K-1 Interview question

[EllisAndRenz 193]

We finally have NOA2 ...  the weight of the world has been lifted off of our shoulders.  

 

Now preparing for the next steps.  I have a question.

 

For the K-1 interview.  If it happens i the expected timeframe, then it happens during a peak part of a work project I am a director on making it all but impossible to break away without impacting my standing with my employer.   So, my question is as follows:

 

- How much does it help if I join my lovely bride-to-be at the interview or, conversely, how much does it hurt our chances if I am not there?

 

(There is also the financial aspect of flying there for the interview, to fly home and then to fly there again to go get her.  She has zero sense of direction and no way could she do that trip by herself.  She'll end up lost in Hong Kong or some such place)

 

 

[Hank_ 9,171]

5 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

We finally have NOA2 ...  the weight of the world has been lifted off of our shoulders.  

 

Now preparing for the next steps.  I have a question.

 

For the K-1 interview.  If it happens i the expected timeframe, then it happens during a peak part of a work project I am a director on making it all but impossible to break away without impacting my standing with my employer.   So, my question is as follows:

 

- How much does it help if I join my lovely bride-to-be at the interview or, conversely, how much does it hurt our chances if I am not there?

 

(There is also the financial aspect of flying there for the interview, to fly home and then to fly there again to go get her.  She has zero sense of direction and no way could she do that trip by herself.  She'll end up lost in Hong Kong or some such place)

 

 

The petitioner being at the interview is not important in even the slightest.   Does it help?  Sure, a little .. I was there, the pre-screened talked to me more than my wife and the CO did almost the same .. but she would have been approved if I had stayed home just as easily.

 

This link may be helpful   http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/k-1-visa-application.html

[payxibka 10,044]

6 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

We finally have NOA2 ...  the weight of the world has been lifted off of our shoulders.  

 

Now preparing for the next steps.  I have a question.

 

For the K-1 interview.  If it happens i the expected timeframe, then it happens during a peak part of a work project I am a director on making it all but impossible to break away without impacting my standing with my employer.   So, my question is as follows:

 

- How much does it help if I join my lovely bride-to-be at the interview or, conversely, how much does it hurt our chances if I am not there?

 

(There is also the financial aspect of flying there for the interview, to fly home and then to fly there again to go get her.  She has zero sense of direction and no way could she do that trip by herself.  She'll end up lost in Hong Kong or some such place)

 

 

I suspect it helps but it is my belief that a majority of the applicants go it alone.   If you have all your ducks in a row everything will be fine whether you are there or not 

[EllisAndRenz 193]

Thank you to both of you for your answer.  It is appreciated.

If I can find a way to break away, I'll go.  Otherwise I'll have faith that it will be fine.

 

Does a list of what to bring exist anywhere?  Or will it be in the packet that they send to my future spouse?  

Oh, I heard something about no electronics in the embassy, not even a cell phone.  Is this actually the case?    ( She sort of needs her phone to get a Grab )

 

[payxibka 10,044]

9 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

Thank you to both of you for your answer.  It is appreciated.

If I can find a way to break away, I'll go.  Otherwise I'll have faith that it will be fine.

 

Does a list of what to bring exist anywhere?  Or will it be in the packet that they send to my future spouse?  

Oh, I heard something about no electronics in the embassy, not even a cell phone.  Is this actually the case?    ( She sort of needs her phone to get a Grab )

 

No electronics of any kind are allowed and their are no storage lockers available.   The Manila website has the complete list available online 

[Daniela M_______ 409]

1 hour ago, EllisAndRenz said:

She has zero sense of direction and no way could she do that trip by herself.  She'll end up lost in Hong Kong or some such place

Have a little faith on her. Write the address or print a map, I swear is not that difficult (unless she has some psychological condition that won't allow her to depend on herself).

