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 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!
