DV winner going for interview soon? (Kenya) Prepare this way:

This is a checklist that I Komu have prepared for those going for interview soon. Make sure you adhere to this advice.

These are key documents to carry:

DS260 confirmation pages for all
2 passport size photos for all
Travelling passport for all and copies
KCSE for principal (Carry other certificates)
Police clearance certificate for adults
Birth certificates for all and copies
Marriage certificate and copy if married
IRS transcripts or Form 1040 or W2 from host
Form i-134
Copy of host passport or greencard or driving license

I always advice people to carry cash money of KSh.50,000 per person even though you will pay Ksh.49,900.

Please arrive as early as 5.30am. Do not queue, no need to queue. Around 6.00am, KK soldiers arrive and re-arrange people based on the time on their appointment. All those coming for non-immigrant visas are served first depending with time. After a while, those soldiers start serving those coming for immigrant visas.

Here is how an interview day will look like at the embassy. Let me divide into two parts

Part One: Going through three Security Checks

• The first security point is to verify your identity and whether your name is on the list of those doing interview on that day. Normal gate guards from KK will be at the gate. They will be talking to you at the gate with them inside and you outside. They will ask you for your travelling passport(s) and your DS260 confirmation forms. They will check whether your name is on the list and will check your face to see whether it is really you. Once the are able to identify you, they let you in.
• The second security point. Immediately after allowing you in, right there at the inside of that gate, other guards will ask you to remove anything metallic and your belt and they will check you and your bag to see whether you are carrying anything dangerous.
• The third security point. You then proceed to the next thorough security check which is about 100 meters from the gate. Here they allow 5 people to enter a big room there for thorough check up. You are asked to remove belt, earings and your shoes. Here you are to switch off your phone and you are to leave any electronic devices here. They store your things safely and just like in a supermarket the give you your shelf number. They will also give you your shoes and your document. There are wash rooms that you can use here once you are cleared to proceed. -After here you are now to proceed to the embassy which is about 100 more meters away.

Step two: The waiting Area.
Once you reach the embassy which is about 200 meters from the gate, and having passed all security checks, you will find an open waiting are with a shade. Here a lady seated with a desk oitside will ask you for your interview letter, 2NL. She will check whether you are on the list of yhose to be interviewed and will also check to see all of you listed in that 2NL you are there. She will give you a token number. Tokens number for mmigrant visa normally start from number 400. Tokens for visitor start from number 200.

Part two: Embassy and the interview process

• Once at the embassy, you will be go straight to a lady seated outside at the waiting area with a desk and some papers. This lady will ask you for your Interview letter and passport. (I hope you take note of the difference. This lady ask for your 2NL and travelling passports. Security guys at the gate used your Confirmation pages and travelling passports.)
• This lady will give you a token number and a check list on how to arrange your documents.
• After waiting outside for a while, you will then hear your token number being called telling you to go to counter window No.8. You are to proceed at the door, press a big button with a disability sign for the door to open. Once you enter, the embassy looks like a small bank with about 10 teller counters. It is a nice quiet place to be in. You are to proceed to counter 8 where you will find a nice lady. You only get to see her through a large window, just like it happens in a bank.
  -You will find the lady in the counter you were called to having your medical report from IOM. You are to do what that lady instructs you to do. Give her your documents just as you arranged them – originals and copies plus host documents. She will scan your passport photos and put them in a small zipped clear polythene bag. She will then check your original documents and stamp their phototocopies. She will ask you whether your host details are still the same. You can change host details at this point and the black lady will do it for you. The black lady will also ask to take fingerprints for your fingers. If you have young kids, the principal applicant will be asked for his or her fingerprints to represent the kids finger prints. (Taking of the 10 finger prints is known as ten printing.)
• The black lady will then ask you to queue to counter 9 to pay. Here you will find another Kenyan lady who will collect your interview fees. It should be cash in Kenya money or in dollars. You can also use ATM card. Since at this point you are not having your phone, you cannot use Mpesa. Once you pay the correct amount, you will be issued with a receipt and asked to go wait outside again.
• You will wait outside (for like 20 minutes) until you hear your name being called again.
• During the time you are waiting they are double checking your original documents.
• This time you will hear an American voice (your consular) calling your token number and name asking you to go to counter 7 (or any).

The DV interview

• You are to enter using the same door and you go to counter number 7 if it is the one they called you to. There is a large clear window that separates you and the consular. The computer screen of the consular’s computer is above his head over the window positioned in such a way only the consular can see it. You will be able to see the consular with your original documents. You will also be able to see white documents with your case number and assigned alien number(s) indicated using a pen on the consular desk. Behind the consular are shelves with yellow papers, red papers and green papers. All of them are there.
• The consular will greet you and ask you to swear. Consular will ask you to raise your hand and ask you whether you will tell the truth. With your right hand raised up, you are to say yes. (For your information, swearing is the most important part of the interview. You can tell a lie and still get a visa but those lies will remain like that. You taking that oath is to the defence of the embassy just in case. Telling a lie under oath is an offense called perjury. If you say you don’t have a kid and you had sworn the truth but you lied, the moment you will be in America and try to petition for that kid, that will be an offence known as perjury)
• The consular will ask you these main questions:
  Are you married
  When did you get married
  When did you officially register your marriage
  Single people will be asked if they are in a serious relationship. (You can say yes and give your spouse name)
  You might be asked if you have ever been involved in crime
  You might be asked who is your host
  You might be asked when is the last time you met your host.
  You might be asked to which state your lives
  Very simple straight forward questions.
• The consular will tell you whether your visa is approved and give you green paper. Those missing a document will be given yellow paper and asked to bring those documents. If the consular needs more time to investigate your case, you will be given a 90 days yellow paper. To the people the consular refuse visa, they receive red paper for lacking KCSE certificate, not listing a kid, double DV entry, etc.

Leaving the embassy
-If approved, the consular will give you back all your documents. They will be left with your travelling passport to put visa in it. Those on yellow will be asked whether they will leave travelling passport there or they will need it. Those denied will receive all their documents. They don’t return host documents, they retain them regardless of the consular’s decision.

• You will go back to the third security check to pick your phones, belt and other things you left there. You will then go to the first security check and leave the embassy. From there you go home or wherever you want.
• To those approved, a few days later you will receive an email telling you to wait one day for your visa at the DHL you selected. You will then receive another email to go collect your visa. Carry your ID to the DHL Center. Those with kids under the age of 18 will need to carry the kids birth certificate. Everybody else over the age of 18 will have to present themselves at DHL to collect their package. Each person will have a separate visa package.
• Once you receive your visa package, gently open the yellow paper. Inside you will find three things. Your travelling passport with visa, a small note with instructions and an envelope that you should never open. By the way inside that envelope is your IOM medical report and confidential KCSE result from KNEC. Never open that envelope.
• A few days after receiving your visa package, pay for your immigrant fee online using the instructions on the white paper with alien numbet that you received at the embassy.
• After that, pay for air ticket and start your preparations to depart for USA.

Imagine that is all. Very simple straight forward process.