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All Ethiopian 2015 DV Winners Meet Here!

aiguo said:
how or it is when the CO ask where do you plan to go?
Click to expand...

Correct. As soon as the discussion of the host was introduced, the public charge requirement had been considered, along with relatively high education standard, perhaps the appearance of the OP or listed work experience and so on. Those circumstances allowed the CO to judge that the OP was not a danger of becoming a public charge.
 
Britsimon said:
Correct. As soon as the discussion of the host was introduced, the public charge requirement had been considered, along with relatively high education standard, perhaps the appearance of the OP or listed work experience and so on. Those circumstances allowed the CO to judge that the OP was not a danger of becoming a public charge.
Click to expand...
i see
 
God-Is-Love said:
Thanks MB1xxx
Is there any difference in price between online reservation and booking at their office?
I heard one can save $60 if online reservation is made. Is that true?
Click to expand...
Hi God-is-Love, I didn't ask the ticket office about the price if went there with out online booking. In fact, I did the online booking with the understanding that it helps to pay less. As online booking is not a big deal (a matter of 5 to 10 minutes), I suggest that you book do it one day before you go to purchasing the ticket and take the booking code with you.
Emirates site for booking from mobile Phone, for example:
https://mobile.emirates.com/english/CAB/IBE/bookAFlightSearch.xhtml
Good Day
 
Tew said:
Dallas is a much better choice for the reasons stated above. A large Ethiopian community is a big plus.

Other cities with large communities include DC and its surrounding areas in Virginia and Maryland, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, LA, San Francisco suburbs, Seattle, Denver and Minneapolis.
Click to expand...
Hi Tew, can you please comment on Philadelphia with regard to Ethiopian community and other opportunities. Thanks.
 
Here is the detail of my interview.
I arrived at the embassy around 11: 15AM (5:15 Local Time). I was scheduled at 12:00PM. The security guard told me to come back to the gate around 11:50AM. I stayed in a cafe in front of the embassy.

When I had come back, the guard asked me to show him passport and 2NL. I did. He then let me in through the main gate for security check. Having passed through security check, another guard guided me to a wide room where a lot of people were found. The room was full of applicants. I think the day was overloaded because of previous day system failure and holiday rescheduling.

An Ethiopian lady told me to put my original and copy documents in a folder as per a requirement written on a piece of paper. The folder also had another paper which I was expected to sign after reading. I took the folder and arranged my documents as written on the paper. I gave back the folder to the lady and went to my chair.

Having settled my tension, I started to observe everything in the room. There is a playing station for kids. There are 15 windows in the room. They are arranged like a bank counter. The difference is, anybody in the waiting room cannot directly access what is inside the window. The window is fully covered by thick clear glass, except very thin hole around the bottom for papers exchange purpose. There are sound devices inside and outside of the window through which any conversation between inside and outside is made. I thought the windows were only for primary document check, finger prints and visa payment purpose. I thought interviews are done somewhere inside in an office, like interview for employment. But the fact is visa interviews are done in this waiting room. Just like a bank service, there are people in the room waiting for their turn as others are being interviewed. If you follow closely, you can hear every conversation made between the CO and the applicant at a given window.

After an hour, my name had been called to a window where I gave finger prints and got a payment instruction paper. I gave the paper that I had signed earlier to the lady at this window. I pay 330USD (around 6,700 birr) at casher’s window and gave the payment slip back to the lady who had given me the payment instruction paper. Then I had gone back to my chair and started to wait for my name to be called for interview. In the mean time, I was following to others interview.

I heard many successful interviews and saw many happy faces. On the other hand, I also heard many refused cases and saw many “dead” faces. One guy was refused because he was 10+2 vocational school graduate. Another guy was put on AP because he gave different answers for the same question. The CO tried to make him calm and asked him again. Surprisingly he gave another answer. A family of 4 also got denied because the father had not included the entire family member on the original eDV application. He had applied only for himself, but brought all family member for interview. One lady was told to stay in the waiting room because she had no single photo to show the CO. I wonder why he asked a single lady for a family pic.
….. I saw many more…. Two thing impressed me, the first, the COs respectfully try to explain the reason why they refused to grant visas even though the applicants were shouting at them. the second, only primary applicant pay an application fee $330 before the interview. Family members will pay only if visa is approved.

