VISA APPROVED

cokebbeh · March 27, 2007

Hello all

Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. God Answered your prayers this morning. My wife's visa was approved today at the US embassy in Dakar, Senegal. I was a little quite for a while and I apologise for that. I was just going by my culture, "NEVER TO REVEAL AN UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENT UNTIL IT OCCURS. This may be a little backward but I believe in it.

Any ways a little detail. Her interview was actually on Tues, March 20. I went with her to the embassy at 7:00 for a 7:30AM appointment, well prepared with albums e-mails and tonnes of phone records, letters, greeting cards and days of practicing questions downloaded from VJ. Just like the usual procedure we came after many, but the moment I show them my US passport they told me to bring all her documents to the front, thus making her the first to called. Then a long wait may be one hour. Our number was called, 301 and we went to the window, met this Senegalese lady who was really nice. she brought out my wife's file, I saw all the documents I submitted to the USCIS and the NVC. Then she asked for my wife's passport and later her passport size pictures. Then she gave back her birth certificate which we had submitted to the NVC during their process. Then she told us to sit and that she will be called by her name this time. You sit just a few feet from where you interview. so everyone can here the questions. There was even a longer wait, may be 2 hours and then we were called for the interview. I went with her to the window and the counular officer asked who I was and I told him I am the husband. He then told me to go have a sit while he interviews my wife. I sat at the corner nervous. These are the questions. My birth date? how old is your husband. How did you meet? When where you married? Then we had a little glitch. He asked my wife where I work and my wife replied NC Dept. of Health and human services? Then he asked what is his position and my wife said "Surveillance Data Manger". Then I was called to the window. The counsular officer said the employer letter I sent to the NVC indicated I am a Statistician. I said yes I was and now I got promoted to the surveillance data manager. Then he asked what is the difference and I explained.

He then said I have to get another employer letter. I thought this was a little stupid but have no choice. Then we scrambled through the pile of documents pretending to have the letter. Then he said I can get the letter and reschedule for another date. I argued that I have to leave for the US on saturday, then he said I do not have to be there, the visa is approved pending the employer letter. Then I went back to my hotel, e-mailed my supervisor and then he faxed me the letter. Then I bought the interview scheduling phone card for 7800 CFA and then called hoping to get thursday 22 of march. The lady on the other side of the telephone told me the only available date is tuesday 27 (Today). We went this morning, this time I showed them my Passport and the lady said we have to join the line. We did and went through security. We were called to the window and the lady took the employer letter and the form that was given to us by the counsular officer on tuesday March 20. Then she said "I will show it to my supervisor" and told us to have seat. 10 or 15 mins later, she came back and gave us a small pink note card to pick up the visa on thursday march 29.

I am so happy and feel blessed I wish all other VJers success in their process.

I will not be fair to myself if I do not make mention of some VJ members whom I had to e-mail or message when I had a question. Aussiwench, Yodrak and Simple_male. These and others are just super helpful.