Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[Ben and Jill 37]

Thank you Jill...for all the help. God bless you so much...

You're most welcome, sweetie. Anytime. Lots of love...and you'll do superfine on your interview tomorrow! Let us know how it goes

[shefellfromheaven 18]

:dance: VISA APPROVED on August 22, 2012 :dance:

Everything went well Below is an overview of my medical exam (August 9 and 10, 2012) and interview.

Medicals:

Day 1 – After a brief counseling and once you have signed a consent form, your medical/vaccination history will be taken to enable them determine the requisite vaccinations. On vaccinations, the doctor/nurse at IOM will determine the ones you'll need based on your age, gender, country and any prior vaccinations. If you have any vaccination record/letter, bring it with you.

Medical examination costs $138 or Kshs 11,476 exclusive of vaccination fee. The lady recommended 4 vaccines for me as I couldn't trace my childhood vaccination/immunization record. MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) - $26 or Kshs 2,162, Influenza ($28 or Kshs 2,328), Varicella ($54 or Kshs 4,491) and Dultravax ($32 or Kshs 2,661). The total costs for medical examination plus vaccinations = Kshs 23,119 (approximately $280). Once payment is made at their cash office, you will be called to the laboratory for a blood test. You will then be taken (in batches in IOM van) to the nearby ‘The Nairobi Hospital’ for an x-ray. After the x-ray, you are free to leave. You may ask the IOM driver to drive you back to IOM or you can find your way home/to the hotel from The Nairobi Hospital. Day 2 appointment is at 7.30am.

Day 2 - A nurse will take your detailed medical history/information and perform the usual body weight and height measurements, heart beat rate/blood pressure and eye test. The doctor will then do a body exam and he’ll let you know the outcome of your medicals. You will then be given your x-ray – they confirmed that you do not have to carry this for your visa interview. It must be carried as hand luggage as it may be required at POE. You will thereafter have the prescribed vaccinations and a Vaccination Documentation Worksheet issued to you.

Your medical results will be sent by IOM to the Embassy. I inquired from the doctor how long it takes for the results to get to the Embassy and he said that it may take at least between 24 hours to 3 days or more in some cases.

Interview

We were scheduled for Wednesday, August 22 at 7.15am. Although my fiancé was in the country, we decided that he would not accompany me to the Embassy but he would be on stand-by in case something came up. I did not want to get worried about him being outside the gate in the event that he was not allowed to accompany me inside. It really helped that he was just a stone throw away. My fiancé’s presence and support really boosted my confidence

I went through all security checks and eventually picked a number inside the consul area. You must have your Appointment confirmation email and passport to pass through all the security checks. There were not so many people inside so I was lucky to find a seat inside the consulate area as it was freezing outside. The people who came in after me had to wait outside for their numbers to be called out through the intercom. My number was called to Window 5 where a pleasant lady asked for the following documents, one by one: Two DS 156, two DS 156K, two DS 230 Part 1 only, 3 passport pics, Affidavit of Support (without any supporting evidence), original and a copy of my birth certificate, police certificate. She confirmed to me that she did not require our I-134 supporting documents, letter of continued support/updated letter of intent or any additional documents. We were well prepared just in case and we even had an extra copy of everything including our petition to USCIS. Ensure that your police certificate has a fingerprints report from the police attached to it. Another interviewee who did not have her fingerprint report was told to send the fingerprints form by DHL.

I was then called to Window 1 for fingerprinting. At 10.15am, my number was called and i went to Window 10 (a male consul officer – very nice and friendly). I agree with Jill’s earlier comment that by the time of the interview, the consulate has already made its decision and the interview is just a formality which can either confirm or revoke their decision. When I went to Window 10, the CO had stepped out for a minute and our file was open on his desk (I could see the document on top had been stamped approved! I do not think this is the NOA2 approval as the documents that I submitted at Window 5 were filed below it). The CO returned and on top of my folders and binder, was Robert Allen's Crazy Laws Lawsuits which I was reading prior to being called to the window. The CO was so pleasant, he saw the book and asked which book it was and then he told me he was also reading something on law - Mediocre/medieval law. We had something in common – we were both reading crazy legal stuff! He asked what kind of work i did and i told him i'm a lawyer, then he laughed and jokingly said 'ummmh, yours will be tricky because I cannot tell when to believe a lawyer...' I took an oath and confirmed to him that '...we lawyers understand the consequence of any statements made on oath and the dire consequence for any misrepresentation....so he better believe me.' I guess I was asked very simple questions because my fiancé had neatly arranged and frontloaded everything with our petition. The CO didn't ask to see any of the I134 supporting documents I had with me or any other documents.

