GhLove

I absolutely HATE that our fiance's are coming from a "High Fraud" area... Sometimes I'm thinking, why couldnt he have just been from England or somewhere...lol But that wouldn't have worked because I absolutely LOVE Ghana, and him being from Ghana is probably the reason he is so honest, respectful, humble and responsible (which are all the reasons why I'm CRAZY about him). So I guess we are stuck dealing with petty issues like this. But I agree, if it at all apears like you are already married... Dont do it. I was thinking of including a picture of me in my Bridal gown (yes, I already bought it.. I know I know) just to show proof that we are planning a wedding. But I changed my mind when I thought about the fact that it may easily look like we have ALREADY had the wedding. So I guess its just the game that we gotta play for now. May Allah reward us greatly for this struggle.

Thank you all for your comments and advice!
You are right that it could have been much worse. He wasn't badly injured and they got his bag, but they failed to take his phone or his money. The embassy let him in with just the police report, and the officer was very sympathetic and told him to get his new passport and a new police certificate and come back on June 15 for the visa!! The CO didn't say anything about the medical, but he gave him a yellow form that also has the medical on it. and they didn't give him back his birth certificate, so Babs has to work on that in order to get the passport.
Ironically, he just missed being robbed earlier in the week in the buses from the north. His bus was right behind those that were robbed, and they were warned in time to avoid it. Then he meets armed robbers right on the road on his way to the embassy anyway.
He's a little shaken up, but I think we're going to be okay. Such a mix of emotions between 1 a.m. and now! But good to remember that God owns the day and the night.
Jen and Babs

I've been trying since last Wednesday to get an interview appointment date in Ghana....Did everything they said and still keep hitting brick walls....This is all so wrong, the interview date should have been in the packet when it was picked up on March 30th as they stated it would be on the email. No body communicated this new process to us. Visa fee paid and we have the DS160 confirmation # number and we still can't get an interview date. This is so messed up and I'm tired of wasting my money on the phone trying to get people to understand what I'm saying and when they finally get it, they tell you to contact the embassy. The embassy doesn't want to talk to anyone!!!!

wait in line like the rest of us i served this country for 7 years, risked my life in iraq, and still have to do the same thing everyone else does. hope this helps

Check your local and state tenant laws before proceeding. Every state and/or jurisdiction has a set of laws that pertain to the rights of tenants. You need to know what they are, to avoid the risk of a lawsuit for unlawfully forcing a roommate to evacuate your apartment or house.
Read more: How to Evict a Roommate | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1HRLTcn6c
For example, in Maryland:
Source
Just because it doesn't sound right - doesn't mean there isn't a law out there to deal with it.
I agree with everyone else saying to contact ICE - it could put your own immigration status in jeopardy.

Venting is good and healthy. It won't be long until you are together.

Best wishes to you & your Family on moving forward and asking for another date via email to the Embassy. May God double your increase & favour.

sorry to hear this and you should do just that email them and ask for an earlier date these embassies are getting out of control as to how they are talking and treating people.....Good Luck

When we first met he was working in another country that is how he was able to go to school and have a few dollars to live off of while in school. While he was in school and after finishing school, he has been doing a little side work helping locals with computer systems, reformatting computer, making web pages, stuff like that. He says now since the holidays, things are kind of slow and people don't want to pay him for his work that he has already done. For weeks he has been trying to collect money for work he has done back in December. Clients that he has helped in the past tell him they have no work for him. He graduated from a computer school in Nigeria last year, and I take it the next step after you complete the program is that the school helps the student to get a visa to either Malaysia, Australia, or the United Kingdom to obtain a BSC..I guess this is equivalent to a Bachelor degree in the states. Up until this point, he has never asked me for money and when I have gone to visit him in the past he has taken care of things financially. So now that he is in a financial situation,(which I don't think is a major financial crisis) he thinks I should pay his bills since he can't follow through on his plans to finish his schooling. He says he does not want to withdraw the visa petition, and he wants to continue the relationship, but if he does not have a interview date in the next couple of weeks he is leaving. I told him in my eyes he is abandoning the application. I keep telling him we are at the final stages, but he does not want to hear that. I just want him to be a man, suck it up, and sacrifice. I do not want to be an enabler, and I want him to find away instead of running to me for money; especially since all his needs are taken care ( food, clothing, etc). He is not going hungry, and he has a roof over his head. I tell him to ask his friends. He says no because he don't not want them to know about his current situation. So I take it he does not need money bad enough since he won't ask nobody but me.
I know when the visa is approved I will have to support him until all the paperwork is completed and he finds a job, but I believe this situation is different because we will have bills as husband and wife.

