Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[Beaulahluo 1]

Thank you ALL for your encouragement and support! I really couldn't do this alone, it's so confusing and overwhelming.

I think we got some good news though!! Still trying to figure it all out, but I emailed the consulate on Friday, as some of you suggested. I attached a picture of the form Dan was given, and all of our case data numbers/information and explained what Dan was told in his interview. I asked if it was customary to refuse visas for reasons that go explicitly against printed materials provided by the consulate (he was refused because he didn't have a police certificate for somewhere he had been less than a year.) I asked what the next step was once we provide the police certificate, and a time estimate.

This morning I got a response: They told us to DHL his police certificate AND passport and they will expedite the visa process.

I am hoping that means once they get his police certificate that they will issue the visa. Have yet to hear from my lawyer, but here's to hoping!!!

Thanks again everyone!

[rasta 37]

thats wonderful.

i got a response today , guess what they said that they didnt have my email on file and they couldnt send me the appt letter. they sent it out on march 13 for her to test on march 29 this thur, and they said if i dont make it next rescheduling is 8 weeks. how did they not have my email and i have been communicating with them back and forth. i think my congressman and senator rattled the cage. they also adviced me to dhl the phone logs and wedding plans.

[Ben and Jill 37]

Thank you ALL for your encouragement and support! I really couldn't do this alone, it's so confusing and overwhelming.

I think we got some good news though!! Still trying to figure it all out, but I emailed the consulate on Friday, as some of you suggested. I attached a picture of the form Dan was given, and all of our case data numbers/information and explained what Dan was told in his interview. I asked if it was customary to refuse visas for reasons that go explicitly against printed materials provided by the consulate (he was refused because he didn't have a police certificate for somewhere he had been less than a year.) I asked what the next step was once we provide the police certificate, and a time estimate.

This morning I got a response: They told us to DHL his police certificate AND passport and they will expedite the visa process.

I am hoping that means once they get his police certificate that they will issue the visa. Have yet to hear from my lawyer, but here's to hoping!!!

Thanks again everyone!

That's FABULOUS...I think you are so good to go! Lawyer??? Hec, you could have done all this yourself woman, LOL. Anyway, it sounds to me like your man is on his way home soon. Best of luck, sweetie, and I am very happy for you both!

[Ben and Jill 37]

thats wonderful.

i got a response today , guess what they said that they didnt have my email on file and they couldnt send me the appt letter. they sent it out on march 13 for her to test on march 29 this thur, and they said if i dont make it next rescheduling is 8 weeks. how did they not have my email and i have been communicating with them back and forth. i think my congressman and senator rattled the cage. they also adviced me to dhl the phone logs and wedding plans.

I hope she can go on March 29th. I'd hate to see you guys wait another 8 weeks. Give them what they want, and all will be fine in no time. Good luck with everything, and keep us posted.

[KelseyGrace 0]

My fiancé had his interview today. They asked him...

When did you meet?

When did you start dating?

When did you propose?

What was your reason for going to America? He was here to visit me.

Did you finish your semester of school? That was he reason he gave for tourist visa for why he needed to return and he was able to finish it up online mostly.

Why do you want to get married so fast? Not sure why they asked this question... we have been dating to years. Engaged in November. Plan to marry in July.

THen she asked to see recent pictures and he gave her the 30 or 40 I had sent. All had locations and dates on the back. I guess she seemed satisfied. She literally looked at no other supporting evidence. Good thing I didn't stress out about not getting those phone records from our phone company. Also we had a cosponsor (my parents) and that was no problem at all. Then she said she could not issue his visa without an original birth certificate, he only had an affidavit from the court in UG. We thought if you did not already have a birth certificate you were just supposed to get this affidavit. But apparently you need both?

He got a yellow piece of paper saying that he needs to DHL his birth certificate and passport to the embassy.

So I assume we are approved once he does that???

Beahulu what email address did you use to request expediting the process?

[Ben and Jill 37]

My fiancé had his interview today. They asked him...

When did you meet?

When did you start dating?

When did you propose?

What was your reason for going to America? He was here to visit me.

Did you finish your semester of school? That was he reason he gave for tourist visa for why he needed to return and he was able to finish it up online mostly.

Why do you want to get married so fast? Not sure why they asked this question... we have been dating to years. Engaged in November. Plan to marry in July.

THen she asked to see recent pictures and he gave her the 30 or 40 I had sent. All had locations and dates on the back. I guess she seemed satisfied. She literally looked at no other supporting evidence. Good thing I didn't stress out about not getting those phone records from our phone company. Also we had a cosponsor (my parents) and that was no problem at all. Then she said she could not issue his visa without an original birth certificate, he only had an affidavit from the court in UG. We thought if you did not already have a birth certificate you were just supposed to get this affidavit. But apparently you need both?

He got a yellow piece of paper saying that he needs to DHL his birth certificate and passport to the embassy.

So I assume we are approved once he does that???

Beahulu what email address did you use to request expediting the process?

Yes, they should issue the visa once he gives them his birth certificate and passport. Hurry up and send it to them so he can come home. Stay blessed. Congrats.

[rasta 37]

Thank you ALL for your encouragement and support! I really couldn't do this alone, it's so confusing and overwhelming.

I think we got some good news though!! Still trying to figure it all out, but I emailed the consulate on Friday, as some of you suggested. I attached a picture of the form Dan was given, and all of our case data numbers/information and explained what Dan was told in his interview. I asked if it was customary to refuse visas for reasons that go explicitly against printed materials provided by the consulate (he was refused because he didn't have a police certificate for somewhere he had been less than a year.) I asked what the next step was once we provide the police certificate, and a time estimate.

