K1 Fiance Visa Interview Experience US Embassy Manila

A day before my interview, I checked-in at M-Hotel , 2-3mins walk away from US Embassy.
My appointment was 8:40am, I went there around 8:25am


1. I presented to the guard the Appointment Confirmation. They asked for DS-160 and put a sticker on it. Then they asked for my passport as well and put it inside a ziplock.

2. I went inside , put all my things in a tray then let it passed through the scanning / xray machine.

3. I didn't know where to go next and I just asked the staff. The lady told me to go door C and turn right.

4. Inside, the IV greeter told me to fall in line on window 55. It's the pre-screening window. I was asked for my DS160, MRV slip, PSA birth certificate, Cenomar, NBI clearance, Saudi Police Clearance, SLEC Medical Result. (brown envelop) She did some interview like the what's my name, my birthday, my fiance  name, bday, address in US, where and when did I met my Fiance. When did our romance started. When was the last time my fiance visited me. If I traveled outside Philippines.

She handed me my DS160. She told me to go window 43 (I dont know if I remembered it correctly). The staff on that window asked for my DS-160, and one US visa picture. She did some data entries and after some minutes she gave back my DS160 then I was told to go back to window55 again.

5. At window 55, she did some data entries again then she told me to proceed to window IDK, I forgot haha. It's the fingerprinting window. That was just so quick. Then once done, I went and sat on the chairs for the interview queue.

6. Interview. There's a queue ahead of me like 10persons seated and 1 applicant on each of the 5 windows. After 30mins I got my turn. The Consul asked How did I met my fiance. What kind of job he has. Which countries I've been to. He said my case is unique of all thousand cases he handled. Then, after that he gave me pieces of paper. He said , just wait for my visa for 5 business days. That's what I heard and remembered.

Gocha! APRROVED! 😍😍😍

He handed two small leaflets. One was the instructions for delivery address and the other was about Domestic violence thing.
He explained that if encounter any threat or experience domestic violence and abuse, all the details are written on that paper. The contact numbers and everything I need if I wanna seek help.

After I exited the US embassy vicinity, I immediately messaged my fiance. I told him I didn't pass the interview. 🤣🤣🤣
He was sad , and he asked me what happened. Then, when I arrived at the hotel, I video called him and told him I was just tricking  him 🤣. I said, I got approved the consul told me just wait for the visa after  3-5business days. He was relieved and was so happy, I saw it on his face. 😊. He said, "you scared me, I was so worried" 🤣🤣🤣. Oh well, haha

So here's our timeline for our visa journey to success 😀.


TIMELINE

• Dec 5, 2016 - packet was sent to USCIS lockbox

• Dec 6, 2016 - packet was received by the USCIS lockbox

• Dec 6, 2016 - NOA1 notice date

• Dec 13,  2016 - NOA1 hard copy received

• March 6 2017 - NOA2 (case approved)

• March 23, 2017 - got our MNL case number

• March 24, 2017 - case READY

• March 29, 2017 - successful Medical examination at SLEC (one day only)

• April 11, 2017 - Interview ( approved )

• April 12, 2017 - visa status Ready

• April 13, 2017 - visa status Ready ( Maundy Thursday )

• April 14, 2017 - visa status Ready ( Good Friday )

• April 15, 2017 - visa status Ready ( Black Saturday )

• April 16, 2017 - visa status Ready ( Easter Sunday )

• April 17, 2017 - (morning) visa status Administrative Processing
• (afternoon) visa status ISSUED

April 19,2017 - visa pick up at 2GO Mall of Asia

Finally! Visa on Hand 😍😍😀

April 20, 2017-  CFO Seminar 

" HOW TO GET POLICE CLEARANCE IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA"

• Go to Philippine Embassy. Fill up form for application for endorsement for Police Clearance for applicants in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Bring photocopy of passport and your iqama. Go to Window 3 (Notarials/Certifications).
• Go to cashier. Pay SR100. You'll be scheduled to claim it the following day.
• On the following day go to Philippine Embassy again, go to window 3 Notarials/Certifications. Show your receipt. Claim your Letter of endorsement. Yay! 😘
• Next step, Go to Ministry of Foreign Affairs for stamping/attestation. Police station won't honor your letter of endorsement without MOFA attestation.

