U.S. VISA APPLICATION Necessities & Interview Questions within the Philippines

Planning to journey to the USA for the primary time? You’ve come to the fitting place! Welcome to our step-by-step US Visa Software Information for Filipino vacationers. On this article, we’ll stroll you thru the complete software course of from reserving an appointment to nailing the interview on the US Embassy.

For Filipino nationals, any plan to journey to the USA begins with a visa. And the US visa is among the most extremely coveted for a lot of causes. First, the US has a large Filipino diaspora that the majority of us know somebody there. Second, the American affect on Philippine tradition is plain. Many people dream of stepping foot in New York or Las Vegas or California. And lastly, it’s also a robust visa to have. When you’ve a US visa, you might be allowed entry not simply to the USA but in addition a number of different international locations that in any other case require a separate visa.

It’s no surprise that at any given day, there’s all the time a protracted queue on the US Embassy in Manila. However for many people, the US visa isn’t significantly simple to safe. That’s why we’re half-grateful and half-relieved after we lastly received ours. Sure, we had been simply granted a US B1/B2 visa. Right here’s how I received it.

WHAT IS A B1/B2 U.S. VISA?

A B1/B2 visa is a non-immigrant short-term visa that may allow you to enter the USA for enterprise (B1), for tourism (B2) or BOTH.

You need to use it to do any of the next:

• BUSINESS (B1)
  Assembly with enterprise associates
  Attending a convention, seminar or conference
  Negotiating a contract or settlement
  Settling an property
• TOURISM (B2)
  Trip (leisure/vacation)
  Visiting family members or associates
  Attending social occasions (concert events, festivals, reveals)
  Medical therapy

You can not use a B1/B2 visa to check, work, or keep for good in the USA.

A B1/B2 visa is normally:

• multiple-entry
• legitimate for 10 years

Sure, the 10-year validity is one of the best half. When you’re granted a visa, you received’t have to renew or apply once more for a very long time.

I utilized for a B1/B2 visa, so each factor you’ll learn on this article is about that particular sort of visa. In the event you’re making use of for a piece visa, pupil visa or inexperienced card, we received’t be of any assist as a result of they’re outdoors our private experiences.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A U.S. VISA?

Right here’s the complete software course of when making use of for a US B1/B2 visa.

Word that Steps 1 to three are literally interchangeable. However I consider that how I organized it beneath is the order that makes essentially the most sense.

Step 1: Create a USTravelDocs.com account.

To enroll in an account, go to this web page.

1. Click on NEW USER on the backside of the web page.
2. Enter your e mail handle and full identify on the subsequent web page.
3. Set a password.
4. Click on SUBMIT.

USTravelDocs.com is the official visa appointment service portal of the U.S. State Division. That is the web site the place you’ll guide an appointment, however you don’t want to do this this early. You received’t be capable of safe a slot till you’ve paid the visa price. For now, all it’s essential do is create an account.

Why? As a result of as quickly as you’ve an account, you’ll be capable of see the EARLIEST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT DATE.

That is particularly vital in case your journey dates are usually not versatile: say, you’re attending a marriage, a live performance, or a convention. Having visibility on the earliest obtainable date will let you gauge for those who’ll be capable of get a visa in time in your journey and resolve appropriately.

The very last thing you need is to pay the hefty visa price solely to seek out that there aren’t any extra appointment slots earlier than your meant journey date.

Word: The earliest appointment date adjustments on occasion, when candidates guide, transfer or cancel their reserved slots. So simply because there aren’t any slots in your goal month doesn’t imply there received’t be sooner or later.

If every little thing appears good, then proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Accomplish the DS-160 Kind.

The DS-160 kind serves as your software kind. To fill it out, go to to this web page.

Each visa applicant should full a DS-160 kind. In the event you’re touring as a bunch, every one in all you have to fill it out individually.

Observe these steps:

1. Below LOCATION WHERE YOU’LL BE APPLYING, select PHILIPPINES, MANILA. Enter the CAPTCHA code beneath it. Then click on on the crimson START AN APPLICATION button.
2. On the subsequent web page, you’ll be assigned an APPLICATION ID.
3. Choose a safety query and enter a solution. DO NOT overlook your reply to this to keep away from getting locked out of your account.

