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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Jun 2006 : 22:38:03
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This is no surprise at all and is barely news.....
Even on my small scale, when I go to a village even the arkala comes with his hand held out begging for money. This is even though he knows I am doing good for the people of the village.....
I find it very insulting. In these situations I give them the absloute minimum to comply with what is expected...... sending a loud and clear message I am not hapPy with being asked! |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2006 : 23:34:42
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Still, if people have so little i can understand they would hope for something from you. I sympathise with the alkalo but not with the president because he
has more than enough means to finance his election campaign.
To get back to the topic: when my friend was refused a tourist visa last year, i phoned the (Dutch) embassy in Dakar asking them why the visa was refused. I was told that they were not sure about our relationship because my letter of invitation was very 'businesslike'. The lady i talked to told me some surprising stories about european tourists inviting a Gambian 'friend' even after their first holiday there and without knowing this person very well. Sometimes these 'holidays' became downright disasters and the Gambian visitor would run away in desperation from his/her 'guestfamily', in some cases never to be heard from again. Now,the Dutch (and probably also the British) government doesn't want people staying in the country illegally and without papers. But somehow i could also hear in the lady's answers her concern for the visitor - would this person be allright and taken well care of, so that there would be no reason for him or her to disappear?
Anyway, i wrote a more personal and pleading letter (with all these things you must forget your liking for privacy from time to time) and the tourist visa was granted. My friend flew back on the agreed date and three months later we applied for a permit of residence. He has been living here in Holland with me since April last.
Sometimes it pays to contact the embassy directly and ask them what they expect and what you can do to enhance the chances for getting a visa.
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When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2006 : 23:39:22
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Moongarden, I would just like to re-iterate to you the importance of making yourself available on your landline at YOUR HOME ADDRESS as given on your invitation/support letter during the day of interview. A call is made from the High Comm. department to your UK home to verify your availability at the address and telephone number. It does ask you to make yourself available on the form as you may be contacted.
As far back as 1994 when visas were not required, we were contacted by phone.
A visa requirement came into effect Oct 1994.
I feel you mis-understood my meaning of a letter to the High Commissioner. Your supporting letter is to The High Commissioner and it SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE APPLICATION FORM not sent directly by yourself.
New rules came in 1st November 2005 and have been updated on the site given to you by Sharon.
sab.......
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2006 : 01:10:30
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quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
This is no surprise at all and is barely news.....
Even on my small scale, when I go to a village even the arkala comes with his hand held out begging for money. This is even though he knows I am doing good for the people of the village.....
I find it very insulting. In these situations I give them the absloute minimum to comply with what is expected...... sending a loud and clear message I am not hapPy with being asked!
Tell us something positive about Gambia??? You are welcome to pioneer any project or programme for humanitarian reasons but stop castigating that society. Deal with those corrupt individuals privately and exposed them to the concern authorities rather than making sweeping statements. I have not seen anything progressive coming fromn you. Lets wait and see by tomorrow more and more degradation of individuals and society would be coming from your comments and contributions in this forum.
You thought that report posted is for you to react. Deal with your humanist topic (which is getting stale) to educate us and leave us to do our homework properly and deal with our own political problems if you cannot provide us with renedies. What benefits do we have on your contributions through this topic about visa apart from diverting to corruption and exposing your egoes; "me and me,I am I am, my guide, my chiildren, my photo, all the time and giving good impression about yourself only with due respect"!!!!! |
Edited by - kobo on 21 Jun 2006 01:19:10 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2006 : 07:13:47
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| My experience is negative. He was refused his visa to study in England. We are now waiting a while and then will try again. Perhaps for study in 2008? He has to be very patient and I get very frustrated and angry on his behalf. |
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moongarden
United Kingdom
38 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2006 : 17:35:36
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thanks again for the advice.
Sharon do the immigration advice service also deal with visitors visas? what is making me really mad is that we are only talking about two weeks visit and i am going to be back in september/october time for a few months this time to work on some projects together.
jambo maybe if not successful this time we will try to visit at Christmas not really suitable weather for a first time visitor to the UK though brrr! (not really suitable weather for me either ha ha)
anna you are right my invitation letter was quite formal. its just the style i was taught to write in and also when you know someone else is reading it you tend to be a bit more reserved.
sab - thanks again. i have today sent the letter to my guest so it can be handed in with the
application form and also sent copies of other supporting materials.
kobo I agree that several people have diverted from the topic which seems to happen much more often on this forum than on others. perhaps we are all guilty a little of writing about ourselves and our own experiences but to be honest its a little difficult to write about things which you have not personally experienced.
I am greatful for all your advice on this subject. for the next challenge we are thinking about starting a charity - so lets see what red tape and jumping through bureaucratic hoops that brings! I fear for my own sanity sometimes :D
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 19:14:42
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| moongarden if you are serious about helping you friend support him to go to an african university, south africa, ghana. just a suggestion not everything has to be UK bound. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 19:23:50
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| The grass is always greener on the otherside |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 19:25:53
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| Im not his friend but he/she will be very happy to study in the uk than in Africa. |
There is no god but Allah |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 19:27:56
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quote:
Originally posted by LEMON TIME
Im not his friend but he/she will be very happy to study in the uk than in Africa.
How do you know |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 19:38:31
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| MY marabou yaya told me. |
There is no god but Allah |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 19:39:48
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quote:
Originally posted by LEMON TIME
MY marabou yaya told me.
Hey heh heh. Lemontime you drank the magic water? Junkung incarnated? |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 21:13:40
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| yea i drank some lastnight by mistake. |
There is no god but Allah |
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moongarden
United Kingdom
38 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2006 : 14:50:43
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the visit is not for studying it is just for two weeks to visit, to prepare some project work and seek additional funding and sponsorship. i am also moving to the gambia in october to help set the projects up.
we have been so busy the subject of studying hasn't come up we are pretty much going to be busy every moment for the rest of the year! i have no idea whether he is interested in further study or not so i will ask. he is way ahead of me with speaking different languages - i'm afraid i don't have a natural ability to learn, although i really want to.
i am a computer studies teacher so in the evenings i will be able to give some time to anyone wants to study. i've just finished an english teaching certificate too.
kondorong - perhaps it is human nature to want what we haven't got!
quote:
Originally posted by jambo
moongarden if you are serious about helping you friend support him to go to an african university, south africa, ghana. just a suggestion not everything has to be UK bound.
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sharon
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2006 : 16:24:09
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| Moongarden,they deal with any type of problems you may experience with entry clearance officers, they will represent you, fill out all forms for you,ensure that all the documents that you have to produce cover all aspects of your application,remember that you only have to comply with the law.They are expert at this,and we realised after a 10 minute session with them why our 2 previous applications had been refused.Good Luck |
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