Manila Interview - some tips

[Arnold_and_Joan 0]

Hi everyone! We just finished our Visa Interview in Manila today and it went without a hitch or problem. Here are some tips I can give:

- Someone had a guide here with layout of the place. Print that out and follow it.

- DO NOT BRING YOUR X-RAY films. I saw a lot of people with it - it's not necessary. Just make sure you brought the sealed envelope St. Luke's gave you. It's a hassle carrying that large envelope around anyhow.

- If a guard outside tells you to wait on the side first and you can't get in the "Waiting Shed" area, don't believe him. I dropped my fiance off to park the car and found her waiting on the side (where the vendors and fixers are). I went to the line and asked another guard and he said I could go in. Just tell them you're for immigrant visa. We were there around 5:40AM and our appointment was 7:30AM.

- If USC is here to be with the fiance for the interview bring your PASSPORT

- Don't bother bringing cel phones or any other electronic device. You'll just surrender them.

- Inside the place you'll be given a ticket number ACCORDING TO YOUR INTERVIEW APPOINTMENT TIME. Ours was 7:30AM so we had to sit and wait until all the 6:30 appointees got their numbers first. So getting there really really early if your appointment is at 8:30AM is useless.

- Don't worry about the numbers being called or flashing on the board seem to be higher than yours. You haven't been bypassed. They call the numbers in a somewhat random order - I think according to who can get your file together quicker.

- Familiarize yourself with the surrounding - which window is what number - A few people wandered around when their number flashed looking for the room or window to go to.

- Make sure you have 2 extra passport photos and your complete forms. The person in front of us didn't and so they asked him to go back outside and have passport photos taken, gave him missing forms and had them complete it frist. Instead of being #1 for our time slot they went to #24. still no big deal it was about an hour difference.

- Bring at least Php 300.00 for paying Delbros for delivery of fiance's passport and visa. Ours cost around $165 (??) I think.

- Be honest - don't be nervous.

- They asked us the following questions:

> How did our relationship start

> When did we first meet face to face

> When did I propose

> Were we ever married before

> Do we have kids

> What do I do for a living? (the petitioner)

> When did I arrive here in Philippines (petitioner)

> When do we plan to leave for U.S. (we said sometime in May)

.... Pretty basic questions. There wasn't even any cross-examination, i.e. we weren't tested to see if we really know anything about each other.

- I prepared a new set of pictures and copies of boarding passes, receipts, etc. to present as an ongoing relationship. The pre-screener Just took the pictures gave us back all the other photocopies. Then the Consul NEVER even looked at the pictures just gave it back to me, which surprised me. She just went through my old pictures (from my submission of the petition in the U.S.)

- Here's another thing that surprised me. They didn't ask for her Police Clearance or Barranggay Clearance or CENOMAR. Just NBI and Birth Certificate is what we handed over.

Well that's it. No big deal. No hassle. Just make sure you have all your papers ready. Good Luck Everyone!!!!

Arnold & Joan

[Jasman0717 8]

Congratulations on your interview success. This is a very good and informative post, thank you for sharing. You really should contact Captain Ewok to see if he will pin it for future interviewees going through Manila.

[Captain Ewok 1,857]

Make sure you add the review to the Review Section :

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/

[Jasman0717 8]

Make sure you add the review to the Review Section :

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/

Done! Again, this was a very nice post and could really benefit future petitions going through Manila!

I did notice that the review posted twice so I don't have a clue how I accomplished that

Edited April 11, 2007 by jasman0717

[walls1010 3]

Congratulations! How nice of you to share this very helpful information to others working for their papers in Manila US Embassy. Mine was done in HK US Embassy, which is true you don't need to bring your X-ray films and your cellphone will be surrender to the guard before allowing you inside the embassy....again thank you for sharing your experience and goodluck for the rest of the journey

[CountryBoy 0]

Congrats

[~pinaybeauty~ 0]

Hi everyone! We just finished our Visa Interview in Manila today and it went without a hitch or problem. Here are some tips I can give:

- Someone had a guide here with layout of the place. Print that out and follow it.

- DO NOT BRING YOUR X-RAY films. I saw a lot of people with it - it's not necessary. Just make sure you brought the sealed envelope St. Luke's gave you. It's a hassle carrying that large envelope around anyhow.

- If a guard outside tells you to wait on the side first and you can't get in the "Waiting Shed" area, don't believe him. I dropped my fiance off to park the car and found her waiting on the side (where the vendors and fixers are). I went to the line and asked another guard and he said I could go in. Just tell them you're for immigrant visa. We were there around 5:40AM and our appointment was 7:30AM.

- If USC is here to be with the fiance for the interview bring your PASSPORT

- Don't bother bringing cel phones or any other electronic device. You'll just surrender them.

- Inside the place you'll be given a ticket number ACCORDING TO YOUR INTERVIEW APPOINTMENT TIME. Ours was 7:30AM so we had to sit and wait until all the 6:30 appointees got their numbers first. So getting there really really early if your appointment is at 8:30AM is useless.

