2024 U.S. VISA APPLICATION Requirements & Interview Questions in the Philippines

Yosh Dimen

2 months ago

Planning to travel to the United States for the first time? You’ve come to the right place! Welcome to our step-by-step US Visa Application Guide for Filipino travelers. In this article, we’ll walk you through the entire application process from booking an appointment to nailing the interview at the US Embassy.

For Filipino nationals, any plan to travel to the United States starts with a visa. And the US visa is one of the most highly coveted for many reasons. First, the US has a massive Filipino diaspora that most of us know someone there. Second, the American influence on Philippine culture is undeniable. Many of us dream of stepping foot in New York or Las Vegas or California. And lastly, it is also a powerful visa to have. When you have a US visa, you are allowed access not just to the United States but also several other countries that otherwise require a separate visa.

It’s no wonder that at any given day, there’s always a long queue at the US Embassy in Manila. But for many of us, the US visa isn’t particularly easy to secure. That’s why we’re half-grateful and half-relieved when we finally got ours. Yes, we were just granted a US B1/B2 visa. Here’s how I got it.

WHAT IS A B1/B2 U.S. VISA?

A B1/B2 visa is a non-immigrant short-term visa that will enable you to enter the United States for business (B1), for tourism (B2) or BOTH.

You can use it to do any of the following:

BUSINESS (B1)
Meeting with business associates
Attending a conference, seminar or convention
Negotiating a contract or agreement
Settling an estate
TOURISM (B2)
Vacation (leisure/holiday)
Visiting relatives or friends
Attending social events (concerts, festivals, shows)
Medical treatment

You cannot use a B1/B2 visa to study, work, or stay for good in the United States.

A B1/B2 visa is usually:

multiple-entry
valid for 10 years

Yes, the 10-year validity is the best part. Once you’re granted a visa, you won’t need to renew or apply again for a long time.

I applied for a B1/B2 visa, so every thing you’ll read in this article is about that specific type of visa. If you’re applying for a work visa, student visa or green card, we won’t be of any help because they’re outside our personal experiences.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A U.S. VISA?

UPDATE! Starting September 28, 2024, US visa applicants in the Philippines need to schedule TWO appointments:

APPOINTMENT 1: BIOMETRICS ENROLLMENT

First, an applicant must secure an appointment for the biometrics collection at the Visa Application Center (VAC). The what? You read it right: Visa Application Center or VAC. This is where you will have your photo taken and your fingerprints scanned BEFORE your interview at the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard.

APPOINTMENT 2: CONSULAR/VISA INTERVIEW

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

For more details, see STEPS 7 & 8.

Here’s the full application process when applying for a US B1/B2 visa.

Note that Steps 1 to 3 are actually interchangeable. But I believe that how I arranged it below is the order that makes the most sense.

Step 1: Create a USTravelDocs.com account.

To sign up for an account, visit this page.

Note: The new and redesigned online appointment system took effect on September 28, 2024. The above photo is the old version. Expect the login page, profile, and appointment scheduling pages in the new system to have a different look.

All first-time applicants and users in the new system must register first.

Tap the “Visa Login” button at the top right of the Nonimmigrant Visa application page.
Click the “Sign up now” link at the bottom of the login page.
Enter your email address and full name on the next page.
Set a password.
Click SUBMIT.

USTravelDocs.com is the official visa appointment service portal of the U.S. State Department. This is the website where you’ll book an appointment, but you don’t need to do that this early. You won’t be able to secure a slot until you’ve paid the visa fee. For now, all you need to do is create an account.

Why? Because as soon as you have an account, you’ll be able to see the EARLIEST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT DATE.

This is especially important if your travel dates are not flexible: say, you’re attending a wedding, a concert, or a conference. Having visibility on the earliest available date will allow you to gauge if you’ll be able to get a visa in time for your trip and decide appropriately.

The last thing you want is to pay the hefty visa fee only to find that there are no more appointment slots before your intended travel date.

