My Step Daughter Got Her U.S. Visa Today

[OnMyWay]

What a relief!  My step daughter's U.S. tourist visa was approved today!  Now I can move full speed ahead on our trip planning for May.

We did not tell her about the vacation trip until a few days ago.  Yesterday, I briefed her on what we would be doing in the U.S. for a month, where we would go, who we would see, etc., in case they asked her questions.

It was a brutal day.  1045 am appointment at the embassy and then over to Intramuros Main BI to file for my 13A Marriage Visa.  We were up at 0330 and got home about 7 pm.  I hired a car and driver, and he was very good

The Embassy visit was very smooth.  They tell you not to arrive earlier than 15 minutes before your appointment, but that is misleading.  We went over about 0930 for our 1045 appointment, just to inquire.  They already had the 1045 signs up for initial processing at the first gate, so we were good to go.

At first they said only 1 parent could go with the minor applicant, but we also had our two younger daughter's with us, so they let me go in too.  There is a little green form you have to fill out to do this.

At the main security checkpoint, they will keep your phone or other gadgets for you.  I thought someone had mentioned that private companies were providing that service but it was embassy employees at the scanner.

There is a large covered outdoor waiting area where you get arranged by appointment time, in rows.  There is a snack bar and CR right there.

Once we went inside the building, it was a breeze.  These 8 mo old and 2 years 10 mo old munchkins might be a lot of trouble to tote around, but they often pay their way!  Due to them, we got preferential treatment all the way!  We only waited a few minutes for the final interview and that was the only wait after we were inside.

The guy that interviewed us was very businesslike, but nice.  He only asked my daughter one or two things, my wife a few things, and me maybe 3 or 4 things.  I told him we had a CRBA pending for the baby and he went and checked it.  I think that was part of his double checking our stories but it was also nice of him to let me know the status.  He said we could go upstairs and check on it but I said no need, we are not leaving until May.  The key thing he asked me was if I had plans to take the family back to the U.S. to live, and I said no, our life is here and we have a long term lease in the Freeport.  I had a ton of back up documents.  He asked for my daughter's BC and our marriage certificate.  He did ask my wife and daughter where her birth dad was, and they told him honestly that he works in Dubai, and that the marriage was annulled.  He mentioned that we might need his permission for her to leave the country, but we told him that full custody to my wife is mentioned in the annulment, and we had already been to Singapore and New Zealand without issues.

We were out the door about 1115!  Nice visit!

[Old55]

Great news!!

[robert k]

Glad you had the custody answer right at hand. It's always good that when they say they have questions you can look them in the eyes and say, I have answers.

[earthdome]

Good work OMW. Good research and planning ends in success. Enjoy your visit back to the states with your family.

[Queenie O.]

That is great great news--she'll have a great time I'm sure!

[OnMyWay]

On 2/1/2017 at 9:03 AM, Queenie O. said:

That is great great news--she'll have a great time I'm sure!

They are excited to see snow!  I turn the a/c down to 25c and they are freezing, so it will be fun to see how they like snow!

[Jack Peterson]

6 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

so it will be fun to see how they like snow!

 It will be Warmer in the snow than sat in your front Room @ 25c Wrap then up well