My turn came, and my name got called at a window where a male CO and a lady translator welcome me. Raised my right hand and swore to tell only the truth. Finger prints taken again and interview got started.


CO: welcome

Me: thank you

CO: Can you speak English?

Me: yes

CO: have you ever been married?

Me: …..

CO: do you have kids

Me: …..

CO: What did you do after you finished your high school?

Me: ….

CO: who paid the application fee for you?

Me: me

CO: are you currently working?

Me: yes

CO: do you have any paper from the company you are working for?

Me: yes. I showed him.

CO: who is your sponsor?

Me: …..

CO: congratulation. I approved your visa

Me: Thank you

CO: Send this paper to your sponsor bla bla bla….


I will be happy to answer if you have any questions or need more clarifications.
 
mayils said:
Dear everyone,
Me and my husband read a lot of your posts and it was very helpful. Just signed up today to thank you all and share my experience. Got our visa approved today.

We were scheduled for January 6 first, then re-scheduled to 12th. Because the system at the embassy wasn't working we were told to come on the 14th which is today.

First of all you need to arrive at the embassy at the scheduled time of your interview, may be just 10 minutes before. They won't let you in if you come earlier than that.
After passing security at the gate, you will go straight to the next door. Polite girls will give you a folder that has a list of arrangement for your required documents and a paper with a list of agreements to read and sign. After arranging the documents in the specified order you will return the folder containing your documents to the same girl. She will check if you have all the required documents.
Then you have to sit and wait till your name is called in one of the Windows. Then you will reach the window, they will ask just some questions like if you were married before and take finger print of both your hands. They will give you a paper to pay the 330$ fee only for the principal applicant. No need to pay for all family members before the interview. You will pay for the rest of the family after the interview and if approved, which I thought was thoughtful. Then you pay at the cashier window and take the receipt back to the window you were first called to. Then you get back on your sit and wait for your name to be called again. The waiting is the longest part.

When you are called again you go to another window for the interview. There will be a translator and english speaking person to interview you. You will either choose for the interview to be translated to amharic or just go without the translator in english. You will be asked to raise your right hand swear to tell only the truth. You will give a one hand finger print again.
The questions we faced were
-How do you know each other?
- How long were you together before getting married?
-Do you have kids?
-Who is your sponsors and what is your relationship with them?
-Did anybody assist you in paying the 330$ fee?
- Then she asked if we have pictures with us to see?
Then she told us to pay the fee for me, my husband was the main applicant. We payed and take the receipt to the one who interviewed us and went home with a yellow paper!
Required documents for the interview were
-authenticated birth certificate for every family member with a copy.
- authenticated marriage certificate with two copies.
- police clearence for both of us with no copy.
- Medical conformation paper.
- high school 9-12 transcript with a copy for the principal applicant only, no need to authenticate.
-10th & 12th matric transcript, degree if you have one. Each authenticated and with a copy. Work experience with a copy, no need to authenticate it. This educational documents were required only for the principal applicant. No need for any educational documents for other family members.
- 2 photographs for each family member, printed their full names at the back.
- passports for each family member with a copy of the first 2 pages.
- the appointment letter which is the second one.
- the first congratulations letter.

Hope this was helpful.
Many thanks again!
Click to expand...
Congra mayils. It is good you joined. It is very interesting narration.
 
Britsimon said:
Thanks for posting that - these interview accounts are very useful. That is indeed nice that they ask for the principals fee only to start with.

You had two questions that related to financial support.

The question about the sponsor is the first most obvious one. I assume you listed a host - and that is who the CO meant as your sponsor - correct?
The second question was the one about if anyone helped with the $330. In a poor country even the $330 would be a lot of money, so the way you managed to afford that is relevant.