Note: The earliest appointment date changes from time to time, when applicants book, move or cancel their reserved slots. So just because there are no slots in your target month doesn’t mean there won’t be in the future.

HEADS UP! You are also required to register in the new online appointment system (meaning, you should click the “Sign up now” link) if you are an applicant who:

Has a valid visa fee receipt associated in your profile from the old system.

Is holding a valid future appointment.

Already paid your visa fee before September 28, 2024 in the old system but have not linked your payment receipt to your profile. You can get your receipt after logging into the new system. Just enter the payment receipt number and payment date.

Note: You have to use the same email address you registered in the previous system to retrieve your existing user profile, which includes payment receipts and appointment information.

If everything looks good, then proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Accomplish the DS-160 Form.

The DS-160 form serves as your application form. To fill it out, visit to this page.

Every visa applicant must complete a DS-160 form. If you’re traveling as a group, each one of you must fill it out individually.

Follow these steps:

Under LOCATION WHERE YOU’LL BE APPLYING, choose PHILIPPINES, MANILA. Enter the CAPTCHA code below it. Then click on the red START AN APPLICATION button.
On the next page, you’ll be assigned an APPLICATION ID.
Select a security question and enter an answer. DO NOT forget your answer to this to avoid getting locked out of your account.

Then it’s time to finally fill out the DS-160 form. It’s a very lengthy form — with 10 pages — so allot plenty of time. If you feel like you won’t be able to finish, just save your progress. Don’t rush it. And make sure every answer is accurate. These are the details you need to prepare:

PERSONAL DETAILS. Name, birth date, birth place, etc.
TRAVEL DETAILS. You’ll be asked to select the purpose of your trip. Since you’re applying for a B1/B2 visa, choose Temporary Business Pleasure Visitor. Under SPECIFY, select Business & Tourism (Temperoary Visitor).
Under it, supply the details of your trip. If you have a concrete travel plan, enter your travel dates. If you haven’t finalized those yet, just pick an intended date of arrival in the US and intended duration of your stay.

Please take a screenshot of this part so you won’t forget the details you entered. The consul/visa officer will be asking you about your travel details when it’s time for interview.

TRAVEL COMPANIONS. Declare the persons with whom you will be traveling to the United States.

PREVIOUS US TRAVELS. If it’s your first time traveling to the US, just answer NO. You’ll also be asked if you’ve been denied a US visa before or denied entry into the country. Answer truthfully because they have a record of it anyway.
ADDRESS. Enter your current address.
CONTACT INFORMATION. Aside from your contact numbers, you’ll also need to provide your social media account handles/usernames including Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram. You’ll also enter your passport details here.

U.S. CONTACT. If you know someone in the US, provide their name and your relationship with them. Ideally, this person should be able to verify your identity if deemed necessary.

FAMILY. Enter the names and birth dates if your parents. If you have relatives in the United States, you should also provide their details here.
If you don’t know anyone in the US, just enter the name and address of an establishment that you plan to visit as part of your trip. It can be a museum, a theater, or a theme park, as long as it’s part of your itinerary.
WORK AND EDUCATION BACKGROUND. List down your current and previous employers and work experiences (including job descriptions) and universities/schools you attended. Yes, this part feel like you’re building a CV.

SECURITY AND BACKGROUND. Last page! Answer a series of questions about the countries you visited, organizations you are affiliated with, and military connections, if any. You’ll also answer health-related questions.

After this, you’ll be prompted to UPLOAD A PHOTO. It has to be in color and taken within the past six (6) months. No eyeglasses, hats, or head cover (except for religion or medical reasons). The links below can guide you:

After uploading a photo, review all the information you supplied. Make sure every single thing is correct. If so, submit your application.

⚠️ IMPORTANT! The moment you hit SUBMIT, you won’t be able to make any changes to the form, so ensure every bit of information is correct. If there are still details that you need to double-check or confirm, you can just save your application in the meantime and just return to it when you already have the correct data.

