TRAVEL

US tourist visa application

guide: Tips and reminders
How one writer got her 10-year multiple entry US visa. Jacklynne Lambino shares her
tips for the application and interview process

Hi! I’m Jacklynne, 21 years old, not a millionaire, and I have no relatives in the States.
Yet, the U.S. Embassy granted me a 10-year multiple entry visa. How? This is my
detailed guide.
It has been my dream to go to New York City ever since I was a child. I want to try their
famous dollar hotdogs, visit their museums, and watch a Broadway show. However, I
wasn’t born rich, I don’t have a relative in the U.S., and I know that getting a
visa will be hard. I have heard a lot of horror stories on getting their visa rejected
even when they presented millions of pesos as a “show money.” Because of this, I
already accepted the fact that it would take me years to go to the US.

As time went on, I forgot about my NYC dream, focused on another one and that was to
visit Europe. Luckily, because of my hard work and dedication, I achieved it at the age
of 21. I traveled Europe for 65 days without quitting my 9-6 job. I blogged about How to
travel without quitting your job on my website.

Photo courtesy of Jacklynne Lambino

Getting a Schengen visa which allowed me to travel Europe was hard because of all the
strict requirements. I am fortunate that I was able to get a multiple-entry visa despite
having graduated college less than a year at the time, and a also as a single female. I
had all the red flags but I was still granted that visa.

The moment I came back from my Eurotrip, I decided to face my fear and apply for a
U.S. visa. Best risk ever as I arrived at the Embassy at 8 in the morning and exited it
with an approved visa at 8:45 am! Just 45 minutes to get a 10-year multiple entry
U.S. Visa!

Here’s how!

Note: This guide is focused on how to get a U.S. visa as a tourist. The process is
different for work, immigrant, and any other type of visa.
1.) Register at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs

Photo courtesy of Jacklynne Lambino

Here, you can fill out your information as an individual or as a family/group, check the
available interview date, and verify your payment.

a.) Click New Application/Schedule Appointment and answer the visa type, post,
category, and visa class

For the visa type, choose Nonimmigrant visa >> Manila >> Business/Tourism
>> B1/B2.

b.) Fill out your personal data

For the DS-160 confirmation number, refer to the latter part of this post.
c.) You can also add your family members if you’re applying together

d.) Finally, choose how you would like to receive your passport.

In this page, you can now see the earliest appointment date. However, you can’t book
that unless you’re already paid and you’ve already completed the DS-160 form.

2.) Complete the DS-160 application form

Click this link for the DS-160 form.

a.) Start a new application and take note of your application ID. Be sure to also have a
soft copy of your 2x2 photo as you need to have it uploaded here.

Copy this one and paste it on your Consular Affairs form stated above.

b.) Answer the form

The form consists of your personal details, address and phone, passport travel, travel
companions, previous US travel, US contact, family, work / education / training, and
security and background. It’s super lengthy but answer it as completely as you can. This
is where they base their questions on.

If you can’t answer it in one go, save it and retrieve it once you’re available. Be sure to
read your answers more than once before confirming it as once you’ve hit the submit
button, you can no longer edit it.

c.) Print the application confirmation

After submitting, you will be directed to this. Print this is at is one of the requirements.

3.) Pay the non-refundable U.S. visa application fee ($160)

One of the things that set people off in applying a US visa is the fee. This $160 or
P7,840 (conversion at the time of writing) is non-refundable whether you got approved
or denied. It was P7,680 when I applied months ago. Payment depends on the
conversion so always check the link provided below for accurate payment.

It’s a risk to take but it will be worth it if you get a 10-year multiple entry visa!

To pay, check first if you are fine with the earliest appointment date. Please take note
that the earliest appointment date doesn’t mean that it’s the only option for your
interview. You can choose a date different from the one in the sidebar and can only be
visible after you paid the fee.

You can pay in cash at a bank counter or do online transaction.

a) Over-the-counter transaction

Go to this link and print the page. Present this to a BPI bank teller and keep your copy.
Make sure that it’s in a safe place because it is one of the requirements for the
interview.

b.) Online transaction

I paid the fee online as this was easier. You can do this through BPI or Bancnet online
payment.

Take note of your reference number that you can find here if you choose to pay via BPI
or here for Bancnet customers.

After that, all you need to do is to enroll the U.S. visa for your online bill payment.

Here’s the detailed PDF file on how to do that.

 BPI
 Bancnet

You will receive an email confirmation once this has been completed. Print this as this
will act as your receipt to be presented at the U.S. Embassy.

