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| Nigeria |  Review on March 14, 2009: |
Void
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
I decided from the get-go that I would be traveling to be with my wife during the interview in Lagos. I have always had the belief that psychological benefits is very possible despite what anybody might think to the contrary. Her interview was on March 6, 2009.
I travelled to Lagos on the 4th and met my wife at the airport. We decided to check into a hotel closer to the embassy and beat the Lagos morning traffic and meet our 7am appointment. We chartered a taxi and scouted for a hotel/motel allover Victoria Island (VI) and also considered Lekki as a second option. I was surprised with the high price of hotel accommodation in Victoria Island Lagos. Moderate hotel here in the US (Motel 6, Motel 8, Best Western) cost between $40-60/room/night. These hotels in VI Lagos with very small space, smaller bed and not-very good restrooms cost $150-200/room/night. After several hours of wasting time and getting frustrated, we ended at one called Tropicana at Waziri Ibrahim Street, VI. Not the best by any means and not recommended to anyone.
Unpacked and settled in for the night as it was already late. We knew, we had a lot work ahead especially on thorough mock interview. The next morning, we reviewed all the documents I brought with me and the copies of the ILLUSTRATED pictures that were already sent to Lagos via NVC. Earlier before my arrival, I asked my wife to review the “interview questions” and answers I sent to her several weeks.
http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Consular_Interview_Questions
We sorted all the pictures in the order of “before marriage”, “during marriage” and “after marriage”. It became obvious that we needed more pictures and with her digital camera, we started marathon picture taking with different clothes. We were able to print those impromptu pictures nearby. As stated earlier, I sent some illustrated pictures to NVC with DS 230. We went through those pictures and making sure my wife knows who and all about the illustration.
I bought a compartmentalized small folder box while traveling (from Wal-Mart, Target. Office Deport). We labeled each compartment for easy location. I asked my wife to review forms I-130 which include G325A for me and her, Form DS-230. After 2-3 hours of review it was my turn to drill her with probing questions. I was not impressed by her response especially on dates. We went through these forms together twice and by late in the evening, we had another mock interview and she was a lot better. I told her to be ready to answer or ask me any question even in the middle of her dinner/sleep etc. Our document box was now very organized and she was able to pick up any document asked of her with ease. At that point, we knew we were ready even to move in to the white house. So my “first lady” went to the interview with confidence and that was important to me.
We arrived at the embassy an hour early (see my post on sub-Sahara forum regarding USC visiting Lagos for spousal interview). I waited for her outside of the embassy
According my wife (whom I intend to live happily ever after with), she was called up around 10:12am to I think window 11. A young man interviewing for immigrant visa was her interviewer. The following conversation ensued between my wife and the consular officer (CO).
CO: How are you?
Wife: I’m fine, thank you
CO: Are you okay, you look nervous. I want you to appear calm
Wife: I’m okay.
CO: When did you see your husband last?
Wife: This morning
CO: How come?
Wife: He is here waiting for me outside
CO: Why did he come?
Wife: To cheer me up
CO: When is he leaving?
Wife: Tomorrow
CO: Huh, that’s quick.
Wife: He is so busy and he came because this is so important to him.
CO: Tell me about your marriage. Actually when did you get married?
Wife: We got married on 11/30/07 in the court and traditional marriage on 12/01/07
CO: Was there an introduction?
Wife: No.
CO: I know what I’m talking about, because in Nigeria, there is introduction before the traditional marriage
Wife: Well because of his residence/distance, the introduction was done simultaneously with the traditional marriage.
CO: How many people attended your wedding?
Wife: I don’t know the number, but a lot of people were there.
CO: Did all members of your family attended?
Wife: No
CO: Why?
Wife: One passed away
CO: Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.
CO: Back to your husband, when was the last time he visited before this time
Wife: We met in 2005, he visited and we got married in 2007 and he is here now.
CO: I see.
CO: Do you have any pictures of both of you before the marriage:
Yes: Here they are
CO: What about during the wedding
Wife: Here, I also have for after the wedding
CO: Please give me everything them.
CO: That is quite a lot of pictures.
CO: What is your husband doing for a living
CO: What do you plan to do when you get to the US?
CO: Okay, go and finish your medical exam and come back with the result Monday thru Thursday between 7am to 1pm. Remember we have to verify your response to my questions.
Wife: Okay, but are you going to issue me a visa when I come back?
CO: (Smile). Go and complete your medical first and then come back okay. Here are your originals.
At the end of the interview, the CO gave my wife a pink form and checked the box for medical exam required only. My went back to Kamoras Clinic to complete her medical as scheduled on March 10 and revisited the embassy with the result on March 11. She was told to pick up her visa on March 18.
I hope this review helps someone here. If your case is genuine, confidence, matters. There are several reports, publications, and stories about marriage fraud and the Lagos embassy are using the best available tool to detect and reduce fraudsters getting through. Unfortunately, the Innocent suffer sometimes.
The major problem I have right now is how many times people have to visit Lagos to obtain a Visa. The most frustrating aspect is being allowing just one clinic in the whole of Nigeria with a population of about 250 million to conduct medical exams. The time between first and second medical exam at the moment is resulting to people travelling back to the Clinic after their interview. If you are a Nigerian, this is our copy of tea. They can do better. Either the clinic hires more hands to complete the exams in a timely manner, or establish more branches to ease peoples’ hardship. Alternatively, there are several other well equipped clinics that can conduct these exams like in the US. There are some West African countries with population just as that of Lagos and it should not be one country one clinic. Why risking lives to and fro either by road or by air when these exams can be done regionally. East, West (Lagos), North and South. I will write a letter to the Ambassador of the US to Nigeria, the office of the Secretary of State for African affairs and whoever I find out can do something. You will be invited to vet, edit and also mail a final copy. If no response or action, after six months, I will start calling/emailing them in Abuja/Lagos and Washington. This is our call to assist our people who cannot help the situation. Doing nothing is not an option (Obama, 2009). Just because you crossed the bridge, does not mean the bridge should collapse.
One more thing: Good luck to all of you through this journey and feel free to PM me if you need to ask or clarify anything aforementioned. I will always give my best opinion.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #4081