South African K1 Visa applicants

[vistawateraz 27]

Is it possible the consulate is backed up from the holidays??  I hope it's that simple, and things start speeding up for everyone. 

[madameMaison 204]

30 minutes ago, Mozam said:

I am happy for you, really. However, this makes no sense. The embassy needs to iron out its kinks. It took me almost a week to move to issued as did others. Hmm... anyways congrats on your approval and being issued!

 

You don't get to choose your shipping from what I understand. You can only pay more if you want it delivered directly instead of picking it up at a select DHL office. From my understanding you can't pick it up directly at the consulate or I would have already been down there knocking on doors. Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong. 

Thank you🌸...  I looked back in this thread and I think it took me the same time to have it issued as for you guys, because you guys said "issued" 7 days after your interviews, and I'm also "issued" 7 days after my interview, so I'm wrong mine wasn't quicker than everyone else🙈

 

I do hope your matter gets resolved immediately because I understand you have a lot of other things on your plate. 🙏🏽🌸

[madameMaison 204]

48 minutes ago, vistawateraz said:

I've been reading a lot about delays in receiving visas, did everyone choose expedited shipping or are you picking them up at the consulate?  Our interview is on 3/14, and am really hoping we have the visa in hand the following week. 

There is no way to expedite the visa shipment. You can choose if you want it delivered straight to an address specified by you (you pay a fee for this option) , or if you want to pick it up at the DHL offices. However, the timing can't be altered. 

[JS5220 67]

17 minutes ago, madameMaison said:

There is no way to expedite the visa shipment. You can choose if you want it delivered straight to an address specified by you (you pay a fee for this option) , or if you want to pick it up at the DHL offices. However, the timing can't be altered. 

Exactly correct. I dont know why its taking so long, my only guess is their doing batch shipments of visas and they're waiting until the end of the month? Or they're backlogged somehow? I really have no idea.

 

I'm at 2 weeks since interview, 1 week since i got "issued". At this point I'm now planning for my fiance to come home next weekend. For the last 3 weekends, I've told myself "next weekend she'll be here!" 😂 

[vistawateraz 27]

Ahh, that was just a DHL to home payment, got it. Well, I hope whatever is slowing down the issuance of visas gets corrected so folks aren't waiting too long. 

[madameMaison 204]

1 hour ago, JS5220 said:

Exactly correct. I dont know why its taking so long, my only guess is their doing batch shipments of visas and they're waiting until the end of the month? Or they're backlogged somehow? I really have no idea.

 

I'm at 2 weeks since interview, 1 week since i got "issued". At this point I'm now planning for my fiance to come home next weekend. For the last 3 weekends, I've told myself "next weekend she'll be here!" 😂 

Story of our lives since we started this process 🤣... Sigh. My family keeps asking when I'm leaving and everytime they ask, they get a different date.. 

 

Last year's people got their visas really quickly though (after their interviews). 🤷🏽‍♀️

 

But eh, at this point I'm just happy it's all over and it's becoming a matter of days, rather than a matter of months! 

[LuFlolady 881]

4 hours ago, madameMaison said:

Ceac website says my visa is "issued"... ✨😃... 

 

I'm sorry but that felt quick for me being that my interview was last week🤷🏽‍♀️... 

Congrats! What's the ceac website I would like to check mine since we interviewed on the same day....

[madameMaison 204]

14 minutes ago, LuFlolady said:

Congrats! What's the ceac website I would like to check mine since we interviewed on the same day....

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=stLgYJNY3SVNSD63kBq4ow==

 

🙏🏽🌸

[LuFlolady 881]

5 minutes ago, madameMaison said:

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=stLgYJNY3SVNSD63kBq4ow==

 

🙏🏽🌸

Thank you!

[Mozam 147]

Anyone have any input to know if being "banned" from SA will influence his entrance into the USA even though he has already been approved for his US visa? 

 

We've called and emailed. They are basically saying "we stated the processing times from the being of the process". They have to do their "due diligence" since the visa has been printed and issued, so we should have accounted for this process. So disappointed in my embassy right now. 

[Confusedtinybird 41]

11 hours ago, Mozam said:

Anyone have any input to know if being "banned" from SA will influence his entrance into the USA even though he has already been approved for his US visa? 

 

We've called and emailed. They are basically saying "we stated the processing times from the being of the process". They have to do their "due diligence" since the visa has been printed and issued, so we should have accounted for this process. So disappointed in my embassy right now. 

I the USC was living in South Africa when the ban (Undesirable) person came about. It wont influence anything with the United States. I have included some links that will help explain the ban some more.

 

https://www.nwivisas.com/nwi-blog/south-africa/how-to-avoid-being-declared-as-an-“undesirable”-person-in-south-africa/

 

https://www.savisas.com/blog/reasons-foreigners-receive-bans-entering-south-africa/

[JS5220 67]

I have a good feeling that this week will be the week we all get the visas!!

[Edalimed 8]

6 hours ago, JS5220 said:

I have a good feeling that this week will be the week we all get the visas!!

I hope so. My fiancee had her interview albeit at the Lagos Nigeria Consulate on Feb 7th as well. Got approved and was told the visa will be ready within a week. Its been two weeks and change now and no word yet on the visa being ready for pick up. Ceac status still says NIV Admin processing. But like you said I'm also hoping this is the week we all get good news and can properly look forward to reuniting with our partners.

[Mozam 147]

Hey all. Just wanted to check in after a whirlwind of a weekend. I called and called and emailed. We got the passport back Friday just before DHL closed. They wouldn't deliver it to Pretoria where we requested so at 4pm (DHL closed at 6pm) they headed to DHL in Sandton through N1 traffic and retrieved it right before closing. We tried to get my fiancé out of SA on a direct flight so he didn't overstay his visa, but SA airlines had a problem (their problem not ours) and couldn't process our last minute payment. He ended up staying over by one day, but things were resolved after a huge ordeal. 

 

All that to say we are flying out today in a few hours. I truly wish the best for you all and hope your passports come back soon. So thankful for this group and here's to keeping in touch as we go through our first few months. We are getting married on the 8th. Can't wait!

TL;DR - We have our visa and going to America today. 

[Pdvdw 7]

1 hour ago, Mozam said:

Hey all. Just wanted to check in after a whirlwind of a weekend. I called and called and emailed. We got the passport back Friday just before DHL closed. They wouldn't deliver it to Pretoria where we requested so at 4pm (DHL closed at 6pm) they headed to DHL in Sandton through N1 traffic and retrieved it right before closing. We tried to get my fiancé out of SA on a direct flight so he didn't overstay his visa, but SA airlines had a problem (their problem not ours) and couldn't process our last minute payment. He ended up staying over by one day, but things were resolved after a huge ordeal. 

 

All that to say we are flying out today in a few hours. I truly wish the best for you all and hope your passports come back soon. So thankful for this group and here's to keeping in touch as we go through our first few months. We are getting married on the 8th. Can't wait!

TL;DR - We have our visa and going to America today. 

Who did you call and email? Do you think it helped to get it back faster? I'm flying out this Thursday to the USA and only got my status changed to "issued" 2 or so days after yours, so it may seem like I'm going to miss my flight if it isn't handed over to DHL at the latest tomorrow.

 

Happy you guys seem to have gotten everything sorted, sorry for the rough week. Have a great wedding