4.) Confirm your payment

a.) Go to this link and enter your receipt number as soon as you paid.

b) After confirming your payment, you will need to wait a minimum of 4 hours depending
on your payment process to book an interview date. Here’s a table on how soon you
can book the date:

5.) Choose your appointment date

a.) Go to the bottom of this link to schedule your appointment. You will see a calendar
when you book your appointment. Choose a time and date that you prefer.
b.) You will receive a confirmation of your appointment on your email. Print this as it is
also one of the requirements on your interview.

6.) Prepare your documents

Here are the requirements to bring on your visa interview.

 Passport valid for another 6 months

 DS-160 confirmation page
 Visa fee payment receipt 160USD
 Appointment confirmation
 2x2 photo
 Bank certificate ( 50,000-60,000 installment basis
deposited not one time deposited) for 11 days
 ITR
 Certificate of employment
 Birth certificate
 Return ticket
 NBI
 Company ID

You can bring additional documents that you think could help. Some bring land titles,
proof of business, bank statement, and other documents that could prove their tie in this
country.

They rarely look at these documents but if you like it could help, then do it. I only
brought the requirements along with my Certificate of Employment and Income Tax
Return. They didn’t ask for it.

7.) Show up to your interview 15 minutes before your scheduled time

Note: Phones, tablets, MP3 players, USB, and other electronic device are prohibited
inside the Embassy.

On your interview date, will have to line up outside the Embassy and there’s no shed or
chairs for you to wait so make sure not to arrive too early. There are coffee shops near
the place for you to kill time if you prefer. The additional 15 minutes is used for security
checks so be on time. Outside the embassy, you will see signage of different interview
schedule. Fall in line on the signage that indicates your time.

After that, here are the next steps:

a.) A staff member will ask for your passport and DS-160 form

b.) You will be instructed to go to another staffer where you will presentyour
appointment form, passport, and 2×2 picture. They will also attach a sticker on your
passport for tracking purposes.

c.) You will then be asked to put your belongings in a conveyor belt

d.) You will be directed to a shaded part with chairs and also snacks. We were
instructed to sit there but in less than 2 minutes, they asked us to go straight inside the
Embassy.

e.) Get your bags checked manually by the security inside the Embassy

f.) Fall in line for pre-screening. You will just be asked here about your visa type, name,
birthday, and marital status.

g.) Finger scanning

h.) INTERVIEW

This is the most important part of the application process. The interviewer will base his
decision on the answers on your DS-160 form and your answer in the interview.
Everything went so fast that I was called to go to the booth. Only 5 questions were
asked: why I was visiting the US, my work, course in college, the university I attended,
and countries that I’ve been to. You can take a look at my story about the interview on
my blog, here’s the link.

In less than 2 minutes: “Approved!”

I arrived at the Embassy around 8:00 am and exited it with a smile around 8:45 in the
morning. I read a lot of blogs and they said that they had to wait at least 5 hours to be
interviewed. It’s really nice to hear that the US Embassy has a faster process now. In
less than 45 minutes, I was given a 10-year multiple entry US visa! As they said, don’t
knock it until you try it.

Just prepare your documents that could prove your rootedness here and answer the
questions honestly. Smile and don’t be nervous. Besides, if you’re not planning on going
there illegally, there’s no reason to be nervous!

Good luck! – Rappler.com

Jacklynne Lambino is a digital marketing head for a financial technology
company. She uses her vacation leaves to travel, and she documents it on her
blog, jacklynne.com.
Follow her on Facebook and Instagram for your daily dose of self-made Filipina
adventures.
Filed under:how to get US visavisa application tipsUS visa
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TRAVEL

Visa application guide:

Getting a Schengen visa
from the Italian embassy in
PH
Dreaming of a trip to Europe? Start planning it now – starting with your Schengen visa
application

Ligaya Solera
Published 5:08 PM, February 05, 2017
Updated 5:08 PM, February 05, 2017

Photo courtesy of Ligaya Solera

Truly, Italy is a traveler's dream. It's a country that can satisfy a variety of tastes, from
an audience with the Pope to a feast of art in Florence, a stroll through Tuscan
vineyards or a gondola ride in Venice. And, of course, literal tastes too: gelato, risotto,
pizza, pasta, coffee and wine, all day, everyday.

To travel to Italy and/or other European countries that belong to the Schengen area –
such as France, Germany, Spain, and Greece – you will need a Schengen visa. This
visa lets you enter any of the Schengen countries, so you won't need separate visas for,
say, Spain and Italy.

Where should you apply for a Schengen visa?

Even though a visa from one Schengen country is good for all Schengen countries, you
can't file your application just anywhere you wish.

It should be lodged at the embassy or consulate of the country that constitutes the main
destination of your trip. For most tourists, this means that the country you're staying in
the longest is where you should apply for a visa.

