Hi everyone I just wanted to share our story about how we managed to get our packets 3&4 from the embassy today.

Man was it an ordeal!!!!

NOA2: 9/5/07
NVC received: 9/7/07
NVC left: 9/11/07
Packet 3 letter mailed: 9/27/07

When we found out we had left NVC we waited for the embassy to send us packet 3. Apparently they do not actually send you packet 3 in the mail, rather it is a letter that says that you can come and pick it up. You take that to the embassy and the letter is how you get past security.

Fine.

We waited for 2 weeks and nothing. So I e-mailed the embassy. Nothing. Just an e-mail that we should wait for delivery. Fine. So we waited another week. At this point my fiancé and I are thinking this letter got lost somewhere because there is no way they mailed the letter on 9/27 and it hasn't gotten to us in the middle of October.

Tuesday, (10/16/07)

I called the embassy. They only take calls between 3-4pm Ghana time. After being transferred a thousand times I managed to get a guy on the phone who deals with fiancé visas (he was Ghanaian). Here is what happened:

"Good afternoon. How may I help you?"

"Hello. I received and e-mail that a letter was mailed to my fiancé to come and pick up his packet 3 but it has been 3 weeks and we haven't gotten it yet."

"I'm sorry I cannot help you. You need to wait for the letter in order to pick up packet 3."

"But we have waited for 3 weeks."

"You need to allow time for delivery.'

"How long am I supposed to wait for delivery? It has already been 3 weeks and it is only going to Tamale. It should not take 3 weeks."

"Ma'am, you need allow time for delivery. We are in Ghana and you do not know the postal system."

"I am Ghanaian and I am very familiar with the postal system. I send my fiancé stuff all the time from the US and he always gets it within 2 weeks."

"Maybe it got lost. Give me your case number so that I can verify your address."

"ACCxxxxxx."

"Is the mailing address ________?"

"Yes."

"Ma'am. I am sorry but there is nothing to do but wait."

"How long am I supposed to wait until I call you again? A month? Six weeks? I am sure you can help me."

"Your fiancé cannot enter the embassy unless he has that letter so he has to wait."

"Then can you e-mail me a copy so that I can send it to him?"

"Ma'am, how are we supposed to do that? We only have hard copies here."

"I know that you all keep records. You can scan a hard copy and e-mail it to me. You have my e-mail address since I have e-mailed you 5 times."

"Ma'am. I am sorry but my hands are tied. We only allow people into the embassy who have business here."

"I understand that but how long do you expect me to wait. Isn't 3 weeks a little too long to expect to get a letter? I know that others have been sent e-mails telling them to come to the embassy and they have been let in."

"No. We never do that."

"I know people have. I understand the process and I know of people who have done this. For everything there are at least 2 ways it can be done. You can't tell me that there is only one way to get into the embassy. I am sure there is something you can do."

"Ma'am, you have to wait. There are other people on the line who are waiting."

"But I have been waiting for so long. It has been t3 weeks and I believe I have allowed for enough time for delivery. Since my fiancé is in Accra right now why can't he just come and pick it up?"

"The guards will not let him in without that appointment letter."

"Then e-mail me a copy."

"Ma'am. This is what I can do for you. Send your fiancé with a copy of the e-mail saying we had sent the letter."

"And he will be let into the embassy?"

"Yes. They will let him in."

"Thank you."

VICTORY!!!


So I scanned copies of our NOA2 and NVC letter to Inusah and forwarded him the magic e-mail from the embassy so that he could take them with him to the embassy on Wednesday morning.

Wednesday (10/17/07)

Inusah goes to the embassy super early. He goes up to the guard.

Guard: What is your business here?

Inusah: I am here to pick up packet 3.

Guard: Let me see your papers. (Inusah hands him copy of e-mail, NOA2 and NVC letter). There is nothing here that says you should come and pick up packet 3.

Inusah: I know. We have waited for 3 weeks and it has not come. In the e-mail it says it was sent September 27. My fiancée called yesterday and was told that if I come with this letter I can pick it up.

Guard: You need the appointment letter before you can come and get it.

Inusah: We have been waiting for 3 weeks. Do you think it takes that long for a letter to go from Accra to Tamale?

Guard: You have a point. What you need to do is e-mail them and get a reply e-mail that says you can come in and get the packet.

