Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[Madwoman 2]

First, all my thanks and praise to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!!!!

WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED OUR VISA!!!!!!!!

Thank you to everyone that helped with all the tips of being in Nairobi.....your information was extremely valuable!!!!!

I have just felt the stress of all these months begin to release, but will not fully relax until my eyes meet my fiance's at the airport next week.

There were many times in this journey when it seemed as though it would never end, but giving up was never an option......I am a firm believer in where there is a will, there is a way!!!!!

As far as the Nairobi experience goes, it all went very smooth and like clock work:

He took the 24 hour bus ride from Rwanda to Nairobi. He arrived very early in the morning and noticed a hotel right across the street from the bus depot, so he went there. They had one room left so he took it. This hotel was a great place,(I will edit this with the name later), it was $19/night for two beds(his cousin traveled with him), but if you were by yourself they said it was only half of that. The hotel had hot water, it was clean, and breakfast was included(omelet, bread, sausage, juice). The staff was very friendly and accommadating. He also said that the buses that he needed to take either picked up in the front of the hotel or the back, so he never had to walk far. The bus system is great and is very inexpensive.

He arrived on Sunday the 8th, so on Monday the 9th, he went to the embassy and was let in with his NOA2 and picked up Packet 3 and tried to schedule his interview. The lady told him to call a number after he filled out and gathered all the papers in the Packet. After he called and told me this I reminded him that we all ready had everything filled out because we had downloaded everything in advance and gathered all documents so I asked him to go back to schedule because it is hard to get through to that number and we didn't want to lose those precious moments. So, he went back and the embassy was closing so he started to walk away but the security guard called him back and said he would make a phone call for him and he was able to schedule the date through him for the 19th.(Thank you God for favor). From there he went to Dr. Dogra's office in the Sarit Center to confirm the appointment for the next day, which we had scheduled by phone, before he had left his country. They confimed with him and gave him instructions for the next day.

On Tuesday the 10th, he went back to the medical center for the first part of the exam. Everyone was nice. It was 8,700 kenyan schillings for that part and then he had to go get an x-ray, another 1,000 schillings. When he finished he was given an appointment to come back the following Wednesday, the 18th, to pick up results and get vaccinations. So, now, everything was complete and it was a matter of waiting for a week to pass by. Him and his cousin passed time by checking out the city, playing cards, and of course chatting and talking to me!!!

Fast forward to Tuesday, the 17th, he went to the specific bank to pay the visa fee ($131) and was given a receipt to take to the embassy. On Wednesday, the 18th; he went back to the doctor's office and paid another 9,700 schillings for vaccinations. He was given the medical envelope to take to the embassy as well.

On Thursday, the 19th, his appointment was scheduled for 7:00am. After he arrived, he turned in all necessary paperwork and waited to be called for fingerprints. After fingerprints, he sat back down and was then called for his interview. The lady was not mean at all, however, she did not smile either. She was very focused and business like. She asked him many questions........

1)what is your fiance's name

2)tell me about the engagement

3)how much did the ring cost

4)how did you meet

5)who is this in the picture with you and your fiance(his grandmother and aunts)

6)what is meant by "our apartment"(she was referring to a location we had written to describe the picture)

7)is this nightclub in Rwanda(again referring to a picture)

8)why were you denied a tourist visa

9)do you have more evidence of your relationship(he answered yes, but she didn't ask to see it)

10)is that a wedding ring that you have on in the pictures and are wearing now(no, he said)

11)why do you wear it like that(because it was a Valentine's Day gift last year from my fiance and I wear it to show I'm committed)

12)When did you first meet

(There were more questions but I can't remember them now, once my fiance arrives, we will edit this post with more details.)

My fiance speaks excellent English, so he was able to understand and answer her questions quickly and accurately. We had also prepared for this by looking over all the questions people had posted on VJ and tried to think of possible things they could ask. I had just told him that morning before he went to the embassy, "honey, I know they are going to ask about why you wear your ring on that finger".....he said "no problem baby, I am very confident..."