- Don't worry about the numbers being called or flashing on the board seem to be higher than yours. You haven't been bypassed. They call the numbers in a somewhat random order - I think according to who can get your file together quicker.

- Familiarize yourself with the surrounding - which window is what number - A few people wandered around when their number flashed looking for the room or window to go to.

- Make sure you have 2 extra passport photos and your complete forms. The person in front of us didn't and so they asked him to go back outside and have passport photos taken, gave him missing forms and had them complete it frist. Instead of being #1 for our time slot they went to #24. still no big deal it was about an hour difference.

- Bring at least Php 300.00 for paying Delbros for delivery of fiance's passport and visa. Ours cost around $165 (??) I think.

- Be honest - don't be nervous.

- They asked us the following questions:

> How did our relationship start

> When did we first meet face to face

> When did I propose

> Were we ever married before

> Do we have kids

> What do I do for a living? (the petitioner)

> When did I arrive here in Philippines (petitioner)

> When do we plan to leave for U.S. (we said sometime in May)

.... Pretty basic questions. There wasn't even any cross-examination, i.e. we weren't tested to see if we really know anything about each other.

- I prepared a new set of pictures and copies of boarding passes, receipts, etc. to present as an ongoing relationship. The pre-screener Just took the pictures gave us back all the other photocopies. Then the Consul NEVER even looked at the pictures just gave it back to me, which surprised me. She just went through my old pictures (from my submission of the petition in the U.S.)

- Here's another thing that surprised me. They didn't ask for her Police Clearance or Barranggay Clearance or CENOMAR. Just NBI and Birth Certificate is what we handed over.

Well that's it. No big deal. No hassle. Just make sure you have all your papers ready. Good Luck Everyone!!!!

Arnold & Joan

To Arnold & Joan

CONGRATULATIONS!!!YOU MADE IT..

[Oliver and Lisa 0]

Hi everyone! We just finished our Visa Interview in Manila today and it went without a hitch or problem. Here are some tips I can give:

- Someone had a guide here with layout of the place. Print that out and follow it.

- DO NOT BRING YOUR X-RAY films. I saw a lot of people with it - it's not necessary. Just make sure you brought the sealed envelope St. Luke's gave you. It's a hassle carrying that large envelope around anyhow.

-Arnold & Joan

May i ask what is "sealed envelop from St.Luke's?...i didn't know this, they just gave me my xray and vaccinations record.

thanks

[Ken_Maria 0]

The sealed envelope is typically sent directly to the Embassy along with your Passport and the 2 passport photos your are supposed to bring to SLE. In this case maybe SLE gave them the envelope but not in ours and we did not need 2 additional passport photos. Ken & Maria

Hi everyone! We just finished our Visa Interview in Manila today and it went without a hitch or problem. Here are some tips I can give:

- Someone had a guide here with layout of the place. Print that out and follow it.

- DO NOT BRING YOUR X-RAY films. I saw a lot of people with it - it's not necessary. Just make sure you brought the sealed envelope St. Luke's gave you. It's a hassle carrying that large envelope around anyhow.

-Arnold & Joan

May i ask what is "sealed envelop from St.Luke's?...i didn't know this, they just gave me my xray and vaccinations record.

thanks

[AnneiyAndJacky 0]

The sealed envelope is typically sent directly to the Embassy along with your Passport and the 2 passport photos your are supposed to bring to SLE. In this case maybe SLE gave them the envelope but not in ours and we did not need 2 additional passport photos. Ken & Maria

Hi everyone! We just finished our Visa Interview in Manila today and it went without a hitch or problem. Here are some tips I can give:

- Someone had a guide here with layout of the place. Print that out and follow it.

- DO NOT BRING YOUR X-RAY films. I saw a lot of people with it - it's not necessary. Just make sure you brought the sealed envelope St. Luke's gave you. It's a hassle carrying that large envelope around anyhow.

-Arnold & Joan

May i ask what is "sealed envelop from St.Luke's?...i didn't know this, they just gave me my xray and vaccinations record.

thanks

OMG!!!! Good thing I read the thread thoroughly!!! I got panicked!!! I ran and checked my xray film and vaccination record. I kept looking for a SEALED ENVELOPE that arnold & joan said. I believe in ken_maria SLMEC is responsible for sending that envelope to USE. I only got my xray film & vaccination record. I still got my passport they returned it to me since I went to Hong Kong after my medical exam. They just stamped SLMEC something something at the back of my passport. The lady just adviced me to bring my passport on my interview day!!!

[aiwa311975 0]

Hi everyone! We just finished our Visa Interview in Manila today and it went without a hitch or problem. Here are some tips I can give:

- Someone had a guide here with layout of the place. Print that out and follow it.

- DO NOT BRING YOUR X-RAY films. I saw a lot of people with it - it's not necessary. Just make sure you brought the sealed envelope St. Luke's gave you. It's a hassle carrying that large envelope around anyhow.

