Manila VISA Interview Process

[thonati 70]

I wanted to share a detailed timeline of my fiance's interview in US Embassy Manila on 13MAY25.  We stayed at BayviewPark hotel directly across the street but it is about 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk to get to the pedestrian overpass on Roxas Road.  There is a huge concrete divider on Roxas Road the length in front of the Embassy.  There is no pedestrian cross walk at any intersection in front of the Embassy.  I presume for security purposes.

 

My fiance joined a Facebook of K1 interviews scheduled for 13MAY. We all met up last night for dinner and compared notes.  I was the only USC there.   The other girls had interview times of at 630 but our interview was 830

The alarm went off at 4am sharp.   Yes 4am.   We met the rest of the group in the hotel lobby at 430.  At 445, we took a Grab-Van to the Embassy which cost 500 Pesos including Tip.  We went to the far South end of the US Embassy property (near the cross walk).  This is the Consular Entrance area.  There were vendors setting up chairs in the pubic area/sidewalk between the curb and the US Embassy property.  I am a Capitalist so I did not mind paying 50 pesos to rent a chair for all 6 of the girls plus me.  There was also water/soda/snacks etc for sale from a trike vendor.  I think they also held electronic devices for people as well.  I held all the girls phones for them.

 

At 530 SHARP the Filipino guard told us to line up.  He put all the 630 appointments in the line furthest line from the road.  The second line was the rest.  At 550 the Embassy Staff started to roll in.  They all assembled at a meeting point just outside the entrance door.  At 600 SHARP, someone from inside, opened the door and let them in.  He looked at all their credentials before he waived them in.  At 615, the National Philippine Police Bomb Squad came around with the K-9s and secured the front of the Embassy.  They loaded up and left.  At 630 SHARP the Guard told the 630 line for move forward.  There were about 75 people.  It took them about 15 minutes to all enter the building.

 

At 645 the guard let my fiance's line move forward.  It took them about 25 minutes to enter the building.   At 715, the first girl of our group emerged from the building with approved status.  At 800, my fiance came out in a panic telling me we have to go back to the hotel to get her original birth certificate.  She put the copy version in her file and left the original at the hotel.  The Pre-screening agent (a Filipino Ladyboy) told my fiance she had 30 minutes to return or she would have to reschedule.  We snagged a trike and I told him to run every red light and I would pay him extra.  He agreed and drove like a mad-man.  On the way, I asked my fiance "Are you sure you have the original there?".  Her reply, "I think so".  You can imagine my frustration.  I told her, "We went through this in great detail last month when I was here (I went to visit in March 2025)".  She said she was sorry and was I mad at her?  As my grandmother used to say, "There is no use crying over spilled (spilt) milk".  Fortunately, she did have the original in the hotel room.  The driver waited for us in front of the hotel and we were back by 815 (15 minutes total). He charged us 300 pesos but I gave him 500 and thanked him profusely.

 

My fiance went back into the building at 820.  By then 2 more girls from our 630 group came out:  Approved.  By 845, all of the girls in the 630 group were completed and approved.  Then the waiting game.  It looks like they schedule the K1 visas first starting at 630, then 730, then 830.  There were a few girls going into the building after 900 but it is difficult to know if they were K1 or not.

 

I waited outside for my fiance but thankfully I VPN'd Directv and I watched the Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox game so I was not bored.  The game was completed about 930 (A great Tiger victory I might add).  Then i started to get nervous. At 1110, my fiance emerged with a smile on her face.

 

She was able to get through the pre screening again rather quickly.  However, since she had to get re-sequenced for the interview, she was at the "end of the line".  She was called to window 64 about 11am my fiance estimates.  The Interviewer was a middle aged female American Consular.  The other girls went to window 66 an 68.  Here are the list of questions, in order.

 

Q: So tell me about your fiance?  A;  He is kind, funny, loving and devoted to his family and children

Q:  Oh, so he has children?  Tell me their names and ages? A: (she answers correctly)

Q: Where does he work and what is his job?  A: (she answers correctly)

Q:  What are your wedding plans and date?  A: We do not have a date yet but we plan to get married at his house before the 90 days expires.

Q: When did you last see your fiance?  A: 2 minutes ago, he is outside.

