a hello and some concerns

[MBJM 0]

Hello,

I have been around for a couple days, reading old post and learning lots so I thought I would introduce myself and my fiance to you all :-)he

I am Megan the USC, but I am living in Uganda right now, I volunteer for a small orpahange in a VERY small village here. I have been here for 3 months this time, but I was here for 6 months last year.

I ment John here in Oct. 2004, he is an amazing Ugandan man, I am very much in love with him.

I think we are hoping to get married in Aug. 2007, then we will start trying to DCF here, and hopefully by Dec. at the latetest we will be traveling to America togeather.

Reading through here has made me a little worried about bringing him to America. I think partly because as much as I tell him that going to america dosn't me we will be rich and it is not like the movies, I don't think he really understands. All Ugandan's here seem to think that going to America is the ticket to a good life. I don't think he understands it will be HARD to find a job, it will be HARD to live where he knows no one, Hard to live where there is no posho (which I think sounds kind of like Fufu for all you Nigerians).

Maybe i am just worring more then I should be......

well anyway there's the short recap of who I am, I look forward to getting involved in this groups, it really seems like it will help this whole imigration process

[blah0323 0]

Welcome aboard!!!

I would encourage you to search the board on both the K-1 and K-3. It seems that even both are a struggle, K-1 is faster and less stressful (at times).

[Jasman0717 9]

Welcome to VJ. Maybe you can do a search here to find others from Uganda who can help you and your BF with questions. Good luck

[MaryandMian 1]

Welcome to VJ and I would just read and learn the visa process plus search for others coming from this area. Good luck on your journey.

Mary

[Kanyiri 0]

Hello,

Getting the visa within four months is highly optimistic, though it has been done before. Most take six months or more.

As for the adjustment, you can continue to tell him that it will be difficult in the US, but until he comes to experience it for himself he is likely to not believe you. I told Re about how difficult it would be the whole time, and he said he understood, but who knows if he actually did. I read tons of books on the Ghanaian culture, but until I moved there I never truly understood. It is always a gamble as to whether or not he is going to succeed in the US or even just like the US. I kept it in my mind that I could move to Ghana if he decided he didn't like it here. Luckily he is doing well and making many friends.

And as for the fufu, there are many African markets around where you can get Ghanaian/Nigerian/African food. The majority of them around here are owned by Ghanaians, but the food around Africa seems to have the same basic ingredients. You can buy yams and you can even buy fufu powder.

Make sure you have all the financial requirements for the visa. I know when I was living in Ghana I didn't have enough, and had to wait a year after I was in the US before I could finally file for the visa.

I hope everything goes well for you!

Kanyiri

[joej 0]

Welcome MBJM.

I must admit I'm a bit jealous that you get to live over there. It sounds like a great opportunity. Best of luck to you on your upcominning visa process. Do they do DCF from Uganda? If so that will be great for you.

As far as your concerns about bringing him to the US I think they are valid. My husband is here now and it has been great for us, but we are both learning about the misconceptions. One thing someone else mentioned in a different thread was the difference in coming from a "cash" country to a "credit" one. Many people see us all over here with cars and houses and assume we had to pay cash for them, not realizing we have a 30 year mortgage and 10 year loans on our vehicles. The concept of credit, interest, terms, minimum pays, etc. is often overwhelming.

Anyway, best wishes to the both of you on your journey.

[mandolinv 0]

You can not expect all the challenges and chages you will go through when you come here. But, it is good to realize that there may be some and to be commited to work through them. You can't be prepared for everything, but if you are prepared that there will be things to work through, and you are ready and willing to work through them, then that is the best thing I can suggest. Good luck.

[MBJM 0]

Thanks for all your input everyone!!

Yes, I am pretty sure I can do DCF here in Uganda, or in Kenya which is the main office that all immigration visas have to go through. Which will be a lot faster the K1 or K3 and I will be able to be here with him..which would be wonderful!

I am a little worried about financial requirements but my parents are willing to joint sponsor so I think that should cover it.

