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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on June 19, 2013: |
fluff5
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
If you are working in another country and recently resigned to return to Manila and fix the visa process... please read on!
My interview was scheduled at 7:30am. Me and my USC Fiance arrived outside to line up at the Embassy at 5:45am. There were about 15-20 ahead of us at the immigration line. Not sure if everyone was for K1 visa. We were processed and were inside the Embassy by 6:30am so I suggest you come waaaaaay earlier than your appointment time.
Process is the same as other reviews. Took us about 1 hour before being called for finger scanning, 30 minutes to be called for the documents, and 2 and a half hours to be called for the interview! My heart was racing faster everytime a number above our queue number flashed on the board. There was a window where the Consul was pushing our interviews probably every 2-3 minutes. There was one window however who was calling applicants every 20 minutes and our folder was sent there I guess.
We have a bit of a special case because my fiance and I were both working in Singapore for the past 2 years, we recently resigned from both our jobs because we would need to file a 3-4 week leave to process my medical, interview, and wait for my passport to be delivered. So we just decided to pack up and move to Manila. I thought this would be a problem as my fiance would now be unemployed, all our supporting papers for the Affidavit of Support would be in Singapore (singapore employment letter, singapore bank, etc). But apparently this actually helped us. We made sure however to include the bank transfer from SGD money to USD money and the current bank statement from his US bank, and filed a form 2555 (foreign income) for his 2012 taxes.
The consul asked how long we stayed in Singapore, if we lived together there the entire time, and if my fiance moved to Singapore to be with me. We didn't have to show any photos we brought. I was also ready with a co-sponsor in hand (his mom filled out a form I-134 as well) but we didn't need it.
Embassy was renovated from the last time I was there for a tourist visa back in 2009. There are now up to 80 windows, a wide hall for waiting, and snacks available right outside the hall for processing with queue boards so you won't miss your number.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12168