Confusedtinybird

I imagine it might be a little different for adoption but I dont know. I actually might contact an immigration lawyer. I have done DCF and I did an international adoption a few years ago so I know it gets messy.

I would just double check that this can be done.

Are you trying to bring your children your adopted to the United States? Have you legally adopted your children? The DCF is not a route for adopted children. You would need to complete an adoption- file a petition wait. Complete everything with USCIS for the adoption.

Agree with other posters you cant compare your times to other countries. In general South Africa moves faster than other African countries. But do you have everything ready to go? Police clearance? Birth Certificate? As those items can take a while in South Africa and a lot of people will use an outside company to help speed the process to obtain these items. 

I would try and get in contact with the embassy in Monrovia in Liberia. Or try Johannesburg South Africa. I know they are not close but I would still reach out.

Yes you would need to use an adoption agency- there are a couple in the US that work in Nigeria. It is a long process.

What issues are you experiencing ?

On 5/8/2024 at 7:55 PM, hplusj said:

Hey all:

 

I sent the Johannesburg consulate an email today, after waiting ten weeks "at NVC"; South Africa has a notorious reputation for its government agencies taking forever to process forms.  I understand that the consulate is run by Americans, but I have my misgivings about how things are going in Jo-Berg.  I kept it simple: status inquiry, any word on backlogs for K1 visa interview times or needed extensions beyond the four month window on the I-797.  Case number, petitioner name, beneficiary name, our emails.

 

Been doing the DHL hack and saw something move to Jo-Berg at the end of April; nothing for this week, sadly.  Which is what prompted me to poke the consulate.  GENTLY.

 

Anyone work with Johannesberg  who can give advice on communicating with them?  Can poking go too far?  I want to avoid any setbacks to the process if our case is blackmarked for us being nags lol!  I did search similar timelines but nobody using Jo-Berg for K1s who got their NOA2s in this calendar year have reported an interview date.  The last one was December 2023* (with the interview in March, but I digress).

 

Even if it's been a few years, I'd love to hear from folks who have successfully navigated Johannesburg.  

It's not really run by Americans.  When we were there years ago there were many different Nationalities working there. I have been to several Embassies throughout Africa and it's run very well. Very organized.

The Embassy is run very different than Home Affairs. We did DCF so cant really advise on K-1 too much.

Just a side note- It's also mostly called Jo'burg or Jozi. Ive never heard it called or spelled Jo-berg.

The timelines are really hard to go by. The Embassy will let you know when they are ready for you.

Hello,

You will need form BI-1664 & BI529 if you type in google these forms you can find them.

Copy of your green card.

Letter stating why you want to retain South African Citizenship.

Copy of your South African Passport.

$25 fee Money Order

You need to do this before you become a US citizen. As far as getting the documents notarized you can just go to a UPS store and ask for a notary that is what we did.

You can PM me if you have any other questions. We did this a couple years ago.

On 1/22/2023 at 8:20 PM, ashoos said:

Hello Everyone, long time etc etc etc 

 

Wondering if anyone has recently filed to retain SA citizenship with the BI-529 and DHA BI-1664?

Hey! We did several years back. It takes a while to do. Several months.

On 4/27/2022 at 3:41 AM, ROK2USA said:

Happy Freedom Day almal! 

@LuFlolady and @vistawateraz are you planning on applying for retention of SA citizenship?

I always wondered when in the process you're supposed to send in the application... while N400 is pending or before you submit N400 paperwork...

Hi! I just saw this, but  if you are planning on applying for US Citizenship I would go ahead and apply to keep your South African Citizenship. It took a while for ours to come in the mail. You HAVE like last day possible to have it when you take the Oath.

9 hours ago, Tim&Pashy said:

My fiancee is trying to pick up her police clearance at the CRC, we have confirmation that the form is ready. But the agent we have been working with to expedite the process is telling us that the CRC is closed and has no update on when they will reopen. Her police clearance has been in ready status since March 3rd. This is the only thing that she needs to process her visa. Can anyone confirm if the centre is really closed?

I saw online that SAPS Criminal Records unit is going to be locked until further notice due to unpaid rent. This was posted March 8.The agent she is working with should have more news or be able to tell her what to do next.

On 6/30/2021 at 11:05 PM, Disfan01 said:

I had the opposite experience.  I was not even allowed to wait outside the embassy while my husband went for his interview.  I had to wait for him at the mall.  This was in Sept 2019  

Oh wow maybe it's changed! This was over 5 years ago for us.

My husband and I got married in the USA. It's so much easier than dealing Home Affairs. I used to go to that Home Affaris in Cape Town all the time.

But I have been there when they have asked spouses questions it's VERY informal.

