TamDill

8 minutes ago, carmel34 said:

Your passport, spousal visa, and endorsement at POE serve as a "green card" or proof of your LPR status for one year from date of entry to the US.  It may or may not be accepted for what you want to do, it depends on the office's policies and what their approved list of documents looks like.  It's the same challenge at many state DMVs, as my husband discovered here in California.  They couldn't be convinced that the visa was enough.  So we just waited for his green card to arrive, which took 3 months from POE in 2019.  It may take longer with the pandemic.  So I suggest that you try to register your LLC, business license, bank account, etc. with your passport and visa, driver's license, whatever.  SSNs typically arrive in a week or two after POE, sometimes longer, and you may need the SS card too, again, you'll have to ask to find out.  Some banks are picky, others less so.  Ditto for government offices.  Good luck!

This helps a lot thank you!! I thought that was the case with the visa, or that was my understanding at least. But I would rather be sure than assume  

1 hour ago, Lucky Cat said:

and what will the status indicate after POE?

I tracked my IOE number down - it's emailed when payment is made (FYI) My status is still on "payment received", so status doesn't update on POE. Next update should be a processing one I would think. From there it would be that the card has been sent. That's my understanding. You check your status at https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do for definite but you need the IOE number specifically.

33 minutes ago, Iscir said:

To check the status of your green card on the USCIS website, you now need to use the IOE number that is on the receipt of the visa fee payment. 

Thank you for this, life makes a whole lot more sense now  

1 minute ago, Lucky Cat said:

1.  There will be no CEAC update.......you will simply receive the Green card and Social Security card (if you marked the box) in the mail. 

2.  Depends on your state's  requirements for registering a LLC.  Check your Secretary of State's Office.  

 

 

1. Okay so I don't need to stress about the USCIS case status then?

2. That's easy enough thanks for that!

Hey VJ  I have checked the forums already, but still feeling a bit uncertain so any assistance would be amazing!

We paid my visa fee ($220) on 24 Aug 2020 and POE was 01 Sep 2020 at Washington - I am the applicant for a CR1 visa.

I've checked my USCIS case status (https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do) and it says my case was submitted to Department of State? This is the status update from when my application was approved and sent the NVC for processing. 

Am I looking at the right page for an update on my Green Card, if not where can I check. Do I still use the original case number from when we started my process or is there a new / updated number I am meant to use? If I'm looking in the right place, surely this is a problem as they have not updated to reflect that payment was made, never mind producing my GC? Payment was made more than a month ago and just about on 30 days from entering the US. I know its a 120 days (roughly) to receive my GC from entering the US, but I am concerned about the case status, surely it should reflect the payment by now? We have not received any new notices either since payment was made. Are we meant to receive something else in the mail, beside the GC?

The next question is this - I work for myself and need to set-up an LLC and get a Business License for the city I'm going to be working in. Do I need my GC for my LLC and Business License application or is my visa enough? My visa does have my alien number which I understand is my GC card number - is this correct? Will I need to wait for my GC and SSN in order to open a bank account or can I do this with just my visa? 

13 hours ago, 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?

I've been settling in nicely, loving the South so far! And just so awesome to be back with hubby again. Flight was smooth and less of a stress than I thought it would be. Came through Washington DC and everyone was very friendly and helpful. Arrived last Tuesday, so been here a little over a week now. 

@IsItLekker congratulations 🥳 you guys are moving quickly now! A few weeks and you'll be all done.

Side note had my covid test yesterday for my Emirates flight Monday - its weird and ticklish, but no where near as awful as I imagined it to be haha. You do need a Dr. referral though the labs don't just test you. 

From what I understand, you email and get an auto reply, apparently that auto-reply is what you print and take with you. I happen to send an enquiry to that email and got the auto-response within minutes. I did it again from a second email address with the details the template suggests and got the same auto-reply within minutes again. So I'm guessing its that auto-reply. It does say in the auto-reply to print it and my application (original email I'm guessing) so I think it might just be a very simple thing, but maybe a bit too simple and that's possibly whats confusing 😵

On 8/22/2020 at 5:31 PM, IsItLekker said:

Did they tell you guys what all you need to get permission from home affairs to leave?

Check this group out - they have it as a pinned post in the group. Also helpful for flight info! https://www.facebook.com/groups/244575196818730/

31 minutes ago, IsItLekker said:

Yay! Happy news to report. The NVC told us our expedite has been approved by the consulate while I was sleeping. 🎉 It's a nice thing to wake up to progress. Thanks for being so supportive and offering information when you can, guys. Hopefully, this thread will help others who have to deal with this mess.

I'm super happy for you guys! Congrats 🥳🥳 It should move fairly quickly from here. From our expedite approval to now it's been about a month - not bad considering the long haul its been  Hope it moves swiftly for you

On 8/20/2020 at 3:39 PM, mimi206 said:

@TamDill Hello , thanks for asking, my medical done today, and emailed for consular, waiting response, 

Did you gave all Documents together;-  supporting doc. ( Pictures with spouse...........)

how long take to get answer for schedule from Embassy, I emailed before noon 

Thank you 

 

Hey Mimi

Yes you give your documents to one person and then another interviews you. She asks for the documents individually so you don't just hand over a stack of documents haha, its a very simple process! They seem to schedule interviews on Thursdays for the following week Wednesday. So if they didn't schedule you yet, you'll probably hear next week. Have you received your interview date yet?

