2025 Up to date! U.S. VISA APPLICATION Necessities & Interview Questions Philippines

Planning to journey to the US for the primary time? You’ve come to the suitable place! Welcome to our step-by-step US Visa Utility Information for Filipino vacationers. On this article, we’ll stroll you thru your entire software 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 likely one of the most extremely coveted for a lot of causes. First, the US has an enormous Filipino diaspora that the majority of us know somebody there. Second, the American affect on Philippine tradition is plain. Many people dream of stepping foot in New York or Las Vegas or California. And lastly, it is usually a strong visa to have. When you’ve gotten a US visa, you might be allowed entry not simply to the US but in addition 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 at all times 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 bought ours. Sure, we had been simply granted a US B1/B2 visa. Right here’s how we bought ours.

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 relations or associates
  Attending social occasions (concert events, festivals, reveals)
  Medical remedy

You can’t use a B1/B2 visa to review, 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 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 kind of visa. In the event 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 outdoors our private experiences.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A U.S. VISA?

UPDATE! Beginning September 28, 2024, US visa candidates within the Philippines have to schedule TWO appointments:

APPOINTMENT 1: BIOMETRICS ENROLLMENT

First, an applicant should safe an appointment for the biometrics assortment on the Visa Utility Heart (VAC). The what? You learn it proper: Visa Utility Heart or VAC. That is the place you should have your photograph taken and your fingerprints scanned BEFORE your interview on the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard.

APPOINTMENT 2: CONSULAR/VISA INTERVIEW

The applicant will then be directed to the web page to set the appointment for the visa interview on the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard.

For extra particulars, see STEPS 7 & 8.

Right here’s the complete software course of when making use of for a US B1/B2 visa.

Observe that Steps 1 and a pair of are literally interchangeable. However I imagine 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.

All first-time candidates and customers within the new system should register first.

1. Faucet the “Visa Login” button on the prime proper of the Nonimmigrant Visa software web page.

   

2. Click on the “Join now” hyperlink on the backside of the login web page.

   

3. Set your username and password. Then, enter all of the requested particulars: e-mail tackle, full identify, and so on.

   

4. Learn the Privateness Coverage web page, then press “Proceed”. That’s it!

   

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. Nevertheless, you received’t be capable to safe a slot till you’ve paid the visa payment. For now, all you must do is create an account.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! It’s finest to start out your software a minimum of three months earlier than your meant date of departure to the US. The brand new appointment course of now not announce the earliest out there appointment date, so make sure that to allot sufficient time in your software.

Whereas Vins and I utilized for our visa utilizing the previous system, our teammate Asta skilled making use of for hers by way of the brand new software system. She created her USTravelDocs account, completed her D-160 kind, and scheduled her appointments round final week of November. For biometric assortment on the Visa Utility Heart (VAC) at Parqal, the earliest out there date was December 3. In the meantime, for her consul interview on the US Embassy, the earliest out there schedule was January 7. Extra particulars on this later.

That is particularly vital in case your journey dates are usually not versatile: say, you’re attending a marriage, a live performance, or a convention. Allotting ample further time will permit you to gauge should 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 payment solely to search out that there are not any extra appointment slots earlier than your meant journey date.

NOTE: The earliest appointment date adjustments every now and then, 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 appears good, then proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Accomplish the DS-160 Type.

The DS-160 kind serves as your software kind. To fill it out, go 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 have to fill it out individually.

Comply with these steps:

1. Underneath 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 subsequent 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 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 you must put together:

1. PERSONAL DETAILS. Title, start date, start place, and so on.
2. TRAVEL DETAILS. You’ll be requested to pick out the aim of your journey. Because you’re making use of for a B1/B2 visa, select Short-term Enterprise Pleasure Customer. Underneath SPECIFY, choose Enterprise & Tourism (Temperoary Customer).
    
   Underneath it, provide the main points of your journey. You probably have 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 received’t neglect the main points you entered. The consul/visa officer will probably be asking you about your journey particulars when it’s time for interview.

   

3. TRAVEL COMPANIONS. Declare the individuals with whom you may 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 should you’ve been denied a US visa earlier than or denied entry into the nation. Reply honestly 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 already know somebody within the US, present their identify and your relationship with them. Ideally, this individual ought to be capable to confirm your id if deemed essential.

   

8. FAMILY. Enter the names and start dates of your mother and father. You probably have relations in the US, you also needs to 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 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/faculties 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 international locations you visited, organizations you might be affiliated with, and army 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 inside 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. Ensure that each single factor is right. In that 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 knowledge is right. If there are nonetheless particulars that you must double-check or verify, you possibly can simply save your software within the meantime and simply return to it when you have already got the right knowledge.

After submitting the shape, the subsequent web page will show your DS-160 CONFIRMATION PAGE, which comprises your affirmation quantity and barcode. You’ve gotten the choice to print it out or e-mail to your self. (I selected to e-mail it to myself so I might 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 payment.

