KikuyuLove

just got the letter from Consulate directing us to website for instructions. not the clearest directions in the world

In the near term, we decided that America has the best opportunities for her and I own several businesses here already. We do plan to explore moving to Kenya after 5 years when will have saved enough to build a house and base a business or two there (assuming the political and economic climate improves). Its very expensive to live a semi-western lifestyle in Kenya so I have to come up with a way to earn a good living there to make it work for us.

I saw a lot of opportunity there but the government is just too heavy handed on tariffs (100+%) and taxes to even consider getting my capital equipment (and household goods) into the country to setup shop or any other business. The markets are waiting to be created in the region for all types of products but of course income levels are generally low right now and that makes it more difficult to have a reasonable timeframe of recouping setup costs before we go broke. Perhaps we will just build vacation houses to support her uncle's safari business or something?

WHOOOO HOO!!! I just received a letter from NVC dated last week...YES!

Now the 'aw #######' moment:

My SO is from Kenya but is living in Germany to attend college. She stopped going to school last year because she missed her level exam sitting and couldn't get one before her visa expired. Long and short, she couldn't get another extension and must leave March 5th and so was preparing to go back to Nairobi in anticipation of the K1 interview in March and to see the family etc. since it will be a while before she could travel again.

Now, someone did a switch and the letter from NVC says they would (or have) sent her packet to the Frankfurt versus Nairobi within the week. Since it has been 7 days since this letter was dated, I am guessing it may be there already? My Attorney said he could request that the venue be changed back to Nairobi but its just killing me that we could be so close but not have enough time to pull it off in Germany.

BTW, the Germans are holding her passport at the airport to make sure she leaves. So she only has an official paper to identify herself. Do you think there is any way we can pursuede the Germans to let her stay and get her passport to complete the process? Even if we could get some type of emergency process at the embassy going 14 days start to finish is oh so tight! I had already scheduled a trip for tomorrow to see her in GE am just looking for any advice to use on the ground with USE.

i can honestly say being married before that my wife is a perfect match to me. we laugh together and yes get mad at each other but she is awesome about talking thru any disagreement we have. this is the best relationship i have ever been in totally healthy.

Amen! It all comes down to finding the perfect mate I think. In my previous life (w/ a Green Card Jamaican), it was eh, ok but lacked true communication...not even a good verbal fight once in a while for interest. But now that I've found my true soul-mate, we knew from that first 10 minutes almost 3 years ago that we had something really special. We are true partners and I know that we have helped each other grow tremendously and are wide open in our communications. Even from the thousands of miles away, we know when the other is not having a good day even when we try to put a on our calls. I credit our good communication with building a very healthy relationship that has thrived and will last forever! Somedays its almost like we are in the same room.

As we all know, it really is tough with some people to get them understand that the special person in your life is not from your neighborhood. The nervous moment has been interfacing with various family members and to my surprise, her family seems more accepting of me at this point. We've taken a slow steps approach with mine easing my parents into the whole concept that I have found someone really special. My brother and sister are excited and are nearly as anxious as I am on waiting on the process. Most everyone around me has seen the positive changes in me and know that I am the happiest that I have ever been in my life.

The hardest part is that I have seen in one of my friends a streak of jealousy over my happiness. (He was actually there when I met Sharon.) As soon as he realized that Sharon and I were clicking, I think he saw himself as a very unhappy and lonely man fearing his closest and possibly only friend had other priorities. After a few months together, Sharon and my sister among other friends actually pointed this out to me again. I would like to work to assure the people around me that this is a well thought through relationship and that I know in my heart we truly love and care for each other and have each other's back. I know this is harsh but if my friend cannot get behind us after nearly three years together, I will not allow him to poison our relationship.

Well, off to see my Love in 3 weeks! (F) (F)

Again, I would agree with this being one of the best threads on VJ!

I generally agree that good quality SMS and voice communication several times on a daily basis is the best way to help maintain a long-distance relationship. We have found that occasionally, we should take a comms break for a couple of days a month and go out with friends (she does girls night and I boys night) that way we can also maintain our network of friends and not live alone in the pressure cooker of wishing while we wait for the approval process. In addition to our greater understanding of each other has smooth out and made things better. We have reduced fights to talk-able disagreements that are usually just communication misunderstandings. Quite frankly, the cultural words and the different use of English has set off more skirmishes than I can count not to mention bad phone lines. We have put a policy in place to call back if the line is not absolutely clear and to never put into writing anything in anger. Most importantly, keep talking until we find a solution. (Thank God for Skype! we have the world record of 34 straight hours for a very emotional and transitional conversation).

We are more in love each day and are hoping and praying things will begin moving in the next few weeks in VT per their original web post.

Finally, if at all possible, try to see each other in person for a week or two as often as possible. We spent 2 weeks together at Christmas (our first one together) and it has gone a long way in releasing stress and allowing us to float and firm up plans. We had planned to do a lot of things but spent 95% of our time loving and talking with each other alone. Just build upon everything you two found in each other and keep a positive outlook together.

Logically, I think agree that you returning to the US will help in the sponsorship issue.

In the meanwhile, I found that fruits and vegetables we bought off Thika Road in Kahawa Sukari did not make me ill in the 2 months I was there eating like a horse (and losing 10 lbs). I really hear you about those 'moonscape' dirt roads. Eventually, we plan to move down to Kenya after I get the savings account really built up and clear out all of my remaining bills. Perhaps in the 3-5 years maybe we can start building near Thika or Nyeri. I would like to start a business or two down there if the political stability holds up.

Good luck on your processing. I know what true love means and to be with that person now more than ever! Skype to an internet cafe' in Nairobi (where he would only pay for internet time versus the call) or Vonage for direct calling are about the cheapest ways that I have found to call into Kenya. Right now, my fiancee' is in Germany until November but then she will have to return to Kenya and I am contemplating how I could either 'commute' or find 'off-shore' work that will let me work in Kenya while we wait for her K1.

I went down to Kenya in May to see if we could get married and go for the K3 but we ran into problems after a disagreement and thus delayed action while on the ground in Nairobi. Everything between us is back on track now more in love than ever with any issue I could every imagine completely talked through and worked out. I am just kicking myself for the time wasted that the K1 could have been processing. Well at least I know how many cows and goats I need now after talking to the family.

Hopefully, we will have all the translations from her passport done by mid-week and I can get the package up to Vermont by next week! My lawyer suggested including everything from pics to boarding passes as well in the package for evidence that we have met etc. Now I have 6 more pages of stuff. This package is about 3/4 inch thick now!

Thank you ZeeNusah!

We met in Germany back in September 2006 and got engaged in July 2007 and generally see each other every 3-6 weeks. Meanwhile, her visa to Germany is about to expire, so with the time it takes to get approval to come to the States, we thought it best to just do everything back in her home country, Kenya. She went home for Christmas and now all hell is about to break out over the elections there. We want to do the Consular marriage in Nairobi but my work schedule will not allow me to go before late February or early March. I have never been to Kenya, so I have no idea what exactly to expect there. We are very anxious more than ever with the political instability now cropping up in Kenya.

I have heard, that getting her approval to come here can be done start to finish in a about month.

I have a couple of specific questions if anyone can help.

1. Does anyone know approximately how long it takes to get everything through at the Nairobi Embassy? (assuming no problems)

2. Will the local political problems have any affect on processing?

3. (Wishful thinking) Will going into a country with posted travel warnings buy me any points to get things rolling faster?