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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on January 6, 2012: |
MichaelJennie
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
830am - Appointment
620am - Arrived Embassy
630am - Allowed to Enter/cued at tents
7am – Passed security/pulled ticket number 6088/dropped off paperwork at window 39
715am – Called to window 40 for Biometrics
845am – Called for initial interview with Filipina at window 54 (15 min)
1145am – Called for final interview with American Guy at window 64 (10 min)/Visa Approved
12pm – Embassy closed IV processing for Lunch/we ate lunch at nearby Wendy’s
1pm – Embassy resumed IV processing
105pm – Called to Window 73/guy only said “good files” and told us to drop 2GO form at window 69
110pm – Dropped 2GO form off…process complete
The first interviewer asked my wife her age, when we met, how we met. She asked me how many times I went to the Philippines, if married before. She asked us if we had photos/copies of remittance for the consular, and asked my wife if she had been outside of Philippines.
The second interviewer asked who the beneficiary was, and when we met. He asked about the other visa we had filed. (We filed a fiancé visa earlier in 2011. NVC approved it, but we decided to get married in Philippines instead. So we cancelled it and married in the Philippines. NVC must have put that info in our file.) I explained that to him. He asked about my first marriage. He typed some stuff into the computer then said “everything looks good, you’re approved. Please wait for Window 73 to call your number.”
Tips:
- If you don’t have your cell phone number memorized, write it down before you enter Embassy grounds.
- Don’t wait at the 1st guard near street overpass to say OK to enter, just go to where the other guards are and tell them you’re here for immigrant appointment….we lost 10 min waiting at first guard.
- Always stay in far left lane…ask if unsure. The guard told us to wait in the left line, which we did. However, the guard ushered 6 people to the left of us. We were standing in the wrong line. This and the tip above caused us a longer process. They finished over half of the 6080 – 6090 series before lunch. Had we been 10 minutes/6 people earlier in the cue, we would have been finished by 1130am.
Other observations:
- Sometimes the interviewer will press the wrong number. For example, the first interviewer pressed 0088 instead of 6088.
- There are only four interview rooms that are private. A few people were called into a private room for the final interview, the rest were called to a window. Don’t know why…our interview was at a Window.
- Sometimes an interviewer (not ours) would use the wrong button; the interview could then be heard by everyone waiting.
- The first interviewer keeps the passport. If the second interviewer returns the passport, the visa is denied. If the second interview hands back any forms, then the visa is in an admin hold situation when Window 73 further explains the process.
- The people we noticed having problems were CENOMARs for the Fiancé Visas or situations where the Beneficiaries didn’t meet the minimum income requirements. The income guidelines are clearly printed in the AOS instructions. If the beneficiary doesn’t meet the requirements, bring other financial proof such as savings or checking balances, or other proof.
- One elderly lady that sat next to us was confused about the process. My wife explained the queuing system to her. The lady went up for bio-metrics and the first interview, but disappeared for the second interview. She was a no-show. Maybe she thought the process was over after the first interview and went home…who knows.
- Answer the interviewers’ questions clear and concisely. We could hear a couple people were scolded for not answering the questions directly.
- The embassy personnel (from the guards to the interviewers) seem to treat the beneficiaries better if the petitioner is present. They are more polite and friendlier towards the beneficiary.
Have fun in your own interview and good luck!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8966