Please post your questions HERE.
Disclaimer: This is personal account of the embassy experience. If you have doubts during the actual interview, do not hesitate to ask the embassy staffs. They are really nice and helpful.
Step 1/Arrived at the Embassy ground (fronting Bayview Park Hotel) at 6:00am
Fell in line at the right-side lane (facing the guard stand) for the immigrant visa applicants. Showed original appointment letter and 1 valid photo ID (passport will do if you have it) to the guard. Then proceeded to the long chairs (about 6 of it) situated inside the perimeter fence since they were not yet allowing applicants in the building. Take note that, other visa categories like tourist, student, etc. were lined up at the left-side lane and they have to stand throughout the waiting period (before they could come inside the building).
At 6:30am, guard started to let people in at the embassy building. Second guard checked our original appointment letter (no need for a copy) and one valid ID with picture. Then, let us in through Gate 2.
Step 2/ X-Ray Section at Gate 2
Bags, and other belongings were scanned. Body searched and other security checks were done. Cell phones and other electronic gadgets were sequestered and left at this section with 1 valid ID. Then follow the arrow of the blue IMMIGRANT VISA signage (including any K visas).
Step 3 /Ground Floor of the Embassy Building
Once inside, the guard will lead you to what area (group of blue chairs) you should seat. The 6:30am appointment were prioritized and were directly lined up to the Receiving Counter/Ticket Booth (right-side of the entrance door), where all accomplished DS forms were submitted.
After the 6:30am applicants were done. Guard called all senior citizen, handicapped applicants and applicants with children. Yes, a priority was given to the above-mentioned group regardless of interview time stated in the letter. This is the main reason why I and my daughter finished our interview at 9:00am.*Wink*
Step 4/ Submission of DS forms at the Receiving Counter/Ticket Booth
Fell in line.
Submitted the original appointment letter and the 2 sets of DS-156 and DS-157 per applicant (K-3, so no DS-156K needed) to the staff.
POINTERS: (1) Do not forget to sign and put the date on your DS-156 forms. In case of children, the parent can sign on her/his behalf but do not forget to write your relationship just below the signature and the child’s printed name above the signature. (2) In DS-157 Question #10, do not forget to write “Philippines” especially if you have not been to any country. (3) Do not forget to paste/glue your visa pictures in your DS-156 forms. (4) In DS-156 Item #37, do not leave anything blank. You have to check “NO”, in case if the item does not apply to you. (5) Include the bar code page (page 3) of the online DS-156 version in your submittal.
Staff asked where our passports are, I replied that it’s with SLEC.
After checking, the staff give us the much needed priority number sheet (NEVER lose this throughout the process). Take note, you will only receive one priority number per appointment letter, so the derivative applicants are already included in the main applicant’s number. After that, the documents submitted remained with her. These will be forwarded to the finger scanning section. Told us to be seated and wait for our names to be called for finger scanning.
Step 5/ Finger Scanning
At this stage, the priority number was not used. Our names were called in the PA system. Then proceeded to Window 33 for finger scanning. There were many windows (17,18, 33, 34) which are assigned to do this. Just listen very well. Names were called twice.
Fell in line at Window 33.
Showed our priority number.
Verified my name.
All my fingers were scanned and snap a photo of my face. Amber’s (5 y.o) fingers were not scanned, but they only took her photo.
Then told us to seat and wait for our priority number to be flashed on the screen.
Step 6/ Pre-interview
After about 10 mins. of waiting our number was flashed on the queuing electronic board. We went to Window 19 for our pre-interview and showed our priority number.
The Fil pre-interviewer was really nice. He verified our names.
He went through our papers and let me correct whatever I had to correct (as stated in POINTERS of Schedule 4).
After that, he asked our BCs NBI, MC, I-134 and some its attachments, and some proofs for genuine relationship. I, in turn, handed him over everything I prepared. He gladly accepted it. So basically, all documents that I prepared were put into use.
Questions asked:
Who is you petitioner?
When is his birth date?
How old are you?
Where did you meet him?
When was that?
How many times did he visit you?
When did he arrive here in the country?
When did he leave?
