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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on May 6, 2019: |
taximan683
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Our appointment was at 6 30am. We arrived on time and there was already a big line-up for 7 and 7 30am appointments, but they ushered us to the front. We were there with my fiance's 2 year old daughter and my fiance's mother. We hoped that they would let Mom in to help watch the 2 year old, and I knew from other reviews that I could probably go inside with my fiance. They wouldn't allow Mom inside, only the petitioner and applicants, so it was me, my fiance, and her child. We ran into a problem upon entry though. I had not printed the confirmation page for the appointment. For some reason I thought I only needed the e- mail confirmation. I think I knew about the confirmation page back when I set the appointment, but forgot that I had to print it. Anyway, I was really stressed. I hurried to an internet cafe with one of the people outside looking for customers. Since I didn't bring my phone, I couldn't access my e-mail from the cafe. I needed to receive a confirmation text on my phone (remember, you can't bring any electronic devices or sharp objects into the embassy). I ended up going back to the hotel, having the front desk print the confirmation pages for my fiance and child (K2), then returning to the embassy hoping we could still finish. They rushed us through as priority (because of her child, or because we were so late? I'm not sure). First a Filipino lady at the first window looked through all the documents (Cenomar, birth certificates, passports, medical envelopes, divorce paper for me from the court). She then packed all the papers into a file, she asked my fiance how we met, etc and reviewed our applications. Then she sent us to the fingerprint window where my fiance was fingerprinted, but not her toddler. Then we were sent to the interview window. There were about ten people in line, but they sent us to the front of the line for "priority". We were called up very fast. There were about five windows conducting interviews. The interviewer was American and conducted the interview in English. I was told I could stand there and observe, but he wanted to only talk to my fiance. She was asked how we met and many details about our first meeting, how often I visited her, when was the last time, did I send money, how did we communicate. He asked to see chats because we communicate in Messenger. He was stern and serious. He asked her where I live, where I work, what we have in common. She didn't remember some details like the city where I work and she didn't answer about what we have in common. He also asked if I was the father of her baby. He was obviously constructing a timeline in his head to see if everything made sense.When she didn't understand a question, he prompted her in Tagalog with one or two words. She just blanked out on what we had in common, so you should practice that one maybe. Then he gave her the pamphlet on domestic abuse, and I was thinking "we are home free!" He said "you are approved and will receive your visa in 2 to 4 weeks!
The next day, we had an appointment to attend the CFO class. Well, she had an appointment. I wasn't allowed inside. I returned three hours later and waited for her. She had to fill out a form, attend the seminar, then be interviewed by a counselor. The counselor asked her many personal questions about her baby, who is the father, how we met, etc. She shook her head and said "there's something fishy here" and "are you sure you are ready for this?" My fiance was a little irritated with the ladies questions and her head-shaking.
I am not the father of her child. There is no father on the birth certificate because her pregnancy occurred between when I met her and when I visited her. She was pregnant when I visited her the first time after we had met briefly previously in the Philippines. Anyway, you can see our situation was complicated since she was pregnant when I seriously visited and we had a relationship when she had the baby. I made sure there was no question that I was not the father because I knew the K1 wold be rejected if they suspected that. Anyway, like I told her, just tell the truth about everything, don't try to cover up or lie because that will get us rejected. Anyway, we made it! Approved!
She has to return to the CFO when she gets the visa to get the stamps for her and the child so they will be allowed to travel to the US. I think we need to pay travel tax also? It seems there are so many tasks to complete. Almost done!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #26113