Then it’s time to lastly fill out the DS-160 kind. It’s a really prolonged kind — with 10 pages — so allot loads of time. In the event you really feel such as you received’t be capable of end, simply save your progress. Don’t rush it. And ensure each reply is correct. These are the small print it’s essential put together:

1. PERSONAL DETAILS. Identify, delivery date, delivery place, and so forth.
2. TRAVEL DETAILS. You’ll be requested to pick the aim of your journey. Because you’re making use of for a B1/B2 visa, select Non permanent Enterprise Pleasure Customer. Below SPECIFY, choose Enterprise & Tourism (Temperoary Customer).

   Below it, provide the small print of your journey. When you’ve got a concrete journey plan, enter your journey dates. In the event you haven’t finalized these but, simply choose an meant date of arrival within the US and meant period of your keep.

   Please take a screenshot of this half so that you received’t overlook the small print you entered. The consul/visa officer will probably be asking you about your journey particulars when it’s time for interview.



3. TRAVEL COMPANIONS. Declare the individuals with whom you may be touring to the USA.



4. PREVIOUS US TRAVELS. If it’s your first time touring to the US, simply reply NO. You’ll even be requested for those who’ve been denied a US visa earlier than or denied entry into the nation. Reply in truth as a result of they’ve a document of it anyway.
5. ADDRESS. Enter your present handle.
6. CONTACT INFORMATION. Apart out of your contact numbers, you’ll additionally want to offer your social media account handles/usernames together with Fb, X (Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram. You’ll additionally enter your passport particulars right here.



7. U.S. CONTACT. If you already know somebody within the US, present their identify and your relationship with them. Ideally, this particular person ought to be capable of confirm your identification if deemed obligatory.



8. FAMILY. Enter the names and delivery dates in case your mother and father. When you’ve got family members in the USA, you must also present their particulars right here.

   In the event you don’t know anybody within the US, simply enter the identify and handle of an institution that you just plan to go to as a part of your journey. It may be a museum, a theater, or a theme park, so long as it’s a part of your itinerary.

9. WORK AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND. Checklist down your present and former employers and work experiences (together with job descriptions) and universities/faculties you attended. Sure, this half really feel such as you’re constructing a CV.



10. SECURITY AND BACKGROUND. Final web page! Reply a collection of questions in regards to the international locations you visited, organizations you might be affiliated with, and navy connections, if any. You’ll additionally reply health-related questions.

After this, you’ll be prompted to UPLOAD A PHOTO. It needs to be in colour and brought throughout the previous six (6) months. No eyeglasses, hats, or head cowl (aside from faith or medical causes). The hyperlinks beneath can information you:

After importing a photograph, evaluation all the data you provided. Be sure that each single factor is right. In that case, submit your software.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! The second you hit SUBMIT, you received’t be capable of make any adjustments to the shape, so guarantee each bit of knowledge is right. If there are nonetheless particulars that it’s essential double-check or affirm, you’ll be able to simply save your software within the meantime and simply return to it when you have already got the right information.

After submitting the shape, the subsequent web page will show your DS-160 CONFIRMATION PAGE, which accommodates your affirmation quantity and barcode. You’ve gotten the choice to print it out or e mail to your self. (I selected to e mail it to myself so I might get again to it anytime sooner or later.)

You’ll have to current this DS-160 Affirmation Web page on the U.S. Embassy when it’s time in your interview.

Step 3: PAY THE VISA FEE.

The U.S. Visa price prices USD 185 (roughly PHP 10,800 on the time of this writing).

There just a few methods to settle this price however I selected to pay by way of PesoNet.

1. Go browsing to this USTravelDocs web page. As quickly because the web page masses, it’s going to generate a reference quantity.
2. Save the reference quantity. You possibly can take a screenshot of it or copy-paste it someplace. You’ll want this quantity when it’s time to ship the fee.
3. Observe the step-by-step fee directions on the backside of the web page. As a result of we’re speaking about paying a giant quantity right here, no want for me to repost the steps right here as some particulars would possibly change sooner or later. Simply comply with the steps on the web page to a tee, ensuring that you just’re coming into the right reference quantity.

That’s it! It’d take some time for the fee to mirror within the system. In keeping with the web site, it ought to register on the subsequent enterprise day, after 1:30 PM.

However in my case, I needed to wait a pair extra days earlier than I might transfer on to the subsequent step.

Step 4: BOOK AN APPOINTMENT.

