midge and isi

can my fiancee book a one way ticket for k1 visa from ghana?

Yes- but typically a r/t ticket will be cheaper- especially booking the return many months away- and yu just don't use the other part (should cancel it when it gets closer).

If I show a title to my property and statement from my realestate agent showing estimated value of a paid off house and from the bank within a 4 month period n bring 4months worth of bank statements with ending balance of $5000 in my savings account a job letter will that be suffient ? Pls advise and let me do the right thing. Interview date is in the first week of December.

Thanks.

Ghana wants tax transcripts- if you dont meet the guidelines i would look for a co-sponsor.

We had the same issue- print the form and mail it in...

If the certificate is valid for only 3 months then what do we do for a IR1 visa? All of our paperwork must be returned to the US then scheduled for an interview. Are we going to need a second report if it takes a long time to schedule the interview?

I would ask that to those doing CR-1 and who have interviewed recently....

Yes Zee Bee is right.Ghana Police Report valid for 1 year.Thanks

6 months (at most). Someone had an issue back when we were interviewing with it being too old and it was 3 months old. I would HIGHLY suggest requesting it a month before interview and picking it up 2 weeks later- then they can't not question it. When Isi was at his interview some people were APed due to an old report. I air on the caution side... but thats me.

Hi guys, I am gathering "evidence of ongoing relationship" for my K-1 petition and I have some questions: (1) I have call records from Rebtel and my question, is it OK to highlight the calls to my fiance to make it easy for the CO to see them or the embassy doesn't want any highlights?, (2) I lost the pictures that I took with my digital camera when I last visited my fiancee before sending in the I-129F petition (I lost the camera and those are the only pictures I have with her) and so I am planning of going back two weeks before her interview and take some pictures with fiancee, family and friends again plus be with her at the interview if they will allow me inside. Do you think these pictures (to be taken later) will be enough (as far as providing photos as evidence) or the embassy will want photos over several months and hence give my fiancee a hard time? and (3 ) in addition, I will also provide, as evidence, her call records from MTN in Ghana, few emails (we hardly use emails), few cards (no hand written letters) and Skype call records. Will these be enough? Suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

Highlighting is fine- I highlighted all 50,000 text messages

They may ask why these are recent pictures and she/you can explain- having other evidence that spans time will help. Cards (hopefully you have the envelops because that shows the date)

The rest looks about what we submitted. (we had many pictures but pictures are not everything for sure.) Are you providing passport stamp copies for those trips? or something showing you were actually therE? (plane ticket, itineraries)

Hi Fellow VJ-ers!

My fiance (Eric) will be coming to the US this winter (granted his visa is approved)! He has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from The Institute of Professional Studies in Ghana. My question is-will he be able to get a job in marketing, preferably one that requires a Bachelor's so he can use he education, or will he have to transfer his credits and try to obtain a degree from a U.S. University? I am hearing mixed results. Also, I have a friend who is here from Iraq, with a civil engineering degree from a University there. Should he be able to get an engineering job once he passes his licensure exam and becomes licensed? He is having a hard time finding any job, let alone an engineering job. Any advice, thoughts or previous experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!

Laura and Eric

My husband needed his evaluated- it take a while so if you want you can start it now (we are still waiting- but its Ghana's end that takes awhile! not the agency). So hopefully it would be done by the time he gets his EAD!

Most college use the World Education Services from our research. You pay them you fiance will go to his school with a form and request they send a transcript, they may then send an additional verification (which we are waiting for). This will tell the employers and/or schools here what his education is 'equivalent' to in the US. I wish we had started it sooner then we did--- from talking to others the WES ICAP package though a little more is well worth it if he is going to need a few transcripts in the future. There website has lots of information and the forms he needs.

Let me know if you have any other ?s.

hello too everybody, please i want to know where can i obtain a funeral service records.

any idea??? pls help thank u.

I am sorry for the process that you have to go through.

Death Certificate can be obtained from city hall. Funeral Hall will have records of burial and funeral.

I would suggest seeing if there is sometype of (African) Immigrant Group in your area that can help you with the forms (not lawyer!) we have one in my small city so I would assume Newark has something. They will be able to help you through the process of knowing where to go in your area for specific things as it can be overwhelming at times.

The embassy doesnt care nor ask why anyone chose the type of visa they are asking for. They understand the huge difference in the two. One is for a fiance situation while the other requires marrige. Each would therefore be based on a different point in a relationship.

I dont think you saved any time in your case due to the history of the embassy you will deal with. See the correct portal here on V J to find more info about the timelines.