After submitting the form, the next page will display your DS-160 CONFIRMATION PAGE, which contains your confirmation number and barcode. You have the option to print it out or email to yourself. (I chose to email it to myself so I could get back to it anytime in the future.)

You’ll need to present this DS-160 Confirmation Page at the U.S. Embassy when it is time for your interview.

Step 3: Pay the visa fee.

The U.S. Visa fee costs USD 185 (roughly PHP 10,800 at the time of this writing).

There a few ways to settle this fee but I chose to pay via PesoNet.

Log on to this USTravelDocs page. As soon as the page loads, it will generate a reference number.
Save the reference number. You can take a screenshot of it or copy-paste it somewhere. You’ll need this number when it’s time to send the payment.
Follow the step-by-step payment instructions at the bottom of the page. Because we’re talking about paying a big amount here, no need for me to repost the steps here as some details might change in the future. Just follow the steps on the page to a tee, making sure that you’re entering the correct reference number.

That’s it! It might take a while for the payment to reflect in the system. According to the website, it should register on the next business day, after 1:30 PM.

But in my case, I had to wait a couple more days before I could move on to the next step.

Step 4: Schedule your Biometrics Enrollment Appointment.

Assuming your payment is already in the system, you may now book your biometrics enrollment appointment. Log into your USTravelDocs.com account on this page. This is the same portal on Step 1.

In the previous visa application system, all you needed to do was to schedule your interview appointment because collection of your biometrics — taking your photo and scanning your fingerprints — would also be conducted on the day of the interview.

But with the new visa application system taking effect on the 28th of September 2024, you are required to schedule a separate appointment to the newly launched Visa Application Center (VAC) for your biometrics enrollment.

Step 5: Schedule your Interview Appointment.

When you are done setting your appointment for the biometrics collection, the new system will then direct you to the page where you can make your second appointment — visa interview at the U.S. Embassy.

It will display the earliest available appointment date. This can be months from now. In my case, I applied in September but the earliest available schedule was in January of the next year. But don’t lose hope. Every now and then, some applicants cancel their appointments and new slots open up. We found that this usually happens in the wee hours of the night. True enough, after staying up at night, we were able to snag an appointment in October, which was just a month away.

Anyway, if you’re finally ready to book an appointment, just follow these steps:

Note: The new and redesigned online appointment system took effect on September 28, 2024. The photo above is from the old system. Expect the login page, profile, and appointment scheduling pages in the new system to have a different look.

Click on NEW APPLICATION/SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT on the left sidebar. On the next page, select NONIMMIGRANT VISA and then select BUSINESS/TOURISM.
Fill out the next form with your personal details and your DS-160 Confirmation Number. Make sure you’re entering the correct number because the system will use it to link your appointment to the right DS-160 form. If you have dependents who will be with you at the interview, enter their details and their own DS-160 confirmation numbers.
Choose how you want to receive your passport back: FREE PICK UP or DELIVERY. The latter entails a separate fee, to be paid cash upon delivery.
On the PAYMENT page, enter your RECEIPT NUMBER. If your visa fee payment is already in the system, you should be able to book an appointment. Otherwise, just come back to this page another time. Don’t worry, you can save all the info you entered so you won’t need to fill out the form again when you log in again.
Just select the date that best works for you. You can change or reschedule it later if you find a better date.

That’s it! You already have an appointment.

USEFUL TIPS:

You can reschedule your appointment. Just click on the RESCHEDULE APPOINTMENT button and select an earlier or later date. Yes, it is possible to chance upon an earlier schedule. That’s what happened to me.

Starting September 28, 2024, visa applicants who wish to change their appointment dates in the new system will be required to reschedule BOTH biometrics collection and interview appointments.

GROUP APPOINTMENT option is available, but I haven’t tried it yet, so I have no idea how it works. But if you’re applying with a group, try clicking the GROUP SCHEDULING REQUEST button on the left sidebar.

