Planning to journey to the US for the primary time? You’ve come to the proper place! Welcome to our step-by-step US Visa Software Information for Filipino vacationers. On this article, we’ll stroll you thru the complete utility course of from reserving an appointment to nailing the interview on the US Embassy.
For Filipino nationals, any plan to journey to the US begins with a visa. And the US visa is without doubt one of 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 simple. Many people dream of stepping foot in New York or Las Vegas or California. And lastly, additionally it is a strong visa to have. When you’ve got a US visa, you might be allowed entry not simply to the US 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 at all times an extended queue on the US Embassy in Manila. However for many people, the US visa isn’t notably straightforward to safe. That’s why we’re half-grateful and half-relieved after we lastly received ours. Sure, we have been simply granted a US B1/B2 visa. Right here’s how I received it.
WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?
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 US for enterprise (B1), for tourism (B2) or BOTH.
You should utilize 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 kinfolk or associates
Attending social occasions (live shows, festivals, reveals)
Medical therapy
You can not use a B1/B2 visa to check, work, or keep for good in the US.
A B1/B2 visa is often:
- multiple-entry
- legitimate for 10 years
Sure, the 10-year validity is the perfect half. When you’re granted a visa, you received’t must 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 kind of visa. If you happen to’re making use of for a piece visa, scholar visa or inexperienced card, we received’t be of any assist as a result of they’re exterior our private experiences.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A U.S. VISA?
Right here’s the total utility 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.
- Click on NEW USER on the backside of the web page.
- Enter your e mail deal with and full identify on the subsequent web page.
- Set a password.
- 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 payment. For now, all you might want to do is create an account.
Why? As a result of as quickly as you’ve got an account, you’ll be capable of see the EARLIEST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT DATE.
That is particularly essential in case your journey dates should not versatile: say, you’re attending a marriage, a live performance, or a convention. Having visibility on the earliest out there date will will let you gauge when you’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 payment solely to search out that there aren’t any extra appointment slots earlier than your supposed journey date.
Word: The earliest appointment date adjustments every now and then, 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 seems to be good, then proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Accomplish the DS-160 Kind.
The DS-160 kind serves as your utility kind. To fill it out, go to to this web page.
Each visa applicant should full a DS-160 kind. If you happen to’re touring as a gaggle, every certainly one of you need to fill it out individually.
Comply with these steps:
- Beneath LOCATION WHERE YOU’LL BE APPLYING, select PHILIPPINES, MANILA. Enter the CAPTCHA code beneath it. Then click on on the pink START AN APPLICATION button.
- On the subsequent web page, you’ll be assigned an APPLICATION ID.
- Choose a safety query and enter a solution. DO NOT neglect 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. If you happen to 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 main points you might want to put together:
- PERSONAL DETAILS. Title, delivery date, delivery place, and so forth.
- TRAVEL DETAILS. You’ll be requested to pick out the aim of your journey. Because you’re making use of for a B1/B2 visa, select Momentary Enterprise Pleasure Customer. Beneath SPECIFY, choose Enterprise & Tourism (Temperoary Customer).
Beneath it, provide the main points of your journey. When you have a concrete journey plan, enter your journey dates. If you happen to haven’t finalized these but, simply decide an supposed date of arrival within the US and supposed length of your keep.
Please take a screenshot of this half so that you received’t neglect the main points you entered. The consul/visa officer will probably be asking you about your journey particulars when it’s time for interview.
- TRAVEL COMPANIONS. Declare the individuals with whom you can be touring to the US.
- PREVIOUS US TRAVELS. If it’s your first time touring to the US, simply reply NO. You’ll even be requested when you’ve been denied a US visa earlier than or denied entry into the nation. Reply honestly as a result of they’ve a file of it anyway.
- ADDRESS. Enter your present deal with.
- CONTACT INFORMATION. Apart out of your contact numbers, you’ll additionally want to supply your social media account handles/usernames together with Fb, X (Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram. You’ll additionally enter your passport particulars right here.
- U.S. CONTACT. If you realize somebody within the US, present their identify and your relationship with them. Ideally, this particular person ought to be capable of confirm your id if deemed vital.
- FAMILY. Enter the names and delivery dates in case your mother and father. When you have kinfolk in the US, you must also present their particulars right here.
If you happen to don’t know anybody within the US, simply enter the identify and deal with of an institution that you simply 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.
- WORK AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND. Listing down your present and former employers and work experiences (together with job descriptions) and universities/colleges you attended. Sure, this half really feel such as you’re constructing a CV.
- 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 army 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 shade and brought inside 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, assessment all the knowledge you provided. Make certain each single factor is right. In that case, submit your utility.
⚠️ 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 you might want to double-check or verify, you may simply save your utility 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 comprises your affirmation quantity and barcode. You might have the choice to print it out or e mail to your self. (I selected to e mail it to myself so I may get again to it anytime sooner or later.)
You’ll must 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 payment prices USD 185 (roughly PHP 10,800 on the time of this writing).
There just a few methods to settle this payment however I selected to pay by way of PesoNet.
- Go surfing to this USTravelDocs web page. As quickly because the web page hundreds, it’s going to generate a reference quantity.
- Save the reference quantity. You’ll be able to take a screenshot of it or copy-paste it someplace. You’ll want this quantity when it’s time to ship the cost.
- Comply with the step-by-step cost directions on the backside of the web page. As a result of we’re speaking about paying an enormous 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 simply’re coming into the right reference quantity.
