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Published: December 2nd 2014
The US visa is perhaps the most elusive and desired for most Filipinos. I’ve heard dozens of sob stories about people getting their visa denied multiple times! Visa application fee costs $160 USD and that’s not nothing. I’d hate for that to go to waste if my application gets denied because it’s non-refundable. But by God’s grace I’m now at a point in my life where being granted a tourist visa could be possible. So I did my research and found out that contrary to popular belief, being granted a US visa is much easier than what most people think! So here’s my experience.
Step 1 Payment of application fee.
Go to this website
http://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-paymentinfo.asp and print the visa application payment slip. The instruction says you must pay the fee in BPI bank within 24 hours.
The instruction said you must bring the original slip that was validated at the bank. This sent me into a panic as I am quite prone to losing things. Good thing I was able to replicate the form by photocopying the teller’s validation on a reprinted slip. It looked just like the original! However I still had doubts as the instruction said
you must bring the original. Maybe they recognize the ink used in BPI or something.
Step 2 Fill out the application form (DS-160)
You will have to complete this form online before scheduling an appointment. You may complete the form here
https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ They ask for the place where you will stay in the US. I had no definite plans so I just picked a random hostel in hostel world. I picked the cheapest one that I could find in San Francisco. Warning! There are no cheap hostels in San Francisco. Or anywhere in the United States for that matter. So I took the name and address of that hostel and put it in the form. Just so I can put something there. They’d also ask for a contact person in the US who can verify your information. I have no relatives in the US. Luckily I have a friend who now lives in LA so I asked for her permission then put her name, address and contact number in the form. The form also asks for the countries that you have visited in the last five years. The rest are personal and financial information.
Step 3
Schedule an appointment
Four hours after payment you may call the hotline to schedule your interview at the embassy. I tried calling the hotlines but NONE of the numbers were reachable! So schedule your appointment online here
http://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-appointmentschedule.asp The earliest possible schedule is 7:15 AM so that’s what I picked so I can still go to work after the interview and not have to waste my leave credits that I’d rather spend on my vacation.
Print the appointment schedule. In the appointment schedule you’d see the things that you need to bring. Those are DS 160 Confirmation page, teller validated visa application payment slip, schedule confirmation, passport including previous passports and 2x2 ID photo. That’s it. It doesn’t say that you need to bring land titles, income documents, credit card statements and whatever document that could prove that you’re rich. I thought all of those were necessary. I’ve heard too many stories of people bringing all of those documents. According to my research the consuls rarely ask to see those things. But just in case they ask I requested for a certificate of employment from the office. That certificate indicated my annual salary, position and how long
I’ve been in the company. I didn’t bring bank documents and land titles.
You’re not allowed to bring a mobile phone, camera (so all these photos are not mine!), sharp objects (keys are fine), and anything with an on and off switch.
Step 4 Appointment at the US Embassy.
The instruction said arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment. I arrived about 20 minutes before 7:15. Upon arriving there I saw several lines. By asking the security guard I found out that there are several lines. A different one for each 15 minute interval in the appointment available. Mine was 7:15, next was 7:30. So I got inside the embassy sooner that those who had been there earlier but had a later schedule.
Once they let you in you’d have to pass by the first gate where they check your passport, appointment slip and confirmation slip. After that you’d enter the compound.
Next there’s the usual security check where they’d scan your bag like in the airport. I heard you can’t bring a big bag so I only brought my man purse that’s only big enough for my wallet and the documents that I
brought with me.
Then the windows where you get your number. There are two windows there. One of the attendants was super rude and unprofessional. The person next in line may not have understood her instruction to come forward then she started mumbling things like "if the person in front of you does not come to the window take their place and come forward!" She said it in the rudest way possible.
After you get your number you sit in the waiting area. You are still not in the air conditioned building. I imagine this place would be sweltering in the dry season. You can buy refreshments and snacks in this area. Strangely enough they have souvenirs like mugs, t-shirts, and towels with a logo of the US embassy. I wonder if those things are sold in US embassies around the world. They will only call out a range of number. 20 numbers per group of number that they call. My number was 2165 so when they called 2161 to 2180 I came forward and joined that group. We had to fall in line again according to our number.
Most people are dressed in casual clothes. Jeans
and shirts. I was wearing office clothes since I had to go straight to work after my interview. Kids were wearing their school uniforms. To be safe, although you can wear casual clothing, at least wear your best casual clothes. Try to look like someone who can afford to travel. A few blings for the ladies perhaps. But keep it classy. No need to wear multiple gold necklaces like you’re a fortune teller.
Then we came into the actual building. First stop is screening. They look at your appointment slip, passport, and confirmation slip. Ask the purpose of your travel to see if you have the right form and paid for the right amount.
Next stop is finger print scanning. I already read while I was at the waiting area how the finger print scanning will be done but I still managed to make a fool out of myself. The lady said left four fingers. So I put my forefinger. Then she gave me the stink eye and sad “four fingers” while holding up her left four fingers.
After that you wait for your number to be flashed in the interview area. All personnel like the ones in finger print scanning and interviewers are behind a glass counter. Like when you’re buying train tickets. I thought there would be a booth where you’d come in for your interview. It wasn’t like that. It’s more like a line at the immigration in the airport. I heard several interviews. I think about half or 60% had been denied. I started to get nervous. At first I wasn’t because I know I’m good at interviews. I breeze through most of them. One of the applicants had difficulty speaking English, then the man behind the counter asked him which Filipino languages he spoke. I think the man said Tagalog because the person behind the counter started speaking to him in Tagalog. I was very impressed at how well he spoke Tagalog. His pronunciation was flawless. I ended up interviewing with that guy. My interview was very short. Less than five minutes. He only asked me these questions:
1. What is the purpose of your travel?
2. Where in the US will you go?
3. What do you do for living?
4. How much is your monthly salary?
5. Are you married?
6. How long do you plan to stay in the US?
7. Which countries have you visited before?
After his last question he said my visa is approved. My passport will be delivered within 7 days. He didn’t ask to see any of my documents. I only had my employment certificate which I didn’t even have to take out of my bag. He didn't even ask to see my old passport. I could have invented stories if I wanted to. I got out of the embassy a few minutes past 9:00. So there you have it. It is that simple.
I got so excited that I bought my ticket the same day that my visa got approved. I only paid about $860 USD for return tickets. First I'll visit my favorite city, Vancouver. Then from there I'll cross the border to Seattle. Now it's time to start planning the details of my trip. I am so excited. Thinking about doing WWOOF although I can't think of any skill I have that might be useful in a farm. Perhaps if the farmer has kids who would like to study piano or violin. Maybe I can do like "The Hangover" in Vegas. My friend in LA said she'll take me to Mexico. I really want to see Mexico but I've read quite a lot of stories about corrupt cops in Tijuana who would invent violations just to get your money. We'll see...
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bertN
non-member comment
Enjoy your visit to the US of A.