My fiance was scheduled to be at the embassy at 9am. He arrived there around 8:15 and was let in around 9. He was checked in and given a number. He was number 7 out of 20+ people. They called everyone up one at a time to pay the visa fee. He was then told to sit down and wait. Finally, an American consular officer called his number and she laughed and called him “lucky 7” because it’s the 17th of the 7th month of 2007 and he was the 7th person to be interviewed, lol. He says she was very friendly and joked A LOT. He says he would smile and laugh, but always remembered to remain focused.
Anyway, she took my financial papers from him and the other original documents such as the birth certificates and divorce decree, etc. She briefly flipped through them and then began questioning him in a joking/conversational style. I was worried about my fianancial documents and needing a co-sponsor so I was glad when she told him everything was ok with me being his sponsor. He said the interview was pretty informal and didn’t feel like an interview. He also said she was typing in the computer after each question and wasn’t really focusing on him, but more focused on inputting his answers (or her comments) in the computer. These are the questions that were asked:
Where was your fiance’s father born?
How long was your fiancé married?
What are your fiance’s children’s ages? Do you communicate with them regularly?
What is your fiancé doing presently?
She then noticed the binder that I sent him and laughed and said, “Well, Mr. Metzger, what do you have there? It looks interesting, I would like to see it.” So she came from behind the window and stood beside him and flipped through the whole binder. She saw all of the past year’s phone records and joked about how often we spoke on the phone, how high the bills were, and how people do crazy things when they are in love. She also read through a few emails, flipped through the rest, and focused on one that my mother had written him and she looked at all of our pictures from my visit to Liberia. She also read the letter that I had written to her.
When she was done looking through it she told him it was organized very well, showed it to some of the other staff members, and then joked with him by telling him I should run a business creating binders for people who are about to have their interviews. She then went back behind the window and asked him some more questions:
When did your fiancé move to Texas?
Why did choose Texas to live and buy a house?
She then told him that she is originally from Texas and joked about the weather being hot in Texas. She also commented on our MoneyGram receipts, saying it was nice that we sent money back and forth occasionally. She then told him that he did very well and noticed that the medical exam certificate wasn’t with his file. She told him she would be right back and went to search for it. After some minutes, she still couldn’t find it and told him that he had been approved, but they just needed the medical results.
She gave him his passport back and handed him a sheet of paper that had said his case was pending based on the medical. That paper also stated for him to return on August 14th with the medical results and his passport. All in all, we were very happy with the results, but we were also disappointed at the case being delayed for another month. I called the embassy to see if we could move the date up and they told me to call back on Thursday and I have also emailed them. I’m really hoping that they can accommodate my request. I’m ready to move past the embassy stage and get on with my life.
Full Version: Interview in Liberia
Also, it made me kind of uncomfortable to see that she was so playful. I've heard the horror stories of how they make you think everything is great by joking around and then surprise you with a negative twist. He said she was constantly joking and laughing and she even tried to trip him up three times by catching him off guard, but he caught on and didn't play back.
Congrats! At least you know you have the approval. Wow. I was anxious to know what the results of you guys interview. Shucks, I was kinda nervous for you and I wasn't even part of the interview process! Anyway, be optimistic and just believe that he will have that Visa in hand in August, or even sooner, with no qualms and ready to come home to mama. I wonder if my fiance should have extra copies with him in case they lose a file or something. That's good that he kept calm. I guess she wanted to trip him up to see if he was really serious about the whole thing. Thanks for sharing your story and I will continue to keep you two in prayer. Stay positive and all will be well. 
Sounds good and that was a nice post. Congratulations
well, all and all, its sounds good. thanks for sharing the details. its hard to know what tactic some of these co's are using to judge us as applicants. whatever the case, its great that your fiance managed to stay focused and unfazed. i'm sure the visa will approved on august 14th, if not before. stay strong Sis, i am keeping you and your love in my prayers too!
p.s. you've been a great support to so many here, consistently optimistic and positive. i'm looking forward to your visa in hand post!
p.s. you've been a great support to so many here, consistently optimistic and positive. i'm looking forward to your visa in hand post!
congratulations and wish you the best getting the medical results to the embassy fast, hopefully they can move the date up. Has the airline ticket already been purchased? We've not got one yet since Solo is still waiting for his visa, but the prices are so much this time of year!
Congratulations on getting through this part of the process. You did so very well my friend. You know I am very proud of you and especially how you put together that excellent binder.
Congratulations and now you can relax and plan the reunion. I am so happy for you.
God is good !
God is good !
