Comments on: At the US Embassy Manila NIV Section, Filipinos pay $131 to be rudely treated & insulted (1st of a series)

By: filipinaaz

filipinaaz — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:02:13 +0000

(Merlina says:
August 21, 2010 at 7:16 pm
I would rather say it is the filipino employees at the US embassy who are treating their own countrymen second class citizens. In fact, I experienced and observed this kind of treatment from filipino workers at the US embassy so many times while at the embassy. I answered back a Filipino security guard because he was yelling at the people like dogs and he threatened to put a finger on me and asked for my passport. When he saw that I have a US passport, he suddenly stopped and said sorry ma’m. WHY the change of attitude? Filipino workers (almost all of them inside that you encounter men and women during an interview) treat applicants like dogs. They yell at them without respect. They insult applicants. Consuls are just doing their jobs. They are blamed if they do it badly or if a terrorist happened to pass a visa. So It is purely luck to pass a visa interview or I would rather say destiny, if you are really destined. BUT my point is, why do Filipino workers act very impolite? KAYABANGAN! that is the answer.
You remove filipino workers there and that embassy will be more respected.
AJAY get the whole picture straight! Go there and observe discreetly.)

Merlina, I so agree with you. The workers in US Embassy in Manila Philippines are so rude, impolite, sarcastic you name it. Why do they have to hire these Filipino people who think they are better than the applicants? They should remove these Filipino worker because I myself have experienced how I was treated with Filipino workers there when I got my visa denied. When I went the second time for interview, I finally got approve. The US Consular (American Worker)who denied me and the second one who approved my visa both were very nice and very polite. At window X one Filipino worker held my visa and even tried to bribe me to give him $100 if I want to get my visa right then. I told him I don’t have a dollar not even peso and he slammed my documents underneath the slit glass and told me that I was KURIPOT! I wish I reported that person. It is the Filipino workers who treated the applicants as second class citizens not the American. I am Filipino my self. I am not siding the Americans, I am just saying these Filipino workers they think they are “It”.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:47:26 +0000

I am an American. My wife is a naturalized American originally a filipina (hope I spelled that correctly). Of course she was granted a alien card because she was married to an American. Both of her parents and 4 of her 11 siblings have been sponsored here in the past few years. I realize there are many hurdles to clear to be sponsored here as well as applying for a Visa so I am curious as to what type of Visa’s are being applied for by the people commenting here on this blog and how they differ from the documents my wife’s family had to prepare. Are they 3, 6, 12 month or more, for work play, student etc. I find it hard to believe anything other than bureaucracy that causes the problems. After spending 20+ years in the military it became obvious to me that the bureaucrats will accept nothing but perfection on the required documents. Posts on here by people who say they have all the i’s crossed and the t’s dotted makes me wonder what the criteria for the visa’s are. Since there are only so many spots and way more applicants then I am sure that anyone who gets minimal pay to do such a mundane job (be they filipino or american bureaucrats) would use any means necessary to throw one out in lieu of another. That being said I have read all of the posts here so far. I disagree with the one which said the lady killed was an idiot, why is anyone who gets killed an idiot. It is obvious that the murderer is the idiot, I don’t care if they are filipino or american, THOU SHALT NOT KILL is the commandment not THOU SHALT NOT BE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME. Also I would like to say that I find most filipino people very kind and generous, although I’m not so nieve’ as to believe that there are not some rotten apples in the group . I feel badly if you never get to visit our great country. I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Just remember to keep trying and keep a positive attitude because when dealing with bureaucrats it is the ONLY way to be if a positive outcome is to be had. And finally I might point out that america might be a bright and shining beacon to the world but I have visited the Philippines on four different occasions and your country is also beautiful as are it’s people but for the life of me it seems you have a national down on ourselves syndrome going on which I cannot understand.The Philippines is just as beautiful as Hawaii in many instances, a place most people if given the chance would want to visit, so don’t be so caught up in the little things that you miss the beauty all around you. Endeavor to work for positive change there so people will visit from all over the world strengthening your economy and building a brighter future for all whether you stay there or move to the U.S. or any other place for that matter (my wife has 2 siblings in Germany also). Besides the answer to the question I asked at the beginning if you are ever able to complete the maze of bureaucracy and make it over here, drop me an email and we will chat, God bless and best of luck to you all!

