Eureka447

My fiance got his visa on June 3rd.... so took about a month.

Sirforson, our status was incorrect for a while too. It only changed pretty much the day before the visa was issued. We kept up with it by calling the visa issuing center and also emailing the embassy (IVAccra@atate.gov). Good luck

We got our May 5th interview date on February 17th, so almost 3 months. But I've heard of others whose interviews were scheduled much quicker.

Thanks guys. The blue paper said on average, 2 weeks, but it can take longer if there are "system outages." We had to wait 8 months for my fiance's passport, so I think I'm still traumatized from that lol. Just gonna wait and see. Hopefully we'll have the visa in hand within the next couple weeks.

My fiance had his K1 visa interview in Ghana on May 5th. They kept his passport, told him he was approved, and gave him a blue paper telling him how to pick up his visa once it's ready. We were told on average it can take 2 weeks to issue. It's been a little over 2 weeks and it's not issued yet. I'm not really worried about that because I figured there may be delays in Ghana, but what I am worried about is that when I check on the CEAC website it says the status was updated on May 5th, but it still reads as "ready." From what I understand it should be on "processing" once the interview is over and then "issued" once it's ready to pick up. Is this something I should be worried about or is it possible they just forgot to change the status to "processing"? For those who were approved for K1 in Ghana, how long did it take you for your visa to be issued? My fiance called the visa pick-up center a few days ago and they told him it wasn't ready yet and we should email the embassy, which I did, but no response.

Thanks!!

Thanks everyone! Good luck to you too!! Hoping for great news all around!

Thanks guys, I think I'll go the route of printing out the evidence from petition date til now like A&Oforever did.

We didn't have any knocking rites or traditional ceremonies, although we had talked about it initially.... so glad we didn't now.

And yea, the whole "knowing each other for too long" thing. Ugh I feel like I've heard this as a major reason for denial recently, which I think is ridiculous. Isn't it better to know someone well before you get married? But yea, we're trying to prepare for that question at the interview. My fiance and I actually first met on my first trip to Ghana in 2007, but we were just friends and only kept in touch every once in a while (we were busy with school, had poor means of communication, were dating other people, etc) until 2012 when we started talking more frequently and realized our feelings for each other. I'm an extremely cautious person in relationships and wanted to take things slow. We really only became "official" in 2014 after I traveled there again. We then got engaged in Sept 2015. I dunno. I know this can be a "red flag" to the embassy, but how can they say that a couple dated for "too long" when 90% of that time was spent apart? And the whole "why didn't you have kids yet" thing too. Ugh don't get me started. Haha. Anyways, done with my rant. But yea, we had never really thought of these things as negatives, but after hearing other people's stories, we definitely are worried that this will be a reason for denial for us. Just hoping for the best. Thanks for the advice everyone!

My fiance has his K1 interview in Ghana in 2 weeks, and we're wondering how much "proof of relationship" he should bring. I seriously have 2,000+ pages we could bring, but it seems like way too much to me. We front loaded our initial application with phone records, chat records (at least 1 chat per month since 2012), photos, and travel documents (it was about 150 pages double sided, so 300 pages total). I was thinking that maybe he should bring just new evidence that we have from the past 6 months? Any suggestions would be helpful (especially from those who have been approved in Ghana). Thanks!

I feel like I read on here somewhere that the embassy in Accra is picky about passport photos and that they sometimes make applicants go and re-do their photos at a place across the street from the embassy? Is this right? Does it need to be done at specific place? Or can it just be a regular 2x2 passport photo from anywhere?

Also, birth certificates... my fiance has a copy of his, but does it need to be from some specific office?

Thanks!

Did you mean March 5th or May 5th? May 5th seems far off.

Regards

Yea, it is somewhat far off... May 5th.

Thanks so much everyone! Our K1 interview is scheduled for May 5th! I'm trying to be really hopeful it will be approved

My fiance had a similar issue. His original passport was stolen, so he had to apply for a new one. Took about 8 or 9 months to issue it... I thought it was just because he had to go through some extra steps in reporting it stolen, but I guess that's the case with just routine passport applications too. I don't know really what was going on, because he also applied for expedited, but he finally got it in October 2015.

