US Visa - Non-immigrant visa or Tourist visa

The dreaded US Visa interview can be very challenging to most of us.. even more than to someone like me who has a pending US Immigrant Visa petition on filed.. read on and learn from my story.

Background:

I am a single mother with 2 children (had my marriage annulled and reverted back to my maiden name), my parents are in the US (among my so many aunts, uncles, cousins), all of us 3 siblings are in the Philippines. With more than 14 years employment background and more than 5 year with my current employer.

October 25: around 9am (my schedule is 7:30 am, but with the other steps and waiting for my turn for the interview, it was already around 9)

Approaching the counter with a smile while saying “Good morning”; I drop my passport and DS 160 confirmation on the counter slot ( set aside my folder and hand bag) full attention to the consul

Consul: Good morning.. How are you?

Me: I am fine, thank you. And you..

Consul: with a surprised smile.. I am fine,  thank you.. while typing on his computer

Consul: What is the purpose of your visit to the united states Elaine? 

Me: Sir for tourism purposes and I also want to visit my parents.

Consul: Where are you parents in the states?

Me: I stated my parents address

Consul: Are you married?

Me: No.

Consul: with a smile.. Do you have children?

Me: yes, I have 2 children

Consul: What do you do?

Me:  I work for a German company as Administration Officer

Consul: What company?

Me: “stated my company name”

Consul: repeated my company name as he typed on his computer

Consul: How much is your monthly salary?

Me: My salary is ____ monthly

Consul: What course did you take in college?

Me – I have a bachelors degree major in electronics and communications.. It’s a branch of engineering or BS ECE we call it..

medyo na bulol pako kasi hindi ko expected na he will ask my course in college since I am not a newly grad.. although I heard a lot of people were asked. (I stutter because I am not expecting the question since I am not a newly grad, although I have heard a lot of people were asked)

Consul: Have you traveled to other countries?

Me:  Yes, I have traveled to several Asian countries with my children.

Consul- ahh with your children. Your children are not traveling with you?

Me:  No, not at this time.

Consul: Why?

Me:  they are in school, I plan to go in January.

Consul: Congratulations! Your visa has been approved, you will receive your passport in a few days. I was silent for a few seconds as my gaze follow his hands setting aside my passport on a box on his right.

Then I looked at him smiled and said – oh thank you.. have a nice day. He said thank you..then I Gathered my things and left.. I was giggling with happiness as I walk away from the interview section..

It was so fast!! That is not even more than 2 minutes. No docs was asked from me. I have a bunch of docs prepared. So happyyyy… :)

I was so worried that I might get denied due to my immigrant petition.. I am so prepared to answer about the immigrant petition that I wrote several reasons why I am coming back to the country and have no intention to migrate at this time.. I even researched a lot about US economy and employment rate.. I am prepared to say that 11.3M American are looking for a job only 148,000 jobs additional available in September; I have no chance to get employed when US will prioritize their citizens.. With my income I don’t have to go abroad.. I am earning enough here and I don’t have to be away from my family.. among other reasons.. but none of it was asked! 

Well, nothing is wrong to be over prepared… very very happy…

Oct. 30 – 11:15am received my Visa via 2go.. I have 10 years multiple entry!!  If you really wanted something, be truthful and give it all your efforts and you will get it.. have faith.

What do I think that my Visa was approved even if I have a pending immigrant Visa?

I am completely honest when I filled up my DS 160 form. I declared everything on my DS 160 Form, I did not conceal anything, even indicated my Petition receipt number they can look it up and I can pretty defend it. I am very relax during our conversation, it was like a normal conversation to me not a scary interview thing. I worked with several multi-cultural companies and deal with foreign colleagues; nevertheless, relax, the consul can sense that you are so tense that a tiny reason of doubt will get a denial of Visa. Don’t give them the reason to doubt you if you are 100 % honest and truthful that you have no intentions to overstay.

All my answers including the prepared ones that were not asked were all realistic and true to my capacity. I am not exaggerating, I did not padded my Bank accounts, I was only ready to answer everything within my capacity and I have supporting documents if asked.

I read a lot and research my case – being with a pending immigrant petition I need to do an extra effort to prove that I don’t intend to migrate now but rather my immigrant petition is a future intent and given that immigrant petition take years before it will be approved, this time I want to do a short visit.

I wrote my prepared answers, read it again and again.. I have notes, literally reading it while waiting. My notes boost my confidence, I am over prepared and so no question can block me to get the Visa that I wanted.