- If a guard outside tells you to wait on the side first and you can't get in the "Waiting Shed" area, don't believe him. I dropped my fiance off to park the car and found her waiting on the side (where the vendors and fixers are). I went to the line and asked another guard and he said I could go in. Just tell them you're for immigrant visa. We were there around 5:40AM and our appointment was 7:30AM.

- If USC is here to be with the fiance for the interview bring your PASSPORT

- Don't bother bringing cel phones or any other electronic device. You'll just surrender them.

- Inside the place you'll be given a ticket number ACCORDING TO YOUR INTERVIEW APPOINTMENT TIME. Ours was 7:30AM so we had to sit and wait until all the 6:30 appointees got their numbers first. So getting there really really early if your appointment is at 8:30AM is useless.

- Don't worry about the numbers being called or flashing on the board seem to be higher than yours. You haven't been bypassed. They call the numbers in a somewhat random order - I think according to who can get your file together quicker.

- Familiarize yourself with the surrounding - which window is what number - A few people wandered around when their number flashed looking for the room or window to go to.

- Make sure you have 2 extra passport photos and your complete forms. The person in front of us didn't and so they asked him to go back outside and have passport photos taken, gave him missing forms and had them complete it frist. Instead of being #1 for our time slot they went to #24. still no big deal it was about an hour difference.

- Bring at least Php 300.00 for paying Delbros for delivery of fiance's passport and visa. Ours cost around $165 (??) I think.

- Be honest - don't be nervous.

- They asked us the following questions:

> How did our relationship start

> When did we first meet face to face

> When did I propose

> Were we ever married before

> Do we have kids

> What do I do for a living? (the petitioner)

> When did I arrive here in Philippines (petitioner)

> When do we plan to leave for U.S. (we said sometime in May)

.... Pretty basic questions. There wasn't even any cross-examination, i.e. we weren't tested to see if we really know anything about each other.

- I prepared a new set of pictures and copies of boarding passes, receipts, etc. to present as an ongoing relationship. The pre-screener Just took the pictures gave us back all the other photocopies. Then the Consul NEVER even looked at the pictures just gave it back to me, which surprised me. She just went through my old pictures (from my submission of the petition in the U.S.)

- Here's another thing that surprised me. They didn't ask for her Police Clearance or Barranggay Clearance or CENOMAR. Just NBI and Birth Certificate is what we handed over.

Well that's it. No big deal. No hassle. Just make sure you have all your papers ready. Good Luck Everyone!!!!

Arnold & Joan

what sealed envelope? im curious..im on a k1 and they didnt give me any sealed envelope just the x ray film and the vaccination worksheet....

[Arnold_and_Joan 0]

what sealed envelope? im curious..im on a k1 and they didnt give me any sealed envelope just the x ray film and the vaccination worksheet....

Hi Sorry for late reply, I was out of town for a while celebrating our approval. We got the sealed envelope from St. Luke's because her 2nd day of medical was the day before her interview. So St. Luke's didn't have time to mail it to Embassy in time for her interview. I believe that's the reason why they gave us the Sealed Envelope instead. Her medical fell on Holy Week so offices were closed and we had to wait through the holy week for her 2nd day of med.

Thanks Jamsan0717 for posting the review for me.

[bahiabrazil 0]

Well done!! Congratulations!! another family reunited!!!

[lirachadsbaby 0]

what sealed envelope? im curious..im on a k1 and they didnt give me any sealed envelope just the x ray film and the vaccination worksheet....qoute]

[qoute Hi Sorry for late reply, I was out of town for a while celebrating our approval. We got the sealed envelope from St. Luke's because her 2nd day of medical was the day before her interview. So St. Luke's didn't have time to mail it to Embassy in time for her interview. I believe that's the reason why they gave us the Sealed Envelope instead. Her medical fell on Holy Week so offices were closed and we had to wait through the holy week for her 2nd day of med.

Thanks Jamsan0717 for posting the review for me.

Oh!, I see. I was wondering also about that sealed envelope. When I had my medical exam, the releasing person told me that the results will be forwarded to the embassy and that includes my passport. What I have are the x-ray film, the vaccination result and my receipt. X-ray film is to be brought with me to the USA.

Edited April 21, 2007 by lirachadsbaby

[Arnold_and_Joan 0]

Oh!, I see. I was wondering also about that sealed envelope. When I had my medical exam, the releasing person told me that the results will be forwarded to the embassy and that includes my passport. What I have are the x-ray film, the vaccination result and my receipt. X-ray film is to be brought with me to the USA.

BTW - and if anyone here is US already please correct me - You also don't need to show your X-Ray film when you arrive at Immigrations in the POE. Some people would hand carry their x-ray films thinking it would be presented at POE. Not so. It's just a medical record and of course you need to have it with you for your records that you U.S. doctor would need. I remember my parents said that they hand carried it with them (I pettiioned them years back) and they didn't need to. Again, it's just a hassle to be hand carrying that thing on the plane.