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

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

For Filipino nationals, any plan to journey to america 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 an enormous Filipino diaspora that almost all 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 could have a US visa, you’re allowed entry not simply to america but in addition a number of different nations that in any other case require a separate visa.

It’s no marvel 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 simple to safe. That’s why we’re half-grateful and half-relieved after we lastly acquired ours. Sure, we have been simply granted a US B1/B2 visa. Right here’s how I acquired 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 america 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, exhibits)
  Medical remedy

You can’t use a B1/B2 visa to review, work, or keep for good in america.

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. Should 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 total software course of when making use of for a US B1/B2 visa.

Be aware 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 join an account, go to this web page.

1. Click on NEW USER on the backside of the web page.
2. Enter your e mail tackle and full title on the following 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 e book an appointment, however you don’t want to do this this early. You received’t be capable to safe a slot till you’ve paid the visa charge. For now, all it is advisable to do is create an account.

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

That is particularly vital 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 obtainable date will assist you to gauge in the event you’ll be capable to get a visa in time in your journey and determine appropriately.

The very last thing you need is to pay the hefty visa charge solely to seek out that there are not any extra appointment slots earlier than your supposed journey date.

Be aware: The earliest appointment date adjustments on occasion, when candidates e book, 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 all the things seems good, then proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Accomplish the DS-160 Kind.

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

Each visa applicant should full a DS-160 type. Should you’re touring as a bunch, every certainly one of you need to fill it out individually.

Observe these steps:

1. Beneath 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 following 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 type. It’s a really prolonged type — with 10 pages — so allot loads of time. Should you really feel such as you received’t be capable to end, simply save your progress. Don’t rush it. And ensure each reply is correct. These are the main points it is advisable to put together:

1. PERSONAL DETAILS. Identify, start date, start place, and many others.
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. 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. Should you haven’t finalized these but, simply decide an supposed date of arrival within the US and supposed period 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’ll be touring to america.



4. PREVIOUS US TRAVELS. If it’s your first time touring to the US, simply reply NO. You’ll even be requested in the event you’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 tackle.
6. 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.



7. U.S. CONTACT. If you understand somebody within the US, present their title and your relationship with them. Ideally, this individual ought to be capable to confirm your id if deemed crucial.



8. FAMILY. Enter the names and start dates in case your mother and father. When you have kinfolk in america, you must also present their particulars right here.

   Should you don’t know anybody within the US, simply enter the title and tackle 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.

9. WORK AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND. Checklist 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 collection of questions in regards to the nations you visited, organizations you’re 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 must be in coloration and brought throughout the previous six (6) months. No eyeglasses, hats, or head cowl (apart from faith or medical causes). The hyperlinks beneath can information you:

After importing a photograph, overview all the data you provided. Make sure that each single factor is appropriate. If that’s the case, submit your software.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! The second you hit SUBMIT, you received’t be capable to make any adjustments to the shape, so guarantee each bit of data is appropriate. If there are nonetheless particulars that it is advisable to double-check or affirm, you may 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 following web page will show your DS-160 CONFIRMATION PAGE, which accommodates your affirmation quantity and barcode. You’ve 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 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 charge prices USD 185 (roughly PHP 10,800 on the time of this writing).

There a couple of methods to settle this charge however I selected to pay through PesoNet.

1. Go surfing to this USTravelDocs web page. As quickly because the web page masses, it should generate a reference quantity.
2. Save the reference quantity. You may take a screenshot of it or copy-paste it someplace. You’ll want this quantity when it’s time to ship the cost.
3. Observe the step-by-step cost 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 may 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 mirror within the system. In keeping with the web site, it ought to register on the following 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 following step.

Step 4: BOOK AN APPOINTMENT.

Assuming your cost is already within the system, it’s possible you’ll now e book 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 should 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 following yr. 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 have been capable of snag an appointment in October, which was only a month away.

