All, I stumbled on this during my lunch hour and was startled at these stats 
regarding our youth in US schools:

"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."

That means 63% dropped out/quit/stopped attending and that is alarming.  
Folks, the least we can do for the young coming into this country is to 
encourage them to stay in school or learn a trade.  Other wise we would be 
grooming future third class citizens/residents.  It does not take long for 
one to wake up in this country to find they clocked 40, 50 or 60.  Those 
that stay the course and complete should mentor the younger generation and 
share your experience, so they know it was also hard for you to prevail, but 
you rose over the hump and they can too.  Those that regret not registering 
or quitting are should also use their regret for these young 
brothers/sisters to learn from their regret.  Yes, getting an education in 
this country or any where for that matter is not easy and is very expensive, 
but try lack of education or trade?  Whether you return to Gambia or stay 
abroad, you need to learn a trade or go to college.  You can use that 
knowledge as long as you live.  So please, let us look at this statistic and 
endeavor to turn things around and start with a student near you, for "A 
Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste".

My hat's off to those that stayed the course and I hope you continue to 
develop, and please reach out and pull someone up.  To those that are still 
sitting in the classroom, we know your struggles and rest if you must, but 
you have a mission to complete.  Just remember that thousands went through 
similar or worse trials, and they still came out ahead.  So, stay on.  To 
those that have regrets, it is never too late.  In my graduating class of 
'89 at Wabash College, there was a 63 year young fellow that triumph over 
his regret.  I looked at him as the definition of hope and never giving up 
in the face of adversity.  So, if it is still in you just take the first 
step of visiting a college near you or trade school.  You'd be surprised to 
see that that there are many folks older that you full of spring on their 
toes endeavoring to excel and improve their circumstance.  Some came from 
the military, others due to downsizing, others from other life challenges 
and issues.  One thing they have in common is the thirst to learn.  So, you 
too can do it.  I hope to read one day that the stats are more like 70-90% 
graduating.

Chi Jaama

Joe

Please read on.



Gambia: U.S. Consular Chris Zimmer Speaks to the Press


FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

March 17, 2007
Posted to the web March 19, 2007

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.

Relevant Links

West Africa
Gambia
United States, Canada and Africa



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.

_________________________________________________________________
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