My US B-1 Business VISA Application Experience

👋 Hi, Visitor!

If you're a Filipino planning a trip to the US from the Philippines for a business conference, award claiming, or client meeting, a B-1 Business VISA is the most appropriate. This might be your first time applying or just interested in the process.

This blog aims to help you navigate the application, provide information to hopefully not get rejected!

⚠️ Disclaimer

This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be considered an official guide for applying. All Information and advice provided should be reverified by the readers, and they understand that it is subjective as it's solely based on the author's personal experience.

This blog will not cover every aspect of the process, and is limited to only the B-1 Business VISA.

ℹ️ Context

I was invited by AWS to attend the AWS re:Invent 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a fully sponsored grantee. The event lasts 5 days from December 1 to 5. This is my first time applying for a VISA and I have no prior flight experience.

💼 B-1 Business VISA

There are various categories and subcategories for a U.S. VISA depending on the purpose of your travel. Based on the linked guide, the following purposes are under B-1:

• Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only)
• Business visitor
• Domestic employee or nanny - must be accompanying a foreign national employer

The B-1 Business visa costs $185 USD or around 11k PHP and fluctuates depending on the exchange rate and mode of delivery in the online application.

Choosing another type of VISA may render your application incorrect and be rejected when you interview. Moreover, B-1/B-2 is different from B-1, as B-2 includes travel for leisure and entertainment. I predicted that choosing to B-1/B-2 over the B-1 would subject me to unfavorable questioning by the consul.

VISA Application Agencies

As observed per my observation, some applicants rely on third-party services or agencies that offer to review and process their VISA for them at an increased rate of around 15k PHP (VISA fee included). These agencies promise a higher success rate by preparing you and your family for the entire process, such as mock interviews, complete document verification, and such.

Unknown to me at the time, I did not opt for an agency but a direct application. One should be wary of the legitimacy of these agencies and do a critical background check first, as they will be handling the applicant's highly sensitive information. This is not to discredit the legitimate agencies, as they do exist, but for your safety.

📝Online Application

You must fill out 2 forms:

• US VISA Scheduling
• DS-160

Under the legal implications of Perjury, you are to fill out the form as accurately to the best of your knowledge. Critical questions, such as have you ever been jailed or rejected in applying for a visa before.

After entering your details in the lengthy forms, double-check and ask a trusted person to reverify everything you've entered.

Photo Requirements

This is critical, so read and follow the official documentation, as they have strict requirements. They recommended using a professional visa photo service to ensure that the photo meets all the requirements, but taking a photo oneself can also be done, as I have.

Appointment Booking

Before seeing the appointment availability, you need to pay either in cash or by card first. There are 2 appointments to book and attend:

1. Biometrics at Parqal, Paranaque
2. Interview at the US Embassy in Manila

In my application on September 15, the nearest availability was September 25 and 26. It's not always the case that there are availabilities this early, so best to expect at least 1 month and plan before your trip.

Being Unable to Pay Yet

After selecting the card option, I was prompted to enter my card. Your card should be a VISA card to pay, and not a Mastercard or other type.

However, I did not have the money to pay yet, and the payment's expiry date was before I had the money. If you encounter this, don't worry. You can cancel your application and reapply without harm.

🗓️ Appointments

After booking your appointment, print out the following required documents and prepare your supporting documents & IDs.

Required Documents

• DS-160 Confirmation
• VISA Appointment Confirmation
• Two 2x2 Face Pictures

My Documents

• Certificate of Enrollment
• Certificate of Employment (Current)
• Original Birth Certificate
• US VISA Letter from AWS
• Resume

My IDs

• Passport
• School ID
• Barangay ID
• Vaccination ID

Biometrics at Parqal

You can go to Parqal by train - get off at the new LRT1 Redemptorist–Aseana Station, and take a 15-minute walk.

They require applicants to line up 45 minutes before the appointment outside. If you arrive earlier, you can see the batch before you line up. There is a big square fountain near the lines, and you can sit there to wait.