Assuming your fee is already within the system, you could now guide an interview appointment. Log into your USTravelDocs.com account on this web page. This is similar portal on Step 1.

On the left sidebar, it’s going to show the earliest obtainable appointment date. This may be months from now. In my case, I utilized in September however the earliest obtainable schedule was in January of the subsequent 12 months. However don’t lose hope. Every so often, some candidates cancel their appointments and new slots open up. We discovered that this normally occurs within the wee hours of the night time. True sufficient, after staying up at night time, we had been capable of snag an appointment in October, which was only a month away.

Anyway, for those who’re lastly able to guide an appointment, simply comply with these steps:

1. Click on on NEW APPLICATION/SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT on the left sidebar. On the subsequent web page, choose NONIMMIGRANT VISA after which choose BUSINESS/TOURISM.
2. Fill out the subsequent kind along with your private particulars and your DS-160 Affirmation Quantity. Ensure you’re coming into the right quantity as a result of the system will use it to hyperlink your appointment to the fitting DS-160 kind. When you’ve got dependents who will probably be with you on the interview, enter their particulars and their very own DS-160 affirmation numbers.
3. Select the way you wish to obtain your passport again: FREE PICK UP or DELIVERY. The latter entails a separate price, to be paid money upon supply.
4. On the PAYMENT web page, enter your RECEIPT NUMBER. In case your visa price fee is already within the system, it’s best to be capable of guide an appointment. In any other case, simply come again to this web page one other time. Don’t fear, it can save you all the data you entered so that you received’t have to fill out the shape once more whenever you log in once more.
5. Choose the date lang that greatest works for you. You possibly can change or reschedule it later for those who discover a higher date.

That’s it! You have already got an appointment.

USEFUL TIPS:

• You possibly can reschedule your appointment. Simply click on on the RESCHEDULE APPOINTMENT button on the left sidebar and choose an earlier or later date. Sure, it’s potential to probability upon an earlier schedule. That’s what occurred to me.
• GROUP APPOINTMENT possibility is on the market, however I haven’t tried it but, so I don’t know the way it works. However for those who’re making use of with a bunch, attempt clicking the GROUP SCHEDULING REQUEST button on the left sidebar.

Step 5: GATHER THE U.S. VISA REQUIREMENTS.

Whereas ready in your interview appointment date, collect all of the required paperwork.

1. Legitimate passport
2. Appointment affirmation web page
3. DS-160 affirmation quantity
4. your MRV price fee receipt quantity
5. Current ID picture (2×2)

These are the essential necessities. In lots of instances, these three are all you want. BUT — and it’s a giant however — it’s greatest to have all the opposite potential supporting paperwork listed on the embassy’s web site:

6. All of your outdated passports
7. Proof of earnings, property possession, ITR
8. Letter out of your employer detailing your place, wage, and so forth.
9. Journey itinerary

And others, relying in your goal of journey. See screenshot of the official web site beneath:

I indicated “potential” supporting paperwork as a result of in some cases, they don’t ask to see these docs. In actual fact, I accomplished and introduced all of those however they didn’t verify any of those, aside from my passport and appointment affirmation. In Vins’s case, the one different factor they checked was his 2×2 picture.

However it doesn’t imply that you just’ll expertise the identical. Among the candidates subsequent to me on the road had been requested to current a few of these supporting paperwork. It’s actually greatest to be ready.

By the best way, for those who discover: the US Embassy doesn’t require financial institution certificates, financial institution statements, or any proof of funds. They’re not on the record, so don’t trouble. It’s not wanted in any respect.

Step 6: INTERVIEW

On the day of your appointment, present up on the U.S. Embassy for the interview. Right here’s the handle:

Embassy of the USA of America
1201 Roxas Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila

Arrive at the very least quarter-hour earlier than your schedule. Really, they begin letting candidates in an hour earlier than the indicated schedule.

Site visitors is horrible in Manila, so allot loads of lead time. In the event you’re coming from far-off — particularly for those who’re flying in from the province — and also you’re searching for a spot to remain, think about a lodge that’s near the U.S. Embassy. There are numerous good decisions within the surrounding space. SEARCH FOR MANILA HOTELS HERE! ✅

However bear in mind these:

• Devices or gadgets with batteries and ON-OFF swap are NOT ALLOWED inside. Sure, that features cell phones, tablets, laptops, and even digital watches (Apple watch, and so forth.).
• Meals, sharp objects, crayons, and markers are additionally prohibited. You could be refused entry and your account could also be locked for 30 days for those who’re caught sneaking any of those in.
• No lockers or baggage counters within the neighborhood. One of the best factor to do is to go along with a companion and ask them to attend for you someplace shut. There’s a Starbucks cafe and McDonald’s on the opposite facet of the highway. Simply agree to satisfy at a sure time, old-school-style.

