Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[skk526 0]

Hello, my husband and I are nervous because we just made it to NVC and we dont know exactly when the kenyan embassy would schedule an interview for us. I just bought my ticket to kenya for april 20-may 11. It was difficult to take time off of work because I work as a RN. For the people that had interviews already, did you attend the interviews with your spouse or fiance? I keep hearing of how strict the embassy may be. I just dont know if I will be able to make it especially if they do not allow USC to attend. Also, how do you contact the embassy to actually speak to someone? ::thank you

[Godlovesme 0]

They will forward to the embassy which will email in 4weeks with an appointment date.You will download the Packet 3 from their website which will give you the instructions.For questions you can email them at <ImmigrationVisaNairobi@state.gov> they will reply within 2-3 days.always ,ensure you have your case number there and your full names for both of you.Note phone calls never go through and if they do they give vague answers.

Good luck and congratulations for you have entered the second leg.

[Godlovesme 0]

I don't get the No interviews thing, they always give vague answers on the phone coz they are too busy to talk.You should expect an email with interview date, this will be sent to the petitioner on the email address you placed on the petition so i would ensure its working just in case you have more than one.Calling them will not help,but i prefer emailing them on <ImmigrationVisaNairobi@state.gov> they respond in 2 days 3 at most and they give better information which you can keep as documentation.Make sure you include your case number and names for the two of you as in the petition.

Have been dealing with them since January.They may be right on the no interviews coz lately they been bouncing us back and forth but i doubt if till May.

Good luck to you guys.

[Kefa and Sarah 0]

Yes, definitely. It will happen!

Thanks for all the support guys! I did call the embassy back yesterday and begged for more information, the option of filling in if smoeone cancelled, and that I was in the country specifically for the interview - no luck. She said that she doesn't even have the information, so I need to keep watching the website for the changes. I agree with Andrea, I think it might be moving to online booking - but not completely sure, just a guess. I think I'll try and contact my senator's office, see if they can get me some more information - it's worth a shot! We'll just have to wait and see!

Hope you all are having a good week!

[Kefa and Sarah 0]

Hello, my husband and I are nervous because we just made it to NVC and we dont know exactly when the kenyan embassy would schedule an interview for us. I just bought my ticket to kenya for april 20-may 11. It was difficult to take time off of work because I work as a RN. For the people that had interviews already, did you attend the interviews with your spouse or fiance? I keep hearing of how strict the embassy may be. I just dont know if I will be able to make it especially if they do not allow USC to attend. Also, how do you contact the embassy to actually speak to someone? ::thank you

Hey SKK526 - I actually just got to Kenya on sunday, seeing how the embassy has our case in their system, I thought it would be no problem to be on my return flight for April 12th - unfortunately their are some changes to the process. They don't have any openings until May and you can't even book until April, because they are changing their system. We begged and asked for more information, with no luck. So keep your eyes to the website the beginning of april to see what the changes are going to be.

Sorry to be a downer, but I just don't want you to be surprised when you look into things. Hopefully things will be figured out by the time you get here and you'll have no problem!

[katie & sifa 25]

Hello, my husband and I are nervous because we just made it to NVC and we dont know exactly when the kenyan embassy would schedule an interview for us. I just bought my ticket to kenya for april 20-may 11. It was difficult to take time off of work because I work as a RN. For the people that had interviews already, did you attend the interviews with your spouse or fiance? I keep hearing of how strict the embassy may be. I just dont know if I will be able to make it especially if they do not allow USC to attend. Also, how do you contact the embassy to actually speak to someone? ::thank you

They used to let USC's go right up to the counter with the fiance/spouse for the interview (a year ago they let me!), but I have read recently that they haven't allowed it. Things are always changing there...you might try calling directly (ask for the visa department, and if no one answers call back and ask for someone else in the visa department) or emailing and asking, but I was reading reviews this morning of the Embassy and they told one person that they COULD go with their fiance, and then when they got there they were told they couldn't.

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Thanks for all the support guys! I did call the embassy back yesterday and begged for more information, the option of filling in if smoeone cancelled, and that I was in the country specifically for the interview - no luck. She said that she doesn't even have the information, so I need to keep watching the website for the changes. I agree with Andrea, I think it might be moving to online booking - but not completely sure, just a guess. I think I'll try and contact my senator's office, see if they can get me some more information - it's worth a shot! We'll just have to wait and see!

Hope you all are having a good week!

Sarah- did you hear anything back via email yet? Another email asking them to clarify the upcoming changes wouldn't hurt...

