Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[Kolewenoik31 57]

Thanks so much everyone. Although it is an exciting time, it is also a stressful one so your support means a lot! Fingers crossed that our embassy report will be a positive one!

David, what kinds of questions did they ask?

I just wanted to let you know I am praying and was thinking about you guys. Hoping for an approval outcome and to a stress free interview coming up this week. Your interview is on my ANNIVERSARY!!!!

[Kolewenoik31 57]

10628514_10204776448881141_8545105147542208872_n.jpg

Finally....after submitting back in Sept. '13 - my boo finally had her interview and got approved today!!!

YES!!!

Wow so excited for you...did they ask for pics and what do you mean other that the obvious if you are prepared? Did you attend the interview? I know it says that you can't.

Edited November 17, 2014 by Kolewenoik31

[Kolewenoik31 57]

These were the same questions asked of us. No photos were asked except the chat logs.

Of course, they asked about Police Certificate, Birth Certificate and Affidavit of Support.(Original) I sent our originals to NVC, Nairobi doesn't expect us to provide more originals eh?

Also, how many times did you two meet? How long did you see each other each time (approximate).

[johnmcgraw49 15]

Wow so excited for you...did they ask for pics and what do you mean other that the obvious if you are prepared? Did you attend the interview? I know it says that you can't.

My gal gave them the pix she brought (about 40 or 50 from my 2 trips to Nairobi), they asked questions like who is this person?? No I didn't attend the interview. I'm in the US.

In regards to being prepared...just making sure you have everything they could possibly ask for. It's alot of paperwork and your going to be nervous, so just make sure you know where to find everything. My girl almost couldnt find the 134 becuz it was in a sealed FedEX. We had probably had 200 pages of paperwork (80 pages of chat logs....we just took the last 2 months).

Good Luck,

[KASH2011 382]

10628514_10204776448881141_8545105147542208872_n.jpg

Finally....after submitting back in Sept. '13 - my boo finally had her interview and got approved today!!!

YES!!!

Congrats to you both

[Kolewenoik31 57]

You have me on pins and needles...how did everything go!!!!!!!!

[oklai125 4]

Well, we were APPROVED!!!!! Sorry for the delay.. I'm also a grad student and of course EVERYTHING is happening this week!

My husband stayed at China Garden Hotel, which is only about a 5-10 minute walk from the embassy, so that he wouldn't have to deal with the horrible Nairobi traffic. The staff was also very encouraging!

He got to the embassy at 5:45 for a 6:30am appointment and they opened the gates a little before 6. He had to show his appointment letter, then at the first desk inside, they asked for my husband's new police certificate (good thing we decided to go for the new one even though the embassy said we didn't need to when we emailed them!). Then, after fingerprints and more waiting, during the interview they asked:

1. When did you get married?

2. Who is [my mom's name]? (She's our joint sponsor and visited us when I lived in UG)

3. When did you two travel to [____] (We had provided evidence of previous travel together)

4. What is your (my husband's) occupation?

Then as the woman was preparing our file, she told my husband to get out the pictures we brought. He told me that since I had added dates and captions to each of them, that it made it really easy for her to go over them very quickly. Then she said that she didn't think any other questions were needed...and congratulations! The visa was approved!

Just like everyone else said, it was really such a short interview. I think that it really helped that I had sent in so much evidence at the I-130 stage and then we had a bunch of updated and captioned pictures from my visits over the last 2 years. We had evidence that he had met my mom and several of my friends from the US, plus a ton of pictures of me with his family, both at official gatherings and just helping around the home. My husband had more evidence than most of the other people at the interview, but all the officers asked for was the police certificate and pictures.

I can't believe it is actually done and we made it through! It's a long process, but it works and it's so worth it! My husband is planning to be here in less than a month!

Good luck everyone! And feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

[johnmcgraw49 15]

Ok so we got approved on Monday. I don't want to buy my gal a plane ticket until she has her passport and visa in her hand.

How long does it take to get to DHL??? And how do you get yur waybill or tracking number???

[KASH2011 382]

Well, we were APPROVED!!!!! Sorry for the delay.. I'm also a grad student and of course EVERYTHING is happening this week!

My husband stayed at China Garden Hotel, which is only about a 5-10 minute walk from the embassy, so that he wouldn't have to deal with the horrible Nairobi traffic. The staff was also very encouraging!