When you’re gadget-free, you could now go inside. You’ll have to fall in line each step of the best way. Listed here are the steps:

1. Current your printed appointment affirmation web page on the workers outdoors. They are going to affix a sticker with a QR code on the again cowl of your passport.
2. Enter the constructing for the safety verify. They’re very thorough, so don’t try and sneak in something prohibited.
3. Observe the indicators and the workers to the subsequent constructing. You could be requested right here to current your passport and a few of your necessities. In my case, they solely checked my passport. In Vins’s case, passport and a couple of×2 ID picture.
4. Bear biometrics scan. They are going to take your fingerprints at one of many counters. After that, you’ll be assigned one other counter for the interview correct. Queue up at that counter and wait in your flip.
5. Interview correct. This normally simply takes round 5 minutes. It’s very fast as a result of likely, purposes have been evaluated even earlier than the interview. It’s very probably that they have already got a tentative resolution previous to your appointment and the interview is only for validation or to settle any doubts, if any. Additionally it is a possibility to verify supporting paperwork ought to they really feel the necessity to. In my case, they didn’t verify something. However among the different candidates within the space had been requested to current supporting docs. I’ll share all of the questions within the subsequent part beneath.
   – In case your software is authorised, they are going to take your passport so they may affix the visa sticker.
   – In case your software is rejected or denied, they are going to let you know proper then and there. (Sure, inside listening to vary of different candidates on the queue.)

Step 7: WAIT FOR YOUR VISA!

You need to obtain your passport with a visa just some days after your interview.

In my case, I received mine by means of LBC Padala simply 2 days later. If I used to be interviewed on Monday, I received the visa on Wednesday morning. I paid PHP 440 upon supply.

In the event you selected PICKUP whenever you booked an appointment, you could declare your passport/visa at LBC Mall of Asia.

U.S. VISA INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Right here’s a rundown of all of the questions the consul/visa officer requested me through the interview.

• The place within the US are you going?
• What’s the aim of the journey?
• How lengthy is the journey?
• Are you married? Do you’ve youngsters?
• With whom are you touring?
• What do you do for a dwelling?
• How lengthy have I been doing this job?
• What’s the identify of your employer?

That was it. Eight questions. Or 9. Vins received even fewer questions: six.

The officer’s tone was very informal and pleasant, so I responded in the identical vogue.

After the final query, the officer typed one thing on the pc, confronted me once more, and stated, “OK, your visa is authorised. We’ll simply mail the passport to you.”

However as a result of the interview is carried out in an open space, whereas I used to be in line, I might truly hear the questions that the opposite candidates had been getting. These embrace:

• Will you be visiting somebody within the US?
• Have you ever visited different international locations earlier than?
• The place in (state) are you going?

⚠️ IMPORTANT! These questions that the officers/consuls are asking are the identical questions on the DS-160 kind, so it’s essential that you already know and bear in mind the solutions you entered whenever you had been conducting it on-line. They’re not asking as a result of they wish to know — they already know — however they in all probability are simply attempting for affirm or check in case your solutions are constant.

The issue is, when numerous time has handed between the day you achieved the DS-160 kind and the day of your interview, it’s simple to overlook the small print. So make a copy of your solutions on the DS-160 kind.

There you’ve it. That’s the complete U.S. visa software course of as I skilled it.

Earlier than I finish this text, I simply need to commend the individuals working on the U.S. Embassy for the graceful course of and nice expertise. From the Filipino workers and the American interviewers, each one was pleasant, mild, and respectful. Even after they had been delivering rejections, they did it in a method that weren’t condescending or belittling. At different embassies, I’ve seen fairly excessive horses when making use of for a visa, so this was actually a breath of contemporary air. Kudos to all the employees on the US Embassy!

The place to Keep Close to the U.S. Embassy Manila

In the event you’re coming from the province and also you wish to spend the night time at a lodge near the U.S. Embassy, listed here are some properties across the space.

Seek for extra Manila Inns!