I made A MISTAKE!?

[Headmo 0]

Hello,

I was wondering if anybody have any tips for me in this situation. I applied a for I129 Fiancee petition for my fiancee. Is has been approved and everything was running smoothly until the day of her interview she had at the US embassy in Ethiopia. The problem is I made a couple of mistakes when I was filling out the applications.(part of the problem was because of Visajourney.com, lol)

You see, in the sample forms on this website for the i325 Biographic form. It shows a sample filled form for an applicant in Italy. Well, the problem is that I supposdly wrote she speaks italian on that sheet? I also had another typo with her birthday because on the Biographic form it said 04/07/89 and on her i129 it said 04/17/89.

I guess they rejected her because of those problems like its some sort of scam and she said they told her, "if he really loves you, tell him to come here himself".

Well, I am working now but I am willing to go there again within the next two months to fight this obsurd accusations. I already sent the Consular at the Ethiopian embassy to enlighten me on what the situation is and how can it be resolved.

Anybody have any advice?

or experience on how long this will take?

That would be really helpful,

Thanks

Also, here is an attachment of the letter they gave her after the interview.

[maztec 0]

Hello,

I was wondering if anybody have any tips for me in this situation. I applied a for I129 Fiancee petition for my fiancee. Is has been approved and everything was running smoothly until the day of her interview she had at the US embassy in Ethiopia. The problem is I made a couple of mistakes when I was filling out the applications.(part of the problem was because of Visajourney.com, lol)

You see, in the sample forms on this website for the i325 Biographic form. It shows a sample filled form for an applicant in Italy. Well, the problem is that I supposdly wrote she speaks italian on that sheet? I also had another typo with her birthday because on the Biographic form it said 04/07/89 and on her i129 it said 04/17/89.

I guess they rejected her because of those problems like its some sort of scam and she said they told her, "if he really loves you, tell him to come here himself".

Well, I am working now but I am willing to go there again within the next two months to fight this obsurd accusations. I already sent the Consular at the Ethiopian embassy to enlighten me on what the situation is and how can it be resolved.

Anybody have any advice?

or experience on how long this will take?

That would be really helpful,

Thanks

Also, here is an attachment of the letter they gave her after the interview.

Ethiopia? Good luck. They have this response because over 95% of the petitions that go through Ethiopia are scams. They are predisposed to denying them. It takes serious evidence with ZERO mistakes to get a fiancee visa through Ethiopia. Your best bet is to email consaddis@state.gov AND call 251-11-1242424 Mon-Thu 1:00pm to 5:00pm then give a shot at consacs@state.gov . . . and explain what has happened. Tell them that you were a moron, using a website rather than an attorney to help you, you made errors on the forms, and request them to make the changes. Inform them that if it is necessary for you to visit Ethiopia, you can, but it will take you X months to be able to go there because of work.

Frankly, I would just tell them, "Fine! I will do a telephonic Nikkah (marriage) and then visit her before her interview to consummate the marriage!" And do just that - and attend the interview with her.

--errrr <RANT>----

If you want to be crude, you could always drag in the sheets of your marital bed [with appropriate allocation of food dye] and say, "See! These sheets are proof of our marriage!"

Have a friend that worked for the Consulate in Ethiopia up until a year ago. She had a man and woman come in and do that - after they had done a tentative denial. They set up a new appointment, came in, the guy was fuming mad, showed the "sheets" and asked the Consulate, "What do you need to see?!? Nude photographs of us copulating? Should we strip now and have sex to prove we love each other? You are sick! But we will do it if you will approve it!" Apparently, after holding in the laughter and fear, the Consulate approved it.

But what can I say? That really is not good advice... Stick with what there is before the crudeness and you might have a chance to fix it. If they seem sincere in that if you visit they will grant it - then go. But, honestly, I would contact my Senator first and throw an unholy fit, informing him/her that the Consulate is causing you additional cost, stress, etc and forcing you to go to Ethiopia against your will . . . when they should be able to approve your fiancee - WHO THEN HAS NINETY DAYS to marry you and PROVE that the relationship is REAL and FILE for an adjustment and PROVE AGAIN that it is real and then FILE AGAIN for removal of conditions and PROVE AGAIN that it is real. Yes, you have to prove your relationship is real at least six times before it is real enough for the government (initial CIS application, NVC documentation, Consulate, marriage/U.S. entry immigration, adjustment petition, adjustment interview, condition removal petition, condition removal interview) . . . what a pain in the ###.

The system is broke! Demand that your Senator work on fixing it.

Oh, and good luck.. Ethiopia's Consulate is one of the worst U.S. Consulates in the world - they have been cited for human rights abuses repeatedly, but never convicted. Rampant abuse by officers insisting on being bribed by sexual or monetary favors in order to approve a petition are excessively common in Ethiopia.... which makes it all the worse.

