Confusedtinybird

We got married in the USA and we didn't need the letter. I think the letter is only for if you are getting married in South Africa. It was very easy to change from single to married. And we are now listed as married under everything.

It is very easy to get married in the USA. Call up where you want to get married and ask what you will need to bring.

Are you planning on getting married in South Africa? Curious why you are getting your Letter of No Impediment.

Have you already filed doing DCF?

Don't think you can file using am expired visa, but I might be wrong. Unless you plan on getting another type of visa.

I did tax return transcript. You can order it online.

I had to actually cancel my tickets waiting on Johannesburg embassy. They told me I'd have our passports in two days.... Weeks later after crying my eyes out they called me saying they had difficulty in spelling my name! Imagine ... Anyhow went to the embassy a hour later .... Flew out that same evening ? Yaaay so just chill as hard as it is. They take their sweet time

YAY!!! Glad you got your visa and you are in the USA! Hope everything is going well for you!!

I would not worry! They kept your husband's passport! And if she said 3-5 days it might take 5 days. You should be getting an e-mail very soon with instructions!!

VAN,

I remember appts being every Tuesday and Thursday at 1PM.

I am the USC but lived in Cape Town for a long time.

6 KM isn't bad!! You can check if there is Uber running or just get a cab!

Hi,

When did you end up getting your medical appointment and interview appointment?

We booked the medical Sept 7 and 8th because they said it takes 10-14 days for the US consulate to receive and process the results. His appointment is Sept 17th. I just hate that he has to get a hotel for all those days in between just waiting.

Van,

I would check on Gumtree.co.za or look at a Hostel and see if you can book something. It might be a lot cheaper than a hotel.

Hi, my husband and I just received word that our documents have been received by NVC and they said they will need 30 days before our interview can be scheduled. I was just curious how long you waited for an interview. For example, If I hear back from NVC in early September, is it safe to say our interview would be scheduled before December or is it taking longer than that? Just trying to mentally prepare- we're hoping to spend Christmas in the US!

Are you doing CR-1? You mentioned my husband but on the side you said K-1.

December Christmas might happen, but it could be cutting it close. NVC could take longer than 30 days to schedule the interview. There could be delays in getting your file to South Africa.

What you CAN do is make sure you have all the documents you need! You will need a PCC and an Unabridged Birth Ceritificate.

Hope it works out and you can spend Christmas in the USA!!!

Shelby,

They are not going to go through your binder. So if want to bring your binder you can bring it but you will have to pull everything out and hand it to the officer. It doesn't matter how you present your paper. Just make sure that you have everything.

You will be notified if you pass the interview that day. Then you will receive instructions on how to receive your documents and passport via DHL. Should be less than 5 days if everything goes according to plan.

Everything will go smoothly!!

Hi!

I assume his interview is at 1? I would start to line up for the interview between 12:15 and 12:30. The location is not really in the best spot you will have your back to all way and will be outside the entire time while you wait to go in.

The Consulate is right across from the Sandton Mall. So if you have time to kill before or after your interview go pop into Sandton Mall for a little while.

They let me come in for the interview. I was living in South Africa at the time so I came to the interview. I brought my Passport with me.

Make sure you have pictures, but don't put them in a binder as they wont fit through the window. You can label pictures with the date and location on the back.

And then of course make sure all your documents are unabridged.

If you have any more questions just ask! But they are pretty friendly at that Consulate.

Ok thanks. I asked them at the police station and they said it was valid for 6 months

Yes i applied through Home Affairs, is this a bad thing? I thought that if it takes 3 months it should all line up pretty well. However it may take longer.

How about you?

Hi,

I would contact the US Consulate and ask them. They really are the ones that would say how long it's valid for. I was told 6 months.

Home Affairs is taking forever for Birth Certificates. It took us almost a year.

You might get lucky and it might arrive faster, but it could take a long time.

If you are needing it sooner then I would look at using a service.

Bunnyhop or DocAssist

Yes i have done a lot of searching, i just thought there might be some people in the same step in the process as me as people are at different stages of the application.

My biggest question is when to apply for my police clearance as i'm not too sure how long it will take. i don't want to receive it too soon that it expires before my interview or too late that i have reschedule my interview. The same goes for my korean one as i lived in korea for 3 years. I applied for my birth certificate mid july, apparently that takes about 3 months. It's tough working with some many different timelines and trying to coordinate them.

That's really tough to say. It seems that backlog has maybe cleared a little bit with the PCC. It took a VERY long time for us to receive ours. I am talking about months. Other people received theirs faster.

It looks like it is taking 6 weeks. But it could take a lot longer. I apply as soon as you schedule your medical.

Another thing I was told that the PCC was good for 6 months, but someone else said they got confirmation it was 12 months. If you can get e-mail confirmation that it is good for 12 months then you could start applying for it.

Did you apply through Home Affairs for your Birth Certificate?

There are a few people that have gone through the process recently. You can do the search function and find some people.

We did DCF. If you have any questions just shout! I am try and answer!

Phil,

It should count. South Africa wants visas that you have to apply for ie NOT a tourist visa that you receive at the airport.

BUT South Africa also requires 6 month residence before you can apply.

A few questions! Any advice is helpful – but particularly those working with the US Consulate in Johannesburg/South Africa.

1) I read recently on here that you have to do the medical on two consecutive days. Do they automatically fit this into the schedule for this particular Doctor? Assuming they do a lot of these immigration medical interviews? Also, is it easy to get the appointments if you call as soon as you have the visa interview date?