It is slightly faster and seems easier at the Accra embassy for a K-1. No matter what it is slow. OurJoy- don't worry too much if your relationship has been for this many years stop fretting over small details. As I have said gather the evidence of many events in your life. Strong evidence will show the relationship and the questions ask will be minimal. My fiance and I had been together for 18 months at the time of the interview, he was barely asked anything but the CO was joking with him about how cold New England is because reviewing pictures, emails, phone, texts logs they didn't see anything more to ask (he even said that to Isi). Just prepare those documents in an organized fashion and you will be fine.

Filed on the 17th of Jan 2012 at VSC n still Waiting for NOA2

You should fill in the time line on the site helps everyone see whats going on...

Things will come to pass- we have all done the waiting. Do you have a specific reason to expedite or just you want them here?

also thanks!

Hi fam, 

Just want to know if one can expedite interview dates in Ghana and if so, under what conditions can one do this. Thanks.   

Very difficult- usually it is military members who are being deployed. Ghana is peaceful so the option of violence does not apply. Many have tried I don't recall many being successful.

For those who went through the K-1 Visa process in Ghana, what are your opinions of submitting Moneygram/Western Union money transfer receipts from fiance as part of the evidence of ongoing relationship at the K-1 visa interview? Did anyone submit one and if so, did it help or hurt your case? I am talking specifically about Ghana and K-1 petition. Thanks

We didnt submit them, with other strong evidence it is safer to not submit anything that may be questionable.

Don't stress too much- focus on the things they want- email, phone, passport stamps, photos, family meeting.

I am guessing the U.S. embassy in Ghana will accepted the more current versions of forms DS-156, DS-156K, DS-230 that are available at the state.gov or one should just fill the outdated versions that the embassy hands out? Also, I know that by signing the current I-134 as it is makes it a binding legal document and so no notarization is necessary. That means we should disregard the instructions in packet 3 that it should be notarized?

Yes use new forms and yes you do not need a notary for I-134....

Does anyone know what happens to those scheduled for visa pick up at Accra Embassy in Ghana on friday Aug 10, 2012.The reason I ask is because friday is a holiday due to the death of the Ghanaian president.The US Embassy typically observes all us and Ghanaian holidays.A few people who are scheduled to pick up their visas on friday have not heard any communication from the embassy.Does anyone here have any idea?

They will most likely be closed. Visa pickups only happen on Fridays- so I would guess go the next Friday. If your fiance is not far they could try tomorrow or next Monday but I would guess Friday will be told to them. Only a guess though...

I'm still confused. Web searches added to my confusion but validated that others had similar concern.

I swear ghana plays by their own rules... but yes DS-230 part 1 is brought at the interview.

You submit that at the interview (someone correct me if things have changed).

This is still correct

During the filling state at USCIS, I got an RFE for the two-year meeting requirement since I they couldn't properly seen the entry and/or exit date stamped in my passport onn my last visit to Ghana. The RFE specified some of the things I needed to submit and I submitted s sworn statement by myself detailing how I instructed my family to contact my fiancee's family and officially ask for their daughter's hand-in-marriage and their custom demanded I had to present some stuff as a "knocking" to signify our engagement (not marriage yet by custom). The bride price is totally different which I haven't presented yet (and so I haven't married her yet). Only after the bride price is paid and the traditional ceremony performed will we be considered married. So I don't want the embassy to take that as marriage and so I wanted our two families to write a joint sworn statement to explain that it was only a "knocking" (those from Ghana may understand) and that is why I asked my question. Now with some of the feedback I am kinda of scared they might misinterpret that as marriage which is totally not.

If you have your NOA2 then what you need to present at the embassy is proof of a relationship. This letter is really not going to do that- pictures with the two of you, family, emails, IMs, phone calls, text message proof for the time of your relationship is the best way to do this. They do not care if you had the knocking ceremony or not. You may not have even given her a ring- they just want to see your relationship as a whole.

How many visits to Ghana- if you can show a few different ones that helps as well.

Sworn statement only means the person who signed is the person in front of the notary- it does not mean that the information being presented is the truth- i would focus on gathering the other stuff and steer clear of traditional vs. legal ceremonies and traditions.

