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| Ghana |  Review on December 5, 2014: |
KofiB
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
Overall our experience was good, though different from what we expected.
The day was extremely long and drawn out.
We arrived at the embassy early (far too early in hindsight) – 0530 for a 0730 appointment. Doors opened at 0700 and Ghanaian spouse went in. Security at embassy is kind but very strict and so they did not let me, US citizen, in until exactly 0800. They made sure I waited at the round about rocks. At 0800 I showed my passport, explained why I was there and was let into the building with no trouble. Found spouse who had kept a seat for me and thankfully I hadn’t missed a thing, other than the front desk where the Interview letter was submitted. So we waited together until our name was called for the first time around 1100.
Window 2 we met a Ghanaian lady who immediately wanted to know who US citizen was. First she gave back to us a small stack of papers that had come from NVC. And then she asked for Passport, Medical, Passport Photos, DS260 Confirmation and Police Report. She wrote Ghanaian spouse’s name on a form and asked for phone numbers.
“Now give me whatever evidence you have that proves your marriage.”
We handed over the following -
24 Letters of Support from family and friends (In binder with pictures of us and the people who were writing for us).
150 Photos in Album. From the time we first met until after our wedding. With descriptions.
Photocopy of checks made out to both of us.
Flight Itineraries of spouse’s trips to Ghana.
Diary Records of US spouse from 2011 when we first met.
60+ Wedding Cards from US family and friends.
100+ Letters sent through regular post between the two of us over the last year.
Facebook samples from 2011 to present. (A LOT!)
WhatsApp Chat logs spanning over 5 months of daily communication. (A LOT!)
Western Union Receipts.
Emails from 2011.
DVD of Wedding. (not accepted, but we were able to show CO at the window)
DVD of USA Wedding Shower. (not accepted, but we were able to show CO at the window)
Upon having all this information, she was a bit hesitant to take it all, but did so and proceeded to start looking through our photo album. She started smiling delightfully. Her attitude clearly shifted in a good way and when she was all done, she was even laughing at how much evidence we had, she was visibly amused. She told us to take our seat and please wait.
Window 1 was our next stop – We were called and met a Ghanaian man, who also was laughing at our folder FULL of stuff and he had a hard time fitting it on his desk. He was kind and thoughtful, taking the fingerprints and telling us to again please sit and wait.
Close to 1230 we were again called to Window 1 and told to leave the embassy and come back in one hour after their lunch break.
Went outside made a few phone calls, drank some juice, prayed and came back at 1330.
Finally at 1600 we were called to Window 4 for the actual interview.
Window 4 – We both went to the window and I was 100% sure that I would be told to go and sit back down until after the interview being the US spouse. But much to our surprise, when the lady knew who I was she immediately told us both to raise our right hands in oath. This was totally a miracle and the good hand of God on us. After that she apologized for the delay and told us that they were having computer problems. My spouse told her not to feel bad as we have patience for her, she then commented with a smile (kind of a rolling your eyes smile) on how much evidence we had given her to look through (We saw her pick up our file and she had been looking through it for at least twenty minutes or more before calling us to the window). She then said that she felt like she knew a lot of our story already but would like to ask a few more questions.
How and where did you two meet?
You say met on Mercy Ships, what is Mercy Ships?
Who sponsored you to volunteer there?
What was your position?
What denomination is Mercy Ships?
Where have you traveled outside of Ghana?
How long did you stay in each of these countries? (There were a lot so this took some time)
Why did you come and go from South Sudan?
Have you been in Sierra Leone within the three months?
What ministries were you working with?
What denomination are they?
Were US spouse’s parents at your wedding?
Did you have their support?
US spouse has been in Ghana for 7 months this year already?
When was US spouse’s first visit to Ghana?
How did your relationship become serious, how did it progress from friends to marriage?
At this point she said everything looked okay, but due to their computers she was sorry but we would have to come back and also told us that before a visa can be issued she would need to have an updated birth certificate (The green form not the pink form). This had never crossed our minds, and I asked her about it because we also had sent the NVC two legal affidavits from Ghanaian spouse’s parents. But she told us the old pink form is no longer valid and the affidavits are no evidence of birth to them. This seemed a little odd but there was nothing to do about it but comply. She scheduled us to come back with updated birth certificate in two weeks.
"So, are we approved and have we passed our interview today?" I had to ask. She smiled and said "Yes you are approved!" but then quickly corrected herself and said that she couldn’t guarantee anything until we had done what we were supposed to do and then we would know for sure.
We left the embassy around 1630! Tired with headaches, ravenously hungry and praising God.
God truly fought for us, and we just had to hold our peace. Hahaha that my friend was the hard part, holding our peace in such a tense environment! But God is so good and He totally saw us through with much grace and mercy.
TWO WEEKS LATER –
We arrived Wednesday right on 1300 for our interview, waited for about an hour and then presented updated Birth record. It was as simple as that, the CO was very kind and with no questions other than apologies for us having to wait she gave us the much anticipated blue slip of paper and told us to come back the following Monday to pick up the passport/visa.
We want to glorify God’s name for all He has done for us, and for all the precious people who were upholding us in prayer. It is hard to believe this has happened and the day has finally arrived. It is totally by the favor of God. He did it for us and He will do it for you.
To God be the glory, great things He has done, greater things He will do!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #15733