Madwoman

Hey all!

I thought I was posting in this thread, but I think I posted our happy news in the Sub-Saharan Africa board instead

We wanted to share the news that, as of Jan 4th, Hiller is officially a permanent resident! :dance: We are very excited--it took 8 months! Next stop: dual citizenship

Oh and in related news....our daughter Jenna turned 1 year old on Jan 5th. Time has flown by! After the fiance visa, get ready for life to really start moving!

Hope everyone had a happy holiday and new year!

Madelene

Thanks Katie $ Sifa,

Well i do live in Kampala but the problem is the area where i live has no physical plot numbers,Doing a DHL station pick up sounds ok but whom should it be addressed ot,i mean what kinda format should does the address have to be written?

e.g can he just write :

To Dorah28

C/O DHL Kampala

Entebbe RD BRANCH

UGANDA

Do you think i;ll be able to recieve it that way? Am sorry but all this is so new to me.

Have a great day

Hi Dorah,

I just wanted to chime in here. My husband didn't have an mailing address either, but he worked at an international school with a PO box address and I sent him mail there. It always arrived, although sometimes it would take FOREVER. I agree that you should use DHL when sending important documents. Do you have a friend who works at an international school, or does your place of employment have a PO box? If you know someone that has access to a PO box, that might be helpful. Hope it works out for you!

Hey everyone, just thought you would be happy to know my husband is now a permanent resident! Took about 8 months to process his application, but we just received the letter last Friday. Yay! :dance:

I understand that you didn't trust Idi Amin, but you can trust the U.S. government that when they extend his Green Card for another year and give it to him in writing, like they do it to a few hundred thousand people ever year, that this is not a hoax.

Haha! Ok, point taken. I suppose I had doubts, because we have gotten some trouble from immigration officers who don't seem to know what they are doing. But I guess you can always ask to speak to a supervisor. Thanks everyone for your reassurance

You say you have a letter saying his visa is extended a year, I assume you mean is green card? If so, he can travel with that. It's true that sometimes it can be more of a hassle (ie if you get a CBP agent unfamiliar with it) but while it may take longer to go through immigration, he will be let in.

Thank you for your help And yes, I meant green card...oops

Why is he getting a visa if he applied for removal of conditions to get a 10yr green card?

Oops, sorry, I meant his GREEN CARD, not visa!

Hello everyone,

My husband and I filed his ROC in May of this year and we are still waiting. He was planning to go back to Uganda in January to finish up some family business, however, we are afraid he won't be let back into the US without his updated visa in hand. We have an extension letter, and I have read here that it shouldn't be a problem, but I don't trust it. We thought we would have his renewed visa by now, but looks like the VSC is extra SLOW. Has anyone had problems coming back to the US with an expired visa and extension letter? Should I be worried, or should we go ahead and buy the ticket?

Thanks so much for any advice/feedback!

Madelene

Hello everyone,

So I am not sure if this is the right forum to ask this question... But my husband and I filed his ROC in May of this year and we are still waiting. He was planning to go back to Uganda in January to finish up some family business, however, we are afraid he won't be let back into the US without his updated visa in hand. We have the letter saying his visa has been extended for a year...but we don't think that will hold up in immigration. Has anyone had to travel while waiting on their ROC? Any problems? Is there something we can do to ensure my husband can make it back to the US, or do we pretty much have to cancel all trips until he gets his conditions removed?

THANKS!

PS...oops sorry, I notices it is the wrong forum, I will repost there

NAO1 recieved finally.

Sent our application May 16th and got our NOA1 dated May 31st. Can you add us to the list? I am having trouble doing it.

Thanks Nyosh

Hey Shefellfromheaven, surely time goes by fast. I wish you all the best in your ROC.

Hi Shefellfromheaven,

We are getting old too! We applied for ROC at the end of May and received a receipt notice on Monday saying his resident status was extended for a year. We hope everything goes smoothly, but honestly, ever since going through all that stress getting the K1 visa, everything else seems so much easier! (just the hole in the pocket-- they really hit you in the wallet don't they???)

We are also traveling back to Uganda next month for a visit with our 6 month year old daughter. I haven't been back in 2 years. So excited!!!

So sorry things seem so complicated! It has changed so much since Hiller and I went through 2 years ago-- we called for an interview and med appointment, and I just walked right up to the window with him no questions asked. (We did have to download most of the forms and pick up the medical packet from the embassy since it was never mailed to us).

I started this thread do that others could learn the process from those who have gone before, but it seems like things are changing so much now, it is kind of a moot point. Well at least we can support and cheer each other on from afar!!

I don't have any more advice to offer other than what has been said....GOOD LUCK!!! Soon it will all be over and the embassy will be but a distant memory

Happy New Year! Just wanted to share the exciting news with everyone that Jack and I are getting MARRIED tomorrow! Yay! Saturday, January 15, 2011..... We are thrilled!! We decided last week that we wanted a full wedding so with my parents and family's help, we have managed to pull a full wedding together in 9 days.... And we are looking at a little over 100 people...! It has been stressful, but for me, better than going through 8-12 months of planning torture Enjoy your weekend everyone! We will post a pic or two after our big day!

