bodypumpkaren

I had the same question, and the above postings are correct. It does not have to be notorized.

My husband's visa was approved on Monday and I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who took the time to answer my posts and provide information along our journey. VJ rocks!

Hi!

My husband just went through the medical this past Thursday. It wasn't so bad, but he did get stuck with some needles and have to give some blood. The embassy will send you a list of doctors you can choose from (2 in joburg, 1 in cape town and 1 in durban, I think). We used Mark Singer in Joburg (near edenvale).

The first up was the chest x-ray. That was R270 and took about an hour. After paying and getting the film, then we had to head to the doctor's office. There Darren had a physical exam (nothing too strenuous) and got his vaccinations (took about 30 mins but the waiting room was packed - very busy place). Darren did take his yellow vaccination card with him, but he still had to get 4 new vaccinations (they combined them into 2 shots). He also had to have blood drawn. The doctor's cost was R450 (had to be paid in cash) plus the vaccinations (will vary depending on what you need) R340.

I don't know anything about the TB skin test... that is a new one on me.

The doctor kept all the forms and xrays and then we trotted back to the hospital to pay for blood test R152. We still have to go back to pick up the results, so we'll see if that is the end of it.

Darren got sick immediately after his vaccinations - just a cold. But within a day and a half he was sniffling and sneezing. May not be the cause, but who knows!

I hope this helps calm your fears a little. I wouldn't be too worried!

Good luck!

~Karen

Definitely true and I believe it totally depends on the embassy where you apply. We were also (accepted AND)approved the same day we lodged the I-130 application at the Johannesburg consulate. It seems each embassy has their own procedures. We received packet 3 one week from the date our I-130 was accepted.

Good luck and congratulations!

~Karen

Thanks, Margot! I figured not, I just wanted another opinion. Thank you!

~Karen

No problem. I think I read somewhere that in a way it's notarised on the day at the appt by the person giving the interview, but maybe I was misunderstanding.

That is kind of what I was assuming. Since I will be there in person, there should be no doubt that the form is mine, I suppose. I also have an additional I-864 and I-864A from my parents in the event that mine is not sufficient. I had my mom get those notarized since she was sending them to me from home and obviously wouldn't be present. I think that should work.

Thanks for the reply!

~Karen

Thanks, Margot! I figured not, I just wanted another opinion. Thank you!

~Karen

Hi all! 2 weeks in counting! Can anyone tell me if the I-864 must be notarized? It doesn't say anywhere in the directions on the form that it should be and there doesn't appear to be space for it. Since I will be filing it in person and directly to the embassy, I am thinking it needn't be. Suggestions?

Thanks!

~Karen

Thank you to everyone who replied. I definitely agree with both sides, my foreign income is important to show as it shows my earning power, but cannot be counted as it won't continue. I think I am just going to go with my gut feeling and list the US FUTURE income on the form and "explain" my current Rand income on my attached answers. Thanks for your feedback! Hopefully it will be acceptable. Thank you all much!!

Hi all,

I've posed this question before, although not directly, and now, I am getting conflicting advice from my immigration attorney in the states, so I thought I would seek some additional advice.

I am preparing my I-864 (I'm the petitioner) and I am confused about the "current income" question. I currently work in South Africa and of course plan to move back to the states ASAP after our interview. My understanding is that the income I make in SA does NOT count because it will not continue when I move back to the US. I have accepted a job offer back home and will start at my new company as soon as I return. So, my plan was to list the future income from my NEW job on the I-864 and then in my attached explanation, state my CURRENT income, converted from Rand to USD.

However, my attorney just told me to do it the other way around. Surely I am not the first to cross this bridge. Can anyone offer me some assistance???

Thanks so much!!

Karen

Hi all! I was wondering if anyone has recently interviewed at the Johannesburg consulate, or has a scheduled interview coming up soon? Just looking for any advice, experience or feedback specific to this consulate. My husband and I will be interviewing for the CR1 visa.

Many thanks!

~Karen

Hi everyone! I just yesterday sent back packet 3 to the embassy in Joburg. I know the processing time and proceedures are different for each embassy, however, I was hoping someone could give me an idea of what is happening behind the scenes between packet 3 and 4? Is this where the Adam Walsh law comes in? And/Or the FBI name check? I am trying to get a grasp on how long it might take before I receive packet 4. So far the embassy has been very quick, but I don't know what is involved for them before they can send me packet 4. Anyone know?

Also, packet 3 stated the cost at the interview would be $390. Anyone know if that is going up July 30th as well? I am hoping our interview will be scheduled prior to then, but it depends on my question above I suppose!

Thanks a ton! So excited to be this far!

Hey y'all... I am looking for some help regarding the Affidavit of Support. I moved to South Africa late last year. My adjusted gross income for my 2006 tax return is well over the poverty limits so I am good there. However, I live and work in SA now. My current income (in Rands) is still well over the poverty limit. Now, I know there is the domicile requirement, which is fine. I have no problem meeting that. I have a residence, bank accounts, a job offer, and plenty of other evidence to prove my move was temporary. I am just hung up on the income... Can I claim my South African income now? I write that in the space for current yearly income? And, do I convert it to dollars? One last hitch... I have a job offer back at home... I assume I use that just for proof of my planned return... it can't really be counted as potential income in any other way for the form's sake, correct?