[katie & sifa 25]

Hey guys- Jack and I are finally at ease. We had his interview this morning and he was approved!!! Although I wasn't allowed to stand with him, i think it really helped that I was there. The consular officer seemed new and a little unsure of the process, and she was so strict. She denied every single applicant ahead of us. She kept leaving the window to confirm details and the next steps with the other consular officers. At one point she returned and tried to give him a green slip to come back with more evidence. She said at this time, your case will be put on hold because you have failed to show evidence of support. And Jack asked her if she meant relationship support or what and she said he was lacking the affidavit, but she hadnt even asked for it! He was like no, no, I have that right here! And she intensely interrogated him for a full 25 minutes past that about absolutely everything under the sun, trying to trip him up along the way. She literally asked at least 50 questions and at one point asked if in our contract money had changed hands. He laughed and said nooo wayy. She was not amused, haha. She also told him that I wasnt supposed to be there with him, although I had confirmed ahead of time that it was ok. Overall the only pleasant part about the experience was the approval and the fact that we pick up the visa on the 18th and will be home for Thanksgiving! Anyway, she finally passed him a slip and said come back on the 18th to collect your visa, and have a good day. I walked by the window to leave and i smiled and said thank you and when we made eye contact she smiled so fast and then immediately looked backed down at her papers, as if she had remembered that smiling was against the rules So here we are. Thanks for all the support and advice. I will keep you all posted!

skk526 - here is Annie's experience from earlier in the thread that is more recent in terms of being allowed in for the interview. But as you can see, things are ALWAYS changing there it seems! Each of us has had different experiences with everything, from setting the appointment to being allowed up to when you pick up the visa. So...be prepared for anything, I guess.

[AnnieMugaya 3]

skk526 - here is Annie's experience from earlier in the thread that is more recent in terms of being allowed in for the interview. But as you can see, things are ALWAYS changing there it seems! Each of us has had different experiences with everything, from setting the appointment to being allowed up to when you pick up the visa. So...be prepared for anything, I guess.

Yeah very true. And just to add to that, as I think I posted once before, but.. when we went to collect the visa, the guards wouldn't even let me through security. They said that after our interview, they changed the rules and the US citizen is no longer allowed in with their spouse/fiancé. But as Katie said, the other staff, particularly those taking calls, probably weren't aware of the changes right away and were still telling people they could come. The guards Told us that they alone had a meeting and were told of the new policy- so that is probably where the contradiction is coming from. I would suggest sending an email to the immigration unit simply asking if you would be allowed to attend. That way, whatever they say is in writing!

[Nyosh 5]

The Nairobi Embassy has really changed its visa processes.

My someone got this email on contacting the embassy about if he can be allowed to attend the wife's interview:-

Unfortunately, we are unable to grant you an appointment to accompany your wife to the interview. For a variety of reasons including lack of space and security reasons, we do not allow American Citizens in the visa waiting room unless there is an extenuating circumstance.

We do all interviews only with the beneficiary present. If there are concerns about the legitimacy of the relationship, we will request after the first interview for the beneficiary to make a separate appointment to be accompanied with their spouse for a more in-depth interview.

I regret that I am not able to provide the service you request, but that is our policy.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit Chief"

But you can contact the embassy and see if they will allow you in. If not, your spouse can go for the interview and all will be ok. I went through the Nairobi Embassy and attended my interview alone without my spouse and it turned out fine. Wish you all the best.

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Thanks for sharing! So it's true- they definitely changed the policy! And you're right, it is ok to go alone.... They will ask for a 2nd interview with the USC if need be. And I know of someone else who was asked when they last saw their fiancé, and he said "she's outside" and the IO seemed satisfied to hear that.

[katie & sifa 25]

I've read elsewhere on VJ that people have also given their spouse/fiance their passport as proof that they are in fact in the country at that moment waiting outside if the USC isn't allowed in.

[Nyosh 5]

I've read elsewhere on VJ that people have also given their spouse/fiance their passport as proof that they are in fact in the country at that moment waiting outside if the USC isn't allowed in.

Yes, in some embassies you can show the passport of the USC spouse, but Nairobi Embassy is strict, very strict. And if the USC passport is not a required document to look at, they wont even care to look at it. The secret is just to prove your case with the correct documentation and evidence and be confident about it.

[katie & sifa 25]

Yes, in some embassies you can show the passport of the USC spouse, but Nairobi Embassy is strict, very strict. And if the USC passport is not a required document to look at, they wont even care to look at it. The secret is just to prove your case with the correct documentation and evidence and be confident about it.

Right, but the idea would be that if they asked "when is the last time you saw your fiance(e)?" you could say "s/he's right outside, here is his/her passport." This was our plan with any questions asked - answer, and if at all possible answer and back it up with evidence even if they don't ask for it. Then they only asked us 4 questions, and they were all incredibly easy. If they don't want to look at it, fine, but at least you'd have it to show as evidence (just like any other form of relationship evidence that you would carry with you) if the question were to arise, sindiyo? I don't see how it would hurt, if the USC is there anyway.

[Nyosh 5]

Right, but the idea would be that if they asked "when is the last time you saw your fiance(e)?" you could say "s/he's right outside, here is his/her passport." This was our plan with any questions asked - answer, and if at all possible answer and back it up with evidence even if they don't ask for it. Then they only asked us 4 questions, and they were all incredibly easy. If they don't want to look at it, fine, but at least you'd have it to show as evidence (just like any other form of relationship evidence that you would carry with you) if the question were to arise, sindiyo? I don't see how it would hurt, if the USC is there anyway.

Sure! Thats very true.