NO americans allowed into Cairo

[together4evr 360]

Someone had their interview Monday and she was not allowed to go to the window with her husband. So I looked on the embassy website and it does say that the Interviewee will only be allowed in and the american must wait outside.

Just thought I should update all Egyptians so 50 people are not waiting 6 hours outside the embassy.

Does anyone know the closest place to walk and sit and wait to the embassy just in case people are not let in?

Thank you

Please note: the following persons may accompany a visa applicant during Consular-related visits:

•Special Needs Visitors: Applicants who have special needs due to a physical disability may be accompanied by ONE person. An adult may also be admitted if appearing on behalf of an applicant who is a minor child.

•Due to space limitations, only applicants with scheduled appointments for visa interviews will be allowed inside the waiting rooms. American Citizen immigrant visa petitioners and all other non-applicants must remain outside.

[bigdog 377]

Good Luck, walk safely.

[Wendy<3Ahmed 12]

Wow, Im glad we already went to ours and I was able to be with him for each step.

[NY_BX 397]

  On 1/11/2012 at 8:42 PM, Wendy<3Ahmed said:

Wow, Im glad we already went to ours and I was able to be with him for each step.

OMG! Me too!

Yes, there are places around the embassy: Four Seasons Hotel, for example. You can walk and wait in one of the restaurants. Also, there's another restaurant around there, very expensive, but super: Blue restaurant @ Kimbanisky Hotel (sp?).

If there are any americans going to the interview, please give your passport to the interviewee. That way when the consular asks "when's the last time your fiance/ spouse/ fiancee visited you?" yuo can say "s/he is here now," and show proof.

[nyc_alex 3]

oh noooo so is this new an effective as of now??? or is it just temporary or what?? why did they change it? I hope that this is not a permanent rule.

[together4evr 360]

new since they have almost doubled their daily interviews since oct

people have to stand for hours or grab a seat quick. waiting room too full

[nyc_alex 3]

  On 1/12/2012 at 12:33 AM, togetherforever13 said:

new since they have almost doubled their daily interviews since oct

people have to stand for hours or grab a seat quick. waiting room too full

that totally sucks, I mean I am planning to fly out miss my classes and work just so I can attend it and now I cant?? I really wanted to be AT the interview ... I hope it isnt set in stone

[together4evr 360]

Maha went with Ahmed and she was not allowed to go to the interview with him. They did let her in the embassy but not to the window

So I am sure they will not let spouses in very soon

[NY_BX 397]

  On 1/12/2012 at 2:16 AM, togetherforever13 said:

Maha went with Ahmed and she was not allowed to go to the interview with him. They did let her in the embassy but not to the window

So I am sure they will not let spouses in very soon

Hold on, so people can go into the waiting area? There's enough space because there's a courtyard where you can sit and wait. You do not have to be inside the waiting room for your number to be called. Picture an emergency room with a plaza/ courtyard in front of it.

So, this sounds to me like they're cracking down and tightening up. Maybe their numbers went up in complaints or reports of fraudulent cases and they may want to isolate each interviwee? Unless they've hired more consulars, I doubt they've over booked appointments. They only have 15 windows; 1 per consular. When I was there they used 4 of those windows for payments and other technical stuff. I really do hope this is not turning into a Lagos/ Casa camp!

[nyc_alex 3]

  On 1/12/2012 at 3:27 AM, NY_BX said:

Hold on, so people can go into the waiting area? There's enough space because there's a courtyard where you can sit and wait. You do not have to be inside the waiting room for your number to be called. Picture an emergency room with a plaza/ courtyard in front of it.

So, this sounds to me like they're cracking down and tightening up. Maybe their numbers went up in complaints or reports of fraudulent cases and they may want to isolate each interviwee? Unless they've hired more consulars, I doubt they've over booked appointments. They only have 15 windows; 1 per consular. When I was there they used 4 of those windows for payments and other technical stuff. I really do hope this is not turning into a Lagos/ Casa camp!

