This is it! The dreaded interview day. I have heard a lot of stories of applicants being denied of a US visa. There really is no guarantee,this is the day that will determine whether I am eligible for a US visa or not.
What to wear?
Wear something comfortable yet presentable. Some people might tell you to wear your nicest clothes, and your finest jewelry... I don't deem it necessary. No need to wear your sexy stiletto, keep your Jimmy Choo's at home. First because you will be standing in line for quite some time before you get to enter the embassy and second, if you plan to impress the interviewer with your shoes, don't bother, they will not see it. I wore a plaid top, khaki slacks and silver glittery ballet flats that I got for 175 pesos at a department store's kid's shoes section. I also brought with me a pink cardigan.
What to bring?
I had with me my visa confirmation letter, my passport (current one and my previously cancelled one), 2x2 pictures (just in case they find the photo electronically attached to my application not acceptable), other documents that I prepared (please refer to my previous post),my company ID, Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep a Secret, a black ballpen ( you will need this to fill up a form once you enter the embassy). Consider bringing an umbrella too, you will spend quite a long time outside the embassy while waiting to be allowed to go in. That is why I think it is best to get the earliest schedule, at least the sun is still a wee bit friendly. (My skincare expert told me sun exposure before 8am is still ok, but of course sunblock is still necessary).
What not to bring:
A lot! While waiting in line, a few enterprising folks will approach you holding a list of the things that you cannot bring inside the embassy. I was warned not to bring my mobile phone and any other gadgets (tablet, camera or any recording device) . A small bag is preferred. But the list that they show you outside is more restricting. A few of the things that I remember are:
- Lighters
- Food
- Memory card
- Usb
- Perfume
I made the mistake of bringing with me my office bag, which contains pretty much everything I may need to survive being away from home for at most 2 days. I had with me a bottle of perfume. These people walking around with this list will offer to safekeep the "prohibited" items that you have with you. They handed me a plastic bag, told me to put my perfume and a pack of crackers inside and gave me a number. Works pretty much like a supermarket baggage counter, only they are mobile and you have to go looking for them , somewhere by the foot of the overpass where there are little stalls selling food items (roughly 200 meters away from the embassy's gate). Don't bother asking how much they will charge for safekeeping your items, they do not have a fixed charge and will just tell you to give them any amount. To be saved from the hassle of trusting strangers with your personal belongings, just don't bring the above mentioned items. No chewing gums too.
My mom was the one driving and we parked a couple of blocks away from the embassy. The embassy is located along Roxas Boulevard and there is no guarded parking spaces available. We walked to the embassy and joined the end of the line for non-immigrant visa applicants at around 6:20am. Behind us, lines for the 7:30 appointment was already being organized by some security staff.
The line started moving a little before 7:00am. Before we reached the gate, we were asked to fold our confirmation letter crosswise and to slip it inside the passport. Upon reaching the gate, a barcoded sticker was placed at the back cover of my passport and a pink slip was given to me. I was told to get just one number for me and my mom.
Once inside the gate, I again presented my passport together with my mom's passport and we were given a number. We proceeded to a covered waiting area where we filled up the pink slip with our personal details. While in the waiting area, an electronic board displays the numbers that are currently being processed.
Applicants are ushered inside the building by 10's. My cousins's family was number 2122 and me and my mom was number 2123. We stood while waiting for our number to flash on the monitor. Once I saw our number, me and my mom proceeded to our designated counter.We gave our passports and our confirmation letters as well as the pink slip. Basic questions regarding our personal details were asked, birthdate, stuff like that. The guy at the counter took the pink slip and returned our passports and confirmation letters.
We again waited for our number to be called.This time, my cousin's number and my number consecutively flashed and me and my mom was processed after my cousin's family at the same counter. We were entertained by a very pleasant filipina with an amazing american accent. She was very friendly and she made me less nervous. This was where our fingerprints were scanned. After this was the final step, the interview with the consular officer.
I tried to read the Kinsella book I brought with me, my mom took out her crossword puzzle booklet, but somehow, I couldn't focus on reading because I kept glancing at the electronic monitor and can't help but listen to the other applicants while they were being interviewed. I found the interview with the merchant seamen, entertaining, the consular officer handling their interview was a pretty funny guy who cracks a joke once in awhile.
As soon as my cousin's number was flashed on the monitor, I placed my book inside my bag and prepared my documents. I was a bit worried when the monitor skipped a few numbers and flashed number 2130! Have they forgotten about us? Was there a pre-screening and are we being interviewed at a later time? Mini-panic attack!Good thing there was another applicant who asked a roving embassy personnel and it was explained that numbers are randomly flashed.
Not too long after my cousin's number was flashed, I saw my number and we proceeded to be interviewed by a different consular officer. As I approached her counter, I smiled and said good morning. She asked the following questions:
Consular Officer: How are you related?
Me: She's my mom.
C.O. : Oh you look like sisters.
Me: You just made my mom very happy.
C.O. : What will you do in the states?
Me : vacation and visit relatives.
C.O. : Who will you visit?
Me : My cousin.
C.O. : What do you do?
Me : I work in the airport.
C.O. : As what?
Me : As a duty manager for passenger services.
C.O. : For how long?
Me : I'm on my 12th year.
C.O. : How much do you get per month?
Me : blah blah pesos
(To my mom) C.O. : How will you pay for your ticket?
Mom : I am entitled to discounted airline tickets as a dependent of my brother.
(To me) C.O. : How long do you plan to stay in the states?
Me : Around 3 weeks.
C.O. : What are the countries that you have visited?
Me : Japan, Thailand,Macau.
At this point, the consular officer took a green sheet of paper, and while scribbling something, she was telling my mom that her application is subject for further review. She assured my mom that there is no need to worry, that this happens quite often. She handed the green paper to my mom.As for me, she said that she thinks everything is okay and that I should expect to receive my passport via courier within a week.
After the interview, we left the embassy and went to find the roving baggage counter. I gave her 50 pesos and she returned my perfume... But not my crackers.
I was interviewed on a Tuesday, the courier delivered my passport Friday morning. I was granted a 10 year multiple entry visa. My mom's passport was delivered after 10 days. She too was given a 10 year visa.
There really is no guarantee that you will be granted a visa. Don't believe those who offers to assist you with your application for a fee and assures you of a visa. There are no shortcuts, you can't pay someone to go through the application process for you. The embassy's website contains all the information that you may need in applying for a visa. There is a tagalog version too. You really have to honestly fill up the application, present yourself to the embassy for an interview and answer the consular officer's questions consistent with the information you have provided in the online application.
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