Hi guys, I've been a silent member of the group for a couple of months now and it's amazing to see the magnitude of team spirit here. Pardon my epistle but I just have to testify to the goodness of our great God
My story and journey has been one of patience and profound faith in God and thank God, "it has ended in praise" (I love that in-house slogan by the way). I first attempted to apply in 2012 from the UK when my sponsored work permit visa was under threat of being cancelled because I'd left the job for which I was sponsored but unfortunately, the programme was closed that year. I eventually returned to Nigeria in December 2012. I remember crying my eyes out on the flight back home because having been in the UK for nearly 5 years, I'd come to love it plus my siblings were all settled in the UK with just my parents in Nigeria. Although my work permit wasn't cancelled, I knew it was only a matter of time before it eventually would be and I wasn't prepared to be an illegal immigrant in any country for any reason. I felt my life had ended as I lost everything - My job, my car, and the relationship I was in. My sister knew how much it broke my heart to be separated from the crew and she wrote a note and slipped into my luggage reassuring me it was for the best and that she was convinced God was taking me back to Nigeria to meet my husband and would settle me thereafter. How true she was! I met my husband one month after my return.
Back to the gist...in July 2013, allocation for my NOC got filled before I could gather all documents so I had to wait for 2014. I finally applied in 2014 as a single person and got married same year in December. We initially decided not to notify Accra of the change in status for fear it might delay the application but planned instead that I would get it and then file for him but thank God we didn't take that route.
In 2015, I got a mail requesting updated POF. Apparently exchange rates had caused the funds to fall short. At this point I had tampered with the money and so my husband had to transfer funds to my account. I later got a mail asking for provenance of funds and so we were left with no option but to introduce myself husband and include him in the application. They asked for additional docs which we sent then received MR a few days later. Medicals done in August 2015 for both of us and nothing heard till Feb 2016 when I sent a mail asking the status of our application. Got a reply from Accra saying our application was in queue. Got a mail on the 3rd of March inviting us for pre-departure orientation session but no PPR. I felt that would come soon but didn't hear anything again until the 9th of April when I got a call from Accra asking if we were no longer interested in the application as they sent a mail requesting our passports since the 3rd of March!!!! You can imagine my shock! That mail somehow never made it to my inbox and it wasn't in my spam either (devil is a liar) and it had been over a month! I quickly told her we were definitely interested and would be sending in our passports but explained my challenge was my husband was away at work in Oman and wouldn't be back till the last week in April. She said no extensions could be granted anymore since we already missed the first deadline. To cut this very long story short, we made a way and sent in our passports and visas were finally issued and returned on the 27th of April. And so I'd like to encourage everyone still waiting to keep the faith as hope will never disappoint.
Bits on the side:
I noticed a majority of people use Agencies who charge an arm and a leg. It can actually be done without them. My application was processed from start to finish without the use of a representative and it was seamless. I did everything myself and didn't have to spend a dime on professional fees.
Secondly for the member who asked for cheap flight tickets. Try Emirates. My husband and I purchased our tickets just last week for N566,000. Less than 300k/person and we fly first week in August.
, we will need to continue encouraging each other. Atleast now you are consoled you are not the only one.
