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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on September 4, 2013: |
Memphis
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Interview Appointment: 04 September 2013 at 6:15am
My child and I stayed at Boulevard Mansion just across the USEmbassy Annex building. Just 2-3 minutes walking distance from the hotel to USEM, using the footbridge.
3:00am-Woke up and took a quick shower.
4:00am-Prepared and ate our breakfast. Shortly after, we got dressed.
5:15am-We were already outside the hotel and walked leisurely towards the footbridge.
5:20am-We arrived at USEmbassy Annex building. There were already plenty of people lining up so early.
6:45am-After all the security checks, we went inside the building. Lined up again for the queue number. The Immigrant Visa greeter offered to drop off our documents, unfortunately I lost my queue stub and I was not sure if I heared or even saw my number being stapled to my appointment letter. The IV greeter scolded me.. toinks And told me that there’s no other way to retrieve it and warned me that I might be reprimanded by the Consul. What a way to start the day! All my energy and excitement went down the drain after hearing this. Who can blame me? I was carrying my 2 year old child who was sleeping in my right shoulder, left shoulder with a sling bag, my right hand securing my child while my left hand was holding all the 2Go papers, appointment letters, passports and ziplock bags.
After waiting for almost two hours, I finally remembered (although still unsure) the numbers that was written by the lady in the counter, unlucky 5010 and 5013. But since my child started to get too cranky and wanted a hotdog and water, so we went outside to satisfy our stomachs. Just after paying, one of our numbers started flashing. So, we hurriedly went inside again and I sought the help of the IV greeter to accompany me the Biometrics area to validate with the American guy if those were our unlucky numbers. With a bit of luck, they were! =)
8:30- Called in at last, for biometrics with an American guy in his early 20’s. No fingerprinting for my child.
At this point, we decided to go outside again to eat our food. We were almost halfway through eating the hotdog bun, when one of our numbers flashed. We rushed inside the building again, but I could already hear the Filipino pre-screener calling out our names through the speakers.
8:45- The Pre-screener asked, what took us so long to approach her. I told her I had to let my child eat because he seems to be hungry already. She just smiled and told me that the canteen outside sells delicious hotdogs.
Filipino pre-screener asked for the following documents:
• Affidavit of Support (new version)
• Petitioner’s 2012 ITR and W2
• Proof of ongoing relationship and looked at our skype screenshots and some family photos.
Filipino pre-screener asked me the following questions:
• Who is your petitioner
• When and where did you meet your husband
• Date of marriage
• Is this your biological or adopted child
• Our child’s birthdate
• When did my husband migrated
• My husband’s type of work and current employer
9:00am-American Consul asked me the following questions after swearing to tell the truth: More or less 5minutes
• Who is your petitioner
• When and where did you meet each other
• Date of marriage
• Is that you and your husband’s biological child that you are carrying
• Date of the child’s birth
• Husband’s type of work
• When did your husband became a USC
Okay Maam, both of your visas are APPROVED!
9:20- We were called at 2Go counter and I opted to have our visas delivered at the home.
9:30am- We were out of the Embassy. Yey.. Finally we’re done!
Thank you Lord Jesus for all the answered prayers.. To GOD be All the GLORY!
For those with small children (3 y/o below) and senior citizens:
• USEM WILL ALWAYS ALLOW someone to accompany you!
• Queue numbers starting 5000 are priority numbers
• Everything will go fast after biometrics for the above categories
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12705