Assigned FEBRUARY Interview Date

[Jennifer + James 0]

My fiance just called after leaving the embassy this afternoon (he waited from 7:30 am to 3:00). He finally was able to pick up Packet 4 today, and we are so grateful to have it, except for they assigned us an interview date of February 14!!! Everyone there this morning seems to have been given February dates! We are shocked! We were hoping for an October or November date... We would like to try to move it up until at least then. We really plan to return to the US for Christmas.

I read some previous posts about people trying to move up their dates, and it seems emailing the consulate and ACS is a good way to go. I will also be travelling to Ghana in a week, so does it pay to also go directly to the embassy? Has anyone had any new sucesses?

Thanks for all your help!

[LovinLiberia 0]

I'm sorry this has happened. I've seen it a few times with Accra and I know there have been some people who were successful in getting the date moved up. I remember one person who went to the embassy and she was able to get it moved up. I would try everything you mentioned, including going to the embassy. I wish you success in getting the date changed.

[Kelechi 0]

Congratulations on the interview date. Try all you can to get a closer date. Hopefully someone who has been successful in getting a change will give you some advice very soon.

[randolady 1]

That is absolutely ridiculous. I would give them a call once you arrive in Ghana, and if they don't give you a closer interview date over the phone, see if you can set up an appointment to talk to them. I'm not sure how they feel about unannounced visitors stopping by the embassy. Good luck! Have a great visit.

[JJWashington 0]

Congratulations on the interview date. I do agree with everyone here that you should try to get an earlier interview date. Good luck.

[NigerianLove 0]

I don't know if the Ghana office is like Nigeria, but if they are, you won't get in w/out an appt. I suggest contacting your state congressman or senator. I've read other forums where people were successful in having the date moved when they did this! You are in my thoughts! Keep us posted on your progress.

Congratulations on the interview date. I do agree with everyone here that you should try to get an earlier interview date. Good luck.

[knl 0]

In Accra they let the USC come in the building at 8:30, I'm not sure if they want a reason as to why you want to talk to a consular. I told them I was going in to wait for someone and was let in. When I was sitting there waiting for my fiance to have his interview, there were multiple USC's that came in for some reason or another, there were a couple that had appts. that were for interviews to bring family members to the US. But other then that no one else had appts. I'm sure they'll let you in and hopefully you'll have success. If the guards give you any problems tell them you need to change your emergency contact information and you haven't had any luck doing it online. I saw a man come to do it while I was there.

[JJWashington 0]

Well I think it is the non-USC who they won't let in without an appointment. I am pretty sure that a USC travelling abroad can always get into our own embassies. I think for the non-USC in Lagos, they cannot come in until after 11am.

Well I think it is the non-USC who they won't let in without an appointment. I am pretty sure that a USC travelling abroad can always get into our own embassies. I think for the non-USC in Lagos, they cannot come in until after 11am.

Well let me clarify. I think they won't let the non-USC in the embassy without an appointment until 11am at which time they can go to the "Inquiry Line."

[a&o 4]

Wow, I thought Ghana was getting better with those long waits, but I guess not....

So as the USC you can go to the consulate at any time during USC Services hours. Last I checked it was in the afternoon, but you can check the Ghana embassy website to be sure:

http://usembassy.state.gov/accra/wwwhacs.html

Bring your passport to get in. Once you do get in tell them you have to speak to someone about a private matter or if you feel OK not telling the truth, tell them it's to pick up forms for something. Up in the USC office there was a sign (they've moved since I was there so I don't know the new layout) that said they won't be able to help with visa questions or immigration issues. Still, bravely continue and kindly request advice. You might get someone on a good day.

And then just try to keep calling and emailing the consular affairs section and be prepared with a good reason to move the date up. You could also try writing a letter to the chief consular officer in Accra. And writing to a senator might help, too, since the wait time is truly unreasonable. Ghana is a great foreign service post and it seems like they should be able to hire enough people to process interviews quicker than this. This must be almost the longest wait time anywhere except Jamaica, which is notorious.

Good luck!

[JJWashington 0]

Its definitely worth a shot!

[akatagirl 0]

7 months is an awfully longtime..I am sorry to hear its so far away..when my hubby and I tried to go thru the k3 route instead of the cr-1, the ghana embassy gave me such a far away date which would have been in May 14, 2007 which was too long of a wait...Try all the ways that you can to get into the embassy and change the date and of course trying the ways as other vj members had suggested would not hurt to try...

Good luck!

[JJWashington 0]

Try all the ways you can!

[Angela F 0]

I know exactly how you are feeling right now. My Kwame returned his packet 4 in January only to get a July appointment date. I contacted my congressperson and they received a lame email from the embassy in Ghana indicating that they were a busy post, and it would be unfair to move his appointment above all others. I then tried my Senator's office, and had no luck there (makes me worried, because he is running for president, and his office had no luck either). I also requested the help of some friends of the President of where I work, and still no luck. I am not what is wrong with the embassy in Ghana. The people there are so great, ,however the service is horrible. I will say that those seven months went really fast. It helped that I was able to visit in May, and so, now, in about 4 days, my favorite person will be here with me to start our life together as man and wife.

Don't worry, God's plan is always better than our own. Spend this time preparing for your spouse to come.