Inusah: That would take even longer. From the e-mail you can see that it took 2 weeks to reply as to whether our case was here. So now you want me to go back e-mail them and wait another 2 weeks and then come back? You know that they have sent the letter. I just do not have it. And you yourself said that it has been an unreasonable amount of time. And since I am already here, I may as well pick up the packet.

Guard: OK

VICTORY!!!

So the guard let Inusah inside and he was able to get to someone who deals with packet 3's. Inusah had to explain himself all over again but the person he talked to said that they do not hand out packet 3 on Wednesday , they can only be returned on Wednesday. Here is the conversation between Inusah and the counselor person (CP)

CP: We do not give out packet 3 on Wednesday.

Inusah: But isn't it true that once I have filled out the checklist I can get packet 4 on the same day?

CP: Yes.

Inusah: And what day can I return packet 3 to get packet 4?

CP: Wednesday.

Inusah: So then I should be able to get all that done today since I can fill out packet 3 and get packet 4 on the same day.

CP: If you come back tomorrow I can help you.

VICTORY!!!


So when Inusah was walking out he told the guard what happened and he wished us good luck. Only hitch was whether he would be able to talk himself back inside on Thursday .

Thursday (10/18/07)

Today Inusah was at the embassy at 6:15am. He saw the same guard he saw Wednesday and was let in right away. Then he found the CP who was there on Wednesday and he joked that Inusah was there early. Anyways, the CP took Inusah's papers and went to a room where a woman was sitting. After a few minutes of talking with her the guy came back with the whole spiel about how he did not have the appointment letter, blah blah blah but the CP managed to convince the woman to process the paperwork. Then Inusah was called into the room, given the papers and he left!! With both packet 3&4!!!

VICTORY!!!

The woman even said that if we get stuff done in time she could see if the interview date could be moved up!!!

He left at 11:30am.

Oh happy day!!!

Just thought maybe others could find this helpful when their time comes

Moral of the story: Just keep at it, someone is bound to crack.

Zee

Hi Zee, thanks for your good fight. I am happy for you & your Baby for haven packet 3 & 4, including the interview date. just advice him to go ahead with medical & police documents sooner. I hope the date could been shift closer. Our true God will surely see's you thru the rest.

I'm in Kumasi, and i shall be going to Accra on Monday to beging with my medical exams & the police certificate. I wished could have stay in Accra whole week and finish with medicals but my work is not given me chance. I work with media Company. I'm always tight with my position here. I have to go to Accra and come, and may go again for other stuffs

I'm wishen every goodness of our Good Lord.........Good Luck, my Br & Sis in the Lord

Wow! It's amazing to me how hard everything is.

Thank you so very much for sharing that information. I pray and hope things move quickly and well for you and they move your interview date up. March is so far away!!

Good Luck Girl!!

That's a great story it will definitely help others!
Good Luck on the rest of your journey

congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!! I am so happy for you all. I know what's it's like to wait on the Embassy to do ANYTHING!! (Check my timeline!!) Sorry if I missed it, but what interview did you all get???

Nevermind... I found it in an earlier post! It is amazing they let your fiance in! Getting through those guards is nearly impossible!!! They put me through the third degree and I am an American citizen!! My husband recieved his notice in the mail nearly 2 months after it was received at the embassy and that was even after they kept saying via email that they didn't even have his case. EVERYTHING there is done at turtle speed!! Patience and persistence is definitely the key. An interview date of 5 months away is better than the 6-7 months that it has been in recent times. Congrats. To all those who continue to wait, don't go through the process with the Embassy in Ghana with high expectations, because they are sure to disappoint you!! The good news is that they never fail us in consistency - Everyone gets the same slow maltreatment. Has anyone's senator been of any help?? The senator I contacted sent the same emails I sent and got the same answers I got... USELESS!! I know I'm on the other side of the tracks now, but I feel you all's pain!! Continue to press on!! I enjoy reading the updates...

Wow! The letter from the senator did not work ? That sucks!

I don't think I have seen a successful attempt to move an interview date at the Ghana embassy even when getting senators involved. There may be one or two but that is about it.

They are just so rigid there

Well...by the grace of God, I hope he just doesn't open doors for me, but knocks them down because the wait is killing me . I am confident that God's going to work things out. Call me crazy, but I'm not worried. I'm feeling very optimistic

Zee,

Good for you for sticking to your guns! You go girl!


Shanon

This was just an awesome story to hear.

man i admire your persistence.. i pray everythings goes much smoother from this point on