So, when she was done with the "mini-interrogation", she told him that it would take two weeks to process his visa and when would he like to come back and pick it up. He asked if it was possible to pick it up sooner(like that day or the next) because he was from another country, had all ready been there almost two weeks in a hotel, and needed to go back home. She said okay, come back tomorrow at 10am. She said she was not guaranteeing that it would be ready, but it may not be a problem. So, my fiance returned this morning. At first they told him it wouldn't be ready until next Friday and he told them that he needed to go back to Rwanda and also we had flight reservations for the 26th to come to the states.....so, they told him to sit and wait. He waited two hours and HE NOW HAS HIS VISA IN HAND!!!!!

**note***Even though my fiance had much evidence with him, she didn't ask to see any of it......she used all the stuff I had sent in with my original petition. Even the pictures that I had sent in originally, are the ones she used to ask him questions. Our original petition was very thorough.

So, overall, it was a very pleasant experience at the embassy. No one was mean or rude. The security guard was very friendly. He found everyone he dealt with from the hotel workers, to the doctors, to the embassy workers very nice.

Next Friday, I will finally be able to welcome my sweet baby to our country. We are so excited and thankful for this opportunity and the beginning of our future!!!! Overall, this part of the journey was tolerable.....but the wait at NVC(7 weeks) was a real torture!!!!

Congratulations!!!!! :dance:

It was so interesting reading about your fiance's interview experience--which was VERY different from ours. Just goes to show that it really depends on who is giving the interview. Our interviewer was a male and the interview lasted about 1 min and he only asked 3 questions. He was also able to issue the visa that same day. I remember hearing that the woman was a lot stricter, but I'm glad your fiance passed with flying colors!!! I really think they pay more attention to the original packet, since they also didn't ask to see any new pictures, or any other additional evidence of a continuing relationship.

I am so happy for you, and that everything went relatively smoothly!!!

On another happy note, yesterday, my fiance and I passed through customs in the Boson airport with no incident, and I welcomed my sweetie into the United States! It was kind of funny because the customs official was fresh out of the academy and had never done a K-1 visa before. He was super nice, and just asked a few questions: When did you meet, How did you meet? what were you doing in Uganda? (to Hiller) What was your job in Uganda? (To me) What are you going to do for work now that you are here? and When are you getting married? Then he thought it was an immigrant visa and wanted Hiller to get fingerprinted, etc, until his supervisor came over and told him that the K-1 visa was a non-immigrant visa and they don't do the biometrics until after the wedding.

So we passed through, no problem and have been in the US almost 2 days! Hiller is actually adjusting better than I thought--he has enjoyed hanging out with some of my friends and looking at the big streets, buildings, and fully paved streets. It was funny--we were driving with a friend and hit a pot hole and she started complaining about the bad roads in Boston and Hiller and I just looked at each other and laughed. At least the roads don't have whole chunks missing from them and at least they are paved! Anyway, we are taking it slowly and one day at a time, preparing for our wedding March 28th and visiting my family. I am so brimming with emotion now that he has finally here--I almost can't believe it.

thanks for all of your support, and I will keep you posted!

Soon to be---I wish you the best of luck--it will all be over sooner than you know!

[soon~tobe 0]

I called the NVC... after 9 weeks and 3 days my case has FINALLY reached the NVC!!!!!!!!

[shefellfromheaven 18]

Soon to be - Warm thoughts Hope everything speeds up

[soon~tobe 0]

My petition has been send to Kenya!! Yippie! Allan has his medical set for March 10th now, and I am going to try to call and set the interview for March 18th. I am still praying, but things are looking up.

[Madwoman 2]

My petition has been send to Kenya!! Yippie! Allan has his medical set for March 10th now, and I am going to try to call and set the interview for March 18th. I am still praying, but things are looking up.

Yay!!! I am so happy for you! Isn't it so exciting to finally have a DATE? There is an end in sight!! :dance:

[soon~tobe 0]

Hey all,

so I am looking at buying Allan's ticket for April 1st. Yes, I know I am CRAZY, but it is a refundable ticket, and I think it will still end up cheaper than buying just a ticket with just a couple days advance notice. But it is almost impossible to get a ticket from Uganda without going through a EU country. I am looking at having him fly through Amsterdam. I found a website that said he should not need a visa if he has a visa for America (he's not leaving the airport). But, I had a friend who had trouble going through the UK from Uganda even with an American visa, I was wondering if any of you faced any of these difficulties, or if your European transfers were trouble free.