My Adventure to the Land of Stars and Stipes will begin SOON ")

I will share more of the stories I experienced and heard during my 2 hours or so waiting for the interview.. 

check my next Blog: 

The US Non-Immigrant VISA Application Process

Interview Scenarios/ Questions during the interview 

Pag-ibig Fund Calamity Loan

Photo by: Ed Umbao

Photo by: jmacabulos1 via instagram

Olongapo City was declared in a state of calamity after 12 hours of continuous rains, the flood was declared the highest in the history of the city.  16 out of the 17 Barangays was flooeded, only the mountanous Barangay of Gordon Heights (where I reside) was spared. The damages was estimated to be more than P2.1B as declared by our City Mayor Rolen Paulino. The estimated damage includes residential, business, infrastructure, private and government facilities.

Photo by garypunolive via instagram

If your are a member of Pag-Ibig Fund, you can apply a CALAMITY LOAN being the City was declared in a State of Calamity. 

You can file the calamity loan within a period of 90 days from the declaration of a state of calamity or 90 days from September 23, 2013. 

Photo by: Natashya Gutierrez

Here some facts and application loan process with the applicable forms and requirements: 

1. Who are eligible? The calamity loan program is open to any Pag-IBIG member who:
1. has made at least 24 monthly contributions (whether continuous or broken);
2. is an active member [i.e., has made at least 5 contributions in the last 6 months as of month prior to the date of loan application]; and
3. resides in an area which is declared by the Office of the President or the Sanggunian concerned as under a state of calamity
4. If the member has an existing Housing Loan, Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL) and/or Calamity Loan, the account must not be in default as of the date of the loan application.

2. How much can one loan? Up to 80% of the eligible member’s total accumulated value (TAV, equivalent to member’s contri. plus employer’s contri. plus earned dividends).
   The current interest rate is 5.95% per annum. 
3. What is the payment period? The loan is amortized over a period of 24 months, with a grace period of 3 months, i.e., the eligible member has a 3-month reprieve and only starts paying on the 4th month.
4. Can one still loan if he/she has an outstanding MPL/calamity loan? Yes, but the outstanding MPL balance shall be deducted from the 80% of TAV. For example, if a member has a TAV of P10,000, the maximum loanable amount is P8,000. If the member has an outstanding MPL of P5,000, the member can only avail of calamity loan worth P3,000.
   If, in addition to an outstanding MPL, the member also has an outstanding calamity loan in the amount of P2,000, in the example above, the member is still granted a new calamity loan of P3,000 but will only receive P1,000 because the P2,000 will pay off the existing calamity loan balance. This means that at any given time, a member can have both MPL and calamity loan, but only one calamity loan.
5. Until when can an eligible member avail of the loan? Within a period of 90 days from the declaration of a state of calamity. 

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

1. Calamity Loan Form 2. Two (2) valid IDs 3. Barangay Certificate or any form of identification that the member is a resident of the area declared under state of calamity

Additional Requirements for Calamity Loan

For formally-employed members - Declaration of Being Affected by Calamity (FLS006), very helpful if you are not filing in Olongapo City or Zambales. For farmers, including landlords, fisher folks and livestock farmers, - Certification from the Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) that their products were damaged/killed due to the calamity. For business owners/market vendors, - Certification from the Market Vendors Association or certification from the Municipal Mayor (if not member of the association) attesting that he is engaged in the selling of farm products, vegetable, meat or fish and that his source of livelihood was affected by the calamity. For Pag-IBIG Members or any of his immediate family members afflicted by diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, skin diseases, paralytic shellfish poisoning (red tide bloom), heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, chickenpox, measles and hypertension, - A Medical Certificate from the Doctor stating that such disease/illness is brought by the onset of calamity.

CALAMITY LOAN PROCEDURE
STEP 1	Go to the Pag-IBIG NCR/Regional Branch where your contributions are being remitted. Proceed to the Provident Benefits Division (PBD) servicing counter.	Person Responsible Loans and Credit Evaluator II
____________________________________________________________________
STEP 2	Submit duly accomplished MPLAF/CLAF together with supporting documents, if applicable. Note: You will be informed if you are not qualified to avail of a loan. Get STL Acknowledgement Receipt (SAR). Note:The date of release of loan proceeds shall be indicated in the SAR.
____________________________________________________________________
STEP 3	On scheduled date, get loan proceeds If thru Check releasing, present SAR and 2 valid IDs to Cash and Administrative Services Division (CASD). If thru the Landbank’s PACSVAL/Cash Card releasing, verify and withdraw at any Landbank branch or accredited bank.	Check Release Controller ATM

Sources:
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71289/olongapo-reels-from-worst-flooding-ever
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2013/09/29/flood-damage-olongapo-hits-p21b-305867

http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph