VISITOR VISA

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

Question from a friend. Actually it's from me because I believe he's not really informed on how hard it is to get a visitor visa for a spouse. Here's situation:

Friend is Nigerian who won the lottery. He applied as a single man, but his engagement party is tomorrow and will be married by December. His understanding is that since he was single when he entered the lottery his wife is not eligible to immigrate with him. He's been told it will be 5 years until she will be able to join him. He thinks she'll be able to visit often. She will be leaving shortly to work on her Master's degree in the UK. I'm thinking that that will make it even more difficult to get a visitor visa.

What are your thoughts?

[Aniomaman 0]

Getting a visitor visa as a Nigerian student in the UK is pretty difficult unless she gets the visa before leaving Nigeria for her studies. It's difficult to prove ties to Nigeria as it is sometimes, proving it from the UK will be even more difficult. If she's on a masters research programme then she can try applying for conferences and maybe present a paper, that was the only way I was able to get around it. If she mentions that she has a Fiance in the states...she's on her own...lol. Best wishes to the new couple.

Edited July 31, 2009 by Aniomaman

[GabiandVi 34]

This is a tough one. I would advise she get a visitor visa before she leaves Nigeria, but I don't know how strong her ties are to Nigeria, especially as she will be leaving it soon.

She actually might have a good shot proving strong ties to the UK because of her masters program. It's hard to say. I know that when my husband applied the first time for a visitor's visa to the US from China toward the end of his program, they looked at him for a total of 30 seconds before denying him. But when he went to Africa that summer, even though he was only there temporarily, he was given a visa because they understood his strong cultural links to his community. But Nigeria is different from Benin. First, most Beninese want to immigrate to France, not the UK or the US. And there are relatively few visas of any type processed there at all, so they are able to give each one personal attention, unlike in Nigeria or the UK, or China, for that matter.

It's going to be difficult, no matter what.

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

Thanks both of you.

BTW - My husband and I are hopefully going to Benin in March to help set up an micro-enterprise at an orphanage.

[GabiandVi 34]

Thanks both of you.

BTW - My husband and I are hopefully going to Benin in March to help set up an micro-enterprise at an orphanage.

Cool. What part? And what sort of enterprise?

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

Thanks both of you.

BTW - My husband and I are hopefully going to Benin in March to help set up an micro-enterprise at an orphanage.

Cool. What part? And what sort of enterprise?

I don't know where exactly yet - haven't gotten all the details. We will be working with Orphan Relief & Rescue - they mainly work in orphanages in Liberia but have been asked to help out this particular one in Benin. Anyways, we are setting up a bakery for them. The plan is for them to become self-sufficient so as not to have to rely on government or any other NGO's.

[reeses16 8]

Thats awesome, Whidbey! Do you or your hubby have baking experience or is this a new adventure for you?

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

Thats awesome, Whidbey! Do you or your hubby have baking experience or is this a new adventure for you?

I can follow a recipe - does that count?? LOL!! Actually my role will probably be more in the construction aspect of it. Give me a hammer and power tools and I'm good to go!

I was supposed to go to Liberia last year but the trip changed from a building mission to a scouting mission (to see what needed to be done). I want to go on a "get my hands dirty" mission so this will hopefully be the one for me. I just have this longing to do mission work in Africa, I know it's where I am supposed to be.