Some things went well, other things didn't go so well. We arrived at the embassy at 5:30. We were directed to the line for K1 visa applicants . The line was actually seats which we paid 30p each. The weather was great and we were very excited while waiting to go into the embassy. Unfortunately for us this was about the best part of the whole process.
We were directed into the embassy at about 6:30. The first stop was out side the embassy underneath a canopy. Embassy staff took our DS 156, 157, 156K and stapled them, out the passport in a zip lock bag. A pre printed label with beneficiaries name was also affixed to the passport. We were asked "did you take your medical" we answered yes.....
We proceeded inside the first door and went to a booth where we got our number...6193 we were given instructions on what and where to go next. The instructions were in Tagalog so I couldn't understand them. All I got out of it was something about waiting area. We proceeded past security check point 1 and entered into a large court yard. It was a huge waiting area with digital sign boards which flashed the numbers. We had to cross the court yard and enter inside the embassy. Inside the embassy was security check point 2. This is where things started to go down hill. After we passed through the checkpoint an embassy staff took our DS forms and told us to go back to the outside court yard waiting area and wait for our number to be called. So we waited and waited and waited. It seemed everyone else's number was called but ours. Finally embassy staff asked all the remaining people to go to the inside waiting area. We went back in past security checkpoint 2 took a seat and waited and waited and waited. Again our number was never called. Finally we asked an embassy staff why our number had not been called. They asked did you drop your DS forms at window 39? We said no an embassy staff had immediately took our DS forms and told us to go back outside and wait. Shortly after we were paged by name to go to window 39. At window 39 we were relieved to see our DS forms were there. We were asked for the 2x2 visa pics. Then told to sit back down and wait for our number to be called. So we waited and waited and waited. No number was called. Finally after losing hope that this process would go smoothly we were paged by name to go to the biometrics window for finger prints. No problem with the finger prints but we were asked did you take your medical? We answered yes. We were told to sit back down and wait. By now you guys get the picture. Our number was never called. We had to be paged to go to the next window, the Filipino pre screener. It's was one of the brighter parts of the process. The pre screener was a woman and very pleasant. My fiancée was asked how and when did we meet and how many times did I visit her. She did not ask to see any evidence. She did ask If my fiancée took her medical. After we were asked to sit and wait for what.....our number to be called. Well Mercy Sakes Alive...our number finally flashed. We went to the consular window. We were only asked 1 question. How many time did I visit my fiancée? I answered 5 times including this. The consular replied everything looks good you will get you will get you visa as soon as the embassy gets your medical results.. Our number did flash again for the last window. We were instructed that the embassy never received the medical results and will need to request them from St Lukes.
We were done by about 12:30
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12062
Review on June 4, 2013:
