Visa Difficulties UPDATED

US Embassy London

As many of you may be aware by now, we were, unfortunately, turned down for a B-1 US Visa for september. The reason given was a lack of economic ties to the UK (jobs, house, etc) and proof that we planned to return to the UK (as we openly discussed our intention to go to South Africa after our time in the US).

All is not lost though, we still have the option of entering through the visa waiver system, for the duration of our DTS lecture phase. The visa would have given us the flexibility to stay for a longer period, but now we will just have to take an alternative route for any further stay beyond our DTS course.

After being turned down we were quite deflated about the situation and prayed in the park outside the embassy, again offering our plans back to the Lord and asking him the significance of the decision for our plans. We both strongly feel that God has directed us to attend the Kona base  to do our DTS because of the quality of the teaching and focus on ministry in South Africa, and so are fully convinced of his ability to make a way for us to do that. Please pray with us to that end.

UPDATE 2: We have now been accepted to enter through the visa waiver program, click here to read more.

Original Post Below:

We have been trying to negotiate the London US Embassy website, speak with as many people as possible and do all we can to work out the best way to get a Visa to the US. We are trying to secure a 12 month visa for us both, which we have been told is very unlikely, but as we are learning as we prepare for DTS God seems to be going ahead of us in things, so we are prayerfully hoping that this will be the same.

To explain, currently the US is particularly difficult to enter for any period of time, we have heard quite a few stories of people being turned away, and being told thye have applied for the wrong visa. We have done everything we can to research and wil be preparing over the next few weeks.

We have a Visa Interview on July 9th in London, we would appreciate it if you would pray for us as we prepare for this and during the interview itself if  you are able! To make it clear, if we were turned down for this visa it would put our chances of being able to enter the US for DTS into serious jeopardy.