Philippines Visa for Fiance (K-1) (my story!)

I have been wanting to blog about my experience on Fiancée visa processing a decade ago. Yeah I know, I had been procrastinating!

Of course, things change nowadays but there's not much any difference. In this blog, I would reiterate the timeline from the time my petitioner (let's just call him "Jack") submitted the application to the time I was approved and received my visa on hand. Timeline for everyone may vary from case to case basis.

My Story: Let's make this short and sweet!

I met Jack in June 1998 in person for the first time ever. After knowing each other for a week, he asked if I could take him to my parents to the South Province where my parents live, so I did. He asked my parents if they could give him their blessings if he ever decide to marry me someday. (He didn't propose to me but yet he asked for a blessings!). He went back to US and we continue on communicating via phone calls and snail mails. In September 1998, 3 months later he proposed to me on the phone (Yay!). During the month after the proposal I was ask to obtain basic document that was needed for the application.

Basic documents that I had to obtain first:

Form 1, G-325A: I filled up form G-325A, which is just all about your information, your parents name, your current situation if you are single or not and current primary address to the last 5 years.

2 Photos Passport size with white background.

A copy of my birth certificates from city hall not the NSO yet.

Form 2, I-129F: Filled the questionnaire in Part B(applicant/me). Part A is for Jack (US Citizen).

(CLICK HERE IF YOU NEED HELP ON HOW TO OBTAIN A FIANCE/E VISA)

Jack submitted the application at his local US Embassy by the end of October in 1998. Four weeks later which is the end of November 1998, we both received an approval notice with my MNL # visa case number on the receipt. By December 1998, I received a letter from US Embassy in Manila that they are now processing my fiance/e visa application.

These are the checklist that was given to me in bold letters from US Embassy in Manila.

* A copy of my Birth Certificate from NSO (National Statistic Office).

* A notarized Resident Certificate (you can get it from Barangay Hall).

* A Certificate of No Marriage or CENOMAR.

* A copy of your passport notarized.

* NBI Clearance

* Police Clearance
* 2 Passport size photos

A copy of documents from my petitioner that was needed:

* Divorce decree (if applicable)
* Death Certificate (if applicable)

* US Birth Certificate

* Affidavit of Support Form I-134
* Income Tax Report or  Form 1040 with W2s
* A couple of his recent pay stub

* 2 copies of his photo passport size

* Letter of Employment

* Proof of Income for the last 3 months.

* Bank Statement

Supplements documents that might help: (may varies)

* Fiance/e Letter of Intent
* Receipt of his itineraries
* Letters, photos of you together
* emails, and online messages
* receipt of monetary funds

In December 1998, I received an appointment for my medical checkup to St. Luke and interview date along with it. Woohoo, it was exciting and nerve rocking at the same time. My appointment interview date was on March 17, 1999.

I gathered all my documents, packed my bag and left Cebu in February 12, 1999 and headed forth to Manila for my physical checkup. I flew earlier, gave myself extra time for any emergency cases if I needed more time to obtain whatever documents that I missed.

A week prior to my interview day, got done with all my medical check up at St. Luke Hospital. I was healthy as can be. The night before my interview day (March 17, 1999) I couldn't sleep. Wishing that it would be dawn soon so that I could get ready and just run to my interview. Well, 2am came and still I was wide awake. I guess it was the excitement and adrenaline shoot way up high on my system. So I got up and took a shower, gathered my big envelope with all my necessary documents in it and took a taxi and headed to US Embassy. When I arrived at the site around 4am I was so surprised how crowded it was. Oh my gosh! There are hundreds of people queing up already upfront of the US Embassy building. It was chaos! Glad that I came early. We were not allowed to be so close at the front door. The US Embassy office hours is 0700am. So we are not even close, at this time it is only 5am but people are going crazy lining up!

I didn't even bother participating with them because we have an appointment time. By six, I was getting hungry and getting confused what do I do. I need to eat something because once inside you are inside and can't get out. I do not want to get hungry. Lucky for me, balut pinoy and tahu guy came by and I had some. (No I didn't have the one with the chicks on it, that just gross me out! lol).

By quarter to 7am, security guards start calling people by their appointment time. Glad I was not part of that crazy lined up! I was able to get in at 0700am since my appointment time is at 0730am. Window X (Filipino worker very snappy, snobby and intimidating) got all my documents and I was given a number to be called and told me to sit down. While waiting for my number to be called, I have witnessed happiness from people who got their visa application approved. It was like joy in their faces. They looked like their spirits has been lifted up! I was so jealous and cry for happiness for them. At that moment, I was praying that I would be approved too. I was nervous at very moment because who know what could happen you know! I could get deny too.I know that I got all my documents (listen to this! so I thought). I also have witnessed people who cried due to their visa was denied. They cried like someone just got shot and died. LOL funny! Yeah it was kind of looked like that. By 11am, my name was called not my number so I quickly got up and was told to go to window 32, in there, a white good looking young man (Consular) who smiled at me and have asked me to raised my hands up to pledge for the truth. I didn't have a chance to put down my stuff. You think at this time I should be so nervous or speechless but I wasn't. Instead I was very anxious for him to ask me question right away, which he did.

Believe it or not I was so positive! I was expecting that everything would be fine. The consular then asked me his very first question. One question leads to what your answer to the first one and so forth.

Here’s some example of they would ask of you;

What is your fiancé’s name?

How old is he?

What does he do for a living?

What sports does he like? (So you really got to know your fiancé/e, this question is bizarre but it can happen).

