US Embassy - Dakar

[BIG_O 0]

Hello Everyone, Just wanted to provide a quick update on my case. The NOA2 came thru on 10/09 and we are hopeful for an interview in December. I am planning a 4 week vacation for the holidays, from mid-December to mid-January, and in order to secure a decent rate for the ticket, I have to book my flight now. I am really hoping that the interview can take place while I am there...

[Ta Ta 1]

I would advice you to make sure you are present at the interview.

Dakar does some crazy things and you being there may really help from things I hear and experience.

If you are a naturalized African or your fiancee has children prepare yourself for DNA testing.

Best wishes !

[Zee Bee 61]

Congratulations!!!

I don't know if you have checked out the NOA2 to NVC thread for April and May filers but a lot of people are waiting a month or more for the transfer from CSC to NVC. I don't know how long it takes for an interview in Dakar but this massive delay may affect that.

Good luck!!!!

Zee

[Ta Ta 1]

I just saw from your other posts that you are a naturalized USC from Mali and forgot that we communicated here before.

Sorry

From what I can see you will be asked to do a DNA test to proof that you are not related and and a genuine couple. Many others had to.

Chances are you will be put in AP for a while.

If you are there during the interview you may have a better chance to escape all the flaming hoops Dakar is dishing out these days.

We are waiting for the 2. interview and I plan to be there this time. We have waited 10 months since the 1. interview.

I estimate the appointment for us to be Dec or Jan.

Hey, we may even bump into each other there.

Please keep in touch.

[BIG_O 0]

I'm actually tempted to just do the darn DNA testing prior to the interview... Omoba, how involved is the process?

[Ta Ta 1]

Hang on .....got to run to work, details tonight ..............

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Hello Everyone, Just wanted to provide a quick update on my case. The NOA2 came thru on 10/09 and we are hopeful for an interview in December. I am planning a 4 week vacation for the holidays, from mid-December to mid-January, and in order to secure a decent rate for the ticket, I have to book my flight now. I am really hoping that the interview can take place while I am there...

Congratulations! It may not work out as smoothly as we may like, but in the end it will all work out. Stay positive and enjoy your holiday.

[Ta Ta 1]

Big O here is the scoop :

If you get it done now you will save time but I don't know what Dakar will think of that.

If you don't need it you waste money.

PM Bimax for another opinion.

I would email Dakar and ask if your case will require DNA.

However if you do that you may ' encourage ' them to ask for that versus if you don't you just may slip through without it.

I am not sure what to advice you about getting it done now.

Some get through the first interview but most don't. My gut feeling is you won't either but don't let that discourage you.

The DNA process is as follows:

Dakar will email you info on DNA tests. They only allow their approved labs and doctors.

You pick a lab from the accredited list here in the US. They will advice you on how to collect your specimen here. I can give you info on prices.

The lab will send a kit to one of the panel physicians in Dakar that are on the list ( you chose which one ). Again I have some tips about this.

Your fiancee will go to the panel physician you chose and collect her specimen ( inside cheek swap ).

She needs to bring passport photos and the simple DNA form with her case number on it ( Dakar will email you this info ).

She will also need a witness , can be a total stranger off the street or in the waiting room but not the office staff.

After collection the doctor sends it here to get it analyzed, takes about one week.

Lab sends results back to embassy, analyzing takes about 1 week, depending on which lab you use and shipping to Dakar about 5 days.

The entire process takes about 3-4 weeks.

Then when the embassy receives the results they may play the " we don't have it yet game " for a while at which time you tell them yes you do and here is the tracking number !!!!

Then you will get the 2. appointment interview date which is about 3-4 months later. You should be present for that one also.

If I can be of anymore help let me know and also contact Bimax.

Since you have not done the medical, you could ask the embassy if you should do the DNA now.

We were not told about the DNA request until I made my routine DOS call to ask about our AP/AR case status update, it was then DOS told me DNA

was required..........9 months AFTER the 1. interview. Others have also not been told during the 1. interview.

[BIG_O 0]

Excellent. So basically, worse case scenario, I wasted money... Best case scenario, I save a lote of time...

Omoba, could you forward me the list of the approved labs. I live in Los Angeles.

[Ta Ta 1]

Be careful though to follow exact procedure and let them know what you want to do..........I have heard of a case where a guy had to have a repeat

DNA done for no apparent reason after he had been told to do the testing.

He did as he was told and still had to do a repeat.

Dakar wants things done at their timing.

I will hunt for the email they send me and you can give me your email address and I will fwd it to you ( email me through VJ, if I don't respond that means I didn't get it. Or pm me but email would be better ).

Here is a number to call and inquire if you are in a rush 877 362 0362. This lab matches any price of their competitor and then discounts an additional

5 %.

Prices range from $ 600 - $ 1000 and more. I called all 50 + labs on the list and this was the best deal for me. If you find a cheaper one tell them and they will match it.

Also you are doing the " not related " test, my fiance had to do the paternity test with his daughter so they run a little different.

Again ask Bimax for details on the ' not related ' test that you have to do. Does she have children ? If yes then there are additional tests.

[DEECEE 0]

O, I am getting scared. My case was complete by NVC on 10/05, and I thought I would get a November date. I just heard that we didn't get a nov. date. I am hoping for December.

[Ta Ta 1]

O, I am getting scared. My case was complete by NVC on 10/05, and I thought I would get a November date. I just heard that we didn't get a nov. date. I am hoping for December.

The pattern for interview appointments has been about 2 -3 weeks after Dakar receives the case from NVC.

Sounds like there workload has increased.

[JJWashington 0]

good luck to all of you

[Destiny'sJourney 0]

"The pattern for interview appointments has been about 2 -3 weeks after Dakar receives the case from NVC.

Sounds like there workload has increased."

Yeah, their workload has increased because they're so busy putting people through the ringer!

[Ta Ta 1]

"The pattern for interview appointments has been about 2 -3 weeks after Dakar receives the case from NVC.

Sounds like there workload has increased."

Yeah, their workload has increased because they're so busy putting people through the ringer!

yeah true dat.......absofrigginglutey