Over all John is an amazing man and I think he will do OK in America, but I know he loves it here in Uganda. In some ways I feel selfish for wanting him to come to america, but I really don't think I could live in Ugandan forever. And I think John also knows that it would be almost impossible to provide for a family here. So, he says he is ready to take any job as long as they pay him. That will be a great thing for him knowing when he will get a pay check and that it will be for all the time he worked. Here it is very common to work for someone for several months without getting a pay check.

I look forward to getting to know you all. I am a little bit crazy about plannig so I think the the last week I have read almost every post here, in the DCF form and the K1 form...so hopefully I will be well informed when I am ready to file.

:-)

[k_quandary 0]

Welcome, MBJM!!!!

Well, I hope everything works out for you. VJ is great and the Africa:Sub-Saharan forum provides great support. About America being EASY, some have already said, but experiencing American life is a better teacher than telling someone from another country that it might be harder than they expect. But, it all works if you have the commitment to make it work. Good luck with everything and keep us posted.

K.

[S&S 1]

Welcome to VJ

[Omorlove123 0]

Hello,

I have been around for a couple days, reading old post and learning lots so I thought I would introduce myself and my fiance to you all :-)he

I am Megan the USC, but I am living in Uganda right now, I volunteer for a small orpahange in a VERY small village here. I have been here for 3 months this time, but I was here for 6 months last year.

I ment John here in Oct. 2004, he is an amazing Ugandan man, I am very much in love with him.

I think we are hoping to get married in Aug. 2007, then we will start trying to DCF here, and hopefully by Dec. at the latetest we will be traveling to America togeather.

Reading through here has made me a little worried about bringing him to America. I think partly because as much as I tell him that going to america dosn't me we will be rich and it is not like the movies, I don't think he really understands. All Ugandan's here seem to think that going to America is the ticket to a good life. I don't think he understands it will be HARD to find a job, it will be HARD to live where he knows no one, Hard to live where there is no posho (which I think sounds kind of like Fufu for all you Nigerians).

Maybe i am just worring more then I should be......

well anyway there's the short recap of who I am, I look forward to getting involved in this groups, it really seems like it will help this whole imigration process

Welcome MBJM

Congradulation on your upcoming marriage!

I am a newbie too and i think my husband has similar thoughts about USC. My husband thought he could go on TV and tell the world that he loved me until i explained to him how TV works here. Just be patient and explain things to him. Your love for each other will enable you two to endure anything!

Good luck in your journey of life together.

L.

[MBJM 0]

thanks for the warm welcome everyone!!! It's been a crazy week researching everything but I am glad to have found people that have been through this before and know what they are doing thanks for the support

[chispas 0]

thanks for the warm welcome everyone!!! It's been a crazy week researching everything but I am glad to have found people that have been through this before and know what they are doing thanks for the support

You are wise to read and question "before" coming to the United States. I equate this process to my going to Africa for the first time. I had travelled to every Continent with the exception of Antartica and Australia, but nothing prepared me for Africa. Not pictures, conversations, nothing, nada...... So it is logical that you questions and reservations about moving here. It is the same, but in reverse. One has to experience it to know it.

Hugs,

panamachic

[denitrakelly 0]

Welcome to VJ. I send Ufere current newspapers, magazines and other related material in hopes that it will prepare him. I make sure to send articles that represent the entire country not just the fairy tale stories. He has a list of websites to keep up with the current news and we discuss my day to day life. I want him to understand that issues exsist in every county and these things seem to help.

DeNitra Ukpo

[Satisfaction 1]

Hi

As far as I know, Kampala consulate does not do DCF unfortunately. It doesn't even handles the interviewing of K3 or immigrant visas' petitions!!...

You may have to file your petition in the US - or perhaps with the Nairobi embassy which does DCF. I am unsure whether you can file in Nairobi if you reside in UG or not... The telephone lines at Nairobi embassy are constantly engaged, so it will probably be hard getting any information over the phone. I would try inquiring with the US consulate in Kampala first.

I hope all goes well for you. Send me a PM if you need more help. GOOD LUCK and Take care