You must have stumbled upon my page
because you were looking for some tips on how to get a US tourist visa. I’m
going to share simple and helpful tips based on my experience. As you can see,
I am a OFW working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, obviously, my B1/B2 US visa was
granted in this oil rich country.
There are a lot of hearsay and
misconceptions about acquiring a US tourist visa. They say that it’s hard to
get a US visa in the Philippines but easier when applied in another country.
WRONG. I have a handful of friends who tried their luck for the US visa but
ended up DENIED even if they have all the necessary requirements, documents and
mind you, with fat bank accounts.
I was afraid to apply for a US tourist
visa when I was in the Philippines because the thought of getting denied was
emotionally draining not to mention the financial side of the story. Manila is
an hour flight from Cebu. I need a place to stay for the interview, meaning,
aside from the application and visa fees, I have to spend for my plane tickets,
food and accommodation in Manila. As I am not familiar with Manila, I need to
bring somebody with me to help me around and that would mean added expenses. In
short, US tourist Visa was just a dream.
All I have during my interview were
handwritten letters from my daughter which she gave me before I left for Saudi
Arabia, pictures of me, my daughter and mom, malnourished bank account from the
Philippines (print out), ATM card and Credit card (just in case of emergency),
print out of the last billing of my credit card, an invitation letter from my
aunt in Las Vegas sent through email (as they say I need an invitation letter as
one of the supporting documents) my passport, passport size pictures ( 4 copies)
and the very most important thing, certificate of employment from my employer
(or a company employment certificate from where you are working). I have no
land title/s, house or car under my name or fat bank account. I don’t even have
statement of account of my aunt to support my stay in the US as it will take 3
weeks for them to get a copy of the document from their bank. In short, I am
taking a big risk.
So you want to visit the US for
tourism, right? Foreign nationals who want to enter the US temporarily for
business or tourism purposes must apply for Non-immigrant visa with a valid
passport.
What is a B1/B2 Visa?
B1 Visa is for business purposes, meaning, you can go to the US for
the purpose of business. When you say business, it’s not that you are already
allowed to open your own business in the US but only transact business,
procurement of materials, attend trade shows, etc.
B2 Visa is for tourism, travel for leisure and medical treatment in
the US.
What is a Visa?
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United
States (U.S.) generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the
traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of
citizenship. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the
U.S. without a visa if they meet the requirements
for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas
for foreign citizens to travel to the U.S – (from travel.state.gov.)
Here is a sample of a B1/B2 US Visa. (pic from travel.state.gov)
First, you have to apply online and
fill up the application form before you can make an appointment through their
website. Detailed application if you are in Saudi Arabia in this site. http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/visas/b1b2.html.
If you are in the Philippines, one
has to make an appointment through call center. Please click the link for details,
http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3024.htmlhttp://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3024.html.
Now, you have already filled up and
submitted your online application form, paid the corresponding visa fee and are
waiting for the schedule of your appointment. Waiting time is the hardest time
because of so many negative thoughts coming in to your mind like what if I get
denied, what shall I do? Can I still apply again? Or, you are already very
excited of the trip and plotting out your itinerary. Planning for a trip is
stressful, isn’t it?
When filling up the application form online, keep in mind to be always honest with your answers because this will be asked to you again by the Consul, randomly. If you lie in your application, one lie will give you a big trouble if discovered, worse, you might get banned from entering the US because of fraud. The Consuls are trained to read facial expressions, mannerisms of a person that is why, your fate and hopes lies with these people.
I was doing my research to get tips
on how to better answer the Consul during my interview and what should I bring
to get the Visa. I read blogs and tips that sometimes I get discouraged because
I don’t have some of the most required documents like financial capacity to
support the travel, land titles etc. Then I told myself, even if I don’t have
all these documents, all I will do is just be honest with myself and to the
Consul, do the best that I can do during the interview and leave everything to
God, at least I tried.
The day of my interview came. I
chose the 8:30 am schedule so I was already at the US Embassy in Riyadh by 7:30
am. As the sun is getting hotter, the people queuing were increasing too. My
heart was pounding fast and had butterflies in my stomach. I did not have
enough sleep and was praying all night for guidance from God. If it is His will
that I shall travel to the US, thank you, if not, then so be it.
The guy in the window asked for my
appointment paper and bank receipt. My mobile phone, perfume and hand
sanitizer, all metal things were left at the counter. I passed by the scanner
and so my bag too. After all the security check, I headed to the office. While
waiting, I tried to comfort myself, kept my composure because this will affect
my interview if the Consul will see me shaking and nervous, I might get denied
without any word at all.
My number was called. A friendly woman asked me few
questions like what are you going to do in the US? She took some of my
documents then advised me to have a seat and wait again for my number to be
called.
A voice from the loud-speaker
announced – Number so and so, English speaking please proceed to window 13.
