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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on October 17, 2011: |
RK_and_Inday
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
This review is being submitted by RK, the USC citizen petitioner (K-1 visa interview). Interview was scheduled for October 12, 2011. The actual process was much the same as described in other reviews so I will try to avoid too much repetitive information.
Fortunately, I was able to visit my fiancee (Inday) during this time so had the pleasure of accompanying her to the embassy and being present during the interview. Inday and I arrived about 5 a.m. for a 6:30 appointment. Waited southside of the embassy near the cross-over bridge. Following previous VJ members' advice, we ignored hawkers instructions on where to line up for K-1 visa, instead Inday and I lined up near road. Waiting by road helped; we were one of first set of persons called by guard who told us where to line up. Guard is person to listen to for where to line-up. After guard had lined up appointees, went through "tent-check" submitting passport, DS forms, etc. and getting sticker as been described previously. Went next to windows 1/2/3 where Inday was asked for her vaccination record with CD attached from St. Lukes Medical Extension Clinic. Went through security check (they are serious about no electronic devices; they confiscated a small penlite Inday had in her purse.)
We went into waiting area-- which is basically one big room, lots of chairs in rows facing a number of windows. We watched board waiting for our previously assigned number to be flashed on board. Numbers seem to come up randomly so one must pay pretty good attention to the numbers as they appear. First were called to window 40 for pre-screening by a soft-spoken Filipino gentleman. the prescreening lasted no more than 10 minutes. He asked Inday for basic documents: birth certificate, CENOMAR, NBI, my tax return/transcripts. (Inday had arranged everything nicely in plastic clearbooks or covers but was asked to remove documents from plastic before passing them through the window.) He was concerned about very poor clarity of her birth certificate (nearly unreadable) but Inday explained was clearest copy NSO could provide. Therefore, he then asked for Inday's birth information from local registrar which she had indeed brought along just in such a case. He made sure Inday's DS forms were signed and dated by her. He next asked Inday to provide a few photos of her and I together, of which she had brought many. He then asked Inday if either she or I had children (no) then when, where, and how we had met. We explained how we had met in a cooking class in Singapore; she while working in Singapore plus my job had brought me to Singapore as well. The pre-screener was very interested in my job and he asked me many questions but it was just like he and I were having a normal conversation. He and I talked for a good while. Inday joked with me later saying the pre-screener spoke so much with me it seemed as if he were interviewing me instead of her! The pre-screener gentlemen seemed satisfied and asked us to sit back down and wait for out number to be called.
We waited, then Inday went for fingerprinting. Sat back down again. Waited more, staring at number. We were called to window 60 for interview with American Consulate Officer. This young man was business-like but had a kind disposition. He asked if I was the petitioner which I affirmed then he swore us both in. The interview with consulate officer could not have lasted more than 5 minutes or so. He asked very few questions. He asked if Inday or I had children (no), where and how we had met, how many times we had met since our initial meeting. He asked what kind of wedding we were planning, civil or church ceremony. When replying church wedding, he asked if it was Catholic to which we replied no, she and I are both Protestant. He then was flipping through a number of photos--either ones passed to him by pre-screener or perhaps from I-129f. (As he flipped through the photos, I saw the I-129 form on his desk which I had originally submitted, and had frontloaded with some supporting documentation and photos.) He then was quiet for a minute or two while entering some information into his computer. Inday had brought along two business folders worth of proof of identity and relationship but the consulate officer did not ask her for even one piece of evidence. After finishing his computer entries, he said "OK, we are going to approve the visa; please sit down and wait for your number." We thanked him for his time, sat down, waited again, eventually went to window 72, where Inday was told she could now go home and wait for her visa to be delivered there. We left the embassy about 11 a.m. And, yes, we spent the rest of the day celebrating and spreading the good news to family members and friends!
An additional remark or two: (1) Even though the waiting times were long, I was impressed by the efficiency of the consulate staff in handling the incredibly large number of applicants present. (2) We overheard some being denied but they had failed to bring basic required documentation. (3) Being overprepared felt comfortable on our part--even though we were not asked to present more than basic required documentation we knew we were ready to do so if asked. (4) Hope this review helps: good luck to all those yet to attend interview, congrats to those who have been approved.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8522