naapprove na yung US Visa ko last thursday - i was actually not worried at all since my company has a good record with the embassy. Though i asked around for the most common questions and what teh best answers are - but at the end of the day i was asked only 2 questions - both of which I have been practicing on my mind while waiting on my queue.
so para saan ang blog na to - just some pointers and tips on what to do while waiting and tips on applying.
1) There are several types of US Visa - tourist, Business, Working, etc etc - the one that i applied for is a Business Visa - it is used for people who will go to the US for quick meetings and discussions. No productive work should be done - becuase it will now fall under the Working Visa category - and as far as I know - mas mahirap makakuha nun.
2) All the paper works have already been prepared for me - so konti na lang ang ginawa ko, nag fill-up na lang ng forms, and may schedule na rin ako. Forms can be downloaded on the US embassy website - tapos ung isang form , ung may bayad, you have to pay for it - yung Business Visa is 5000 pesos - more or less.
3) Magpapicture kayo sa maayos na shop - please do not do a mygyver-style picture where you will picture yourself and just photoshop it, then makiprint kayo sa kapitbahay. Maginvest na kayo - hehe minsan lang naman, and may kasabay ako na kailangan pa nya magpapicture uli kasi medyo nakatagilid sya sa picture - mukhang photoshoped :) KODAK actually is a recommended shop for these types of pictures - i think they already know the correct size and background.
4) Arrive about 1 and 1/2 hour early for your interview - wag na masyado maaga kasi di rin kayo makakapasok sa embassy and you will just stay outside, so mahirap din. Example - if your interview is set at 9AM - arrive around 7:30 AM - sakto lang yun, at papapasukin na rin kayo. Ang suggested nila ay at least an hour - but a couple of extra minutes should be ok.
5) wala namang dress code - i mean, no need to be in your suit, or neck tie. kung ano yung ginagamit mo on your work is already enough.
6) IMPORTANT - do not, as in DO NOT bring any gadgets - from cellphones, to ipods, to camera, to laptops - kahit ano - wag kasi di talaga kayo makakapasok. and the worst part fo this - you will be forced to entrust your gadgets on the manang and manongs waiting outside of the embassy who are already aware of these situations. They actually have numbers - as if they have a legit group, pero mukhang tambay lang talaga na magbabantay ng gamit nyo habang nasa loob kayo - so wag na kayo magdala hehe.
7) bring a book - this is actually a good suggestion from my manager and i saw this book na binili namin ni wifey a long long time ago na hindi ko pa nababasa. and you know what - it actually worked - kasi pinansin sya nung consul na nagiinterview sa akin - sabi nya "hey, that is actually a good book" - so naging ok na yung interview namin.
8) the interview (in my case) is very quick - 2 questions, and that is it. wag kayo kabahan and just always smile and greet them sa simula. depends on their mood as well - pero ung sa akin mabait naman so no problem.
9) thats it!!! my visa + passport will be delivered to me this week and ill see you in chicago by august (^_^)
Ok for the Coldplay part - i have yet to receive my free album from my friend (tagal kasi ni melvin hehe) but i already have my test version of the whole album - yes downloaded pirated MP3 copies - i feel bad listening to them pero since i already have a legit copy kaya oks lang - yes, i really hate piracy, that is why i really dont like buying pirated DVDs, mas ok sa akin nood ng sine. I would rather be part of the solution that be part of the problem.
nakakailang ulit pa lang ako sa buong album and im already sold - di ko alam kung san ko mairarank yung album na to pero it is one on the top - basta ang ganda - kakaiba, not the usual crying stuffs pero ang ganda talaga. Chris Martin is really a genius. Fullr eview soon - once i get my copy na lang hehe.