Go online to your USTravelDocs account. Then, comply with these steps:

1. Click on START APPLICATION on the left sidebar. On the subsequent web page, fill out the shape together with your private particulars, contact info, mailing tackle, and passport particulars.

   

2. On the Visa Choices web page, choose NONIMMIGRANT VISA after which choose BUSINESS/TOURISM. Usually, the B-1 and B-2 visas are issued as one — B-1/B-2.

   

3. Enter your DS-160 Affirmation Quantity. Ensure you’re coming into the right quantity as a result of the system will use it to hyperlink your appointment to the suitable DS-160 kind.
4. Reply the interview waiver accordingly, then handle dependents, if in case you have any. You probably have dependents who will probably be with you on the interview, enter their particulars and their very own DS-160 affirmation numbers.

   

5. Select the way you need to obtain your passport again: FREE PICK UP or DELIVERY. The latter entails a separate payment, to be paid money upon supply.
6. Lastly, proceed to the fee web page. Select your most well-liked mode of fee.

The U.S. Visa payment prices USD 185. On the time of this writing, it’s roughly PHP 10,800. Within the case of our teammate Asta, it’s round PHP 11,500.

Within the previous appointment system, there are a couple of methods to settle this payment, together with paying by way of on-line switch like PesoNet. However within the new appointment system, a minimum of what Asta skilled, solely two choices had been offered: Money and Credit score/Debit Card.

Asta selected to pay together with her Credit score/Debit card. By the best way, if in case you possibly can’t pay straight away, you possibly can 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 whenever you log in once more. Simply pay attention to the pay slip’s expiration.

1. Go online to your USTravelDocs web page. On your own home web page, click on “Proceed Utility”.

   

2. You’ll then be directed to the Cost Choices web page. Select the way you need to settle your visa payment. Asta selected to pay by way of credit score/debit card.

   

3. Examine the fee particulars. That is the way it seems for card fee. We’re undecided of the method for money funds. In the event you select card fee, you’ll additionally discover the fee slip’s expiration date right here. In the event you’re achieved checking, proceed to fee.

   

4. Save the copy of your receipt. You possibly can print it or take photograph of it.

   

5. Verify your receipt. Merely, click on “Submit”. After this, you possibly can proceed to setting your schedules for biometric assortment and consul interview.

   

Nevertheless, the fee choices may nonetheless change. In case the web switch choice turns into out there once more, right here’s what I did. I selected to pay by way of PesoNet.

1. Go online to this USTravelDocs web page. As quickly because the web page hundreds, it should 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 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 would take some time for the fee to mirror within the system. In accordance with the web site, it ought to register on the subsequent enterprise day, after 1:30 PM.

However in my case, I needed to wait a pair extra days earlier than I might transfer on to the subsequent step.

Step 4: Schedule your Biometrics Enrollment Appointment.

Assuming your fee is already within the system, it’s possible you’ll now e-book your biometrics enrollment appointment. Go online to your USTravelDocs.com account on this web page. This is similar portal on Step 1.

Within the earlier visa software system, all you wanted to do was to schedule your interview appointment as a result of assortment of your biometrics — taking your photograph and scanning your fingerprints — would even be carried out on the day of the interview.

However with the brand new visa software system, you might be required to schedule a separate appointment to the newly launched Visa Utility Heart (VAC) at Parqal in Parañaque in your biometrics enrollment.

NOTE: For the VAC Appointment, select MANILA OFC. Dates with out there slots are marked in inexperienced. You possibly can nonetheless reschedule your appointment.

Step 5: Schedule your Interview Appointment.

If you find yourself achieved setting your appointment for the biometrics assortment, the brand new system will then direct you to the web page the place you can also make your second appointment — visa interview on the U.S. Embassy.

It can show the earliest out there appointment date. This may be months from now. In my case, I utilized in September however the earliest out there schedule was in January of the subsequent yr. However don’t lose hope. Every so often, some candidates cancel their appointments and new slots open up. We discovered that this normally occurs within the wee hours of the night time. True sufficient, after staying up at night time, we had been capable of snag an appointment in October, which was only a month away.

As for Asta, she utilized in November 2024 and the earliest out there schedule for the consul interview was on January 7, 2025. Once more, it’s essential to allot loads of lead time.

Anyway, simply choose the date that finest works for you. You possibly can change or reschedule it later should 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 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 choice is obtainable, however I haven’t tried it but, so I do not know the way it works. However should you’re making use of with a bunch, strive clicking the CREATE GROUP REQUEST button on the left sidebar.

Step 6: Collect the U.S. Visa Necessities.

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 payment fee receipt quantity
5. Latest ID photograph (2×2)

These are the fundamental necessities. In lots of circumstances, these are all you want. BUT — and it’s an enormous however — it’s finest to have all the opposite doable 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 on.
9. Journey itinerary

And others, relying in your function 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 reality, I accomplished and introduced all of those however they didn’t examine any of those, aside from my passport and appointment affirmation. In Vins’s case, the one different factor they checked was his 2×2 photograph.

However it doesn’t imply that you simply’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 finest to be ready.

