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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on September 24, 2013: |
jace5869
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Thank you everyone who wished us luck for our interview with the U.S. Embassy, Manila Philippines .We got to the embassy at about 5am and started the waiting process. with a 6:30am appointment we finally got inside the annex building at 7am with our numbers 5005 and 5006.
We knew beforehand a rough of idea of what to expect when starting. Biometrics to Pre-screening and handing over Affidavit of Support documents to 2 final interviews (Filipino and American). We didn't count on being one of the last persons to do ALL of the steps though! Our exceptionally long waiting time made us especially nervous. My wife was "freaking out"...Sweaty hand and repeating "Lord...What did we do?? Why is it taking so long??".
At 8:30am we finally got called to Window 39 where they wanted our DS forms. Unfortunately, or fortunately, we were required to do the "new" online DS-260 form. I think this caused some confusion, especially since I still had to pay our Immigrant Visa fee. This was to be expected though since we direct filed at the embassy. After the lady collected the confirmation page of our DS-260 (Thankfully we printed everything out!!) I headed upstairs to pay our two IV fees.
Now...more...waiting! Finally, they called us for biometrics. This was a quick and easy process and after my wife scanned her fingerprints we sat back down for more waiting.
After about 45 more minutes we were called back to a different window. This time it was for pre-screening and Filipino Consular interview. The consular was pretty laid backed and easy-going. I think you could say we had a good experience with our Filipino Consular, especially since you could tell he was having to work with a new process with the new DS-260 forms. Two-thumbs for him! .
He asked for NBI clearance and our NSO birth certificates, marriage certificates and CEMAR. then proceeded to getting our Affidavit of Support documents and said..."Don't worry about Proof of Domicile documents unless the American screener asked for them". They also didn't want Police clearance or Barangay clearance. Oddly, they mentioned a likening for Baptismal Certificate. That made me go "huh? why?", haha.
The Filipino Consular was pretty laid back, and as such you couldn't really tell what was pre-screening for documents and what was the interview, really. He just asked basic questions like "HowWhenWhere we met?" and "When did I arrive?" and "When we got married?"-- just simple stuff.
After handing the consular several different sets of paperwork and answering a few questions, and the consular asking other workers questions about the process (DS-260 ) he said "Congratulations and you can sit back down and wait for your number to be called again for your final interview with the American Consular".
Maybe...10-15 minutes of waiting we got called for our final interview...At this point, most of the people in the waiting area are gone, or at the releasing area.
the American Consular was SUPER nice, too! He asked us to raise both of our right hands and swear oath of truth/accuracy and then he asked my wife can you read English or Tagalog better.. she replied "Both" and he asked what she preferred. My wife got the pamphlet for Domestic Violence.. I don't think my wife caught on to it just yet, but a smile and sleek smile/grin came over my face, because I knew this was a good sign for us being approved.
But there is more... My wife had to do the DS-260 oath taking and signing it with her fingerprints. Then again, for her son. The American Consular asked us only a few questions like "How/WhenWhere did we meet?" and he asked me "What do I do", "What university I study at and what I am studying?". Then he said "Congratulations...your visa is approved..Just sit back down and wait for them to call your name for the releasing area."
After about....15 minutes or so our names were called and we gave them our number told them we wanted our visa's sent to 2go Mall of Asia
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #12859