US Visa Help Thread II

[gentle_touchee]

@bonbon

since gay marriage or partnership are legal in some states, do you think the VO would consider it? i mean is, both pinoys are living together here. one wants to go to the states for tourism. maging factor kaya yung "ties" na yun??? kasi di a kinoconsider nila na family ties yung husband-wife-children thingie, so how about the gay pinoys? are the VO's democrats or republicans or they are there working in the us embassy kahit sino president sa america?

[theflygirl]

UPDATE: All my 4 kids AND my mother-in-law and sister-in-law got approved today. I'm glad it's over and done with and all my efforts paid off AGAIN. I'll post my report tomorrow. Sooo sleepy now since they had the 6:30am appointment this morning. I was told they'll receive their visas in 3 days so I gotta pack now and it's off to SFO again before school starts. ✈

[bonbon8]

@bonbon

since gay marriage or partnership are legal in some states, do you think the VO would consider it? i mean is, both pinoys are living together here. one wants to go to the states for tourism. maging factor kaya yung "ties" na yun??? kasi di a kinoconsider nila na family ties yung husband-wife-children thingie, so how about the gay pinoys? are the VO's democrats or republicans or they are there working in the us embassy kahit sino president sa america?

Ang family ties, not enough yun to be granted a visa. VOs weigh a lot of things. Ang TNTs kasi, natitiis nilang iwan ang pamilya nila para lang makatuntong ng US at kumita. VOs are surely oriented of the Fil culture, language, even basic laws. And correct me if I'm wrong, sa pagkakaalam ko, wala atang legal gay marriage ngayon sa US, sa Canada at Eu meron.
I'm sure the VOs respect genders regardless of their Prez's stand. Human right ang pag-accord ng respeto. Surely they will treat your gay partner as a family tie, as earlier stated, the VOs look at everything if TNT-potential ka, i.e., if may babalikan ka dito na di mo pwedeng iwan like your properties at kabuhayan, etc. Also, your interview matters.

[maricon27]

ok lang ba i-retrieve yung ds-160 ko kahit may schedule na ako? hindi ko kasi na save gusto ko sana i print..

[bonbon8]

ok lang ba i-retrieve yung ds-160 ko kahit may schedule na ako? hindi ko kasi na save gusto ko sana i print..

Once you've virtually signed your DS160 at may bar code na naissue sayo, you can no longer retrieve the data you've typed in. That's why before one hits the 'confirmation/signature' at the end of the form, have everything printed first.

[GilmoreGal]

Share ko ulit experience ko 2nd interview ko.

nabigyan ako ng single entry na visa good for 3 months. Pwede na rin kesa wala.

well, at least nga nabigyan ka pa ng visa kahit na 3months lang, pang Conference purpose lang talga...ang barat ng VO

bonbon8 kaya pala, ang tatapang ng VO na ng i-interview sayo bakit nawala yung US visa mo? does that mean your whole passport?

UPDATE: All my 4 kids AND my mother-in-law and sister-in-law got approved today. I'm glad it's over and done with and all my efforts paid off AGAIN. I'll post my report tomorrow. Sooo sleepy now since they had the 6:30am appointment this morning. I was told they'll receive their visas in 3 days so I gotta pack now and it's off to SFO again before school starts. ✈

Yey! congrats , the day i had my interview, ang dami kong nakitang famlies got denied. Pero marami ring familes that got approved, makikita mo sa mga mukha nila talga eh. Happy members = approved. Confused members = denied...

[gentle_touchee]

Ang family ties, not enough yun to be granted a visa. VOs weigh a lot of things. Ang TNTs kasi, natitiis nilang iwan ang pamilya nila para lang makatuntong ng US at kumita. VOs are surely oriented of the Fil culture, language, even basic laws. And correct me if I'm wrong, sa pagkakaalam ko, wala atang legal gay marriage ngayon sa US, sa Canada at Eu meron.
I'm sure the VOs respect genders regardless of their Prez's stand. Human right ang pag-accord ng respeto. Surely they will treat your gay partner as a family tie, as earlier stated, the VOs look at everything if TNT-potential ka, i.e., if may babalikan ka dito na di mo pwedeng iwan like your properties at kabuhayan, etc. Also, your interview matters.

hi bonbon. thanks but di po ako yan. friend ko po. actually, until now i'm scared pa rin to even try for a US visa. I will dare soon sa Australia muna. Medyo kuripot din po ako, mahal masyado pag sa US ang tour. Thanks a lot at natouch ako dun sa sinabi mo about gays na human right to accord respect.

