My Fiancee Visa Road-map to
become Mrs. Edmiston
Our K1 and K2 (K1-Fiancée Visa with K2-
Children) Visa Interview Experience
Update: Jan. 11, 2016 interview, Jan. 21, 2016 Visa received (8 days from interview)
Update: Jan. 11, 2016 interview, Jan. 21, 2016 Visa received (8 days from interview)
Consular Office: US Embassy Manila Philippines
Our
schedule was January 11, 2016 at 7:30am. I intend to be there by 6:30am but we
were caught up in an early morning traffic. Our apartment is just 10 mins. to
the Embassy but it took us almost 30 minutes to get there. If you are far from
the US Embassy, plan your travel time ahead; traffic are so unpredictable.
We
got there before 7:00am and the line was already long for K1/K2. All other line
were much longer. Ask the guard where is the K1/K2 line, we stand behind of
maybe 60 applicant. All the other longer lines were for tourist Visa, seafarers and Immigrant
Visa.
At
exactly 7am the line moved and we line up again as directed. The staffs in
Orange uniforms are screening your documents, prepare only:
1. Passport
2. Confirmation of
appointment, 1st page only,
3. DS 160 Confirmation
page, 1st page only
The staff will attached a sticker at the back of your passport and they
will put this on a plastic zip lock. The sticker contains your name and
confirmation of appointment number.
Note: There was a separate line for K1/K2 applicant, make sure you are
in that line. The other lines are for Tourist Visa and Immigrant Visa.
You
will be directed to enter the door and proceed to line up again inside. Here
everyone will line up to get a number, the line was too long but they announced
that K1/K2 should get out of the line and proceed to Window 2 – so we went
ahead of so many Visa applicants. Present your Passport and DS 160 Form – She
will attached a number on your DS 160 Form and instruct to drop your DS 160 to Window
38. Our Number is 7051.
 |
| None of the Proof of ongoing relationship was asked from me. |
 |
| I lay-out our photos in word file and made notes when/ where it was taken and print them in color. Insert them in a plastic sleeve, fasten so that it can easily be flipped. Plastic sleeves are available in any bookstore. DO NOT MAKE AN ALBUM. It will not fit on the slot in the counters. |
Window
38 is inside of the Embassy building itself. Pass the waiting area and go
through the door and submit all bags to be checked, walk through the scanner
and pick-up your bag. Window 38 is just straight ahead from that entry. In our
case, before I could reached Window 38 a staff in Orange uniform took my forms
and told us to wait for our numbers to be called outside at the waiting area.
We went outside and wait. It was not even more than 5 minutes when they started
calling numbers. Our number was called, she instructed us to line up then we
were told to proceed to STEP 1 -
Biometrics.
STEP 1 - Biometrics : 1st window, Filipino – submit passports and DS 160, I was asked how many applicants, my Name, age of my Children and address in US. Asked for 1 photo. My Children were asked of their name and birthday and 1 2x2 photo. The lady asked if I have other names, she said there was another name showing up on her computer so I said it could be my previous name, I had an annulment. I mentioned my previous name but she didn’t say anything after that. Then we were asked to proceed to the Finger Scanning; Chinese American staff – submit passport and Embassy The Embassy Letter with MNL number. You can also screen shot the status of your case from CEAC, print that and bring it to the interview.
The lady asked for the embassy
letter (this is the letter that was sent by US Embassy Manila- Packet 3); they
need the letter for the MNL number. If you don’t have the letter make sure you have any document reference of
your MNL Number. Of course I brought my Embassy letter; I brought the sink with me. :)
She
asked me of my name and birthday and asked me to place my right four finger on
the scanner, then my left then 2 thumbs. There were illustrations on how to do
it so don’t worry. The same procedure for my 2 children. Then we were asked to proceed to STEP 2A. You will be assigned
to A,B,C depending on the ending number of your number. Ours was 7051 so we
were assigned to A (0,1,2); B (3,4,5) and so on.. Listen to the instructions
where to proceed next so that you will not have to go back and ask again. If
you did not hear the instructions (sometimes due to the glass window you cannot
hear it clearly) asked again before leaving the counter. They have a mic but some of them are not using it.
 |
| Source: Google photos. I made the notes, |
Step 2: A Pre-screening, Filipino
staff. It took us
1.5 hours to wait for our turn. I also observed that this is the longest Step during that day. There were only 3 windows open compared to B where all
6 windows are open. I wished we were ending 3. Finally our turn, present your passports and DS 160. She
will return your DS 160, she just need to see the number. She will go to get
your I-129F file. YES, they have your
file. PINK FOLDERS for K1/K2 applicants! J
All of the docs you submitted with the I-129F Application is on that folder;
all of it.