NOTE: First, you need to pay for the stamp. SR50. After paying, you may now proceed inside the MoFA. 

(Note: MoFA is open from 9am-2pm only) Once done paying, go inside Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Get a Queue number. Go to window 10 (certifications) for women. Men and women have separate queues. Present the letter of endorsement together with the photocopy of your Iqama and the receipt for stamping/attestation. Charaaaaaannnn! Done stamping/attestation.

• Next , go to Deira Police Station. At Deira Police Station, present the letter of endorsement with stamp and the photocopy of your iqama.
• Based on my experience, after screening the document, they didn't take my fingerprints, they said they already have my specimens. And was not asked for ID photo. They just gave me small piece of paper with file number and was asked to come back the following day to claim my Police Clearance.
• Yay! The next day, I claimed my Police Clearance.😘😘😘 The picture attached on my police clearance is the same photo in my Iqama. 😂😂After claiming your Police clearance , go to any licensed translation office.
• I paid SR50 for translation of my document from Arabic to English. Chaaraaan!!!! 😘😘😘 after waiting for an hour , finally I got my English translated police clearance 😘😘

 Thanks for reading. I hope this helps 😘😘

My medical experience at St. Lukes Medical Extension Clinic for US visa

My one day SLEC (St. Luke's Medical Extension Clinic) medical experience


When I got the case number from NVC. I already wanted to have my medical exam even the case status was just IN TRANSIT,  fortunately ,the status changed to READY  in just two days. I decided to undergo my medical exam a week after I got the NVC case number.

I did not have any preparation for medical exam. For X-ray procedure, I don't believe in drinking milk , alpine, this and that. It's just a myth. Milk won't go through your lungs, right? 😂 It will go to your system same path like whenever we drink water.😃 

If you have communicable disease, then it will stay in your body unless you were already diagnosed and have already seek medical treatment prior to your medical exam. Right? So there's no way you'll get rid of those diseases in just months or two without proper treatment. 

I arrived in Manila around 4pm. I checked-in at Hotel Soriente, a day before my medical exam. It's just one minute walk away from SLEC. What a perfect location!

I haven't had enough sleep. I just napped 5pm-7pm. Had a dinner at restaurants nearby. After eating, I went back to hotel and double checked all the requirements I need for the following day then prepared myself to sleep. I tried hard but still wasn't able to have a good one. Around 2:30am,  I decided to just get ready. 3:00am arrived at SLEC. There were 3 guys sitting, already waiting at the facade of SLEC.

4:30am, they started giving out queue numbers. It is a first come first serve basis. The guards will check first if your requirements are complete. I was number one for online applicants because the 3 guys  before me didn't register online. They had to fill up the PDS form. They were given number 1, 2, 3 but in blue tag mine was red.

**** This is how they prioritize applicants***

1. GREEN TAG- ( senior citizen, PWD, pregnant or with children)

2. RED TAG- ( online applicants )

3. BLUE TAG ( those who didn't register online)

Better register online, so no more hassle in filling out the forms. And if you are walk-in applicant you'll be the last priority falling in lines for the first step.

****************************************

REQUIREMENTS
1. Valid passport
2. 1 passport copy
3. Online registration form
4. 1 copy of NVC letter with case number. Mine was a print of the screenshot of READY status.
5. Visa interview appointment. (I dont have appointment yet but it's fine. I told them I will have an interview appointment once I passed the medical)
6. 4 pieces US VISA PHOTO . All photo must be identical.


Do not forget to bring a black pen with you. You will need it in signing forms and checklist in some process.


STEPS

1. Verification

Checking all the requirements. Photo capture. Fingerprint register. They'll give a piece of paper. Checklist of all the process you need to go through and a corresponding blank for the signature/signs of each steps you need to undergo.

