U.S.

VISA PROCESSING
What to Bring for Pre-Interview:
1. DS-160 Confirmation Page  

2. One 2x2 Photo

3. Original Passport with at least
six months of validity

4. Original Receipt

5. Appointment Confirmation Letter

 Questions to take note: 

• Why are you planning to visit the United States?

• If visiting friends, where do they live?

• Do you have any immediate family in the United States?

• What (other) places in the US to you plan to go to in your

visit?

• Have you been to the United States before? If yes, when was
the last time, for how long and what did you do there?

• What is your job in the Philippines? (Keep this answer quite

brief but detailed)

 Supporting Documents

• Invitation letters

• Bank books/certificates

• Employment Certificate

 INTERVIEW DAY
1. THINGS TO REMEMBER BEFORE LEAVING HOME:

• Do not bring any electronic devices.

• Do not bring any snacks or water.

• Arrive at the US Embassy at least 30 minutes before

your appointment.

 ARRIVING AT THE EMBASSY

AND SECURITY CHECKS
• As soon as you get there, there will be multiple lines forming. Ask
around for the line for applicants of your particular time slot and
stand in it.

• Once your time slot is called, the first post checks that you have your
DS-160 and valid passport before asking you to join another line.

• The next line attaches a barcode to the back of your passport for
tracking purposes.

• Next, you will be asked to go through a scanner. All electronic

devices, food and drink will be detected.
MAP TO U.S. EMBASSY
 NOTE: 

If you were caught bringing in an unauthorized

item, you will be given an opportunity to leave
the secure area and dispose or give the items
to a friend or to someone performing a holding
service. After these items are no longer in your
possession, you may re-enter the secure
area. You do not need to rejoin the line, just
walk back into the secure area.

 WAITING TO GET INSIDE

THE INTERVIEW BUILDING
• Aftergetting through security, you will join
a line to check what kind of visa you are
applying for and if you've gotten a visa
before. Hand your passport along with your
DS-160 to the booth agent and tell them
"Tourist Visa" and if you've gotten a visa
before or not. The booth agent will then
attach an  Interview Number  to your
DS-160. This number, once called, will be
your opportunity to interview with a US
Consulate Officer.

• After
you are handed your interview number,
you are then asked to sit in an open waiting
area just outside of the interview building.
Make sure you sit in the block of
chairs  closest to the entrance.  These
chairs are for Nonimmigrant applicants like
you, and the other side for Immigrant
applicants.

• Onceseated, a greeter will call applicants in

groups of 20 based on interview number.
Pay attention to the greeter and once your
group is called, line up with the others and
prepare to walk into the interview building.

TIPS:

• In this waiting area, there are bathrooms

and a small boutique where you can buy
a beverage and some snacks.

• Comically, you can also buy US

Embassy Manila emblazoned t-shirts
and other souvenirs at the boutique to
commemorate the experience.

• There is a photo booth just in case you

didn't bring a photo. Six 2x2 photos can
be had for 80PHP. Use this as a last
resort only because you do not want to
fall behind in line trying to get a new
picture.

 GETTING INSIDE
THE INTERVIEW BUILDING
• Once inside, you will be ushered into the Pre-Screening area where
the booth agent will check (again) what visa you are applying for and
will affix the 2x2 picture you brought with you on your DS-160. Make
sure your picture is easily accessible!

• Next, you will head to Biometrics where your fingerprints are taken.

• After that, you are asked to sit down and watch for your number to
be displayed on the display screens overhead.

• Wait patiently, and when summoned, your number will be displayed

next to another number which indicates the interview booth you will
be interviewed in and will need to head towards.
TIPS:

• Interview numbers are called randomly within a certain block

and are only called once.

• Every time you hear a Ding!, look up and see what interview
number is being called.

• Interviewees have more or less 3-4 minutes to make it to an

interview booth or lose their chance to get interviewed.

• Unfortunately, constantly looking up at every  Ding!  makes

reading difficult.

• The interview booths used for B1/B2 Visitor Visas are

typically  1-10. Try and get a seat as close to these booths as
possible to reduce your walk time.

 THE INTERVIEW

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
• "What is your purpose visiting the United States?”
• "When was your last visit to the United States?”
• (If you had a Temporary Worker H1-B Visa) "Is your H1-B now finished?”
• "What do you do for work?”
• Is this line of work similar to what you did on your H1-B?”
• "How long did you spend in the US in total with the F-1 and H1-B visas?”
• How long do you plan on staying in the US during your next visit?”
• (If you’re going to a music festival) "Where is the music festival you plan on
attending?”
"Approved! Your visa will be ready in 5 business days!"
NOTE: If you cannot hear the officer interviewing you, remain calm
and politely say "I'm sorry, can you please repeat that?"