Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[Cotton Candy 0]

Hi all,

Kenya emailed us (yay! we didn't even have to chase them!) with the K1 packet instructions. If possible, I want to do the least days possible in Kenya for the interview. I was thinking about doing medicals day 1 and the interview day 2. I was talking to Gloria (G & Oxy) and we're wondering if this is feasible. How long does IOM takes to send the documents to the embassy?

Please advise. Thank you

[Ben and Jill 37]

Hi all,

Kenya emailed us (yay! we didn't even have to chase them!) with the K1 packet instructions. If possible, I want to do the least days possible in Kenya for the interview. I was thinking about doing medicals day 1 and the interview day 2. I was talking to Gloria (G & Oxy) and we're wondering if this is feasible. How long does IOM takes to send the documents to the embassy?

Please advise. Thank you

Hi Cotton Candy ~ When Ben had his medical, it took TWO half days, not one. I believe it's still the same way now. It typically takes two mornings and Ben was done by noon the first day, and by 1:00 p.m. the second day. I'm not exactly sure how long it takes for the Embassy to receive the medical from IOM because our interview was a couple weeks after the medical and it was definitely at the Embassy well before then. I would send IOM an email and just ask them...I'm thinking it shouldn't take that long. "Kevlynn" recently went through the process and his interview was only a few days after his medical if I am not mistaken and it went fine. You can send him a message and ask him; I'm sure he'd provide as much insight as he can for you. Much love and stay blessed.

[Cotton Candy 0]

Hi Cotton Candy ~ When Ben had his medical, it took TWO half days, not one. I believe it's still the same way now. It typically takes two mornings and Ben was done by noon the first day, and by 1:00 p.m. the second day. I'm not exactly sure how long it takes for the Embassy to receive the medical from IOM because our interview was a couple weeks after the medical and it was definitely at the Embassy well before then. I would send IOM an email and just ask them...I'm thinking it shouldn't take that long. "Kevlynn" recently went through the process and his interview was only a few days after his medical if I am not mistaken and it went fine. You can send him a message and ask him; I'm sure he'd provide as much insight as he can for you. Much love and stay blessed.

Yeah, it still takes two days. So I'll want to have the interview the third day. I'll email IOM to be certain.

Thanks Ben and Jill!

[Ben and Jill 37]

Yeah, it still takes two days. So I'll want to have the interview the third day. I'll email IOM to be certain.

Thanks Ben and Jill!

You're most welcome. Yes, you should definitely find out. I'm not certain that the Embassy would have the results of the medical that fast...it's only one day later. Good luck with everything and let us know how everything goes. Stay blessed.

[Cotton Candy 0]

Hi again,

I feel like you're all going to hear about me for a lil while. lol. So my fiance didn't receive the NOA2 hardcopy and the letter from NVC in mail. But we do have NOA2 email and email from Nairobi with the interview instructions. Is it fine to present only that email at the embassy?

Thank you

[Ben and Jill 37]

Hi again,

I feel like you're all going to hear about me for a lil while. lol. So my fiance didn't receive the NOA2 hardcopy and the letter from NVC in mail. But we do have NOA2 email and email from Nairobi with the interview instructions. Is it fine to present only that email at the embassy?

Thank you

What are you referring to exactly? Do you mean present it at the Embassy so you can get in for your interview or do you mean during the interview??? Do get into the Embassy, you will need your appointment confirmation that you print yourself from the scheduling website. During the interview, Ben wasn't ever asked for the NOA2...I don't think you'll need that, but you can bring the email that you do have just in case. You'll be fine with what you have, as long as you have your appointment confirmation to "be allowed into the Embassy" for your interview. Am I making sense? lol. I just read it to myself and I sure hope so! Stay blessed

Edited August 8, 2012 by Ben and Jill

[Cotton Candy 0]

What are you referring to exactly? Do you mean present it at the Embassy so you can get in for your interview or do you mean during the interview??? Do get into the Embassy, you will need your appointment confirmation that you print yourself from the scheduling website. During the interview, Ben wasn't ever asked for the NOA2...I don't think you'll need that, but you can bring the email that you do have just in case. You'll be fine with what you have, as long as you have your appointment confirmation to "be allowed into the Embassy" for your interview. Am I making sense? lol. I just read it to myself and I sure hope so! Stay blessed

Ok, I will have the appointment confirmation after I pay for the visa and schedule it online, which can only be done in kenya ?