Medicaid is not affected by racial status...

If you follow my posts I am the one who asked that Vermont filers to wait 'til the weather changes up north before they confirm a "standstill". Also, the reason we get so nervous is that Vermont had totally stopped processing petitions for about three months in a row. We are afraid of this happening again!
I read some old posts of VJ from a few years back. I've found that Vermont has been the fastest among all the Service Centers, and I believe that was the reason they dumped all those TPS files on them. Yes, they may get ahead of Cali. but, no one can really tell what will happen because they are very inconsistent about everything.

Lots of approvals today, but mostly from August. I'm starting to wonder if they lost my petition lol. D:

America is going through a hard time now but it has before and it will again. There are ups and downs everywhere. It is all how you make of it though. I am making a little more than half of what I used to but some of it is my fault as I don't work as much as I used to and want to come home more often to spend with my babe.
I also used to tell my now wife how hard it could be here so she wouldn't expect it as a easy time here with little effort. She knew it beforehand but I just wanted to make sure she knew. She has since finished school and we have stared a business for her and she has thrived. I thought it would take a couple of years to get where she is at now and in less half the time because she works so hard at it. She makes it look effortless though and seems like she is having fun. We did both talk for a long time and made it a goal of ours to try to have fun in life at all times. Of course we work but somehow we always enjoy ourselves.
I will say that her first few months was tough though and my heart broke at her seeming to struggle with so much coming her way. I could only help her so much but she somehow survived it all and it was all her doing.
There will be obstacles when you get here but just realize that they are only there for a set time and get over and around them. Eventually it will all be easier for you. You will start finding your niche and being more comfortable and after it is all said and done the memories will be there to remind you of what can be accomplished. The best thing about over here is that you can succeed here if you want and put the effort in. The main thing is that you have found someone you love and even though there may be sacrifices on both sides that love can only become stronger. Looking at it that way then who cares if there are few minor annoyances that are there as they can be overcome.

I actually have been telling my fiance the same thing. And as Ghanaluv said its just to let him know the reality of what to expect. There are alot of issues in the U.S. other than finance, such as discrimination and alot less communial/caring society. It's not as family oriented either. Some Africans immigrate here and totally loose sense of family, values, and etc. People loose their kids to drugs, street life, etc.
To be honest I LOVE GHANA!!! and I was born in the U.S. everytime I go to Ghana I leave in TEARS (even before I met my fiance). Just for the fact that there are so many people are very loving and genuine in Ghana. and no one looks down on you because you are "black". The U.S. is very competitive and many Americans are very selfish, rude, and MEAN. America is a country more geared towards productivity and profit. Bottom line. Most people don't have time to be concerned for others. The stress levels and mental health issues tends to be higher in the U.S. than most third world countries, because many of us are so focues on working that we loose sight of what's really important. For example:
"There’s no argument that Monterrey, Mexico has serious problems like malnutrition, lack of education, high levels of corruption, poor civic development and questionable governance. And yet despite these seemingly immense hurdles, studies reported the highest level of happiness in the Americas during the year of our most exhaustive research (2008). Explanations include the happiness boost they receive from the high number of hours of sunlight; the personal sense of freedom of choice they experience; they nurture laughter; they intuitively understand the importance of social interaction; and they put their family first and appreciate the good around them."
For these reasons, I miss Ghana everyday! I feel so free there... In 10 years I'm planning to finish my military career and relocate to Ghana for good... We have a goal and that's what keeps me going. With all that being said, there are alot of opprotunities here. I believe most Ghanaians who come here do very well. They save their money and return back to GH to invest their intelligence, talents, and resources back into their homeland. Some adapt and stay. I think it all depends on what you value most. But for the moment, try to focus on the fact that you are building your life with your fiance. And you can get through everything if you support each other. It is not always easy... but what in life is?