By: callphilippines

callphilippines — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 02:55:50 +0000

i agree with a few posts above… that its possible getting the visa depends on the mood the interviewer is in and not in what a person is wearing or how one looks…

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:26:48 +0000

I just had an interview early this morning at the american embassy, i came faced to faced with this poker faced young bitchy korean lady consul, i was invited to do a series of fashion show in the states showcasing filipino talents, she asked me a few questions about the usual blah blahs… And when she asked me about my purpose of visiting the states, i honestly answered her that i and a few fellow designers were invited by the philippine consulate to do a fashion tour, showing her the invitation letter, but she just refused to have a look at it, she’s really bitchy, and just tell me sorry youre not qualified to visit… Wtf! Thats it? She doesnt even bother to check my documents and portfolio, unlike on the other designer who went there ahead of me and was interviewed by an american lady consul, she was like conversing and joking with them and looked at my friends portfolio… And immediately gave them a 10 year multiple visa…. And btw, i just found out from other friends who have had an interview, either them or their relatives and friends, af its the korean consule that gets to interview you, they are very strict and bitchy… And doesnt look at documents… I wonder what qualifications do these korean consules have to be on their power tripping position, may God bless their mortal soul.

By: salamancaatsaya

salamancaatsaya — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:59:35 +0000

This article is very well written and share THE SAME EXACT SENTIMENTS I have. I had no idea that they just base their judgments on “what they know”.

A few years ago I applied for a tourist visa, I really didnt want to but I was thinking they have no reason to deny me. I have been to Aussie and other countries here in Asia. My dad even works in an embassy outside our country.

Upon reaching the window, I was facing a stern looking white guy who looked ready to rip my face off. I put on nice clothes and make up so you cant really say he was judging me for what I was wearing. The way he was questioning me also made me even more nervous. I told him about the travel agent who “fixed” my application for a tourist visa (wrong choice of words, I should’ve said “arranged” cause I had no idea how to do it), lo and behold I saw his pupils dilate and said “What? FIXED?”

I said no, I mean she was the one who applied for me because I didn’t know how. (My mom used to do these kind of things for me).

I travelled all the way from Davao, spent like 10k not to mention the interview fee and bham! Less than 2 mins I was told I had no sufficient ties. This was like, not even asking for my bank documents, school registration, properties. I had no chance to tell him my father and he had the same job. I even used to have an official passport.

So yeah, these guys need further training. The embassy really should not employ bigots or Filipino haters.

By: genervin

genervin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 02:31:09 +0000

Dear Sir/Madam

Regarding your statement on this website.I am verythankful that someone that served the US embassy NIV visa section admitted that personnel conducting the interview to the applicants are not so concern about the documents presented by the people,if you are a real ex- consular officer,but the US embassy website requires those documents to be presented by anyone who applies for a niv,it’s your duty then to evaluate if they are genuine or fake.it’s just an easy task to do that.it’s a lot of time for you to trace or investigate further if the documents being presented are real or fake.due to the advancement of technology today. and infact america is claiming that is the most powerful and very influencial contry on the planet, and then just by detecting fake against real they mis calculated?no doubt about the Filipinos who are doing it purposely to lie and cheat your consular officer.but what about those real intentions are to travel or see their relatives that never seen for so long., are they treated the same as you pressume?Just by doing it in the internet you can easily trace who is lying and not.according to the application submitted to your office.and then no need to let the people go to your embassy after they collected the application fee.then no hurt feelings to those who denied for a visa.the $131,$140,etc.is so expensive to spent just to talk for a few seconds and in the end all the words and documents presented are all invalid.I can spend more than $1000 in the bar to talked to someone that not also sincer but at least I am enjoying the fun of spending my money.and at this present economic condition of your America,those real travellers will not stay permanently there as their cash will just drain easily.
I have a lot of friends staying there for long time and yet they cannot even afford to buy ticket to visit Phils.my suggestion is change the image of your websites. that to the NIV applicants documents are not needed anymore,It’s useless.and time consuming.Thanks and Regards to your consul officer.be smart to evaluate your applicants not just keep collecting their money.Philippines is one of the poor country in the world, but thus not mean there are no genuine applicants.

