US Visa Thread 12

[msRx]

^Hi Mga Sis!
Interview namin last Monday and sa observation ko dun sa window ng mga H1B visa, puro approved naman yung mga nainterview dun.  Ang babata pa nga nung mga nakapila dun at mukhang mga first timers.  Naririnig namin yung questions kasi naka mic si Consul.  Tinatanong lang kung san sila graduate, anong work nila at konting job description.  Mabait yung consul na nakaassign dun, caucasian female na bata pa. 

In your case, I guess you just have to prove na may work kang babalikan sa US.  Maluwag sila ngayon.  Ayaw lang nila sa mga sinungaling at yung mga nag-ooverstay.

[msRx]

We got our passports yesterday and we got 10 yrs multiple entry!

To give inspiration to others out there, here's my profile:

My parents and siblings are all US citizens.  Naturally, my father filed an F2b category petition when he was still a permanent resident and I, unmarried. It was later withdrawn after I got married.  I was denied 2x before.  The last one was 7 years ago.  Despite being married, with a child and more than 10 yrs job tenure, supervisory position.  The consul still thought that my family ties in the US is very strong that it outweighs my work and family ties here in the Philippines.  It came to a point that I thought it would be easier for me to enter Heaven than enter US.  That's why after that last visa denial I let go of my dream of seeing USA.

Husband's parents are both RIP, buried here in Phil. His only sibling is married to an American and already a US citizen.  He's got US tourist visa since he was 9 yrs old.  The last one expired 2010.  Never overstayed.

We have 1 child.  The 3 of us applied together.

What changed in my profile since that last visa denial?  I went abroad for a while to work legally. After I finished my contract, I used what I saved to put up a business that is related to my profession.

TIPS?

1. Do not lie.  We both declared our relatives...Remember, they hate liars.  They will know anyways.  But do not give more details unless asked.
 
2. Schedule of the interview does not affect consuls decision.  Our sched is 8:30am and we were interviewed 11:55am.  They will base the decision on your ties in the Philippines.

3. Know your answers in DS-160 by heart.  All the questions are based on that form.  Think of possible questions that may arise and prepare how you are going to answer them.  This is to avoid being caught "off guard".

4. Put a reasonable number on the "length of stay" question.  2 weeks to a month is reasonable enough.  Remember, you will be going there for a vacation.

5. If you had a US visa before, bring it.  Be prepare to answer, how many times you used it and how long was the longest stay and what did you do during that stay.

I hope this gives some encouragement to those who are dreaming of visiting US of A.  "Dreams really do come true".   

Good luck everyone!

[caffeineinfused]

hello, all.

I will be having my immigrant interview tomorrow at 630am. I would like to ask if I could bring a tote bag, about the size of a large longchamp, and if I could wear an automatic watch. I hope someone could help me, I will be going by myself.

thank you

[vain_kixie]

Yes you may as long as you dont bring your cellphone or liquids with you.

[caffeineinfused]

hi, vain_kixie.

sorry, is that yes for the bag and the watch?

thank you for answering. was getting worried.

[beachpatrol]

^No food and electronic gadgets allowed (mobile phone, tablet, ipod, USB etc). Watch is okay

[caffeineinfused]

^thank you very much.

[foxymom]

hello! anybody here has a blank ds 160 form soft copy?

[byutijunkie]

Hi guys, I'm about to apply for a visa soon.  I'm just confused as to whether I should declare any relatives (no immediate family members in the US btw) that I have in the US kahit hindi ko naman sila pupuntahan?  Almost all my relatives are in the West Coast and I'm planning to go to NY.  Do I have to declare them ba?  Wala rin akong alam about them eh.  No plans in contacting them either at baka akalain pa nila, nagpapalibre ako or gagamitin ko sila or something. Hehe.  I'm just going to the US with my hubby to see NY at keber sa mga kamag-anak ko. lol.  Hope you could enlighten me.  Thanks!