[Wyndham]

i will be interviewed by the US embassy for my visa renewal. coz when i first got my visa, it was my mom who went to the embassy so i wasn't interviewed.

what are the questions that are being asked when they interview you when you renew your visa? can you give me any tips? thanks.

[sandripples]

hi guys,

would you know how strict the border officers are about the annotation?

my single entry visa issued this may is valid until august 02, 2012, but it has an annotation that says: B1 In lieu of <name of company>, sunnyvale, california, may-june, 2012.

my invitation from the foreign company for a training is supposed to be may - june (2 months), but i just got my visa 2nd week of may and i'm still waiting for my colleagues to get approved, so we'll probably leave end of may.

is it alright if i explain to the border officer, that adjustments were made in the schedule of the training (it would be june-july instead) because we were not able to get visas right away? will he accept this explanation kaya?

thanks in advance.

[KopeLand]

hi guys,

would you know how strict the border officers are about the annotation?

my single entry visa issued this may is valid until august 02, 2012, but it has an annotation that says: B1 In lieu of <name of company>, sunnyvale, california, may-june, 2012.

my invitation from the foreign company for a training is supposed to be may - june (2 months), but i just got my visa 2nd week of may and i'm still waiting for my colleagues to get approved, so we'll probably leave end of may.

is it alright if i explain to the border officer, that adjustments were made in the schedule of the training (it would be june-july instead) because we were not able to get visas right away? will he accept this explanation kaya?

thanks in advance.

I think you are good since you have a valid reason naman. Most IO will consider that. But just to make sure, I would suggest na mag request ka ulit ng updated na invitation letter na pwede mo ipakita sa point of entry.

Happy trip!

[KopeLand]

i will be interviewed by the US embassy for my visa renewal. coz when i first got my visa, it was my mom who went to the embassy so i wasn't interviewed.

what are the questions that are being asked when they interview you when you renew your visa? can you give me any tips? thanks.

Tip: Mag Back read ka. =)

[KopeLand]

Economic ties na minus point sayo na ala kang trabaho. Lahat naman desisyon na ng VO, di ka discouraged from applying for a visa kasi privilege mo yan
Sayang di mo nabasa ang US visa thread 1, na-close na kasi. Dun may mga posts na na whether you have a Canadian visa, di yun automatic na may US visa ka agad. May mga US visa holders nga na nadeny ng Canadian & conversely. The VO considers all your circumstances kung mukhang magT-TNT ka.

You can still read the US Visa Thread 1, hindi lang pede mag post since closed na. The link is on the first page of this thread.

[pakwan]

hi guys,

would you know how strict the border officers are about the annotation?

my single entry visa issued this may is valid until august 02, 2012, but it has an annotation that says: B1 In lieu of <name of company>, sunnyvale, california, may-june, 2012.

my invitation from the foreign company for a training is supposed to be may - june (2 months), but i just got my visa 2nd week of may and i'm still waiting for my colleagues to get approved, so we'll probably leave end of may.

is it alright if i explain to the border officer, that adjustments were made in the schedule of the training (it would be june-july instead) because we were not able to get visas right away? will he accept this explanation kaya?

thanks in advance.

