AbenaKofi

Hi Wallace,  

Thanks so much for posting the document you received.  We will also use this as a guide to get everything together while we wait.  

Best,

Abena

3 hours ago, h&y said:

I think we all should still do a whole meet up at Disney kind of thing  I just picture the best group photo.

That would be so cute!  We'll drive down to SoCal for sure!  (where is that taco emoji...)

14 minutes ago, Amit M said:

@LizM hey, thanks!!! And oh yeah I know that that’s all true. We are not planning on leaving country until a year after marriage since there are tons of expenses regarding visa status change, apartment, no work for three months. So yeah it’s still far away but one step closer ;-)

Too true!  We met in Dubai a month ago and I didn't feel too bad about it since we won't be doing much travel for a while after marriage.  Call it a pre-honeymoon! 

6 minutes ago, Bonnie_Clyde said:

 

Mine is updated on the app but not on the new website. I’m a little scared now!

Ours was never updated on the app, so I deleted it lol.  Do you have Informed Delivery?  I'm sure the letter is on its way! 

1 hour ago, Bonnie_Clyde said:

Dear Sunshine berries!! I'm shaking right now while texting this... My fiance and I have been APPROVED. I'm September 28th received date and October 2nd NOA1. We got approved on day 180. Thank you all and particularly NAES. I wish for a speedy approval for everyone waiting!

Yayyyyy Team West Africa!  

12 hours ago, LizM said:

I can imagine it might be. Is it in Accra? Do you have to travel for it, too? Or maybe you're the petitioner?  Anyway it'll be interesting to read the review later on.

I'm the Americana  but yes, he will have to travel to it.  It's about 4 hours by coach, and like a 30 minute plane ride, lol.  Thankfully he lives in a major city so we have options.  I was able to get in touch with another Americana on VJ who went through the process just a couple of months before us, and it's been very comforting!   We just have to hope for the best.  

7 hours ago, baggles said:

Ohhh, that's good to hear i won't be alone in the big Cali! 

My fiance used to live in Oakland, so I know little Italy quite well, but still. I can say (not to brag) I cook better than the restaurants I tried. Maybe I was just unlucky. 

No, I think it's very easy to run into these tourist trap places in the city, or places where people don't put any love into the food. I also prefer making my own, where I can add all the love and garlic that I want!  

You will LOVE all the Mexican food (and there's even variations between Northern and Southern Cali Mexican food).  We should do a NorCal VJ dinner once we get settled!  The activities will be 1) eating and 2) celebrating 

35 minutes ago, LizM said:

 I am jealous! And very happy to hear  

Aww thank you! The Ghana embassy can be...problematic, so I'm just trying to be happy for every small victory and not worry about the what-ifs.  I'm sure you'll get yours soon!  

49 minutes ago, h&y said:

How long did it take you to get the case #? Congrats!

Thanks!  Ya know, I'm not sure - NOA2 was 3/14 so I was gonna call tomorrow, then we figured why not check today.  So less than 2 weeks :).  

40 minutes ago, KingDev said:

My love has completed his medical police and DS160. I have harassed the Consular so many times they transfered me to a senior department. Today they contacted me that our packet 3 is now ready to be picked up in accra. Interview scheduled for April 30

Oh good!  So glad you were able to get some movement there.  

4 hours ago, baggles said:

Unfortunately I'm very far from NYC, on the other coast to be exact. But if I'll ever go, I'll definitely try it! 

Hey, someone else on #teamNorCal!

Well - you're close to North Beach in San Francisco,  but they're sensitive about calling it Little Italy .  So if you go into SF and want Italian food/pizza, go there! 

Otherwise I'm an East Coast girl living in Northern Cali and there are so many other foods that Cali is good at - Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, fresh local California cuisine, the list goes on...that I just wait until I go home to New Jersey to get my pizza and bagels :P.  

Right you are, best for us not to get so hasty during this stage. Agreed, hopefully things are improving - from reading some 2017 posts, the whole call-in vs email seemed to be a real mess. We are also hoping things get better with each day.  Thank you for sharing your experiences, know that it is very valuable! Here’s to a positive and productive week ahead. 