[Scott Br 164]

34 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

 

Oh, I heard something about no electronics in the embassy, not even a cell phone.  Is this actually the case?    ( She sort of needs her phone to get a Grab )

 

There are reputable vendors outside that will hold her phone for her for a nominal fee.  My wife used the services twice for the times she needed to go to the embassy.

[EllisAndRenz 193]

3 minutes ago, Daniela M_______ said:

Have a little faith on her. Write the address or print a map, I swear is not that difficult (unless she has some psychological condition that won't allow her to depend on herself).

We went to a movie last year.  She left to go to the rest-room.  I had to go find her because she got lost coming back.    

I have a lot of faith in her in all matters, unless it involves not getting lost.  🙂   It's just  a quirk she has.  It's about the only one.  Trust me, I have a lot more issues than she does.  

Just now, Scott Br said:

There are reputable vendors outside that will hold her phone for her for a nominal fee.  My wife used the services twice for the times she needed to go to the embassy.

OK, that's very good to know.  Thank you.

 

[EllisAndRenz 193]

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

The petitioner being at the interview is not important in even the slightest.   Does it help?  Sure, a little .. I was there, the pre-screened talked to me more than my wife and the CO did almost the same .. but she would have been approved if I had stayed home just as easily.

 

This link may be helpful   http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/k-1-visa-application.html

This link is VERY helpful.  Thank you for this.

[Daniela M_______ 409]

2 minutes ago, EllisAndRenz said:

We went to a movie last year.  She left to go to the rest-room.  I had to go find her because she got lost coming back.    

I have a lot of faith in her in all matters, unless it involves not getting lost.  🙂   It's just  a quirk she has.  It's about the only one.  Trust me, I have a lot more issues than she does.  

I'm not trying to be mean lol but for real, what would happen if she is in that situation (lost) and you are not there to help?  Make a plan and give her tools to respond (maps, address, money to pay for a call. etc). That would be an actual help for her.

 

My mom is 62, never used an ATM, got nervous when using one because "text is too fast I can't read"  she got her card blocked like 5 times and I was always coming to the rescue. I left my mom alone 2 years ago when moving to Mexico, she discovered she can use an ATM without help and now do it almost daily. She's doing a lot of things I used to do for her because I'm no longer there. 

 

I'm sorry if this seems invasive. It's just an advice, I try to encourage people all the time because we never know until when we might have that help keeping us out of trouble. Good luck.

[lovemeow 15]

Hi, Going alone or having you be with your fiancé doesn't matter. As long as documents are complete and the answers to the Consul are right and matches everything the is in your application.

In my experience, I got interviewed May 2018 in US Embassy, Manila. I went there alone (last time I saw my fiancé was December 2016), and everything went smooth for me. I just had a less than 10 minute interview and they approved me right away. I had one colleague (met her in St. Luke's while having our Medicals), and by coincidence we have the same date and time of interview, I saw her in USEM Manila with her fiancé and greeted them, her number was ahead of me and she was interviewed by another consul, by the time I was called for interview, she was like 10 minutes already with the Consul (so I was thinking that interviews are taking so long), then surprisingly mine was faster.... by the time I was finished, I happened to see her and her fiancé again in one corner in a frown, so I greeted them and she told me, we got a problem and they got denied, but she won't tell me any details and then her fiancé took her to leave immediately (I felt like he doesn't want her to share their problem).

 

No cellphones or any kind of electronics is allowed (not even USB's or Powerbanks, even the CD of Medical in St. Luke's). There are people outside the USEM roaming around offering you can leave your valuables with (if you can risk to trust them, and they'll ask you around 300-500 pesos).. It's safer, if she can bring a friend or a relative to leave her valuables (there's a waiting area outside of USEM, and chairs which you can rent for 20 pesos). All I brought inside the USEM is my folder of documents, because there's another line of those who has bags (place them in an Xray then still they'll open it and check it one by one), those with no bags has a shorter cue and can easily go inside. By the way, they won't allow you to bring large bags or backpacks too. They prefer a transparent envelope where you can put your documents 

 

Hope this helps you. Good luck

[lovemeow 15]

1 hour ago, EllisAndRenz said:

(There is also the financial aspect of flying there for the interview, to fly home and then to fly there again to go get her.  She has zero sense of direction and no way could she do that trip by herself.  She'll end up lost in Hong Kong or some such place)

I myself too has a zero sense of direction and because of that I'm proactive to read and ask from people around, I even managed to travel alone (I did it on purpose, so I can train myself and get used to having a sense of direction).. I even traveled alone to a country that was quite dangerous, people in that airport doesn't even speak English... but I managed by reading directions everywhere. 

