Ranaty2002’s Experience
My interview was schedule for 8am. I got to the embassy around 6:30am. Since work at d embassy had not started, we waited under a tree where other Visa applicants were. My husband rushed to a breakfast joint to get me hot cocoa drink and bread.
About 7:30am, the guards at the embassy called us to form a queue. We were about 56th and 57th in the queue. One of the security men started inspecting our appointment letters. When he got to me, I told him I had a new baby so he allowed me to jump the queue. so I was the first DV applicant to enter the embassy’s compound but my husband was asked to stay behind to go through security checks. Finally, my husband joined me in the main compound. We waited till when all the DV applicants entered. For about 25min waiting, a white American and a Ghanaian came to talk to the DV applicants. The white man spoke to us about the instructions, how one could postpone the interview, the consequences of presenting fake documents and how one is qualified i.e. either by education or by job experience.
He made us aware that the easiest way to qualify is by education and that we needed 5 passes (E) including English and Mathematics in SSSCE/WASSCE (WAEC). He said few people have been able to qualify with job. After all the talks, we were given two forms, one is to just thick the appropriate fields (married before the online registration, married after online entry, whether you have children or not, qualifying with education or job)and another to is fill in your name and number of people you want to pay for the visa.
My baby started crying as soon as the officers started talking to us. So the man said to me, because of the cry of my baby he would treat me special. So I was the first to be handed the forms and they called one of the guards to find us a place in the interview hall to sit and fill the form whilst others were asked to stay outside and fill the forms. They asked my husband to fill it on my behalf. My husband filled the form and went and paid $819x2($1,638) in cedis (GH¢2,457).Members don’t be disappointed, because we couldn’t raise enough cash to pay for my baby because we paid huge hospital bills the previous week and did not want to postpone the interview.
After the payment, we were asked to sit. All this while, no DV applicant had entered the interview hall apart from my husband and I. having waited for about 25mins, The Ghanaian who came with the white man to talk to us outside, called my husband (beneficiary) to present our documents. When the documents were given to the man, he gave my husband back most of the documents(copy of the police certificates, all my educational certificates except my SSSCE(WAEC),all my husband’s certificates, photocopy of my husband’s passport etc).
When my husband was presenting the document, this is what transpired between the man (not a consular officer) and my husband.
Man: are u ready to answer questions on behalf of your wife?
Husband: Yes
Man: When did u marry?
Husband: ## Jan 20##
Man: Where do you live?
Husband: #########
Man: Do you have pictures of your marriage ceremony?
Husband: Yes
My husband came and picked our album full of pictures of our traditional marriage, pre marital pictures and post marital pictures.
Man: Opened two or three pages. Go and sit down and help stop your baby from crying. The consular officer will call your wife for the actual interview.
Husband: Thank you.
We sat for sometime and were called again to come and take the finger prints. We did, and came to sit again.
We sat for about 30min (at this point the baby had stopped crying). Then, I heard my name to report at window 5.
The baby started crying
CO: Good morning.
US: Good Morning Sir,
CO: Give the baby to your husband and put your middle finger on that machine
Me: I did
CO: Gentleman, give the baby to your wife and put your middle finger on the machine
Husband: did it.
He took finger prints of our middle fingers
CO: Before I start the interview I want to ask this question, would like to go with the baby or leave her behind?
Me: I would like to go with her but I don’t have the fee. So I will go, settle down and come for her.
CO: Note that your can only come her after 5 years.
Me: Ok
CO: Give the baby to your husband
He asked my husband to sit
CO: So, u r a …………?
Me: Yes
CO: do you give vaccinations?
Me: Yes
CO: What vaccinations?
Me:######, #######, ######
CO: how long have you been doing this job?
Me: 2 years
CO: When did you marry?
Me:## Jan 20##
CO: Is the man who was here the father of your child?
Me: Yes
He smiled
CO: Do you have a picture of you when you were pregnant?
(He had already opened that picture in the album)
Me: Yes
CO: so r u the one standing there?
Me: Yes
CO: Congratulations, You’ve passed; give me your phone number.
Me: Thank u, Thank u, and Thank u.
He gave a blue sheet with my name, collection date and time on it
Though I got married after entering the lottery, he did not ask my husband any questions.
I collected the visa collection sheet, took my bag, started smiling and moved towards my husband. Other applicant started congratulating me.
Now a big shout, America here we come. Oooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!
My prayer
My lord, the way you did for me, I pray that you do same unto my forum members.
Let the forum members who are yet to go for their interview, to have it much easier than mine, In Jesus Name.
Amen.