Princess Metzger,
Congrats to you and your fiance! I am sorry that you both have to wait til Aug 14 but I am hoping you will hear something from this week so you can move the date up!
I wish you both the best...Your fiance did a great job on his interview..I guess the immigration officers will try all kind of tactics to see if the interviewee will falter somehow! LOL this is the first i have heard of them being jovial and full of jokes during an interview...
I know your anxious to move forward and have this visa process be done with...just try your best to be a little bit more patient and your reunion with your fiance will soon be here before you know it...
Our was approved in Feb but my hubby didnt end up getting here til mid march-thats roughly one month later than when he had the visa in hand.....
Congrats again this is great news!!!
Congrats to you and your fiance! I am sorry that you both have to wait til Aug 14 but I am hoping you will hear something from this week so you can move the date up!
I wish you both the best...Your fiance did a great job on his interview..I guess the immigration officers will try all kind of tactics to see if the interviewee will falter somehow! LOL this is the first i have heard of them being jovial and full of jokes during an interview...
I know your anxious to move forward and have this visa process be done with...just try your best to be a little bit more patient and your reunion with your fiance will soon be here before you know it...
Our was approved in Feb but my hubby didnt end up getting here til mid march-thats roughly one month later than when he had the visa in hand.....
Congrats again this is great news!!!
Congratulations!
QUOTE(PrincessMetzger @ Jul 17 2007, 03:24 PM) 
My fiance was scheduled to be at the embassy at 9am. He arrived there around 8:15 and was let in around 9. He was checked in and given a number. He was number 7 out of 20+ people. They called everyone up one at a time to pay the visa fee. He was then told to sit down and wait. Finally, an American consular officer called his number and she laughed and called him “lucky 7” because it’s the 17th of the 7th month of 2007 and he was the 7th person to be interviewed, lol. He says she was very friendly and joked A LOT. He says he would smile and laugh, but always remembered to remain focused.
Anyway, she took my financial papers from him and the other original documents such as the birth certificates and divorce decree, etc. She briefly flipped through them and then began questioning him in a joking/conversational style. I was worried about my fianancial documents and needing a co-sponsor so I was glad when she told him everything was ok with me being his sponsor. He said the interview was pretty informal and didn’t feel like an interview. He also said she was typing in the computer after each question and wasn’t really focusing on him, but more focused on inputting his answers (or her comments) in the computer. These are the questions that were asked:
Where was your fiance’s father born?
How long was your fiancé married?
What are your fiance’s children’s ages? Do you communicate with them regularly?
What is your fiancé doing presently?
She then noticed the binder that I sent him and laughed and said, “Well, Mr. Metzger, what do you have there? It looks interesting, I would like to see it.” So she came from behind the window and stood beside him and flipped through the whole binder. She saw all of the past year’s phone records and joked about how often we spoke on the phone, how high the bills were, and how people do crazy things when they are in love. She also read through a few emails, flipped through the rest, and focused on one that my mother had written him and she looked at all of our pictures from my visit to Liberia. She also read the letter that I had written to her.
When she was done looking through it she told him it was organized very well, showed it to some of the other staff members, and then joked with him by telling him I should run a business creating binders for people who are about to have their interviews. She then went back behind the window and asked him some more questions:
When did your fiancé move to Texas?
Why did choose Texas to live and buy a house?
She then told him that she is originally from Texas and joked about the weather being hot in Texas. She also commented on our MoneyGram receipts, saying it was nice that we sent money back and forth occasionally. She then told him that he did very well and noticed that the medical exam certificate wasn’t with his file. She told him she would be right back and went to search for it. After some minutes, she still couldn’t find it and told him that he had been approved, but they just needed the medical results.
She gave him his passport back and handed him a sheet of paper that had said his case was pending based on the medical. That paper also stated for him to return on August 14th with the medical results and his passport. All in all, we were very happy with the results, but we were also disappointed at the case being delayed for another month. I called the embassy to see if we could move the date up and they told me to call back on Thursday and I have also emailed them. I’m really hoping that they can accommodate my request. I’m ready to move past the embassy stage and get on with my life.
Anyway, she took my financial papers from him and the other original documents such as the birth certificates and divorce decree, etc. She briefly flipped through them and then began questioning him in a joking/conversational style. I was worried about my fianancial documents and needing a co-sponsor so I was glad when she told him everything was ok with me being his sponsor. He said the interview was pretty informal and didn’t feel like an interview. He also said she was typing in the computer after each question and wasn’t really focusing on him, but more focused on inputting his answers (or her comments) in the computer. These are the questions that were asked:
Where was your fiance’s father born?