He got to the embassy at 5:45 for a 6:30am appointment and they opened the gates a little before 6. He had to show his appointment letter, then at the first desk inside, they asked for my husband's new police certificate (good thing we decided to go for the new one even though the embassy said we didn't need to when we emailed them!). Then, after fingerprints and more waiting, during the interview they asked:

1. When did you get married?

2. Who is [my mom's name]? (She's our joint sponsor and visited us when I lived in UG)

3. When did you two travel to [____] (We had provided evidence of previous travel together)

4. What is your (my husband's) occupation?

Then as the woman was preparing our file, she told my husband to get out the pictures we brought. He told me that since I had added dates and captions to each of them, that it made it really easy for her to go over them very quickly. Then she said that she didn't think any other questions were needed...and congratulations! The visa was approved!

Just like everyone else said, it was really such a short interview. I think that it really helped that I had sent in so much evidence at the I-130 stage and then we had a bunch of updated and captioned pictures from my visits over the last 2 years. We had evidence that he had met my mom and several of my friends from the US, plus a ton of pictures of me with his family, both at official gatherings and just helping around the home. My husband had more evidence than most of the other people at the interview, but all the officers asked for was the police certificate and pictures.

I can't believe it is actually done and we made it through! It's a long process, but it works and it's so worth it! My husband is planning to be here in less than a month!

Good luck everyone! And feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

Congrats to you both

Ok so we got approved on Monday. I don't want to buy my gal a plane ticket until she has her passport and visa in her hand.

How long does it take to get to DHL??? And how do you get yur waybill or tracking number???

3-4 days but I would call the DHL location you selected and check to make sure they provide you with your waybill/ tracking number!

[NYCruiser 423]

Well, we were APPROVED!!!!! Sorry for the delay.. I'm also a grad student and of course EVERYTHING is happening this week!

My husband stayed at China Garden Hotel, which is only about a 5-10 minute walk from the embassy, so that he wouldn't have to deal with the horrible Nairobi traffic. The staff was also very encouraging!

He got to the embassy at 5:45 for a 6:30am appointment and they opened the gates a little before 6. He had to show his appointment letter, then at the first desk inside, they asked for my husband's new police certificate (good thing we decided to go for the new one even though the embassy said we didn't need to when we emailed them!). Then, after fingerprints and more waiting, during the interview they asked:

1. When did you get married?

2. Who is [my mom's name]? (She's our joint sponsor and visited us when I lived in UG)

3. When did you two travel to [____] (We had provided evidence of previous travel together)

4. What is your (my husband's) occupation?

Then as the woman was preparing our file, she told my husband to get out the pictures we brought. He told me that since I had added dates and captions to each of them, that it made it really easy for her to go over them very quickly. Then she said that she didn't think any other questions were needed...and congratulations! The visa was approved!

Just like everyone else said, it was really such a short interview. I think that it really helped that I had sent in so much evidence at the I-130 stage and then we had a bunch of updated and captioned pictures from my visits over the last 2 years. We had evidence that he had met my mom and several of my friends from the US, plus a ton of pictures of me with his family, both at official gatherings and just helping around the home. My husband had more evidence than most of the other people at the interview, but all the officers asked for was the police certificate and pictures.

I can't believe it is actually done and we made it through! It's a long process, but it works and it's so worth it! My husband is planning to be here in less than a month!

Good luck everyone! And feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

Yeah!! Glad to have helped

[Kolewenoik31 57]

We just got CC complete today are there anymore couples from Nairobi or are we alone out here? lol lol

[Nyosh 5]

Well, we were APPROVED!!!!! Sorry for the delay.. I'm also a grad student and of course EVERYTHING is happening this week!

My husband stayed at China Garden Hotel, which is only about a 5-10 minute walk from the embassy, so that he wouldn't have to deal with the horrible Nairobi traffic. The staff was also very encouraging!

He got to the embassy at 5:45 for a 6:30am appointment and they opened the gates a little before 6. He had to show his appointment letter, then at the first desk inside, they asked for my husband's new police certificate (good thing we decided to go for the new one even though the embassy said we didn't need to when we emailed them!). Then, after fingerprints and more waiting, during the interview they asked:

1. When did you get married?

2. Who is [my mom's name]? (She's our joint sponsor and visited us when I lived in UG)

3. When did you two travel to [____] (We had provided evidence of previous travel together)

4. What is your (my husband's) occupation?

Then as the woman was preparing our file, she told my husband to get out the pictures we brought. He told me that since I had added dates and captions to each of them, that it made it really easy for her to go over them very quickly. Then she said that she didn't think any other questions were needed...and congratulations! The visa was approved!

Just like everyone else said, it was really such a short interview. I think that it really helped that I had sent in so much evidence at the I-130 stage and then we had a bunch of updated and captioned pictures from my visits over the last 2 years. We had evidence that he had met my mom and several of my friends from the US, plus a ton of pictures of me with his family, both at official gatherings and just helping around the home. My husband had more evidence than most of the other people at the interview, but all the officers asked for was the police certificate and pictures.

