John & Ana Marie

As a reply to my own questions, here is what I found out using the HK embassy inquiry form on the HK Consulate site. https://hk.usconsulate.gov/visas/visa-inquiry-form/  They were responsive to several inquires, answering in a couple days. In particular, they indicated that they will schedule the interview for K1 and that basically they frown on rescheduling. To be clear, you use the traveldocs/hk site to create a profile and can pay the fee online but the appointment system is used for tourists, business visas etc, not K visas. 

My questions were "Can we use the online travel docs system to schedule our K1 visa interview" and  " If not, can we reschedule if the date we receive in the appointment packet is inconvenient?" Their response follows:

Please be advised that a fiancée (K1) visa is processed under immigrant visa application procedures.  When visa applicants have submitted the required forms to our office, we schedule an appointment for their interview and send them an appointment packet.  It is not necessary for K1 visa applicants to make an online appointment through the nonimmigrant visa appointment system by themselves.  Hence, after receiving a copy of confirmation page of Form DS-160 and DS-2001, we will schedule her for a visa appointment with a consular officer as soon as possible and send you an appointment packet with medical examination instructions.

Please be informed that the visa appointment cannot be re-scheduled unless the failure to appear for the interview is due to reasons beyond the applicant’s control.  Such reasons might include serious personal illness.  Therefore, please provide us with a date range which the applicant will be available for her visa interview.   Upon receipt of your e-mail reply, we will make the arrangement accordingly.  However, we are not able to guarantee that we are able to facilitate your appointment request.

For your information, visa interviews are available from Monday to Friday at 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. (except local U.S. and local holidays and administrative closure, please monitor on our website: https://hk.usconsulate.gov/consulate/hong-kong-macau/hours-holidays/). 

Please e-mail us again if you have any other questions using our Visa Inquiry Form at https://hk.usconsulate.gov/visas/visa-inquiry-form/.

Sincerely,

The Visa Information Unit

U.S. Consulate General

Hong Kong & Macau

Can anyone tell us the procedure for scheduling the interview in Hong Kong? We have received Packet 3 instructions and gathered documents and are waiting for Police reports and Cenomar to reach the embassy. Have also completed DS160 and created profile at ustraveldocs and paid the visa fee. Can we schedule an interview ourselves online? Can we arrange the medical?  My fiancee's employer is strict and wants to decide which days she can have off and this is making it difficult to plan.

The Hong Kong packet 3 instructions say to return their readiness form and they will send an appointment letter. The few examples on this forum I found suggest that the embassy will push the first date available. Isn't going to work for us. The Hong Kong ustraveldocs login looks like it will let you make an appointment once the fee is paid but I haven't gone there yet.  Looking at the Manila embassy, they seem to be completely automated but Hong Kong is still part paperwork. Has any one had recent experience here? Am confused about the process in HK and my fiancee is stressed.

 Hello Kaze, can you tell me about your experience setting up the interview in HK? My fiancee is working in HK now and her paperwork will be arriving at the HK embassy soon. According to the K1 instructions pdf, you send the DS160 confirmation, checklist and form DS2001-HK to the embassy once you have collected all required documents and they will assign an interview date. Were you able to choose a date that was convenient to your fiancee? Mine is still working under contract and although the employer is willing to be flexible, the employer has a child whom she cares for and another on the way. Her employer also travels so some planning will be necessary. Any thoughts from your experience would be helpful.

Thanks Faye, very helpful to know. Will need to be prepared for the extra costs.

Our case was much the same. She had worked for the same employer who could be difficult at times especially about time off. Trying to get all the stuff done while hiding from the employer seemed too much especially since embassy is not open on Sundays. Probably not fair to the employer either. Thought about her going back home before filing but she really preferred to stay in HK. So she waited till contract had one month left and gave notice with the intention of finding an employer who would work with the situation. As it turned out, her current employer wanted to know why she was leaving them and once it was explained, the employer agreed to help her if she would stay a month after approval to help find a new care giver. Definitely makes it easier if the employer knows and you can work through the medical and interview. The real problem is that without a contract a worker visa expires and she must exit or be illegal so it's hard for a OFW to do a visa in HK without employer knowledge.

Hello Faye,

Did anyone reply to your request? We are also wondering about the medical costs not covered by the basic exam fee. Have you any further information on extra costs? Are any of the shots required included in the medical?

Thanks,

John.

Thanks for all the advice. Agreed, honesty is the best policy. We will comply.

Actually, she is working in Hong Kong on contract now. We have been considering waiting till she finishes in 6 months and returns to Philippines to apply because her employer is difficult about time off for anything, but of course that's a delay we wish to avoid. Is there a subgroup for Hong Kong that I might join?

Thanks to everyone. Have talked to her and she agrees it is important to be honest. Will deal with each thing one at a time.

OK, I certainly get it. They could see something in her transaction history that indicates travel there. Will be sure that she includes this time.

Yes, am serious ... or to be clear, my fiance is. I understand there could be consequences, but how would they know if she did not report living in UAE on DS160?

On which form is the question about countries lived in over 6 months asked ... Is it DS160 or DS230 for K1?

Just starting the K1 process and have read much on the site including forums, and have a similar situation ... my fiance and beneficiary worked in the UAE about 15 years ago and doesn't remember much detail. I also understand that clearances are unavailable and should be waived by the consular. But my fiance has suggested not including this information on the forms at all, rather than deal with a possible police certificate request, which I doubt is a good idea. So how might the agencies involved find out about her travel history? I would like a good answer to give her.