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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Mar 2007 : 14:25:37
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US CONSULAR CHRIS ZIMMER SPEAKS TO THE PRESS
By Sarjo Camara-Singhateh & Amie Sanneh
The Consular at the United States Embassy, Mr. Chris Zimmer, held a media tour of the Gambian Press on the 14th of March 2007. Mr. Chris Zimmer said the reason for this tour is to inform the public that visa application has now been switched to online electronic application which applicants can use to apply by visiting the Embassy’s website on www.Usembassybanjul.gm.
He stated that the following are required: passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival in the US; completed application form D5-156 and form D5-157; one passport size photograph, size 5*5cm, full face with a light background preferably (white); a receipt for the non-refundable visa application fee of US$100 paid in Gambian Dalasis at Standard Chartered Bank.
He said the additional requirements for suggested documents are listed by visa type on the reverse side. “The suggested documents are often useful to show that applicants have strong ties to The Gambia that would compel them to return home after a temporary stay in the US,” he said. He said other documents required by visa type that non-Gambians must present are Gambian residency documents at the time of interview. Those applicants must bring expired passport for review.
He said in most cases, the consular office can make a decision on eligibility for a non-immigrant visa at the time of interview in a few cases, however, applicants might be requested to return with additional document before a final decision can be made.
He said once the Consular Office reaches a final decision, one of the following would be communicated to the applicant:
(a) You qualify for a visa and are asked to return the next day to collect your passport and visa.
(b) You do not qualify and you receive a letter that explains the reason for your ineligibility for a visa and your passport is returned; you may always reapply for a visa at a later date.
Mr. Zimmer said that in 2005-2006 about 6036 applications applied for a US visa but only 2737 succeeded. He said about 33 people were caught using faked identities in the past year. He said the most popular destination for visa applicants are New York, Maryland, Seattle, Atlanta, Detroit and. He said the records they have on students are as follows: in 2002, 1056 visa issued; 667 students lost or abandoned their students status; 349 students still in school’ 55 students completed a course of study and only 6 students who they verify returned to The Gambia.
The Consular spoke on numerous fraud cases which he said, he is working closely with the immigration and the police to halt. He further stated that some women do obtain visa on other grounds while in the real fact they just go to deliver their children in the US which is not acceptable. He said other frauds include marriage fraud, inappropriate business activities, concealing American children or family members, to name a few.
Mr. Zimmer urged Gambian parents with American children to educate their children. He said many a time a child of 17 years does thump print their forms/passports without the ability to sign, which he said is very ridiculous. In response to the question from the press the consular said, his office is here to facilitate easy travelling of American citizens, and for Gambians who have good reason to travel or to go and read skills that cannot be easily found in The Gambia.
He urged Gambians with US Citizenship to register them to the Embassy. He said his office gives two types of passport to US Citizens that is the Emergency passport and the National passport. He said the Emergency passport is for Repatriation Child Abduction, Warden Messages, arrests, deaths and evacuation.
The consular further stated that the non-refundable fees are used to facilitate all the expenses of the Consular Department and its programmes. The Visa Assistant, Ms. Mary Rose Gomez, did a demonstration on how to fill the visa application on line, to the press.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 32/2007, 16 – 18 March 2007
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