This is kinda a silly question, but we're also dealing with the Ghanaian embassy, so I'm nervous about every little thing.... my Ghanaian fiance proposed "American style" (down on one knee and gave me a ring). Do you think this will be an issue? We didn't have any type of ceremony. He just proposed to me when we were alone on a beach, gave me a ring, and that's it.

Also, I see everyone suggesting that the couple who were denied file for a spousal visa now. If I go to Ghana for my fiance's interview and he's denied, can we just get married right away during that trip or do we have to do something to void out the K1 application first? Sorry again for the silly questions, but Ghana's notoriously difficult, so hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. Thanks!

I haven't heard back from them yet, still praying and hoping. I first went to the senator's website and then filled the form and then I called the office right after that and they send an enquiry email to the embassy that same day. I will advice you to not talk about anything relating to traditional rite to the consular.

Also, instead of the embassy to send the letter for the package to the beneficial in Ghana, they are going to mail it directly to you in U.S and then you scan and emailed it to your fiancé in Ghana. Patience and prayers is all that you need right now, because these people delays a lot.

Thanks! And how long did it take you to get the letter from the embassy after you got your NVC letter?

Hey guys, I'm still waiting to hear from the embassy in Accra too. (Last thing I got was the the NVC letter on Dec 21st). I just checked my CEAC status and it says "ready," so I'm guessing that's a good thing? Also it says my case creation date was Dec 15th and status updated Jan 25th. Do you think the status is updated when it reaches the embassy? Maybe the embassy opened our case on the 25th and mailed us the letter to pick up our packet that date too? Hopefully, then I'll receive the letter this week or next? Or am I just reading too much into this? Sorry, just getting really impatient like a lot of us here. Any insight would be helpful! Thanks!

my fiance had her interview at the U.S embassy in Ghana last week on January 21st, and she answered every question correctly, then she was asked if my family has met her family and she said yes, and she was asked again what they my family came to do and she said they came to perform "knocking rite" as done traditionally when you intend to marry someone. the consular then told her we are married and so she is going to return the case back and so we should filled for as marriage. she tried her best to let the consular know that she is "knocking rite" doesn't mean we are married, but she was paid attention to. My attorney has emailed the embassy for them to give her another interview base on misunderstanding because 'knocking rite' is not marriage and we have not married before not have any marriage certificate, but they haven't replied him back. i also contacted my Senator and she emailed them too to rescind their decision and give her another interview, but no answer back as of yet. Is there any other option out there since i can't filled for her as marriage because we are not.?

PS:my fiance says there were about 3 people ahead of her denied by the same interviewer saying they are married because of "knocking rite"

Wow, that's crazy koffers. My fiance and I were also thinking of doing a traditional engagement ceremony when I was there, but decided not to. So glad we didn't. Have you heard back from them yet about getting another interview? Also, how long did it take for you to hear back from your Senator? And did you just email him/her or call? Just wondering in case I need to contact mine in the future. Good luck!

We're still waiting. Just wanted to let you know that I sent an email today and got back an automated response with a phone number to call. The number is +233 (50) 659-2787. I tried it but it was really bad connection and just automated prompts, so I hung up cause I couldn't hear well. I'm going to have my fiance try it and see if he can get anywhere.

Hello everyone, am new here glad to find this page very helpful info just need a little advice and some guidelines pls help! So, My fiance and I have been together for almost 6years now since then ive Been to Ghana twice to visited him last I went was just last year i spend abt 3months with him. Everything has took long due to some things I was going thru here in US he has patiently waited for me and right now We want to settle, but The process of getting married in Ghana before he comes here seems long, so we thinking of k1 visa process. Some ofbour concern is that we've lost a lot of our emails from the beginning we started talking we didn't have a lot of options to communicate. We were both using hotmail before now we can't retrieve back I can only go back to 2011 is that okay? We have pictures, there are money transfers between us can I add that too? Pls advice me

Also all the document he need to sign like the letter stating we intend to marry when he gets here can he sign his part n then scan it to me . pls help me out so I can start the process thanks. If advice too will be appreciate thanks in advance