Step 6: Gather the U.S. Visa Requirements.

While waiting for your interview appointment date, gather all the required documents.

Valid passport
Appointment confirmation page
DS-160 confirmation number
your MRV fee payment receipt number
Recent ID photo (2×2)

Those are the basic requirements. In many cases, those are all you need. BUT — and it’s a big but — it’s best to have all the other possible supporting documents listed on the embassy’s website:

All your old passports
Proof of income, property ownership, ITR
Letter from your employer detailing your position, salary, etc.
Travel itinerary

And others, depending on your purpose of travel. See screenshot of the official website below:

I indicated “possible” supporting documents because in some instances, they don’t ask to see these docs. In fact, I completed and brought all of these but they didn’t check any of these, other than my passport and appointment confirmation. In Vins’s case, the only other thing they checked was his 2×2 photo.

But it doesn’t mean that you’ll experience the same. Some of the applicants next to me on the line were asked to present some of these supporting documents. It’s really best to be prepared.

By the way, if you notice: the US Embassy does not require bank certificates, bank statements, or any proof of funds. They’re not on the list, so don’t bother. It’s not needed at all.

Step 7: Go to VAC for Biometrics Enrollment.

On the day of your appointment, head to the Visa Application Center (VAC).

Address: Visa Application Center (VAC), Parqal, Building 8, Level 3, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Tambo, Parañaque, Metro Manila. The name of the building is Cogon Building. It sits next to The Marketplace.

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

You must bring the following:

Appointment Confirmation Letter
DS-160 Confirmation Page
Valid Passport
Visa Fee Receipt

This comes first before your visa interview. Here’s a walkthrough:

When you arrive at the VAC, you will be greeted by a staff at the building’s entrance and will be given a ticket number or queue number.
Enter the building and take the elevator to Level 3.
Coming from the elevator, turn right. Then, a VAC staff will check your documents and appointment confirmation letter.
After that, you will be directed to the security check and waiting area.
Then, the VAC staff will check your documents again and they will affix a sticker with a QR code on the back cover of your passport.
Wait for your turn to have your photo taken and your fingerprints scanned.
And that’s it! On to the next step: Interview!

Notes:

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointed time.

The VAC is also an option for passport collection/pick-up. That is, if you chose to pick up your passport instead of have it delivered to you. No appointment needed for this.

Aside from biometrics collection, the VAC also accepts interview waiver and/or 221g document submission. You don’t need to set an appointment for this , too.

Step 8: Go to the U.S. Embassy for the Interview.

On the day of your appointment, show up at the U.S. Embassy for the interview. Here’s the address:

Embassy of the United States of America
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your schedule. Actually, they start letting applicants in an hour before the indicated schedule.

Traffic is horrible in Manila, so allot plenty of lead time. If you’re coming from far away — especially if you’re flying in from the province — and you’re looking for a place to stay, consider a hotel that is close to the U.S. Embassy. There are a lot of good choices in the surrounding area. SEARCH FOR MANILA HOTELS HERE! ✅

Left: All the requirements that I brought with me to the interview; Right: Meeting my cousin Pycan who kept my gadgets and waited for me at a nearby McDonald’s while I was at the interview.

But remember these:

Gadgets or items with batteries and ON-OFF switch are NOT ALLOWED inside. Yes, that includes mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and even digital watches (Apple watch, etc.).
Food, sharp objects, crayons, and markers are also prohibited. You may be refused entry and your account may be locked for 30 days if you’re caught sneaking any of these in.
No lockers or baggage counters in the vicinity. The best thing to do is to go with a companion and ask them to wait for you somewhere close. There’s a Starbucks cafe and McDonald’s on the other side of the road. Just agree to meet at a certain time, old-school-style.

