South African K1 Visa applicants

[LuFlolady 881]

Im so excited to share that my husband received his EAD card in the mail today we are so excited that he can finally work...We are now just waiting on the letter to inform us if his interview date.....  For AOS

[LilyKins 121]

Hi all!!

 

I am currently adjusting my status from F1 through marriage to a USC. I was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada as an infant. I'm a Canadian citizen. Through VJ, I've come to realize that USCIS will likely want me to have the "new" unabridged birth certificate. I've already submitted my AOS application and am now fully anticipating the dreaded RFE.

 

I'm going to secure this document in the meantime. Current processing times are approximately 6mo for a birth cert if you apply for it through either a Canadian or American consulate, but I've heard of "agents" who can assist in getting these documents sooner. Has anyone here used one successfully or could recommend one?

 

I've found some threads on this but they're older, and one requires having family in SA to start the process for you (my uncle and aunt and grandparents are there, but I'm not sure how much work is involved and so don't want to burden them with this).

 

Thanks!!

[ashoos 34]

4 minutes ago, LilyKins said:

Hi all!!

 

I am currently adjusting my status from F1 through marriage to a USC. I was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada as an infant. I'm a Canadian citizen. Through VJ, I've come to realize that USCIS will likely want me to have the "new" unabridged birth certificate. I've already submitted my AOS application and am now fully anticipating the dreaded RFE.

 

I'm going to secure this document in the meantime. Current processing times are approximately 6mo for a birth cert if you apply for it through either a Canadian or American consulate, but I've heard of "agents" who can assist in getting these documents sooner. Has anyone here used one successfully or could recommend one?

 

I've found some threads on this but they're older, and one requires having family in SA to start the process for you (my uncle and aunt and grandparents are there, but I'm not sure how much work is involved and so don't want to burden them with this).

 

Thanks!!

I needed a birth certificate ASAP for our K1 interview. I found a company (Passports4u) that would expedite the process. I went the route of going to start the process myself at Home Affairs and then giving them the information, but they also provided an option where someone would do waiting at Home Affairs for you and they'd deliver it. 

 

Not sure if they still do this as it was a year ago, but you could look into it and have the certificate sent to your family members and then couriered to the US? 

Edited March 3, 2020 by ashoos

[lau--lau 4]

Hi everyone 👋

I hope everyone is doing well. 

I have my AOS interview coming up at the end of the month . The interview notice States that you should bring a completed medical form if you haven’t already submitted it. I had my medical done in sa in April 2019. I filed my AOS application August 2019. Am I all good for the interview, or do I have to quickly try and have a medical done again before my AoS Interview? 

After reading the instructions on the medical form it states that a k1 medical done overseas is valid so long as the AOS application was filed within a year of it being done .

The answer might be straight forward but I think I’m just nervous because it’s march and the interview is being done close to it being a year since my medical.

please can someone shed some light on this for me.

Thank you ! 

 

[vistawateraz 27]

1 hour ago, lau--lau said:

Hi everyone 👋

I hope everyone is doing well. 

I have my AOS interview coming up at the end of the month . The interview notice States that you should bring a completed medical form if you haven’t already submitted it. I had my medical done in sa in April 2019. I filed my AOS application August 2019. Am I all good for the interview, or do I have to quickly try and have a medical done again before my AoS Interview? 

After reading the instructions on the medical form it states that a k1 medical done overseas is valid so long as the AOS application was filed within a year of it being done .

The answer might be straight forward but I think I’m just nervous because it’s march and the interview is being done close to it being a year since my medical.

please can someone shed some light on this for me.

Thank you ! 

 

We were in the same situation, but as long as you already turned it in you should be fine. 

[lau--lau 4]

35 minutes ago, vistawateraz said:

We were in the same situation, but as long as you already turned it in you should be fine. 

Yip I sent in the completed medical forms, except the brown envelope, which I didn’t feel comfortable sending via mail Incase it got lost. I will be taking the envelope to the interview. Thank you soooo much 🙏

[LuFlolady 881]

Our AOS interview is on the 24th of this month and my husband started working this week.... We are so excited oh and he got his drivers license

[vistawateraz 27]

Awesome!! Good luck!

[Patrick Eiland 0]

Hi guys,

 

My fiance and i received our NOA2 on Feb 25th right when this whole worldwide shutdown happened 

 

I contacted the NVC and they gave me a new case number with JHN for Johannesburg via email

 

She was notified her police clearance was finalized in Milnerton but from here i have a few questions on our scenario about what happens next and i was hoping you guys could help me out

 

Should she get something in the mail? should I? 

 

I know my fiance needs to do a DS-160 

 

My fiance has a 15yr old daughter that will be 16 in June does she need a police clearance?  does she need to do a DS-160 or DS-260? 

 

Myself nor her has received  anything in the mail since the NOA2

[Phunky38927 24]

Hey guys!

I am quite new to this process with my fiance. However, I know some countries have a no/yes thing about joint sponsorships.

Does South Africa allow joint sponsors? As we are both college students and I am about to graduate just anxious and trying to plan ahead!

Thank you

[LuFlolady 881]

On 5/5/2020 at 7:19 PM, Patrick Eiland said:

Hi guys,

 

My fiance and i received our NOA2 on Feb 25th right when this whole worldwide shutdown happened 

 

I contacted the NVC and they gave me a new case number with JHN for Johannesburg via email

 

She was notified her police clearance was finalized in Milnerton but from here i have a few questions on our scenario about what happens next and i was hoping you guys could help me out

 

Should she get something in the mail? should I? 

 

I know my fiance needs to do a DS-160 

 

My fiance has a 15yr old daughter that will be 16 in June does she need a police clearance?  does she need to do a DS-160 or DS-260? 

 

Myself nor her has received  anything in the mail since the NOA2

You wont receive anything in the mail it's all electronic.... you have you case number so now you can check the website to see of available interview dates...however sometimes it will take up to 2 months for you to get an interview date. We received our case number in Nov and there wasn't any dates released until Jan I think..... I am not sure about the soon to be 16yr old.... good luck! 

On 5/14/2020 at 12:59 PM, kristinaax03225 said:

Hey guys!

I am quite new to this process with my fiance. However, I know some countries have a no/yes thing about joint sponsorships.

Does South Africa allow joint sponsors? As we are both college students and I am about to graduate just anxious and trying to plan ahead!

Thank you

Joint sponsorship should not be a problem just make sure you have the right documents from all parties good luck

[Patrick Eiland 0]

On 5/21/2020 at 10:18 AM, LuFlolady said:

You wont receive anything in the mail it's all electronic.... you have you case number so now you can check the website to see of available interview dates...however sometimes it will take up to 2 months for you to get an interview date. We received our case number in Nov and there wasn't any dates released until Jan I think..... I am not sure about the soon to be 16yr old.... good luck! 

Joint sponsorship should not be a problem just make sure you have the right documents from all parties good luck

Where do we schedule the interview?  Also the NVC CEAC website where you check the status says it is still "At NVC"

 

Can we schedule a interview with it still being at the NVC?  We are well due to hear something back we got our NOA2 way back in march and since i got the NOA2 in the mail nothing else has been communicated 

[Phunky38927 24]

28 minutes ago, Patrick Eiland said:

Where do we schedule the interview?  Also the NVC CEAC website where you check the status says it is still "At NVC"

 

Can we schedule a interview with it still being at the NVC?  We are well due to hear something back we got our NOA2 way back in march and since i got the NOA2 in the mail nothing else has been communicated 

Patrick I am no expert by any means but, when it’s in NVC stage you can start the DS-160 I believe. You use the 1-797 I believe as your receipt number. 
also please update your timeline as it helps with estimation dates for other users. 

[Patrick Eiland 0]

Good Morning all,

 

My fiance and i have had our application at the NVC in New Hampshire since April and it was at the WAC in California since last November , I called and got the receipt number alsos

 

When it arrived at the NVC it had JHN letters now with a new case number but every day I have checked since April it says "At NVC "  does anyone know what the hold up is? is it a USA hold up? or is the problem in Johannesburg?  

 

Is there anything i can do to help expedite? My Fiance and her Daughter are waiting on their Police Clearances but those seem to be taking forever also 

[Phunky38927 24]

4 hours ago, Patrick Eiland said:

Good Morning all,

 

My fiance and i have had our application at the NVC in New Hampshire since April and it was at the WAC in California since last November , I called and got the receipt number alsos

 

When it arrived at the NVC it had JHN letters now with a new case number but every day I have checked since April it says "At NVC "  does anyone know what the hold up is? is it a USA hold up? or is the problem in Johannesburg?  

 

Is there anything i can do to help expedite? My Fiance and her Daughter are waiting on their Police Clearances but those seem to be taking forever also 

Hello,

I believe it’s due to the fact the embassy are closed. 
However, police clearances are also taking forever for some odd reason. Which is a SA issue not a US issue. 
in the end nothing you can do but to sadly be patient