Nervous as I am, before I headed to the cubicle, I prayed, Lord God please be
with me, Thy will be done. I approached the guard and asked again if what
window shall I proceed because I did not hear the voice clearly. The guard
said, just go to either window 12 or 13. I went inside the 1st cubicle. The guy
had a mean face that I started to tremble but still I wore my smile and said,
Good morning Sir. The Consul, a bit chubby with a beard and without a trace of
smile on his face responded, I did not call, you go to the next window. Whew.
Thank God he’s not the one. I went to the next window and saw an approachable,
small framed American guy. Again, I flashed a smile and greeted the Consul. He
then told me to pick up the phone so that we can talk properly. He opened the
computer and was accessing my online application then started throwing
questions at me.
Consul: What is your purpose of
travel to the US?
Me: For tourism and I want to spend
my Christmas and New Year in the US and hopefully to experience white Christmas.
Consul: So you’re going to Las
Vegas, I heard there’s a lot of Filipinos there; do you have a relative in
Vegas?
(My mind was having 2nd thoughts of
the question because they said, don’t ever tell the interviewer that you have
relatives in the US because chances are you will be denied as they will think
you will not go back to your country again. Thing is, I am honest remember? I
have written in my application that I have an aunt in Vegas and the address)
Me: Yes, I have an aunt, she is a nurse and I haven’t seen
her for almost 15 years.
Consul: Do you have kids?
Me: Yes, I have a daughter; she’s in
the Philippines now. (I took the pictures and her handwritten letters from my
folder and handed it to the Consul as a support to my claim)
Consul: It’s ok, thank you. (He
declined and did not took the papers and photos from me)
Consul: So, what is your work here?
Me: I work as personal secretary of
a Princess.
Consul: That’s great. As her
secretary, what is your scope of work?
Me: The usual clerical work, paper
work that is, scout for manufacturers of furniture online, negotiate prices,
buy items for her, make appointments, etc.
Consul: What is the business of your
employer?
Me: She has a company that caters to the needs of women and
children like spa, swimming area, gym, beauty parlor, furniture and home deco.
She’s into interior designs now.
Consul: Do you have the financial
capacity to sustain your travel?
Me: (Hmmmm tough question. Confident
as I am I replied) Yes, I have cash on hand.
Consul: Why cash on hand? Why not
put it in the bank? Don’t you have a bank account?
Me: Yes, I have but it’s a Philippine
account, not in a Saudi bank. (Took my passbook and bank statement, handed it
to him, but the Consul did not even bother to check my documents, again.)
Consul: Why not open one here?
Me: If I open an account in Saudi,
it will be cumbersome on my part as I have to go to the bank, withdraw, and
then go to remittance centers to transfer or send money to my family in the
Philippines. For me, its better have my cash on hand. Anytime I need to send
money, I can do so and straight to my account too.
Consul: Do you have a credit card?
Me: Yes, I have sir.
(Took me sometime to find my credit
card inside the folder, the Consul then said, just give me your folder. When he
opened the folder, the first page was the Certificate of employment from my
employer. After reading the certification, he said, ok, you go to FedEx, pay
and wait for your visa; you will have it in few days.)
Everything the Consul asked me was based on what I have
written on my application form.
I couldn’t believe what I just
heard. I passed the interview and will be heading to the US soon. I left the
embassy with a smile. After 3 days, my passport arrived and guess what, I got 10
years multiple entry B1/B2 US visa.
Lessons from the interview:
1) Be transparent. As what I have
said, the Consuls are individuals who have years of experience and extensive
trainings in their chosen field.
2) Be honest as much as possible. If
you lie, tendency is you will forget what you have written in the application
form and will blow the chance of getting the visa. Whatever way the Consul will
interrogate you, if you are honest with your answers, you will still give the
same reply.
3) Be yourself.
4) Relax and be confident with all
your answers. Never make unnecessary movements like twirling your hair or worse,
bite your nails (as some unconsciously do) or make facial expressions that will
distract the Consul.
5) Get as much information needed
like the place you want to visit, jot down possible questions the Consul might
ask you. If possible, practise in front of a mirror or with a friend.
6) One question, one answer. Don’t
give too much information other than what is asked. Keep the talkative side of
you behind for a while as this may get you into trouble than good.
7) Have your presence of mind, stay
focused and be attentive to the questions asked.
8) Have an eye contact.
9) Have faith in yourself.
10) Have faith in God.
11) As per my observation, the
Consuls really don’t care of your financial status, what they care about is
your strong ties to your country or work. That you have the intentions of going
back to your country and NOT stay in the US as an illegal alien.
12) Being granted a visa is not
because of the mood of the Consul during the interview as how we see it when
things went wrong and is denied of the opportunity. It is but by how you
confidently answer and assures the Consul of your honest intentions as a
tourist.
I was expecting a single entry but God gave me more than
what I have asked for. Everything is according to His great plan and in His time,
not ours.
thanks for sharing your experience, this could help a lot for me...God bless
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