Anyway, in the event you’re lastly able to e book an appointment, simply comply with these steps:

1. Click on on NEW APPLICATION/SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT on the left sidebar. On the following web page, choose NONIMMIGRANT VISA after which choose BUSINESS/TOURISM.
2. Fill out the following type 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 proper DS-160 type. When 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 charge, to be paid money upon supply.
4. On the PAYMENT web page, enter your RECEIPT NUMBER. In case your visa charge cost is already within the system, you must be capable to e book 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 information you entered so that you received’t have to fill out the shape once more once you log in once more.
5. Choose the date lang that finest works for you. You may change or reschedule it later in the event you discover a higher date.

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

USEFUL TIPS:

• You may 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 doable to likelihood 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 in the event you’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 charge cost receipt quantity
5. Latest ID picture (2×2)

These are the fundamental necessities. In lots of circumstances, these three are all you want. BUT — and it’s a giant however — it’s finest to have all the opposite doable 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 many others.
9. Journey itinerary

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

I indicated “doable” supporting paperwork as a result of in some cases, they don’t ask to see these docs. In truth, I accomplished and introduced all of those however they didn’t examine 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 simply’ll expertise the identical. A number of the candidates subsequent to me on the road have been requested to current a few of these supporting paperwork. It’s actually finest to be ready.

By the way in which, in the event you discover: the US Embassy doesn’t require financial institution certificates, financial institution statements, or any proof of funds. They’re not on the checklist, 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 tackle:

Embassy of america of America
1201 Roxas Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila

Arrive no less than quarter-hour earlier than your schedule. Really, they begin letting candidates in an hour earlier than the indicated schedule.

Visitors is horrible in Manila, so allot loads of lead time. Should you’re coming from far-off — particularly in the event you’re flying in from the province — and also you’re in search of a spot to remain, take into account a lodge that’s near the U.S. Embassy. There are loads of good decisions within the surrounding space. SEARCH FOR MANILA HOTELS HERE! ✅

However keep in mind these:

• Devices or gadgets with batteries and ON-OFF swap are NOT ALLOWED inside. Sure, that features cellphones, tablets, laptops, and even digital watches (Apple watch, and many others.).
• Meals, sharp objects, crayons, and markers are additionally prohibited. It’s possible you’ll be refused entry and your account could also be locked for 30 days in the event you’re caught sneaking any of those in.
• No lockers or baggage counters within the neighborhood. The most effective 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 aspect of the highway. Simply agree to fulfill at a sure time, old-school-style.

When you’re gadget-free, it’s possible you’ll now go inside. You’ll have to fall in line each step of the way in which. 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 examine. They’re very thorough, so don’t try to sneak in something prohibited.
3. Observe the indicators and the employees to the following constructing. It’s possible 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 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 examine supporting paperwork ought to they really feel the necessity to. In my case, they didn’t examine something. However a few 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 software is authorised, they may take your passport so they may affix the visa sticker.
   – In case your software 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 must obtain your passport with a visa only a few days after your interview.

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

Should you selected PICKUP once you booked an appointment, it’s possible you’ll 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 could have children?
• With whom are you touring?
• What do you do for a residing?
• How lengthy have I been doing this job?
• What’s the title of your employer?

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

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

After the final query, the officer typed one thing on the pc, confronted me once more, and mentioned, “OK, your visa is authorised. 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 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 type, so it’s essential that you understand and keep in mind the solutions you entered once you have 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 loads of time has handed between the day you completed the DS-160 type and the day of your interview, it’s simple to neglect the main points. So make a copy of your solutions on the DS-160 type.

There you could have it. That’s your complete U.S. visa software course of as I skilled it.

Earlier than I finish this text, I simply must commend the folks working on the U.S. Embassy for the graceful course of and nice expertise. From the Filipino employees and the American interviewers, each one was pleasant, mild, and respectful. Even after they have been delivering rejections, they did it in a manner 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

Should 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 Lodges!