Also, thanks for all your support while I was stuck at NVC. It helped keep me from going INSANE. It feels so good to have things moving again.

[Madwoman 2]

Hey all,

so I am looking at buying Allan's ticket for April 1st. Yes, I know I am CRAZY, but it is a refundable ticket, and I think it will still end up cheaper than buying just a ticket with just a couple days advance notice. But it is almost impossible to get a ticket from Uganda without going through a EU country. I am looking at having him fly through Amsterdam. I found a website that said he should not need a visa if he has a visa for America (he's not leaving the airport). But, I had a friend who had trouble going through the UK from Uganda even with an American visa, I was wondering if any of you faced any of these difficulties, or if your European transfers were trouble free.

Also, thanks for all your support while I was stuck at NVC. It helped keep me from going INSANE. It feels so good to have things moving again.

Hey soon to be,

glad to hear things are moving along! We had absolutely NO problem in Amsterdam with only a K-1 visa and I doubt you will have any either. When we were getting on the plane to Boston they asked us questions about our baggage and who packed it, etc, but that was all. It's a big international airport and I think most people in there do not have a visa for the Netherlands. Just don't leave the airport and you'll have no worries

Sincerely,

Madelene

[luvhasnoborders 0]

Hey All!!!!!

First of all, Congratulations Soon~tobe!!!!! I'm so excited for you guys.....trust me....it goes EXTREMELY quick now!!!

So, quick update......my fiance arrived in Washington DC, last Friday, February 27......we stayed in DC two days and did some sightseeing.....then arrived here in Hampton on Sunday evening. He is adjusting quite well and enjoying himself so much. He really likes hot dogs and wonders how the sun can be out while it is cold and snowing. We are having a wonderful time together.

It is amazing to think that it went so quickly once the case left NVC barely one month ago!!!!

[soon~tobe 0]

Hey All,

So allan is in Kenya right now, he just picked up the forms for his medical and tried to schedule the interview but they told him he could only schedule it online. Did anyone else run into this??

[Madwoman 2]

Hey All,

So allan is in Kenya right now, he just picked up the forms for his medical and tried to schedule the interview but they told him he could only schedule it online. Did anyone else run into this??

I think they meant "over the phone"---we were never told anything about online scheduling. I believe you can e-mail them, but it's faster to just call. Good luck!

[soon~tobe 0]

they told me the same thing when I called two weeks ago, but I couldn't I couldn't figure out the online system, makes me wonder if it is a new thing they are doing

[shefellfromheaven 18]

Soon

The visa online scheduling option is widely used in kenya and one advantage is that you print out the evidence unlike on phone. When i went for my interview the were cases where some were told on phone about their interview date but their names were missing on the sheet of paper .

http://216.147.140.2/VISANairobi/default.asp

This the link for mmaking appointments , then click on the visitors visa applicant ( caters for all applicants except students and exchange visa applicants)

Hope this helps .

jaqi

Edited March 9, 2009 by shefellfromheaven

[soon~tobe 0]

Hi All,

Well I have officially hit freak out mode. Allan's interview is tomorrow morning (late tonight for me). I talked to Allan this morning after he went to pick up his medical results. He said someone told him he should not have paid the 131 visa to the bank of Africa, but instead paid a fee at the embassy. I don't think I have read anything like that, but I just want to make sure he was supposed to pay the 131 to the Commercial bank of Africa. I am assuming whoever told him this was talking about a different type of visa. But Allan didn't receive any payment information when he picked up his medical forms. I am beginning to think he didn't pick up packet 3, but just somehow ended up with medical forms. Does anyone think this will be a problem?

I am sure I am probably just overacting and freaking out. Hopefully tomorrow morning at this time life will be better.

[shefellfromheaven 18]

All is fine Soon to be . I think thats for the diversity visa's. Dont freak out all will be well. The visa fee is supposed to be paid at Commercial Bank of Africa.

He will pass the interview. We wil lput you in prayers.

[soon~tobe 0]

thanks, I have lots of people praying, so I am sure it will be fine, can't help being a little nervose about it though.

All is fine Soon to be . I think thats for the diversity visa's. Dont freak out all will be well. The visa fee is supposed to be paid at Commercial Bank of Africa.

He will pass the interview. We wil lput you in prayers.