By: jamien

jamien — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 13:04:26 +0000

Len says:
January 15, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Hayyzzzz!!! i will speak in my language ha…Filipino ka right???
nabasa ko mga comments dito,,,.minsan tlga nakakaloko sa U.S. Embassy..,I went to my interview last january 14..the consular officer saw all my supporting documents and then he ask me some questions,,He speaks in tagalog..,,,okay diba??? i passed on the interview kaya lang hindi pa matatatakan passport ko kasi daw kylangan ko pa i-submitt CRBA ng baby ko.,,which is last year ko pa ginawa..i sent all the supporting documents “ALL ORIGINAL COPY” and until now wala parin syang appointment..I told him that i did sent it already,,…tama yung isang nag-comment mga kapwa natin pilipino ang pasaway,,biruin mo alam naman nilang hinanantay yun bakit kylangan pa nilang patagalin eh pwede naman gawin na kaagad…Haaayyyssssssszzzz..,tanong ko lang ha??,,,bakit ang mga american pwedeng pumunta dito ng walang VISA??,,bakit tayo d makapunta sa kanila ng WALANG visa???

[Reply]

ikaw naman lyn, bakit di kailangan ng visa ang america papunta sa atin, kasi mahirap na bansa tayo, ano gawin nila dito hehehe,. tayo pupunta doon sa isang dahilan mapabago buhay natin. kaya isang dahilan yan kung bakit mahigpit sila sa bansa nila, ang mali nila, maramiing gustong pumunta para makita kung ano ang america, pero denied , yung mga my maiitim na plano na manirahan talaga yan ang nabigyan ng visa, minsan kasi mali yung pag judge nila sa mga applicant. like me gusto ko pumunta doon para makita kung ano ang america, pero denied ako, samantala marami na akong bansa na napupuntahan at umuwi talaga ako after ng visa ko. kaya masaklap.

By: ajay

ajay — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:32:45 +0000

Merlina, I did not notice anything unusual about the Filipinos. I only remember the snooty visa officer in front of me. Case closed.

By: Merlina

Merlina — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:16:11 +0000

I would rather say it is the filipino employees at the US embassy who are treating their own countrymen second class citizens. In fact, I experienced and observed this kind of treatment from filipino workers at the US embassy so many times while at the embassy. I answered back a Filipino security guard because he was yelling at the people like dogs and he threatened to put a finger on me and asked for my passport. When he saw that I have a US passport, he suddenly stopped and said sorry ma’m. WHY the change of attitude? Filipino workers (almost all of them inside that you encounter men and women during an interview) treat applicants like dogs. They yell at them without respect. They insult applicants. Consuls are just doing their jobs. They are blamed if they do it badly or if a terrorist happened to pass a visa. So It is purely luck to pass a visa interview or I would rather say destiny, if you are really destined. BUT my point is, why do Filipino workers act very impolite? KAYABANGAN! that is the answer.
You remove filipino workers there and that embassy will be more respected.

AJAY get the whole picture straight! Go there and observe discreetly.

By: Sid

Sid — Sun, 30 May 2010 13:29:02 +0000

I’ve been granted a visa twice, one single entry and one multiple visa. I think it’s important that when you appear before the consular officer you must make the impression that your world will not crumble if your application is denied. In both instances that I went to the embassy, I was fully prepared to be rejected and I was not. The last time, my wife and I applied. We agreed that if our application was denied we would buy ourselves a good videoke machine before we go home. We got our visas and had to postpone buying the videoke. We went to the US and came back way before the deadline stamped on our visa. We’re planning to reapply. Do we expect to be granted a visa automatically? Hell, no.