Hi Abby,

My fiance and I also have known each other for a long time, and I don't have too many records from back then either. I met him on a trip to Ghana with a mutual friend in 2006-2007 and have about 5 photos of us together at that time. We were just friends at first and didn't really get into a romantic relationship until around 2012. I've been to Ghana two more times since then- once in 2014 and once in 2015. So yea, the earliest chat records I have are from 2010... and still, only a few. Before that we were just talking on the phone every once in a while, and I don't have those records. I'd say 97% of what I sent with our application is from 2012 going. So far we've made it to the last stage with no problems... we're waiting to hear from the embassy as to when we can schedule his interview. From what I hear, Ghana is a tough embassy, but hopefully everything goes well. I guess they probably will ask what took so long for us to see each other again, but we were just friends initially, both students with no money, and we tried a couple times to get him a tourist visa as well with no luck. I think (and really hope) it's okay to not have a ton of records from years and years ago.

Yea, and those documents do need to be actually signed by him. It's a pain, but oh well! Good luck, and let me know if you have any other questions!!

You can check with your new case number that Department of State assigned you all when it got to the NVC. It should start with ACC at this site : https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

Got it. Thanks so much!

Hey guys,

I had a question. Where are you checking your case status now? I was checking the USCIS site, but now that it's been sent to the NVC and forwarded to the embassy in Accra, I'm not sure where to check anymore. Please let me know. Thanks

Yes I think he should bring an entire copy of I -129f package to the interview and he should go over everything before the date of his interview by the way have u get your interview date ?

Thanks Jemal! Haven't heard yet, have you? When did you receive the NVC letter? We received ours on December 21st. I'm thinking things were delayed because of the holidays, but I just sent an email to the embassy today, just to check. Good luck!

Question about what to bring to the interview....

I was told that my fiance should bring everything since Accra, Ghana is a difficult embassy. So I really have about 2000 pages printed out of our chat records, phone records, video chat, letters, photos, etc. It's a lot! Is this too much!? I organized it all really well in an accordion file. I know they likely won't look at it, but better safe than sorry is what I've been told....??

Also, does he need to bring the entire copy of what I submitted in our initial I-129F packet to the interview also?-- Most of that is already included in the aforementioned 2000 pages...

Thanks in advance!

You would have to send email to the embassy inquiring about the packet. They will respond and tell you to inform your fiance to sign in the section at 7am Wednesday for the packet. You may need to send the email to your fiance to print it out. Cos that email will allow him to enter the section. after getting the interview date and instructions to do medical test, then you can have your fiance check in the section again for reschedule of interview and extend it to the time you think you can fly down..

Thanks everyone. So should I wait 4-5 weeks before emailing the embassy? The letter I got from the NVC was dated 12/21/15.... so should I give it until the end of January, and then email? Or should I now?

Thanks AB loves AG. ... how much did you front load? I did 150 pages, but a lot of that was double sided, so hopefully that was enough. I'm gonna send tons more for the interview, but yea, I heard a lot of people say they don't look at it. Did you go to the interview with your fiance? I really want to, but the problem is I have a new job and don't get vacation days until April. That's why I was wondering if we can schedule the interview or not. Guess we'll have to make do.

Also, how long did you wait before you emailed the embassy after not receiving the mail?

Yea, I did. I sent about 150 pages (hope it's enough) of photos, phone and chat records, letters, travel documents, etc. I have thousands more pages of stuff I'm trying to sort through now for him to bring to the interview.

Hi everyone,

My fiance and I just received the letter from NVC that they've forwarded our K1 application to the embassy in Ghana. I have a few questions about what to expect next....

1) When should my fiance expect to receive his packet from the embassy? (He receives it in the mail, right?)

2) Does the embassy assign the interview date or can we schedule it?

3) I have TONS of evidence that I want to organize and send to my fiance to bring to the interview. I'm just wondering how I should package it. In a binder? A folder? I know I read something about the window in the embassy being small and people having trouble passing their documents through.

Please advise! Thanks so much!!!