USEM Interview Experience Nov 19, 2013 , Still have Tourist visa

[gorjuzk8 2]

Hi everyone!

I just finished my interview this morning, Nov 19 2013 at USEM Manila!

Just want everyone to know that there is nothing to worry about as long as you guys have a valid relationship..

They were all so nice and very approachable.

I arrived at the embassy more than an hour early, and the line for K1 visa applicants isn't very long.

The girl asked for the Ds 160 confirmation page, appointment letter and passport, and put the passport

in a ziplock. She stapled my ds160 with my appointement confirmation.

I got in right away. Please do not bring any electronic device, you will be denied of entry..

After the checking of bags, you go straight to the ticket booth.

The ticket booth attendant took my appointment letter and gave me a number, and told me to go

through door 2 (bags will be checked again here, food and water not allowed, though i think you can bring in mints or candies)

instructed me to drop my appointment letter and ds160 at window 39 and wait for my number to be called.

(which never happened, because there were greeters who took them once you get inside)

then my number flashed on the screen.. 6082 at window 43.

windows 40-43 if i'm not mistaken are all for finger scanning.

He was an american and asked me to show my number.. I was giving it to him but apparently you'll be keeping your

number for the rest of the day. first four fingers on the left over the scanner, then four fingers on the right,

and lastly 2 thumbs.. he told me to get seated again and wait for my number to flash on the screen.

It took so long before I saw my number, to go to window 57 - Filipino Consul -

who will check if your documents are complete..

- NSO birth certificate

- NSO Cenomar

- NBI Clearance - green form

- Receipt at BPI

and then the i-134 from your fiance and other supporting documents.

I gave him a bunch of papers which are the ff:

- i134 - signed and dated (taken)

- photocopy of all the pages of my fiance's passport (returned)

- form 1040 - 2012 only (taken)

- W2 - 2012 only (taken)

- 6 paystubs (returned)

- employment letter (returned)

-House insurance/mortage (returned)

- Bank statements with my fiance's name and acct number with bank letterhead (returned)

***This part is tricky, what is asked of you depends on the consul..

because when i was waiting for my number to flash,

I was close to window 50 and i could hear the filipina consul

ask for all these documents from the k1 applicants..

Someone was even asked for her school records and other IDs

which I do not have, so I kind of panicked.. but luckily, the filipino consul in window 57

is very nice.. He just looked at the documents and just took a few..

In almost every window you are asked for your Name and Date of birth..

He was very friendly with me and chatted for a while because

he just came home from Jersey as well, so we talked about the place a lot

more than the visa application..

window 57 interview went something like this:

-Who is my petitioner

-Name of my petitioner

- where i met my fiance (i said high schoo)

- what school

- what does my fiance do

- where did he study

- Where in the States my fiance lives

- how many times ive been to US

- the longest period i have stayed in US

- asked for our pictures - he was happy to see places he's been to before in the east coast

- i have arranged a collage of our pictures in 2 photo paper A4 size, with labels of the place and the date

some of it just the two of us, and a lot of it with my/his family and friends..

he then returned the pictures and said goodluck..

told me to sit down and the next step is interview with the american consul..

It was again 30mins after i saw my number flash on the screen, on window 62,

a middle aged american consul (woman) greeted me (she was very kind)

asked me to read the oath just beside the window and asked for my

four fingers on the right hand to be scanned again..

First she gave me a pamphlet about domestic violence, and asked me if i know what it meant..

She says if anyone in the household hurts me, i should call the police, and i shouldn't be afraid,

that no one is going to cancel my visa, and no one will force me to come back to the Phils.

Questions were kind of the same with the filipino consul

- How did we meet (high school)

- asked if we were high school sweethearts - NO

- when did we start dating

- when did he visit me

- how many times he visited me

- what was my purpose of travel to the US before

- how long did i stay in the US

- my fiance's occupation

- my occupation

- when did we last see each other

- what are the wedding plans - civil wedding

- are you going to have a church wedding

-have i met his family

- did his family meet my family - i said just his mom and my mom

She didn't even ask for anything, she had the photos from the i129f package

and that was what she was browsing, and then said, everything seems right

and told me my visa was approved.. and just go to the last window for instructions..

I can hear the other consul grill the applicant on window 64,

because she has just seen her fiance once,

the consul asked, How can you be so sure that you

want to marry this person if you've just seen him once..

(those who can relate need to be prepared with this question)

The last windows, 71 and 72, are calling all the applicants by batch..

if you aren't called alone, i think it's good news, because they don't

need you to drop an additional document..

I have chosen home delivery..

Hope everything goes well, and that no more administrative processing will take place..

My only concern though, they didn't take my old passport to cancel my tourist visa,

I thought they were going to cancel my B1/B2 visa which is still valid until 2022..

Hope it won't be a problem..

Thank you so much visa journey for all the instructions!!

I am so happy we are almost done and very close to being with my love..