Congratulations Mr and Mrs! We have exciting news of our own--- on January 5th, Jenna Inzikuru Pario was born, she was 8 pounds 5 ounces! She is a healthy little newborn and we are very excited to start this new part of our "journey." I am attaching 2 pictures!

Hi Annie! COngratulations on the smooth entry into the US! We thought ours through Boston was pretty smooth as well-- until we discovered at the SSN office that they hadn't given him an entry visa number--and we had to go back to the airport and get it!

I am really sorry to hear about the new embassy rules! It was so nice to be there with Hiller. I wonder why they changed that-- I would think it would help to see that the fiance is there and it is a legitimate relationship. It's also too bad about the new lady...why can't people be nice?

Thanks so much for the congratulations! I am about 5 weeks away now from my due date! We are very excited!!!

I remember being where you are about a year and a half ago....funny how the whole process is so much easier when you have your loved one by your side!

Thanks everyone for the congratulations!! Jack and I arrived home on Nov 23rd. The POE was sooo smooth. We went through the USC line together and the guy was super friendly and chatty. We had to go back to the immigration office which I'm assuming is pretty normal. They just logged in all the paperwork and checked a few databases and were cracking jokes the whole time. As we were walking out they all said in unison "Welcome to the United States!!" it was so nice!!

Katie-- I also read that thread about the rude CO in Nairobi. It probably was the same one. The other ladies there were super bubbly and cheery with everyone. All of us waiting in the waiting area were praying to go anywhere except window 10....it didn't work! Haha

Madelene-- I just wanted to say CONGRATS! I was excited to hear that you are expecting!

Beth-- Welcome to the thread! I was the newbie a couple months ago and flew through the process with the help of these fine ladies can't wait to hear all about your process along the way. Just an advanced heads up: According to the guards at the Embassy, I was the very last USC to be allowed to attend the interview with their fiancé. I'm guessing that the CO who interviewed Jack (and also told him I wasn't allowed to be there) had something to do with this. They are not permitting ANY Americans to enter the gate without their own appointment letter. They wouldn't let me pass through to pick up the visa, which is when they explained the new rules. If you want to attend, I would suggest sending them an email and asking them to reply with a confirmed appointment with both of your names on it. Would hate for you to make the trip and then be left waiting outside!

Well guys, we have been here a week-- and so far Jack loves it! We have gotten our first snow which was exciting for him and he is like a celebrity everywhere he goes. We were invited to be the guests of honor at our local rotary club's Christmas party last night. They didn't give a damn about me, as you can imagine, but he was bombarded by tons of intrigued people. It has been so nice for him to experience so many new things. All of you can relate I'm sure. It's so fun! Onto getting his SSN and vaccinations-- oh, and planning our little wedding...

Talk to you soon!

COngratulations Annie! I am so happy for you! It does sound like they have changed up the CO's at the embassy--our experience 2 years ago was SOOOOOOO different. But in the end you got approved which is all that matters!

Madelene

Hey guys- Jack and I are finally at ease. We had his interview this morning and he was approved!!! Although I wasn't allowed to stand with him, i think it really helped that I was there. The consular officer seemed new and a little unsure of the process, and she was so strict. She denied every single applicant ahead of us. She kept leaving the window to confirm details and the next steps with the other consular officers. At one point she returned and tried to give him a green slip to come back with more evidence. She said at this time, your case will be put on hold because you have failed to show evidence of support. And Jack asked her if she meant relationship support or what and she said he was lacking the affidavit, but she hadnt even asked for it! He was like no, no, I have that right here! And she intensely interrogated him for a full 25 minutes past that about absolutely everything under the sun, trying to trip him up along the way. She literally asked at least 50 questions and at one point asked if in our contract money had changed hands. He laughed and said nooo wayy. She was not amused, haha. She also told him that I wasnt supposed to be there with him, although I had confirmed ahead of time that it was ok. Overall the only pleasant part about the experience was the approval and the fact that we pick up the visa on the 18th and will be home for Thanksgiving! Anyway, she finally passed him a slip and said come back on the 18th to collect your visa, and have a good day. I walked by the window to leave and i smiled and said thank you and when we made eye contact she smiled so fast and then immediately looked backed down at her papers, as if she had remembered that smiling was against the rules So here we are. Thanks for all the support and advice. I will keep you all posted!

PS -- we also just put his PO Box as his address--then listed his district, zone and town/city. Just do your best to fill it in, we never had any problems.

I don't know about anyone else, but my husband didn't have a birth certificate so he paid someone to make one for him! The first time around the guy listed the wrong city as his place of birth and had to change it. I joked that he should just have him write that my husband was born in the United States....

Welcome to the Nairobi Embassy thread! I hope you will find a lot of helpful information here. It seems like the interview and medical process has changed a little since my husband (then fiance) and I went through but there are plenty of current people here to help you out! I read that you met your fiance while volunteering and then lived a year in Kenya. Sounds wonderful! Your pictures are also beautiful. Were you volunteering in Nairobi or somewhere else? What were you doing in Kenya for a year? I also met my husband while volunteering in Uganda as an expressive arts therapist in 2007. We have been married for over a year and a half and are expecting a little girl in January! I also see that you are from the Boston area? So am I! We are currently living just outside Boston.

