Abu Dhabi or South Africa for interview - which is quicker?

[f1000 0]

Fiance is South African, but currently working in Abu Dhabi UAE. I filed the K1 first week of June and am hoping for a NOA2 by the end of the year. That said, my fiance is ready to quit her job in the UAE in a few months (2 months notice required). I am trying to figure out what will be the quickest way to get the visa - either remain in the UAE for the interview, or quit after the NOA2 and go back to South Africa for the interview. The job in the UAE is really getting bad, hence the stress of staying.

Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks!

[dwheels76 5,468]

Fiance is South African, but currently working in Abu Dhabi UAE. I filed the K1 first week of June and am hoping for a NOA2 by the end of the year. That said, my fiance is ready to quit her job in the UAE in a few months (2 months notice required). I am trying to figure out what will be the quickest way to get the visa - either remain in the UAE for the interview, or quit after the NOA2 and go back to South Africa for the interview. The job in the UAE is really getting bad, hence the stress of staying.

Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks!

You can't just interview anywhere you want. Is she a citizen or resident? Or have you checked into the requirements of who can interview there. In most cases if you aren't a citizen or legal resident you have to go to country of your citizenship. And there's no easier or quicker. LIke for my husband a Nigerian is still a Nigerian no matter where he interviews same scrutiny and mounds of evidence required.

[f1000 0]

She is a South African citizen working in the UAE with a UAE resident visa from Abu Dhabi and has been a resident for 8 years now. Does this mean that she cant interview in Abu Dhabi and has to travel back to JNB SA?

[f1000 0]

Anyone have advice here? Thanks!

[sara..... 371]

She is a South African citizen working in the UAE with a UAE resident visa from Abu Dhabi and has been a resident for 8 years now. Does this mean that she cant interview in Abu Dhabi and has to travel back to JNB SA?

she can interview in UAE

sara

[f1000 0]

she can interview in UAE

sara

thanks sara for the reply. what happens if she quits her job after the NOA2/NVC etc and comes to the USA? Will we have to notify them that the embassy will be in SA and then she will have to back to SA for the interview? Seems the SA embassy times are much shorter than in the UAE.

[sara..... 371]

thanks sara for the reply. what happens if she quits her job after the NOA2/NVC etc and comes to the USA? Will we have to notify them that the embassy will be in SA and then she will have to back to SA for the interview? Seems the SA embassy times are much shorter than in the UAE.

if she is no longer a legal resident of UAE she would have to interview in SA so if there is any chance that she would be quit her job and will not be living legally in UAE it is better to make the choice of SA for interview when you fill out the paper work for the petition

sara

[f1000 0]

The petition lists UAE for the place where she will apply for the visa. If she quits her job she will then leave UAE immediately and come to the USA on her tourist visa which she has for another 8 years and allows a stay up to 6 months. If I understand you correctly, at the time she quits, if she does, we would need to update NCSC with a change in address and embassy location to SA? And then assuming it is processed within the next few months while she is visiting in the USA we would travel back to SA for the interview?

Thanks again.. Sorry for any confusion.

[sara..... 371]

The petition lists UAE for the place where she will apply for the visa. If she quits her job she will then leave UAE immediately and come to the USA on her tourist visa which she has for another 8 years and allows a stay up to 6 months. If I understand you correctly, at the time she quits, if she does, we would need to update NCSC with a change in address and embassy location to SA? And then assuming it is processed within the next few months while she is visiting in the USA we would travel back to SA for the interview?

Thanks again.. Sorry for any confusion.

you know a few years back something like that happened i wish i could remember the members name but i cant.......but it was kind of complicated because the petition was sent to the embassy that they had first put in the petition then the petition had to be transferred to the country she/he was born in from the embassy they had first but in for as the change in embassy did not connect with original submitted petition .....im not sure about this but it makes sense to contact nvc with the change of embassy at the time it gets there.......but k-1 visa normally makes it thru nvc so fast it might not help you either.........

its not much of a simple answer for what your asking maybe someone will come along that remembers that case and can shed more light on it........

sara

[f1000 0]

thanks sara for your insight. I think I am understanding this better now. but one last question.. is it ok for her to come visit me in the USA on her tourist visa until the K1 is approved, assuming it gets approved before her 6 month visit is up?

[sara..... 371]

thanks sara for your insight. I think I am understanding this better now. but one last question.. is it ok for her to come visit me in the USA on her tourist visa until the K1 is approved, assuming it gets approved before her 6 month visit is up?

she can not lie about her reason coming into the states at the poe.....if she asked who she is coming to visit she must tell the truth......unless she is from a high risk country it will most likely not be an issue but if they ask her to show proof of ties to her country then it could be problematic as she would have no job to return to.but she would just be denied entry and sent back home it would not effect your k-1 visa

sara

[nictillster 1]

Fiance is South African, but currently working in Abu Dhabi UAE. I filed the K1 first week of June and am hoping for a NOA2 by the end of the year. That said, my fiance is ready to quit her job in the UAE in a few months (2 months notice required). I am trying to figure out what will be the quickest way to get the visa - either remain in the UAE for the interview, or quit after the NOA2 and go back to South Africa for the interview. The job in the UAE is really getting bad, hence the stress of staying.

Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks!

I see your NOA2 has been approved. Congrats! my fiancé and I are attempting the same thing involving the same countries. I was able to change his address to South Africa before it was adjucated, however, I'm curious to hear if and how you were able to get the interview in SA. Your insight and experience would be nice to know. :-). Good luck. I'm also curious about the time it takes from packet 3 or is it 4submission to interview date.

[f1000 0]

To be honest, I am not sure what is going on right now. Shortly after the NOA2 we received a letter from Abu Dhabi scheduling the interview for the end of February - which will end up working fine. Then last week I got an email from USCIS saying they just received the address change letter that I sent months ago and now it shows us under review again.

[nictillster 1]

Did you call to change your address or just send the letter? Also try getting a hold of NVC to see if they can help you as they are the ones that send it out to the embassy. Where is yor fiancé currently? Good luck! Keep us posted. We're all on the same team here.