Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[afoyoswa 178]

Joy, the letter from the bank is actually on the instructions as supporting evidence for the I-134...I would get it if you can. I did and it doesn't take that long - get two copies of the letter. If you can't, I would think the other supporting evidence you have would be OK. The Embassy can be so quirky though, so I personally would not risk it. You KNOW how they are! LOL

As far as your other question about the fee, we used MPesa to pay the fee and you need the MRV receipt number in order to schedule the interview. Let me read through the link you attached and try to remember how we did it and come back to you. I don't want to give you the wrong information

Hi Jill,

The instructions say "Evidence should consist of copies of any of the documents listed below that applies to your situation" and list several different forms of evidence:

A. Bank letter

B. Employer statement

C. If self employed, copy of last income tax return or report of commercial rating concern

D. List of serial numbers/denominations of bonds & name of record owner(s)

I'm definitely not providing ( C ) or (D), and I'm not listing my savings on the I-134, so there's not anything that a bank letter would need to be verifying.

My primary bank account is online, so I'm not sure how big of a deal it will be to get a letter. Also, I have my savings scattered around in a bunch of different accounts opened at different times, so it would be ridiculously complicated to generate one, I'd imagine! I'm going to try, but I'm hoping I'll be okay even if it doesn't work out.

Thanks for the details about the MPesa payment. Clearly I'm fixating on this one specific thing to lessen my angst about all of the other overwhelming details. (We're making some flexible-but-possibly-definite wedding plans now: did I mention that?) I think I've identified the missing piece of information: when you make the payment using the phone, what do you need to do to direct the payment to the embassy? Is there a code or something that you enter?

Do you have any tips about how to organize all of this evidence for Aaron to bring to the interview? I'm thinking of a binder with sheet protectors holding the originals, and 3-hole-punched copies of everything in case they've lost something. They're going to keep the I-134 and supporting documentation, so it needs to be attached together and ready to hand over, right?

<breathe>

Edited August 14, 2012 by afoyoswa

[Ben and Jill 37]

Hi Jill,

The instructions say "Evidence should consist of copies of any of the documents listed below that applies to your situation" and list several different forms of evidence:

A. Bank letter

B. Employer statement

C. If self employed, copy of last income tax return or report of commercial rating concern

D. List of serial numbers/denominations of bonds & name of record owner(s)

I'm definitely not providing ( C ) or (D), and I'm not listing my savings on the I-134, so there's not anything that a bank letter would need to be verifying.

My primary bank account is online, so I'm not sure how big of a deal it will be to get a letter. Also, I have my savings scattered around in a bunch of different accounts opened at different times, so it would be ridiculously complicated to generate one, I'd imagine! I'm going to try, but I'm hoping I'll be okay even if it doesn't work out.

Thanks for the details about the MPesa payment. Clearly I'm fixating on this one specific thing to lessen my angst about all of the other overwhelming details. (We're making some flexible-but-possibly-definite wedding plans now: did I mention that?) I think I've identified the missing piece of information: when you make the payment using the phone, what do you need to do to direct the payment to the embassy? Is there a code or something that you enter?

Do you have any tips about how to organize all of this evidence for Aaron to bring to the interview? I'm thinking of a binder with sheet protectors holding the originals, and 3-hole-punched copies of everything in case they've lost something. They're going to keep the I-134 and supporting documentation, so it needs to be attached together and ready to hand over, right?

<breathe>

Ahhh, I see where it says, "Evidence should consist of copies of any of the documents listed below that applies to your situation". OK, you should be fine then, as long as you have everything else you're good to go. I wouldn't worry about the bank letter then. I know that others have gone through without the letter and bank statements, but it was years ago.

There isn't a way to direct the payment to the Embassy ~ that's why you need to wait for the payment to "clear" before you can schedule the interview That's the part that takes two-three days - no need to worry about any kind of code for the Embassy when making the payment.

You do need to print out the MRV receipt though, and I can't remember for the life of me at what point of the process I did that, but I did. Aaron will need to bring that to the interview.

As for the evidence, I put everything in separate plastic folders and labeled the front of each folder with what was inside. I kept relationship evidence in one (phone logs, handwritten letters, and emails all clipped together by nature), birth certificate, police certificate, etc., in another, keeping similar items together in the folders, and then put the folders in alphabetical order. This way if they asked Ben for something, he could just grab it out real fast and he knew right where to go. Everything was precise, neat, and organized and they didn't ask him for anything! LOL. I also included a small photo album with pictures of us alone, and pictures of us with his family. You should include that as well.

