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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on October 18, 2012: |
Lee&Lee
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
K1 visa interview experience
Today was my visa interview at the US Embassy. I'd just like to share my experience for a lot of you who are as anxious as I was. By the way, I passed (all thanks to God, my family, friends and fiance who were extremely supportive)
Here are some useful tips:
1.Prepare all your documents- put them in order like this: passport, DS forms (1 copt of 156k, 2 copies each of 156 and 157), NSO Birth certificate, CENOMAR, NBI clearance (keep the personal copy with you), bank receipt, Form I-134 along with ITR, W2 bank statement, employment letter etc.
2.Some other papers that I gave (they didnt really ask for these but I handed them along with the I-134) - a photocopy of my petitioner's passport and birth certificate, , co-sponsor's I-134, ITR, W2, bank statement, photocopy of passport/greencard whichever is applicable.
3.Arrange the evidence of your genuine relationship - preferably labeled and with some sequence so that the consul won't have to ask you too many questions. I arranged all our conversations, receipts, airline tickets etc but the consul didn't really at them. She only scanned my pictures, read all the labels and was happy with that. But bring everything you have just in case you get a more interested consul.
4. For those using co-sponsors - just to give a background, my fiance makes a little less than the 125% poverty limit because he recently graduated from medical school and is only working part-time while studying for the boards, so we opted to ask his dad to help us out. I think that other people in VJ may have experienced strict consuls who say that co-sponsoring isn't allowed. That may be the case, but I believe that it greatly depends on the consul you get. Mine never mentioned that it wasn't allowed. They were actually very nice. My advice is first, do not stress about it like I did. Learning from what I went through, there is no point in worrying. Some things are just not in our control. Of course if your fiance can manage to show that he has enough assets to make up for the lack of finances compared to the 125% poverty limit, then try to pursue that. If he can get a job that pays better, then by all means do that. But for those who's fiances are new grads like mine, or just have trouble finding better paying jobs, DO NOT FRET. Find a co-sponsor and take your chances. From what I've read in VJ at least, there has been a good number of people who used co-sponsors and came out of the embassy successful. I would suggest also having the co-sponsor fill out an I-864 since you'll be needing one for adjustment of status anyway and the embassy has acknowledged that it is more binding than the I-134. So it won't hurt to bring that along. BUT importantly, make sure that your I-134 from your principal petitioner and co-sponsor are both filled up completely. Submitting an I-864 instead of an I-134 for the K1 visa IS WRONG. It's ONLY SUPPLEMENTARY =)
4. Eat breakfast! Don't bring electronics, USBs, perfumes, liquids, food and everything that is disallowed in the K1 packet. They'll make you dispose of them or come back another day if you're unable to part with them.
I think that's it! Thanks, VJ, for being so helpful! I will be looking through you again for adjustment of status.haha
This is a great day indeed! God bless everyone! =)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #10658