1. When did you meet your fiance?

2. Where does your fiancé work?

3. How old are you? Your fiancé?

4. How many times has he visited you? Thrice...in fact he is currently in the country!! He actually believed a lawyer without asking me for any evidence of my fiance’s presence!!

He asked to see our photos. As he flipped through our album, one pic of my fiancé and I specifically caught his eye...it has the background of the beautiful Shimba Hills Lodge and the CO inquired which part of Kenya that was as he had never seen such a beautiful place.

He then told me that I was approved and handed me a green letter/slip with instructions on how to collect my visa from DHL in a week. The interview took less than 10 minutes. We are so excited to be done with this stage. My experience was a pleasant one.

Thank you all for your support and advice. To all those going through this process, do not hesitate to ask any questions. My fiancé and I wish you a smooth process in your visa journey.

[shefellfromheaven 18]

Congrats G & Oxy!!

:dance: VISA APPROVED on August 22, 2012 :dance:

Everything went well Below is an overview of my medical exam (August 9 and 10, 2012) and interview.

Medicals:

Day 1 – After a brief counseling and once you have signed a consent form, your medical/vaccination history will be taken to enable them determine the requisite vaccinations. On vaccinations, the doctor/nurse at IOM will determine the ones you'll need based on your age, gender, country and any prior vaccinations. If you have any vaccination record/letter, bring it with you.

Medical examination costs $138 or Kshs 11,476 exclusive of vaccination fee. The lady recommended 4 vaccines for me as I couldn't trace my childhood vaccination/immunization record. MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) - $26 or Kshs 2,162, Influenza ($28 or Kshs 2,328), Varicella ($54 or Kshs 4,491) and Dultravax ($32 or Kshs 2,661). The total costs for medical examination plus vaccinations = Kshs 23,119 (approximately $280). Once payment is made at their cash office, you will be called to the laboratory for a blood test. You will then be taken (in batches in IOM van) to the nearby ‘The Nairobi Hospital’ for an x-ray. After the x-ray, you are free to leave. You may ask the IOM driver to drive you back to IOM or you can find your way home/to the hotel from The Nairobi Hospital. Day 2 appointment is at 7.30am.

Day 2 - A nurse will take your detailed medical history/information and perform the usual body weight and height measurements, heart beat rate/blood pressure and eye test. The doctor will then do a body exam and he’ll let you know the outcome of your medicals. You will then be given your x-ray – they confirmed that you do not have to carry this for your visa interview. It must be carried as hand luggage as it may be required at POE. You will thereafter have the prescribed vaccinations and a Vaccination Documentation Worksheet issued to you.

Your medical results will be sent by IOM to the Embassy. I inquired from the doctor how long it takes for the results to get to the Embassy and he said that it may take at least between 24 hours to 3 days or more in some cases.

Interview

We were scheduled for Wednesday, August 22 at 7.15am. Although my fiancé was in the country, we decided that he would not accompany me to the Embassy but he would be on stand-by in case something came up. I did not want to get worried about him being outside the gate in the event that he was not allowed to accompany me inside. It really helped that he was just a stone throw away. My fiancé’s presence and support really boosted my confidence

I went through all security checks and eventually picked a number inside the consul area. You must have your Appointment confirmation email and passport to pass through all the security checks. There were not so many people inside so I was lucky to find a seat inside the consulate area as it was freezing outside. The people who came in after me had to wait outside for their numbers to be called out through the intercom. My number was called to Window 5 where a pleasant lady asked for the following documents, one by one: Two DS 156, two DS 156K, two DS 230 Part 1 only, 3 passport pics, Affidavit of Support (without any supporting evidence), original and a copy of my birth certificate, police certificate. She confirmed to me that she did not require our I-134 supporting documents, letter of continued support/updated letter of intent or any additional documents. We were well prepared just in case and we even had an extra copy of everything including our petition to USCIS. Ensure that your police certificate has a fingerprints report from the police attached to it. Another interviewee who did not have her fingerprint report was told to send the fingerprints form by DHL.