For example, see: 11 Days in Europe: Paris, Venice and Rome Sample Itinerary – if
you're following this itinerary, you should get a visa from the Italian embassy.

The good news is – if you're only visiting Italy or staying there the longest – applying for
a Schengen visa through the Italian embassy is a fairly straightforward process.

Photo courtesy of Ligaya Solera

First of all, unlike for many other Schengen countries, you don't need an appointment to
submit your documents at VIA Center, the facility that handles the visa application
process for Italy. Another good thing is that VIA has offices in both Makati and Cebu, so
you can choose whichever location is more convenient for you.
(In my case, I submitted my application in Cebu: I walked in after lunch, was entertained
right away, and finished the whole process within an hour.)

Get a visa in 3 steps:

1. Prepare the required documents (see list below).


2. Go to your VIA Center of choice – submit the requirements and have your biometrics
taken.

3. Wait for your passport (with the visa, hopefully) to be delivered to your address.
What documents do you need to prepare?

The VIA website contains comprehensive information for all types of travelers to Italy
and other Schengen countries, including:

 Short-term visitors (tourist visa, business visa,

mission visa, religious visa, study visa)
 Long-term visitors (family reunion visa, mission
visa, religious visa, study visa, subordinate
employment visa, re-entry visa, visa for
spouse/parents/child of Italian citizen)
 Seafarers (transit or work visa)

For tourists who will be staying in the Schengen area for 90 days or less, these are the
requirements*:

 Visa application form

 One (1) recent colored photo – passport-sized or
2x2 – with white background
 Travel documents
 Valid passport, plus photocopies of biographical
page, last page, and pages with visas and
immigration stamps
 Old passport(s) if available
 Complete, detailed, day-to-day itinerary (get a
sample template here)
 Confirmed round trip flight booking
 Proof of financial means of the applicant (or, if a
minor, of the parents or legal guardian)
 Bank certification – supported by passbook or
Statements of Account from the past six months
 International credit card statements, if available
 Real estate property title-deed, if applicable
 Proof of occupation
 For employees: Certificate of Employment and
approved Leave of Absence
 For self-employed: business license/permits, BIR
registration and Financial Statement/Income Tax
Return
 For government employees: approved Travel
Authority
 For professionals: PRC card
  For students: Certificate of Enrolment and
approved Leave of Absence (if traveling during
the school year)
 Travel health insurance
o Coverage of at least 30,000 euros
o With 15 days allowance beyond travel
period
o Should be issued by Schengen-accredited
insurance companies
 Accommodation
o Hotel booking under the name of the
traveler
o If staying with a relative:
o Letter of invitation (format)
o Document of identity, proof of citizenship or
permit of stay from the inviting person
o NSO documents to prove relationship
 Birth certificate issued by the NSO/PSA
 Marriage certificate (if applicable) issued by the
NSO/PSA
 Proof of family ties in the Philippines (such as
birth certificates of children)
 For minors and students: Affidavit of Support and
Consent from both parents
 For minors not traveling with parents: DSWD
clearance
 Fees
o Visa fee - €60
o VIA service/handling fee - P1,100

*Note: This list of requirements is valid as of 7 January 2017. If you are reading this
article at a significantly later date, please verify the list of requirements at the VIA
website.

Photo courtesy of Ligaya Solera

Other documents that are not specified in the VIA checklist but would be helpful and
might be required:
  Cover letter, addressed to the Italian consul,
explaining the purpose of your trip (get a sample
here)
 Transfer tickets (train/coach/plane/etc) within
Schengen cities
 Latest personal income tax return (ITR)

Is personal appearance needed?

Generally yes, because your biometrics will need to be taken.

How much "show money" should I prepare?

That's a tricky question and it needs a longer answer. See: “Show Money” for tourist
visa applicants: How I do it (and you can, too).

What if someone else is paying for my trip?

Ask him/her to execute an Affidavit of Support and have it notarized/authenticated. (Get
a sample here.)

I have documents X, Y, and Z -- will I be able to get a visa?

The only person who can answer that question with absolute certainty is the person who
has reviewed all the documents you've submitted and is actually the one who will
approve or deny your visa application. No blogger or travel agency can give you a
legitimate guarantee of approval.

However, I've found that the consulates of most Schengen countries are generally fair
and will carefully consider all the information you've submitted. Moreover, the people
who will receive your documents – in my case, the wonderful ladies at VIA Cebu – will
go through them one by one to make sure they're complete and will advise you if there's
something you can do to improve, say, your cover letter.

So: just prepare your application as meticulously as you can and you will have as good
a chance as possible of getting a Schengen visa.

