Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[katie & sifa 25]

Thanks everyone! I am really really fortunate. Vermont is still processing people in June. They have been at a stand still for like 3 months-- I can't believe I got so lucky! I'm sure now I'll have tonsss of questions for you all on the next phase of the process

Awesome news!!!! Congrats!!

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Question time: Once Nairobi receives our packet from NVC, can I contact them immediately to schedule the interview? (So long as we have the medical booked..) Any estimates as to approx how long it will be between their receipt of our packet and the interview, if we stay right on top of everything? Hoping to get through all of this by the end of the year...!!

[taatabunny 1]

Hi Annie,

When you receive a letter from NVC, give it another 1-2wks to reach Nairobi.

After that, you can call Nairobi to see if the package has reached. Call 254 20 363 6000, which is the general line, and DO NOT let them transfer you to immigration bc no one ever picks up that line. Be persistent if it happens bc i got transferred like 5 times before someone would listen. Also dont even bother emailing immigration like they advise bc they never returned my email except for an automatic reply. Just tell the first person you talk to that you can not reach the immigration office (and even tried emailing), but you have a case number for your K1 and you want to know if they have received your file so you can schedule for an interview.

As for scheduling the interview, we called on a Monday and asked for the earliest possible date (bc we were coming from Uganda) and they told us to come in Thursday that week, so dont worry. Just make sure you complete the medical exam and have all the necessary paper work together.

If no major issues arise, I dont see it being a problem for you guys to get through this by the end of the year. Best of luck!!

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Hi Annie,

When you receive a letter from NVC, give it another 1-2wks to reach Nairobi.

After that, you can call Nairobi to see if the package has reached. Call 254 20 363 6000, which is the general line, and DO NOT let them transfer you to immigration bc no one ever picks up that line. Be persistent if it happens bc i got transferred like 5 times before someone would listen. Also dont even bother emailing immigration like they advise bc they never returned my email except for an automatic reply. Just tell the first person you talk to that you can not reach the immigration office (and even tried emailing), but you have a case number for your K1 and you want to know if they have received your file so you can schedule for an interview.

As for scheduling the interview, we called on a Monday and asked for the earliest possible date (bc we were coming from Uganda) and they told us to come in Thursday that week, so dont worry. Just make sure you complete the medical exam and have all the necessary paper work together.

If no major issues arise, I dont see it being a problem for you guys to get through this by the end of the year. Best of luck!!

Thanks for the info! So it does seem to be a pretty smooth process and hopefully the people at the Embassy will be accomodating for us, too. I am trying to coordinate my time off and my travel dates and such, but it is so hard because we have no idea how long we will have to wait for the medical, between the medical and interview, and after the interview before picking up his visa. (Assuming he does get it). I guess I will have him get his medical and then I will just come for the interview part. There's really no reason he can't do that alone. Do you bring the medical exam results with you to the interview or are they forwarded to the embassy directly from the doctor? And how far in advance did you schedule your medical exam? I appreciate your reply.... I can't believe how this process seems to be flying!

[taatabunny 1]

Yes, you will have to bring the medical exam with you to your interview. You pick up your medical results the day after your exam.

Once you have the case number from NVC, you can schedule your medical exam (bc when you schedule they will ask for the case number). I'd suggest not doing the medicals and interview too far apart though, just bc it might be time sensitive and you dont want them requesting you to get another exam. I have not heard of this happening, but just to be sure ...

[HI-UG 4]

Yes, you will have to bring the medical exam with you to your interview. You pick up your medical results the day after your exam.

Yes but there's more information that is sent directly from IOM to the Embassy. Except the Embassy people sometimes get mixed up and tell people they were supposed to have brought that information...

I'd suggest not doing the medicals and interview too far apart though, just bc it might be time sensitive and you dont want them requesting you to get another exam.

I think there are one or two things in the exam where the results given to the the Embassy have to be pretty recent, but I forget what they are. If you have the interview within a week or two of the exam, it should be fine.

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Great. Thanks guys! So can you pretty much get your medical exam within a couple days of calling? Like it's not too much of a wait, right?

Edited October 11, 2010 by AnnieMugaya

[taatabunny 1]

From our experience, not a long wait for the interview at all as long as you have all the paperwork ready.

Also to further what HI-UG said, the Embassy people can definitely be very confusing.

In our case, my fiance had no health issues, so when we came back for the results the next day, they gave us a sealed envelope with whatever they put inside and said we were supposed to take that to the interview without breaking the seal. That's the only thing we brought to fulfill the medical part, and they didnt ask us for anything else.

[taatabunny 1]

Sorry Annie, i misread your first question so here's the more appropriate response:

From our experience, not a long wait for the medical at all. You can't call to set up the medical, you have to email nbomed@iom.int with

(1) NVC case number

(2) fiance's name

(3) date of birth

(4) preferred date of medical exam

(5) and a copy of your fiance's passport (I also attached the NVC letter that had our case number)

They'll email a confirmation in about two days, if not give them a call.

Due to work conflicts, I think I emailed about 10days before the date we wanted. They were super accommodating and told us we were scheduled for the date we requested.

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Oh perfect. That makes it easier, knowing that they are flexible with the appointment date. It's one less thing we have to worry about in terms of scheduling/travel arrangement conflicts. Thanks for your help.

[katie & sifa 25]

Sifa did medical in Mombasa, so it might be a little less busy than Nairobi, but they would have seen him the day he called if he'd been able to come in! It was very quick. Embassy was also very flexible...they gave us an interview date up front, but we couldn't do it then and called to reschedule...they let us pick the date we wanted. I feel like all in all, for K-1s, Nairobi is a pretty easy Embassy

[AnnieMugaya 3]

That made me smile! hoping for a smooth ride... Thanks!

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Sorry Annie, i misread your first question so here's the more appropriate response:

From our experience, not a long wait for the medical at all. You can't call to set up the medical, you have to email nbomed@iom.int with

(1) NVC case number

(2) fiance's name

(3) date of birth

(4) preferred date of medical exam

(5) and a copy of your fiance's passport (I also attached the NVC letter that had our case number)

They'll email a confirmation in about two days, if not give them a call.

Due to work conflicts, I think I emailed about 10days before the date we wanted. They were super accommodating and told us we were scheduled for the date we requested.

Do they require that you attach a passport photo as well? Or are they just brought to the appointment?

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Hey guys! Is the police certificate the certificate of good conduct? Jack lives in 2 different cities and we just wanted to be sure that the one certificate of good conduct would cover the whole requirement. They say it will take between 2-4 weeks to be ready... Does that sound about right? Thanks

[shefellfromheaven 18]

Goodluck Annie.