My passport is ready and on its way to CPT 🥳 I'm booking a repatriation flight for the 31st. The end is in sight 

18 minutes ago, IsItLekker said:

I'm beginning to develop a hypothesis... lol. I think they only work at the consulate/have access to cases one day a week on Thursdays. They arrange everything, respond to emails, etc on that day. Wednesdays would be the one day when the interviewers work. I think Johannesburg is in Phase 1 of the DOS phase plan of reopening, so they cannot have more than 50% of their staff working at any given time. If most non-visa things can be done from home, it would explain the sketchy communication. I remember reading that USCIS had a similar issue with processing during the pandemic because of information security/privacy laws regarding their work. They could only access cases via secure servers in secure environments like their offices. Pure conjecture, but that is all I have to live off of at the moment. That and a burning desire to believe they are not just trying to avoid us. 😂

Have you guys heard anything about them issuing your visas yet?

It's not impossible, they mostly communicate on Thursdays with me. 

Need on visa being issued - they just emailed now (funny it's Thursday 😂) they are having issues with printing. Once it's sorted we'll get our passports back 

1 hour ago, IsItLekker said:

@WilliamSmith @TamDill What phone number did the consulate use to communicate with you guys? Was it the same number you called to arrange your interviews after your medicals? 

I never received a call or a number. My communication has been email only 

17 hours ago, mimi206 said:

@TamDill Congratulations, 🍾🍾 

Thanks Mimi how did your medical go?  

One of the simplest interviews I've done 😁 there was only two other people with me, one spouse and one H1B. They asked for documents, I waited maybe 10 minutes, had my interview and was approved 🤗 definitely one of the happiest days of my life!  

She asked me about who my joint sponsor is, what work I do and how much I earn on average (I'm self employed) 

Everyone was very friendly and helpful, this is one part of the process you don't need to stress about. Ill update you guys once my passport is back. She said 10 days max but likely a lot less. I asked about the repatriation flights through Europe we can use them but they advised we don't because a number of people have been turned away. So it's more precaution than not being able to. She recommended Qatar,  Ethiopia or Dubai. Good luck guys hope everyone is making progress.

1 minute ago, WilliamSmith said:

Thanks!

 

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

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

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. 

15 hours ago, IsItLekker said:

Did you guys already contact the consulate and let them know?

Yes I contacted them soon as I got back from my medical, they emailed this morning to say they were scheduling my interview on the system and that I would receive an email. Just waiting on that and then I can plan the next stage of my life lol.

If anyone is needing to travel between provinces to get to the Consulate it's Form 6 (FYI) which you get from your local police station. I explained I'm moving to the US and needed to travel to JHB to see the Consulate there and get my visa. They were actually really helpful. Otherwise is you work for a company that can do a Form 2 for you (no need for police stamp) I understand that is an option as well. 

I'll update once I have my interview date and been for my interview - good luck guys I hope there's movement for you soon 

17 hours ago, mimi206 said:

Thanks for update,Good luck for results and interview.

I can’t get permission to pass the border, they are very strict, they don’t license you at all , I don’t know what I’m going to do, 

I'm really sorry Mimi! Have you spoken to the South African Embassy where you are or South Africa Home Affairs to get permission? 

Update!

Had my medical yesterday with the Cape Town physician. Was super simple and took about 2.5 hours altogether (including x-rays) 

Now the (hopefully short) wait for my interview date.

31 minutes ago, WilliamSmith said:

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!

Nice!  Good luck for Wednesday I hope I get my interview that soon as well. You're flying to JHB from Cape Town could you let me know what permit you got for travel and how your flight was? 

26 minutes ago, Tschuulia said:

yea its the same for us here in germany.

cant get a medical without the appointment at embassy being scheduled, just a few exceptions  but thats rare. 

 

dang, really nervous about monday now lol 

Don't be nervous I'm positive it's good news for you guys in Germany. I'm sure in a few days you'll receive good news and things will move forward for you. Good luck and hope you get your good news soon! 

18 minutes ago, Tschuulia said:

EVEN IF THE CASE IS NOT EXPEDITED?!?!

😳😳

 

i only read about this of expedited cases! 

or is that for non expedites as well?

My case is expedited so it's difficult to say with 100% accuracy that this is for CR1/IR1 cases in your country whether expedited or not. I have seen others that were not expedited get this email and they have had the same process as me who is expedited. I can only thinks the consulates and embassies are pushing the spouse visas through now but doing things a bit differently.

Like here we have been requested to have our medical results before we can schedule out interview. Normally we are given an interview date and then we schedule a medical. Life is backwards but interviews are happening 🤗

This means you'll be scheduling your interviews with the embassy directly. My case is expedited and I received the same email shortly after receiving my expedite approval notice. This is good news for you all promise! You should receive another email from NVC stating that your case is being sent to the embassy and from there you'll hear about scheduling your interview from the embassy. Your case status on CEAC will change to "In Transit" and a few days after it will change to "Ready". This when the embassy should start contacting you about scheduling. 

Medical is schedule for Monday morning, once I have the results I can schedule my interview. They may be doing expedites first, but not sure on that. Anyone else get a request to book medical and interview? Will let you guys know how the medical goes - it's Cape Town doctor, but the Consulate did the option of both JHB and CPT. They look to be doing interview scheduling once you have everything together including your medical results.