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| South Africa |  Review on June 6, 2019: |
MozambiqueSoninha
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-2 Visa
Our interview was for a Mozambican filing a IR2 petition via the South African Consulate. We requested an expedite from NVC after the documents were all approved but before the interview was scheduled. The expedite was based on recent natural disasters and was approved. After being sent to JNB we did not receive any notification for a couple of weeks. Based on feedback from someone else, I called the consulate and on that day and at that moment I was given an interview date - So I suggest calling always - it could save you weeks by pushing your case along.
The interview was scheduled for May 30th and the medical was able to be scheduled on May 27th - again due to the expedite this was all possible to get done so quickly. Instead of the medical being done across two days it was done in one single day - blood work, urine test, paperwork filled out in the AM. A trip to the hillside clinic for chest xrays at noon and then back to the office for vaccinations, doctor examination and final paperwork.
On the day of the interview we were scheduled at 9:00am and we arrived at 8:30 and were brought right in. Friendly security guards as they all recognized us from walking around the days prior (we stayed at the Embassy Towers directly behind the embassy which was AMAZING accommodation). We cleared security and went to the second building. Called to the first window we provided documentation evidence. Second window for the interview. Very few questions were asked mostyl 1) Do you know where you are going? 2) do you know when your parents were married (she didnt but in the pictures is her as a flower girl in the wedding at about 7 years old) so agent said - its ok I can see you were there. Gave her some ribbing about needing to learn english and said she would probably be able to approve the case later in the day.
From there she asked if we would be returning to Mozambique and when. We explained we are staying in the building behind the embassy and had already done goodbyes and were just waiting for the paperwork to continue on the US. She said "Ok let me see if I cant get this done quicker - I dont do the next part but I will see if the people who do can have it done by tomorrow (!?!) - she came back and gave us a small piece of paper that was a receipt to return and get the passport the next day between 8am and 11am. She said it might not be done but should be.
We returned the next day and there was some confusion but they called her and then finished our process while we waited. The passport was returned and we were on our way. We did have to run back because they kept the original documents of attestation from both biological parents allowing my step daughter to travel with me and giving me legal guardianship. They returned the documents no issue.
We went back to the hotel - bought tickets for that night and within 12 hours of receiving the passport we were on a plane headed for home.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #26373