This morning I got a response: They told us to DHL his police certificate AND passport and they will expedite the visa process.

I am hoping that means once they get his police certificate that they will issue the visa. Have yet to hear from my lawyer, but here's to hoping!!!

Thanks again everyone!

my fiance and son did the dna test today at the embassy. got a letter from senator saying that DOS said my case is in AP and cannot expedite.but they will inform me as soon as the result is out. my fiance asked the visa section if she should mail the forms DHL they said no we will tell you to come with them after we get the DNA results. the embassy earlier had sent me an email when i had asked them should she come with the docs or mail them , they said mail them. contradiction of info. i will have her make copies and mail the copies. and when they reschedule her intvw to go with the originals.

[Ben and Jill 37]

my fiance and son did the dna test today at the embassy. got a letter from senator saying that DOS said my case is in AP and cannot expedite.but they will inform me as soon as the result is out. my fiance asked the visa section if she should mail the forms DHL they said no we will tell you to come with them after we get the DNA results. the embassy earlier had sent me an email when i had asked them should she come with the docs or mail them , they said mail them. contradiction of info. i will have her make copies and mail the copies. and when they reschedule her intvw to go with the originals.

I'm really happy that they were able to go for the appointment, and that you didn't have to wait for another 8 weeks. Once the Embassy receives the DNA results, you will be moved out of AP and the process will continue for you. At least you had your senator try for you. There probably isn't much more the senator can do now, you will have to sit tight and wait. It'll all work out. I'm sorry you have to endure all of this though. Good luck with everything and keep us posted.

[Beaulahluo 1]

Beahulu what email address did you use to request expediting the process?

I emailed: ImmigrationVisaNairobi@state.gov

Good luck!! It sounds like all will be well once that is done!

[rasta 37]

I'm really happy that they were able to go for the appointment, and that you didn't have to wait for another 8 weeks. Once the Embassy receives the DNA results, you will be moved out of AP and the process will continue for you. At least you had your senator try for you. There probably isn't much more the senator can do now, you will have to sit tight and wait. It'll all work out. I'm sorry you have to endure all of this though. Good luck with everything and keep us posted.

thanks alot. thanks for the empathy

[Beaulahluo 1]

thanks alot. thanks for the empathy

Yes, we're rooting for you guys too! And hoping the DNA processing will go quickly for you. All this waiting can really wear on you, but it's worth it in the end.

[Ben and Jill 37]

Yes, we're rooting for you guys too! And hoping the DNA processing will go quickly for you. All this waiting can really wear on you, but it's worth it in the end.

It IS SO worth it...you are 150% right But, you don't need to wonder why some of us are a little crazy, LOL This process is really sumthin'. All the best to everyone.

Edited March 30, 2012 by Ben and Jill

[Gigli2008 70]

I want to post some information on this Nairobi thread just incase someone comes along with the same situation.

The NVC requires everyone over 16 to give police certificates when sending the IV packet. Well the CID in Kenya told my aunt that they could not issue a police certificate "certificate of good conduct" to my 16 year old son who I petitioned for because.........well...........he is not 18 years old yet, Duh!! He does not have a national ID and therefore not in any database. Why does the NVC ask for this in the first place for minors?

Anyways, I called the NVC and told them that my country is not able to issue police certificate for my 16 year old son, for the reasons cited above. The operator told me to hold on so she can do some research. She came back and told me to attach a letter indicating why the police certificate was un-available.

Hopefully this information will help someone else here on VJ in the future.

[Ben and Jill 37]

Thank you so much, Gigli2008 All the best to you in your journey.

[taatabunny 1]

So an update...Dan's visa was refused this morning based on "missing evidence." Ten years ago Dan lived in Kenya for about 9 months (less than a year). He did not have a police clearance from Kenya, and so his interviewer refused his visa application based on that, and on the fact that I am attending Harvard and she said, since he had not completed University that "there's no way an American would marry you."

The questions he was asked - these are only a few, he was bombarded with questions and demeaning comments:

What countries have you visited? he said Kenya. "Where is your police clearance for Kenya?"

Where does your fiance work, how old is she, how did we meet, how many times we've seen each other Where does she go to school, "American's don't get married to people that don't have degrees" "why would someone who decided to go to that school ever decide to marry you?"

She said, "I am not convinced of your relationship, how can you do that, how can you marry someone from Harvard"

She said she was "Not satisfied with the relationship."

The personality of the interviewer was brusque, demeaning, rushed, ridiculing.

I had provided 100+ pages of additional information including wedding dress receipts, deposit for wedding reception, daily conversation logs from the day we got engaged, emails, phone logs... everything was well organized and clearly marked but she looked at none of it. They examined our financial documents and then the harangue ensued. We had plenty of photos and she did not request more.

He went directly to the Kenyan police and filled out the paperwork...two more weeks until he can pick that up. He also visited Tanzania ten years ago (also for less than a year) who knows if they'll want that police clearance too although the form they gave him says only that he needs to provide a Kenyan police clearance.

He was interviewed by the infamous blond...I am devastated but trying to keep my chin up.

I am not sure if she was the same blonde haired interviewer who interviewed me back in 2010 but if she is thin, then she is the one. After witnessing people getting humiliated (one student with a paid for scholarship got denied on grounds that her English was bad for an american school, yet she could communicate well and other applicants told to get into schools in Kenya and south Africa) all I remember doing was being super confident and looked her straight in the eyes without any smile at all lest I gave her a chance to demean me.

She was really so judgmental without even hearing the story or looking at the evidence. People choose who to love and marry unconditionally.

Though it doesn't sound like you were denied, it seems like a request for further evidence.

To all those with upcoming interviews, all the best and just be confident and well prepare your evidence.