--- </RANT> ---

Edited June 19, 2008 by maztec

[pushbrk 13,001]

She should have been given something in writing when denied. What does it say?

[TBoneTX 45,661]

She should have been given something in writing when denied. What does it say?

The poster attached it above, but it's too faint and small to read, even when the size is expanded.

[KimandRuss 0]

If you're using IE7, you can enlarge it and read it fine simply by clicking on it.

It says nothing about a denial.

I guess this is a good lesson for others. The example forms specifically state to use them as a reference and not to use them and just change the info....although I can see why that is easier.

Was an honest mistake. It's too bad the consulate is a difficult one. I hope it's resolved for you soon.

[wowswift 3]

She should have been given something in writing when denied. What does it say?

The poster attached it above, but it's too faint and small to read, even when the size is expanded.

looks like he just attached an appointment letter. doesn't say anything about denial on it

[Ban Hammer 13,445]

She should have been given something in writing when denied. What does it say?

The poster attached it above, but it's too faint and small to read, even when the size is expanded.

looks like he just attached an appointment letter. doesn't say anything about denial on it

and the appointment was over a month ago.

[Zee Bee 61]

Ethiopia? Good luck. They have this response because over 95% of the petitions that go through Ethiopia are scams. They are predisposed to denying them. It takes serious evidence with ZERO mistakes to get a fiancee visa through Ethiopia. Your best bet is to email consaddis@state.gov AND call 251-11-1242424 Mon-Thu 1:00pm to 5:00pm then give a shot at consacs@state.gov . . . and explain what has happened. Tell them that you were a moron, using a website rather than an attorney to help you, you made errors on the forms, and request them to make the changes. Inform them that if it is necessary for you to visit Ethiopia, you can, but it will take you X months to be able to go there because of work.

Frankly, I would just tell them, "Fine! I will do a telephonic Nikkah (marriage) and then visit her before her interview to consummate the marriage!" And do just that - and attend the interview with her.

--errrr <RANT>----

If you want to be crude, you could always drag in the sheets of your marital bed [with appropriate allocation of food dye] and say, "See! These sheets are proof of our marriage!"

Have a friend that worked for the Consulate in Ethiopia up until a year ago. She had a man and woman come in and do that - after they had done a tentative denial. They set up a new appointment, came in, the guy was fuming mad, showed the "sheets" and asked the Consulate, "What do you need to see?!? Nude photographs of us copulating? Should we strip now and have sex to prove we love each other? You are sick! But we will do it if you will approve it!" Apparently, after holding in the laughter and fear, the Consulate approved it.

But what can I say? That really is not good advice... Stick with what there is before the crudeness and you might have a chance to fix it. If they seem sincere in that if you visit they will grant it - then go. But, honestly, I would contact my Senator first and throw an unholy fit, informing him/her that the Consulate is causing you additional cost, stress, etc and forcing you to go to Ethiopia against your will . . . when they should be able to approve your fiancee - WHO THEN HAS NINETY DAYS to marry you and PROVE that the relationship is REAL and FILE for an adjustment and PROVE AGAIN that it is real and then FILE AGAIN for removal of conditions and PROVE AGAIN that it is real. Yes, you have to prove your relationship is real at least six times before it is real enough for the government (initial CIS application, NVC documentation, Consulate, marriage/U.S. entry immigration, adjustment petition, adjustment interview, condition removal petition, condition removal interview) . . . what a pain in the ###.

The system is broke! Demand that your Senator work on fixing it.

Oh, and good luck.. Ethiopia's Consulate is one of the worst U.S. Consulates in the world - they have been cited for human rights abuses repeatedly, but never convicted. Rampant abuse by officers insisting on being bribed by sexual or monetary favors in order to approve a petition are excessively common in Ethiopia.... which makes it all the worse.

--- </RANT> ---

How do you know that 95% of the cases that go through Ethiopia are scams? There are VJ members who have gone through Ethiopia and other high fraud countries, without a lawyer, with no problems. It seems to be one of the more friendly consulates in Africa (try dealing with Ghana or Nigeria )

I don't know what country you are going through but it sounds to me that you have issues with the Ethiopian embassy for whatever reason. I suggest you take it up with them instead of painting an inaccurate picture of doom and gloom for the OP.

To the OP: What you posted was her appointment letter, not the letter she got after the interview. First, you need to find out what paper was given to her at the interview and what it said because that will determine your course of action and you need to do this ASAP.

[pushbrk 13,001]

She should have been given something in writing when denied. What does it say?

The poster attached it above, but it's too faint and small to read, even when the size is expanded.

looks like he just attached an appointment letter. doesn't say anything about denial on it

and the appointment was over a month ago.

Right, I don't know how I missed it but by holding the Control key and moving the mouse wheel forward, you can read the letter clearly. It is an appointment letter from before the interview.

