What are your experiences during your interview at the German Embassy?
What are the common German Visa interview questions?
Are the German Visa interview questions hard?
Before your German Visa Interview date comes, please make sure to book a plane ticket a soon as possible. In my experience, I booked a 2-way ticket at Cebu Pacific Airlines. It costs around 2000+ Pesos. Also, keep in mind your interview time as this is very important. Remember, Germans are well-known of their
PUNCTUALITY. So the saying “
better late than never” is
UNACCEPTABLE. My interview was scheduled at 8:30 AM and I arrived in Manila 2-3 hours before the actual interview time.
When I arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, I immediately called for a taxi. The complete address of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany is:
25/F Tower 2 RCBC Plaza6819 Ayala AvenueMakati City, Metro ManilaThe travel time from the airport to the German Embassy is about 25 to 30 minutes and the taxi fare amounted to 100 Pesos. You might be assuming that the distance from the airport to the German Embassy is just near and you might be thinking “
I will not book a very early flight. Otherwise I will be sitting there doing nothing...”
Now please take note that I arrived at the airport at approximately 5:30 AM. No traffics. Not raining and the weather was fine. Not many cars around. Lastly, almost all stoplights I have encountered were
GREEN. So if you arrive on a
RUSH HOUR, then you better pray that you won't be late. Never
UNDERESTIMATE the
TRAFFIC situation in Manila (You know the story).
I just waited for the time to pass by at Jollibee just located near the German Embassy. I sat there, ate a light breakfast meal. I might get caught being a “
StandbyER” so I just ordered something even though I was not hungry.^_^ Places where you can wait, sit, eat and drink just near the German Embassy are: Jollibee, Seven Eleven, StarBucks and several restaurants.
At 8:00 am I went to the German Embassy, left my bag at the counter, left my Company ID in exchange for something like a "Building Pass or ID" and brought my necessary papers and a ballpen. I drove the elevator and pressed the 25th floor. Then finally I was at the German Embassy. Before I entered the office I was checked by policemen probably for unnecessary things. Cellphones are prohibited! My cellphone was stored in a cellphone locker by the policeman and he gave me a key. As I entered, several people were already there. People who wanted their German Visa renewed. Seamen who wanted their Working Visa renewed. Half German and Half Filipino citizens who just started to process their German Passports. People who wanted a Visa (don't know what its called) for educational, study German Language and cross-cultural purposes. A single mother who wanted to get a German Visa for her Half German and Half Filipino son. And so many Filipina women who wanted to get a German Spouse Visa or a German Fiancee Visa. Approximately about 60 seats are available and approximately 120 people were coming and going that day. If I am not mistaken, there are 5 COUNTERS and a “Special Room” where as I have noticed, important conversations or special appointments were made.
The appointment system inside the German Embassy is based on
PRIORITY NUMBER. Don't confuse yourself with the Visa Appointment by Phone. Therefore it is still first come first serve basis. When your number is called, make sure that you are there and immediately go to your counter. If it happens that you are not there or you have not heard when your number is called, you just
SIMPLY WAIT AGAIN for your number to be called. For example there are 100 people having appointments, 100 priority numbers and your number is 50. You missed your turn. So you have to wait again from 51 to 100, then 1 to 49 before your number will be called.
A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME! Note that the average time spent for every person interviewed is between 20 to 30 minutes. Please do the math... So if you are scheduled for an interview at 8:30, it does not mean that you will be interviewed at 8:30 sharp because it also depends on how long it will take for the people interviewed before you. And don't murmur or say to yourself “
It is already 8:30!!!”, just be
PATIENT. You might be questioning about my line in the first paragraph about German
PUNCTUALITY. Well, what if your number will be called at 8:30 am sharp or earlier?
My number was finally called. I went to the counter. The interviewer asked for my papers. I submitted it and she interviewed me. We spoke in either Filipino or English. You might be wondering what the questions were, right? Well, the questions were really
VERY HARD!How did you meet your German spouse?
Where did you meet your German spouse?
When were you married?
How many years were you in a relationship prior to wedding?
When is your planned departure date to Germany?
Does your German spouse already worked in Germany?
Where is your German spouse residing?
Were the questions really that hard?hehe ^_^ But it really depends on what questions the interviewer will ask. There is really no format whatsoever. It is not a Nursing Board Exam or your Finals. Therefore there is
NO NEED TO WORRY as long as you and your German spouse/fiance are legally married, have legal papers, and your relationship is “
Genuine” (Sorry I could not explain the previous sentence further but I think you understand what I mean ^_^).
After the interview I received a paper that contains the
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS that I have to submit via
COURIER SERVICE or
PERSONALLY.
This paper also contains the status of your other documents or requirements. For example:
na - means
not applicable e.g. "
Proof of basic German Language"
x - means that you
lack this paper and you have to submit this paper or requirement e.g. "
11,250 Pesos verification fee"
/ - means
check and that you have
already submitted this paper e.g. "
Birth Certificate issued by NSO on SECPA"
NOTE: The official
COURIER SERVICE of the German Embassy is
AIR21. If you have already gathered the additional requirements, you can't just send it to the German Embassy directly. You have to call the call center of the German Embassy again. The operator will give you the
Reference Number of your documents and the
pick-up time for your documents. For more details please read
THIS (on the last page).
Summary of my experience of my Visa Interview at the German Embassy in Makati, Metro Manila:
1. I arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at approximately 5:30 am.
2. I immediately called for a taxi and arrived at the RCBC Plaza after 25 to 30 minutes.
3. I waited for the time to pass by at the McDonald's just located near the German Embassy.
4. I went to the German Embassy at 8:00 am.
5. My interview was scheduled at 8:30 but my number was called at approximately 10:30 am.
6. My interview lasted for about 20 to 30 minutes.
7. I received a
Additional Requirements paper from the interviewer.
8. I was finished for the day.
9. I flew back to Cebu.
After I have submitted my additional requirements, I just waited for a Mail or an Email from the German Embassy on what step should I do next or what the result is. The processing will take 4 to 6 months or maybe earlier or later, you will never know. So be
PATIENT! ^_^
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