Kung pagpasok ma sa US ang stamp ng IO ang mananaig kung gano ka katagal mamamalagi sa US. kahit na ma expired na ang visa validity mo pero valid pa ang stamp mo ay legal ka pa rin makakapag stay sa US.

eto ba ang pinoproblema mo?

dadating ka end of may:

ang annotation sa visa mo ay training is from may-jun lang.

pero ang actual training ay jun-jul na (either dahil sa circumstance ng kasama mo kaya nabago sched ng training nyo)


una wag ka masyado mag alala pagdating sa US IO.
Just be brief with the IO, answer what only they ask you, wag masyado mag volunteer ng unnecessary na info na hindi dap at. ( hindi ka pa naman magsisinungaling sa lagay na yan).kung ang annotation sa visa mo ay may-jun, pwede mo isagot na jun training mo. (valid pa run un di ba?) kung pano ka ma interview sa embassy ganung din ang isasagot mo sa IO. pero mas mabilis pa nga sila kumpara sa embassy sa pagtatanong.kung jul aaabutin training mo ok lang, kadalasan 6 mos. ibinibigay nila. wala pa along nakikita na nabigyan ng less than 6 mos. either B1 or B2.

peru just in case na talagang hanggang jul lang ang stamp na naibigay sayu, no choice ka na lang at sumunod sa kanila.

btw, b1/b2 ba ang nasa passport mo? kung business at pleasure ang visa pede ka magsabi sa border officer na baka pede ka bigyan ng mas mahabang panahon para sabihin mo na mamasyal ka after ng training mo

nasa IO ang final say, just be polite and be clear sa lahat ng sasabihin mo, kahit mukhang sanggano ang sasalubong sayu just be polite and smile. enjoy your training in the US, hopefully makapamasyal ka pa.

[bonbon8]

You can still read the US Visa Thread 1, hindi lang pede mag post since closed na. The link is on the first page of this thread.

Ay oo nga ano? Thanks, Kope!
At sa mga magpopost dito, make sure you have visited the US embassy website first and, have at least done some back reading sa thread. The answers to some questions here are already in the website or are already in the thread. We don't do spoon feeding here, it pays to do your research sa mismong US embassy Mla website, tsaka lang sana magtanong sa thread if may further Qs pa. ü

[tazjhaie]

hi bonbon. thanks but di po ako yan. friend ko po. actually, until now i'm scared pa rin to even try for a US visa. I will dare soon sa Australia muna. Medyo kuripot din po ako, mahal masyado pag sa US ang tour. Thanks a lot at natouch ako dun sa sinabi mo about gays na human right to accord respect.

mas mahirap makakuha ng australian visa... 3x na akong nakapunta dun pero hindi pa rin ako makakuha ng multiple entry.. puro single entry lang.. visa application sa australia is almost the same with japan... goodluck...

[sandripples]

Thank you so much. I'll bring another letter na lang ulit with the adjusted dates in the invite.

I think you are good since you have a valid reason naman. Most IO will consider that. But just to make sure, I would suggest na mag request ka ulit ng updated na invitation letter na pwede mo ipakita sa point of entry.

Happy trip!

[sandripples]

Thanks! akala ko kasi yung annotation ang mananaig doon sa Expiry date ng visa. Mas mananaig pala ang stamp na ibibigay ng IO.

I'll prepare na lang a concise explanation in case they ask me about it, and have a another letter with the updated invitation.

B1 lang nakalagay, sana nga makapasyal Thanks talaga.

Kung pagpasok ma sa US ang stamp ng IO ang mananaig kung gano ka katagal mamamalagi sa US. kahit na ma expired na ang visa validity mo pero valid pa ang stamp mo ay legal ka pa rin makakapag stay sa US.

eto ba ang pinoproblema mo?

dadating ka end of may:

ang annotation sa visa mo ay training is from may-jun lang.

pero ang actual training ay jun-jul na (either dahil sa circumstance ng kasama mo kaya nabago sched ng training nyo)


una wag ka masyado mag alala pagdating sa US IO.
Just be brief with the IO, answer what only they ask you, wag masyado mag volunteer ng unnecessary na info na hindi dap at. ( hindi ka pa naman magsisinungaling sa lagay na yan).kung ang annotation sa visa mo ay may-jun, pwede mo isagot na jun training mo. (valid pa run un di ba?) kung pano ka ma interview sa embassy ganung din ang isasagot mo sa IO. pero mas mabilis pa nga sila kumpara sa embassy sa pagtatanong.kung jul aaabutin training mo ok lang, kadalasan 6 mos. ibinibigay nila. wala pa along nakikita na nabigyan ng less than 6 mos. either B1 or B2.

peru just in case na talagang hanggang jul lang ang stamp na naibigay sayu, no choice ka na lang at sumunod sa kanila.

btw, b1/b2 ba ang nasa passport mo? kung business at pleasure ang visa pede ka magsabi sa border officer na baka pede ka bigyan ng mas mahabang panahon para sabihin mo na mamasyal ka after ng training mo

nasa IO ang final say, just be polite and be clear sa lahat ng sasabihin mo, kahit mukhang sanggano ang sasalubong sayu just be polite and smile. enjoy your training in the US, hopefully makapamasyal ka pa.