I just hope all applicants would sign up here, quite a number of applicants

have incomplete documents and have irked some consuls with their lack of preparation..

Good luck to all who are going on their interview!!

Everything will be okay!! Pray and have a lot of faith!!

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Process to Phil. Regional Forum~

~Commentary is embassy-specific~

[JobienJeck 10]

I was there this morning too. #6062. The Filipino Consul at Window 57 was very friendly and direct I have to agree. Congratulations by the way.

[gorjuzk8 2]

I was there this morning too. #6062. The Filipino Consul at Window 57 was very friendly and direct I have to agree. Congratulations by the way.

Oh wow I know I saw your number flash on the screen.. Congrats to us!! hope we get the passport soon!

And I've read your story, it is very similar to mine!! Regards to you and your fiance..

[JobienJeck 10]

Oh wow I know I saw your number flash on the screen.. Congrats to us!! hope we get the passport soon!

And I've read your story, it is very similar to mine!! Regards to you and your fiance..

Yeah I really hope we get our passport and Visa the soonest as I hope to leave the country and be there with him before Christmas. I've read your story too, very similar nga. Best of luck to you guys, send my regards to your fiance too.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi everyone!

I just finished my interview this morning, Nov 19 2013 at USEM Manila!

Just want everyone to know that there is nothing to worry about as long as you guys have a valid relationship..

They were all so nice and very approachable.

..................

..................

My only concern though, they didn't take my old passport to cancel my tourist visa,

I thought they were going to cancel my B1/B2 visa which is still valid until 2022..

Hope it won't be a problem..

Thank you so much visa journey for all the instructions!!

I am so happy we are almost done and very close to being with my love..

I just hope all applicants would sign up here, quite a number of applicants

have incomplete documents and have irked some consuls with their lack of preparation..

Good luck to all who are going on their interview!!

Everything will be okay!! Pray and have a lot of faith!!

Congrats!!! Now just a short wait for your visa and it will be time to fly!

Your old passport was cancelled when you go your new passport (should be a cancelled stamp on the BIO page), which pretty makes your tourist visa .... dead.

Edited November 19, 2013 by Hank_

[DandC 13]

I was there this morning too. #6062. The Filipino Consul at Window 57 was very friendly and direct I have to agree. Congratulations by the way.

Oh then I met you! I was #6061!

Congratulations!

[JobienJeck 10]

Oh then I met you! I was #6061!

Congratulations!

Hey you're the girl right in front of me? Wearing the yellow cardigan and the dress right? Were you approved?

Edited November 20, 2013 by JobienJeck

[DandC 13]

Hey you're the girl right in front of me? Wearing the yellow cardigan and the dress right? Were you approved?

Guilty! That's me alright. And yes, we got approved

[JobienJeck 10]

Guilty! That's me alright. And yes, we got approved

Congrats to us!

[Mike&Gina 7]

Hello all. Honey Gina and I have our interview on Monday, November 25th. She is worrying over what to wear?? Ladies can you please advise - nice pants or nice conservative dress??? Any particular color?? I told her to wear a red, white & blue dress - God bless the USA (also colors of The Philippines flag). I'm trying to decide what to wear myself..... My shorts and tie-dye shirt, or my pink strapless dress......joking, hahaha. Wish us luck, and good luck to everyone else.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hello all. Honey Gina and I have our interview on Monday, November 25th. She is worrying over what to wear?? Ladies can you please advise - nice pants or nice conservative dress??? Any particular color?? I told her to wear a red, white & blue dress - God bless the USA (also colors of The Philippines flag). I'm trying to decide what to wear myself..... My shorts and tie-dye shirt, or my pink strapless dress......joking, hahaha. Wish us luck, and good luck to everyone else.

When we went my wife wore jeans and a nice blouse, I wore shorts and a T-shirt and tennis shoes (errrr rubber shoes )

[JobienJeck 10]

I just wore jeans and buttondown casual polo top. I don't think it matters what you wear coz the consul would only see the upper half of your body through the window anyway. Wear a big smile always. Goodluck on your interview Mike&Gina

Edited November 21, 2013 by JobienJeck

[gorjuzk8 2]

Hello all. Honey Gina and I have our interview on Monday, November 25th. She is worrying over what to wear?? Ladies can you please advise - nice pants or nice conservative dress??? Any particular color?? I told her to wear a red, white & blue dress - God bless the USA (also colors of The Philippines flag). I'm trying to decide what to wear myself..... My shorts and tie-dye shirt, or my pink strapless dress......joking, hahaha. Wish us luck, and good luck to everyone else.

Hi! goodluck on your interview! I just wore closed shoes, jeans, a nice collared blouse and a casual blazer to keep me warm..

I think you need to be really comfortable that day.. Some wore dress and high heels. some wore jeans, I don't think it matters.. She just needs to wear her smile all the time - just like what they said above..