[Nick&Ann 1]

Ok, I will have the appointment confirmation after I pay for the visa and schedule it online, which can only be done in kenya ?

Hey Cotton Candy,

Don't look so down. You can pay for your visa fee here in Uganda. I did it yesterday using M-pesa and I just booked my appointment today :dance: All you have to do is buy a safari com line, register it, print out the PDF on the website and then pay the money to an M-Pesa agent and then he will send the money to your safaricom Number and then you can pay using the instructions on the receipt.

After that, come back online and schedule your appointment. After you have paid, you have to wait 4 hours before you can schedule your appointment. M-pesa is like Mobile money. I can give you the number of the M-pesa agent who helped me, if you want.

On the appointment scheduling website, make sure you choose the M-pesa safaricom option and print out the PDF and all the instructions are there. Ask me if you need more help.

Will gladly help. Good day.

[Cotton Candy 0]

Hey Cotton Candy,

Don't look so down. You can pay for your visa fee here in Uganda. I did it yesterday using M-pesa and I just booked my appointment today :dance: All you have to do is buy a safari com line, register it, print out the PDF on the website and then pay the money to an M-Pesa agent and then he will send the money to your safaricom Number and then you can pay using the instructions on the receipt.

After that, come back online and schedule your appointment. After you have paid, you have to wait 4 hours before you can schedule your appointment. M-pesa is like Mobile money. I can give you the number of the M-pesa agent who helped me, if you want.

On the appointment scheduling website, make sure you choose the M-pesa safaricom option and print out the PDF and all the instructions are there. Ask me if you need more help.

Will gladly help. Good day.

Thanks 'Nick&Ann'. But I am from Mauritius. I'm not sure this is possible.

[afoyoswa 178]

Hey Cotton Candy,

Don't look so down. You can pay for your visa fee here in Uganda. I did it yesterday using M-pesa and I just booked my appointment today :dance: All you have to do is buy a safari com line, register it, print out the PDF on the website and then pay the money to an M-Pesa agent and then he will send the money to your safaricom Number and then you can pay using the instructions on the receipt.

After that, come back online and schedule your appointment. After you have paid, you have to wait 4 hours before you can schedule your appointment. M-pesa is like Mobile money. I can give you the number of the M-pesa agent who helped me, if you want.

On the appointment scheduling website, make sure you choose the M-pesa safaricom option and print out the PDF and all the instructions are there. Ask me if you need more help.

Will gladly help. Good day.

Oh, really? I've been thinking all this time that we will have to get the money to someone we know in Kenya in order to pay the visa fee. Aaron is in Entebbe: where would he go to buy a safaricom line or find an M-pesa agent? (I should probably just ask *him*--maybe he knows all about this stuff?) And this is for scheduling the visa interview, or the medical appointment, or both?

[katie & sifa 25]

Hi again,

I feel like you're all going to hear about me for a lil while. lol. So my fiance didn't receive the NOA2 hardcopy and the letter from NVC in mail. But we do have NOA2 email and email from Nairobi with the interview instructions. Is it fine to present only that email at the embassy?

Thank you

Cotton Candy - you won't need the NOA2 at the Embassy HOWEVER...we had this problem too, that it was never mailed to us. You DO need it for the AOS process!! Get your fiance to start calling USCIS and asking them to send it. It took me SEVERAL phone calls and being sent to higher levels etc before someone finally recognized that USCIS was at fault and went ahead and sent it to me. You don't need it right away but you do need it!