Congratulations on your engagement and I hope it is smooth sailing for you--the hardest part for us was being apart and waiting for the K1 Visa to be processed. I realized I can be a very impatient person!

Good luck!

Madelene

Hi guys, I am brand new to this website and forum. Don't really know how all this works. Anyway, my name is Beth and I'm newly engaged to my fiance from Nairobi. I'm at the early stages of filling out the I-129F and am wondering about the address. My fiance's apartment is in Jamhuri Estate but there is no actual street name. It is a street off of a main road. Also, I don't see anywhere to input his PO Box info. I just don't want to make any mistakes this early on!! Any insight?

Today is such an awesome day! Oct 6th is a day to remember.... The interview approval started it off (Congrats again HI-UG) and to top it all off I just received my notification that my I-129F petition was approved today!! Katie&Sifa, thanks for all those good vibes... they REALLY WORKED!

WOW! Congratulations! I remember when we filed in 2008 through the VSC, our petition took 5 months--it was torture! Glad t see things are moving faster!

Victory!

She went back this morning.

Whoever she talked to today admitted that she was lied to yesterday, and was supposed to pay at the embassy, not the bank.

They admitted that she was lied to yesterday, and didn't have to bring her medical papers from IOM, and that IOM had sent them yesterday.

And they admitted that their own information had told her to fill out the wrong form (-160 vs. -156 or something, I forget.)

She did have to run out to a cybercafe and print out the RIGHT form...

But after that, they interviewed her. And approved her.

The only downside is that they want her to pick up the Visa at 9am Friday, and her flight back to Uganda was booked for midday Thursday, but once she gets somewhere she can get on-line, I should be able to get that sorted out REAL fast, since the ticket was booked using my frequent flyer miles and the airline looooves me.

It's been a good week for VJers in Uganda, huh Taatabunny?

COngratulations! Sounds like they sent you on a wild goose chase but it all worked out in the end. Yay!

How wonderful! Congratulations to you both!! Looking forward to hearing all about it

"There was a boy with skin as dark as the earth and a girl with eyes as blue as the deep, and they loved each other so well that people could not tell them apart, for in their hearts there was no difference between them."

Annie--- I LOVE this quote! We actually had this quote printed on our wedding invitations!

Hi All,

We want to thank you for your support and wanted to let you know that we got the Visa yesterday. We shall post the details when we travel back to Kampala but it took us only 1 week to do medical exams and Visa interview.

Thanks be to God!!

Best!!

Yay!!! COngratulations! It is all downhill from here! Although the AOS process is not fun, at least you will be doing it together, which makes it all worth it

Did anyone use a co-sponsor for the I-134? If so, did you run into any problems? I'm a recent grad but I will be starting a new job soon... just want to have my parents help out to be safe. Thanks!

I also used my parents as a co-sponsor-- no problems. I also was starting a new job and included a letter from work stating my yearly salary.

Today was my interview date. Thank God i passed. Everything went on well and my visa was APPROVED!!!!!!!!!! Im so thankful to all of you for your advice and the useful information on this site. God bless you all. Wishing everyone on Visa Journey well.

Yay!!! Congratulations!!!! :dance: :dance:

Thanks Mbete and Shefellfromheaven. I have filled all the forms and im now booking my medical appointment for Friday. I will call the embassy on Friday to schedule my interview. I hope i can get a date soon. Thanks for your advice. Now i can start from somewhere. I was just confused. I will update you guys on what is going on. I wish everyone here well, your advice and expereince means so much to me. God bless all of you in a mighty way. Thanks.

Oh my, it seems some things have changed since we were at the Embassy! When I was there we were able to schedule the interview without the medical and pick up the package at the Embassy! Oh well, I guess I am getting old on this forum now, I'll let the newer people give the information about the embassy/medical so as not to spread false information! Good luck!

Hi madwoman, I haven’t got the package yet. Im just waiting and I hope the embassy will get back to me soonest. I am following all the advice on this thread and preparing all the necessary documents. Thanks for your advice. God bless you.

Hi Link! Actually I meant Katie and Sifa. I hope you get your package soon! If you are near Nairobi, I recommend you go and get the packet yourself. It will probably be a lot faster! Good luck!

My (now) husband DID receive packet 3 in the mail and so did another acquaintance of ours who just got NOA2 and is waiting for an interview. I would wait a week and if you still haven't gotten anything call again to see if they have received the file. I don't think it's a delaying tactic.

You got the package huh? Wow! Ok, well maybe it's different if they have to mail it to Uganda! When we went to the interview (I also accompanied my fiance to the embassy) --I prepared a folder full of examples of our skype conversations, phone calls and e-mails. I also provided photos and made a little photo album of us together. The guy that interviewed us didn't even GLANCE at the folder but he did look briefly at the photo album and complemented us on them.