rafetnatorop

Have you tried googling them?

Yeah...there's a lot of sketchy places to watch online/download toolbars. Has anyone tried them/are they safe?

Hi guys!

We're busily preparing for my hubby's arrival on FRIDAY!!! eee!

But-- he wants to be able to watch Senegalese tv-- RTS and S-something. Unfortunately, there isnt a way to get that from time warner, our cable company.

Does anyone know if its available online?

Thanks!

Hi!

I have stayed a few places in Dakar-- Hotel Oceanic, which is very close to the embassy, reasonably affordable, and comfortable (The one thing I didn't like is that it only has single beds. A double room is two separate single beds. BOO.) We prefer Auberge Marie Lucienne, which is close to the University in Dakar-- I think it is much more comfortable for the same price, and close to our friends at the University. (and a big bed! )

As far as the medicals go, my husband also had the exam, lab work and had to come back later for results. He said the exam and everything ended up costing 75000 cfa. The Dakar embassy reviews were very helpful for both of us.

Good luck!

Quick update:

My husband went to the embassy today for his appointment. He said that he was there less than 10 minutes, gave them the 221 paper, and they told him to come back on Thursday to pick up his visa! We are buying a plane ticket for the 18th. Can't wait!

Thank you! When is your honey coming home?

I'm trying to get a little more pep in my step because delayed doesn't mean denied. I just pray it goes quickly.

He has an appointment to pick up his visa on the 8th-- then it's just a question of how much time he wants to wrap things up and come here. I hope before April.

Good luck!

Our AP is over! After badgering the embassy and state dept, I received a response from the embassy via email.

They said, "The case has undergone the Administrative Process and the Visa is ready for issue. The documents appear to be complete and in order. In order to issue, your husband must call to schedule a 221 appointment. The information on how to do this is enclosed. At that time he must bring his Passport.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact our office."

YAY!

If it has been over a month, I think everyone should email or call once a week. For us it was 4 months, but I don't know when they were planning to tell us that it was over if I hadn't emailed them to ask.

Good luck to everyone! I hope things move smoothly for you.

After 3 months in Administrative Review we have now been placed in Administrative Processing where I assume they are doing background checks.

I'm still having trouble sleeping but I've tried to cope by exercising 5 days a week. I'm going to try and learn how to play video games on the X-Box to pass the time. In a few weeks the weather should break so I can get outside and do some walking.

The black hole of AP/AR is a nightmare I wouldn't wish on a dog. The hardest part is not knowing if we will get our visa when the waiting is all over. My husband has a huge family and many friends to help him get through this, while I have a small family and few friends.

We filed our I-130 in October 2009. We never thought our visa journey would last this long.

Hi Carolyn,

Our timeline is pretty similar-- we also filed in Oct 2009. I kept emailing and calling everyone I could think of. Yesterday I emailed the embassy again just to prod them but didn't think anything would come of it...and they responded that our AP was over and he had to make an appt to pick up his visa! So, I would be a squeaky wheel even at the embassy level, because I don't know when they were planning to tell us if I hadn't emailed them.

Good luck. This is the most frustrating and infuriating process in the world...waiting with absolutely no information. Its enough to drive anyone up the wall.

Keep your chin up, it will end eventually!

xoxo

CONGRATS!!!!!

Thanks so much! I wish it was time already.

FH had his interview today in Dakar. As you can tell from the title, he's in AP. *SIGH*

I had him run down the questions he was asked and he was asked WAAAAYYYY too many questions (IMHO) about his brother (who is married to my cousin). I mean I kind of expected that they would ask a couple questions just because of the family angle. But I feel that they asked way too many. This is about our relationship, not theirs. I understand that it could look like my FBIL/CIL would want his brother here but to be fair he has been married to my cousin since 2002 and came here in 2003. My view of things says he would have been trying to get his baby brother here years before now.

One other thing that gave me pause as to why he could have been put in AP was the question of "what does your fiance do", to which FH answered "massaging". I AM a Licensed Massage Therapist, but I believe they wanted to know what I do for regular work. I feel that should have been worded differently, ie "where does your fiancee work?" For FH's thought process asking what someone does, is what they do in their spare time. In his mind that's totally different than what does your fiance do for work/where does your fiance work. KWIM

All in all I know God is in control, but they didn't even give FH a date to come back. Just that they would call him if they needed more information.

Sorry to hear that you guys are in AP. We were there for awhile. If it has been a month, I would call or email weekly until you get information.

