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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on November 3, 2011: |
hoody
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Arrival time: Around 5:00 am - other applicants were already in line.
Tips:
Ask guard where to fall in line for immigrant visa/fiance visa
Bring umbrella and ballpen ( It started raining and I forgot mine so i had to buy from peddlers)
You can bring candies. I was told by a peddler that only 3 candies are allowed. I had 7 candies and they didn't confiscate it.
Document check outside: Around 6:00 am - followed guard's instruction, we were ushered to specific tent for nonimmigrant/immigrant applicants; personnel stapled my docs, flipped open my passport with biographic info into a plastic ziplock
Tips:
Prepare DS Forms, Appointment Letter, BPI Receipt, Passport
Remove passport cover
Paste your visa pictures on the DS Form 156
Don't print out the instruction info & google map page on your appointment letter. They wouldn't need it and they returned mine.
Make sure you are in the correct lane for immigrants
Security check inside: guard checked my documents and went thru the scan thingy
Ticket booth: gave stapled docs to lady at the window. She gave them back to me with my queue number 6018. I asked a USEM personnel where I needed to go. He told me to go to Door # 2, a very heavy metal door.
Tip: Don't insert your queue# sheet in the plastic ziplock with your passport
Waiting area: Dropped stapled documents at Window 39. I took a seat and waited for my lucky number on the queue board. Numbers are flashed by random so I kept my attention on it.
Interview Pre-screener: My queue number flashed at Window 51. Spoke with middle-aged friendly Filipina.She checked DS Forms and had me fill out the part when I would leave and had me sign the DS 156k form. She took the affidavit of support documents and asked about the rent receipts. I told her they were receipts from fiance's roommate rent charges. She asked for pictures, chat logs, and proof of ongoing relationship ( I gave her hotel receipts, etc.) She returned my fiance's birth certificate she said it wasn't needed. She asked for fiance's passport photocopy. She stacked the pictures on top, the chat logs next and the rest and told me to show them in sequence if consul asked for them. She took my passport but asked me to remove my queue# sheet from it.
Questions asked: My name, Petitioner's Name, were we married before, any kids, how we met- I replied 5 years ago on online game. She asked specific date - I said we can't remember but it was sometime 2005. I showed her the warcraft chat screenshots. she asked Anniversary date and I think she asked about fiance's job I'm not sure tho... She wished me good luck so I felt good about it.
Visa Interview: I had assumed it would be a closed-door interview at Door #58. My number flashed at Window 60. My consul is very good-looking. He swore me in and that's when it sank in -- oh im having my interview.
Consul: What is your name?
Me: gave full name
Consul: What is your birth date?
Me: gave birth date
Consul: Who is petitioning you
Me: my fiance, full name
Consul: How did you meet?
Me: We met through an online game Warcraft (with a smile)
Consul: Oh, like World of Warcraft?
Me: Yes, similar to that.
Consul: When did you meet on Warcraft?
Me: Five years ago
Consul: When did you decide to be more than friends since you met on that game?
Me: Early 2009
Consul: When did you first meet him in person?
Me: August 26, 2009 his arrival date
Consul: How many times did he visit you?
Me: Twice. 2009 and 2010.
Consul: How long were his visits?
Me: A month each.
Consul: Where do you plan to live?
He was flipping through the documents and I was leaning in and glancing at what he was looking hehe
Me: in Springfield, Illinois... in the current address.. I was about to give complete address but he cut in and said ok.
Consul: Have you ever worked outside of the Philippines?
me: no (smiling. gwapo talaga nya....)
Consul: Do you have pictures with your fiance? Can I see them?
Me: Sure. Hold on...
Consul flipped through the pictures really fast.
Me: That's his second trip when he met my mom for the first time.
Consul: Did your mom approve of your fiance?
Me: Yes
He returned the pictures. Looked at me straight in the eye.
Consul: Ok. Your visa will be approved. Please wait for the next instructions for visa delivery.
I couldn't think for 3 secs. Then I smiled.
Me: Thank you so much sir.
Window 72: The woman stamped my appointment letter with " Bio F/P Done Nov. 2 Immigrant visa unit". She gave it back to me and repeatedly told me that I can go home.
It was a breeze... Took less or five minutes. I braced myself for affidavit of support questions since fiance's 2010 income didn't reach poverty level. He claimed roommate's rent which made his income barely above the level hehe...
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8636