Like the following:

PHOTO
FINGER PRINT
RECEPTION
CASHIER
IMMUNIZATION INTERVIEW
TST/IGRA
HEIGHT & WEIGHT
VITAL SIGNS
VISUAL ACUITY
X-RAY
LABORATORY
PHYSICAL EXAM

2. Cashier

Proceed to the 5th floor. Pay the medical fee 16,042.50php. Each section you go through will tell you what's the next thing to do. As for me, this #3

3. Laboratory

3rd floor. BLOOD AND URINE. This test focuses on Gonorrhea and Syphilis. They will give you consent form that needs your signature.

4. X-ray

4th floor. Remove your upper garments including your bras. You need to tie your hair. Don't worry if you have none, they have it there. It's a rubber band 😀

5. IMMUNIZATION INTERVIEW

2nd floor. They will ask for your past vaccines, allergies, medical conditions, operations you had before. Any medical related informations.

6. PHYSICAL EXAM

5th floor. Vital signs, Height, Weight, Visual Acuity. Then physical exam. It is one on one assessment with the examining physician. Doctor will asks information about health matters. Afterwards, you'll be asked to remove your clothes except your undies. The doctor will examine your eyes, ears, mouth, throat (you'll be asked to swallow),  your arms , (I think it's the wrist she checked for suicidal attempt . If you have marks of lashing your wrists in the past).
Will ask to bend your knees then turn on the side your back facing her with your legs straight.
The doctor will tell you to proceed to USA counter in the same floor. After couple of minutes they will tell you to proceed to the 3rd floor.

7. USA COUNTER CHECK OUT

3rd floor. Around 9am. Yes! finally done with all the medical exam. The staff asked me if I want to come back in the afternoon for the results. I said, Yes. She told me to go back around 1pm.

I was so sleepy. I went back to the hotel and napped for 3hours. At 12nn I had my lunch. Then proceeded to SLEC early around 12:30nn.

(I was worried a little for the result because I was afraid being exposed to some diseases. Coz I travelled to 5 countries just this month. Yeah just a little worry, as much as possible I always want to be positive about everything in my life. Worry won't cause anything good but stress. And it won't change the results anyway. I was 98% sure I would pass the medical examination. :) )

Better that I went early because they were already calling my name and was asked to proceed to 2nd floor immunization room. OMG, did I heard it right? Immunization room? OMG! I passed! The first thing that came to my mind.

From the 3rd floor, I immediately took the stairs down to the second floor. immunization room. Yes! The nurse gave me 3shots. I'm not afraid of needles. It won't cause too much pain and no profuse bleeding 😀I'm more afraid of sharp knifes. So yeah! Everything went well. He told me to go to the ground floor in the releasing area.

 I patiently waited , sitting for long time and actually had a short nap. Around 3pm when I woke up by the voice calling my name telling me to proceed to counter G. The nurse gave me the vaccine form and the chest x-ray CD. He sealed the medical results in a brown envelop with words written DO NOT OPEN. TO BE OPENED ONLY BY THE US CONSULAR OFFICER AT THE TIME OF INTERVIEW.

I was so happy that I accomplished something good that day! I can now focus on the next step. The Interview. 😀

4pm I went back to my province. Yey!

My Journey to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

After waiting for almost 3 months, Finally! I received a call from my recruitment agency. The long wait was over. My departure schedule went too soon in super unexpected time.

Here's my story. In the afternoon of January 28 2014, I was baking cookies. Those were for the T.L.E. project of my younger sister. While doing the second batch of cookie batter, my phone rang.

 "Ate, your phone is ringing", my sister told me.

 I immediately washed my messy hands to check who was calling. It was from unregistered phone number.

 "Hello pinksecretly, this is from blah blah agency. I'm calling to inform you that tomorrow will be your flight. January 29 2014. Be there in NAIA terminal 1 at 9am. Please do your pregnancy test today and bring the result tomorrow, can you go here in the office today?"