Good luck! And don't forget to toss a coin into the Trevi fountain so you can come
back. – Rappler.com

Gaya is a travel blogger from Cebu whose background in psychology and medicine has
taken a backseat to her passion for writing and traveling. Her main occupation is
spamming her friends' Facebook feeds with travel articles she's published in her
blog Small-Town Girls, Midnight Trains, but for bread and butter she takes on writing
and healthcare-related projects from home. Her bucket list includes taking her family to
Rome, seeing the northern lights from the Scottish highlands, and walking the Camino
de Santiago.
 What are the documents required for US visa interview?
 Current Passport as well as old old passports.
 One photograph.
 Confirmation page of online submitted Form DS-160 with CEAC bar code.
 Visa Fee Receipt. Fees to be paid in advance at the Bank before taking an
appointment.
 Original interview appointment letter. Sample.


travel.state.gov > Visas > Immigrate > The Immigrant Visa
Process > Interview > Prepare for the Interview > Interview Preparation
- Required Documents -new
The Immigrant Visa Process
 Petition
 Submit a Petition
 After Your Petition is Approved
 Begin National Visa Center (NVC) Processing
 Choose an Agent
 Pay Fees
 Collect and Submit Forms and Documents to the NVC
 Submit Visa Application Form
 Collect Financial Documents
 Collect Supporting Documents
 Submit Documents to the NVC
 Interview
 Prepare for the Interview
 Visa Applicant Interview
 After the Interview
See Overview

 Print

 Email

Interview Preparation - Required Documents

Each applicant is required to bring the original version of all civil documents plus one
photocopy of each document to the visa interview. You must also bring any required
financial evidence provided by your petitioner. Failure to bring all required original
documents and photocopies to the interview may cause delay or denial of the visa.

Make sure you carefully read the interview instructions for the embassy or consulate
where your interview will take place. You can find those on our website.
Expand All
Exception for Derivative Applicants
Notes for Children of U.S. Citizens
Bring the Following Items to Your Visa Interview

 Interview appointment letter from the National Visa Center (NVC).

 Unexpired passport valid for six months beyond your intended date of entry
into the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name
and photo are located).
 Two color passport photographs measuring 2 inches by 2 inches (5 cm by 5 cm)
with a white background.
 Required civil documents on the list below (the original version and a
photocopy), even if you submitted a photocopy to NVC. You may need to get an
updated police certificate.
 Translations of any document not written in either English or the official
language of the country in which the interview will take place. Translations must
be certified by a competent translator.
 Medical exam results if the physician gives you these results. In that case, bring
them to your interview in the envelope sealed by the medical office. Do not open
this envelope.
 Confirmation page from Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
Application, that you submitted on ceac.state.gov.
 Family-based visa applications:
- A signed Affidavit of Support from your petitioner and any additional
financial sponsors who submitted a Form I-864 on behalf of your visa
application. Applicants may bring photocopies and scanned versions of
signed Forms I-864 and associated documents. (Please note that the form
must still be signed; typed names and electronic signatures will not be
accepted.)
- Financial evidence showing your petitioner’s income, such as federal tax
returns or forms W-2. If you have any additional financial sponsors, you
must bring the same type of financial evidence for them, along with proof of
their legal status in the United States.
- Proof of the U.S. petitioner’s status and domicile in the United States
(photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or legal permanent
resident card).

 Employment-based visa applications: A letter from your U.S. employer dated less
than one month ago confirming the essential elements of the job offer.
Any additional documents listed in the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
interview guidelines in nvc.state.gov/interview.
List of Required Civil Documents
Information about how to obtain the below civil documents overseas is available
in Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country. This table, which is searchable by
country, includes details on all of the below civil document types
 IF YOU (the visa a
DERIVATIVE APPL
RELATIONSHIP TO
IF YOU (the visa applicant) ARE THE U.S.-BASED PETITIONER’S: BENEFICI

Adult child (over 21 &

unmarried)
– or –
Child (under 21 & Married child of any Brother/ C
Spouse unmarried) age Parent Sister Spouse

THEN BRING THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS TO YOUR INTERVIEW:

Birth certificate ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Adoption papers ✔ ✔

Marriage certificate ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Marriage termination
record ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔
✔ if you are age 16 or if you are age ✔
if you are age 16 or older older 16 or older if you are age 16 or
Police certificate ✔ ✔ older

Court records (if you

have ever been
convicted of a crime) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Military record (if

applicable) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔
only for step-children
Petitioner’s marriage (showing marriage to
certificate ✔ biological parent)

Petitioner’s marriage
termination
record(divorce decree
or death certificate) ✔
Important Notice: All documents not written in English or in the official
language of the country in which the interview takes place MUST be
accompanied by a translation in English. Translations must be certified by a
competent translator. Translations submitted to the NVC will be included in the
applicant’s case file.
.