Q:  Oh, when did he arrive?  A:  May 11th

Q:  Where did you meet him?  A: Dating Website

Q:  How often do you contact him?  A:  every day, sometimes 3 times per day.

Q:  Oh so often, how does that affect your daily schedule?  A:  When it is morning here, it is evening in the US and he stays home and watches sports on TV.  When he wakes up, it is evening here and he talks to me when he drives to work.

Q:  What did you do together when he arrived? A: We went to the mall and bought a wedding dress.

Q:  When is he returning to the US?  A:  He does has not return flight because we will go together to the US.

Q:  Oh really?  That is intertesting.    Do you know he has a criminal record (DUI when I was younger.  She also noted a Bankruptcy that I had 30 years ago which was not asked on the I-129F).   A:  Yes, he told me everything

Q:  Are you sure you want to go through with the marriage?  A: Of course

Then she said "OK, here are some pamphlets for you to read, VISA APPROVED.  You will get the visa in 1 or 2 weeks"

 

A few points to note:  All documents must be originals.  There were about 3 other girls that received a 221g because they did not have original documents.

The pre-screening agent asked for my wife's original death certificate as well.  

No one asked for the I-134 document, nor reviewed any financial statements.  I can only assume they already know my financial status from the IRS.

 

 

[Edward and Jaycel 1,897]

@thonati thank you for sharing yours and your fiancée's experience with the community!

[Edward and Jaycel 1,897]

5 hours ago, thonati said:

No one asked for the I-134 document, nor reviewed any financial statements.  I can only assume they already know my financial status from the IRS.

 

They never asked Jaycel for the I-134 from me either 🤷‍♂️

[thonati 70]

6 hours ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

They never asked Jaycel for the I-134 from me either 🤷‍♂️

Yea this is so random.  I have seen where others are not asked either and i have seen where this is the first document that is asked for.

[Augustjourney2024 5]

On 5/13/2025 at 4:06 PM, thonati said:

I wanted to share a detailed timeline of my fiance's interview in US Embassy Manila on 13MAY25.  We stayed at BayviewPark hotel directly across the street but it is about 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk to get to the pedestrian overpass on Roxas Road.  There is a huge concrete divider on Roxas Road the length in front of the Embassy.  There is no pedestrian cross walk at any intersection in front of the Embassy.  I presume for security purposes.

 

My fiance joined a Facebook of K1 interviews scheduled for 13MAY. We all met up last night for dinner and compared notes.  I was the only USC there.   The other girls had interview times of at 630 but our interview was 830

The alarm went off at 4am sharp.   Yes 4am.   We met the rest of the group in the hotel lobby at 430.  At 445, we took a Grab-Van to the Embassy which cost 500 Pesos including Tip.  We went to the far South end of the US Embassy property (near the cross walk).  This is the Consular Entrance area.  There were vendors setting up chairs in the pubic area/sidewalk between the curb and the US Embassy property.  I am a Capitalist so I did not mind paying 50 pesos to rent a chair for all 6 of the girls plus me.  There was also water/soda/snacks etc for sale from a trike vendor.  I think they also held electronic devices for people as well.  I held all the girls phones for them.

 

At 530 SHARP the Filipino guard told us to line up.  He put all the 630 appointments in the line furthest line from the road.  The second line was the rest.  At 550 the Embassy Staff started to roll in.  They all assembled at a meeting point just outside the entrance door.  At 600 SHARP, someone from inside, opened the door and let them in.  He looked at all their credentials before he waived them in.  At 615, the National Philippine Police Bomb Squad came around with the K-9s and secured the front of the Embassy.  They loaded up and left.  At 630 SHARP the Guard told the 630 line for move forward.  There were about 75 people.  It took them about 15 minutes to all enter the building.

