"

CO Question:

1. When is my Birth date

2. When is our wedding date

3. When and how we met

4. My age and husband age

5. If I had children

6. How many times my husband got married before

7. He asked me if my husband been arrested before

8. he asked me about my husband divorces and wife passing away

then he just return my documents that I presented and he told me Mrs Whicker Thank you so much for the time you spent preparing your documents they are very organized. I was not sure when he handed me back my documents If I had passed the interview or not., he kept on typing from his computer, go outside and wait for further instruction and I kept on looking into his eyes while he was telling me this and then he said your visa is approved welcome to the United states of America!! I was holding my hands together under the ledge and when he said those words i brought my hands up together on the top of the ledge and I said THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR!! and I can't help my tears fall in front of him and he just said it's my pleasure and it's my Job , and tell him back again Thank you so much Sir and may god bless you always., and he replied you are welcome Mrs Whicker and God bless you too have a good Day. And my husband sitting outside the room said that's the only part of the interview he could hear, was me saying thank you. And when I came out the room, my husband and I hug and kiss each other regardless of the people who are there we are just happy., then we seated back again at the blue chairs waiting for my number to be called. 10 minutes after, when my ticket number flashed on the screen telling me to go to window 37 then the man from window 37 handed me my appointment letter with the pink slip on it and told me to pay my air 21 fee., then we went to air 21 counter and paid the 220 pesos delivery fee. The air 21 counter said we can go and thank you and we left the embassy veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy hungry and tired But HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Once again fellow VJ'ers thank u so much for helping and supporting us during our visa journey it was a tough interview but the pink slip was worth it. Good Luck to everyone with their interview up coming.

God Bless us all VJ'ers!!!!

MMW :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

:) Happy to meet abynorm and we are in the same hotel and got to met also Del with her friend.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Egypt
Timeline

Congratulations MMW and wish you a happy life together forever :dancing: :joy: (F) (F) :dance: :dance:

Service Center: Vermont Service Center

Consulate : Egypt

Marriage : 2008-03-03

I-130 Sent : 2008-05-29

I-130 NOA1 : 2008-06-06

TOUCHED : 2008-31-12

I-130 Approved : 2009-1-1

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Thank you so much for sharing your experience here. It is very helpful!

Question, why do so many people arrive so long before their scheduled interview time?

The instruction that you'll get from the embassy will say that you have to be an hour before the scheduled interview. My schedule then was 7am. But knowing that the embassy is still close before 7am, i decided to go just 15 minutes earlier.. I was there around 6:45 and didnt encounter any problem..

by the way, i posted my K1 interview experience at wordpress.. you can click on the link below... I also posted almost all the letters i got from USCIS, NVC and USEM... :)

good luck.. :)

MY K1 EXPERIENCE blog...click on this link..

My K1 visa has already been approved. I had been really frustrated to find more info about K1 when we were still under the process. Some blogs have been useful. Now, that I completed the K1 process, I wish to share my own experience. So click on the link if you need more info about K1. The blog includes the requirements, med exams, questions on the interview, CFO and more. I hope that it will help. Thanks. Cheers and good luck.. :)

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Hello Fellow VJ'ers good day to all of u. First and foremost GOD IS SO GOOD!!! and GOD make things possible according to his will. Fellow VJ'ers thank you so much and we are so glad to be in this site.

### MMW

First and foremost CONGRATS and your 1 step away being here in the states. My wife will have her interview on 21st, I even bought her sister ticket to be with her. She will be in Manila on the 12th and will do her medical the next day. Any other tips let me know, PM, and thanks for sharing us of your good news. I bought my wife ticket to the states for May I hope and really wish that there will not be an issues, crossing my finger.

Honey Bun and Sweet Bun Forevermore

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience here. It is very helpful!

Question, why do so many people arrive so long before their scheduled interview time?

You really don't need to be there more than 1 hr prior to appoinment time. Most people like us went early because of nervousness and didn't want to take a chance on being late. just make sure you go directly to the line at gate 2/ 3 depending on which one they are using that day, ours was gate 2. don't stand with everyone else in the consoler area outside because that is non immigrant tourist waiting area. We found that out after an hr wait till I asked if we are in the right spot. If you have changed your appointment bring both the new and old appoinment letters with you.

I certainly understand the nervousness and wanting to be there on time. I am going to be with my Bing at her interview. I hope I will be able to sleep the night before. We are apparently stuck at the NVC right now.

Congratulations again.

Service Center : California Service Center

Consulate : Manila, Philippines

I-129F Sent : 2008-12-02

I-129F Receipt Notice : 2008-12-05

RFE: 2009-02-26

Approval Notice: 2009-03-13

NVC Received: 2009-03-23

Left NVC: 2009-05-12

Stuck at NVC 50 days

Interview: 2009-06-23 Passed!

Visa picked up: 2009-06-25

POE Detroit: 2009-07-04

Married: 2009-09-11

Filed for AOS: 2009-09-22

Biometrics taken: 2009-10-29

Advance Parole approved 2009-11-04

Employment Authorization approved 2009-11-04

AOS Appointment 2009-12-15

AOS Approved 2009-12-15

Green Card Received 2010-01-02

Filed for ROC: 2011-09-17

ROC approved 2012-03-21

Green Card Received 2012-03-26

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