- Where did you meet

- How long have you know each other

- Where do you live

Questions like that

On 5/26/2020 at 7:52 PM, kristinaax03225 said:

Hello y’all,

I have quite a few months til we get to the interview stage. However, I am curious does the South Africa allow the US citizen in during the interview? As I am planning on going a few days before the interview and then flying back if approved with my fiancé 

Hi they did several years ago allow US citizens in for the interview. I had my passport and said I wanted to come in with my husband, and they were fine with that. We were both living in South Africa at the time, and went to the interview together.

On 3/22/2020 at 2:51 PM, JCP said:

The president of South Africa recently said those who didn’t need visas to enter South Africa will need one now. And then didn’t give much info on that. Last year my bf visited me for 12 day’s and didn’t need a visa. He’s planning on visiting me again for two weeks after all this commotion clears up. Does anyone know if he’ll need a visa to stay here two weeks? Sorry if this question is stupid everything’s just so unclear here. 

No he should not need a visa for 2 weeks.

On 8/21/2019 at 9:57 AM, SamNadia said:

I have looked high and low for the rescheduling policies for the US consulate in South Africa and I only get redirected some where else and find nothing...

 

does anyone one know the policy of rescheduling interviews for SA? 

If you can reach someone at the Consulate they are pretty flexible about having to reschedule. I know of several people that had to reschedule and were able too.

On 7/14/2019 at 3:25 AM, IsabelleFredrick said:

Hi everyone!

 

Anyone gone to the SA consulate in LA to get a name change on passport?

What's the process?

Yes,  you have to apply for a new passport which will take 6-12 months to do this.

http://www.dirco.gov.za/losangeles/otherservices.html

I think the answer is it really depends. I would count on it taking somewhere from 2-4 months. Some VJs have been lucky and have gotten theirs sooner. The PCC goes through a lot of different people and can sit on a desk for a while. If you do it yourself then I would arrange for a courier company to pick it up and deliver to you.

If you need it sooner then that there are several companies that can assist.

http://www.docassist.co.za/

https://bunnyhop.co.za/

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/

4 hours ago, Mozam said:

 

We arrived on a Wednesday (Jan 23) and our first medical appointment was on a Friday (Jan 25). Then our interview was on Feb 7th. I have no idea about applying for a longer stay. Americans do get 90 days so it isn't a problem for me.

 

I came back to Mozambique today because everything has to be out of our house by tomorrow. He is still in SA waiting. I will be at it again in the morning trying to move mountains. (Help me Jesus). We are looking into what we need to do with his SA visa stamp. I've heard multiple stories of people being banned from the country for "X" number of years for overstaying even by just 1 day. The U.S. Embassy doesn't seem to care and just keep giving a blanket answer that it takes 10 days to return the issued visa after AP. I literally don't care about getting the American visa in my hand right now (since we know we are approved) I just don't want him to overstay his visa because the embassy won't return his passport like we've asked. 

With regard to the ban from South Africa don't worry about it to much. You can get the ban removed. Make sure you have all your paperwork with you!! The ban was really big several years, but S.A. has eased up on it.

5 hours ago, IsabelleFredrick said:

Could someone who has applied for k1 and k3's and had interview, be willing to talk me through the packet 3 and 4 on the SA site: 

https://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=South Africa&cty=Johannesburg

 

It's overwhelming and a lot! 

 

I would post in the thread South African K1 Visa Applicants. There are lots of members there. I can help but I did DCF.

6 hours ago, Mel & Llew said:

@Heidi888 I came across 2 interesting articles about retaining SA citizenship once you apply for US citizenship (few years down the line after getting married): 

--> https://www.thesouthafrican.com/south-african-citizenship-dual-nationality/

--> https://www.nwivisas.com/nwi-blog/south-africa/does-south-africa-allow-dual-citizenship/

 

It seems you have to apply to retain your SA citizenship, you don't automatically just keep it indefinitely. Also important to know later down the road (when you have 2 passports) is that (if you're still also a SA citizen) it is illegal to enter or leave SA with your US passport - you have to use your SA passport on the SA side.

 

Good luck! 

Yes, you have to apply to keep it if you also want US Citizenship. It's called Letter of Retention. Just make sure you have that letter before you apply for US Citizenship.

You can enter South Africa on your South Africa PP. So can your kids.

14 hours ago, Heidi888 said:

Hi

 

Once Im married, will I lose my SA citizenship, and have to apply for a SA visa to enter SA to visit family?

Same for kids? 

 

 

Hello,

If you apply for US citizen when the time does come you will have to apply to keep South African citizen BEFORE you apply for US citizenship. It's called 'Letter of Retention'

On 2/2/2019 at 2:08 PM, RenC said:

Hi All

 

Just wanted to introduce myself as I am new on the forum. The discussions are all very helpful!

 

I am also in the K-1 visa process. My fiance submitted our application end of September 2018. Now still in the loooong waiting period for NOA2.

 

I am living in Cape Town, South Africa.

 

Celia

Hello!! Hope the process is smooth for you!

I used to live in Cape Town.