General News of Friday, 29 April 2005

Source: GNA

US visa applicants to note

Accra, April 29, GNA - The US Embassy on Thursday announced that changes have been made to its online system to ensure that fraud did not hinder the application of genuine travellers.

In a statement, the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy, said, the on-line system was the only way to make or change an appointment".

It warned that no one should pay anyone for an earlier visa appointment because they did not have any authority to grant it and the appointment might be cancelled at any time without one's knowledge. Visa applicants, who book on-line appointment, the statement said, should review all instructions carefully, adding that failure to follow all instructions may result in one's appointment deleted by the system without notification.

"If someone tries to send you an appointment time they are committing fraud and you will not be admitted to the Consular section." The statement said non-immigrant visa operations would resume on Tuesday, May 3 this year.

All apparently fraudulent appointments have been purged from the system and these bookings would not be honoured.

It requested applicants to review new procedure for visa application at the US visa services website http://usembassy.state.gov/accra/wwwhigh

The statement also said legitimate applicants, who were scheduled for visa interviews between the dates of April 25 to April 29 should come to the Consulate for their interviews exactly two weeks after their originally scheduled appointment.