Senegal Interview worries

[attaya_girl 1]

Hello!

It looks like we'll be having our interview, hopefully, within the next month or month and a half.

I have a couple questions/concerns. Earlier, before we had decided to file for the K-1, I had mentioned that my fiance's papers were changed when he was very young to make him look 8 years older than he actually is. We can't change it back--every record that exists for him (birth certificate, school enrollment, identity card, military papers, everything) confirms the false date. We are actually only 2 years apart in age, but according to paperwork we are 10 years apart and he doesn't look a early-mid thirty-something. He looks like he's in his mid twenties. I guess I'm wondering if the embassy will ask about our "age difference" and what we should say. I'm just starting to worried.

More fun question--I've been in Dakar before and know my way around pretty well (I studied there for a while), but I'm trying to think of a hotel/auberge that's close to the embassy. I know of some good places in Yoff and near the lighthouse by Mamelles, but Yoff is a little far off for the early embassy interview and transportation before 6:00 a.m. is hard to come by. Same goes for Mamelles.

Anyone know of a cheaper place that would have access at least to good transportation? And by transportation, a car rapide or the DDD would be better than a taxi. I know this is specific, but I'm just trying to get some things lined up.

Thanks!

[attaya_girl 1]

One more question--Does anyone know if the Packet 3 is mailed in Dakar or if my fiance can pick it up from the embassy?

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

Hey girl!

Don't know what to say about the whole age thing. I think because it's so common there won't be an issue and you being there will DEFINITELY help!!

As far as the hotel. We found one that is FABULOUS!! It's more like a furnished apartment and it was just 20,000 CFA. I don't know distance from embassy or anything. The address and phone number are at home, so tonight I'll get them for you.

[attaya_girl 1]

Thanks Whidbey I'm getting so excited and nervous at the same time. I'm not getting on the plane without him!

I would love to get that hotel information from you! Do you remember how long it took you to get to and from the embassy from there?

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

SCI: BAF

97, Cité Djily Mbaye

face Cimétiere Yoff

Phone 33.820.70.54

I don't know how far it is from the US Embassy, I've never been to the Embassy. If you say there ask for the room that is in the back. It is 4 rooms - bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen (with a stove and refrigerator). The woman told me she would even hook up the internet for me if I wanted it. My husband may know her name and have her cell, I'll ask tonight when I call.

Oh and on the age thing - I was thinking today, since he's older I don't think it will be an issue at all. Now if it were the other way around they may question a bit.

Edited August 8, 2009 by WhidbeyGirl

[attaya_girl 1]

SCI: BAF

97, Cité Djily Mbaye

face Cimétiere Yoff

Phone 33.820.70.54

I don't know how far it is from the US Embassy, I've never been to the Embassy. If you say there ask for the room that is in the back. It is 4 rooms - bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen (with a stove and refrigerator). The woman told me she would even hook up the internet for me if I wanted it. My husband may know her name and have her cell, I'll ask tonight when I call.

Oh and on the age thing - I was thinking today, since he's older I don't think it will be an issue at all. Now if it were the other way around they may question a bit.

Thanks Whidbey! I'll have to check out that hotel for the night before I leave. That should be pretty close to the airport if it's in Yoff.

Oh, and thank-you for the reassurance on the age thing I've been stressing out about it, but I guess I just have to see how it goes.

Edited August 9, 2009 by attaya_girl

[taurean 0]

I feel like I haven't posted here in forever. Hope everyone is doing fine!

attaya_girl: good luck with the interview!! I am sure all will be fine. To answer your question about Packet #3, I am not sure this is still the case, but it was not mailed when my husband was going through the process so we had to download the papers from the Embassy website and bring them with us. You can also e-mail the Embassy to ask them what the current procedure is.

I also wouldn't worry about the age difference question. Typically that question is asked when the reverse happens (woman younger than the man).

Edited August 12, 2009 by taurean

[attaya_girl 1]

I feel like I haven't posted here in forever. Hope everyone is doing fine!

attaya_girl: good luck with the interview!! I am sure all will be fine. To answer your question about Packet #3, I am not sure this is still the case, but it was not mailed when my husband was going through the process so we had to download the papers from the Embassy website and bring them with us. You can also e-mail the Embassy to ask them what the current procedure is.

I also wouldn't worry about the age difference question. Typically that question is asked when the reverse happens (woman younger than the man).

Thanks for your reply! I actually received packet 3 by e-mail today, which was so exciting! Now we just need to get his medical completed before scheduling the interview. Does anyone know if the wait time for a K visa interview runs about the same as the non-immigrant visa wait times on the embassy website?

Edited August 13, 2009 by attaya_girl

[Chris W 0]

I was in living in Mali at the time; packet 3 arrived by DHL I believe.

[Linguere 0]

Hotel Miramar is in walking distance of the embassy. It is around $50-$60 a night, at least it was in 2007. I stayed there for 3 weeks and it is very comfortable and friendly.

http://www.dakar-miramar.com/

[attaya_girl 1]

Hotel Miramar is in walking distance of the embassy. It is around $50-$60 a night, at least it was in 2007. I stayed there for 3 weeks and it is very comfortable and friendly.

http://www.dakar-miramar.com/

Thanks for the tip! I actually just booked a room at the Hotel Farid which looks like it has about the same rates and is only a few blocks from the embassy. Good thing too, because the taxi drivers are pretty ruthless with bargaining early in the morning. I'm getting so excited to be back in Dakar!

[Linguere 0]

Hotel Miramar is in walking distance of the embassy. It is around $50-$60 a night, at least it was in 2007. I stayed there for 3 weeks and it is very comfortable and friendly.

http://www.dakar-miramar.com/

Thanks for the tip! I actually just booked a room at the Hotel Farid which looks like it has about the same rates and is only a few blocks from the embassy. Good thing too, because the taxi drivers are pretty ruthless with bargaining early in the morning. I'm getting so excited to be back in Dakar!

Oh great! I don't know that hotel...but you know you can't be late! I would never even get a taxi in that area because they charge more (tourist area), so I walked everywhere anyway. I would only get taxis at Place d'la independence to go to the outlying areas...away from the hotels!

Good luck!

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

I think we paid the taxi 2,000cfa to get from the place we stayed all the way to the ferry for Gorée.

[attaya_girl 1]

Oh great! I don't know that hotel...but you know you can't be late! I would never even get a taxi in that area because they charge more (tourist area), so I walked everywhere anyway. I would only get taxis at Place d'la independence to go to the outlying areas...away from the hotels!

Good luck!

I know, I hated taxis. LOVED the car rapides, though, and the DDD's not bad if you get on one of the first stops. I lived in Ouakam (close to the Mamelle light house) so it was mostly the car rapide and the white busses with "Alhamdulilah" written on the front. I always just called them the Allhamdulilah busses, but not sure what they're really called.

[attaya_girl 1]

I think we paid the taxi 2,000cfa to get from the place we stayed all the way to the ferry for Gorée.

OWWWWW.....I went twice (once with Lamine and once when my family came to visit me) and I learned to ask for them to drop us off a few blocks away. Speaking Wolof usually helped too.

wait-I just remembered that you stayed in Yoff. That's a good deal! Nice bargaining skills!

Edited August 29, 2009 by attaya_girl