She was given something in writing after the interview. That is the key to any answer about how to proceed.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

To the OP: Contact the Consulate in Addis. Contrary to what the first responder to your query said, the Consulate in Addis is not all that bad. Nani and I had a very positive experience with the Consulate when we obtained her K3 visa. Yes, I was there for the interview but only because they agreed to see us while I was there anyways. We sailed through that Consulate - from picking up the letter to picking up the visa - in 9 days. Calendar days, that is. Nani's mom - unmarried and without what would typically be considered significant ties to Ethiopia - obtained a visitor visa w/o problems to come to be here and help when our daughter was born. No tricky questions, no rejections.

So, again, contact the Consulate and ask them what it will take to rectify the situation that the errors on the application seem to have caused. They'll respond and you take it from there. Be respectful and polite when dealing with them. They hold the key to what you want.

Good Luck!

RK

[reeses16 8]

Hi, I'm reading your post for the first time. What happened? Were you able to straighten things out?

[Gemmie 142]

Ethiopia? Good luck. They have this response because over 95% of the petitions that go through Ethiopia are scams. They are predisposed to denying them. It takes serious evidence with ZERO mistakes to get a fiancee visa through Ethiopia. Your best bet is to email consaddis@state.gov AND call 251-11-1242424 Mon-Thu 1:00pm to 5:00pm then give a shot at consacs@state.gov . . . and explain what has happened. Tell them that you were a moron, using a website rather than an attorney to help you, you made errors on the forms, and request them to make the changes. Inform them that if it is necessary for you to visit Ethiopia, you can, but it will take you X months to be able to go there because of work.

Frankly, I would just tell them, "Fine! I will do a telephonic Nikkah (marriage) and then visit her before her interview to consummate the marriage!" And do just that - and attend the interview with her.

--errrr <RANT>----

If you want to be crude, you could always drag in the sheets of your marital bed [with appropriate allocation of food dye] and say, "See! These sheets are proof of our marriage!"

Have a friend that worked for the Consulate in Ethiopia up until a year ago. She had a man and woman come in and do that - after they had done a tentative denial. They set up a new appointment, came in, the guy was fuming mad, showed the "sheets" and asked the Consulate, "What do you need to see?!? Nude photographs of us copulating? Should we strip now and have sex to prove we love each other? You are sick! But we will do it if you will approve it!" Apparently, after holding in the laughter and fear, the Consulate approved it.

But what can I say? That really is not good advice... Stick with what there is before the crudeness and you might have a chance to fix it. If they seem sincere in that if you visit they will grant it - then go. But, honestly, I would contact my Senator first and throw an unholy fit, informing him/her that the Consulate is causing you additional cost, stress, etc and forcing you to go to Ethiopia against your will . . . when they should be able to approve your fiancee - WHO THEN HAS NINETY DAYS to marry you and PROVE that the relationship is REAL and FILE for an adjustment and PROVE AGAIN that it is real and then FILE AGAIN for removal of conditions and PROVE AGAIN that it is real. Yes, you have to prove your relationship is real at least six times before it is real enough for the government (initial CIS application, NVC documentation, Consulate, marriage/U.S. entry immigration, adjustment petition, adjustment interview, condition removal petition, condition removal interview) . . . what a pain in the ###.

The system is broke! Demand that your Senator work on fixing it.

Oh, and good luck.. Ethiopia's Consulate is one of the worst U.S. Consulates in the world - they have been cited for human rights abuses repeatedly, but never convicted. Rampant abuse by officers insisting on being bribed by sexual or monetary favors in order to approve a petition are excessively common in Ethiopia.... which makes it all the worse.

--- </RANT> ---

How do you know that 95% of the cases that go through Ethiopia are scams? There are VJ members who have gone through Ethiopia and other high fraud countries, without a lawyer, with no problems. It seems to be one of the more friendly consulates in Africa (try dealing with Ghana or Nigeria )

I don't know what country you are going through but it sounds to me that you have issues with the Ethiopian embassy for whatever reason. I suggest you take it up with them instead of painting an inaccurate picture of doom and gloom for the OP.

To the OP: What you posted was her appointment letter, not the letter she got after the interview. First, you need to find out what paper was given to her at the interview and what it said because that will determine your course of action and you need to do this ASAP.

I think this poster meant that they've heard that Ethiopia is difficult to be approved from because THEIR (the consulate) impression is that people are trying to use scams to get into the US. Not that they personally think that it's true.

Also, I fail to see how the example forms on VJ were at fault. They're not only there as an example, but you need to check everything is correct multiple times before it's sent out. Just be careful and contact the consulate, find out what you have to do if it is indeed a denial.

Good luck.

Edited July 24, 2008 by Gemmie

[wifetobe 2]

She should have been given something in writing when denied. What does it say?

The poster attached it above, but it's too faint and small to read, even when the size is expanded.

It doesn't say anything about a denial, just the preparation of paperwork to gather etc.