I actually have been telling my fiance the same thing. And as Ghanaluv said its just to let him know the reality of what to expect. There are alot of issues in the U.S. other than finance, such as discrimination and alot less communial/caring society. It's not as family oriented either. Some Africans immigrate here and totally loose sense of family, values, and etc. People loose their kids to drugs, street life, etc.
To be honest I LOVE GHANA!!! and I was born in the U.S. everytime I go to Ghana I leave in TEARS (even before I met my fiance). Just for the fact that there are so many people are very loving and genuine in Ghana. and no one looks down on you because you are "black". The U.S. is very competitive and many Americans are very selfish, rude, and MEAN. America is a country more geared towards productivity and profit. Bottom line. Most people don't have time to be concerned for others. The stress levels and mental health issues tends to be higher in the U.S. than most third world countries, because many of us are so focues on working that we loose sight of what's really important. For example:
"There’s no argument that Monterrey, Mexico has serious problems like malnutrition, lack of education, high levels of corruption, poor civic development and questionable governance. And yet despite these seemingly immense hurdles, studies reported the highest level of happiness in the Americas during the year of our most exhaustive research (2008). Explanations include the happiness boost they receive from the high number of hours of sunlight; the personal sense of freedom of choice they experience; they nurture laughter; they intuitively understand the importance of social interaction; and they put their family first and appreciate the good around them."
For these reasons, I miss Ghana everyday! I feel so free there... In 10 years I'm planning to finish my military career and relocate to Ghana for good... We have a goal and that's what keeps me going. With all that being said, there are alot of opprotunities here. I believe most Ghanaians who come here do very well. They save their money and return back to GH to invest their intelligence, talents, and resources back into their homeland. Some adapt and stay. I think it all depends on what you value most. But for the moment, try to focus on the fact that you are building your life with your fiance. And you can get through everything if you support each other. It is not always easy... but what in life is?

I understand everyone's frustration and feel it is justified. At the same time, I am happy for anyone who can be relieved from the miserable feeling I've had waiting on an NOA2 for over six months. They say miserly loves company, but in this case, I wouldnt wish this pain on my worst enemy. Congrats and good luck in the rest of your journey.

Back in July, people were not frustrated and angry like they are now.
While we all know that we should support one another, it is easier said than done when people are at their wits end trying to get a life changing event over and done with.
There is no doubt that this approval was excellent news for the OP, and I don't blame him for taking what was handed to him and running with it. I would have done the same thing, and I think that more people than are willing to admit would have done likewise.
But this is a controversial topic that directly affects the lives of people who post here, so it should not surprise anyone that this turned into a controversial thread.

The priorities of the Service Center? The needs of the state? What kind of ####### is this?
What happened to the needs of the citizens?
Or are we truly in George Orwell's 1984?
What petitions are they processing? Not any of ours, that's for sure.

I have been reading this thread, and I'm keeping quiet because there is nothing I can say that will be of any value to anybody.
So don't let me disturb anyone. Keep on posting, and I'll keep on reading.

Baiting.. ha!! Al's the man and I love his comments..
Personally, after reading your posts Id be thankful if you kept all your comments to yourself.. but thats not the world we live in is it now..
Again, and please focus.. IM VERY happy for those who get approved early.. its brill news!!

Is it just me or is anyone else worried where Al422 is? Come on Al, Ill bet you are practically munching your lip trying to keep quiet..
Congratulations on your quick approval.. Ill be nothing but happy for anyone who gets approved so quick.. It does again however highlight how f***d up this system is.. All the very best to you both..

Yes soooo happy for you, (grits teeth and refrains from punching a hole through the wall).

VERY well said. I am very happy for the OP to have only 16 days wait time, however...he lives and works in the Dominican Republic not Haiti...doesn't it seem like ALL Dominican residents should be given the same awesome treatment? Just saying as this topic hits close to home for those of us who have our loved ones in the Dominican Republic.
Congratulations again

Excuse me? I am plenty happy for all the people who have been patiently waiting in line to be approved and I'm happy these people got approved as well along with everyone else here. I'm rightfully upset there is broken system that seems to be like a visa lottery rather than an actual system based on fairness. Have you ever been to China? My fiance is visiting her parents for Chinese New Year and sleeping in a shack with no heat, no bathroom, no kitchen, no shower and sleeping in a bed with her mother and adult sister while her father sleeps on the floor. People in China are every bit as bad off as the Haitians, and on top of that she's stated he doesn't even live there he lives in the Dominican Republic. I don't need some otaku calling my character into question that has never even met me. I feel everyone should wait their turn and visas filed in order and I think that speaks higher of my character than those like you who publicly claim they have no objection to someone being processed 5 months before them for no good reason. Piss off.

Your comment is uncalled for and insensitive. He *did* congratulate this lucky couple and then express his justified frustration honestly. And for that you publicly question his character? This type of community will best serve the members if we try to be compassionate and comfort those who are feeling frustrated, not by knocking them down at a time when we all are already vulnerable.