MP's wife condemns US embassy over visa refusal

[BAK]

2008-12-20 07:55:00

MP's wife condemns US embassy over visa refusal
By Zephania Ubwani, Arusha
THE CITIZEN

The wife of Arusha Member of Parliament, Dr Milcah Mrema, who was recently denied a visa to the United States where she wanted to visit her daughter who had been involved in a car accident, has condemned the US embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr Mrema, the wife of MP Felix Mrema, said the embassy had violated human rights by denying her chance to see her daughter Angela, 34, who died in a Los Angeles hospital in California on Wednesday.

Angela was involved in a road accident on December 5 this year and admitted at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Centre�s intensive care unit.

The MP's wife told The Citizen yesterday that the embassy denied her a visa on grounds that she had no invitation letter from her daughter.

"This is ridiculous. Why should they demand a letter from somebody who was in critical condition? I was surprised that they wanted an invitation letter from my host who was in the intensive care unit," she said.

She described the incident as a violation of human rights and expressed concern that hundreds of people could be contending with similar treatment at US embassies in the region.

Dr Mrema only managed to speak to her daughter on phone hours before she died on Wednesday.

"I have lived and worked in the US using a Green Card for over 20 years," she said, adding that she went to seek a visa in Nairobi because she was a Kenyan national.

The body of the late MPs' daughter is still expected to arrive in Arusha for burial. Angela was a lawyer trained at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and was pursuing post-graduate studies there.

She suffered a broken pelvic bone and hip after a car she was driving collided with a truck in Los Angeles.

 

[WomanOfSubstance]

This is unbelievable!
I still do not understand because not always does the Embassy ask for an invitation letter, more so for a person who has worked in the US that long, a person whose husband is a seasoned lawyer in Tanzania with a good income.A person who may not desire to run away from her place of domicile and live like a refugee in the US.There is more to this refusal!
Its so sad that she couldnt make it to the US to see the daughter before death snatched her away.

 

[Koba]

...sad indeed and my condolence,nuts wamejaa kona zote hata kwenye madirisha ya kutoa visa,kazi kweli kweli!

 

[Masanja]

I agree, there is more to this refusal than the failure to produce "invitation letter". By the way, huo ubalozi ungejuaje kama una mtoto ambaye amepata ajali kweli, if you had no proof? If that was the case dont you think even Masanja would go and say ndugu yangu wa karibu yuko kwenye ICUs somewhere in Dakota;-)..nipeni visa..? Something is missing in this story.

Anyhow lets not indulge into conspiracy theories kwa sababu we havent heard the other side of the story. At this moment, I just wish the bereaved family strength and courage to withstand the loss of their beloved daughter.

Next time just know..wenzetu dont do their work based on sentiments and hearsay.

Poleni sana wafiwa.

 

[Shadow]

This is unbelievable!
I still do not understand because not always does the Embassy ask for an invitation letter, more so for a person who has worked in the US that long, a person whose husband is a seasoned lawyer in Tanzania with a good income.A person who may not desire to run away from her place of domicile and live like a refugee in the US.There is more to this refusal!
Its so sad that she couldnt make it to the US to see the daughter before death snatched her away.

I don't condone the act of someone being denied a visa to visit a sick relative abroad. But each nation including Tanzania, has its own rules and regulation. If she has a domicle home in Tanzania, why not applyinf for the visa in Tanzania? For her, it was easier to establish her status such as economic and social ties to Tanzania than in Kenya. Secondly, a mere assertion without at least a doctors letter or even a note verbally / orletter from Mambo ya Nje ( because as a wife of MP, She is entitled to have a diplomatic c passport). I do understand the exigence of the circumstancies but before jumping to the gun there are many question desired to be aswered.

What if she had previously violated U.S. Laws who knows? what if the deceased also had no status?

RIP binti wa Mrema.

 

[Mwanjelwa]

This is unbelievable!
I still do not understand because not always does the Embassy ask for an invitation letter, more so for a person who has worked in the US that long, a person whose husband is a seasoned lawyer in Tanzania with a good income.A person who may not desire to run away from her place of domicile and live like a refugee in the US.There is more to this refusal!
Its so sad that she couldnt make it to the US to see the daughter before death snatched her away.

Wale siyo wajinga aisee. They know better than you think you do! Lazima kuna tatizo hapo. Kwanza, hata ukiwa national wa wapi, VISA unaweza omba popote penye Embassy. Namshangaa huyu kukimbia Dar na kusema ati kwa kuwa ni Kenyan ndiyo akaenda kule?! Huyo mtoto wake ni raia wa wapi? USA, Kenya au Tanzania? I she legally staying in USA? Halafu, hai-click kichwani, mke wa mbunge wa huku Tanzania then anadai yeye ni Kenyan National..,,?!

