Next Steps for Bassi and Zainab

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Bassi went and did his medical today and I’m bonkers. Why don’t men LISTEN? Okay, forget listen, why don’t they do what we say? Duh!

I told him to go to Trinity for the medical because it’s cheaper and just get the vaccinations done at Akai House, since you have no choice about that really. He decided that since Akai House was closer to everything, the embassy, the police station for the certificate, and his house, he’d go there first. So, they, of course, did the whole medical, not just the vaccinations and since he didn’t know what he was doing anyway, he went along with it. $340 cedis! And he still has to finish the vaccinations, which they said will cost a lot of money. Heifers! He finally went to Trinity last and they of course told him, he’d done everything at Akai House and so, why come here now. Anyway, Akai House told him that they won’t give him the results, that they would send it directly to the embassy. I’m sure the paperwork says that he’s supposed to bring it in a sealed envelope so I pitched a fit. I told him I don’t care what they say. The embassy lost our file for over a month, when they lose the medicals (that they told you to bring, NOT FORWARD,) then what the heck are we gonna do! So he listened to me rant and rave for a while and said that he’d go back to Akai House and show them the paperwork to get them to give him the medicals like the embassy instructions say. I think I’ll stay saner if he doesn’t tell me anything that he’s doing. But I’ll drive myself crazy if I don’t know what he’s doing. So it’s a catch 22. Help me Lord!!! I need to be in Ghana. I'm too controlling for this level of disorganization!

On another note, I got a retroactive salary increase that was only a couple thousand dollars, but I'm sending Bassi the paperwork. Now in April I’m supposed to get another increase, but this one will be more like $4000. The issue is that my financial paperwork will have the wrong salary on it. I’m wondering if I should wait until April, then get another employer letter and re-do the I-134 and I-864 and resend them to Bassi. What do you all think? I’m not really sure if it matters that much.

[JJWashington 0]

Congratulations on the salary increase. I am the type of person who would probably re-do the paperwork if there was time. However, I am pretty sure that if you have the documentation showing what you have already listed on the your comleted paperwork, your documents will be fine. But, I am a perfectionist, so would probably re-do.

My husband did the same types of things Bassi did, prior to his interview. I remember telling him it was vital that he go and get his 1st Medical Exam done prior to the Police Certificate, but he went to do the Police first because it was closer to his house. On the medical, he did get the sealed envelope, but that was in Lagos.

It will all work out. For me, the time between the paperwork and the interview was the most difficult because of issues like you experienced today. But in the end, it all worked out and its just a memory to us now.

Hang in there and know we are all praying for you.

[Zee Bee 61]

First, congrats on the raise I would wait until April to update it. But if you already beat the poverty guidelines, I really wouldn't bother.

For the medical, I would call the embassy and ask how long it is valid for (for some consulates it is only 3 months) Inusah did his at Holy Trinity and he was given the results in a sealed envelope to take with him to the interview. For the vaccinations at Akai House, you pay each time you go in for the shots. They also gave him a sealed envelope with the vaccinations so I am not sure why they won't give Bassi his results in a sealed envelope. Tell him to beg, plead, bribe to get those results.

I'm not sure about the police certificate.

340 GH. Wow. I was just adding what we spent and it was 301 GH. Thats a big chunk of change (by Ghana standards).

[His Glory 25]

My husband didnt follow my advice either and he did got to akai house but they did give him the results in a sealed envelope. So maybe its certain staff that gives a hard time or isnt informed.

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Thanks. I talked to Bassi and I think he calmed me down. He's so even keeled. He's definitely balance for me. But I still wish he'd just do what I say. It would make me happy. But then I imagine I wouldn't want to marry a man who did whatever I say! I can't even get my daughter to do whatever I say, and she's five. Go figure!

I pointed out that the instructions from the embassy say not to send the medical to the office, so he said he'd go back tomorrow morning and tell them he wants to receive his medical in a sealed envelope. I hope they just do it. I really don't want to deal with any more issues in this process. But I know I have no control over that.

