[~amy~]

I'm only planning to take 1 diaper bag with me on our pick up trip. Will the Embassy staff have a problem with me bringing that to our visa appointment? We will have 2 babies with us. . .

[MicheleB]

I have experienced and heard others on this site give totally different experiences regarding this. Personally, I think it just depends on who is working security that day at the embassy. On two of my three appointments they gave us a hard time and made us put most of our possesions in a locker they provide for you and we were only allowed the bare necessities like one bottle and one diaper - they almost wouldn't let us take in the one toy we brought - we had to send it through the x-ray machine. (Oh know - we were going to hide a weapon in a teddy bear rattle ). The other time they searched our diaper bag and sent it through the x-ray machine, but allowed us to take it all in. Likewise, I have heard others on this site tell the same - no consistantcy.

Do leave cameras, video recorders, and other electonics at your hotel. They will not let any of those in and I have heard of some confiscated and not given back. Whatever you do, do not take a photo of the embassy from outside or inside - they will take your camera and probrably not give it back. The security guards outside really watch for this. I have seen this myself with another family and I have heard this several times from others - security reasons!

On one trip when my mom accompanied us to the embassy - she had a horrible cough and took a really small bottle of robitussen in her small purse and about 5 cough drops - nope - had to lock the bottle and the cough drops in the locker - geezzzz - poor mom - they did at least let her put a cough drop in her mouth before she went in - luckily that day we were in and out in about 1.5 hours - so it really was no big deal.

Hope this helps!!

[MNStarr]

We had a medium size diaper bag with and barely got in. I agree that it probably depends more on who's working. For us they did take out every sungle item and inspect it than they conversed amoungst them and finally let us in. I was really nervous, although the worste they could do was not let us bring it in. I would go with the necessaties but with two babies they might be more lenient.

[brandydawn]

I was told not to bring one however they will let you in with a few things. I took a few diapers and a small container of wipes. I also took a bottle.

We weren't there long so it was enough.

Regards,
Brandy

[whereintheworld]

We brought 2 diapers, wipes, bottle, etc in a 1 gallon clear ziplock bag, as recommended by our agency. I would suggest taking the bare minimum to make it faster and easier to get thru security (maybe a 2 gal bag for 2 babies). The seating is kind of tight, so IMHO you really wouldn't want to take a large bag.

[Automne27]

I took in a huge diaper bag with food, bottles, diapers, wipes and toys. The only thing they confiscated was my son's toy cell phone, which I thought was very funny. No one gave me a bad time about this. I also brought in an umbrella stroller and one of the guards carried it with my son in it up the stairs.

(This was in February 2006.)

[mombyfaith]

When we were there in April, I took a medium size diaper bag with 2 bottles, diapers,wipes, snacks, and toys. Chloe was 14 mos old and I knew she would need snacks and toys to occupy her. Although they did look at everything carefully, the let us right on in.

[upswife029]

We were there just over a week ago and had no problem getting in with a large diaper bag. There were also a couple of families there with strollers.

[cheri25]

We were just there last week and had no problem with our diaper bag. There were also some families with strollers, and they didn't have any problems either. Maybe because the Embassy has had fewer families lately because of the slow down in PGN they are not as strict, or maybe it just does depend on who is working security that day.