We waited patiently for so long, and I finally emailed them yesterday, and they told us we were done with AP! If I hadn't asked, I wonder when they were planning to tell us that!

Have hope, it will all work out in the end.

hi rafetnatorop congrtns... i am in AP also just from 22 febuary ...i dont understand why do u have make an appoinment all they need for u to do its just send them your passaport and AP paper....u could have ask them why they need for an appointment..... and i am happy for u its to long for u .4 monts realy long i hope mine just approve next week... the reason of my AP is to just review my evidence that i brought them

just make a plan i dont think that they interview u dont worry ....as they said visa is ready for pick up..

I know, I'm trying not to worry, but its just been such a long wait that I don't trust anything. I think at the appointment they will put the visa in his passport? Not sure.

Thanks!

I don't have any answers just wanted to say Congrats!!!

Thank you! I hope everything goes smoothy for you.

Hi guys! Good news, I think.

After badgering the embassy, I (finally)got this response yesterday:

"The case has undergone the Administrative Process and the Visa is ready for issue. The documents appear to be complete and in order. In order to issue, Mr. Drame must call to schedule a 221 appointment. The information on how to do this is enclosed. At that time he must bring his Passport."

He called and made the appt for March 8th! My question: is there anything he should bring? Is this another interview? Do you think he will get the visa right then? AHHHH!

Thanks!

I would also go with the cheaper flight. I understand the wish to make things go more smoothly, but I agree with what reeses said about saving the money for unforeseen expenses. From my experience in Dakar when I missed a flight, even if you don't speak/read fluently, there is always someone who speaks your language and can help you. Esp with West Africans, you can't help making friends as you travel. I had a whole crew of Senegalese ladies helping me out on that trip.

Good luck!

My husband's CR-1 interview was on November 4th in Dakar, Senegal. We were placed in Administrative Processing and have still not heard anything!

Thanks guys.

We have been calling and emailing like crazy...I finally called the State Dept to see if they knew anything. They basically told me that we just have to wait. Which I knew...but I'm just so tired of dealing with all of this.

Hope everything is going well on your end.

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've posted...because I was waiting for good news before I came back. Unfortunately, we still don't know anything! After my husband's interview on Nov 4th, we were put into administrative processing and told that if we hadn't heard from anyone in 60 days that we could contact them. I assumed that he would be here WAY before that time was up, but here we are, over 60 days from the interview.

Both my husband and I have emailed and called the embassy in Senegal. Our emails haven't been answered and no one can really tell us anything when we call.

I am getting so frustrated and I really don't know what else to do. I was looking on uscis.gov and found this section: http://travel.state.gov/visa/about/how/how_1463.html

I'm wondering if anyone has called the NVC or anything from this side of things? Do you think they will have any more information?

We're (I'M) starting to go a little crazy.

Thanks for reading!

I know that times are hard but if you could try to be there at the interview. I went to my wife interview last yr. They called her up asked what was my kids names, and then when was the last time you seen your husband, she replied he is here, then they called me up asked me her brothers and sisters names and why I love my wife, before I could answer they said that she was approved. They asked me about the VP Joe Biden because he is from Delaware, also they asked my wife if I send any money to her and how and we showed them the Moneygram reciepts. THe whole interview lasted maybe 5minutes,. BTW on Nov 04 we gave birth to a lil girl, Djenabou Mary Stevens. Life is good,

I knew that it would work out better if I could be there, but unfortunately after being an AmeriCorps member and supporting our family over there, I can't afford it...also with my new job I don't have any vacation time. Congrats on your baby girl! I hope everything goes well for you.

Hi

I'm hoping the best for you both and that the AP won't slow things down too much ... it's nice to see more posts from others with loved ones in Senegal .... I am curious though, you mentioned that your husband took photos and letters with him to the interview ... I've already sent all that stuff with my I-130 (I have duplicates of course) but I was hoping that all our "bonafides" were forwarded from the USCIS to NVC and then to the consulate ... I've been trying for some time to figure out if I need to also send these things to my husband in Senegal a head of time, but can't get a clear answer ... I've already tried mailing him a birthday card and it took a month to arrive ... I shutter to think what amount of time I'd need to allow for if I were to send our bouncy-baby-bonafides to him.

Again I'm happy to hear of your progress and to know there are some positive things unfolding. Please keep us posted on your AP.