 

At 645 the guard let my fiance's line move forward.  It took them about 25 minutes to enter the building.   At 715, the first girl of our group emerged from the building with approved status.  At 800, my fiance came out in a panic telling me we have to go back to the hotel to get her original birth certificate.  She put the copy version in her file and left the original at the hotel.  The Pre-screening agent (a Filipino Ladyboy) told my fiance she had 30 minutes to return or she would have to reschedule.  We snagged a trike and I told him to run every red light and I would pay him extra.  He agreed and drove like a mad-man.  On the way, I asked my fiance "Are you sure you have the original there?".  Her reply, "I think so".  You can imagine my frustration.  I told her, "We went through this in great detail last month when I was here (I went to visit in March 2025)".  She said she was sorry and was I mad at her?  As my grandmother used to say, "There is no use crying over spilled (spilt) milk".  Fortunately, she did have the original in the hotel room.  The driver waited for us in front of the hotel and we were back by 815 (15 minutes total). He charged us 300 pesos but I gave him 500 and thanked him profusely.

 

My fiance went back into the building at 820.  By then 2 more girls from our 630 group came out:  Approved.  By 845, all of the girls in the 630 group were completed and approved.  Then the waiting game.  It looks like they schedule the K1 visas first starting at 630, then 730, then 830.  There were a few girls going into the building after 900 but it is difficult to know if they were K1 or not.

 

I waited outside for my fiance but thankfully I VPN'd Directv and I watched the Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox game so I was not bored.  The game was completed about 930 (A great Tiger victory I might add).  Then i started to get nervous. At 1110, my fiance emerged with a smile on her face.

 

She was able to get through the pre screening again rather quickly.  However, since she had to get re-sequenced for the interview, she was at the "end of the line".  She was called to window 64 about 11am my fiance estimates.  The Interviewer was a middle aged female American Consular.  The other girls went to window 66 an 68.  Here are the list of questions, in order.

 

Q: So tell me about your fiance?  A;  He is kind, funny, loving and devoted to his family and children

Q:  Oh, so he has children?  Tell me their names and ages? A: (she answers correctly)

Q: Where does he work and what is his job?  A: (she answers correctly)

Q:  What are your wedding plans and date?  A: We do not have a date yet but we plan to get married at his house before the 90 days expires.

Q: When did you last see your fiance?  A: 2 minutes ago, he is outside.

Q:  Oh, when did he arrive?  A:  May 11th

Q:  Where did you meet him?  A: Dating Website

Q:  How often do you contact him?  A:  every day, sometimes 3 times per day.

Q:  Oh so often, how does that affect your daily schedule?  A:  When it is morning here, it is evening in the US and he stays home and watches sports on TV.  When he wakes up, it is evening here and he talks to me when he drives to work.

Q:  What did you do together when he arrived? A: We went to the mall and bought a wedding dress.

Q:  When is he returning to the US?  A:  He does has not return flight because we will go together to the US.

Q:  Oh really?  That is intertesting.    Do you know he has a criminal record (DUI when I was younger.  She also noted a Bankruptcy that I had 30 years ago which was not asked on the I-129F).   A:  Yes, he told me everything

Q:  Are you sure you want to go through with the marriage?  A: Of course

Then she said "OK, here are some pamphlets for you to read, VISA APPROVED.  You will get the visa in 1 or 2 weeks"

 

A few points to note:  All documents must be originals.  There were about 3 other girls that received a 221g because they did not have original documents.

The pre-screening agent asked for my wife's original death certificate as well.  

No one asked for the I-134 document, nor reviewed any financial statements.  I can only assume they already know my financial status from the IRS.

 

 

Hi, just wanted to ask did you ever prepare for any police clearance or fbi ((petitioner) sort of things when your fiance when for her interview? Because we are really confuse of the things need to bring on the interview some said we need police certificate from my petitioner. 

[Edward and Jaycel 1,897]

3 minutes ago, Augustjourney2024 said:

Hi, just wanted to ask did you ever prepare for any police clearance or fbi ((petitioner) sort of things when your fiance when for her interview? Because we are really confuse of the things need to bring on the interview some said we need police certificate from my petitioner. 

 

This is not required for the embassy interview, however some CFO counselors are requiring an FBI Records search results on the petitioner for the CFO Guidance and Counseling Program requirement. I have read 3 or 4 accounts in the last 6 months saying the counselor asked for it.

[Augustjourney2024 5]

6 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

This is not required for the embassy interview, however some CFO counselors are requiring an FBI Records search results on the petitioner for the CFO Guidance and Counseling Program requirement. I have read 3 or 4 accounts in the last 6 months saying the counselor asked for it.

Thank you so much!