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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on November 19, 2013: |
JobienJeck
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We're approved!
I arrived with my brother at the US Embassy at 5am. A vendor immediately rushed at us and asked whether we're for Tourist, K1 or Immigrant. I answered K1 and she led me to the line were the K1 Fiance applicants are. There were chairs lined up (30 pesos /chair rental). I rented one and waited for our scheduled time to be called. They let people in by batches. My scheduled appointment is 7:30. At that time they only had those for 6:15 called in. My fiance, who was at work at that moment and I were communicating through iMessage while waiting for our batch to be called in.
At 5:30am,, the security guard called our batch and we had to line up near the Embassy entrance. There were separate lines for Tourists, seafarers and Immigrants and Fiancee. They had us prepare our passport, Appointment Letter and DS-160 Confirmation ready on hand.
By 5:45am, the embassy lady by the entrance checked the documents on hand and just indicated "New Form" on the appointment letter using a marker. We had to line up again for security check
By 6:15 After security check, had to line up on the counter where I was given a number and was informed to NOT FORGET to drop the Appointment Letter at Window 39.
By 6:30 Inside the embassy, ladies in polo shirts will ask for the Appointment Letter, hand it to them otherwise your number won't be called
By 6:45 My number appeared, went to Window 43 for Finger scanning. I was asked for my name and birth date and was given instructions for the biometrics.
By 7:00 My number appeared, went to Window 57 were a very friendly Filipino Consul greeted me.
He asked for the following documents: Birth Certificate, NBI Clearance, CEMAR, Annotated Marriage Certificate, I-134, W2 and Tax Transcripts.
Then asked me the following questions: What is your name?
Birthdate?
Place of Birth?
Current Address?
Email Address and Mobile number?
Your son is not coming with you?
How did you and your fiance meet?
When was the last time you saw each other?
Where will you stay in the US?
Did you bring photos of you and your fiance together? I answered yes and handed him our photos.
He looked at the photos and he said "Very Nice, be sure to show these to the American Consul. Goodluck." He smiled and instructed me to sit and wait for my number to be called again.
The First interview was very brief, lasted about 15-20 minutes.
Here's where the long wait starts, so glad to have met another K1 applicant from Pampanga and we talked while waiting. (Hi Karla! should you happen to come across this.)
By 9:00 am I was called at Window 58, looks like it was a lucky day for me because the female American Consul also was very friendly it made me at ease. She had me raise my right hand and read the Oath.
Then she asked me the following questions: How long have you known each other?
When did you guys start dating?
Has he been married before?
Why did they get divorced?
When did he start living in the US?
How did he first enter the US the first time, was it through K1 too? I told her no, he was a tourist and found work immediately after.
You have also been married?
Why did your marriage end?
What type of music does he listen to? I answered rock and mostly alternative and said he is a guitarist and vocalist in a band.
She said, does he play acoustic or electric? I answered both.
She said, If you are to compare their band to any famous band, which band would you compare them to? I answered Nirvana.
Do you have photos together?
I showed her our photos and when she saw a photo of us at Sonya's garden in Tagaytay, she mentioned she's been there and the place is very nice. I smiled and agreed.
She then handed me back our photos and said, Great, I got all I need. I asked her, are we approved? and she said Ofcourse! and instructed me to wait for the number to be called again.
I went back to my chair and felt this big sigh of relief. Oh the feeling of hearing "You're Approved", it's like I was in heaven.
By 9:40 I was called at Window 72, waited in line and the man just looked at our folder and said, you can go home, your VISA will be delivered to you.
I was out of the embassy by 9:50 and called my Fiance to deliver the good news.
The interview went all smooth, thank heavens. I think if you have all documents in place and your relationship is in fact real, there is really nothing to be scared about.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #13269