Visa Interview Experience (IR-1 / CR-1)

[SJG 30]

I maybe one of the lucky few whose petition was processed under 6 months. I was invited for a visa interview in August 4, 2011 at 6:30am. Anticipating a flood of people who like us, are very much eager to finish their business that day, my husband and I went at the U.S. Embassy at around 5am. Shockingly, there were more than a hundred people swarming around the Embassy Ground and after some random conversation with other applicants, we were surprised that we are all a mix of interviewees from 6am to 11am and that the schedule stipulated in the letter does not really matter.

Our situation certainly didn't look promising. I was getting a bit skeptical whether we would get processed the same day that I told my husband he should get inside his embassy and inform the staff about the chaos outside. But before he was able to reach the Embassy Gate, the guards announced that ALL Immigrant Visa Applicants (regardless of time schedule) need to RUN, form a line, and get in. It was total madness!

My husband sprinted and I ran like there's no tomorrow (lol). By divine intervention, we managed to reach the front line, where a local embassy staff requested to see my Appointment Letter, a copy of the DS-230 and 2x2 photos. I was then told to get inside Door #3 for security check. Our bags were scanned, we passed thru a metal detector and was submitted to body search. (Note: Any kind of electronic device is not allowed inside the embassy, so pls. do not bring one.)

We were then told to proceed to Window #3 where another local staff checked my appointment letter and handed me over a ticket number. She returned my appointment letter with a copy of my ticket number stapled at the corner and was told to get inside the Immigrant Visa Section and drop my documents at Counter 39. I was given a separate slip of paper which needed to get filled-out for the courier service, she said.

Inside the Immigrant Visa Section, I went to Counter 39 as instructed and an old lady told me to wait for my number to be called. It has taken a while, 45minutes or so, til I was asked to proceed at the Initial Interview Window 57. It was a local staff who checked the packet NVC sent directly to them and asked a couple of questions:

- Who is my petitioner? (Good thing that my husband went with me and he answered some of the questions directly)

- When did we get marry?

- Have I traveled outside the country before? (Yes)

- Have I lived in other country longer than 6 months? (Yes, in China)

- Did I secure a separate police clearance for that? (Yes, Beijing Police issued me one.)

- How long has my husband been in Manila? (2 years, but he's travelling for business, America, Asia and back so domicile is not an issue)

- We are expats so where do we intend to reside permanently? (America, of course!)

The first interview went well, as expected we were then asked to be seated and wait (yet again) for our number to be called. A couple of minutes after, I was asked to go to Counter 40 for finger scanning.

Another hour of waiting has passed til we were asked to proceed to Window 61 for the Actual Interview. A young, happy and friendly consul greeted us. Asked me to raise my right hand to do the Oath (that I will answer all the questions truthfully etc etc). She then started asking me the same questions:

- Who is the petitioner?

- How and where did we meet? (Beijing, thru a common friend)

- What are we doing in Beijing that time? (We were both expats working for multi-national companies)

- Then it became more of a casual conversation, like when did we decided to get marry and if we plan on having kids.

- She then asked to see some pictures of our wedding. She compliments our photos saying that it was such a beautiful wedding. (I blushed said thanks)

The interview didn't last longer than 5 minutes. She then said, CONGRATULATIONS YOUR VISA IS APPROVED! Good luck on your new adventures in United States of America.

*A sigh of relief*

We then proceed to Counter 72 and was asked to submit the slip of paper for the courier service. The visa they said will take 2 weeks to process.

On our way out, I looked at my watch and smiled, it was only 9:30am!!! A journey that felt like a lifetime~

[Sirdaniel42 86]

Congratulations, GOOD LUCK with the rest of your Journey

[SJG 30]

Thank you! Would def. frequent this forum, a lot of great advice from wonderful people.

Congratulations, GOOD LUCK with the rest of your Journey

[iwuvcheshert 6]

first of all, thank you for giving me an idea on how the process goes about.. at least, for us waiting for our turn, this is a great mindset on how it turns out come interview date.. and

oh my gosh! your interview day was indeed adventurous. i do hope that i would get the same experience when my time comes... enjoy your upcoming migration to the US..

[iwuvcheshert 6]

btw, did u bring single copies of your wedding pics? cause i was just planning on bringing the parent copy of our wedding album

[SJG 30]

The embassy counters have small, shallow (maybe a foot long) slot where your documents would go through. It slopes a couple of inches down it is impossible to slip hard bounds or spiral albums/folders. My advice is print out your wedding photos, paste it on paper and label them. Use FLEXIBLE clear book instead of photo albums.

