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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on May 16, 2011: |
graceroxas
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
First of all, they should have a proper pedestrian crossing in front of that portion of the consulate where the visa applicants assemble. I saw a whole family of applicants nearly got run over by a speeding car in pre-rush hour Roxas Boulevard. My humor being somewhat black, I actually got a little chuckle out of it. A telling anecdote to what lengths many Pinoys will go for the American dream, risking life and limb.
They also should rein in those touts who go around soliciting business by giving warnings about what are not allowed in the embassy compound. They actually perform a service to a few who didn't bother to check that part of the interview guidelines beforehand but the aggressiveness is a little irritating. They also seem to have this idea that the K-1 visa applicants are the most clueless of the lot. I actually heard someone use the word "inday," which I understand is also a local term for the household help.
I have no basis to compare the services in the spanking new consulate facility with what came before. Boy, I dare not imagine what it was like. Perhaps the turnaround time is indeed much faster but the waiting is still too long. I still waited something like three hours before anyone in the interview booths paid any attention to me.
The interviews themselves were a cinch. No one even asked to look at the scrapbook of photos and assorted cuteness that I painstakingly prepared. I'm not sure if it's because the consular officer, a rather distracted, portly dark lady with dreadlocks, is already eager to have her lunch (I was her last for the morning.) My interview seemed to have been very (extremely?) brief, compared to those who came before me.
Make sure you ask for the 2Go form from the Filipino pre-interviewer. Mine was a kindly, graying guy who unfortunately might be losing more gray matters than he should, with that kind of a job. I was a bit delayed because he neglected to give me the form. As it is, I was already a bit at the end of my tethers because I haven't had proper lunch (aside from a hasty, anemic hotdog sandwich outside the consulate) and had to ditch the breakfast provisions I brought with me (Thought it's only electronic devices they don't allow).
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #7603