[Nick&Ann 1]

Oh, really? I've been thinking all this time that we will have to get the money to someone we know in Kenya in order to pay the visa fee. Aaron is in Entebbe: where would he go to buy a safaricom line or find an M-pesa agent? (I should probably just ask *him*--maybe he knows all about this stuff?) And this is for scheduling the visa interview, or the medical appointment, or both?

I thought that too, until I saw the option of M-pesa while trying to schedule my appointment. When I saw the M-pesa option, I had seen shops around town with that service but better yet, my sister has a friend who does that, so yesterday I went to the agent and he helped me out. He sold me a safaricom line, sent the money to my line and i sent the fee myself. I booked my interview today morning.

This guy is found in Kampala. I'm not sure about other agents but I know this guy through my sister and i'm sure, he can help. I can send you his details. For the medical, I received a confirmation for my appointment and I think you have to go with the money in cash

Good luck and speedy NOA2. hang in there. God bless

[Nick&Ann 1]

Thanks 'Nick&Ann'. But I am from Mauritius. I'm not sure this is possible.

Don't give up so easily, look around and ask around. You'll never know until you try. So sorry, I thought you were from Uganda but either way, try and fail but don't fail to try.

Ask around and you might be surprised what you find. Also what options does the website give about payment, i'm sure they are country specific. Find out and then you wont have to go to Nairobi before you are truly ready. Good luck.

[afoyoswa 178]

I thought that too, until I saw the option of M-pesa while trying to schedule my appointment. When I saw the M-pesa option, I had seen shops around town with that service but better yet, my sister has a friend who does that, so yesterday I went to the agent and he helped me out. He sold me a safaricom line, sent the money to my line and i sent the fee myself. I booked my interview today morning.

This guy is found in Kampala. I'm not sure about other agents but I know this guy through my sister and i'm sure, he can help. I can send you his details. For the medical, I received a confirmation for my appointment and I think you have to go with the money in cash

Good luck and speedy NOA2. hang in there. God bless

Thanks--this is very helpful! I'm passing this info along to Aaron. It will be really nice to be able to sort out a lot of this stuff before Aaron and I go to Nairobi.

And......I got my NOA2 yesterday!!!!! So now we are officially into the Stuff Happening phase: whee!

Ann, do you have any tips for getting the police certificate? I got some instructions from the USC half of another UG/USC couple, but it would be even better to hear from someone who's actually dealt with it.

So, the next part is: call NVC until they receive the petition and can give me the case number. Then I can start contacting Nairobi to find out when they receive it. When Nairobi receives the petition, they will schedule the medical exam, and we can pay the visa fee and schedule the interview (for at least 3 days after the medical exam). Something like that? Did I miss anything?

[Ben and Jill 37]

Thanks--this is very helpful! I'm passing this info along to Aaron. It will be really nice to be able to sort out a lot of this stuff before Aaron and I go to Nairobi.

And......I got my NOA2 yesterday!!!!! So now we are officially into the Stuff Happening phase: whee!

Ann, do you have any tips for getting the police certificate? I got some instructions from the USC half of another UG/USC couple, but it would be even better to hear from someone who's actually dealt with it.

So, the next part is: call NVC until they receive the petition and can give me the case number. Then I can start contacting Nairobi to find out when they receive it. When Nairobi receives the petition, they will schedule the medical exam, and we can pay the visa fee and schedule the interview (for at least 3 days after the medical exam). Something like that? Did I miss anything?

First, congrats on your NOA2...things will move along quickly now. The Embassy doesn't schedule the medical exam, Aaron does that himself, but he will need the email from the Embassy confirming that they've received his petition. The email also gives instructions on how and where to schedule the medical. Aaron will have his medical at IOM in Nairobi. Just wanted to clarify that the Embassy doesn't schedule the exam for you. Good luck with everything! I know you guys will be super fine.