The answers to these questions can be revealing to the interviewer - and they are experienced in spotting people that are not being truthful...
Click to expand...
Right Britsimon. The COs commonly ask who paid $330, who your sponsor is, the relationship with your sponsor, how long you worked and related financial issues. But it is not common to present AoS. They may ask if they don't get satisfactory answers for the previous questions.
 
God-Is-Love said:
Here is the detail of my interview.
I arrived at the embassy around 11: 15AM (5:15 Local Time). I was scheduled at 12:00PM. The security guard told me to come back to the gate around 11:50AM. I stayed in a cafe in front of the embassy.

When I had come back, the guard asked me to show him passport and 2NL. I did. He then let me in through the main gate for security check. Having passed through security check, another guard guided me to a wide room where a lot of people were found. The room was full of applicants. I think the day was overloaded because of previous day system failure and holiday rescheduling.

An Ethiopian lady told me to put my original and copy documents in a folder as per a requirement written on a piece of paper. The folder also had another paper which I was expected to sign after reading. I took the folder and arranged my documents as written on the paper. I gave back the folder to the lady and went to my chair.

Having settled my tension, I started to observe everything in the room. There is a playing station for kids. There are 15 windows in the room. They are arranged like a bank counter. The difference is, anybody in the waiting room cannot directly access what is inside the window. The window is fully covered by thick clear glass, except very thin hole around the bottom for papers exchange purpose. There are sound devices inside and outside of the window through which any conversation between inside and outside is made. I thought the windows were only for primary document check, finger prints and visa payment purpose. I thought interviews are done somewhere inside in an office, like interview for employment. But the fact is visa interviews are done in this waiting room. Just like a bank service, there are people in the room waiting for their turn as others are being interviewed. If you follow closely, you can hear every conversation made between the CO and the applicant at a given window.

After an hour, my name had been called to a window where I gave finger prints and got a payment instruction paper. I gave the paper that I had signed earlier to the lady at this window. I pay 330USD (around 6,700 birr) at casher’s window and gave the payment slip back to the lady who had given me the payment instruction paper. Then I had gone back to my chair and started to wait for my name to be called for interview. In the mean time, I was following to others interview.

I heard many successful interviews and saw many happy faces. On the other hand, I also heard many refused cases and saw many “dead” faces. One guy was refused because he was 10+2 vocational school graduate. Another guy was put on AP because he gave different answers for the same question. The CO tried to make him calm and asked him again. Surprisingly he gave another answer. A family of 4 also got denied because the father had not included the entire family member on the original eDV application. He had applied only for himself, but brought all family member for interview. One lady was told to stay in the waiting room because she had no single photo to show the CO. I wonder why he asked a single lady for a family pic.
….. I saw many more…. Two thing impressed me, the first, the COs respectfully try to explain the reason why they refused to grant visas even though the applicants were shouting at them. the second, only primary applicant pay an application fee $330 before the interview. Family members will pay only if visa is approved.

My turn came, and my name got called at a window where a male CO and a lady translator welcome me. Raised my right hand and swore to tell only the truth. Finger prints taken again and interview got started.


CO: welcome

Me: thank you

CO: Can you speak English?

Me: yes

CO: have you ever been married?

Me: …..

CO: do you have kids

Me: …..

CO: What did you do after you finished your high school?

Me: ….

CO: who paid the application fee for you?

Me: me

CO: are you currently working?

Me: yes

CO: do you have any paper from the company you are working for?

Me: yes. I showed him.

CO: who is your sponsor?

Me: …..

CO: congratulation. I approved your visa

Me: Thank you

CO: Send this paper to your sponsor bla bla bla….


I will be happy to answer if you have any questions or need more clarifications.
Click to expand...

wow. it is interesting how the CO also ask for prove of work. so what did you show as a prove of work from your company? It is also interesting to say that people who are not part of this forum and not well informed get refused for an obvious disqualification.
 
