This is a testament on how I secured my visa for an exchange program in Poland!
You might remember that I mentioned my trip to Poland, but there’s so much more to it! After gathering all the necessary documents, I reached out to someone I consider an elder brother, Mr. Aaron (God bless him). I explained my situation and mentioned that I couldn’t afford to pay an agent. He kindly introduced me to Mr. Ari (God bless him too), a visa agent who guided me through the required paperwork.
I thought that was it—I was on my way to getting my visa. But when it was time to book an appointment at VFS, I discovered there were no available slots. I shared my concerns with Ms. Eliza, the person in charge at my school. She became restless and insisted that I needed to go, so she emailed the consulate and received a reply stating that more slots would open for students. However, I didn’t get a slot in Istanbul; instead, I secured one in Izmir.
So, off I went to Izmir, where I spent the night in a hotel. The next day, when it was time to submit my documents, I was informed that I needed one more document: the Nüfus. Panic set in—did I really have to go back to Istanbul for that? Considering the flight ticket and hotel fees, I felt so discouraged. I returned to Istanbul and told Mr. Ari about my predicament.
He advised me to get my house document approved by the ministry. I reached out to Mr Levi, who helped me book an appointment and even added me to the house contract. After two weeks, I finally went to get my Nüfus, but when I tried to print it out urgently, it wasn’t reflecting in the system. I remember vividly the man who was assisting me; he looked around, printed a copy, folded it, and told me to keep it hidden until I got home. Oh, thank God!
Now that I had my Nüfus, I needed to secure another appointment, but time was running out. Mr Levi kept encouraging me, saying I would get the visa because he had prayed for me, and my mum was also rooting for me. I was at my lowest point of hope, but the next day, I decided to go to VFS without an appointment.
When the receptionist asked for my appointment date, I explained my previous visit and that I needed an extra document. She told me to step aside, reminding me that I couldn’t submit without an appointment. Just as she continued her work, she suddenly called me back, gave me a slip, and allowed me to go in!
Once inside, I waited for my number to be called. The lady who assisted me spoke a bit of English and carefully reviewed my documents. She noticed an error with my accommodation booking and asked me to rebook and write a statement in English about my intentions to stay in the country. She was incredibly kind and took her time to help me, even though my name wasn’t in the system. Oh, I’m so grateful for her!
That’s how I managed to submit my application. Some might call it unbelievable, but let me tell you—it wasn’t a complete lie. Yes, I had been to the office before, but not in Istanbul, and yes, I was told to get an extra document.
Incredibly, I received my visa in just 19 days—something that usually takes between one to three months! The day I submitted my application, I promised God that when I received my visa, I would kneel down and touch my head to the ground in prayer. As soon as I got the envelope, I rushed to the restroom to open it. When I saw my Polish visa, I fell to my knees in gratitude. Oh, thank you, God!
I shared this story with Leah, and as you can imagine, she exclaimed, “Yes! Mide is graced!”
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog post! I’m committed to sharing my journey and feeding your reading appetite with every diary entry. If you have stories of your own or messages to share, feel free to reach out to me on jemmylistens@gmail.com—I’d love to feature your stories too! Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog, and follow me on Instagram. I’ll be in the comments section, eagerly waiting for your thoughts on this blog I’ll see you here sometime next week!
PS: NO REAL NAMES WERE USED ASIDES MINE !!!
I KNOW YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE ME BEFORE THEN!😉
Leave a Reply