I can't believe it is actually done and we made it through! It's a long process, but it works and it's so worth it! My husband is planning to be here in less than a month!

Good luck everyone! And feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

Congrats to you both!!!!

[realras 1]

hello to all on the thread....

the information here is wonderful and thank you all for your insights and experiences i have learned so much reading this thread.

I am wondering what is the time frame of interview dates from when the embassy has received the case from NVC..

Essentially how long from when you pay for the DS-160 and when you are able to schedule an appointment are they available for like 2 weeks

out or is it more like 2 months??

Also from my understanding it will take like 3 - 4 weeks in Kenya to take care of the medical and the interview process and to pick up the

passport from DHL.. which leads me to ask if anyone knows of a cheap decent place to stay near the embassy. I have been looking and the

prices are sooo much I am looking for like $10 - $20 usd per day since it will be like a month stay...

thank you all and I appreciate any help I can get .... Ricciardo

[oklai125 4]

hello to all on the thread....

the information here is wonderful and thank you all for your insights and experiences i have learned so much reading this thread.

I am wondering what is the time frame of interview dates from when the embassy has received the case from NVC..

Essentially how long from when you pay for the DS-160 and when you are able to schedule an appointment are they available for like 2 weeks

out or is it more like 2 months??

Also from my understanding it will take like 3 - 4 weeks in Kenya to take care of the medical and the interview process and to pick up the

passport from DHL.. which leads me to ask if anyone knows of a cheap decent place to stay near the embassy. I have been looking and the

prices are sooo much I am looking for like $10 - $20 usd per day since it will be like a month stay...

thank you all and I appreciate any help I can get .... Ricciardo

NVC had scheduled our interview before they sent the file to Nairobi. From the time we got case complete, it was about 3 weeks before we had an interview date, which was then about a month away.

We used the spousal visa, so we didn't submit a DS-160. I know the processes are different so I'll let someone else comment on that.

My husband was in Kenya for a total of about 2 weeks. His interview was on Nov 19 and when I originally emailed the IOM to schedule the medical exam they had given us an appt on Nov 3-4. I decided to try to ask to change it to be closer to the interview date and luckily they did, so his medical exams were then Nov 13-14. That is one way to lower the amount of time you have to spend in Nairobi.

Also, my husband searched our friend networks and found someone willing to host him for free (of course he bought food and things for everyone as much as he could). Then, he stayed at China Garden Hotel for only one night before the interview, which was about 75 USD. From what he told me it was only a 5-10 minute walk to the Embassy so he could be there by 5:45am before his interview. He just walked around the area one afternoon after his medical exam and was able to look for places to stay that way. I don't think he found a cheaper place that was really convenient. For us, the important thing was being close and not having to worry about traffic the morning of the interview. I would highly recommend trying to find someone to stay with, if possible. Then you will also be able to cook your own food and not spend all of your money in restaurants. Compared to Uganda, Kenya is very expensive!

Good luck!

Edited November 28, 2014 by oklai125

[Kolewenoik31 57]

NVC had scheduled our interview before they sent the file to Nairobi. From the time we got case complete, it was about 3 weeks before we had an interview date, which was then about a month away.

We used the spousal visa, so we didn't submit a DS-160. I know the processes are different so I'll let someone else comment on that.

My husband was in Kenya for a total of about 2 weeks. His interview was on Nov 19 and when I originally emailed the IOM to schedule the medical exam they had given us an appt on Nov 3-4. I decided to try to ask to change it to be closer to the interview date and luckily they did, so his medical exams were then Nov 13-14. That is one way to lower the amount of time you have to spend in Nairobi.

Also, my husband searched our friend networks and found someone willing to host him for free (of course he bought food and things for everyone as much as he could). Then, he stayed at China Garden Hotel for only one night before the interview, which was about 75 USD. From what he told me it was only a 5-10 minute walk to the Embassy so he could be there by 5:45am before his interview. He just walked around the area one afternoon after his medical exam and was able to look for places to stay that way. I don't think he found a cheaper place that was really convenient. For us, the important thing was being close and not having to worry about traffic the morning of the interview. I would highly recommend trying to find someone to stay with, if possible. Then you will also be able to cook your own food and not spend all of your money in restaurants. Compared to Uganda, Kenya is very expensive!

Good luck!

Thank you so much for telling us how long the interview scheduling took place because I was just going to ask being that we just got case complete on the 22nd. I hope we get and interview date soon.