Last edited:
koket said:
finally visa approved for my wife and me.
ohhhhh thanks God!!

the interview was so simple
co: good afternoon?
me:good afternoon
co:can you speak English
me:yes
co:call your wife please
me: ok she is coming
co:can you speak English?
wife:yes
both my wife & i was at the window
co:how long have you been together with marriage?
me:.......
co:tell me about education level?
me:B.sc degree .........
co:where did you attend?
me:........university
co:where did you attend your high school?
me:from 9-10 ........& from 11-12 ......
co:where do you plan to go?
me:.........state
co:why?
me: because my host is there
then the co excuse us & left and come back after one minute
then he said congratulations your visa has been approved. he ask to pay for my wife the visa fee.then we payed and come back & he gave yellow paper.

that all our interview experience.
try to answer with confidence.

remember the co didn't ask anything related to financial proof.
Click to expand...
Congra koket. January is really bright. Thank God.
 
aiguo said:
wow. it is interesting how the CO also ask for prove of work. so what did you show as a prove of work from your company?
Click to expand...
Thanks aiguo.
I think the CO wanted to know my financial status by checking how long I have worked. Many years work experience indicates high amount of saving. I had a work experience certificate from my office. I showed that and he said "good"
 
God-Is-Love said:
Here is the detail of my interview.
I arrived at the embassy around 11: 15AM (5:15 Local Time). I was scheduled at 12:00PM. The security guard told me to come back to the gate around 11:50AM. I stayed in a cafe in front of the embassy.

When I had come back, the guard asked me to show him passport and 2NL. I did. He then let me in through the main gate for security check. Having passed through security check, another guard guided me to a wide room where a lot of people were found. The room was full of applicants. I think the day was overloaded because of previous day system failure and holiday rescheduling.

An Ethiopian lady told me to put my original and copy documents in a folder as per a requirement written on a piece of paper. The folder also had another paper which I was expected to sign after reading. I took the folder and arranged my documents as written on the paper. I gave back the folder to the lady and went to my chair.

Having settled my tension, I started to observe everything in the room. There is a playing station for kids. There are 15 windows in the room. They are arranged like a bank counter. The difference is, anybody in the waiting room cannot directly access what is inside the window. The window is fully covered by thick clear glass, except very thin hole around the bottom for papers exchange purpose. There are sound devices inside and outside of the window through which any conversation between inside and outside is made. I thought the windows were only for primary document check, finger prints and visa payment purpose. I thought interviews are done somewhere inside in an office, like interview for employment. But the fact is visa interviews are done in this waiting room. Just like a bank service, there are people in the room waiting for their turn as others are being interviewed. If you follow closely, you can hear every conversation made between the CO and the applicant at a given window.

After an hour, my name had been called to a window where I gave finger prints and got a payment instruction paper. I gave the paper that I had signed earlier to the lady at this window. I pay 330USD (around 6,700 birr) at casher’s window and gave the payment slip back to the lady who had given me the payment instruction paper. Then I had gone back to my chair and started to wait for my name to be called for interview. In the mean time, I was following to others interview.

I heard many successful interviews and saw many happy faces. On the other hand, I also heard many refused cases and saw many “dead” faces. One guy was refused because he was 10+2 vocational school graduate. Another guy was put on AP because he gave different answers for the same question. The CO tried to make him calm and asked him again. Surprisingly he gave another answer. A family of 4 also got denied because the father had not included the entire family member on the original eDV application. He had applied only for himself, but brought all family member for interview. One lady was told to stay in the waiting room because she had no single photo to show the CO. I wonder why he asked a single lady for a family pic.
….. I saw many more…. Two thing impressed me, the first, the COs respectfully try to explain the reason why they refused to grant visas even though the applicants were shouting at them. the second, only primary applicant pay an application fee $330 before the interview. Family members will pay only if visa is approved.

My turn came, and my name got called at a window where a male CO and a lady translator welcome me. Raised my right hand and swore to tell only the truth. Finger prints taken again and interview got started.


