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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on July 27, 2015: |
reilena
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
First off, you really don't have to be there crazy early because you all enter at the same time (around 7am -ish). The waiting times between counter can be really long but each counter transaction doesn't last for even 5 minutes. I honestly had no problems with the American Consuls. I think the pre-screening area with the Filipino personnel were much more problematic. They can only deal with basic requirements/documentation and not really familiar with other details (or just lack total initiative to go out and beyond their duties to help the client).
(Warning: Rant!)
I have sort of a special case since I had a legal name change effected last 2005 (NOTE: IF YOU HAD ANY CHANGES TO YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE GET AN NBI CLEARANCE FOR BOTH THE OLD AND NEW NAME). I have all the needed documents especially the 2 NBI clearances but the personnel insisted that I should have also submitted a CENOMAR for my old name. I explained that it wouldn't make sense to do that because one of the requirements to get a marriage license is to submit a birth certificate and the registrar would have seen my name change and would immediately deny a request for a marriage license. Hence, I wouldn't be able to get married if I used my old name even if I wanted to use it(duh). Also, the fact that it was effected last 2005, I couldn't have gotten married either before that because I would have been 15ish by then!
I later learned during my interview with the American Consul that the Filipino personnel did wrote "no CENOMAR" on my application. The consul took it out and said that my explanation made sense (yay for vindication!).
So if I could give my top 3 useful tips:
1. If you have circumstances outside the ordinary (like mine), be prepared to explain and inform the personnel! They're not exactly too competent.
2. Be patient. It goes pretty quick at the counter!
3. Calm down! I sweated so much (gross, I know! Hahaha)during the finger scanning that it took awhile to have mine registered.
YAY! Got approved today! - July 27, 2015
(updated on July 27, 2015)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #17421