 

I've been to Hong Kong airport, which is a large airport, but there are Airport staff and information booths everywhere where you can ask (they speak English too). 

 

 

[EllisAndRenz 193]

1 minute ago, lovemeow said:

I myself too has a zero sense of direction and because of that I'm proactive to read and ask from people around, I even managed to travel alone (I did it on purpose, so I can train myself and get used to having a sense of direction).. I even traveled alone to a country that was quite dangerous, people in that airport doesn't even speak English... but I managed by reading directions everywhere. 

 

I've been to Hong Kong airport, which is a large airport, but there are Airport staff and information booths everywhere where you can ask (they speak English too). 

 

 

To be fair, I'm sure by asking around she could figure it out.  But she won't say that to me.  She just wants me to join her on the journey.  (and I'm fine with that.  I'll enjoy the time with her.)

 

[Hank_ 9,171]

1 hour ago, EllisAndRenz said:

Thank you to both of you for your answer.  It is appreciated.

If I can find a way to break away, I'll go.  Otherwise I'll have faith that it will be fine.

 

Does a list of what to bring exist anywhere?  Or will it be in the packet that they send to my future spouse?  

Oh, I heard something about no electronics in the embassy, not even a cell phone.  Is this actually the case?    ( She sort of needs her phone to get a Grab )

 

Correct, no electronics allowed.

[EllisAndRenz 193]

15 minutes ago, lovemeow said:

Hi, Going alone or having you be with your fiancé doesn't matter. As long as documents are complete and the answers to the Consul are right and matches everything the is in your application.

In my experience, I got interviewed May 2018 in US Embassy, Manila. I went there alone (last time I saw my fiancé was December 2016), and everything went smooth for me. I just had a less than 10 minute interview and they approved me right away. I had one colleague (met her in St. Luke's while having our Medicals), and by coincidence we have the same date and time of interview, I saw her in USEM Manila with her fiancé and greeted them, her number was ahead of me and she was interviewed by another consul, by the time I was called for interview, she was like 10 minutes already with the Consul (so I was thinking that interviews are taking so long), then surprisingly mine was faster.... by the time I was finished, I happened to see her and her fiancé again in one corner in a frown, so I greeted them and she told me, we got a problem and they got denied, but she won't tell me any details and then her fiancé took her to leave immediately (I felt like he doesn't want her to share their problem).

 

No cellphones or any kind of electronics is allowed (not even USB's or Powerbanks, even the CD of Medical in St. Luke's). There are people outside the USEM roaming around offering you can leave your valuables with (if you can risk to trust them, and they'll ask you around 300-500 pesos).. It's safer, if she can bring a friend or a relative to leave her valuables (there's a waiting area outside of USEM, and chairs which you can rent for 20 pesos). All I brought inside the USEM is my folder of documents, because there's another line of those who has bags (place them in an Xray then still they'll open it and check it one by one), those with no bags has a shorter cue and can easily go inside. By the way, they won't allow you to bring large bags or backpacks too. They prefer a transparent envelope where you can put your documents 

 

Hope this helps you. Good luck

Funny.  I literally just got off the phone with her and we discussed this topic.  She is going to bring her aunt to hold her electronics.  (Problem solved)

 

Sorry to hear your friend got denied. (Concerning ... go this far and have that happen. ) I think she has this interview covered.  I'm glad to hear they don't take a long time.