|
|
| Manila, Philippines |  Review on August 17, 2018: |
Emm2018
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Everything went smoothly. I was scheduled on a Thursday at 6:40am. I got there like 5:15am. I rented a chair for 30 pesos while waiting and I got duped by one of the many people selling random things there (ballpen, umbrella, visa photos, ds-160) into thinking that I need more 2x2 photos. I know, silly me. I paid 190 pesos for 4 pcs of those photos that are nowhere near the standards of the embassy. Side note: there is like a kodak booth inside the embassy so if you really forgot photos, just go inside and have it taken with the machine (80-90 pesos i think). Please dont make the same mistake i did. People there also offer to hold your things for you since electronics like phone and usb arent allowed inside. I left all of my things at the hotel. Earrings and watches are allowed inside if you are wondering. So at around 5:50am, we were asked by the guard to line up according to time of interview. Then after around 10-15 minutes, the guard checked our appointment letters one by one. Those with confirmed 6:40am schedule were asked again to line up even closer to the US embassy entrance. An embassy personnel each gave us a ziplock and instructed to put our passports inside in a way that the biographical page can be read from outside. One by one she checked our DS-160 (you will only need the first page), and put a sticker on mine with my name and a code. And one by one we went inside the embassy. The first thing you do is go through the scanning thing for security. Then going inside another door, I went to the area for immigrant applicants cause there is a separate area for non immigrant applicants. Inside is another bag and body scanner. After security, applicants were asked to sit and wait for the pre-screening windows to open. While waiting, the assisting personnel asked us to ready the reqmts that can be seen on the US embassy website so we will be ready once the pre-screening officer asks for them. At pre-screening, the lady asked common questions like name and birthday of me and my fiance, how did we meet, if i am bringing proof of relationship, etc. Nothing so complicated. The officer collected my documents as well as the affidavit of support, ITR, and W2 except my ds-160 and proof of relationship. After, i was instructed to have fingerprint scanning. I kinda took a while cause my fingerprint cannot be read easily by the scanner. Next step is the interview. We were asked to be seated (on queue) and waited til the interview windows are open. I expected the interview to be a private one on one thing but the setup was only by windows. When it was my turn, the consul asked for my ds-160 and he pulled out my docs from inside their office. Again, i was only asked basic questions. If you know your fiance and your relationship is legit there will be no problems. After like 10 questions, he told me you are approved and if you have any problems in the US you can call 911 for free. He gave me IMBRA pamphlets and a small slip for instructions to call the embassy to register your deliver address. If you have already registered your delivery address online, there is no need to call anymore. After that, I was just asked to exit the building and go home.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #24466