There are also paid printing and storage services nearby in case you forgot a document for printing. The rate I saw was 150 PHP for a small locker and 30 PHP for printing.

While it's nice to have your supporting documents ready, the only documents needed here are your passport, DS-160 printout, and appointment confirmation.

When it's your batch's turn, you must present your DS-160, be given a number, and they will check your name like attendance. You will be let in the mall and must take the elevator with the other applicants to the third floor.

Lining up continues, and the officer will instruct everyone to empty their pockets and store them beside the envelopes/folders they bring as they pass through a metal detector.

You will present the ticket given to you, mark your DS-160 complete, and line up again for the biometrics. When it's your turn, you must first say your full name and birthday for verification. Then, they need to scan your 4 left fingers, 4 right fingers, and two thumbs. Lastly, they will take a photo of you against a white background.

That's it, the majority of this appointment is standing, and it gets tiring, taking around 2 hours lining up outside and inside.

Interview at the US Embassy

You can go to the US Embassy by train - get off at the LRT1 United Nations Station, and take a 20-minute walk outside of Rizal Park.

My interview was scheduled for 9:15 AM, and I arrived near the embassy at around 7 AM. Compared to Biometrics, people are lined up 2 hours or more ahead of their schedule. You can bring an umbrella, a ballpen, and your wallet inside, but no electronic devices.

Again, it's encouraged to have a trusted person to hold the restricted belongings when you go inside.

There are sellers outside selling umbrellas and ballpens at marked-up prices, saying you need their pen inside since they don't allow fountain or sign pens, but only regular pens. I bought a pen from them, but never used it.

What to wear?

Some people recommend wearing a formal suit and tie, but what I saw is that most of the applicants are wearing long sleeves and casual t-shirts. A certain no-go is a tank top or revealing dresses.

I wore a long-sleeved shirt and black pants. Wear what you want appropriately, but the consul is more concerned with your answers and sees if they're consistent.

Check-in

After lining up, you gradually get inside, and you must first present your appointment confirmation.

In the next step, you will give your passport and mention your appointment time (9 AM, 9:15 AM, etc). The handler will stick a barcode on the back of your passport.

You will be let inside and go through metal detectors, pass through a door, take a right turn, and be seated. Follow your line and don't get lost. After some time, you will be let into the office, where there are 3 main stages:

1. Pre-Screening
2. Biometrics
3. Consul Interview

Pre-Screening

You will give your passport to a Filipino, and they will ask your full name, birthday, and the purpose of your visit.

Biometrics

A non-Filipino will take your biometrics again with either 4 left fingers or 4 right fingers

Consul Interview

This is the most critical stage where you will be asked a series or even just one question. The consul is a non-Filipino who will interview you, and they can quickly make a decision based on your answers.

You will be lined up again with possibly two or more different windows. Try to listen to each interview to hear how the applicants answered. You may notice that on some windows, the consuls are kinder or there are more that got approved there. But, it doesn't matter since there are staff who will direct which window you will go to.

You will give your passport to the consul, and only give supporting documents when requested.

Interview Questions

These are the questions asked of me. Yours will vary.

• Q1: What state will you stay in the US?
• A1: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Q2: What is your business? (What will you do there?)
• A2: I have been accepted into the AWS All Builders Welcome Grant and have been invited to attend the AWS re:Invent 2025 from December 1 to 5
• Q3: What do you do for work?
• A3: I am still an undergraduate Computer Science student at FEU Institute of Technology in Manila, but I'm also an Associate Engineer in Cloud Development at Kollab
• Q4: It says here you worked as an AI Engineer at a US Company, Generative Labs
• A4: Yes, I did, but I now work for Kollab, a Google Premier partner company based in Mandaluyong City, Philippines
• Q5: Ah, I see you worked remotely. What do you do in your current company?
• A5: I build cloud applications using Google Cloud, and I'm currently working on internal projects
• Q6: Who is sponsoring your trip?
• A6: AWS will be fully sponsoring the trip, from the round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, as well as the $2100 event ticket itself
• Q7: Wait, fully sponsored? Tell me about this grant
• A7: The grant is called the AWS All Builders Welcome Grant, where student leaders and community leaders around the world apply to attend the exclusive event
• (Stops to search for 1 minute)
• Q8: Do you have documents from the organizers, because this is rather impressive?
• A8: Yes, here you go (gives US VISA Letter from AWS)
• (Consul reads)
• Q9: AWS All Builders Welcome, huh? So what is a builder?
• A9: Builders are community builders, student leaders, and software developers who bring together people and build technical communities
• Q10: And this event will be held in San Francisco, right?
• A10: No, the event will in in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Consul: I can only grant you a single-entry VISA. It takes one week or so for you to receive your passport.