Lazima kuna fool play anijua yeye mwenyewe kwa kina. Tusirukie issues. Wale jamaa wako makini sana, ingawaje unaweza wachanganya kirahisi sana.

 

[Hofstede]

I don't condone the act of someone being denied a visa to visit a sick relative abroad. But each nation including Tanzania, has its own rules and regulation. If she has a domicle home in Tanzania, why not applyinf for the visa in Tanzania? For her, it was easier to establish her status such as economic and social ties to Tanzania than in Kenya. Secondly, a mere assertion without at least a doctors letter or even a note verbally / orletter from Mambo ya Nje ( because as a wife of MP, She is entitled to have a diplomatic c passport). I do understand the exigence of the circumstancies but before jumping to the gun there are many question desired to be aswered.

What if she had previously violated U.S. Laws who knows? what if the deceased also had no status?

RIP binti wa Mrema.

In addition to that, why go back to Nairobi?, if you are married to a Tanzanian she should apply the Tanzania citizenship if she loves the country. She was married to a Tanzanian but still retain a Kenyan Passport.

My Take: This should be a careful time for Kenyans who want to travel to US, because most of them think that, because the president elect has a Kenyan root, then it could be easy for them to go US they are wrong. If she didn't violate any law in US why refused?, I think she has to explain more rather than whining.

RIP binti wa Mrema

 

[Masanja]

In addition to that, why go back to Nairobi?, if you are married to a Tanzanian she should apply the Tanzania citizenship if she loves the country. She was married to a Tanzania but still retain a Kenyan Passport.

My Take: This should be a careful time for Kenyans who want to travel to US, because most of them think that, because the president elect has a Kenyan root, then it could be easy for them to go US they are wrong. If she didn't violated any law in US why refused?, I think she has to explain more rather than whinning.
RIP binti wa Mrema

Mkuu shauri yako..wakija wenye lugha yao Pundit na Nyani Ngabu..wakikuuliza kwa nini unawaharibia lugha yao..mi simo!

Masanja

 

[Mwanjelwa]

Mkuu shauri yako..wakija wenye lugha yao Pundit na Nyani Ngabu..wakikuuliza kwa nini unawaharibia lugha yao..mi simo!

Masanja

Acha ushamba wako hapa. Toa maoni yako bila kujali lugha wala nini. Kuna watu wako unaowajua wanajua lugha zaidi humu ndani? Hii forum ni ya facts na si lugha.

 

[Hofstede]

Mkuu shauri yako..wakija wenye lugha yao Pundit na Nyani Ngabu..wakikuuliza kwa nini unawaharibia lugha yao..mi simo!

Masanja

Hahahaha, Mkandamizaji umenikumbusha mbali sana enzi hizo Secondary school, tulikuwa tunawavizia vilanja wachapie matangazo halafu tuwakosoe maana kiswahili kilikuwa hakiruhusiwi. Ila huku kwa wenyewe wanachotaka ni kukuelewa tu una maanisha nini, kama umenielewa inatosha mkuu.

 

[S.M.P2503]

"I have lived and worked in the US using a Green Card for over 20 years," she said, adding that she went to seek a visa in Nairobi because she was a Kenyan national.

Kwa nini asinge-apply kama returning resident kwa kutumia green card hiyo maana tayari yeye ni documented worker au alikuwa hivyo, pia inawezekana alishindwa kujieleza maana kuna -compasionate visa kama hizo za mtu kufiwa, au kuwa ICU. Kilichotakiwa si kusema eti nimekaa huko miaka 20 na Green card, hawa bwana hawajali hata kama uliwahi kuwa na USA Passport. pia mgonjwa hakuwa hospitalini pekee, hao aliokuwa nao wangeweza kutoa ushahidi wa yeye kuwepo ICU, pia nasoma kwamba Mhusika aliweza kuongea kwenye simu na mtoto wake.. Ikumbukwe kwamba, hawa westerners hawamjui mama yako kama ni party ya familia yako mara baada ya mtu kufikia majority age ambapo kwao ni miaka 18. Kama mgojwa alikuwa 36, basi ilitegemea pia kwamba next of kin wake alikuwa nani.

Poleni sana, lakini kumbukeni kwamba hawa USA wameweka sheria ili zifuatwe na sio Jazba eti huyu ni mtoto wangu,eti nimekaa USA miaka 20 na Green card. Kwetu sisi wabongo twaweza ku-sympasize na mhusika aliyenyimwa visa, but hii haitamsadia bali kwa yeye kurudi na kuomba kuonana na consular na kujieleza baraabara, Jieleze usaidiwe , cheo chako,makazi yako na ajira yako au ya mumeo si mali kitu kwa wenzetu!!

