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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on January 7, 2017: |
snowcat
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My interview was scheduled for 6:45AM, I got there around 6:30AM and they were already lining people up to enter. You'll need to show your passport and DS-160 at the entrance outside. They put a barcode on your DS-160 and ask you to line up with everyone else. You basically don't need your appointment confirmation letter - they never asked me for it.
Inside, they first do data entry, where you again, show your passport and DS-160. They just encode your data and ask you to sit down again. Then, you go for a pre-screening interview with a Filipino consul. They ask for the ORIGINAL copies of: Birth Certificate, CENOMAR, and NBI Clearance, along with the brown sealed envelope you got from your medical at SLEC. I unfortunately didn't have an original copy of my birth certificate (forgot to order a new one in time for my interview), so I submitted a photocopy--more on this later. The consul asked me some questions, like how I met my fiance, and when we became an official couple. Also asked about my travel history. It was a quick conversation, then I was told to do fingerprint scanning at the next window.
After scanning my fingerprints, I was asked to wait for my interview. I was a nervous wreck the entire time. Even the lady next to me asked if I was feeling jittery because I couldn't stop shaking my leg from anxiety lol. I waited around 30-40 minutes, then I was called to line up behind another applicant who was currently doing her interview. It was a little awkward because you can hear every single word the consul says through their microphones haha. But it at least gave me an idea of the questions they ask. When my turn came, all my nerves seemed to suddenly cooperate with me and I felt less stressed. I gave a cheery "good morning!" to the consul, which he seemed to appreciate. He looked over my files and noted the lack of my original birth certificate - I explained that I had given my last copy to the Japanese Embassy for my recent trip to Japan and forgot to order a new one in time for my interview. He nodded and asked what I did in Japan, and explained that I went on vacation with my fiance and family for New Years, and in fact just got back 2 days ago. Then he asked how I met my fiance, and since I had met him while I was in the U.S. for studies back in 2012, and that we were physically together for 3 years while I was residing there, he didn't have too many follow up questions. Oh, but he did ask what my fiance did for a living. I told him he was a computer programmer in SF and worked at a startup. He had me explain the startup and the website he was working on. He took my word for it and didn't ask for ANY financial proof - I was so ready with bank statements and paystubs and income tax returns, too! He just looked at my photo album and our pictures from my fiance's recent Christmas trip to Manila and our New Year's trip with my family to Japan, and that seemed to be enough proof for him that we were legit. He just ended it with "okay, so, we need your birth certificate." He then handed me brochures on how to register my home address online for visa delivery and what to do in case of domestic violence. Confused, I asked, "uhm, does this mean I'm approved?" He replied, "unless we find something in your birth certificate that we don't like, which I don't think will happen, yes, you're approved." I felt a huge weight lifted off my chest! But still kinda bummed that I didn't remember to order a new birth certificate - would have made things easier for me!
I was asked to proceed to Releasing, where I waited another 30 minutes. There, the guy told me I needed to submit my original birth certificate (which I already knew), and gave me a 221(g) letter to show and give to 2GO (at any of their branches) along with my birth cert. I asked how long it'll take, and he said it depends on when they receive my birth certificate, but that it shouldn't be more than 2 weeks. I asked if I am able to leave by February (next month), and he asked, "did you want to arrive before Valentine's Day?" and winked haha. I responded with, "you read my mind!" and he laughed, and he said that as long as I'm able to submit my birth certificate by next week, I should be fine. I'm hoping that that's true!
In total, the entire process took 2.5 hours (6:30AM-9AM). Not as long as I thought it would take, honestly. As long as your relationship is legit, and you have all the documents needed (don't be like me and have all your original NSO docs with you!!!) the interview process is a breeze. 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #21149