Yes! I finally got my US visa approved. It was so great to hear when the US consul said, "Everything looks good, your visa is approved, go to counter 73 for further instructions." Wow it was so amazing and before I left the window the consul added, "By the way you have an excellent English and Alpharetta is such a beautiful city." I said thank you and said goodbye with a BIG smile :)
NOTE: DON'T bring any electronic gadgets with you, if you do you may deposit them with the people outside the embassy for P150.00. I don't know how it works but they are just walking around with their bags, so I am not sure how safe it is to deposit your electronic items.
Here are the things that I did while at the US embassy: (My application if for K1 Visa)
1. I arrived at 5:30am and the line was already so long. I was already on the second group.
2. Someone advised us to prepare our passport, Form 156, Form 157 and "Appointment Letter" or the print out of the online application stating the schedule of the appointment. I gave the forms at the visa assistants outside before entering the building.
3. I entered the building using door 3 (read room labels, example Door 2 is for US citizen only) and scanned my bags.
4. After scanning my things, I had to fall in line again to get a priority number.
5. I went to another building (the main building for the interview) and dropped the requirements at window 39.
6. I waited for about 2 hours at the waiting area before my number flashed on the screen. (Note, unlike St. Luke Clinic, the US embassy doesn't call names, they only use the screen so you have to watch out for your number to flash since they flash it like 5 times)
7. My number flashed again and I went to window 40 for finger print scanning, left and right, like doing it at the NBI but this is digital scanning. (Before I got my fingers scanned the lady asked me to state my name and date of birth)
8. I had to sit and wait for about 30 minutes.
9. My number flashed again. I went to window 48 for my initial interview with a Filipina lady. I also submitted all the requirements needed to the lady who did the interview. Those requirements include, NBI, Police Clearance(Only Foreign), Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, W-2, Form 1040, NSO birth certificate, NSO CENOMAR and pictures together with my fiance. (I got the pictures back)
Questions are mostly about me and my fiance eg. my DOB, my fiance's BOD, family background, job of fiance, address, history of marriage, time of meeting: month and year.
10. I had to sit and wait for another 30 minutes.
11. My number flashed again and I had to go to window 63. All I thought was it was only my second interview because I heard people saying that the last interview was at window 73. I was not nervous thinking that it was not the consul. I greeted him and he smiled and returned my greetings. He asked if it's alright to ask in English. I said YES. He asked me to raised my right hand and solemnly promised that all the information I submitted are true and correct, I said YES. (Eye to eye contact is very important) He asked questions which the lady in the initial interview asked and just added a few like my work in China and the history of the relationship: "How did you meet with your boyfriend." It was a very easy question for me since I know it from my heart. Other questions are about my fiance's family background, brother and sister, children etc.
12. I was surprised when he said, "Everything looks good and your visa is approved, just go to window 73 for further instructions." Oh I thought he was not the consul! Good that I had a natural conversation with him.
13. I waited for my number to flash at window 73 then instructed on how my visa will be delivered. I asked if I could just pick it up. He said go to the courier to make arrangement.
14. I went to the man outside window 65 2GO agent and filled in the form for delivery preferences.
15. At 9:45am I was already heading back to my hotel. The whole process only took me about 4 hours.
Other observations:
When I was at the waiting area, I could overhear the conversations between the interviewee and interviewer. The interviewer got irritated when the applicant doesn't answer the questions directly. For example.
Situation 1:
Question. How many brothers and sisters does your boyfriend/husband/wife/girlfriend have?
Answer: He has many.
Please answer the question directly, it says how many so give an exact number like, 2 sisters, 2 brothers.
Situation 2:
Question: When was the last time you saw your daughter/son?
Answer: It was long time ago. I can't remember the date.
Answer directly when month and year. Like, June 2004.
There were more questions that were not answered correctly and the interviewer got annoyed and sounded like she was shouting to get the exact answer.
One interviewer even said, "these are very simple questions and you don't even know how to answer. How can you get approved?"
NOTE: DON'T bring any electronic gadgets with you, if you do you may deposit them with the people outside the embassy for P150.00. I don't know how it works but they are just walking around with their bags, so I am not sure how safe it is to deposit your electronic items.
Here are the things that I did while at the US embassy: (My application if for K1 Visa)
1. I arrived at 5:30am and the line was already so long. I was already on the second group.
2. Someone advised us to prepare our passport, Form 156, Form 157 and "Appointment Letter" or the print out of the online application stating the schedule of the appointment. I gave the forms at the visa assistants outside before entering the building.
3. I entered the building using door 3 (read room labels, example Door 2 is for US citizen only) and scanned my bags.
4. After scanning my things, I had to fall in line again to get a priority number.
5. I went to another building (the main building for the interview) and dropped the requirements at window 39.
6. I waited for about 2 hours at the waiting area before my number flashed on the screen. (Note, unlike St. Luke Clinic, the US embassy doesn't call names, they only use the screen so you have to watch out for your number to flash since they flash it like 5 times)
7. My number flashed again and I went to window 40 for finger print scanning, left and right, like doing it at the NBI but this is digital scanning. (Before I got my fingers scanned the lady asked me to state my name and date of birth)
8. I had to sit and wait for about 30 minutes.
9. My number flashed again. I went to window 48 for my initial interview with a Filipina lady. I also submitted all the requirements needed to the lady who did the interview. Those requirements include, NBI, Police Clearance(Only Foreign), Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, W-2, Form 1040, NSO birth certificate, NSO CENOMAR and pictures together with my fiance. (I got the pictures back)
Questions are mostly about me and my fiance eg. my DOB, my fiance's BOD, family background, job of fiance, address, history of marriage, time of meeting: month and year.
10. I had to sit and wait for another 30 minutes.
11. My number flashed again and I had to go to window 63. All I thought was it was only my second interview because I heard people saying that the last interview was at window 73. I was not nervous thinking that it was not the consul. I greeted him and he smiled and returned my greetings. He asked if it's alright to ask in English. I said YES. He asked me to raised my right hand and solemnly promised that all the information I submitted are true and correct, I said YES. (Eye to eye contact is very important) He asked questions which the lady in the initial interview asked and just added a few like my work in China and the history of the relationship: "How did you meet with your boyfriend." It was a very easy question for me since I know it from my heart. Other questions are about my fiance's family background, brother and sister, children etc.
12. I was surprised when he said, "Everything looks good and your visa is approved, just go to window 73 for further instructions." Oh I thought he was not the consul! Good that I had a natural conversation with him.
13. I waited for my number to flash at window 73 then instructed on how my visa will be delivered. I asked if I could just pick it up. He said go to the courier to make arrangement.
14. I went to the man outside window 65 2GO agent and filled in the form for delivery preferences.
15. At 9:45am I was already heading back to my hotel. The whole process only took me about 4 hours.
Other observations:
When I was at the waiting area, I could overhear the conversations between the interviewee and interviewer. The interviewer got irritated when the applicant doesn't answer the questions directly. For example.
Situation 1:
Question. How many brothers and sisters does your boyfriend/husband/wife/girlfriend have?
Answer: He has many.
Please answer the question directly, it says how many so give an exact number like, 2 sisters, 2 brothers.
Situation 2:
Question: When was the last time you saw your daughter/son?
Answer: It was long time ago. I can't remember the date.
Answer directly when month and year. Like, June 2004.
There were more questions that were not answered correctly and the interviewer got annoyed and sounded like she was shouting to get the exact answer.
One interviewer even said, "these are very simple questions and you don't even know how to answer. How can you get approved?"
Congratulation to got your US visa approved.
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Thank you Fadlan!
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