 

[JokaKuu]

"I have lived and worked in the US using a Green Card for over 20 years,"- Dr.Mrema

..kama mama alikuwa viwanja miaka 20 na ana Green Card kwanini anyimwe visa?

 

[Masanja]

Acha ushamba wako hapa. Toa maoni yako bila kujali lugha wala nini. Kuna watu wako unaowajua wanajua lugha zaidi humu ndani? Hii forum ni ya facts na si lugha.

Samahani boss. I Hope ushamba wangu haujakukwaza.

Ila mhusika naona kanielewa kuliko wewe.

Anyhow nikutakie noel njema,

Masanja,

 

[Kang]

Kwanza nampa pole. Lakini nadhani alikosea wakati wa kuapply, hawawezi kudai invatition letter kama mtu yuko ICU something is off here.

 

[Mtanzania]

I agree, there is more to this refusal than the failure to produce "invitation letter". By the way, huo ubalozi ungejuaje kama una mtoto ambaye amepata ajali kweli, if you had no proof? If that was the case dont you think even Masanja would go and say ndugu yangu wa karibu yuko kwenye ICUs somewhere in Dakota;-)..nipeni visa..? Something is missing in this story.

Anyhow lets not indulge into conspiracy theories kwa sababu we havent heard the other side of the story. At this moment, I just wish the bereaved family strength and courage to withstand the loss of their beloved daughter.

Next time just know..wenzetu dont do their work based on sentiments and hearsay.

Poleni sana wafiwa.

Her story could have easily been ascertained by calling the hospital. That's why we pay visa fees. The money is supposed to cover all processing and enquiry costs.

What they did to this lady is inhuman and unacceptable; she has every right to complain.

RIP Miss Mrema.

Wanatunyanyasa kwasababu ni maskini.

 

[Masanja]

Her story could have easily been ascertained by calling the hospital. That's why we pay visa fees. The money is supposed to cover all processing and enquiry costs.

What they did to this lady is inhuman and unacceptable; she has every right to complain.
RIP Miss Mrema.

Wanatunyanyasa kwasababu ni maskini.

Mkuu sweeping statements kama hizi zina walakini. Have you heard the second side of the story ya ubalozi? Mkuu..usifanye majumuisho kabla ya kupata facts zapande zote husika.

Kama wengine walivyosema, wa-usa siyo wajinga. They have reasons.... and after ascetaining such reasons ndo ungetoa verdict yako.

 

[William J. Malecela]

- US hawatoi viza kwa mafisadi, huyo mumewe ndiye the masterminder wa Richimonduli,na yeye ninaamini yuko njiani kwenda Kisutu,

kama hatuna uhakika na hoja basi tuiweke ki-maswali kuliko kukurupuka na hukumu wakuu! Pole kwa hiyo familia na matatizo haya.

 

[Koba]

....ukweli tunaojua ni upande wa mama tuu kwa hiyo no verdict,lakini ninavyowajua Americans especially when dealin with non American/colored people wengi wao wanakuwa bias/stupid,nawajua sana hawa wana system nzuri sana kuendesha mambo yao lakini sometimes system inategemea reasonig ya mtu aliyekuwepo,bahati yake inawezekana ilikuwa mbaya akakutana na mwendawazimu dirishani,hata Dar waliokosa visa sio wote wanastahili kukosa na waliopata sio wote walistahili kupata,haya mambo ya visa inategemea sana nani anatoa siku hiyo ingawaje documents zako na wewe lazima ziwe sawa!

 

[Koba]

- US hawatoi viza kwa mafisadi, huyo mumewe ndiye the masterminder wa Richimonduli,na yeye ninaamini yuko njiani kwenda Kisutu,

kama hatuna uhakika na hoja basi tuiweke ki-maswali kuliko kukurupuka na hukumu wakuu! Pole kwa hiyo familia na matatizo haya.

...naona mkuu umeamua kumaliza kabisa,na hao wajomba wanajua issue zetu kuliko serikali yetu inavyotujua na kizuri wanaweza kujua wewe fisadi lakini hawakuambii na hawana pressure wanajua utapatikana tuu ila wanaanza kukupa frustration ya issue ndogo ndogo kama hizi.....sasa vipi ina maana Lowassa/Rostam/Karamagi/Mramba/yona etc embassy tayari kituo cha police nini?

 

[Kichuguu]

Kwa vyovyote vile inawezekana huyu mama aliondoka US na skandali fulani, hivyo akapigwa marufuku asirudi US. Normally kama ulifanya US kwa miaka 20 ukiwa na Green card halafu ukaamua kurudi nyumbani bila doa lolote, huwezi kuwa na matatizo ya kurudi US hata kwa kutembea tu bila hata kualikwa.