I was then called to Window 1 for fingerprinting. At 10.15am, my number was called and i went to Window 10 (a male consul officer – very nice and friendly). I agree with Jill’s earlier comment that by the time of the interview, the consulate has already made its decision and the interview is just a formality which can either confirm or revoke their decision. When I went to Window 10, the CO had stepped out for a minute and our file was open on his desk (I could see the document on top had been stamped approved! I do not think this is the NOA2 approval as the documents that I submitted at Window 5 were filed below it). The CO returned and on top of my folders and binder, was Robert Allen's Crazy Laws Lawsuits which I was reading prior to being called to the window. The CO was so pleasant, he saw the book and asked which book it was and then he told me he was also reading something on law - Mediocre/medieval law. We had something in common – we were both reading crazy legal stuff! He asked what kind of work i did and i told him i'm a lawyer, then he laughed and jokingly said 'ummmh, yours will be tricky because I cannot tell when to believe a lawyer...' I took an oath and confirmed to him that '...we lawyers understand the consequence of any statements made on oath and the dire consequence for any misrepresentation....so he better believe me.' I guess I was asked very simple questions because my fiancé had neatly arranged and frontloaded everything with our petition. The CO didn't ask to see any of the I134 supporting documents I had with me or any other documents.

1. When did you meet your fiance?

2. Where does your fiancé work?

3. How old are you? Your fiancé?

4. How many times has he visited you? Thrice...in fact he is currently in the country!! He actually believed a lawyer without asking me for any evidence of my fiance’s presence!!

He asked to see our photos. As he flipped through our album, one pic of my fiancé and I specifically caught his eye...it has the background of the beautiful Shimba Hills Lodge and the CO inquired which part of Kenya that was as he had never seen such a beautiful place.

He then told me that I was approved and handed me a green letter/slip with instructions on how to collect my visa from DHL in a week. The interview took less than 10 minutes. We are so excited to be done with this stage. My experience was a pleasant one.

Thank you all for your support and advice. To all those going through this process, do not hesitate to ask any questions. My fiancé and I wish you a smooth process in your visa journey.

Edited August 30, 2012 by shefellfromheaven

[Nick&Ann 1]

You're most welcome, sweetie. Anytime. Lots of love...and you'll do superfine on your interview tomorrow! Let us know how it goes

I will let you know how everything goes. Thank you so much Jill. Gloria was really helpful about everything. She even gave me her number in case of anything.

Love you guys and God bless you.

[Nick&Ann 1]

You're most welcome, sweetie. Anytime. Lots of love...and you'll do superfine on your interview tomorrow! Let us know how it goes

GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I got approved. Thank you so much Jill, and everyone who keeps this thread going, Katie, Gloria you were a big help yesterday and will write my review here later on.

God bless you all abundantly

[afoyoswa 178]

GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I got approved. Thank you so much Jill, and everyone who keeps this thread going, Katie, Gloria you were a big help yesterday and will write my review here later on.

God bless you all abundantly

Hurray! That is great news: so happy for you! Looking forward to hearing more about the experience.

[katie & sifa 25]

GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I got approved. Thank you so much Jill, and everyone who keeps this thread going, Katie, Gloria you were a big help yesterday and will write my review here later on.

God bless you all abundantly

Woohoo!!! :dance: Congrats!

[Ben and Jill 37]

GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I got approved. Thank you so much Jill, and everyone who keeps this thread going, Katie, Gloria you were a big help yesterday and will write my review here later on.

God bless you all abundantly

Yea!!! WOOHOO!! So happy for you! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoooooooooooooo

[Cotton Candy 0]

GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I got approved. Thank you so much Jill, and everyone who keeps this thread going, Katie, Gloria you were a big help yesterday and will write my review here later on.

God bless you all abundantly

Congratulations!! I've been thinking about you today and were crossing fingers that all goes well.

This definitely made my mood brighter.

[G & Oxy 1]

Thank you, Jaqi...and many thanks for keeping this thread alive.

Nick&Ann, Congratulations I'm so happy for you

[Nick&Ann 1]

This is my interview experience...

I got there at 7am and went through the first check point. I didn't carry a bag or cell phone because i had so much paper work to carry evidence of relationship and all... But you have to have your appointment confirmation email from the embassy and your passport before you are allowed to go through the first security check point.

I didn't have a cell phone or watch so i didn't keep track of time (Forgive me if I don't know at what time, what happened..)Anyway, i walked ahead and found a long line, guess i was late judging by the line...So there was a lady who asked for my passport and appointment confirmation, she checked on the list if my name was on the list for the day and told me to go make the line...

