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 best place! Welcome to our step-by-step US Visa Utility Information for Filipino vacationers. On this article, we’ll stroll you thru the whole 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 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 have got a US visa, you might be allowed entry not simply to the US but additionally a number of different international locations 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 significantly simple to safe. That’s why we’re half-grateful and half-relieved once we lastly bought ours. Sure, we had been simply granted a US B1/B2 visa. Right here’s how I bought 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 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 or associates
  Attending social occasions (concert events, festivals, reveals)
  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 normally:

• multiple-entry
• legitimate for 10 years

Sure, the 10-year validity is the very best half. When you’re granted a visa, you gained’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, scholar visa or inexperienced card, we gained’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 total utility course of when making use of for a US B1/B2 visa.

Notice that Steps 1 to three are literally interchangeable. However I consider that how I organized it beneath is the order that makes probably 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 tackle and full identify 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 guide an appointment, however you don’t want to try this this early. You gained’t have the ability to safe a slot till you’ve paid the visa price. For now, all it is advisable to do is create an account.

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

That is particularly vital in case your journey dates aren’t versatile: say, you’re attending a marriage, a live performance, or a convention. Having visibility on the earliest accessible date will help you gauge in case you’ll have the ability to get a visa in time on your journey and determine appropriately.

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

Notice: The earliest appointment date modifications every now and then, 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 gained’t be sooner or later.

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

Step 2: Accomplish the DS-160 Type.

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. In the event you’re touring as a bunch, every one in all you will need to fill it out individually.

Comply with these steps:

1. Below 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.
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 kind. It’s a really prolonged kind — with 10 pages — so allot loads of time. In the event you really feel such as you gained’t have the ability to end, simply save your progress. Don’t rush it. And ensure each reply is correct. These are the small print it is advisable to put together:

1. PERSONAL DETAILS. Identify, 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 Short-term 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 length of your keep.

   Please take a screenshot of this half so that you gained’t neglect the small print you entered. The consul/visa officer might 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 the US.



4. PREVIOUS US TRAVELS. If it’s your first time touring to the US, simply reply NO. You’ll even be requested in case 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 file of it anyway.
5. ADDRESS. Enter your present tackle.
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 particular person ought to have the ability to confirm your identification if deemed crucial.



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

   In the event you don’t know anybody within the US, simply enter the identify and tackle 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/faculties 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 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 coloration 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, assessment all the knowledge you provided. Be sure that each single factor is appropriate. If that’s the case, submit your utility.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! The second you hit SUBMIT, you gained’t have the ability to make any modifications to the shape, so guarantee each bit of data is appropriate. If there are nonetheless particulars that it is advisable to double-check or verify, you possibly can simply save your utility within the meantime and simply return to it when you have already got the proper information.

After submitting the shape, the following web page will show your DS-160 CONFIRMATION PAGE, which incorporates your affirmation quantity and barcode. You’ve the choice to print it out or electronic mail to your self. (I selected to electronic 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 on 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 through PesoNet.

1. Go browsing to this USTravelDocs web page. As quickly because the web page masses, it would 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 may change sooner or later. Simply observe the steps on the web page to a tee, ensuring that you just’re coming into the proper reference quantity.

That’s it! It’d take some time for the fee to mirror within the system. In line 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 fee is already within the system, it’s possible you’ll 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 would show the earliest accessible appointment date. This may be months from now. In my case, I utilized in September however the earliest accessible schedule was in January of the following 12 months. However don’t lose hope. Once in a while, some candidates cancel their appointments and new slots open up. We discovered that this normally 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, in case you’re lastly able to guide an appointment, simply observe 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 kind along with your private particulars and your DS-160 Affirmation Quantity. Ensure you’re coming into the proper quantity as a result of the system will use it to hyperlink your appointment to the best DS-160 kind. When you’ve got dependents who might 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 need to 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 gained’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 in case you 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 on the market, however I haven’t tried it but, so I do not know the way it works. However in case you’re making use of with a bunch, strive clicking the GROUP SCHEDULING REQUEST button on the left sidebar.

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

Whereas ready on 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 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:

6. All of your previous 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 beneath:

I indicated “attainable” supporting paperwork as a result of in some situations, they don’t ask to see these docs. In truth, I accomplished and introduced all of those however they didn’t test 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. A number 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 way in which, in case you 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 tackle:

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.

Site visitors is horrible in Manila, so allot loads of lead time. In the event you’re coming from far-off — particularly in case you’re flying in from the province — and also you’re in search of a spot to remain, think about a resort that’s near the U.S. Embassy. There are a number 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 cellphones, 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 in case 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 aspect of the street. 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 workers outdoors. They may affix a sticker with a QR code on the again cowl of your passport.
2. Enter the constructing for the safety test. They’re very thorough, so don’t try and sneak in something prohibited.
3. Comply with the indicators and the workers to the following 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.
4. Bear 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 on your flip.
5. Interview correct. This normally simply takes round 5 minutes. It’s very fast as a result of likely, functions have been evaluated even earlier than the interview. It’s very doubtless 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 possibility to test supporting paperwork ought to they really feel the necessity to. In my case, they didn’t test something. However a few of 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 utility is permitted, they may take your passport so they may affix the visa sticker.
   – In case your utility is rejected or denied, they may inform you 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 just some days after your interview.

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

In the event you selected PICKUP whenever 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 have got 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 bought 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 mentioned, “OK, your visa is permitted. 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 may truly hear the questions that the opposite candidates had been getting. These embody:

• 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 whenever 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 verify or take a look at in case your solutions are constant.

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

There you have got it. That’s the whole U.S. visa utility 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 sleek 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 recent 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 evening at a resort near the U.S. Embassy, listed below are some properties across the space.

Seek for extra Manila Resorts!