Hello fellow house members, I had my interview yesterday but before I give you the details, let me tell you my fears before the day of the Interview. This is going to be quite long but will help some pple in the house.
1. Mixed up of my first and middle name: I played the DV using my middle name as first and when I got to know about this forum, I discovered that it could be an issue during interview. I discussed it with the house and I was asked to inform KCC about it which I did. I was given the normal response of them not being able to change my original entry but writing the correct name when filling my forms. I did that.
2. I made a mistake in my husband’s year of birth when entering for the DV. I wrote ‘2006’ instead of ‘2007’. This I also shared with the house. At this point a lot of pple suggested my husband should do a new passport but because he had appeared at the embassy twice (2004 & 2005) using the same passport, we discovered they will find him out thru his fingerprint on the day of interview and that could mean disaster. So, instead, I informed KCC and when mailing my forms back to KCC, I included a copy of the Data Page of my Husband’s Int. Passport and birth certificate to proof his real age and ascertain that it was an honest mistake.
3. My WAEC Certificate carries only my First and Surname – without my Middle name. At first I didn’t bother but when some pple started mentioning this in the house, it became a thing of concern for me and I was not ready to go thru the stress of going to WAEC so I kept mute abt it.
4. The last was the issue of my Birth Certificate, which I registered with my Husband’s name and not my maiden name. Abt 3 wks to my Interview, someone asked a question relating to that and Modest advised she uses her maiden name. It was like a bombshell to me cos I went as far as Minna, Niger state to register my birth with NPC (I stay in Lag) and to think that I will have to redo another one, GOD. I shared this with the house and Modest advised that I do another one. By now I already knew I could do it in Lag and I decided (telling the house) that I was ready to waste N5,000 rather than wasting $1510. But just at the nick of time, I sent JRCIES a private mail telling her my plight and this was her response “You did the right thing, so relax”. This was a healing balm to me cos she had undergone the process b4 as a married FEMALE winner, so I knew she responded from experience.
Now, please read on my Interview that lasted for as looooooooooonnnnnnng as 5min.
We got to the Embassy at about 10 past 6am and was called to line up at about 6:30am. As usual we were checked in and at about 7:05 we were already seated in the hall. My husband made the payment and the sitting exercise continued. At abt 9am, we were called to Window 9. Here our documents were collected and we went back to our seats. Now the long & nervous wait began. Mostly, pple were called to window 12 (IV & DV) and because of what I’ve heard abt the lady from this forum, which my husband also confirmed (she was the one who interviewed him in 2004 & 2005, he was denied on both occasions), I dreaded being interviewed by her.
At 4:05pm, we were called to window 11 and below is our conversation: -
Me: Good afternoon (with all smiles)
Window 11: Good afternoon. Please lift up your right hand bla bla bla,
We did that and he took our finger print.
Window 11: What is you name?
Me: Xxxx Yyyy Zzzz
Window 11: Your husband’s name?
Me: I told him
Window 11: Date of birth (for the both of us one after the other)
Me: I told him
Window 11: So u did WAEC in 199x (looking at my Certificate)
Me: Yes
Window 11: How old were u then?
Me: 10+x
Window 11: So what was your best course?
Me: Food & Nut (He smiled)
Window 11: And what is your best course now?
Me: Am not in school any longer so I don’t have a best course (we all laughed).
Window 11: So u obtained other qualifications (Now looking at my credentials).
Me: Yes
Window 11: Whats the topic of your Project at the end of it all
Me: Significance of Small Scale Industries to the Economy…….
Window 11: So what is Small Scale?
Me: I told him in two lines
Window 11: (Now to my husband) You appeared at the Embassy in 2004 & 2005.
Husband: Yes
Window 11: What did u apply for?
Husband: he told him
Window 11: How many times have u been married?
Husband: Once
Window 11: But in 2005 you stated that you were married
Husband: NO!
He asked this question about 3 more times telling him that it was the reason he gave as a proof that he would come back to the Country. At this point I was almost shaky and I was trying to tell my husband to try and remember (Of course I knew he was never married but he could use it just as the white guy said). Seeing my expression while talking with my husband, the guy replied….
Window 11: hey, relax man, I was only puling your legs.
At this point, we all busted out laughing. I was more relaxed.
Window 11: I only wanted to know if you are using her cos she won since you have been denied twice.
He faced his computer and started to type and that was it. None of my errors were mentioned.
This is quite long but I prefer writing every thing at once since I have the time rather than giving you pple a Part 1 & then Part 2 and maybe Part 3 of my Interview Experience.
Pple have been talking abt favour but I experienced it yesterday and I pray this same favour to the life of everyone who is yet to have his/her own Interview.
Once again, thanks to this forum, thanks to Modest, Jrcies and everyone who helped out, God bless you all.