2) Also heard about medical that it has to be done two weeks before the visa interview. Is this still true? We will be traveling down from Botswana and this means two separate trips… just want to prepare ourselves and our budget.

3) I know the consulate says it takes 3-5 working days to process the visa. Has this been accurate for people? Again, asking because we will have to wait in South Africa and pick it up (can’t cross back into Botswana without it – unless there is some permit I don’t know about but my fiancé does that he could get). Wondering if they process it any faster than that – or maybe for those not from South Africa?

4) Lastly, we have a possible challenge with timing… I am currently in Botswana and scheduled to leave in mid-October. We are still waiting on his birth certificate from the national registration office. It should take 4-5 more weeks. If it takes longer, we run into timing – I would have to leave before we can get the interview in. How terrible of an idea is it to submit the DS-2100 before we have the birth certificate, if we are confident it can come in time for the actual interview? Has anyone one this before? I would hate to risk not having it and have to re-schedule.

Thanks for any and all input! This forum has been a godsend!

The medical was done in 1 day for us. It was a long day, but it can be done in 1 day. This included the doctors visit, X-rays, blood work, and vaccines.

Call AS soon as you have your interview date. They like the two week window for the results of the test, and for your medical records to make their way back to the Consulate.

It really depends on the processing time. Ours was processed the next day. But if they need extra information or something is missing then it might delay the processing time. Based on what I have read it shouldn't be that long. Just check what days they are open to the public for pick up of the visa.

I would wait till you have his Birth Certificate, but that's my opinion. Do you have the option of paying to get it expedited? I know in South Africa you can do this.

Hi I am currently in South Africa living with my finance Stephen.. I am looking to make SA my home..I usually leave the country and go home to Florida every 90 days and then re enter the country here, however I am hearing the rules have changed and restrictions are being placed on foreigners..

Is there anyone who is currently in SA, or is going through the marriage process, this is definitely an option to keep me here, however I heard this is a nightmare in its self.. I would love to talk to others.. I am a nervous depressed mess right now..

I am currently waiting outcome on VFS, should be any day now, for my visa extension, but I heard everyone is being denied.. If you love someone why cant u just be with that person,..thanks

Stephen&Dawn,

Send me a message. I lived in South Africa for a long time. (I am the USC) You have a few options. I was in South Africa on multiple visas during my time in South Africa. I learned how to deal with Useless Affairs. LOL

Any word yet? Have you tried calling any speaking with someone?

Here are some other threads with members that had the same questions:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/497561-unabridged-birth-certificate-south-africa/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/527123-help-with-south-africa-police-certificate/

Yes they work. And if you are in a hurry I would look into using a company. Try Bunnyhop or Docassist.

Many people on these forums have used a company to assist in the Birth Certificate. It is worth it!!

Congrats!!!!!!!!!

I would e-mail also. Because when you e-mail you can print it out and bring the email to the interview that says that certified copies are acceptable.

I know the feeling sending via SAPO. I sent two Christmas gifts in August last year to family members they never arrived. It's crazy. We really take our postal service for granted.

I had originals of everything. But I don't know if you HAVE too. I think you do but not 100%.

But I just sent something to South Africa via Fedex. It was $85 took 4 days. DHL wanted $125. Yes, it's not cheap, but you are SO close to the finish line that I would look at using Fedex they have great tracking so you can see exactly where your package is!

If you do mail use Fedex or DHL don't even think about the PO. I sent two things and they never made it.

Also go and get them notorized. The UPS store does that it cost $5

Good day all.

We received our NOA2 hard copy yesterday ( May 11th ) ( CSC) and we are aware that this now goes to the NVC stage, however, while we are waiting we thought we would prepare for the interview in the mean time.

So we have all the required documents ready, PCC, Birth Cert etc.

My question is only regarding the proof of relationship part. so, as I know many of you we have 100's of photos of us together, I just wanted to know what would be the best way to present these. Would making a photo-book album( like the ones you do for your wedding) be advisable, as this will show everything very neatly?

I am just worried that they take it and don't return it to us?

Otherwise, could anyone give me an indication as to which way you presented your photos and other evidence? Because we have ( up to today) the following already:

1. Chat logs. ( snippets by months) since we started dating

2. Emails

3. Facebook screenshots( of our own post, checkins, with family and friends)

4. Screen shots of video calls( our faces)

5. Video chat logs

6. Iphone screenshots of picture moments( this is where photos get "geotagged" and are displayed by where they were taken)

7. Stamped letters

8.Passport stamps showing visits

9.Flight tickets + boarding passes

10. the photos?? ( thus the post)

• just us
• with family and friends
• at events( sporting/work functions.)
• her holidays with me
• my holidays with her

Are we in Good shape with all this? what is the best way to present all of this?

* off topic, realistically, how long should we expect to wait to hear from the NVC( as the NOA2 hard copy said that the process takes 2-4 weeks) ?

Thank you everyone.

All the best with your journeys

Kid

NewKid,

When you go to the interview don't bother with a big binder. It wont fit thought the window, and you will be ask to take everything out. Several couples came with these huge photo books and they had to rip everything out.

For the photos during the interview I put the date /location/ and who was in the photo on a sheet of paper under the photo. I had 3 pictures for each piece of paper. Just glue the photo to the piece of paper. I started in the beginning of the relationship. I had some pictures of the wedding. Pictures of my husband with my family.

I had a cover sheet with all my evidence and I listed everything on the cover sheet.

Your evidence looks good!

Hi,

There isn't DCF in Vietnam http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-immigration-offices

Follow this thread for USC living abroad some have been expedited. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/357465-usc-petitioner-living-abroad/page-43#entry7603980