After this, the consul DID NOT RETURN my passport, which means my VISA application is approved. Although it's obvious that the consul did say that, there are chances that they will just hand you back your passport and say thank you for applying. This means your application is rejected.

The single thing that turned the tide for me was the US VISA Letter from AWS. A great sigh of relief that the consul didn't ask about my previous travels, as I had none.

Ten questions are actually quite long. My answers, too, are not one or two words in direct answer to their question, but I also gave critically needed context that I have STRONG TIES to the Philippines, such as my job, study, family, etc. This is how I recommend you answer your interview questions.

Section 214(b)

Every question is a make-or-break. This is because under the Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, we are GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT, meaning the consuls expect you to immigrate and not return; therefore, we must prove ourselves with sufficient ties to convince them.

Some of the most popular denial reasons are:

Limited ties to home country. These are individuals who are young, unemployed or have a low- paying or new job; have no children; are not married; live in rural areas; and/or own no property or assets.

Interview problems. The importance of the interview cannot be underestimated. How the applicant conducts himself; his honesty in answering questions; how he is dressed; reactions; facial expressions; eye contact; hesitation in answering questions; discrepancies in answers to questions and information contained in the application form; nervousness — all go into weighing the applicant’s intentions, credibility, and eligibility for a visa.

Elderly applicants. They may be viewed as more likely to become a public charge or tempted to retire in the US.

📥 Claiming the VISA

The VISA will either be delivered to your home or subject to pickup in Parqal, depending on what you picked during booking online. For pickup, claiming times are from 7 AM to 11 AM from Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, and they will hold it for 14 days. Otherwise, it will be returned to the embassy.

You only need to bring a Government ID, such as a school ID, company ID, or so. Once you arrive at Parqal, head up to the staff outside, claim a stub, and proceed to the 3rd floor, the same floor as the biometrics, but on the other side.

The line is usually short. Once at the window, present your ID, wait as they claim it, and verify once they hand you your passport.

The VISA

I applied only for a B-1 VISA, but I received a B-1/B-2 VISA. I asked the staff why, but they didn't know. I asked Gemini, and it said that the consul decided that the application can encompass Tourism during the visit, albeit only being a single entry.

An annotation is also written showing "For conference in December - NV". My thoughts are that this limits when and where I can visit, which is understandable.

💡 Application Tips

• You can reschedule your appointment up to 2x with at least one day before the appointment
• Join US VISA Application Groups on Facebook or Reddit for extremely helpful guides. Applicants also share their experiences, both accepted and rejected, and ask for advice. But be wary not to share personally identifiable information
• Chat live with Gemini Voice on your phone and practice the interview process

💭 My Overall Thoughts

Getting a VISA, even a single-entry B-1, is a major step in improving one's career. A saying from my childhood says that the dream of every Filipino is to work abroad, become rich, and successfully immigrate with their family. It's important to note that one CANNOT work with a US B-1 VISA, which will lead to getting banned and potentially being charged for overstaying. The VISA type for this is H-1B or the rarer O-1, each with separate requirements. That said, this is a great step towards a brighter future.

I hope this blog has helped provide you with the steps and processes. Now it's your turn to get accepted 🍻