[theflygirl]

Sharing our experience last Monday.

My family's appointment date was at 6:30am. Renewal for my 2 older kids, while my 2 younger kids were 1st time applicants. For the 1st time applicants, one has been abroad while the youngest is a first time traveler. We lined up at 6am. Took around 30-40mins to wait in line for checking of passports and confirmation papers. My kids and mother-in-law and sister-in-law were booked under one appointment, so when we got to the booth giving out numbers, the kids were given a separate nbr from their tita and lola. Took around 20-30mins at the waiting pavilion.

1st window was just for checking and stamping received date for the DS160 form.

2nd window for fingerprinting. It was the first time I heard an embassy officer get mad. She was really exasperated at the applicant before us. She said, "Oh my gosh, tagalog na po salita ko, hindi nyo ba maintindihan?!" My husband was asked by the embassy officer to help out the 20-something y.o. girl with which fingers to place on the machine. As in, I had no idea what her problem was!!! She looked and dressed smart. Na-rattle na ata. I was asked to state my kids' full names, dates of birth and ages. I thought that was the last step, cos with VRP, it was.

3rd main interview window. I was asked how many applicants there were so I said 4 kids only. The lady officer asked me for my husband's and my visa and my kids' birth certificates.
While looking for them, I was asked how many times I've visited the USA.
ME, "xx..."
CONSUL: "And how long was your first visit?"
Me: "10 months on an A2 visa" She suddenly looked up from typing and asked me if I worked for the gov't. So, I explained why I was issued one before. Then she asked me how long were my stays on my B1/B2 visas and if my kids were with me on those trips. Where we were headed and for how long. Then returned my husband's and my passport and said expect our visas in 3 days. The interview lasted for only around 5-7mins.

After 15 mins, my in-laws arrived at our meeting place and said they were approved as well.

Flying out with my kids in a couple of days and hoping to be back before school starts.

P.S.:The lady beside us at the interview window, who had a feverish child with her in line, was denied. The volume of the mic of the consul who interviewed her was loud and told her, "I'm sorry but you are not eligible for a visa for now." "You haven't showed enough ties." I remember her from the line outside asking if she could bring Tempra inside the premises.

[Darkcloud001]

Passport Book Number --- is this the same as the Passport number ba?

[scqg]

my wife just got disapproved for the second time. her first try was before our wedding way back november 2011. now it's may 2012, having come back from our europe trip (schengen and UK visa) for 3 weeks (april to may), i asked her to re-apply again and it's very unfortunate that she had to be denied second time. she operates her own business with net income of 30k a month. we indicated in ds-160 that i'm the one shouldering the trip expense and everything. my wife brought my passport with US visa (yet they didn't bother to check it). she brought with her bank certs of her own account and our joint account (which is of course more than enough to cover everything). she explained this is our honeymoon part 2 as we already got back from europe just last month. her income of 30k was not acceptable to the officer. she was asked about our household income. she couldn't answer it clearly as of course, she doesn't know really how much we make every month right? she was asked about my salary and she said 80k. we already have our tickets to the US. i just couldn't understand why her income is a big deal when in fact i'm the one paying for it and we are already married, and that i have US visa (valid for 10 years). does this mean that housewives cannot get approved because they have ZERO income?

it's extremely disappointing that she was denied. i thought she had everything to back up her ties to the country. it's just crazy how the US consular officers make decisions. i wished there would be an appeal process but sadly none. two payments made for US visa fees just got wasted. this story is nothing new. i have heard many sad stories of unfair decisions from US embassy. who wants to hide and stay in the US when their economy has hit rock bottom?! there are a lot better opportunities in the philippines!