WilliamSmith

On 9/9/2020 at 12:35 AM, IsItLekker said:

Hi guys! 1 week until our interview. Any advice to offer before the time? Good luck at yours today, @mimi206. 
 

@WilliamSmith how did your flight go? What was the experience like?
 

@TamDill How about you guys? Did everything go well?

We arrived here in New York yesterday afternoon! Everything went well, just a lot of waiting around. We flew into JHB on the day and was met at domestic arrivals by the Emirates reps. They told us to hang around in the airport. After a few hours they made us put our suitcases outside in the road for the dogs to check the luggage. Once that is done you’re taken through to the check in counter and then through to the international section. There is a restaurant that is open on that side with drinks and a few basics things to eat. 

Dubai airport was pretty busy with a few shops and restaurants open. 
 

Once I got to the US I was taken to a room to process some documentation. Took about 10 min. I was asked to confirm our address and phone numbers and that was it! All done!

On 8/25/2020 at 6:35 PM, IsItLekker said:

@WilliamSmith Have you guys had any luck booking a ticket?

We just booked and paid this morning! Flying out on the 8th of September. JHB to Dubai and then Dubai to JFK!

1 minute ago, IsItLekker said:

Ah ok. Weird question, did they always communicate with you on a Thursday?

Wednesdays or Thursdays..

13 hours ago, IsItLekker said:

When you guys spoke to your congress people, did you submit a request online? Did they reply via email and did you have to submit a permission form to them? It just looks like it went really fast for you guys and we haven't heard anything from the NVC, the consulate or the congressman's office. I'm wondering if I need to call them. 😕

We had to fill out a form online as well as a form giving them permission to look into our case. It took about two weeks to hear back from them. Did you make contact with them yet?

On 8/10/2020 at 5:27 AM, IsItLekker said:

Did they end up getting the medical document to the consulate on time before your interview? Or was there a delay?

No, I called the doctor today and they said that it should be there by tomorrow. I hope this is the case and that they can start working on my visa!

Just now, TamDill said:

Good to know! Thanks for sharing your experience, it makes me feel more relaxed about next week  

No problem, just prepare for a long wait. I was in there for more than 3 hours and the interview is about 5 minutes!

3 minutes ago, TamDill said:

I'm officially scheduled    Happy Days!! I'm booked for next Wednesday morning. Looks like they schedule on Thursdays and book for Wednesdays.

I'll update you guys next week after my interview.

 

@mimi206 They do vaccines at the medical stage, what you get depends on prior vaccines (you'll need proof of these vaccines, I had my vaccine card from when I was a child) What they give you goes onto your report which is sent to the Consulate - hope that helps! Good luck for your medical on Wednesday, I'm glad to hear you came right 

 

@WilliamSmith congrats!! Did they advise you at all on the repatriation flights? I see they did release on their website yesterday, more upcoming flights. 

Thanks!

She only said that I need to be aware that I can't travel to Europe..

3 hours ago, mimi206 said:

@WilliamSmith sorry,  last question , did they ask you about vaccines ? 

Thank you 

Not at the interview but it is done during the medical. 

13 hours ago, mimi206 said:

@WilliamSmith Thank you , wow that’s simple questions, did they ask you only more questions? and what kind of doc did you submit ? 

Thank you a lot 

No, that was it for the questions. As for the documents, I followed this check list.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/JHN-Johannesburg.html#pre_interview_checklist

Just now, mimi206 said:

@Williamsmith , Congratulations you did it,Thank you for update, How was interview questions and why you sitting 3 hrs ? 

My medical appointment will be Wednesday 

Thanks! I'm not sure why it took so long, just sat around waiting to be called. They first collect all your documents and you're asked to sit back down and wait while they review everything. They asked me what I do for a living, what my wife does for a living, what are my plans when I get to the US, how much money I am taking with me and where I'll be staying. The interview is only a few minutes and then you're done.

Hi all,

Thought I'd give everyone a quick update! I was contacted by the consulate last week and was asked to schedule a medical. After doing that they scheduled my interview for this morning. I had to fly up to Joburg from Cape Town and after sitting at the consulate for almost 3 hours I got the approval! They kept my passport and they'll be sending it down to Cape Town in 7-10 days.

Hi all,

Apologies for only updating you guys now but I've been running around like crazy.

I got a call from the Consulate on Thursday. A very friendly lady asked me to book a medical with the Cape Town doctor and let her know when I get an appointment with him. I called his office and was able to get an appointment for the next day (Friday morning) after which I contacted the lady who called me to let her know. She was able to schedule my interview for Wednesday (5 August). I've running around gathering all the documents and  finally managed to get everything together.

I will keep you guys updated and let you know what happens on Wednesday!

