..... So check your inbox. If you were accepted to attend, I'll say, don't
be excited fully yet. A few parameters and methods need to be set and
called respectively. Enough of code jargons. Let's face it.
Getting scholarship to attend Wikimania in London this year by the
Wikimedia Foundation DOES NOT literally mean you're there. To realize your
body in London, you need to first make the local United Kingdom embassy
satisfied that your literal body is worth entering London, and that body is
bound to come back. Enough of lengthy English.
What do you need?
0) Submit or present a good-looking application. I don't have to say this
but it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves. If its an online form, be sure
what you're entering and where and how. And, Follow instructions as per the
application process. ( its like chemistry or physics high school exams in
Ghana; the instructions are more than the questions sometimes, so of you
don't follow the instructions, are likely to fail, by answering a question
meant for Gambians )
1) Bank statement - Good one
2) Passport - Ghana says something is called biometric, so get it koraa
ansa.
3) Birth certificate - if your birth certificate was issued earlier than
2009 or so, please go for a biometric one. Trust me, Ghana with their
biometric, if you don't have it, you'll be frustrated.
4) Medical report - either from 1) a regional hospital or 2) recommended
hospital by the UK embassy. If you Go to mere clinics for the medical
report, please, I promise you you'll be disappointed.
5) Police report. Get it, you can get it fast, in less than 7 days.
However, it comes at an express price. In Ghana, you know what express
means. Contact me if you'll need help with the police report, I've got a
police 'client' at the headquarters.
6) Proof of sufficient financial means. Isn't that the same as bank
statement? No, I don't think so. The bank statement is a piece of paper
with perforated holes at the edges with some fade signatures and
credentials pertaining to the bank. The Sufficient Financial Means refers
to the DIGITS or Numbers on that paper. Those digits are what actually
proofs whether you've got enough sustainable funds to support yourself.
Plus you've got good track record of substantial money passing through your
account. It shouldn't be a billion dollar money moving in your account, but
once again, I say, it should be substantial.
If you've travelled to UK before, your case might be different as you know
the process plus your passport will tell you've been there before.
However, if your passport is as brand new as mine was ( mine was less than
72 hours old when I presented to that old woman at the US embassy) you'll
need to adhere to the aforementioned requirements even tighter.
Remember, the Wikimania team have only given you scholarship to attend, NOT
visa to attend. You MUST work your way out through the embassy.
We look forward to some part of assistance from the inviting organization
in London, however, if YOU DO NOT satisfy all the requirements above and or
any other the embassy might and will likely require, don't worry much, as
there is little help the inviting organization can bring on board to assist
you.
Wear your sleeve first, and Wikimania London team will put on the remaining
tie for you.
If any questions on how to go about things, or facing challenges in visa
acquisition anytime, drop a message, and we can offer any tip we've got.
Did I miss any point? Please complement with your thoughts.
Useful resources -
* https://wikimania2014.wikimedia.org/wiki/Visas
*
https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/British-high-commission-a…
* https://www.gov.uk/visas-immigration
rexford | google.com/+nkansahrexford | sent from tab