U.S. TOURIST VISA APPLICATION Necessities & Course of for Filipinos + Interview Questions

Planning to journey to the US for the primary time? You’ve come to the precise place! Welcome to our step-by-step US Visa Utility Information for Filipino vacationers. On this article, we’ll stroll you thru the whole software 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 likely one of the most extremely coveted for a lot of causes. First, the US has an enormous Filipino diaspora that almost all 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, additionally it is a strong visa to have. When you’ve a US visa, you might be allowed entry not simply to the US but in addition a number of different nations that in any other case require a separate visa.

It’s no surprise that at any given day, there’s all the time 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 once we lastly obtained ours. Sure, we had been simply granted a US B1/B2 visa. Right here’s how I obtained 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 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 family or pals
  Attending social occasions (live shows, festivals, exhibits)
  Medical remedy

You can’t 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 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 case you’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 complete software course of when making use of for a US B1/B2 visa.

Observe that Steps 1 to three are literally interchangeable. However I imagine that how I organized it under 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 electronic mail deal with 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 try this this early. You received’t have the ability to safe a slot till you’ve paid the visa price. For now, all you might want to do is create an account.

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

That is particularly necessary in case your journey dates usually are not versatile: say, you’re attending a marriage, a live performance, or a convention. Having visibility on the earliest obtainable date will will let you gauge if you happen to’ll have the ability to 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 search out that there are not any extra appointment slots earlier than your meant journey date.

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

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

Step 2: Accomplish the DS-160 Type.

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 case you’re touring as a gaggle, every considered one of you should fill it out individually.

Comply with these steps:

1. Underneath LOCATION WHERE YOU’LL BE APPLYING, select PHILIPPINES, MANILA. Enter the CAPTCHA code under it. Then click on on the pink 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 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. In case you really feel such as you received’t have the ability to 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:

1. PERSONAL DETAILS. Title, beginning date, beginning 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. Underneath SPECIFY, choose Enterprise & Tourism (Temperoary Customer).

   Underneath it, provide the main points of your journey. If in case you have a concrete journey plan, enter your journey dates. In case you haven’t finalized these but, simply decide an meant date of arrival within the US and meant 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 likely 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 US.



4. PREVIOUS US TRAVELS. If it’s your first time touring to the US, simply reply NO. You’ll even be requested if you happen to’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.
5. ADDRESS. Enter your present deal with.
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 realize somebody within the US, present their identify and your relationship with them. Ideally, this individual ought to have the ability to confirm your identification if deemed obligatory.



8. FAMILY. Enter the names and beginning dates in case your dad and mom. If in case you have family in the US, you also needs to present their particulars right here.

   In case you don’t know anybody within the US, simply enter the identify and deal with 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. 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.



10. SECURITY AND BACKGROUND. Final web page! Reply a sequence of questions concerning the nations 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 must be in shade and brought inside the previous six (6) months. No eyeglasses, hats, or head cowl (apart from faith or medical causes). The hyperlinks under can information you:

After importing a photograph, evaluation all the data you equipped. Be certain each single factor is appropriate. In that case, submit your software.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! The second you hit SUBMIT, you received’t have the ability to make any adjustments to the shape, so guarantee each bit of data is appropriate. If there are nonetheless particulars that you might want to double-check or affirm, you possibly can 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 incorporates your affirmation quantity and barcode. You’ve gotten the choice to print it out or electronic mail to your self. (I selected to electronic 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 a number of methods to settle this price however I selected to pay by way of PesoNet.

1. Go surfing to this USTravelDocs web page. As quickly because the web page hundreds, it is 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. Comply with the step-by-step fee 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 just’re coming into the right reference quantity.

That’s it! It would take some time for the fee to replicate within the system. Based on 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 might now guide an interview appointment. Log into your USTravelDocs.com account on this web page. This is identical portal on Step 1.

On the left sidebar, it is 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 often occurs within the wee hours of the evening. True sufficient, after staying up at evening, we had been in a position to snag an appointment in October, which was only a month away.

Anyway, if you happen to’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. Be sure you’re coming into the right quantity as a result of the system will use it to hyperlink your appointment to the precise DS-160 kind. If in case you have dependents who will likely 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, you must have the ability to 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 while you log in once more.
5. Choose the date lang that greatest works for you. You possibly can change or reschedule it later if you happen to 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 attainable to probability upon an earlier schedule. That’s what occurred to me.
• GROUP APPOINTMENT possibility is obtainable, however I haven’t tried it but, so I do not know the way it works. However if you happen to’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.

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

These are the fundamental necessities. In lots of instances, 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:

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

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

I indicated “attainable” 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, apart from my passport and appointment affirmation. In Vins’s case, the one different factor they checked was his 2×2 picture.

But it surely doesn’t imply that you just’ll expertise the identical. A few of 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, if you happen to discover: the US Embassy doesn’t require financial institution certificates, financial institution statements, or any proof of funds. They’re not on the listing, 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 at the very least 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. In case you’re coming from far-off — particularly if you happen to’re flying in from the province — and also you’re on the lookout for a spot to remain, think about a lodge that’s near the U.S. Embassy. There are plenty of good decisions within the surrounding space. SEARCH FOR MANILA HOTELS HERE! ✅

However bear in mind these:

• Devices or gadgets 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 if you happen to’re caught sneaking any of those in.
• No lockers or baggage counters within the neighborhood. The very best 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 aspect of the street. Simply agree to satisfy at a sure time, old-school-style.

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

1. Current your printed appointment affirmation web page on the employees exterior. 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 to sneak in something prohibited.
3. Comply with the indicators and the employees 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 couple of×2 ID picture.
4. Endure 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 often simply takes round 5 minutes. It’s very fast as a result of most likely, functions have been evaluated even earlier than the interview. It’s very possible that they have already got a tentative determination 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 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 under.
   – In case your software is permitted, they are going to take your passport so they might affix the visa sticker.
   – In case your software is rejected or denied, they are going to inform you proper then and there. (Sure, inside listening to vary of different candidates on the queue.)

Step 7: WAIT FOR YOUR VISA!

It’s best to obtain your passport with a visa just some days after your interview.

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

In case you 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 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 obtained 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 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 nations 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 bear in mind the solutions you entered while you had been undertaking it on-line. They’re not asking as a result of they wish to know — they already know — however they most likely are simply attempting for affirm or check in case your solutions are constant.

The issue is, when plenty of time has handed between the day you completed 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 it. That’s the whole 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 sleek course of and nice expertise. From the Filipino employees and the American interviewers, each one was pleasant, light, and respectful. Even once they had been delivering rejections, they did it in a approach 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 recent air. Kudos to all the employees on the US Embassy!

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

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

Seek for extra Manila Accommodations!