And yes, they're going to keep the I-134 and supporting documentation so prepare that exactly as directed. Pay particular attention to the other forms as well...some Aaron will have to sign, some he doesn't sign until in front of the Consular Officer, and there are some forms that you need TWO of. READ EVERYTHING 50 times, lol.

Trust me, it isn't so bad. You just need to read, check everything over, be thorough, precise, and organized. And, you are all of those things

[Cotton Candy 0]

Hi all,

Can I schedule interview on a Friday? I can't see on the Kenya website about the days. Here on VJ, it says

"Monday through Thursday, excluding Kenyan or American Holidays and the last Wednesday of the month."

I haven't yet paid visa fees so I can't see the calender for available interview dates. Anyone? Please.

Thank you

[Ben and Jill 37]

Hi all,

Can I schedule interview on a Friday? I can't see on the Kenya website about the days. Here on VJ, it says

"Monday through Thursday, excluding Kenyan or American Holidays and the last Wednesday of the month."

I haven't yet paid visa fees so I can't see the calender for available interview dates. Anyone? Please.

Thank you

Hi Cotton, I am not sure about Friday's. I know they are open on Friday's because Ben picked up his visa on a Friday...I don't know if they conduct interviews though. Perhaps someone else knows for sure. If not, you'll have to wait to see on the interview calendar.

[Nick&Ann 1]

Thanks, Jill! Apparently it hasn't even reached the NVC yet, so we have a little while.

As long as I have sufficient income from my work (and show pay stubs, an employer letter, tax transcripts, etc.), I don't need bank statements, do I?

Also, I am just looking at:

http://usvisa-info.com/en-KE/selfservice/us_fee_payment_options to try to understand the payment process. I have a friend in Uganda (Aaron's cousin) who is going to take care of making the payment for us. If she already knows how to use MPesa, what information is she going to need from us in order to do this? The site mentions a "Mobile Pay Deposit Slip PDF": is that what is given to you when you pay the money to the MPesa agent, and then going through the process on the embassy's website is what applies that payment to the visa fee? I am so lost, and don't want to get this wrong!

Well, you need the mobile deposit slip before you can pay the M-pesa agent because all that you need to be able to complete the payment is on that slip. What you have to do after you pay is to fill in the confirmation details of the transaction. Everything you need is on the deposit pay slip and all the instructions on how you should pay are also there. After you have paid the fee, the receipt number is what will allow you to schedule your appointment. Before you go to an M-pesa agent, you will need that deposit slip, without it, he can't help you because it has the receipt number and where to send the money. So you need it.

[Nick&Ann 1]

Hi Cotton, I am not sure about Friday's. I know they are open on Friday's because Ben picked up his visa on a Friday...I don't know if they conduct interviews though. Perhaps someone else knows for sure. If not, you'll have to wait to see on the interview calendar.

Hey cotton,

From what i have seen on the calendar, they do not conduct interviews on fridays in addition to Kenyan holidays, last wednesdays of the month and American holidays

[afoyoswa 178]

Well, you need the mobile deposit slip before you can pay the M-pesa agent because all that you need to be able to complete the payment is on that slip. What you have to do after you pay is to fill in the confirmation details of the transaction. Everything you need is on the deposit pay slip and all the instructions on how you should pay are also there. After you have paid the fee, the receipt number is what will allow you to schedule your appointment. Before you go to an M-pesa agent, you will need that deposit slip, without it, he can't help you because it has the receipt number and where to send the money. So you need it.

Ah, that makes sense! You do the process on the embassy website first, and then give the money to the MPesa agent. I had it backward. Thanks for clearing that up!

[Nick&Ann 1]

OK, it looks like the process is a bit different as I don't remember anything at all about the "Mobile Pay Deposit Slip PDF". Anyway, what we did was we paid the fee using MPesa through Ben's phone, once paid, you automatically receive an MRV Receipt Number which can be saved to the phone (it comes via text I believe). You have to wait a while for the payment to clear. Ours took a good two-three days. I kept trying to schedule the interview via the website, and it wouldn't allow me to. Once the payment clears, you will be directed to the schedule (you'll know that it cleared when you're able to actually view the interview calendar). The MPesa account that you are using needs to have enough money in it to cover the visa fee. The MPesa agent doesn't give you anything other than the receipt for the deposit into the MPesa account. Aaron's cousin should follow the directions on the website for making the payment using MPesa. It's pretty intuitive when your actually doing it over the phone with the instructions.