So you can go into the waiting room but not the window.... i mean how does that work? ... are the windows inside the waiting room or are they in a separate room?

[NY_BX 397]

  On 1/12/2012 at 4:24 AM, nyc_alex said:

So you can go into the waiting room but not the window.... i mean how does that work? ... are the windows inside the waiting room or are they in a separate room?

Imagine an emergency room in hospital or a bank. There's a lobby and a long counter with a whole bunch of windows. The post office has that lay out too. So you sit and wait until they call your number. Then you proceed to go to the window that called your number and that's it. Yes, everyone pretty much can hear the interview, if the place is silent. There's also a courtyard area where people can wait. Unles the've remodeled and added more windows, I doubt they doubled appointments with the same amount of consulars. Maybe they're using another area with more windows... who knows. If they doubled their work, they can file a grievance with their union, either AFGE or OPEIU, I'm not sure which one, unless their new contract allows them too.

I digress...

So yeah, the windows are there, like teller at a bank.

[Ryan H 3,851]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to MENA Forum as topic is specific to the Embassy in Cairo.

[together4evr 360]

I believe they are going to be like other consulates and the petitioner can no longer attend at all. I think they are being kind this week and allowing them inside but they will not bring them to interview window.

and maybe next week they will refuse them entry to embassy completely. Alot of other middle east africa embassy do not allow both inside. the wife waits at a cafe for 6 hours. It says limited space.

In october they had 450 interviews, in January they have 803 scheduled that i know of and probably more. There is no more room for you spouse and kids to hang out all day.

I think people should email them or call

•Due to space limitations, only applicants with scheduled appointments for visa interviews will be allowed inside the waiting rooms. American Citizen immigrant visa petitioners and all other non-applicants must remain outside.

[nyc_alex 3]

  On 1/12/2012 at 6:01 AM, togetherforever13 said:

I believe they are going to be like other consulates and the petitioner can no longer attend at all. I think they are being kind this week and allowing them inside but they will not bring them to interview window.

and maybe next week they will refuse them entry to embassy completely. Alot of other middle east africa embassy do not allow both inside. the wife waits at a cafe for 6 hours. It says limited space.

In october they had 450 interviews, in January they have 803 scheduled that i know of and probably more. There is no more room for you spouse and kids to hang out all day.

I think people should email them or call

•Due to space limitations, only applicants with scheduled appointments for visa interviews will be allowed inside the waiting rooms. American Citizen immigrant visa petitioners and all other non-applicants must remain outside.

will i guess you'll let us know since your interview is coming up

[NY_BX 397]

  On 1/12/2012 at 6:01 AM, togetherforever13 said:

I believe they are going to be like other consulates and the petitioner can no longer attend at all. I think they are being kind this week and allowing them inside but they will not bring them to interview window.

and maybe next week they will refuse them entry to embassy completely. Alot of other middle east africa embassy do not allow both inside. the wife waits at a cafe for 6 hours. It says limited space.

In october they had 450 interviews, in January they have 803 scheduled that i know of and probably more. There is no more room for you spouse and kids to hang out all day.

I think people should email them or call

•Due to space limitations, only applicants with scheduled appointments for visa interviews will be allowed inside the waiting rooms. American Citizen immigrant visa petitioners and all other non-applicants must remain outside.

LAWD have mercy! They must've hired more consulars or maybe even brought more CO's from other embassies. I also hear they're worried about the whole situation with elections and the trial.

If anyone is traveling, my other advice would be to go back to the hotel/ hostel and patiently wait... that if your finances are limited.

Just remember that area is expensive as it is. I highly recommend Blue Restaurant around the corner. I paid around $80 for 2 dinners, including my 2 glasses of wine, which is not bad at all. I assume breakfast or lunch would be a little cheaper. The Four Seasons is also near and it is way more expensive. Our dinner buffet was $140 with wine. The waiter told me that restaurant is the most expensive in Egypt. There again, the buffet includes sushi.... so I think I got a great deal. I do not know if they serve breakfast, however. They do have a cafe with wifi, so that's a graet option.

Good luck everyone!