Flashback: US VISA WAHALA

US Embassy to Resume Processing Non-Immigrant Visas

In a press conference at the new Leicester location of the United States Embassy, the incumbent US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Thomas Hull, announced the immediate resumption of non-immigrant visa services at the American Embassy in Freetown.

Pronouncing that “the time is now”, the Ambassador announced that his goal of visa services resumption when he came into the country two and a half years ago, has now been realised. The Ambassador pointed out that visa services in Freetown were suspended in 1997 due to the uncertain security situation, the evacuation of the Vice-Consul and other staffing issues. Security issues with the former Chancery included the vulnerability of its location and also risks associated with a location directly opposite a fully operational petrol station.

The Ambassador stated that the US takes security very seriously but with the move to the new building, those issues have been addressed. The press conference was also spear headed by the Public Relations Officer, Brenda Soya and Vice-Consul, Brendon Malarkey. Ms Soya stated that from the moment the Vice-Consul arrived in Sierra Leone in June 2006, it was just a “matter of time” before visa services would resume in Freetown. Responding to questions from the press, Ms Soya stated that the resumption of visa services was part of the Embassy’s plan, as stated at the beginning of 2007, and not directly attributable to the current crisis in Conakry, where visas were being temporarily issued.

According to Ambassador Hull, the Freetown office will only handle non-immigrant visas, at least until 2008. Immigrant visas will continue to be issued out of Dakar and Diversity applications out of Abidjan.

Ambassador Hull cautioned that the Vice-Consul is the only figure responsible for visa decisions. Regardless of circumstances, all applicants must apply online using the official Sierra Leone Web Portal at: www.freetown.usembassy.gov where the necessary steps are fully explained.

The Ambassador further cautioned that the non-immigrant visa process is not a ‘lottery’ and applicants should not ‘gamble’ on a visa. He stressed that the United States welcomes all ‘qualified’ applicants but is also committed to “maintaining the security and integrity of its borders and nation.”

It is expected that this news will resonate positively with the people of Sierra Leone who no longer need to make the sometimes arduous trip to Guinea to apply for US non-immigrant visas in a French speaking country. Hooray!

Nicky Spencer-Coker
February 20th 2007

Reproduced on February 25th 2009