By the best way, should 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 hassle. It’s not wanted in any respect.

Step 7: Go to VAC for Biometrics Enrollment.

On the day of your appointment, head to the Visa Utility Heart (VAC).

Handle: Visa Utility Heart (VAC), Parqal, Constructing 8, Stage 3, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Tambo, Parañaque, Metro Manila. The identify of the constructing is Cogon Constructing. It sits subsequent to The Market.

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Saturday, 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM

It’s essential to convey the next:

• Appointment Affirmation Letter
• DS-160 Affirmation Web page
• Legitimate Passport
• Visa Charge Receipt

This comes first earlier than your visa interview. Right here’s a walkthrough:

1. Once you arrive on the VAC, you may be greeted by a workers on the constructing’s entrance and will probably be given a ticket quantity or queue quantity.
2. Enter the constructing and take the elevator to Stage 3.
3. Coming from the elevator, flip proper. Then, a VAC workers will examine your paperwork and appointment affirmation letter.
4. After that, you may be directed to the safety examine and ready space.
5. Then, the VAC workers will examine your paperwork once more and they’ll affix a sticker with a QR code on the again cowl of your passport.
6. Wait in your flip to have your photograph taken and your fingerprints scanned.
7. And that’s it! On to the subsequent step: Interview!

Notes:

• Please arrive a minimum of quarter-hour earlier than your appointed time.
• The VAC can be an choice for passport assortment/pick-up. That’s, should you selected to select up your passport as an alternative of have it delivered to you. No appointment wanted for this.
• Other than biometrics assortment, the VAC additionally accepts interview waiver and/or 221g doc submission. You don’t have to set an appointment for this , too.

Step 8: Go to the U.S. Embassy for the 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 Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila

Arrive a minimum of 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. In the event you’re coming from far-off — particularly should you’re flying in from the province — and also you’re on the lookout for a spot to remain, take into account a resort that’s near the U.S. Embassy. There are a whole lot of good decisions 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 on.).
• Meals, sharp objects, crayons, and markers are additionally prohibited. You could be refused entry and your account could also be locked for 30 days should you’re caught sneaking any of those in.
• No lockers or baggage counters within the neighborhood. The very best factor to do is to go together with a companion and ask them to attend for you someplace shut. You’ll discover Espresso Bean and Tea Leaf, Military Navy, 7/11, Starbucks Cafe, and McDonald’s on the opposite facet of the street. Simply agree to satisfy 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 best way. Listed here are the steps:

1. Hand your printed appointment affirmation web page and your passport to the workers outdoors.
2. Enter the constructing for the safety examine. They’re very thorough, so don’t try to sneak in something prohibited.
3. Comply with the indicators and the workers to the subsequent constructing. You could 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 photograph.
4. Subsequent, you may be requested to get your fingers scanned for additional verification.
5. You’ll be assigned a counter for the interview correct. Queue up at that counter and wait in your flip.
6. Interview correct. This normally simply takes round 5 (5) minutes. It’s very fast as a result of likely, functions have been evaluated even earlier than the interview. It’s very probably 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 is usually a chance 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 had been requested to current supporting docs. I’ll share all of the questions within the subsequent part beneath.
    
   – In case your software is accepted, they may take your passport so they might affix the visa sticker.

   – In case your software is rejected or denied, they may inform you proper then and there. (Sure, inside listening to vary of different candidates on the queue.)

Step 9: Wait in your visa!

It’s best to obtain your passport with a visa just some days after your interview.

In my case, I bought mine by way 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.

UPDATE! Beginning September 28, 2024, costs for premium doc supply and premium doc submission will probably be revised to Php430 per software, no matter whether or not you chose the premium service earlier than the stated date.

U.S. VISA INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Right here’s a rundown of all of the questions the consul/visa officer requested me throughout 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’ve gotten children?
• With whom are you touring?
• What do you do for a dwelling?
• How lengthy have you ever 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 trend.

After the final query, the officer typed one thing on the pc, confronted me once more, and stated, “OK, your visa is accepted. 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 might really 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 already know and keep in mind the solutions you entered whenever you had been conducting it on-line. They’re not asking as a result of they need to know — they already know — however they in all probability are simply making an attempt for verify or take a look at in case your solutions are constant.

The issue is, when a whole lot of time has handed between the day you completed the DS-160 kind 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 kind.

There you’ve gotten it. That’s your entire U.S. visa software course of as I skilled it.

Earlier than I finish this text, I simply should commend the folks working on the U.S. Embassy for the graceful course of and nice expertise. From the Filipino workers and the American interviewers, each one was pleasant, light, and respectful. Even once they had been delivering rejections, they did it in a approach 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 need to spend the night time at a resort near the U.S. Embassy, listed here are some properties across the space.

Seek for extra Manila Accommodations!

Updates Log

2025 1 10 – Up to date images, steps, and data to mirror adjustments in visa software and appointment system
2024 9 30 – Up to date to mirror adjustments in visa software course of that took impact on September 28, 2024
2024 8 4 – First up