How long was your fiancé married?
What are your fiance’s children’s ages? Do you communicate with them regularly?
What is your fiancé doing presently?
She then noticed the binder that I sent him and laughed and said, “Well, Mr. Metzger, what do you have there? It looks interesting, I would like to see it.” So she came from behind the window and stood beside him and flipped through the whole binder. She saw all of the past year’s phone records and joked about how often we spoke on the phone, how high the bills were, and how people do crazy things when they are in love. She also read through a few emails, flipped through the rest, and focused on one that my mother had written him and she looked at all of our pictures from my visit to Liberia. She also read the letter that I had written to her.
When she was done looking through it she told him it was organized very well, showed it to some of the other staff members, and then joked with him by telling him I should run a business creating binders for people who are about to have their interviews. She then went back behind the window and asked him some more questions:
When did your fiancé move to Texas?
Why did choose Texas to live and buy a house?
She then told him that she is originally from Texas and joked about the weather being hot in Texas. She also commented on our MoneyGram receipts, saying it was nice that we sent money back and forth occasionally. She then told him that he did very well and noticed that the medical exam certificate wasn’t with his file. She told him she would be right back and went to search for it. After some minutes, she still couldn’t find it and told him that he had been approved, but they just needed the medical results.
She gave him his passport back and handed him a sheet of paper that had said his case was pending based on the medical. That paper also stated for him to return on August 14th with the medical results and his passport. All in all, we were very happy with the results, but we were also disappointed at the case being delayed for another month. I called the embassy to see if we could move the date up and they told me to call back on Thursday and I have also emailed them. I’m really hoping that they can accommodate my request. I’m ready to move past the embassy stage and get on with my life.
Great news, congrats. You two will be together before you know it!!!!!!
oh that is great news!!!
Thanks to everyone!!!
Well, things have changed now. I called the embassy yesterday to find out if they had the medical exams yet. The guy who answered the phone was being very vague and told me not to worry about them saying that he would take care of it and Booker should just wait until August 14th. He also said that we are in the middle of a "verification process" that typically takes one week, but can take two weeks at the most to complete. He said it will be done soon and the CO is just verifying our documents. I was also told yesterday that the CO kept the binder because she said there was so much stuff in it that she wanted to go through it on her own.
All of this has me freaking out and I have been having some serious health issues in the last week that I know are stemming from this whole process. Well, I called DOS yesterday to see what had been updated in the computer and they woman said that yes, the CO kept the binder and yes, they are waiting for the medical results and yes, we are in AP. I asked her if she knew how long it would take and she said it doesn't say, but it does say it won't be long at all and it will be finished before our August 14th return-to-the-embassy date. Whatever. So I played stupid and asked her...What is AP? She said it is customary for people going through Liberia to go through a verification process to prevent fraud. She said they will check to see if my employment is legit, even calling Delta to see if my plane tickets were real, and even calling the courthouse to see if I really was divorced. They can check whatever they want because all of our documents are the real deal.
Anyway, the only thing that gives me hope is that we have an appointment set with the embassy next month at 2pm. I'm glad it isn't some endless black AP hellhole. 2pm is when they finish interviews and open their office to people needing to do minor things like pick up and drop off things. So I'm glad he doesn't have to have another interview. I was worried when she gave him the passport back at the interview, but he said she told him "You can take this with you since we don't have all of the paperwork (the medical exam) to complete your case. You can bring the passport back with you when you come on the 14th." Anyway, I truly hope it is a simple "verification process that takes 1-2 weeks."
We will both be calling the embassy and the doctor to find out exactly where the medical test results are located and I will call the embassy and DOS again next week to see if the AP process is done. This stuff truly has my stress level out of the roof.
Well, things have changed now. I called the embassy yesterday to find out if they had the medical exams yet. The guy who answered the phone was being very vague and told me not to worry about them saying that he would take care of it and Booker should just wait until August 14th. He also said that we are in the middle of a "verification process" that typically takes one week, but can take two weeks at the most to complete. He said it will be done soon and the CO is just verifying our documents. I was also told yesterday that the CO kept the binder because she said there was so much stuff in it that she wanted to go through it on her own.
All of this has me freaking out and I have been having some serious health issues in the last week that I know are stemming from this whole process. Well, I called DOS yesterday to see what had been updated in the computer and they woman said that yes, the CO kept the binder and yes, they are waiting for the medical results and yes, we are in AP. I asked her if she knew how long it would take and she said it doesn't say, but it does say it won't be long at all and it will be finished before our August 14th return-to-the-embassy date. Whatever. So I played stupid and asked her...What is AP? She said it is customary for people going through Liberia to go through a verification process to prevent fraud. She said they will check to see if my employment is legit, even calling Delta to see if my plane tickets were real, and even calling the courthouse to see if I really was divorced. They can check whatever they want because all of our documents are the real deal.
