We just got our Visas yesterday for our trip to Kenya in September. We went directly to the Kenyan Consulate in Los Angeles..it took about an hour (she was very slow) and for some reason it was $120.00 for 2...I thought it was only suppossed to be $50. per visa. Anyway, it's done, and it's just 1 less thing to worry about before we go!

Our passports and visas have arrived. It was $100 for the two of us. Guess I have time to try Tanzania...

My 2 cents.
I mailed my USA passport in the passport office to have pages added. I sent it with certified signature accepted thing. I get receipt back showing they got it. Two months later no passport. I call them, yeah they got it and yeah they put it in mail back to me 4 weeks ago. How did they mail it back - just ordinary first class, no signatures required. One week later it shows up. It had been delivered to the wrong address and those dummies just held it for 4 weeks. But if the passport people would have sent it back with signature required, I doubt if this would happened. I really really really don't like to put my passport in the mail.
regards - tom

We are going to get our Tanzania visa at the Zanzibar airport (flying there at the end of our trip from Nairobi) - I'm guessing that's easier. Definitley not taking my luck with the mail again so close to departure!

The people behind the counters in JRO in Tanzania move the line along quite quickly, so the wait really isn't so bad.
We probably waited a max. of 15 min. and we we're at the end of the line. I know some people feel that it's safer to mail their passport to the embassy but I don't like to part with mine.
Good luck!

We only have 45 minutes between planes at Kilimanjaro airport so I'm concerned about having to change planes and get visas.

That could be a problem if running late. If it's an internal smallish plane they may wait but your right to be concerned. Some airlines will even radio down to prioritize you and arrange for you to be put in line first but then again ....... probably not worth the stress to not know.

There was a recent thread on the US forum talking about the in's and out's of this same thing.

Tom,
I never send my passport anywhere without including a prepaid return Fedex envelope. The risk is too great with regular mail. My sister lost a passport through the mail once.

I also always pay for expedited passport renewal. It's worth whatever the fee is now.

Patty
Great idea. And whoever gets it actually uses it? Even US Government (passport) offices?
regards - tom

Yep, I put the return envelope, application, old passport, photos, all in the same outer envelope together. I do write a little note saying "return envelope enclosed" or something like that, but I think they'd see and use it even if I didn't. Always get it back in the return envelope I provided.

Received the Tanzanian visas in less than a week from the NY office (no digitized photo)!