That’s it! It’d take some time for the cost to replicate within the system. In response to 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 may transfer on to the subsequent step.
Step 4: BOOK AN APPOINTMENT.
Assuming your cost is already within the system, you might 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 out there appointment date. This may be months from now. In my case, I utilized in September however the earliest out there schedule was in January of the subsequent yr. However don’t lose hope. Once in a while, some candidates cancel their appointments and new slots open up. We discovered that this often occurs within the wee hours of the night time. True sufficient, after staying up at night time, we have been capable of snag an appointment in October, which was only a month away.
Anyway, when you’re lastly able to guide an appointment, simply comply with these steps:
- Click on on NEW APPLICATION/SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT on the left sidebar. On the subsequent web page, choose NONIMMIGRANT VISA after which choose BUSINESS/TOURISM.
- Fill out the subsequent kind together 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 proper DS-160 kind. When you have dependents who will probably be with you on the interview, enter their particulars and their very own DS-160 affirmation numbers.
- Select the way you wish to obtain your passport again: FREE PICK UP or DELIVERY. The latter entails a separate payment, to be paid money upon supply.
- On the PAYMENT web page, enter your RECEIPT NUMBER. In case your visa payment cost is already within the system, you must 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 must fill out the shape once more while you log in once more.
- Choose the date lang that greatest works for you. You’ll be able to change or reschedule it later when you discover a higher date.
That’s it! You have already got an appointment.
USEFUL TIPS:
- You’ll be able to 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 attainable to likelihood upon an earlier schedule. That’s what occurred to me.
- GROUP APPOINTMENT choice is on the market, however I haven’t tried it but, so I don’t know the way it works. However when you’re making use of with a gaggle, 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.
- Legitimate passport
- Appointment affirmation web page
- DS-160 affirmation quantity
- your MRV payment cost receipt quantity
- Current ID picture (2×2)
- All of your previous passports
- Proof of earnings, property possession, ITR
- Letter out of your employer detailing your place, wage, and so forth.
- Journey itinerary
These are the fundamental necessities. In lots of circumstances, these three are all you want. BUT — and it’s an enormous however — it’s greatest to have all the opposite attainable supporting paperwork listed on the embassy’s web site:
And others, relying in your function of journey. See screenshot of the official web site beneath:
I indicated “attainable” supporting paperwork as a result of in some cases, they don’t ask to see these docs. The truth is, 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.
Nevertheless it doesn’t imply that you simply’ll expertise the identical. A few of the candidates subsequent to me on the road have been requested to current a few of these supporting paperwork. It’s actually greatest to be ready.
By the best way, when you 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 hassle. 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 deal with:
Embassy of the US of America
1201 Roxas Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
Arrive not less than quarter-hour earlier than your schedule. Truly, they begin letting candidates in an hour earlier than the indicated schedule.
Visitors is horrible in Manila, so allot loads of lead time. If you happen to’re coming from distant — particularly when you’re flying in from the province — and also you’re in search of a spot to remain, contemplate a resort that’s near the U.S. Embassy. There are a whole lot of good selections within the surrounding space. SEARCH FOR MANILA HOTELS HERE! ✅
However keep in mind these:
- Devices or objects with batteries and ON-OFF change 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. Chances are you’ll be refused entry and your account could also be locked for 30 days when you’re caught sneaking any of those in.
- No lockers or baggage counters within the neighborhood. The perfect factor to do is to go together 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 might now go inside. You’ll must fall in line each step of the best way. Listed below are the steps:
- Current your printed appointment affirmation web page on the workers exterior. They may affix a sticker with a QR code on the again cowl of your passport.
- Enter the constructing for the safety verify. They’re very thorough, so don’t try to sneak in something prohibited.
- Comply with the indicators and the workers to the subsequent constructing. Chances are you’ll 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 pair of×2 ID picture.
- Endure biometrics scan. They may 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.
- Interview correct. This often simply takes round 5 minutes. It’s very fast as a result of most likely, purposes have been evaluated even earlier than the interview. It’s very possible that they have already got a tentative choice previous to your appointment and the interview is only for validation or to settle any doubts, if any. It’s also a chance to verify supporting paperwork ought to they really feel the necessity to. In my case, they didn’t verify something. However a number of the different candidates within the space have been requested to current supporting docs. I’ll share all of the questions within the subsequent part beneath.
– In case your utility is permitted, they may take your passport so they might affix the visa sticker.
– In case your utility is rejected or denied, they may 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 way 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.
If you happen to selected PICKUP while you booked an appointment, you might 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 got youngsters?
- With whom are you touring?
- What do you do for a residing?
- 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 permitted. We’ll simply mail the passport to you.”
However as a result of the interview is performed in an open space, whereas I used to be in line, I may really hear the questions that the opposite candidates have 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 realize and keep in mind the solutions you entered while you have 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 making an attempt for verify or take a look at in case your solutions are constant.
The issue is, when a whole lot of time has handed between the day you achieved the DS-160 kind and the day of your interview, it’s straightforward to neglect the main points. So make a copy of your solutions on the DS-160 kind.
There you’ve got it. That’s the complete U.S. visa utility course of as I skilled it.
Earlier than I finish this text, I simply should 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, light, and respectful. Even once they have 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
If you happen to’re coming from the province and also you wish to spend the night time at a resort near the U.S. Embassy, listed here are some properties across the space.
Seek for extra Manila Motels!
Extra Tips about YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Is that this put up useful to you?