I wish you all the best

Hi there! My husband said that once he was there, he saw everything that I had sent-- all of our documents & copies of the photos and letters(etc). He just brought more along with him that I had sent in the meantime.

I hope everything works well for you! Still no word for us.

Everyone! Thanks for all of the awesome and thoughtful responses. Its so interesting to hear how the dynamics work between couples. I suppose most of these answers would be similar even talking to strictly American couples.

I was wondering originally because I have only been with my husband in Senegal, where I cleaned, but we bought food at a shop or at the cafeteria at the University...and where we paid a woman to wash clothes. So, I have no idea how it will be when he finally gets here!

I will definitely do most of the cooking, because I LOVE to cook, but I am not such a fan of laundry or vacuuming, so there will have to be some negotiation on those fronts. And he is the CLEANEST person I have ever met. It makes him angry when things are out of place. So it might be in his best interest to take charge of some things.

I think about this a lot, especially because he is from a small village. When we go there, it is very separated. The women sell vegetables in the market, cook & clean, and take care of everyone. The men work in the fields, work as tailors, then come home and drink tea. So it is definitely awkward for me to sit around with the men while the women work around us.

Once he gets here I'll let you know how it all turns out

My husband had his interview on Thursday, which he said went really well. They asked super easy questions like birthdate and what I do for work, etc. He had plenty of photos and letters, etc. The woman interviewing him said that she was convinced, and that if she could give him a visa right now, she would...BUT. His application needed further "administrative processing."

WHAT.

So, I frantically called my lawyer to ask him what that meant. He said that ever since our friend the Times Square bomber, security has been tightened even further & that "administrative processing" is the catch phrase for a last security check by the state dept.

He said it was good news, because they didn't say we needed more evidence or doubt that we are really married. So, crossed that hurdle. We just really had our hopes up that he could be here by Thanksgiving. So I'm pretty bummed about it. My lawyer said that it could be anywhere from 2-4 weeks, but that it is completely out of the embassy's hands.

ERG. Has anyone else made it to this point?

I hope everyone else's interviews are going smoothly!

Our interview is on November 4th! Just got the news today and ran all over my office shouting about it.

Good luck to everyone!!!

Hi!

I have stayed a few places in Dakar-- Hotel Oceanic, which is very close to the embassy, reasonably affordable, and comfortable. We prefer Auberge Marie Lucienne, which is close to the University in Dakar-- I think it is much more comfortable for the same price, and close to our friends at the University.

Good luck!

Hi all,

I have been wondering about this for a long time. For those out there with West African husbands, how do you negotiate gender roles in your marriage/relationship? What does it mean for him to be a man and husband? For you a wife? For those of you whose situation is reversed, I would love to hear your experiences as well.

As someone anxiously awaiting starting an "American" life (I'm only calling it that because it will be in the US), I wanted to ask the community about your experiences.

Thanks so much!

Hi Queeny (and everyone)!

Sorry its been so long!

Everything went well for us-- we had the religious ceremony June 27, and the civil one July 9, both in Saint-Louis. At this point, I just miss him torop-- and no one here understands.

Where are you in the process? We have the 1st part of the spouse visa filed, and are completing the second pt so it will be ready when they ask for it.

Also my husband is going to hear any day now about getting the fulbright. Does anyone know what will happen to our petition if he comes to the US on a student visa?

Thanks everyone!!

Hi Queeny (and everyone)!

Sorry its been so long!

Everything went well for us-- we had the religious ceremony June 27, and the civil one July 9, both in Saint-Louis. At this point, I just miss him torop-- and no one here understands.

Where are you in the process? We have the 1st part of the spouse visa filed, and are completing the second pt so it will be ready when they ask for it.

Also my husband is going to hear any day now about getting the fulbright. Does anyone know what will happen to our petition if he comes to the US on a student visa?

Thanks everyone!!

Hi everyone! Thanks again for your advice. The only thing that I'm worried about is if we do not post the banns (or if we post them and i'm not there yet, or if we get married before the 15 days)-- is the US going to recognize our marriage as valid? I really don't want to screw anything up.

Has anyone had experience with this before?

Thanks!

Hi Queeny! Congrats on your marriage as well! I hope everything moves smoothly for you.

Thanks so much for your advice. Do you know how long it takes to get the certificate? or how long in advance you have to register?

Drame's family is from Ker Madiabel near Kaolack, but we'll probably be at the Universite de Gaston Berger in Saint-Louis for most of my stay there.