 Me: "Huh?! Tomorrow? My flight??? Im here in province right now. I cant be there today."

 Haizt. As in agad agad. I wasnt really prepared to say my goodbye to Philippines.

 I told my father, that the agency called and said that tomorrow will be my flight. I noticed that he's kinda teary eyed that time. No one's really expected it to be so quick.

Super kainis.

I didnt had time to have a despedida party and I only had a very short time to prepare my things huh.

 To make my the story short it would be better share it this way.


*I bought my things to bring in Saudi Arabia. We bought luggage bag, scrubsuits, toiletries, etc. the night before my flight.

 *We went to Naia terminal 1 at scheduled time to meet the recruitment agent. She gave my my docs, passport, e-ticket, OEC etc.

 *Flew via Cathay Pacific Airlines.

 *Now, I'm here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It's gonna be my 5 months of stay here on 29th of this month. Yehey. Mashallah.

My first ever medical examination at Ruben Bartolome Medical Clinic

I decided to undergo pre employment medical examination on November 12 2013. Since, there's no specific date of schedule for my medical. And it's up mto me when to do it. I traveled 2hours and 30minutes from Nueva Ecija to Munoz, Quezon City.

 Rode an LRT from Roosevelt to LRT Pedro Gil station. Walked two blocks and turned left after it. Ruben Bartolome Medical Clinic, I arrived there at around 10am.

I told the guard that i'll be having my medical that day. He looked for the referral letter, photocopy of valid id and 1 copy of 1x1 picture. I showed him all he asked, then I entered the building. I gave it to the receptionist. In return, I received a form to be filled out with corresponding number at the right upper part. Shocks! My number was 250 something. A very long queue was waiting there.

Step 1. I went to the second floor. There were no more seats because its really crowded. So I stood up like the others and waited my for my name to be called. After one hour and 30mins, finally I heard my name! I prepared 50php payment for medical certificate. And I also gave my referral and forms. Captured a photo of me by the webcam. Then, again waited for my turn at cashier. After 30 minutes of patiently waiting, I got my turn. I paid 2780pesos for my medical fee.

Step 2. I went to the third floor for my xray. Removed the upper clothes including bra. When I got my turn, I just followed the instruction. Then , I was done with my xray exam after few minutes.

Step 3. Blood extraction. I went down to the second floor , 1:00pm, fell in line and waited for my blood to be extracted. Oh! it hurts huh! But twas just a 1 in pain scale of 1 to 10. I had 13hours of fasting haha. After extraction , I ate my packed lunch. Yahoooo
Atlast.

 Step 4. I gave my forms at the fourth floor for Physical Examination. weight, height, visual acuity, physical check up. We were three girls in the cubicle room. Removed our clothes upper and lower. Bra was removed but undies were not. Breasts and abdomen were palpated.

Step 5. Dental area. Prior to my medical exam, I have already did the dental pasta and extraction for my teeth. So, there's no problem regarding my dental exam.

Step 6. Psychometric exam at the 6th floor. Oh my geess!!! I passed the forms. I belong to batch 3 of examinees. Schedule of exam was 3:30pm but we started at 4:00pm. The examination depends on your educational attainment. elem grad, highschool grad or college level/grad. As for me, college grad my exam consists of 2 essays. 48 IQ picture items and 60 sentence completion. I finished at 5:00pm. I answer my exam super rush as in. Because its cold inside the exam room and I was doing Kegel's exercise to control my urge to pee. haha. After passing my exam papers and signed forms, I rushed to the comfort room for my success haha.

Step 7. Urine and stool. I have no stool specimen to be submitted that time. I decided to went back there the following day to pass my specimens.

The following day, I went back to the clinic at the second floor, but the Lab opened at around 9:30am.. grrrr.. (I bought specimen bottle there, it costs 30php for two bottles)

 -----------------
 After 7days/1week of waiting for the result, oh yes! I received a call from my agency. My medical exam results were all good! Yes! I passed the medical exam! No repeats! No medication treatment to comply unlike the others who have negative results! Thank God! I'm Fit to work.