Hi all,

I was about to book myself a massage this morning, as all of the spa's have opened up,  when I realised that if the government is fine with me being in a room for 90 minutes with someone giving me a massage then surely they should be fine with me being interviewed. Perhaps even through a glass window like they have at banks. They did it like that when I had an interview for a B1 / B2 visa in Dublin a few years ago. If that is not possible, I can be 2m away, wearing a mask while limiting the number of people in the embassy. I find it absolutely insane that they are not open for interviews but so many other (more dangerous) things are open.

With that said, I know we live in a world where logic doesn't always get taken into account when rules and regulations are put in place but I am also not okay just hanging out until they have no other choice but to open up. I think we need to set a date and if we don't hear anything from them (say end of July or Aug), then we need to take some action. Start emailing / calling weekly, getting immigrations lawyers involved, contacting Congressmen / Senators or even starting a petition. I know all of these things will probably not achieve much on their own but perhaps together we can put some pressure on someone in the embassy to start taking this seriously. I most certainly do not want to wait another 6 months to be with my loved ones in the US after already waiting more than a year. Especially because we are so close to the end and the thing standing in our way is so ridiculous.

Sorry about the rant, today is just one of those days!

Any thoughts are welcomed. 

33 minutes ago, Jade Hattingh said:

Has anyone tried to expedite and been approved as of yet ? I have just requested from our immigration lawyers to at least try . I would love to know some feedback before I proceed. 

What is your reason for the expedite? I think if you just search for “expedite” on the forum, you’ll get tons of posts about them. Successful and unsuccessful. Hope you get it approved! Keep us updated 

2 minutes ago, Jade Hattingh said:

So I have asked our lawyers to see if we qualify for an expedite, has anyone done this yet and have you been approved? 

Unfortunately expedites are not easy. They only expedite if USCIS made an error, humanitarian reasons, severe financial loss or compelling U.S. government interests. Do any of those apply to your case?

I've seen people request expedites in really bad circumstances and still get denied.

So after reaching out to the Consulate in Johannesburg about interviews, I got a response basically saying that our visa falls under the suspension.

I responded to the email quoting a section of the above mentioned proclamation stating that spouses of US citizens are exempt to which I received this response:

So I guess now we wait?

Great idea to create this thread!

We contacted a New York Congressman a few weeks ago to help us look into getting our I-130 approved. Shortly after that we received the approval. We then submitted all our documents to the NVC and received word that our application has been expedited due to the Congressman's efforts. Our case was sent to the US Consulate in Johannesburg and we are also now waiting to schedule our interview. 

I emailed them yesterday and received a response this morning basically saying that there is a suspension in place and that no interviews are being scheduled at the moment. By the way the email was phrased, it seemed like they considered our case as part of the suspension until the end of the year, which we know is not the case. 

We have an immigration lawyer on hand as well if we need to put some pressure on them. Please keep us updated if you have any new information on the situation or if there is anything we can do to help with this issue. Is there anything we can do in the meantime? Should we contact the doctor in Cape Town to be added to the list of people to contact? 

Let's keep in contact and try our best to help each other in this frustrating situation!

Finally got our I-130 approved!

PD: 9 Sep 2019

NOA 2: 3 June 2020

US Citizen filling.

Date changes:

23 Feb (Transferred from Texas to Nebraska)

27 April

1 June

15 hours ago, Daxnet said:

Can you show a screenshot of what this Visa Tracker app looks like ?

Our case was originally in TSC and like many, we were transferred on Feb 23 to NSC. I noticed a date change on Apr 27 and got very excited but no NOA2. Someone suggested downloading an app called 'Visa Tracker' and the app is able to show you where your case it. When I checked it said CSC. I sent a message to Emma to verify so I will see what that response says.

Anyone else here who got transferred a second time? 

5 minutes ago, Anynonmus said:

Hopefully, mine will approve too. 

Keep us posted!

2 minutes ago, PMayor said:

i Received an update yesterday and got approve like 2minutes ago

 

PD sept 11 

NSC

first update February 23

second update  April 28

got approve April 29

Congrats! Were you transferred on feb 23?

5 hours ago, Daxnet said:

Ur approval is already on its way...

I hope so!

Just now, PMayor said:

How did you know it was transferred from one service center to another? Did you call to verify?

Yes I did

Did anyone see a date change yesterday? I had one on 2/23 when transferred from TSC to NSC and again yesterday. Not sure what this means. Any ideas?

7 minutes ago, USAUAinCZ said:

I was transferred from Texas to Nebraska. I found out today when I used the live chat option. I am super disappointed as my case should be should have almost been done in Texas this month. I also just found out my wife is pregnant so I guess she'll be having the kid in her home country now and I'm stuck here in the USA in quarantine. Really disheartening news about the transfer  

Ah man I am sorry to hear that, this whole thing sucks! I hope everything works out for you guys!