Total Frustration

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Not saying any bad words, but had I walked into a consulate with papers in my hand, I would not stop giving the papers until my hands were empty. Kind of a simple rule. Why would a person unfamiliar with the process go into a consulate with papers he didn't need to give them? That's just asking for trouble. Much more simple is "here are all the papers sweetheart, give ALL of these to them."

In all fairness, some consulates may not accept any document they don't specifically ask for. This has been a subject of ongoing discussion regarding the consulate in HCM. If the beneficiary tries to submit evidence that wasn't specifically requested along with their other documentation, the local employee will often throw it back at them. At the end of the interview, they'll get a blue slip for precisely the evidence they originally tried to submit. If they try to submit the evidence to the CO, it will be rejected and they'll be told to come back with the evidence on the date indicated on the blue slip - very similar to what happened to the OP's fiance. This is the scenario that Anh Map was describing. It's hard to come to any conclusion other than that the blue slip was prepared before the beneficiary ever arrived for the interview, and nothing they did at the interview was going to avoid it.

If I had to guess what happened in the OP's case, I'd guess that the consulate thinks the petitioner is trying to hide something about their most recent tax return because it wasn't submitted at the initial interview. When the beneficiary returned with a copy of the ITR and W2's, the consulate suspected these were cobbled together (e.g., faked) in order to satisfy the financial minimum requirements, so they asked for a transcript. For whatever reason, they were not prepared to make a decision on the case yet (perhaps waiting on additional evidence from their own investigation), so they told the beneficiary to come back with the transcript on the 21st.

[pushbrk 12,881]

Yes, very frustrating story. All in time, not too soon and not too late, but just in time.

Thank you for kind words of encouragement.

Well, I try to be encouraging and even try tpo find unique ways to get things done, yes this is good for others to learn. And it pretty much slams the door on the "should I bring a copy of my tax return because the rules say I really do not have to?" argument. The post you praise here is meaningless drivel. Cute and sentimental, kinda like a sappy greeting card, but otherwise of no use and a waste of internet ink.

And to be clear, I would NEVER say a bad word abotu your foreign fiance. I would lay any blame for this exactly at the feet of the USC. It is the USCs responsibility start to finish to see to it this is done correctly. I do not think anyone here implied any blame to your fiance. saying he is not prepared is saying YOU did not prepare him.

Posts such as Pushbrks, while hardly sentimental, are more useful, if not to you, then to someone else and that IS the point of discussing experiences. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Now, I feel no need to beat you about the head and shoulders with a blunt object as you are already the recipient of failing to prepare, but yes, it was inexplicable why he did not give the transcripts to begin with. Not saying any bad words, but had I walked into a consulate with papers in my hand, I would not stop giving the papers until my hands were empty. Kind of a simple rule. Why would a person unfamiliar with the process go into a consulate with papers he didn't need to give them? That's just asking for trouble. Much more simple is "here are all the papers sweetheart, give ALL of these to them."

And I will again state my oft repeated advice...the USC should go to the interview. I handed over all the documents in our case, not my wife. My wife never touched a form except to sign where I indicated. If they will not let you in, so be it, but the final instructions then occur outside the gate.

My aggravated comments were not for you. I appeciated the way you responded to my post - that was very helpful because you clearly expressed the purpose of the site. I found no fault or cricism in what you posted - actually I generally look to read your postings. There were a few other post here that I still say are unnecessary and could impact others who may want to share things that didn't go well in their process - whether it be their mistake or not. In my situation, I was not there with my fiance - God forgive him for being human and possibly nervous. I didn't post this for sympathy - my fiance and I clearly understand what he could have done differently and we already know this will turn out well for us. The intention of my post was do exactly as you have stated - remind others of the significance of certain actions through the process. People are already under enough stress through this process and in many cases from friends and family - I just don't see the necessity to criticize others in such a mean spirited way. Reinforce the action that should have been taken - please do for the benefit of others. But, unkind mean spirited words especially when people are feeling a bit down are just not necessary.

I hope that my posting has been helpful to others going through the Ghanaian Embassy. Again, I appreciate the encouragement and insightful comments of all.

I think one person said your fiance was not organized. If he wasn't, that was your responsibility. Gary and I are suggesting that any organization on your fiance's part is YOUR responsibility in advance. That applies to EVERY case. The US Citizen bears the responsibility for making certian the beneficiary knows what to expect and do. If they don't follow the USC's instructions that's a problem with the instructions and/or instructor.

[effieb 1]

You try to do everything the right way, follow all of the instructions and still you get delayed at the Embassy. My fiance completed his interview in August, but, he did not have my 2008 tax returns (that's another story). The interview seemed to have gone well, finger prints taken, and then he was given a sheet instructing him to come back on October 5th with the 2008 tax returns - not a problem. He went back today equipped with a copy of my 2008 tax return and W2 (the same documents we provided for 2007 and 2006 without a problem). Just to be sure he wouldn't have a problem, I also gave him a copy of the IRS transcripts for 2007 and 2008. He initially presented the rep at the embassy, today, with just the copy of my 2008 tax form and W2. The rep took the form and his passport then came back out gave him back his passport and told him he had to present a tax transcript for 2008. They gave him a return date of October 21. He left the embassy, called me and immediately I reminded him that he has a copy of the transcript amongst the documents in his hands. I told him to go back to the embassy ask to speak to a supervisor and present the documents.