During the filling state at USCIS, I got an RFE for the two-year meeting requirement since I they couldn't properly seen the entry and/or exit date stamped in my passport onn my last visit to Ghana. The RFE specified some of the things I needed to submit and I submitted s sworn statement by myself detailing how I instructed my family to contact my fiancee's family and officially ask for their daughter's hand-in-marriage and their custom demanded I had to present some stuff as a "knocking" to signify our engagement (not marriage yet by custom). The bride price is totally different which I haven't presented yet (and so I haven't married her yet). Only after the bride price is paid and the traditional ceremony performed will we be considered married. So I don't want the embassy to take that as marriage and so I wanted our two families to write a joint sworn statement to explain that it was only a "knocking" (those from Ghana may understand) and that is why I asked my question. Now with some of the feedback I am kinda of scared they might misinterpret that as marriage which is totally not.

If you have your NOA2 then what you need to present at the embassy is proof of a relationship. This letter is really not going to do that- pictures with the two of you, family, emails, IMs, phone calls, text message proof for the time of your relationship is the best way to do this. They do not care if you had the knocking ceremony or not. You may not have even given her a ring- they just want to see your relationship as a whole.

How many visits to Ghana- if you can show a few different ones that helps as well.

Sworn statement only means the person who signed is the person in front of the notary- it does not mean that the information being presented is the truth- i would focus on gathering the other stuff and steer clear of traditional vs. legal ceremonies and traditions.

Where in Ghana can I get a sworn statement by family members, to be presented to U.S. embassy as evidence of engagement, notarized that the embassy will recognize as valid or legal? Specifically, which notary public does U.S. embassy recognizes in Ghana? Thanks

Be careful- if it was a full traditional engagement in Ghana the embassy at times has said it is a marriage! So don't know why you are in need of these letters because they are not needed for a K-1. Photos, emails, phone calls, texts, passport stamps are really what they are looking for.

My now husband and I, did not present anything from our traditional engagement ceremony to be on the safe side during the interview. Its up to you but I would be careful on how you word engagement at the Accra embassy.

I want to find out if I may need a new birth certificate for my AOS, because my original birth certificate was not given back to me after my interview and am wondering if i should apply for a new one. I hope you guys can help me with some information on AOS, thank you.

Yes- you need it for many other things- so a copy is very good to have we got two to be on the safe side in the future....

email them- your letter may come in 3 years if you get it at all. Usually its about 2 weeks after you get an email back.

Thanks very much. I called them but they told me the same thing. Well then it means they had it writen in that. I can relax now. Thanks once again

Same thing for us if it makes you fell even better!

Well I received my letter from the NVC and an e-mail from the USCIS stating that the fiance petition was approved, but i am POSITIVE I never received an actual letter from the USCIS. So i called and explained the situation to them and explained that I have to have this form in order for Eric to do his adjustment of status when he arrives. They told me I would have to fill out a request for a duplicate copy and pay a fee of $405!!!

I was like is there any way I can get one without paying the fee and they said no. So I said "So I have to pay $405 dollars for one piece of paper that I never received in the first place that I HAVE TO HAVE in order for my fiance to get his green card..." and the supervisor on the phone just said, "Yes." Ugh I'm so mad. Luckily I might be able to fill out the fee waiver form because I took 6 months off of work/school this year to go to the Ghana to be with Eric, so technically I will be under the income requirements. Has anyone had an experience with this or a similar situation? Thanks again.

Laura <3

NOA2 is not called that in their terms it is I-797. NVC does not usually send a letter saying anything to my knowledge so maybe that is your NOA2?

Hi everyone!

So I received a letter from the NVC here in the States saying that the fiance petition has been or will be sent to the US Embassy in Ghana. My question is, what part of the US Embassy in Ghana receives the petition? This is a USCIS office in the US Embassy, however on their website they have a list of forms/petitions that they deal with and I did not see I-129f on there. I want to know so that we know what office to call/e-mail to find out if the package has been received. Could anyone help me out with this? THANK YOU!!!!

Laura

Is this for a fiance visa application?

Email IVDVACCRA@state.gov with case number (ACC#), names and dobs requesting a pickup date for appointment packet. They will eventually email you back with a pickup date for packet 3 and 4 (at same time). It may take a few weeks for them to respond. They say they mail it but seldom do people get it.

You can start compiling the forms from the guides here. Ghana requires Tax Transcripts- so you can get those ordered if you dont have them yet.

Medicals and police certificate come later. Make sure the police certificate is not more then a month old (it takes two weeks to get. So its seems requesting a month before interview and picking up 2 weeks before works for people). Medicals can be done about 2 months before interview. Nothing is returned to the embassy before the interview even though some of the outdated information they give in packet 3 says so.

Calling is useless since its 'hearsay' email is best because they can go with the email printed out.

Thanks buddy for the prompt response and you couldn't have answered my questions any better.

You are very welcome. I got so much help when my fiance was going thru this and now you pay it forward.