The embassy counters have small, shallow (maybe a foot long) slot where your documents would go through. It slopes a couple of inches down it is impossible to slip hard bounds or spiral albums/folders. My advice is print out your wedding photos, paste it on paper and label them. Use FLEXIBLE clear book instead of photo albums.

btw, did u bring single copies of your wedding pics? cause i was just planning on bringing the parent copy of our wedding album

[pars 9]

Congrats

[SJG 30]

Thanks!

Congrats

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Congratulations!!!

[Andy and Pui 16]

Congratulations!

[rostov007 29]

The interview didn't last longer than 5 minutes. She then said, CONGRATULATIONS YOUR VISA IS APPROVED! Good luck on your new adventures in United States of America.

*A sigh of relief*

We then proceed to Counter 72 and was asked to submit the slip of paper for the courier service. The visa they said will take 2 weeks to process.

On our way out, I looked at my watch and smiled, it was only 9:30am!!! A journey that felt like a lifetime~

So nice to hear, congratulations to you both!

[bigdog 377]

I maybe one of the lucky few whose petition was processed under 6 months. I was invited for a visa interview in August 4, 2011 at 6:30am. Anticipating a flood of people who like us, are very much eager to finish their business that day, my husband and I went at the U.S. Embassy at around 5am. Shockingly, there were more than a hundred people swarming around the Embassy Ground and after some random conversation with other applicants, we were surprised that we are all a mix of interviewees from 6am to 11am and that the schedule stipulated in the letter does not really matter.

Our situation certainly didn't look promising. I was getting a bit skeptical whether we would get processed the same day that I told my husband he should get inside his embassy and inform the staff about the chaos outside. But before he was able to reach the Embassy Gate, the guards announced that ALL Immigrant Visa Applicants (regardless of time schedule) need to RUN, form a line, and get in. It was total madness!

My husband sprinted and I ran like there's no tomorrow (lol). By divine intervention, we managed to reach the front line, where a local embassy staff requested to see my Appointment Letter, a copy of the DS-230 and 2x2 photos. I was then told to get inside Door #3 for security check. Our bags were scanned, we passed thru a metal detector and was submitted to body search. (Note: Any kind of electronic device is not allowed inside the embassy, so pls. do not bring one.)

We were then told to proceed to Window #3 where another local staff checked my appointment letter and handed me over a ticket number. She returned my appointment letter with a copy of my ticket number stapled at the corner and was told to get inside the Immigrant Visa Section and drop my documents at Counter 39. I was given a separate slip of paper which needed to get filled-out for the courier service, she said.

Inside the Immigrant Visa Section, I went to Counter 39 as instructed and an old lady told me to wait for my number to be called. It has taken a while, 45minutes or so, til I was asked to proceed at the Initial Interview Window 57. It was a local staff who checked the packet NVC sent directly to them and asked a couple of questions:

- Who is my petitioner? (Good thing that my husband went with me and he answered some of the questions directly)

- When did we get marry?

- Have I traveled outside the country before? (Yes)

- Have I lived in other country longer than 6 months? (Yes, in China)

- Did I secure a separate police clearance for that? (Yes, Beijing Police issued me one.)

- How long has my husband been in Manila? (2 years, but he's travelling for business, America, Asia and back so domicile is not an issue)

- We are expats so where do we intend to reside permanently? (America, of course!)

The first interview went well, as expected we were then asked to be seated and wait (yet again) for our number to be called. A couple of minutes after, I was asked to go to Counter 40 for finger scanning.

Another hour of waiting has passed til we were asked to proceed to Window 61 for the Actual Interview. A young, happy and friendly consul greeted us. Asked me to raise my right hand to do the Oath (that I will answer all the questions truthfully etc etc). She then started asking me the same questions:

- Who is the petitioner?

- How and where did we meet? (Beijing, thru a common friend)

- What are we doing in Beijing that time? (We were both expats working for multi-national companies)

- Then it became more of a casual conversation, like when did we decided to get marry and if we plan on having kids.

- She then asked to see some pictures of our wedding. She compliments our photos saying that it was such a beautiful wedding. (I blushed said thanks)

The interview didn't last longer than 5 minutes. She then said, CONGRATULATIONS YOUR VISA IS APPROVED! Good luck on your new adventures in United States of America.

*A sigh of relief*

We then proceed to Counter 72 and was asked to submit the slip of paper for the courier service. The visa they said will take 2 weeks to process.

On our way out, I looked at my watch and smiled, it was only 9:30am!!! A journey that felt like a lifetime~

Great job, ours would have because of our attorney. Have fun.

[ShannonCraigy 0]

Congratulations!!!!

[LarryandChristine 1]

Congrats!

[SJG 30]

Thanks everyone! We are looking fwd to hearing your happy stories too. Best of luck!