Once you’re gadget-free, you may now go inside. You’ll need to fall in line every step of the way. Here are the steps:

Present your printed appointment confirmation page at the staff outside. They will affix a sticker with a QR code on the back cover of your passport.
Enter the building for the security check. They are very thorough, so don’t attempt to sneak in anything prohibited.
Follow the signs and the staff to the next building. You may be asked here to present your passport and some of your requirements. In my case, they only checked my passport. In Vins’s case, passport and 2×2 ID photo.
You’ll be assigned a counter for the interview proper. Queue up at that counter and wait for your turn.
Interview proper. This usually just takes around 5 minutes. It’s very quick because most probably, applications have been evaluated even before the interview. It’s very likely that they already have a tentative decision prior to your appointment and the interview is just for validation or to settle any doubts, if any. It is also an opportunity to check supporting documents should they feel the need to. In my case, they didn’t check anything. But some of the other applicants in the area were asked to present supporting docs. I’ll share all the questions in the next section below.
– If your application is approved, they will take your passport so they could affix the visa sticker.

– If your application is rejected or denied, they will tell you right then and there. (Yes, within hearing range of other applicants on the queue.)

Step 9: Wait for your visa!

You should receive your passport with a visa just a few days after your interview.

In my case, I got mine through LBC Padala just 2 days later. If I was interviewed on Monday, I got the visa on Wednesday morning. I paid PHP 440 upon delivery.

If you chose PICKUP when you booked an appointment, you may claim your passport/visa at LBC Mall of Asia.

UPDATE! Starting September 28, 2024, charges for premium document delivery and premium document submission will be revised to Php430 per application, regardless of whether you selected the premium service before the said date.

U.S. VISA INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Here’s a rundown of all the questions the consul/visa officer asked me during the interview.

Where in the US are you going?
What’s the purpose of the trip?
How long is the trip?
Are you married? Do you have kids?
With whom are you traveling?
What do you do for a living?
How long have you been doing this job?
What’s the name of your employer?

That was it. Eight questions. Or nine. Vins got even fewer questions: six.

The officer’s tone was very casual and friendly, so I responded in the same fashion.

After the last question, the officer typed something on the computer, faced me again, and said, “OK, your visa is approved. We’ll just mail the passport to you.”

But because the interview is conducted in an open area, while I was in line, I could actually hear the questions that the other applicants were getting. These include:

Will you be visiting someone in the US?
Have you visited other countries before?
Where in (state) are you going?

⚠️ IMPORTANT! These questions that the officers/consuls are asking are the same questions on the DS-160 form, so it is crucial that you know and remember the answers you entered when you were accomplishing it online. They’re not asking because they want to know — they already know — but they probably are just trying for confirm or test if your answers are consistent.

The problem is, when a lot of time has passed between the day you accomplished the DS-160 form and the day of your interview, it’s easy to forget the details. So keep a copy of your answers on the DS-160 form.

There you have it. That’s the entire U.S. visa application process as I experienced it.

Before I end this article, I just have to commend the people working at the U.S. Embassy for the smooth process and pleasant experience. From the Filipino staff and the American interviewers, every one was friendly, gentle, and respectful. Even when they were delivering rejections, they did it in a way that were not condescending or belittling. At other embassies, I have seen pretty high horses when applying for a visa, so this was really a breath of fresh air. Kudos to all the workers at the US Embassy!

Where to Stay Near the U.S. Embassy Manila

If you’re coming from the province and you want to spend the night at a hotel close to the U.S. Embassy, here are some properties around the area.

Bayview Park Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
New Coast Hotel Manila. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
Red Planet Manila Bay. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
The Manila Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
Diamond Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
Red Planet Manila Malate Mabini. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
City Garden Suites Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
Sheraton Manila Bay. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
Regency Grand Suites. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Manila Hotels!

Updates Log

2024 9 30 – Updated to reflect changes in visa application process that took effect on September 28, 2024
2024 8 4 – First up

2024 U.S. VISA APPLICATION Requirements & Interview Questions in the Philippines

WHAT IS A B1/B2 U.S. VISA?

HOW TO APPLY FOR A U.S. VISA?