I couldn't believed that haha. Because I've been reading reviews about this Ruben Bartolome Medical Clinic. They were accusing that this clinic were just making money diagnosing some people having problem like scar in the lungs, reactive vdrl, etc etc. That they need to repeat the test , repeat x-ray, urinalysis, etc etc.

I also had a negative feeling about the result of my medical, and I was expecting I'd be having a repeat test too. But thank God, I'm fit.


-----------------
Goodluck everyone. I hope this will help you to have an idea about medical examination :)

RED RIBBON / AUTHENTICATION OF DIPLOMA, TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDS, AND RLE

Go to your College Alma Mater.

Tell the clerk you want your DIPLOMA, TOR, RLE (for nursing graduate) be authenticated. As for my experience, clerk asked me to give her the original copy of the documents together with 2 photocopies of each docs, and also brown envelop.

I paid 100 pesos for the authentication fee. I waited for about an hour before I finally claim my docs. The clerk told me that I'll be the one to go to CHED.

The following day, I went to CHED Regional Office III at Maimpis, San Fernando, Pampanga. I passed my docs, it is enclosed by the enveloped i brought and with scotch tape and had sealed by the clerk at the registrar's office.

 The front desk officer gave me a form to be filled out. After filling up the form, I went to the cashier and paid 40 pesos.

I went there November 5 2013. I got my claim stub, the date of confirmation of DFA release schedule was November 15 2013.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ To confirm the DFA released Schedule, Control # & houseway bill no., pls call CHEDRO3 office at Tel no. 045-436-1847 on November 15, 2013. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It took me 5minutes to finish my task at CHED Pampanga. haha

November 15, 2013 at around 8am while riding on a provincial bus going to Metro Manila, I called the hotline, and asked for released sched, control # , and housewaybill no.

 Yes! I got it. This is it! I wrote those infos in my claim stub.

 I arrived at DFA Office of the consular Affairs ,Authentication Division, Aseana Business Park, Bradco Ave,. cor Macapagal Avenue Blvd. Paranaque City at around 10:30 am. I passed my claim stub at the window. There's a signage ( drop your claim stubs here ) I dropped it there. And seated waiting for my name to be called.

 I just followed what the clerk was announcing about what to do ( he's speaking with a micropone and a big speaker, so he can be heard clearly ).

I fell in line at window 5 i guess haha, ( i dont remember at all , haha). The docs was given, and was asked to CHECK THE SPELLING OF MY NAME. (ok it's all correct) I went to the cashier and paid 100 for authentication fee. I was suprised because I thought it costs 300 and will be paid separately but its not. It's a set, so those diploma tor and rle costs 100 only. haha. I passed the docs with the receipt. Again, I waited for my name to be called. Then finally, oh yes!!! blah blah blah! oh that's my name! Authenticated/redribbon documents is in my hands! haha!

 It took me less than an hour to claim my Red ribbon / authenticated Diploma, TOR, RLE. Ofcourse, it depends upon the population of people claiming their Docs.

 -------------------------------
My expenses, food not included.

100 - indorsement from school (Authentication from registrar) diploma, tor, rle
40 - CHED fee CAV fee
100 - DFA authentication fee tor dip rle
 5 - long brown envelop
 6 - photocopy
70 - fare home to school vice versa
170 -fare nueva ecija to pampanga vice versa
360 - fare nueva ecija to DFA at Paranaque vice versa.

 851 - T O T A L

plus 100 for authentication fee of my COE (Certificate of Employment)

-------------------------------

 While waiting for the release of my authenticated dip,tor,rle , at the same, I process the authentication of my certificate of employment. Time and money saved. haha. I asked my boyfriend to claim my authenticated cert of employment on the release date November 21, 2013. Since he's just working in Makati City.

 ---------------------------------
 I made it! haha! I feel so fulfilled! Goodluck everyone