When he returned to the embassy they refused to accept the transcripts and told him he had to bring them back on October 21st. This is absolutely ridiculous. Even though I wish he would have given them all of the documents the first time he met with someone today it should not have been a problem due to the fact that he gave them a copy of my return along with the w2. Finally, why would they not accept the tax transcript when he returned - this is absolutely ridiculous. If someone out there has an answer for me on this situation I would greatly appreciate hearing it. I have already sent an email to the embassy expressing my discontent with the manner in which my finance was treated today and I included a copy of the IRS transcript - even though I know that is not the manner in which you submit documents. Yes, I know we are at the end of this process. However, I now see that anything can go wrong even when things are not wrong - so, how do you know when you are really near the end of the process???

I am pissed off at the highest point of pisstivity!!!

I AM PISSED WITH YOU. I AM A GHANAIAN AND I KNOW HOW RIDICULOUS THEY CAN GET.

I WILL CALL THE CONSULATE IF I WAS YOU AND REQUEST TO SPEAK TO THE HEAD CONSULATE OR SOME

UP ON THE TOTTEN POLE. THAT IS CRAZY. MY FIANCE WILL PROBABLY DEAL WITH THE SAME THING. PLEASE CALL

THEM DON'T HANG UP THE PHONE UNTIL THEY PUT A SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY ON THE PHONE.

I AM SORRY. JUST SO IGNORANT.

EFFIEB.

[Old Dominion 26]

It can't be done over again, but I am surprised your fiance even got past Consulate security the second time, without an actual appointment. In my experience, it is the security staff (usually local persons) who are not polite to their own nationals. Getting to see a U.S. consular officer, without a letter of appointment, is actually impossible in some countries. It's as much for security as it is for keeping the flow of applicants moving.

In any event, to be sure he doesn't get unnerved again, are you willing to be there with him on Oct. 21? That's the key to many situations like this.

[Spoom 8]

I'm not going to just sit here and let a few ignorant people criticize my fiance.

Hopefully this comment was not aimed at me, since I made no such criticism. I was simply saying that the Consulates are very specific and often misleading. If anything, I wasn't blaming you or your husband, I was blaming the Consulates.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Not saying any bad words, but had I walked into a consulate with papers in my hand, I would not stop giving the papers until my hands were empty. Kind of a simple rule. Why would a person unfamiliar with the process go into a consulate with papers he didn't need to give them? That's just asking for trouble. Much more simple is "here are all the papers sweetheart, give ALL of these to them."

In all fairness, some consulates may not accept any document they don't specifically ask for. This has been a subject of ongoing discussion regarding the consulate in HCM. If the beneficiary tries to submit evidence that wasn't specifically requested along with their other documentation, the local employee will often throw it back at them. At the end of the interview, they'll get a blue slip for precisely the evidence they originally tried to submit. If they try to submit the evidence to the CO, it will be rejected and they'll be told to come back with the evidence on the date indicated on the blue slip - very similar to what happened to the OP's fiance. This is the scenario that Anh Map was describing. It's hard to come to any conclusion other than that the blue slip was prepared before the beneficiary ever arrived for the interview, and nothing they did at the interview was going to avoid it.

If I had to guess what happened in the OP's case, I'd guess that the consulate thinks the petitioner is trying to hide something about their most recent tax return because it wasn't submitted at the initial interview. When the beneficiary returned with a copy of the ITR and W2's, the consulate suspected these were cobbled together (e.g., faked) in order to satisfy the financial minimum requirements, so they asked for a transcript. For whatever reason, they were not prepared to make a decision on the case yet (perhaps waiting on additional evidence from their own investigation), so they told the beneficiary to come back with the transcript on the 21st.

You could very well be right, Jim and I wish things had gone better for them. Maybe transcripts are the only way to go with some of these consulates.

At any rate, I didn't think the OP directed her rath at me, and some of the other members were more direct (in fact alot of times I am more direct, I must have been sleepy or something ) But preparation can depend on the consulate and is the responsibility of the USC, in my opinion. Also I do not feel direct, blunt responses are necessarily bad or rude. If thruthful, they are just direct and blunt. One of my all time favorite phrases is "Let me pay you the compliment of being direct..."

[MRStee 19]

That is frustrating! Can't believe they did that!! Will you be able to stay until October 21st?

I'm not in Ghana - my fiance has no problem returning on the 21st. I would like to feel confident that all will go well on the 21st. However, he will be bringing the same documents on that date that he presented today. The really sad part is that there is a rumor going around that Ghana will only issue a limited number of visas per month which has resulted in unjustified actions like this taking place. When things like this happens it makes the rumors feel more like a reality.

In my opinion, you did the right thing by emailing AND including a copy of the transcript. That's all you can do for the moment. The 21st is not that far away. Make sure you fiance has SEVERAL copies of the needed documents. Don't give them a reason to not accept it. Take a white sheet of paper and a black marker and label what the form is and the name of it and paperclip like maybe 3 copies to it..

[Myo 0]

It can't be done over again, but I am surprised your fiance even got past Consulate security the second time, without an actual appointment. In my experience, it is the security staff (usually local persons) who are not polite to their own nationals. Getting to see a U.S. consular officer, without a letter of appointment, is actually impossible in some countries. It's as much for security as it is for keeping the flow of applicants moving.

In any event, to be sure he doesn't get unnerved again, are you willing to be there with him on Oct. 21? That's the key to many situations like this.

Here's the really sad part. After a more discussion with him, I realize that they actually took the transcripts the IRS gave to me. Now we are really confused. I have sent emails to the consulate and am trying to reach them by phone during the 1 hour window of time they give you to call them. This situation as changed from frustration to simply bizarre. They refused to accept the copy of my 2008 tax return with w2 (they already had the 2007 copy). They told my fiance that the transcript document still didn't meet the criteria. We are really at a loss. I wish I could be there on the 21st, but, as with many the funds are very limited. In the meantime, I am going to make all the calls that I can and if possible I may have to borrow, borrow, borrow so that I can go down there on the 21st.