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|  Review on November 10, 2019: |
Sike team
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
First thing’s first, the K Visa is non-immigrant but in this situation considered immigrant just for scheduling purposes.
NOA2 was received on 16/Feb/2019 but we had to wait for official confirmation from the US embassy we chose(in Kenya) nevertheless my fiancee kept calling them for updates until one day they answered giving me my 13-character case number.
So since I had done research about this whole process and I knew what to do next, I didn't wait for official confirmation, I went to this website https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ to get my Ds-160 done, but before you visit the site make sure you have a soft copy of your passport photo on your computer and also email yourself the confirmation page as that is the page they’ll ask at the embassy entrance and also your interview.(print ample). Beware that some web browsers may not work well with that site, I used firefox and it worked fine for me.
6 weeks later my fiancee received the official email from the National Visa Center(NVC) and in it my unique number, 2 weeks later, I received another official email from the US embassy in Kenya informing me that they had received my petition from NVC and can now begin processing along with the next steps. Now this is the one you've been waiting for. (you will need to print this out since its one of the documents needed to schedule your medical.
After that, head to (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ke/iv/users/sign_in) to create an account with the embassy. This is where you will schedule your appointment, pay the visa fees of $265 and choose the dhl location to pick up your package once everything is wrapped up. (I would recommend you choose the dhl near your accommodation or the embassy for convenience since the package will be of high importance) NB: that link is for the US embassy in Kenya, so make changes accordingly. And since k1 is immigrant in this situation, select the option that says “ I have received a letter from the consular section with instructions to register or schedule appointmentâ€.
Now the next step is to wait for dates to open up at that site.
However, beware that getting an appointment can be very stressful and frustrating and can take from days to weeks to months. But what I did was to install the check4change extension to my computer (https://www.check4change.com/tutorial.php) and I got an appointment in 2 weeks on 13th June ( the embassy makes dates available in the morning hours local embassy time so you have to be on your A game as a lot of people are keeping an eye on this too) but, you CAN’T schedule an interview appointment before making visa payments.
So as soon as the dates open, you’ll choose the date given to you (not interview date but payment deadline)then payment options will be displayed. You can either pay through Post bank or M-pesa but I recommend M-pesa. (for all Ugandans you can find M-pesa services available at the post offices along the boulevard, Kampala jinja road)
Once payments are done, they’ll send you a receipt in 5- 8 hours (sometimes longer) confirming payment then the site will move from payment to schedule and a calendar will be displayed with available dates and that's where you choose your interview date from. Once that’s all done and everything is to your liking, instructions will follow detailing all that you’ll need to know.
Then you’ll now need to book a medical appointment with IOM. You can email them at mrfnbommsc@iom.int stating you’d like to book a medical. (you’ll need a copy of passport’s bio-data page, the official email from US embassy that stated they will begin to process, email you received after scheduling visa interview showing date of interview and state the dates you’d like to have the medical). Confirmation will be sent to you once all that is clear. I strongly recommend you book your medical 2-3 weeks before the interview in case of any health complications otherwise 1 week is fine. I booked mine a month earlier as they didn’t have any slots available the time I wanted. And also, before you go for your medicals I would recommend you get some vaccines (yellow fever,hepB,MMR,polio,diphtheria,pertussis,tetanus) from your home place as the ones from those embassy chosen institutes tend to be highly priced, travel with your certificate of vaccination (preferably the yellow fever one)
When the time came,I booked my airbnb (which I found cheaper) near IOM (which is near the embassy) then went to Mash Poa bus station (at national theater parking Dewinton rd in Uganda kla) and booked my bus ticket to Nairobi Kenya. My medical dates were 6-7 May so I left the evening of 4th and 13 hours later arrived in Nairobi. Beware Kenya is cold so pack accordingly. I checked into my airbnb which had good internet because that’s all I needed, I got my documents ready for the next day.
While in Kenya, I recommend you use the safe boda, uber and taxify apps for transportation otherwise you’ll be cheated by the other means.
On the 6th, I got up at 5, left and arrived there at 5:30 and I was the first in the line. Time passed as more people came, we were told to make two lines male and female and were worked on at 7. They asked for our appointment letters first (received them in email) and passport copy. You’ll be let into the reception and then they’ll sort everyone out according to their destination (IOM is used by many countries) and then send you for briefing, which will be to let you know what and how the whole 2 day experience is going to be like and the requirements set by the US. They’ll take blood and urine tests first then xray and that’s about it for day one. After that you’ll be given slips to go make payments, I recommend you pay the same day and bring the receipts back the following day to avoid inconveniences.(would recommend you pay in dollars)
On the 7th, I got up at the same time, was first in line again. On this day they do physical check ups including bp checks, full body check, review and give you your x-ray results on cd, ask for medications you’re currently on, give you shots and then a certificate at the end of it all, which you will need when filing for adjustment of status while in the states. I was done by 11am.
Went back to my accommodation and got some rest because I was travelling back that same day in the evening. I reached home safely, God is good.