Where did you meet? How long?

Where does he live?

What kind of food he likes?

What’s your fiancé’s parents name?

(Make sure that you know your fiancee a lil bit more, so you will be prepared of such question!)

Then after answering those multiple question confidently, he then asked me a few of our snail mail love letters. I had like 60 envelopes piled up in front of him. He goes picked the middle one and grabbed it. He then opened it up and read randomly somewhere in the middle of the line.

This is what the consular reads aloud in front of me on one of my letters from my fiancé. “Honey, I can’t wait to be with you. I am so excited! When you get here in US I would buy you a Car that name after you, which is Aurora”. He goes “Hmmm,,, very sweet of him. You are a one lucky girl. He must love yah!”

He then asked me if I ever worked abroad before. And I said YES! Then he goes, what country? I said “Singapore”. He goes “I don’t see your police clearance on file”

He then walked away from me went to a big printer machine and came back and handed me 2 form, one form requesting to obtain a Police Clearance from Singapore.

The second one, with a big number in bold telling me that once I get the police clearance to call that number and make another appointment for interview.

Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Do you know what it feels like at that moment when my Visa application got denied? I felt numbed, speechless, feeling stupid, I just want to drop dead! Duh. Why didn’t I think of this one document before? It was not mention. Back then; I know how difficult to get in touch with US Embassy and I just have these feelings that I won’t make it to US.

Went back to my rented apartment in Quezon City, Manila. Contacted Jack right away. I told him that I missed one document, which was a Police Clearance from Singapore. I mailed and submitted the request to Singapore Police Department by the following day (March 18, 1999). I was crossing my fingers hoping that it will return soon. I stayed in Manila for few more days for that reason (staying few more days became months, the longer I stayed in Manila the more expensive it is).

In April 15, 1999, I finally received the Police Clearance from Singapore. I then contacted US Embassy to make an appointment for a second interview. Luckily, it was God’s blessing that I got through. The closest date that they could give me was June 17, 1999. So I said that’s fine. It is 2 months away but I need to stay (sigh! another 2 months of waiting, what a waste!)

When Jack found out that I don’t get my second interview till June, he decided to buy him a ticket and flew to Manila to be with me. He arrived in Manila on June 15, 1999 just 2 days prior to my second interview. He wanted to be with me on my second interview.  Making sure this time, I wont mess it up!

In June 17, 1999. My interview day arrives; Jack goes with me to my interview. Turns out that there was a miscommunication. They said my appointment is on the 18^{th not} 17^th! Jack turns red and was freaking hell a mad because that is the day that we were supposed to fly back together to US (another excruciating moment! yes it was only one more day but it seems to be another year of waiting so it seem. I already waited long enough).

June 18, 1999 is finally here. The official date that I have been waiting for! I dropped Jack off to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA=Jack has to leave due to work. He left Philippines without ME! )

early in the morning and I went straight to US Embassy for my interview. This time around was a lot easier to get into the building. I went straight to Window whatever where the consular was waiting for me. He then starts this procedure again where you raise your hands to pledge nothing but the truth. Interrogation begins, my heart is pounding hard, and it’s throbbing like crazy. I didn't hear all the words he uttered from his mouth. Was it because he was drop dead gorgeous? lol. The consular was pretty calm and nice but yet I was so nervous the second time around. He finished his question and I don’t even remember exactly how it ends! He got up, offered his hands and said Congratulation Madam and have a safe trip to US. Woohoooooo...

Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Really, I jumped as high I can. So excited! did I hear it right? I have asked myself quietly. He then guided me back to the front Window X to wait there for my visa while it is being printed. (Back then when your visa is approved you can get it there right away. Not anymore nowadays. They will mail it back to you via DHL)

I then went to get my certificate of non-immigrant counseling and was there for 2 hours and oh Lord how boring that was but it was one of the requirement that you have to get. I contacted Jack right after I got my visa that day. He already got me a one-way plane ticket. All I had to do was to pick it up at the mall. I left Philippines in June 22, 1999. Arrived in US the same day. Back East in Western world is 18 hours behind from Philippines. So it felt like I traveled backwards.

Anyways, here’s the time frame from the time Jack submitted the application (October 1998) to the time I got my visa in June 18, 1999. Total of 8 months altogether. If I had everything on hand (including my Singapore Police Clearance) it would have been shorter or I could have traveled 6 months instead of 8. So like I said timeframe is vary from case to case basis. (If you miss one document, just one thing. You could missed your opportunity to be approved or you can be denied. So gather all necessary documents! that's my 2 cents for today).

So here's the highlights;

October 1998 = Submitted Form I-129F along with Form G-325A

November 1998 = Received NOA1(Notice of Approval)

December 1998 = Received NOA2 with MNL# visa case number an appointment for medical check-up and interview.

March 08, 1999 = Saint Luke Medical Check up (passed).

March 17, 1999 = Interview Day (Denied: Reason: One document missing [police clearance from Singapore since i previously have worked outside the country it was required]).

March 18, 1999 = Submitted Police Clearance Application to Singapore Police Department.

April 15, 1999 = Received my Police Clearance in the mail

June 18, 1999 = Second Interview with US Consular (passed! thanks God!) Got my visa right after the interview.

June 22, 1999 = Left the Country, arrived the same day in US, Yay!

Fiance/e visa submitted in late October 99 to Visa received on hand June 18, 1999 = Total of 8 months processing.

There you go!



p.s.
I called my petitioner Jack because he turned out to be a "Jack Ass"

CONTACT ME DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTION
CEBUAZ