Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[soon~tobe 0]

ARK1

Just want you to know we are all sending positive thoughts and prayers towards your interview today!!!

[ARK1 0]

Thanks! He went for his interview and was approved

After I talk with him I'll post the details in case someone can benefit

ARK1

Just want you to know we are all sending positive thoughts and prayers towards your interview today!!!

[soon~tobe 0]

WAHOOO!!!! I figured we would get a post saying that sometime today. Can't wait to hear the details.

My babe and I were talking today about wether or not I should go to the interview. I really want to but I think money is going to be an issue. But, then I keep thinking if I don't go and we are denied and me being there could have been beneficial some way, then I would have not cared charging the ticket and going.

Also looks like my petition is MIA somewhere between CSC and NVS, I really thought it would be in Kenya this week. Sadly NVS says they haven't seen it.

[luvhasnoborders 0]

YEAHHHHHH!!!! Congratulations ARK1.........I'm very excited for you guys!!!!

Soon~tobe: I have the same dilemna......I really want to go to the interview for not only support and something memorable for us, but I don't want my absence to be judged......but I work for the school system and the way everything was initially moving, we thought we would be having our interview during winter break.....now our case is stuck at NVC......so, our schools are back in session.........if it drags out until Spring Break....maybe I can attend the interview......if not, he will be attending by himself....I know he will do fine.....he knows us.......but, just don't want to be judged by interviewer on the one point of not attending.

ARK1....can't wait to hear interview details.......

[Madwoman 2]

YEAHHHHHH!!!! Congratulations ARK1.........I'm very excited for you guys!!!!

Soon~tobe: I have the same dilemna......I really want to go to the interview for not only support and something memorable for us, but I don't want my absence to be judged......but I work for the school system and the way everything was initially moving, we thought we would be having our interview during winter break.....now our case is stuck at NVC......so, our schools are back in session.........if it drags out until Spring Break....maybe I can attend the interview......if not, he will be attending by himself....I know he will do fine.....he knows us.......but, just don't want to be judged by interviewer on the one point of not attending.

ARK1....can't wait to hear interview details.......

Hey everyone--I am back this morning from our second trip to Nairobi--VISA IN HAND!!!!! :dance: :dance: :dance: Wow--I can't believe how easy the whole thing was--the most difficult part of the interview was waiting for it!

Here are some details:

We were able to move our interview date to Jan 7th--yesterday! (ARK we were right behind you!)

On Jan 6th Hiller picked up his medical results and completed his vaccinations (he had to pay 9,700 KSH for the vaccinations--ugh. They were the MMR triple combination, polio, and the first dose of varicella (for chicken pox). He already had his Yellow Fever shot.

We didn't have any problem with the embassy accepting the medical examination and didn't hear anything about a change in doctors.

Hiller's appointment was at 7 am the next day. We stayed at a cheap hotel right near the taxi park that I would recommend. It's no Holiday Inn, but it has hot water, comfortable, clean beds and is very cheap (we payed 1,200 a night). Breakfast is included. It takes only 20 min from the hotel to get to the Embassy via matatu (#106 near the post office).

We arrived at the Embassy at 6:30 am and after passing through security, began the long wait on the hard chairs inside the visa section. Hiller waited in line to be fingerprinted and then we waited for his name to be called. Finally, at 11:30 am "Pario, Hiller" was called. A few details:

1) I was able to walk right up to the window with my fiance for the interview! No problems, no questions asked.

2) I had WAY over prepared. I had compiled a big file of photos, e-mails and Skype calls--none of which was looked at. The consular basically just went from what was already in the original petition.

3) He asked only 2 questions: To Hiller: When did you meet your fiancee? Then (referring to the petition) "Who compiled these photos, and phone records?" I replied that I had. He told me I had done a good job and he would issue Hiller a visa. The man was SO NICE I couldn't believe it.

4) The consular then said that the K-1 visa would take a long time to process and we could pick it up on the 16th. We then asked very nicely if there was any way we could expedite it because Hiller lives in Uganda and needed to finish his last couple of weeks at work. The consular left to check if it was possible to speed things up, and when he returned he told us to go and sit and wait about 30 minutes for the visa! Well, the 30 minutes turned out to be about 4 hours but we weren't complaining! At 3:30 Hiller was issued his visa and given a packet to give to the officer at the POE. YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Also: As far as document--all they took were the two copies of the 156, two copies of the Fiance Visa non-immigrant application and only the first part of the 230. They also wanted a copy of Hiller's birth certificate. We had his original so they just made their own copy. Police certificate, 2 passport photos, medical exam forms, affidavit of support. I think that is all.

Also, while we were waiting, we chatted with a man from Eritrea whose job was translating for people from Eritrea, and Somalia. He has frequented the Embassy for a long time and is very familiar with the people working there. He told us that two months ago, a woman was doing immigrant interviews, and she was a lot stricter than the new guy! She would ask all sorts of questions and was basically a lot more difficult. He said that so many people got denied that USC family members started complaining. Anyway, she was replaced by this new guy, who is far nicer. We felt very lucky! Anway...we feel very lucky that, after all that worrying and heartache, things really went pretty smoothly. I am glad I came because I do think it helped, although I don't think it is essential.

I wish all of you still waiting the best of luck! NIMO--Congratlations on your wife's 10 year green card!!! ARK--I would love to hear your fiancee's experience!

If any of you have any more questions, I will try to get back to you--but I am still in Uganda until Feb 20 and on "African time"

Maddelene

[soon~tobe 0]

Mad---I am so happy for you! That is great that it was so easy!! I can't imagine what i great feeling it must be to have that visa in hand!

Congrats!

[Perseverance 1]

Congrats to all the good news from Nairobi

[forchika 4]

Dropped in to add my CONGRTAS to ARK 1 and Madwoman on getting the final visa approval!!!!

[luvhasnoborders 0]

MADWOMAN..........wow.........CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I am so happy for you guys!!!!!!!!!! What a great interview story. Thanks for the details and the renewed hope!

[NimoMN 0]

Congratulations! I am only jealous you will be in UG until Feb!!!!!! Enjoy the warmth and sunshine now that you can relax.

[shefellfromheaven 18]

Congrats Madwoman

Congrats Ark

[soon~tobe 0]

Hey Mad, I have a question. When you went to pick up your medical papers from the Embassy did you have to schedule a time or just show up and when you showed up what did you tell them? My case seems to be stuck and NVC but I was hoping to maybe get a head start by sending Allan to get his medical done. Does anyone think it is possible to get the medical done before the embassy has my packet?

[shefellfromheaven 18]

Im in the same boat with you soon

Was wondering if I can proceed with the medicals before packet at embassy

[luvhasnoborders 0]

Wow....soon~tobe and shefell......we are all thinking alike!!!! My fiance and I just discussed this same thing on Friday. So, I asked on the August thread and some people said it is up to the embassy. So, I looked up embassy info and someone had posted that you could show your NOA2 to get in the embassy and pick up the packet.

We are going to call the embassy in the morning and find out since he is in Rwanda and would have to make the trip. I also would like to clarify the doctors since there is a different list now than just a few weeks before, but maybe they are listed in the packet.

So, if the embassy says he can come with the NOA2 and pick up his packet, then we will also call for a doctor's appointment.

We are going to call as soon as they open in the morning, so I will post what I find out.

By the way, we will be at NVC for 4 weeks tomorrow. Hopefully they are trying to save money and are holding all our Nairobi packages together in order to send them at once!!!!

[shefellfromheaven 18]

keep us posted lovehasno borders