Then said, “Okay, that’s it. You may now take your seat and wait for your number to be flashed on the screen for your consular interview.”
Step 7/ Consular Interview
At 8:30am, number flashed on screen and assigned to Window 32.
We seated on the chair beside the doorway to the Consul Office while waiting for the other applicant’s interview to be finished.
As soon as the other applicant was done, we stood up and went inside the room (with no door). The CO is a pretty American lady (she reminded me of Princess Dianna)
Our conversation goes like this:
Me: Good morning, Madam. (smiled and showed her our number in through glass panel)
CO: Hello, please be seated. (smiled and was busy tinkering her PC, looking at our papers)
Who is your petitioner? and his date of birth?
Me: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CO: What is your relation to him?
Me: Spouse
CO: What?
Me: I am his wife.
CO: Okay. Where did you meet him?
Me: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CO: When was that?
Me: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CO: How many times did he visit you?
Me: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CO: What date did he arrive? And when he left the country?
Me: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (stated the exact dates on my husband arrival/departure stamp in his passport)
CO: Does he have kids?
Me: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CO: What is he doing for a living?
Me: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CO: Okay. Tell me about the father of your child (this one stunned me because I did not expect such question especially that I have not seen the concerned person for more than five years)
Me: You mean her biological father?
CO: Yes
Me: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CO: Why you were not married to him? (again, I dunno how to answer it. I was basically lost for words)
Me. Yes, we were not. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CO: Okay, that’s everything. Please be seated outside and wait for your number to be flashed on the screen.Thank you.
Me: Thank you.
Shesh! I was too shy and scared to ask if we were approved or not.
After the interview, she was busy sorting our papers, flipping one page to another. At first, I noticed the stamped letters “…PPROVED”, but not to sure about it since, it could be “DISAPPROVED”. When she sorted again the papers, I glued my eyes on it and I saw a black ink stamp “APPROVED” in one of the forms (I dunno exactly on what form).
Done 15 mins later. Actually, most of the time, she spent it flipping our papers. Not much on talking. She was not even really staring/looking at me, when I talked.
Went outside and seated again.
Step 8/ Releasing Counter (Windows 37)
Our number was flashed on the screen, indicating Window 37.
Showed our priority number.
Verified my name.
The embassy staff handed over the proofs of relationship.
Then gave us the appointment letter attached with the ever-famous PINK SLIP for Delbros payment. Yeah, only two sheets.
She just said, “After paying Delbros, you could go home already”.
Step 9/ Paid Delbros
No line at all. Not busy at all.
Showed the pink slip and appointment letter to Delbros counter
They gave us 2 blank forms (1 for me and 1 for Amber), concerning the delivery address of the visa including contact numbers and name of authorized representative, if there is any
Filled out forms, then gave to Delbros counter again
The staff encoded our data to their system, and generated an official receipt along with the future air waybill (Actually, it is just our Manila case number with “01”, “02”, “03, “04”..so on and so forth…depending on the number of applicants per case number).
We paid 165pesos x 2 (for me and Amber). I live in a key city so it’s only 165pesos. So, if you are four, you will pay 4 x 165pesos.
Payment Done.
We went to the hotel with the ff. documents in our hands: original appointment letter (with a green ink APPROVED stamped, # of applicants), Delbros Official Receipt and blank form of letter of authority, in case that you will be not at home when the visa delivery happens).
Hurray! Done with the interview!
IMPORTANT NOTES:
(1) It is advisable for applicants to be there at the Embassy ground (at Gate 2/ fronting Bayview Park Hotel) AN HOUR before the schedule appointment time.
(2) Bring all original/certified copy of documents required. However, for 1040 (ITR), a copy will suffice.
(3) If you want to have a computerized DS-157 (using Photoshop or any other software), you may. Just attached the bank validated DS-157 form to your computerized form. Just photocopy it (back-to-back) for your 2nd copy. Removed the bank receipt. They will not need it.
(4) In case, you do not have any valid photo ID (or you forget to bring one) for entry purposes, your NBI Clearance will do.
(5) Even if you submitted a CENOMAR or CRS Form No. 5-Advisory on Marriages, the Embassy will check your status with NSO themselves.
Lastly, enjoy your day and relax!
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