Now it was time to prepare for my interview. I had to know more about my fiancee and go through our i129f again. Gather all relevant and irrelevant documents please, you never know what they’ll need.(https://citizenpath.com/k-1-visa-interview-checklist/). And please beware that the affidavit of support is accompanied with tax transcripts which can be found here www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript (they are free but we had no idea and it cost us time).
I booked my usual bus ticket and a different airbnb. It took me two days to gather my documents but with the help of my fiancee, we got it done. I traveled on the evening of the 11th, arrived 12th checked in and rested a bit, woke up later to arrange for transport for the morning. My airbnb host had a car and accepted to drop me at the embassy in the morning. Make sure you arrange for transport before you go to bed or wake up extremely early.
On the 13th I woke up at 4:20, said a prayer, of course, and had breakfast to calm my nerves. We left the house at 5. In 10 minutes we were at the embassy, he dropped me off and I went to the waiting area and, as usual, I was the first there, and as I waited, more people came. We were told to make two lines - male and female, and at 6 they let us into the first checkpoint. We were told to show the embassy email, passport, ds-160 page and the appointment letter. I was checked thoroughly then made my way to the next gate.
Arriving at the next gate I was told to wait until it was 7am since the consular department wasn’t open yet and when it was time, they checked for my name to see if I was scheduled for that day. I was on the list and was told to move into the scan area; this is where you leave all objects. e.g phones, laptops etc.(you’re given a locker).
I made my way to the building, reported at the first desk and was given a number then told to have a seat outside and listen to be called. 10-20 minutes later I was called, went to the window and was told this wasn’t the interview but where they take your bio-metrics and check if you have all the right documents they require. This is where I was asked to show my fiancee’s tax transcripts but the ones I had on me weren’t what was needed but I was told I would still have the interview. So I went back out to wait to be called for the interview. 15 minutes later my number was called again.
I approached the window and the consular greeted me and said to raise my hand and take the oath. I did exactly that and I placed my fingers on a pad as a form of signature.
The first question was how did we meet, what made us fall in love, where does she work and as what. Was she married before and does she have kids and what are their names.
And she did all this while typing and reviewing our i-129 packet. So after that she said I didn't have the right tax transcripts, then she pulled out a yellow document and said but congratulations you've passed your interview but in order for me to issue your visa in the coming days you’ll need to have your fiancee visit this site (written on the yellow document) and print out the tax transcripts and send them to us along with your passport.
I left the building, collected my property at the gate, checked the time and it was 8:15. So everything was done in 2 hrs. I was served first at every point, it pays to be early.
I then rushed out and updated my fiancee, went back to my place and rested until she called me and was a bit sad but I told her to be strong that I had passed the interview. So she went to the site and did exactly that. (also note that the amount considered by the embassy on the tax transcripts is the adjustment gross income). She emailed them and I sent them back with dhl along with my passport on the same day.
So I couldn't wait for them to give me feedback from Nairobi, I had to head back home. But I was not aware that I needed to visit the Ugandan embassy in Kenya for an exit document since I didn't have my passport any more. They however told me at the border it was OK and I had 3 months of stay in Kenya and if it expired before my passport is returned I needed a new temporary travel document.(which I got at URA offices in fort portal luzira at the extreme end of the road)
So after giving them all they require, the next thing to do is be patient and track your case on https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx .
We tracked our case frequently while emailing them and they would always reply that we will be worked on. Our case changed to application received a month later, then to administrative processing until one day we checked and it said issued on 27/Aug. Hours later we received an email from them saying my package had been sent to dhl and to expect contact from them soon.
I packed my bags, said my goodbyes, traveled to Nairobi, picked my package, went to Nyayo house (immigration office Nairobi) to extend my stay in the passport and not have issues with immigration at the airport, booked my ticket. I flew from there.
Some of the few key things to note:
-Do not make any travel plans before visa is in hand.
-Make a copy of the i-129f (have it shipped to you).
-Email them frequently to make sure your case stays active (respect goes a long way).
-Make sure to come with sufficient medications if you need any since it’s a k-visa and you won’t have insurance for a long time.
-Punctuality pays off.
-When in doubt, bring it - you’d rather have it than not (documents)
-Interview questions can vary, don’t trust what you see online.
-If you’ve been outside your country in the past 5 years, have a police clearance for that place (check the embassy site for countries exempted ) and also figure out the dates you left and returned. (be consistent)
-Be calm at the interview, the consular is a human being and also don't speak unless spoken to.
-I recommend you get married ASAP and file for adjustment of status soon to avoid delays.
-Do not open the envelope and be very careful since its not sealed extremely well.
And on that note, God has been so good to us, and we would like to thank everyone for their support, and we know that this is a very frustrating journey and at times it'll feel impossible, but just hang in there, believe in God, remember what it is all for, and nothing worthwhile in this world is ever easy.
When in doubt you can contact us; we’ll be more than happy to help.
(the advice given is through personal experience and not in any way intended as legal)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #27459