fbgmlae

4 hours ago, MalloryCat said:

i found one thing on reddit which led me to the DOS site with this notice.

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

 

"the U.S. Consulate Johannesburg requires that one member from your applicant group present yourself for a document review on the Wednesday morning two weeks prior to your Thursday interview(i.e 2 weeks and 1 day before the interview). Not attending this document review appointment in advance of your interview may result in your interview being cancelled. If you appear for your interview without having first completed the document review and are missing required documents, you will be turned away and will need to reschedule your interview. Civil documents – to include birth, marriage, and divorce certificates, police clearances, etc. – are described as required for your country on Travel.State.Gov.

You do not need to make a separate appointment for document review, and you do not need to change your existing interview appointment unless you cannot attend the document review appointment. If you have any questions about attending the document review appointment, please email JohannesburgIV@state.gov. "

 

it sounds like, the applicant would just go to the embassy 2 weeks in advance for the document review, no appointment needed. that is my understanding from this. 

this was just updated on July 1, 2025. So this seems to be a new requirement from Johannesburg. possibly to cut down on wait times for the actual interviews.

 

**it does not state, at least from what i can see, that this only applies to certain types of visas. 

yuppp!! this exactly what I'm referring to! I emailed the consulate to make sure all ducks are in order but since she is only coming to South Africa for the medical and interview, we're trying to figure out how to navigate this requirement. We're sending her to the consulate and see if she can be seen a 3 weeks before the interview.

15 minutes ago, MalloryCat said:

interpreters are not provided by the embassy. the applicant would have to find someone who is fluent in both their language and in english. And that person would come to the interview with them. The interpreter would have to have a valid form of ID that would allow them to enter government buildings (most typically a passport) and just inform the officers there that they will be interpreting. that is all they would need to do.

 

she will have to figure out a way to make it to the document review appointment, there is no way getting around that. 

 

Thank you so much! I will provide that information back. I sent an email to (JohannesburgIV@state.gov) who are much more informative than (southafrica.visas@gdit-gss.com). While reading about the document review appointment, it seems this is a new protocol? Based on other experience testimonials, the document review has been done the day of the interview. We're just trying to figure out to how to schedule/if this is applicable to her. It did not give the option to schedule any other appointment, but the interview on the visa interview portal. I am not sure if it is scheduled just by simply emailing the consulate.

14 hours ago, smilingstone said:

 

How old is the petitioner, and how old is the beneficiary? How long have they been in a relationship? How many in person meetings between the two? 

 

Countries neighboring SA are likely high fraud. If there is a significant age gap between the two, and other red flags, then a lawyer might be preferable in their situation. 

He's in his late 60's and I believe shes around the same age. They met in Venezuela, both their native country. But she is working in Mozambique. I think theey've been dating for 5+ year??? I am not too sure. But they've known each other all their lives. He filed everything on his own with the help of his son. Idk how it came to be that her interview is taking place in South Africa. But now my neighbor is asking me to him find these answers about 1. how to go about requesting an interpreter and 2. the document review appointment. I emailed the consulate and i'm not finding many answers. The responses are vague. Then I found this forum and thought it would be helpful to ask people who recently went though the K-1 interview in South Africa.

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Can’t help but think he would be better of interviewing in his own country

There's no us embassy in her country. We looked into it 

4 hours ago, smilingstone said:

 

Can't be a very good one if they're asking for advice on a DIY site... 

I am not!! I am just trying to help a friend who is of older age, not tech savvy, and trying to bring his soon to be wifey. And condescending responses is only worsening the stress! Jeez

4 hours ago, OldUser said:

Are you a lawyer? Petitioner can file the form themselves and avoid errors made by third party

no, should we hire one??

51 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

 

You think he does? Do you not know the English-speaking skills of the person you intend to marry? 

 

No, I don't have experience at that embassy, as you can see from my timeline. 

I deal with the petitioner only.  I am helping the filing of the fiance's K1, hence why I refer to him as applicant and not my fiance in my post 

2 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

applicants who are not fluent in English are permitted to bring an interpreter with them to the interview. The interpreter does not have to be certified, but they do need to be fluent in both languages. Additionally, the sponsoring USC cannot be the interpreter. The government requires interpreters to take an oath and sign a note during the interview.

 

Meantime , he should practice leaning English as it is the main US language although many here speak Spanish.

I tried verifying this information on the website to U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg but I cant confirm this information :(( The language is sooo vague and their email inquiry responses all redirect me to their website. Applicant does know basic English, but he would prefer the interview in his native language.

2 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

Is he South African? Why is he not interviewing in the country where he's resident? That would presumably be much easier if he can't travel to SA easily.

Not in SA. He's in a neighboring country for work. His country does not have a US embassy and the interview was transferred to SA. 

12 hours ago, Boiler said:

He needs to attend the interviews, Spanish is not an obvious language for a SA interview.

He is attending and obviously Spanish is not, that's why I am looking for resources to request/bring an interpreter and posted on this medium.

14 hours ago, smilingstone said:

The questions are really very simple, and answers should be simple and succinct too. If he can speak and understand basic English, then there should be no issue. 

 

Document reviews are required to ensure all docs needed are available before interview. If anything is missing, they tell you then. If you don't attend the doc review, they will refuse your interview and you will need to reschedule both doc review and interview.

 

Why can't he make the doc review? 

I think he does understand basic English. He is just very adamant to have an interpreter. He is in the neighboring country and because of his work, he cannot be leaving on multiple trips. I think I will try to send him for the document review during the trip for his medical exam. Do you have any insight on the procedure for this with the U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg in South Africa?

8 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

what country/embassy will the interview take place?

What is the native language of that country?

and if working there,  he probably speaks the language, right?

Interview is taking place at the U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg, South Africa. His native language is Spanish and does not feel comfortable having interview in English as it is not his first language. Apart from this were you required to attend a document review appointment before the K-1 interview?? I am very confused about that requisite I read on the DOS website today. ugh, so stressful! 

I need feedback of any K-1 applicants who are NOT South African Nationals. There is K-1 interview scheduled to be next month for an applicant residing in another African country due to his employment. He is NOT from South Africa. We are having trouble 1. finding information about bringing a Spanish interpreter for the interview 2. A document review appointment needed 2 weeks prior to the interview. The issue is the applicant may not be able to attend that document review appointment and we fear his interview may get cancelled. I have emailed both JohannesburgIV@state.gov and SouthAfrica.Visas@gdit-gss.com. Still waiting on responses, but time is ticking. Also calling the consulate only resulted in pointing us back to their website... Any insight will be immensely appreciated.