tapos karamihan nga ngsasabi, base lang sa maikling interview, QandA ang magging desisyon ng consul? kumbaga malaking puntos ang sagot mo at complete docs, pero kung minsan swertehan lang din? tama pu ba to?
at yung sa return ticket, bibili na dapat diba?
yung show money? magdadala dapat ng dollar sa araw ng interview? pati mga credit cards, etc.? TIA!
ANGEL LEE -- the best way to get info on the procedure for applying for a US Tourist Visa is to call the US Embassy Call Center (get from PLDT 187). The person answering will very clearly tell you how to go about it, what the requirements are, and all your questions related to the procedure and requirements will be answered by that same person too.
Nobody buys a ticket for visa interviews or applications. What you give is an ITINERARY sheet/s issued by your travel agent. That does not cost you anything (when you already have your visa, you can go buy online too if the deal there is better)
BUT when you get to the US in front of that Immigration Officer, it is in your best interest to have a paid return ticket too (so roundtrip nga buy mo here) -- it is not always asked for, but MAY be asked. IMO, you got that far already, you might as well be prepared to hurdle that last obstacle (the Imnigration Officer) to your objective of entering the US. Tourist ka nga eh, eh di it is but reasonable to expect you also planned for your departure from the US di ba.
(Atchaka, if you will inquire, konti lang difference between a one-way ticket and a roundtrip ticket, so why risk it pa)
The interview at the US Embassy here in Manila is short bec well.. each applicant is allotted only so many minutes. Of course, may processing quota din yang mga consul di ba. hehe
kidding aside, there are forms you must fill up and submit online prior to your interview. Based on that, I am sure there are already initial validations of your proffered personal information that the US Embassy checks on . So then, may idea na pagsampa mo sa harap ng consul dito sa Embassy dito if you have a chance or no chance of getting a visa. Findings on your info submitted online pop up on the consul's computer. Now, kahit na may chance ka based on the info you submitted on-line kung walang confidence ang consul in the way you answered or the papers you bring with you.. hopia pa rin. It is their call after all. Kung baga nakikiusap lang tayo bumisita.
And hehe, you do not bring USD during the interview at the US Embassy. But generally, they like to see bank documents like passbooks (which show a healthy history, hindi iyong nagka 1mio ka kelan lang.. it is the history they are after, not the big amounts ha) ...
ANGEL, what I do when I renew my visa is to bring my documents in a clearbook.
I put there in the 1st section my NSO issued Birth/C and Marriage Contract, originals of: my ITR, my Business documents (SEC CTC-GIS is critical for business owners.. it shows there on page 4 who owns the company so kahit na what you have in your name is only 1 car eh if the GIS shows you own a chunk of a healthy company, ayos na. . what else? SEC registration of the company, ITR of the company, license if applicable - like for us, a PCAB license, mayor's permit) And my calling card.
IF you are not a business person, add to your ITR say Pag-big contributions satement/certification, and your company's certification as to your years of employment, position and salary. Put in any duly certified document that proves you are gainfully and continuously employed.
I put my ITINERARY and I also put a history of my US trips made on the old/expired visa -- I have complete info -- arrival and departure dates and where I went that time. haha, I also have a column for the stay period granted to me in each country, and the corresponding no. of days I actually used up/stayed. O, maliwanag, ha Mr Consul
I stay for just a small fraction of the 6months given me, each trip. (I keep a log of my trips, it makes it easy for me when I file for any visas. Your travel history is asked 1 way or the other anyway)
Then I put originals of my bank docs. Certifications issued by banks (with the amounts on the side.. machine printed) as to my total bank balance of x date with breakdown per account. (Use your judgment, hindi mo kelangan pakita lahat ng funds mo)
Alam mo kahit na ba you provide sufficient or over sufficient funds info may tanong pa rin. Hindi puedeng walang tanong.
Sa akin ang tanong.. why do I bank so far? I am in Ortigas and my main account is in Manila? Sabi ko well, the wonders of computers nowadays, it does not matter where your account is, but it matters you have a bank manager who will go to you even after office hours. O eh di wala sya masabi.
You also put there originals of your TCTs parang alam na meron ka nang pinundar dito kasi pundar is translated into having a life you will not turn your back on (daw, hehe)
If you have no TCT or CCT yet.. heck, put there your mortgage or installment contract.
Then you also put your last 3 months of credit card statements. hehe dyan impressed mga amerikano lol that your credit card is very actively used.
Now, if you organize everything in a clearbook... and the consul asks for it .. they always do kasi mas madali mag "viewing" than question and wait for you to search for your docs... maiksi lang interview mo. Remember -- 1 answer to 1 question, do not embellish baka doon ka pa makitahan ng reason for denial.
I have noticed that most denials are due to unsure answers about travel and accommodation plans. Indicative of going TNT siguro yon for the consuls.
(This clearbook thing of mine, my husband and sisters laugh at, but hehe they always ask me to organize it for them when they are up for visa applications. I have never been denied, nor have anybody I helped organize ever been denied. I like most embassies where you just "pass your papers/clearbook" like UK and Australia. )
Ang sa akin lang, if you have decided you will enter the US or any country as a tourist.. well, dito pa lang, convince yourself na tourist ka nga. If you are not convinced, how can you convince someone else.. specially someone else predisposed to not believing you?
ANGEL, that is all I can share with you and I hope you get something useful from it. Good luck
PS hindi como may US visa ka once upon a time eh you have an easier time when you renew.. not necessarily. It all depends on what you did, if you used it or overstayed.. well! After 9-11 all bets are off with visas up to then.
