No Visa...still waiting

[Angela F 0]

I am so frustrated right now. The embassy in Accra has asked my love to return now four times to pick up his visa. He was initally told to come on July 25th (two days after his interview), then asked to come back on August 3rd (the machines were supposedly slow), then was told that there were too many people to process, and because his wedding is August 10th, for him to return on Monday, August 3rd. Well guess what, he returned on Monday, only to be told that the person who processes visas did not come to work. Which according to the receptionist, this person does not work on Mondays. So why in the world would they have him come back on Monday? I am so angry with the embassy in Ghana. I have called both of my senators, my congress person, the national visa center, homeland security, immigration services and passport services, and still nothing. My senators office said they are working on it, I guess I need to go in sit in someone's face. The federal offices all told me that our paperwork is in order, and it has been approved, that it was simply a machine problem in Accra (yeah...right). My honey told me that the security guards at the embassy said that they do this to people all the time, they want to see how serious they are about getting the visa. I am not sure what else we should be doing. I have already cancelled our wedding scheduled for this friday, August 10th, and I am at the point that I want to travel to Ghana and walk into the embassy myself and see what the problem is. But of course, money does not grow on trees and this is not a real option. Any advice?

[Queen Jenn 0]

I am so sorry this is happening to you!!! I'm not sure I have much advice, but I sure sympathize with you. Those embassy people can be TERRIBLE.

The only advice I have is to just keep pestering people. Keep calling. Make sure that you STAY in their minds and maybe they'll get it done faster just so that you don't keep calling them.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

I agree, just keep bothering them. Have your fiance go back there everyday, if he can. I'm sure you'll get it. Probably on Thursday, just in time for a wedding arrival! Well, good luck.

[JJWashington 0]

I don't know what else to do except keep sending him back in each day and perhaps you call!

[akatagirl 0]

Angela F,

You and your fiance have been more than patient and I think you have exhausted all your resources and agree with all the VJ members who advised you to keep on them until you get that visa...I have heard the Ghana Embassy was quite difficult and even in my encounters with them it was nothing short of stressful, but what they are doing to you both is just outright unfair and unjust!!!!!

Keep bothering them and if you have to, you may want to go down there yourself if all other tactics do not push them to get "those machines fixed"....That is such a lame excuse they are giving you..I am so sorry that you both are going through this....

[Ta Ta 1]

This " come back tomorrow " thing is going on at several embassies and I can not figure out why.

Are there mostly Nationals at the front desks who do that in order to subtly hint for a bribe ? And if offered nail you or just accept it and get the ball rolling ?

Why do we read this same scenario again and again here, how many times can the printing machine be broken, or the printer out of ink,

or the medical lost, the applicant asked to return on a day they don't even print visas....etc.......... I am curious of why this happens in 3. world countries. Surely not to just see how bad the visa is wanted. After jumping through many hoops who in their right mind would just say

ok I went there 4 times and now I won't go back so forget the visa.

No, that isn't it. But what is it ?

Has anyone seen hints of bribing at this stage with Nationals at the embassies ?