First off, the most exciting thing! I went to the US of A last May. I've been to the land of the free and the home of the brave! Oh my gulay! Oh well, I must admit, at first I was not excited. Kasi naman work related. You know naman me, mejo against LDR ang lola nyo so ayoko talaga ng abroad abroad na ganyan. Bet ko lang yan pag bakasyon, and hindi nga kasama si D dito bilang business related. Anyhoot, I accepted the offer bilang sino ba naman ako para tumanggi. Mga ateng, opportunity knocks only once. Saka one week lang naman.
So firstly, I have my new passport na naman so Visa muna. Mejo kabado kasi hello Chinese Visa lang ang meron ako. Not that minamaliit ko yun shempre. The interview went well naman and I was granted a B1/B2 visa valid for 10 years at multiple entry pa! Wuhooo tambling!
Oh andito ka ba para icheck ano mga tinanong saken ng consul and mga tips and tricks noh? You have to know na mejo madali for me kasi may back up ako ng company ha? But sure here it is --
1. Do not bring cellphone na lang. May mga ate naman dun na lalapit sayo para ioffer na itatago nila phone mo for a fee. But dears, mejo scary kasi bibigyan ka lang nila ng piece of paper as assurance. I overheard one kuya na nagtanong pano sya makasisiguro na safe ang phone nya. Ang sagot ni ate -- May CCTV naman po dito. Huh?! E gasino na yung itakbo na lang nila bigla diba? Anyhoot, not just cellphone ang bawal ha? Any thing electronic bawal din, including USB, headset and any metal things (except coins, susi ng bahay at kotse).
2. Be there very early. Sa labas lang kayo pipila lahat. Mas ok na na maaga ka mafamiliarize sa place kesa mukha ka engot dun tapos time mo na pala. Iba ang pila ng Fiancee Visa, Immigrant Visa, and everything.
3. Habang nasa labas, makinig ng mabuti sa mga guards. Bigla na lang kasi sila sisigaw ng oras. Like for me 7am ako. Before me, meron pa 6:30, 6:40, 6:50. After me may narinig pa ako 7:05. Mejo weird lang. But kung gusto mo matapos ng maaga be very attentive na lang.
4. After the pila, Iguguide nila kayo sa isa pang pila. Still outside pa rin ng embassy. They will check your appointment slip and your guarantee letter. That's it pansit.
5. Then tuloy sa building. You have to undergo security checking here.
6. Sunod may pila na may 2 window na isusulot mo lang ung papel mo under. Ang ibibigay mo lang there ung nastapler sa unang pila. Bibigyan ka ng number.
7. Then proceed ka sa Waiting Area. 2 pila ito, non-immigrant at immigrant. Again, may shepherd naman dito that will guide you. Pag sinabi na ng pastol, pasok ka na sa main building.
8. Again security check. After this, pipila na kayo sa mga window. first batch ng interview na for data capture. What they got from me -- Appointment slip and guarantee letter. Konting questions, what will I do in the US. Mga pinoy pa naman to so no kaba factor.
9. Next window, biometrics scanning. Pretty american ang nagkuha ng biometrics ko, quick lang.
10. And now for the fun and scary part -- CONSUL INTERVIEW! Whew! I think I'm lucky kasi every smiling ang aking consul. Yun nakikita ko kasi sa other windows scary talaga. Anyhoot, our flow of conversation -
C - Hi! Good morning!
Y - Good morning! How are you?
C - I'm good. (Smiles then checks my paper for a good 1 minute). Ok, so where do you plan to go?
Y - I'm going to Atlanta, Georgia
C - What is your purpose?
Y - I'll be attending a business conference
C - For how long?
Y - 5 days
C - Is this your first time in the US?
Y - Yes
C - Have you been in other countries outside of the Philippines?
Y - Yes. I've been to China twice.
C - Wow! So how long have you been working with your company?
Y - 4 years now
C - How much do you make in a month?
Y - <secret>
C - Ok, your visa will be ready in a week. Thank you!
Y - Wow! Thank you very much!
TIPS:
> Kung may kasama ka magapply at hindi mo kamaganak, refrain from talking to each other. We have this one instance in our company na nauna si Boy1. Nagalit sya kasi denied sya so he went straight to his companions and bluntly bad-mouthed Consul1. E narinig sya ni Consul1. When Boy2 approaches Consul2, Consul1 went to Consul2's cube and whispered something. Without asking anything pa, Boy2 was denied also. Oooppsss! Kawawa naman.
> By the way, the seafarers will be given priority. So uubusin muna sila bago simulan ang regular pila. So be patient.
> If possible, while waiting for your number to flash on the screen (which, by the way, will flash in no particular order so you have to be attentive), try to seat far away from the consul. This is para di ka kabahan kasi maririnig mo pa how the other's are denied.
> Just be confident. Para magawa mo yun, you have to be honest. Mas madali tandaan ang totoo kesa fabricated stories.
It's not that hard. Kaya nyo yan guys! ;)
Yo my men,
Yosh
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