8 hours ago, Wallhut said:

No word about the Package 3. The Package 4, as I understand it, is what you get after your interview and approval. I responded to the Package 3 receipt question on the other thread, but basically the embassy should be emailing the petitioner (and possibly the beneficiary as well) when the Package 3 is ready for pick up. The concern is that many people I know never heard anything from the embassy. It think that may have happened in the past because they mailed the Package 3 to the beneficiary's address rather than notifying them via email to come to the embassy and get it, but I'm not at all sure that's correct, and if anyone on here can verify this it will be appreciated. The NVC said my package was sent to Ghana February 26th, so if we do not hear anything by mid-April I will have to figure out the way to contact the embassy to question the status. I believe the only way to do that is via email, and I've also heard many times emails to the embassy go unanswered. I will continue hoping and praying for the best. My greatest suggestion is to remain positive and patient, keep on top of it, and do what you can to determine the status when appropriate. 

 

Best Wishes.

 

Wallace

Thanks so much for your feedback. Like you said, hopefully we hear back from the embassy within a reasonable timeframe, and if not, we’ll just wing it, I guess 😬.  We wish you all the best!

So I wonder what is expected of us? Once the status changes to “ready,” we do the DS160 and gather the forms (the ones that were pretty sure we’ll need), get started on the medical, and then once we get packet 3, schedule interview ASAP?  

Bc as @Wallhut said, the medical will take at least a month - my fiancé will also need to allow time to get the series of shots, so I was thinking if we wait until this mysterious packet 3 to start, we’ll lose even more time 😒.  @KingDev, what is your plan, if you don’t mind? 

Keep the faith, everyone! If we can get through NOA2 I hope we can get through this embassy!

@Juva  and @Wallhut, 

So sorry that this seems to be happening - have either of you heard back about the Packet 3/4 or when it should be coming? This is very worrisome. We have all waited so long for NOA2, and from all I read, things should be going smoothly (and quickly!).  Shame that there seems to be such a disconnect with the Ghana embassy. 

Anyway happy Sunday, and I hope that both of you hear back quickly so you can be reunited your loves! The info that you’ve shared is very helpful for us as we are a couple months behind you. 

Thanks and and have a good day. 

3 hours ago, h&y said:

I am planning a wedding on my mother's property at her house because she lives on the water. The only pre planned thing I've done so far is the dress. It'll be a pop up wedding for sure! As in ... " hey guys wedding next week let's party!" And I truly don't care if 5 or 50 show up. Just would like to avoid a courthouse setting

Same here! I live by a nice park with a Japanese tea garden - planning to do a short ceremony then out to 🍾🥂!

Hi all, happy almost Friday!  Question - did you have to submit your email addresses again to NVC, or do they already have that info from the I-129 documents? I submitted the email form back then but not sure if everything rolls over to NVC. 

2 hours ago, h&y said:

So happy for you. you're one of my "Septem-friends." on here, haha!

 

I finally got to speak with Tier  2 today. Nothing out of the ordinary. She advised "Don't worry, you'll get something in the mail soon." Hoping she was giving me a hidden message. Either way, My fiance finally went to do his police clearance today. Its good for 6 months and he has to pick it up in 5 days. I love when I can say "I told you so." He thought he'd get it the same day and I kept saying. nope nope nope! lol. 

Aww thanks girl!   I hope this will be a good week for you.  We're still waiting on that surge of approvals so it's probably this week!  Good call on the police certificate.  We might get started on that too...

2 hours ago, Swissmiss82 said:

congrats to the new approvals!

 

we just got the hardcopy in the mail (3/19) and the date on the approval is actually 3/12! that's craaaazy!

btw - online and on the app is still no update showing! 

 

good luck to everyone, hope today will be a good day for many of us!

Yes! Also meant to say this was silent - no email, and the app is still saying "received" hahaha.  So much for technology!

19 hours ago, Maria1989 said:

If he has served almost 7 years when did you met him, did you marry him in prison ? Have you been waiting 7 years for his release? He is going to be deported. But who would follow a boyfriend ? He’s not your husband and you have lived separate lives for 7 years. He will be deported. 

Good luck to you 

21 hours ago, gc@gc said:

 

did you meet him before he went to the jail, or after? 

 

 

 

This is what we need.  Less fact-finding about Guinea - more deets on this relationship! OP come back!

2 hours ago, Swissmiss82 said:

yaaaayyyyyy awesooome!!!

coooongratssssss 

3 hours ago, Favvy said:

Wooooooooow!!!  Congrats🎊 🎊 .

3 hours ago, ChuAni said:

That's the Sweet Approval!

Congratulations! 🎊

Thanks!  It's made my crazy Monday so much better, even without the Beyonce tix  hahaha!  So glad to be moving to the next phase of waiting.  Can't wait to get home and hug that piece of paper! 

Well on the bright side, this process (and Beyoncé tickets on sale) has me looking forward to Monday at least!