Prepare
to submit the following:
1.
Birth Certificate
2.
Cenomar
3.
NBI, detach the personal copy
4.
Sealed Medical
All original on PSA/NSO paper.
My kids submitted their Birth Certificate, sealed medical and NBI
Clearance (if your Kids are over 16 year old, they need an NBI Clearance). My
19 year old was asked if she is single.
All of these were attached to each
of our passports.
I was asked of the following: (she
was encoding as we speak)
1.
Name and birthday, my children were
asked of the same. Nothing more was asked from them.
2.
Petitioner’s birthday
3.
I was asked if I am single? I
answered yes.
4.
Previous Marriage – yes. Asked for
my annulment papers. I gave her a photo copy. I did not attached my authenticated MC, she didn't ask for it.
She also mentioned that my kids have a different family name (their father's) but didn't ask anything else. My kids are 19 and 16 years old.
5. Previous US Visa- Yes, she asked to
see my Visa. It was on my old passport so I submitted my old passport. She kept
my old passport and attached it my documents.
6.
She also asked if my kids have a US
Visa. They don’t, I was asked also if we were denied of a US Visa before. NO,
she asked including the kids, I said No.
7. Previous travel to other countries,
and if I stayed or worked in other countries. I said yes we traveled before and
mentioned the countries, only tourist and never worked to other countries. She asked
same with the kids? I said yes, they have traveled with me.
8.
She saw that I have a previous
petition and asked my Priority Date. I mentioned my priority date; I have my
Notice of Approval among my files. I know it will come up, so I brought my
papers. I have an F2B Petition, my Parents are LPR. My Mom filed for my
Petition in 2012. She asked about my parents too.
Then she examined the PINK Folder.
I
looked closely so I saw my I-129 Form, she flipped on the pages and read, there were
some post-its with notes she read the notes. She read my fiance’s attachment to
I-129F Supplement: Part 2, Question 34a. Then she asked me if my fiancé is in
the Military. I answered he was a veteran. It was mentioned on the supplement
letter that's why I am sure it was the paper she was reading. She continued browsing and read on the notes. She asked me if I have
some photos, I said yes. She said to show it to the CO later- she didn't look at the photos. Then she
instructed us to proceed to STEP 3- Oath taking. Passports now are with the
PINK folder. I asked if we don’t need anything else. She said No.
STEP 3- Oath Taking, American staff.
Show your DS 160
Form, he pulled up the record on the Computer. He asked do you attest that all
this information are true to the best of your ability? I answered Yes then asked
us to scan our right hand. That’s it for Step 3. He didn’t asked us to read the
Oath. Step 3 is super fast. Then he said proceed to STEP 4- INTERVIEW.
 |
| Source: Google photos. I made the notes, |
STEP 4- Interview. The moment we are
all waiting for. Hahahha.. I am still not nervous, lol. We sit and wait for our turn, there
was a line so you just have to sit and move when people are moving. Then the
front line will be called to line up. There were several windows open around 8
windows for Step 4, so the line is moving fast. After around 30 minutes we
stand to line up. I told my kids to listen on the questions being asked, we are
now close to the windows so you can hear all the conversations. I instructed my
kids to each just stand on my sides when we are at the windows.
We
were standing not more than 5 minutes and it was our turn. J
American
CO, Male – I approach and I said good morning. He asked for our number I mentioned
our number and show our DS 160. He stood
up and pick up the PINK Folder. Flip it open and asked how are we, I said we
are good and ask him how is he. He said, super! Without smiling, I said that's great! He
gave me the pamphlet on Domestic Violence.