You cannot use your South African income unless that income is going to continue once you're in the USA, which it won't.

I don't know if you can use the income from the job you were offered.

My parents are willing to be co-sponsors, but that is a hell of a lot more paperwork and trouble if my income will suffice. They will have to complete an additional I-864 plus the contract between household members as it will take both of them to meet the poverty line.

If I were you I'd go ahead and have them fill one out. You can't use your SA income and if you can't use the income from your job offer and you don't have sufficient liquid assets to cover your household (which will be several times the poverty limit) then you will require a co-sponsor. I'd tell them to go ahead and get started filling out the paperwork. If at the interview it turns out you don't need a co-sponsor, then your parents haven't lost anything but time and the notary public's fee. If you don't have a co-sponsor but are told at the interview that you need one, then you'll be rushing around and stressed out. Overprepared is better than underprepared.

In our case, we did a DCF in London for my husband. I've lived in the UK for six years and was not domiciled in the USA (London doesn't seem to care about that) and my UK income would not count at all. Neither would his. I sponsored him with the value of our house here in the UK; we'll make six figures in profit off the sale of our house combined with our bank accounts...basically we had twice as much money as what was required, which was $80k according to the guy who interviewed my husband. We still had my parents fill out an I-864 as co-sponsors just in case, even though we knew there was basically no way we'd need it. Can't put a price on peace of mind.

Lastly, does anyone have any opinions on submitting tax returns? Is it "better" to submit 3 years worth? I was married during 2 of the prior year's returns, so the returns are muddy. I. alone, still made plenty above the poverty limit, but it just seems messy to have my ex's income muddied in with mine for these purposes... Any opinons or experiences?

Thanks, everyone!

When we interviewed in London in September 2006 they only wanted the previous year's tax return, but I brought the last three with me because the I-864 instructions said that I had to. I would read the instructions on the form and bring the number of returns that it requests. It's better to be overprepared than underprepared. It does seem the US gov't delights in constantly tweaking the rules.

Thanks for the info... I think I'll go to the trouble with the docs from my folks. I'll kick myself later if I don't do it and need it. One further question, does the income (US income) from my 2006 tax return mean anything? Or only my current income? If it is only my current income, then why do they care about your previous years? I guess just to establish an income history??

So, as far as you know then, I'll need the I-864 for me, an I-864 from my mother and an I-864A for my father (contract between household members), correct? Do both the I-864 from my mothe and the I-864A for my father need to be notorized? I haven't gotten that far...

Thanks again, you have been very helpful!

~Karen

Can I just add, how in the heck did you get to do DCF that quickly? I'm in the UK and I've been told on these boards that I can't do DCF unless I've been here for at least 1.5-2 years. I came to UK in October 2006 and was married 5 days after you were.

Are the DCF rules different for each consulate?

I'm so confused.

Yes, it is different per consulate. The rules for establishing "residency" are different at each consulate. Here is SA you just need to establish something other than a tourist residence, i.e. Perm SA residence, Spousal Residence, work permit, etc.

Sorry you have to wait so long there!

Hey y'all... I am looking for some help regarding the Affidavit of Support. I moved to South Africa late last year. My adjusted gross income for my 2006 tax return is well over the poverty limits so I am good there. However, I live and work in SA now. My current income (in Rands) is still well over the poverty limit. Now, I know there is the domicile requirement, which is fine. I have no problem meeting that. I have a residence, bank accounts, a job offer, and plenty of other evidence to prove my move was temporary. I am just hung up on the income... Can I claim my South African income now? I write that in the space for current yearly income? And, do I convert it to dollars? One last hitch... I have a job offer back at home... I assume I use that just for proof of my planned return... it can't really be counted as potential income in any other way for the form's sake, correct?

My parents are willing to be co-sponsors, but that is a hell of a lot more paperwork and trouble if my income will suffice. They will have to complete an additional I-864 plus the contract between household members as it will take both of them to meet the poverty line.

Lastly, does anyone have any opinions on submitting tax returns? Is it "better" to submit 3 years worth? I was married during 2 of the prior year's returns, so the returns are muddy. I. alone, still made plenty above the poverty limit, but it just seems messy to have my ex's income muddied in with mine for these purposes... Any opinons or experiences?

Thanks, everyone!

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and looking for some help regarding DCF in Johannesburg. I am a US Citizen living and working in SA since August of 2006. My husband and I were married here in SA at the end of March 07 and are now getting ready to file for his green card. Under the advice of my immigration attorney in the states, we are going to file the I-130 petition DCF (hopefully). As I am living and working here, the residency should not be in question.

I am looking for anyone willing to share their personal experiences filing the I-130 DCF in Johannesburg, most importantly the time lines they experienced. I have scoured the postings on this site and haven't found too many others with my circumstances. Of course, I am hoping someone will tell me their experience was smooth and (relatively) quick. I want to go home...

Also, regarding the DCF I-130 application, must I include a cover letter explaining our situation and asking them to process our petition? Or is that a given?

Lastly, I am in the process of applying for a new passport with my new married name. Any advice on whether I should file the petition with the new or old passport??

Thank you for your help!

~Karen

7/28/2005 - met Darren in Mexico

8/29/2006 - moved to SA to be with Darren

2/14/2007 - enganged

3/29/2007 - married