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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on October 19, 2016: |
typvsns
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We had a great experience at the US Consulate, Manila. I wanted to make sure I was there with my fiance so I flew from California a few days before. The day of the interview we arrived around 6:45am. Our appointment was for 7:30am. You should get dropped off at the designated drop off/pick up area on Roxas Ave. This is just a little past the entry to the consulate. Once there we moved into the area where the lines were forming. A guard checked bags and credentials. Look for the sign that has your appointment time and get in that line. Once it was 7:30 they moved us to another area closer to the entrance. There they checked our credentials and sent us to either the US Citizen door or the Foreigner Door. We were separated at this point. US Citizens were allowed to bring their cell phones in through the US Citizen door. Once there I left my ID (Drivers license) and our cell phones with the guard. They will give you a ticket to claim them later. After passing through the metal detector and checking credentials once more we exited the admittance building and met up again. Then we went down the hall and into the big building where all of the interviews are conducted.
In the interview room we went to the section that was noted on our appointment confirmation letter. They have you sit in the chairs in line and as people are called up the lines move through the chairs. Reminded me of playing musical chairs as a kid.
When it was our time, first we went to the pre-registration window. The woman asked us a few questions. We handed in our paperwork and then we moved to the finger print window. They then scanned my fiance's fingers. After that we went an sat down in line again.
When it was our turn again we were directed to an interview window. There the US Consulate worker asked for our paperwork. Then he verified both of our names and went to find our packet. When he came back he asked me to sit down as he was going to ask my fiance a few questions. It didn't take long. My fiance was done within 5 minutes or so. He said that the gentlemen asked him his name, my name, how we met, when I came to see him in person. Just a few basic questions. Then he told us to go to the check out window. There we sat in line again.
Once we got to the checkout window. The gentleman there asked for our paperwork, checked a couple things, went and got our packet and then said "OK you are all approved". We just had to wait for the passport with the visa in it to come back in a few days. I asked if we could expedite the process but he said no. They have to do some final checking and then issue the Visa.
Our appointment was on a Tuesday and I had to return home on Saturday. My fiance received his passport with the visa in it, along with his other paperwork the following Wednesday.
Overall it was a great experience. Everyone was super nice. I do agree with others that have posted here, if you are there with your fiance things will go much smoother.
Make sure that you have all of your paperwork there and in order. They will ask for it. One thing that tripped a couple other people up that were there was they did not have their CENOMA for their Filipino fiance. Their fiance had never been married before so they thought they didn't need it. It doesn't matter, you need it. I am so thankful we got my fiance's. That mistake could have held us up a few more weeks.
After we were done we left at 10:30am. So from the time of our appointment to the time we left it was only 3 hours. Great experience and I am so thankful everything went well.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #20687