CO: welcome

Me: thank you

CO: Can you speak English?

Me: yes

CO: have you ever been married?

Me: …..

CO: do you have kids

Me: …..

CO: What did you do after you finished your high school?

Me: ….

CO: who paid the application fee for you?

Me: me

CO: are you currently working?

Me: yes

CO: do you have any paper from the company you are working for?

Me: yes. I showed him.

CO: who is your sponsor?

Me: …..

CO: congratulation. I approved your visa

Me: Thank you

CO: Send this paper to your sponsor bla bla bla….


I will be happy to answer if you have any questions or need more clarifications.
Click to expand...
thanks hun
 
God-Is-Love said:
Thanks aiguo.
I think the CO wanted to know my financial status by checking how long I have worked. Many years work experience indicates high amount of saving. I had a work experience certificate from my office. I showed that and he said "good"
Click to expand...
how long was your experience ??
 
MB1xxx said:
Hi God-is-Love, I didn't ask the ticket office about the price if went there with out online booking. In fact, I did the online booking with the understanding that it helps to pay less. As online booking is not a big deal (a matter of 5 to 10 minutes), I suggest that you book do it one day before you go to purchasing the ticket and take the booking code with you.
Emirates site for booking from mobile Phone, for example:
https://mobile.emirates.com/english/CAB/IBE/bookAFlightSearch.xhtml
Good Day
Click to expand...
Thanks @MB1xxx. Your advice really helps.
 
mayils said:
Dear everyone,
Me and my husband read a lot of your posts and it was very helpful. Just signed up today to thank you all and share my experience. Got our visa approved today.

We were scheduled for January 6 first, then re-scheduled to 12th. Because the system at the embassy wasn't working we were told to come on the 14th which is today.

First of all you need to arrive at the embassy at the scheduled time of your interview, may be just 10 minutes before. They won't let you in if you come earlier than that.
After passing security at the gate, you will go straight to the next door. Polite girls will give you a folder that has a list of arrangement for your required documents and a paper with a list of agreements to read and sign. After arranging the documents in the specified order you will return the folder containing your documents to the same girl. She will check if you have all the required documents.
Then you have to sit and wait till your name is called in one of the Windows. Then you will reach the window, they will ask just some questions like if you were married before and take finger print of both your hands. They will give you a paper to pay the 330$ fee only for the principal applicant. No need to pay for all family members before the interview. You will pay for the rest of the family after the interview and if approved, which I thought was thoughtful. Then you pay at the cashier window and take the receipt back to the window you were first called to. Then you get back on your sit and wait for your name to be called again. The waiting is the longest part.

When you are called again you go to another window for the interview. There will be a translator and english speaking person to interview you. You will either choose for the interview to be translated to amharic or just go without the translator in english. You will be asked to raise your right hand swear to tell only the truth. You will give a one hand finger print again.
The questions we faced were
-How do you know each other?
- How long were you together before getting married?
-Do you have kids?
-Who is your sponsors and what is your relationship with them?
-Did anybody assist you in paying the 330$ fee?
- Then she asked if we have pictures with us to see?
Then she told us to pay the fee for me, my husband was the main applicant. We payed and take the receipt to the one who interviewed us and went home with a yellow paper!
Required documents for the interview were
-authenticated birth certificate for every family member with a copy.
- authenticated marriage certificate with two copies.
- police clearence for both of us with no copy.
- Medical conformation paper.
- high school 9-12 transcript with a copy for the principal applicant only, no need to authenticate.
-10th & 12th matric transcript, degree if you have one. Each authenticated and with a copy. Work experience with a copy, no need to authenticate it. This educational documents were required only for the principal applicant. No need for any educational documents for other family members.
- 2 photographs for each family member, printed their full names at the back.
- passports for each family member with a copy of the first 2 pages.
- the appointment letter which is the second one.
- the first congratulations letter.

Hope this was helpful.
Many thanks again!
Click to expand...
shall we bring DS-260 confirmation page to interview?
 
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