I know it's overwhelming and confusing, but when you're going through it, it's not as difficult as it sounds right now. When Aaron's cousin pays the fee, she needs to make sure to save the MRV receipt number for you. You can do the rest through the website. I hope this helps a little.

From my experience, you need to print out the mobile deposit slip before you go to the agent. The deposit pay slip has the receipt number and the number to which you are going to send the money. it takes 4 hours for the payment to register, so after 4 hours, you should be able to schedule your interview.

What you need from the Mpesa agent are the confirmation details of the payment which is the transaction number, date and time which you write on your deposit pay slip just in case of anything. The Mpesa agent doesn't give you anything else apart from that. The deposit slip will have your name, receipt number, number to which the money is sent and also instructions on how and what to do to pay the money. Follow the instructions carefully. Oh and by the way, it expires after 2 days, if you haven't paid by then, then you will have to get a new slip, a new receipt number and start over.

Good luck

[Ben and Jill 37]

Thank you Nick & Ann...things have definitely changed then because I don't remember dealing with any of that (however, Ben could have with using MPesa and I wasn't aware). Thank you so much for clearing that up

Edited August 16, 2012 by Ben and Jill

[Nick&Ann 1]

Thank you Nick & Ann...things have definitely changed then because I don't remember dealing with any of that (however, Ben could have with using MPesa and I wasn't aware). Thank you so much for clearing that up

Your welcome Jill. thank you for staying on the thread to help other people. God bless you abundantly for being of great help. :thumbs:

[Ben and Jill 37]

Your welcome Jill. thank you for staying on the thread to help other people. God bless you abundantly for being of great help. :thumbs:

I'm touched...you're most welcome. This process isn't easy, so if I can offer the slightest help in anyway...then hey, I've done a good thing right? The process does change over time though, so eventually, I may not be able to help with logistics and details, but I can ALWAYS be a positive influence...that will never change. Lots of love and stay blessed

[Cotton Candy 0]

I'm touched...you're most welcome. This process isn't easy, so if I can offer the slightest help in anyway...then hey, I've done a good thing right? The process does change over time though, so eventually, I may not be able to help with logistics and details, but I can ALWAYS be a positive influence...that will never change. Lots of love and stay blessed

Hey Jill, I also want to say thank you and hoping those two words don’t turn redundant. Things are also moving for me and I'm glad you and the others were around to help.

[Ben and Jill 37]

Hey Jill, I also want to say thank you and hoping those two words don’t turn redundant. Things are also moving for me and I'm glad you and the others were around to help.

They will never be redundant...all of us who stay around and help are happy to help. I am glad things are moving along nicely for you. Stay blessed and much love.

[afoyoswa 178]

So, after I was told on Friday that our case was undergoing "additional processing" and got really worried that this was some sort of unanticipated glitch, I called NVC today and apparently our petition was shipped out to Nairobi yesterday!

I know that I am supposed to email them to find out when they have received it, yes? And then we can pay the visa fee and get this show on the road as far as scheduling?

Could anyone who's scheduled a medical exam + interview recently comment on how far ahead the available dates usually are? Once we get the date, I'm going to book my flight to go over there, so I'm wondering how much advance notice I'll likely have.

[Ben and Jill 37]

So, after I was told on Friday that our case was undergoing "additional processing" and got really worried that this was some sort of unanticipated glitch, I called NVC today and apparently our petition was shipped out to Nairobi yesterday!

I know that I am supposed to email them to find out when they have received it, yes? And then we can pay the visa fee and get this show on the road as far as scheduling? YES

Could anyone who's scheduled a medical exam + interview recently comment on how far ahead the available dates usually are? Once we get the date, I'm going to book my flight to go over there, so I'm wondering how much advance notice I'll likely have.

Your file should reach the Embassy by Friday of this week (possibly sooner, maybe Thursday) . I would email them anytime after that...you most likely will wait about two weeks until they respond (although, I've noticed recently that they have been responding very quickly to these emails). You may receive an "automated response" email from them saying, "they do not respond to inquiries regarding petitions, etc.,"...ignore it.

Once you receive their email that they've received your petition with their instructions on how to proceed, Aaron will need that email in order to schedule the medical. Ben was able to schedule his medical quickly. The interview calendar had available dates as soon as two weeks. Again, this was one year and three months ago...perhaps someone else who has gone through more recently can shed some more light.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted I'm sure you're thrilled to be at this point now!

Edited August 21, 2012 by Ben and Jill