By Henry Ndugwa
Many people have come to my inbox asking me to guide them on how to join Kyeyo. Well, let me take a few minutes to write something which I think can benefit intended immigrant workers.
Before you think of immigrating to another country for work, it is advisable to make a thorough medical check-up because most jobs in the diaspora are physical. After that, identify a country of your desire but putting the cost implication into consideration. I have seen many people getting USA/Canada visas and fail to get money for air ticket in time. By (in time), I mean, If a visa was secured for the purpose of attending a conference, if the conference date passes before you travel, that visa is rendered un-used even if it is multiple entry. If at all you wish to travel on it at later dates, you have to have a good explanation lest you risk being denied entry at the boarder of entry.
After identifying a country you wish to migrate to, go on internet and read about its history, its economy, its visa process, working life, living life (as in healthcare and transport and education opportunities). While this info can be easily obtained from internet, its advisable to find a Ugandan living there to tell you his experience.
Immigrating requires a lot of courage and determination, you are bound to face a lot of challenges in your first days including betrayal by who you called loyal friends, neglect and so on, but this is what almost everyone went through. It is an orientation to make you learn to stand on your feet single-handedly. Sometimes, I think we are so pampered back home in that our capacity of innovativeness is impaired. But the day you get to Europe in winter and the person who was supposed to receive you is nowhere to be seen, you trigger your 6th sense open. Most people who have passed through this hardship have become successful. So, before you leave Uganda, expect such disappointments and be ready to encounter any condition as it arises with maturity.
If you have to process a visa through an agency, please seek guidance from people who have successfully passed through the same agency. I have seen many girls crying from UAE and Egypt.
If you are coming to Europe on a visitor visa with an intention of staying, consult knowledgeable people about how to seek asylum or how to secure marriage. The process in Europe may take up to 8yrs before you get papers(this differs from case to case). I wouldn’t advise an aged person with a family back home to take that root. By the time you get papers, you will be retiring. Education in Finland is free for all including Africans.Try to grab such opportunities.
Visas to European countries, America and Canada don’t require any middle person to process them. All you need is to consult a person who has gone through the process in reference to the official visa requirements. Those visa consultants you pay in Kampala have been using the same drafted cover letter which they give to all their clients. That letter alone can damage your file the moment the visa counselor sees it. Those people are trained in such a way that they can detect 20 letters if the author is the same.
Before submitting your visa application, give your file to someone else you trust to read through. Just like a study thesis, we normally make visible mistakes while applying for the visa which can only be seen by a third party. I have observed many contradicting statements in people’s visa application files after refusal. (I wonder why they find it OK to consult after being denied than before). Rectifying these errors as identified by a friend puts you at an upperhand to secure a visa without too much hustle.
Remember,Two heads are better than one!