Then
he started asking questions: (while encoding)
1.
Name of Fiancé
2.
Ages of K2, my kids answered.
3.
How did you two meet? I answered,
when and where we met.
4.
He was typing on his computer.
5.
Tell me more on how you two meet. I
answered again with more details.
6.
Was he married before? I said Yes,
7. Have he visited you before, I said
yes and mentioned the dates when my fiancé was here.
8.
What’s his job? I answered, job and Company.
9.
Asked for Photos: I gave him our
Photos, he looked are the first page and flip on the second and returned it
back to me. That was just seconds that
he looked at the photos.
10. So you have a previous petition. I
answered yes and told him that my Mom petitioned me and until now it was
pending. He looked at the calendar and said, yes it will be pending for a long
time.
11.
He went back typing for awhile.
12.
Then he said, Everything looks good, you are
approved!
13.
Yayy!! We are so delighted and smiling.
14.
CO - I have no more questions, you may proceed
to Step 5.
15.
I thank him and bid him a nice day. Still Not smiling ahahahh.
Note: the Affidavit of support, tax papers, W2s,
letter of intent to marry, proof of ongoing relationship (emails, chat, calls,
etc) were not asked from me.
Time check: 11:30am.
STEP 5: The line was Super long! All
IV applicants were there and there were only 2 windows open. After awhile then
opened 2 more; still so many people are on queue.
I am not expecting to go to Step 5
becauce I already registered on-line (ustraveldocs) for delivery of passport. After
30 minutes, we approached the window. Showed our DS 160 and she grab the PINK
Folder again and scan our documents. She asked if we were done with biometric scan, I said yes; then asked if I registered at
ustraveldocs; I said yes. She asked my daughter who is 19 if she is single, she
asked her to sign a document/ waiver that she should remain single until she enter US otherwise
her visa will be revoked.
She then instructed us that we can
go home and our passports will be delivered to the address on my ustraveldocs registration.
We are Overjoyed!! but starving. We ate breakfast at 5:30am.
Oh the kids were complaining! They
are disappointed that they were not asked of anything! They came prepared and
reviewed details about my Fiancé. When I told my fiancé about it – he was
laughing out loud.
The Adventurera has a new Adventure: To be Mrs. Edmiston in the land of the Stars and Stripes!
Update: Received our Passports/Visa Packet on January 21, 2016.
Here are what we received:
1. The Visa Packet. Each on a sealed plastic envelop, inside is the Passport with Visa and a Brown envelope from the Embassy that should not be opened. SEE WARNING- read that before doing anything on your packet.
The brown envelop as you can see has a triangular cut on side/ corner, you can actually take a peek of what are inside. It contains the I-129 packet we submitted to USCIS, documents submitted to the US Embassy Manila among other docs that I cannot really see what. They returned to me Photos, communication through Viber, calls thru viber and skype logs and fb screen grabs that were attached to the I-129F packet.
2. Our Passport and Visa ( K1 and 2 K2s) with 6 months validity from our 1st day of Medical. They also cancelled my B1/B2 Visa which is still valid until 2023. Well I don't need it anymore.
My other Fiance/e Visa related blogs:
How to take your Foreign Fiance/e to the United States
Our I-129 F Application Process
Update: Received our Passports/Visa Packet on January 21, 2016.
Here are what we received:
1. The Visa Packet. Each on a sealed plastic envelop, inside is the Passport with Visa and a Brown envelope from the Embassy that should not be opened. SEE WARNING- read that before doing anything on your packet. The brown envelop as you can see has a triangular cut on side/ corner, you can actually take a peek of what are inside. It contains the I-129 packet we submitted to USCIS, documents submitted to the US Embassy Manila among other docs that I cannot really see what. They returned to me Photos, communication through Viber, calls thru viber and skype logs and fb screen grabs that were attached to the I-129F packet.
2. Our Passport and Visa ( K1 and 2 K2s) with 6 months validity from our 1st day of Medical. They also cancelled my B1/B2 Visa which is still valid until 2023. Well I don't need it anymore.
My other Fiance/e Visa related blogs:
How to take your Foreign Fiance/e to the United States
Our I-129 F Application Process