Anyway, the only thing that gives me hope is that we have an appointment set with the embassy next month at 2pm. I'm glad it isn't some endless black AP hellhole. 2pm is when they finish interviews and open their office to people needing to do minor things like pick up and drop off things. So I'm glad he doesn't have to have another interview. I was worried when she gave him the passport back at the interview, but he said she told him "You can take this with you since we don't have all of the paperwork (the medical exam) to complete your case. You can bring the passport back with you when you come on the 14th." Anyway, I truly hope it is a simple "verification process that takes 1-2 weeks."
We will both be calling the embassy and the doctor to find out exactly where the medical test results are located and I will call the embassy and DOS again next week to see if the AP process is done. This stuff truly has my stress level out of the roof.
QUOTE(PrincessMetzger @ Jul 19 2007, 08:38 AM)
I'm glad it isn't some endless black AP hellhole. 2pm is when they finish interviews and open their office to people needing to do minor things like pick up and drop off things. So I'm glad he doesn't have to have another interview. I was worried when she gave him the passport back at the interview, but he said she told him "You can take this with you since we don't have all of the paperwork (the medical exam) to complete your case. You can bring the passport back with you when you come on the 14th." Anyway, I truly hope it is a simple "verification process that takes 1-2 weeks." This stuff truly has my stress level out of the roof.
Oh Princess Metzger,
I am very sorry to hear that you and your fiance are in AP...but as you said at least there is a date in mind so that they can verify all your documents and of course they will see that it is all legitimate...My stress level would be beyond comprehension too if I were in your shoes but just keep the strong belief that all things will turnout ok and he will have his visa next month after August 14th...I think its good that you are very proactive in calling them and asking about the status of the medical exam because not only does it help you find out whats going but it lets them embassy know that you will not just wait to hear from them! Hang in there!
QUOTE(akatagirl @ Jul 19 2007, 11:55 AM)
QUOTE(PrincessMetzger @ Jul 19 2007, 08:38 AM)
I'm glad it isn't some endless black AP hellhole. 2pm is when they finish interviews and open their office to people needing to do minor things like pick up and drop off things. So I'm glad he doesn't have to have another interview. I was worried when she gave him the passport back at the interview, but he said she told him "You can take this with you since we don't have all of the paperwork (the medical exam) to complete your case. You can bring the passport back with you when you come on the 14th." Anyway, I truly hope it is a simple "verification process that takes 1-2 weeks." This stuff truly has my stress level out of the roof.
Oh Princess Metzger,
I am very sorry to hear that you and your fiance are in AP...but as you said at least there is a date in mind so that they can verify all your documents and of course they will see that it is all legitimate...My stress level would be beyond comprehension too if I were in your shoes but just keep the strong belief that all things will turnout ok and he will have his visa next month after August 14th...I think its good that you are very proactive in calling them and asking about the status of the medical exam because not only does it help you find out whats going but it lets them embassy know that you will not just wait to hear from them! Hang in there!
Akatagirl,
thank you so much for the kind words! I e-mailed them today asking for the status of the medical results. I'm not trying to make them mad, but I don't want to sit here and rot, either. The guy at the embassy said he would call the Dr. to straighten everything out so I am just making sure he stays on top of it.
We may never know exactly what they are validating, but I just remembered that Booker didn't submit police reports for Ghana and Ivory Coast. We were told by the embassy that as long as he has been back in Liberia for at least 6 months, he wouldn't need those. Now I'm wondering if they could be doing security checks for that.
Its quite possible that they are doing security checks for that...When my hubby went for his interview, when we called they told us that the only ones really needed was the most current place he was living in for 6 months or more but we went ahead got the police reports from all the places he ever lived just to cover our tracks..Its really hard to tell what the CO wants to nit pick at!
We called 3 different times to get different opinions and they all said the same 6 months or more in one country thing. Now I wish we would have gotten all 3 instead of 1. Oh well, it might not even be for that, but I wish we would have gotten them all to be on the safe side.
Good luck and I am sure it will all work out. Did you give them a certified copy of your birth certificate or just a regular copy?
both of ours were certified with seals. Thanks!
I was going to say congratulations...until I read through the entire thread. Nonetheless I hope the process continues expeditiously. It would have been nice if they would have been more upfront about the real reason for the delay. In any case, hang in there!
Congrats!!
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