Success Resceduling Interview Date!

[Jennifer + James 0]

Great news! We finally were able to reschedule our interview date! It is amazing that we have actually accomplished something in this process!

We have been trying to reschedule ever since James received Packet 4 in July with the assignment of a February interview date. After emailing and calling failed, I contacted my Senator. His influence got us pretty quick results...too quick though, a date in September. After being told a million times that it was not possible, we had not even started the medical and police reports process, so we couldn't make the date. But we thought the Senator might be able to get us another date, and we felt like we had time since I am studying in Accra this semester and we didn't plan to return to the United States until Christmas. But the Senator requests received no reply throughout September, October, and November.

We got nervous, and we decided to type up a letter explaining our whole situation. I went to deliver the entire two page plea to the Director of Public Affairs on Monday last week, but I was told that he was not in the office. So I delivered the letter through the Service Center and made an appointment through his Secretary for Wednesday. When I reached the embassy on Wednesday, the security guards called the Director to say I had arrived, but he said he didn't know about any appointment and he had a meeting to go to so he couldn't meet me. So I made an appointment with him for Friday. But when I got there on Friday, the security guards said he wasn't in his office again. I told them, "Please, I am not leaving without speaking to somebody today." And ten minutes later, by chance, another person working in the Public Affairs office was passing through the security, and the guards asked her to see if the Director was expecting me. He came down to escort me in ten minutes later!

When we reached his office, he said he didn't receive any letter, so what exactly was I there to talk to him about? So I explained the whole situation. The basis for our request to reschedule our interview date is that I am registered to resume classes in the States next semester, and I came here to study this semester simply to be around for the interview and go back to the States with James! Plus, I explained, we knew they could reschedule for us because they had done so in September. He was sympathetic, but said he couldn't/didn't know what to do about it. But then he said he would call the Consular section to see what they could do.

So he called the guy, and he agreed to meet us in the lobby. It turns out that he said he had received my letter, even though we had addressed it to the Director of Public Affairs, I guess they screen all letters and send them to the proper section. So he asked me to explain myself one more time, and then he said the best thing ever, "Ok, I believe we are willing to accomodate you in your situation." !!!!! James will be going for his interview a week from tomorrow !!!!!

Persistence, a strong case, and a whole lot of luck, that seems to be the recipe!!! The Consular guy was sure to remind me "I can't guarantee your fiance will be granted the visa at this interview..." but I sure pray he will be!

[Zee Bee 61]

Congratulations Jennifer!! That is a fight well fought

My question is why does it take so much blood, sweat and tears to get things done in Ghana? I am sure that it is your presence there that made all of this possible. If you were stateside I don't think you would have gotten these results. Funny thing though is that even with the reschedule you have waited longer than those of us who have just been approved

Anyways...good luck and keep us posted!!!

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Congratulations! That is great news! I hope you get good news at the interview and come home with your fiance!!

[Luckyswife2b 0]

Great news! We finally were able to reschedule our interview date! It is amazing that we have actually accomplished something in this process!

We have been trying to reschedule ever since James received Packet 4 in July with the assignment of a February interview date. After emailing and calling failed, I contacted my Senator. His influence got us pretty quick results...too quick though, a date in September. After being told a million times that it was not possible, we had not even started the medical and police reports process, so we couldn't make the date. But we thought the Senator might be able to get us another date, and we felt like we had time since I am studying in Accra this semester and we didn't plan to return to the United States until Christmas. But the Senator requests received no reply throughout September, October, and November.

We got nervous, and we decided to type up a letter explaining our whole situation. I went to deliver the entire two page plea to the Director of Public Affairs on Monday last week, but I was told that he was not in the office. So I delivered the letter through the Service Center and made an appointment through his Secretary for Wednesday. When I reached the embassy on Wednesday, the security guards called the Director to say I had arrived, but he said he didn't know about any appointment and he had a meeting to go to so he couldn't meet me. So I made an appointment with him for Friday. But when I got there on Friday, the security guards said he wasn't in his office again. I told them, "Please, I am not leaving without speaking to somebody today." And ten minutes later, by chance, another person working in the Public Affairs office was passing through the security, and the guards asked her to see if the Director was expecting me. He came down to escort me in ten minutes later!

When we reached his office, he said he didn't receive any letter, so what exactly was I there to talk to him about? So I explained the whole situation. The basis for our request to reschedule our interview date is that I am registered to resume classes in the States next semester, and I came here to study this semester simply to be around for the interview and go back to the States with James! Plus, I explained, we knew they could reschedule for us because they had done so in September. He was sympathetic, but said he couldn't/didn't know what to do about it. But then he said he would call the Consular section to see what they could do.

So he called the guy, and he agreed to meet us in the lobby. It turns out that he said he had received my letter, even though we had addressed it to the Director of Public Affairs, I guess they screen all letters and send them to the proper section. So he asked me to explain myself one more time, and then he said the best thing ever, "Ok, I believe we are willing to accomodate you in your situation." !!!!! James will be going for his interview a week from tomorrow !!!!!

Persistence, a strong case, and a whole lot of luck, that seems to be the recipe!!! The Consular guy was sure to remind me "I can't guarantee your fiance will be granted the visa at this interview..." but I sure pray he will be!

Wow!!!! HUGE SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!

Great Job!!!!!!!!!

I sure hope you will get that visa and be back soon as you planned!!!!!!

~Stephanie

[ThaiStyleUSA 1]

That's really great!! Congratulations!!

[knl 0]

Congrats Jenn!!!!!!! I am so happy to hear this, as much as you have been going through to change the date. I ment to pm you back from the letter you sent me, I'll do that before your interview, though things worked out in a much better way, thank God!!!

[JJWashington 0]

congratulations

[Queen Jenn 0]

Congratulations on getting the interview rescheduled. And GOOD LUCK at the interview!!!