I'm well above the poverty limit for a family of three. So my raise makes no difference in the sense of qualifying us or anything like that. I just wasn't sure if they checked with my job for some reason and found that now I'm making more money than I stated on all the paperwork if it could cause a problem. I may be worrying for no reason. In April, I suppose I'll try to decide if to redo all the paperwork. It's really not that hard to do it cause I work in Human Resources and I got my friend to notarize the documents for me at work, just a little expensive to send it. It cost me $300 to send the packet of paperwork to Bassi by DHL. But I wanted the peace of mind of knowing it would get there and get there relatively quickly. I'm still hoping that God intervenes and we get our interview date changed. But who knows. Truth be told, I'm not even quite sure how to ask for a new interview date or rather a closer interview date. They should be required to interview you within a year of the filing of your petition. But I know that's wishful thinking.

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Thanks for the wishes regarding my raise. I was pleasantly surprised because I didn't even know it was coming. Now with our Governor up in turmoil, we're all on the edge of our seats. We're hoping him leaving office isn't going to mean significant cut backs. He was generous to State employees in the first few months of his tenure. It's a shame he's morally corrupt. He really did have good policy ideas.

[Zee Bee 61]

FYI: I sent Inusah my financial information through USPS express mail (the flat rate envelope) and it got to him in 4 business days. I sent it to his work address (in Tema). The only thing is that you cannot track it once it leaves the US. But it cost me $25 vs $77 for FedEx.

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

FYI: I sent Inusah my financial information through USPS express mail (the flat rate envelope) and it got to him in 4 business days. I sent it to his work address (in Tema). The only thing is that you cannot track it once it leaves the US. But it cost me $25 vs $77 for FedEx.

Wow! It got to Tema in four days? That's pretty good. If I decide to redo the financial papers, I'll do it that way. In the face of Murphy's Law, right?

[His Glory 25]

FYI: I sent Inusah my financial information through USPS express mail (the flat rate envelope) and it got to him in 4 business days. I sent it to his work address (in Tema). The only thing is that you cannot track it once it leaves the US. But it cost me $25 vs $77 for FedEx.

Zee, I sent 2 packages express. I was able to track it as far as going through customs in Accra. then nothing. He received one in 6 days and the other is passed through customs and disappeared. Im trying not to freak out because i sent it only a day after the other but it was not in envelope it was a package. They said to call tomorrow.

[His Glory 25]

Hey Do you guys know if you can bring cell phones and other electronic devices in embassy?

[Zee Bee 61]

Zee, I sent 2 packages express. I was able to track it as far as going through customs in Accra. then nothing. He received one in 6 days and the other is passed through customs and disappeared. Im trying not to freak out because i sent it only a day after the other but it was not in envelope it was a package. They said to call tomorrow.

The envelopes get there real quick. The packages take a little bit more time.

Hey Do you guys know if you can bring cell phones and other electronic devices in embassy?

Probably not from what I have seen from other consulates.

[His Glory 25]

Ok thanks Zee My husband went to the main accra postal office this morning and he had the tracking number with him for the package and they were able to track it and realized they sent it to the wrong town. So the postal worker called that office and they informed him that once they realized it was sent to wrong town they sent it back to the accra office. The officer told my husband in that case if it had come back then it was forwarded to akosombo already but then the officer found out the carrier hadnt picked up the packages yet so he went and looked in back and found the package on a shelf by the tracking number! So yeah! Im so relieved. It was torn in one corner but I guess who ever opened realized there was nothing worth anything in there not to them anyway. I never had packages opened when I sent registered. But I needed it quicker. However after all this I could have sent it registered

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Hey Do you guys know if you can bring cell phones and other electronic devices in embassy?

Bassi said that you have to check your cell phone at the security station and then you retrieve it when you are leaving the embassy.

[cinnamon3822 0]

For those that's sending documents via USPS to Nigeria use this link, you can track your package through EMS Nigeria once it leave the US.

www.emsng.com

[JJWashington 0]

I've used the USPS several times when sending things to Nigeria and so far there have been no problems.