[la_pinay]

you dont need to declare them but you will need to put atleast 1 contact sa application form - with namen address and phone

[sonia62]

Mga sis may bayad ba magpaappointment ng interview online? Dati kasi meron eh. Thanks

[wuvshoe]

^yup, bayad before schedule

I'll have my interview this week... for questions like "do you own a house?" or "do you own a car?" meaning ba they should be under my name, or kahit family-owned house/car kung single pa naman ako (and living with parents)? Confused ako whether I should answer yes or no if the consul asks...

Also how true na red flag if nagwork na overseas in the past?

TIA!

[sonia62]

^sis aside from the visa fee na 7,200 may bayad ang paschedule online? Dati kasi may $10 fee sa online appointment eh. In my opinion dapat no ang sagot mo dyan kung hindi sa yo nakapangalan ang house or car kasi technically eh hindi mo pagaari yun, sa parents mo pa rin yun kahit ikaw ang gumagamit. Kasi kung sa yo yun dapat sa yo talaga nakapangalan, plus pag hinanapan ka ng proof na sa iyo yun eh wala kang documents to prove na sa iyo nga.

[snowflakes08]

^ no payment na after you pay the 7200 sa bank. 

^^ I agree with sis sonia62, when the consul ask you if you own a house or a car tapos hindi naman under sa name mo say NO. Also, madami red flags like single, age, nursing or nagwork abroad but still it all depends upon you paano ka sumagot sa consul.

I'm single and don't own anything since I'm living with my parents din. My work salary is the only resource I have pero na approved ako. Prepare ka rin sa possible questions regarding your past abroad work experience like how many years, what do you do or anong klase work mo dun tapos if bakit hindi ka na nagwowork dun some answers it as end of contract ganyan. Pray ka lang din sis and try mo huwag kabahan sa harap ng consul. 

[wuvshoe]

sonia62, snowflakes08
Thanks for your replies, sisses!
I was hoping I could say yes pa naman. Ang dami ko kasing "red flags" like I'm single 30s, I've worked abroad, I don't have properties to my name... Ang positives ko I don't have relatives in the US, I've been to Japan, Korea, China/Taiwan (may visas) and medyo ok naman savings ko. Now I'm debating whether to say I have a bf (I don't lol) if they ask and feel kong deciding factor yun... well, meron naman akong boyfriend kaso hindi siya aware haha
Ang consuelo ko lang is sagot ng company yung 7200, so ego ko lang talaga ang nakataya... but still, sana ma-approve!

[byutijunkie]

Thanks, La Pinay.

Additional question, my family (parents, brothers and sister) decided to apply for US Visas with me (some are for renewal and some are first-timers like me).  My father believes we can apply as a family.  He has the financial capability to support our trip naman and all but my concern is that, none of us are minors.  I, for one, am already married with kids so I have a different surname na.  I think I have a good profile naman to apply on my own (working for 11 years plus in a broadcasting company, traveled a lot for the past 5 years, car and house under my name, etc) but my father wants us to apply as a family kasi mas malaki daw ang chance for us to be granted visas.  Any thoughts?  Should I apply with them ba or on my own na lang?  Thanks in advance.   

[beachpatrol]

^You will still be evaluated individually even if you apply as a family

[byutijunkie]

^so I need to bring my own documents, right?  Like bank certs, COE, etc. 

Thanks so much beachpatrol! =)

[mama squeak!]

^Bring your own documents. They may or may not ask to see them but what's important is you have them with you in case they ask for it.

[mimigirl]

Hello mga sis!

My sister filed a petition for my parents to the US, and it has been recently approved. I'm helping my parents process their requirements kasi seniors na sila. Then we're going to apply for US visa. Tatlo kami. Basically my purpose is to assist my parents going to the US, kasi mahihina na sila. So for visit/tour lang ako.

This is not the first time we're applying for a US visa. 11 years ago, pinag apply kami ng sister ko for tourist visa. Hindi pa napepetition parents ko nun, and I was still in college. Pero na denied kami noon. And I can't remember why we were denied.

My question is:
Since this is the 2nd time we're going to apply, mag mamatter parin ba yung previous evaluations sa amin 11 years ago? Since na approve na petition ng parents ko, the interview may weigh more on me? I have a stable job in a financial institution here in PH. I do not plan of working in US. Assist lang to my parents and travel.

Thank you so much!