I made the line and then we were told to enter 4 people, two people from the line that had people with non immigrant visas and two from the line that had immigrant visas...they were two lines. At the next security check, we were told to put our luggage and whatever we were holding through the scanner and then a body search was done..Then we were given back our stuff...But those who had cell phones or cameras were told to leave them in storage and they were given numbers. I didn't have any, so i picked up my files and went through to the waiting area..

I found so many people seated, meaning, so many people had come early, i went inside the consular section and was given a number and my appointment confirmation email was taken. I was told to wait outside and it was freezing...

So anyway, when my number was called at window 5, i went inside and a pleasant lady asked me for two copies of DS-156, two copies of DS-156K and one copy of DS230 part 1 only, my birth certificate and a copy of it and my police certificate, I-134 affidavit of support without any supporting documents that my fiance had attached to it, 3 photos but since i had already stuck them on my forms, she gave back 2 of them and took 1 of them. She gave me a bit of confidence when she said I was very organized and she told me to take a seat and told me, i will be called for fingerprints shortly

When my number was called again, i went to window 1 and I was fingerprinted and asked to sit down. This was the longest wait of my life. Anyway, finally I was called, and the guy who interviewed me was really nice. I think I was a bit nervous at first and then he told me to raise my right hand but i raised my left hand instead...midway through asking me if i will say the whole truth and not lie to him, he realized it was my left hand and we both laughed when he said "raise the other right hand.." So i swore to tell the truth and then he asked me these questions...

Mean while he was looking at our pictures and he said oooohhh and then he gave them back and my birth certificate,as he was asking me these questions

1.Where did we meet?

2. How many times have we met?

3. When did we meet?

4. What my fiance does and where I work?

5.Where he goes to church and where I go to church?

6. If he speaks English because he's russian?

7.What my parents do?

8. Where he was born?

9. When he moved to the states?

It took about 5 minutes. It was like i was having a conversation with a friend and he kept smiling and i was so calm.

He then typed somethings on his computer and said "EVerything looks great" he then handed me a green slip and told me to go to the website and fill in my DHL information and pick my passport up in a week. He said you have been approved and Good luck. I said thank you and walked away.

I was so nervous because my birth certificate was messed up, my christian name was misspelled and i have another name, i have never used before but they didn't ask anything about it though i was ready with a letter Gloria (G&Oxy) had written for me just in case.

What i went with to the embassy was emails, chat logs, screenshots of emails from both my email accounts since the day we met, screenshots of video chats and calls, photos in an album, western union receipts. But what's funny, they didn't even ask to see any of it...I think its because my fiance front loaded the petition. I had also spoken to my fiance before i walked through the embassy gate and he had told me that everything is going to be ok and that made me confident too...

So that was it. After i was handed my letter, the blonde lady came over and i think she was there for the next applicant because they kept interchanging interviewers...And i survived that blonde lady. But what's funny, after i walked away, i saw the man was opening a file while showing it to the blonde lady and i kinda thought it was mine and kept looking back as i walked out to the exit thinking that i would be called back by the guard to be told it was a mistake especially when i saw a guard walking toward me..LOL :wacko: but he didn't call me back and i walked out so happy...I had been approved and i had survived the blonde lady... God is good.

If anyone has any questions, don't hesistate to ask me

Congratulations!! I've been thinking about you today and were crossing fingers that all goes well.

This definitely made my mood brighter.

Thank you Cotton candy and you'll do just fine my dear.

Edited August 31, 2012 by Nick&Ann

[Nick&Ann 1]

Hurray! That is great news: so happy for you! Looking forward to hearing more about the experience.

Thank you Joy.

[Nick&Ann 1]

Yea!!! WOOHOO!! So happy for you! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoooooooooooooo

Thank you Jill. You were of so much help

[Nick&Ann 1]

Woohoo!!! :dance: Congrats!

Thank you Katie.

[afoyoswa 178]

So, for people who have gone through Nairobi recently, how long does it take for the embassy to acknowledge receiving your petition? It has been a week now since it was delivered and signed for there, and they haven't replied to my email. I think I'd seen a range of a few days to maybe 2 weeks here somewhere, but wanted to make sure this is normal and that there's nothing else I'm supposed to be doing. Waiting is really frustrating, no matter what phase of the journey you're in!