South African K1 Visa applicants

[JS5220 67]

9 hours ago, LuFlolady said:

I am still hoping for my fiance to be here by Christmas or new years but the window of opportunity is getting slimmer. We dont have case number yet.... Do you have a case number yet?

Yeah my fiance keeps hoping that she'll be back before Christmas but at this stage with the holidays coming up and how slow things seem to be going lately I'd have to bet it'd be more like mid - late January. Which is a little disheartening but at least it's moving forward.

[WhatLoveBuys 10]

13 hours ago, Leah and Matt said:

My fiancé just called! And we got approved! He is coming home Nov 2!!!! 

 

Its been a looong process but so worth it! 

Congrats! Glad to see others in MN! Will this be his first full winter in MN?

 

5 hours ago, Vintage girl said:

Hi guys

 

For all the couples that made it to the USA, how did you experience your first week?

Did you guys had a culture shock or any trouble adapting so far?

I would like to hear your experience.

 

Good luck to all the couples waiting for interviews and visa's. 

 

I am now 13 days in Florida. Everything is so different here and I have a lot to learn.

My first week was overwhelming. I still feel jet lag sometimes but every day it get's better. 

 

Zel 

 

 

I am also the USCitizen. My husband's been here almost a full year now and still experiences culture shock in a lot of ways.

We've found a great community of other Saffas here in MN. We went to the Midwest Potjie Festival last month and try to make as many of the Braais and other meet ups as possible. Families aren't as close here as he was used to in South Africa - we hardly see my parents and he lived a few houses away from his parents and siblings. It makes it tough sometimes. We make our own SA food (Boerwors, Melktert, Peppermint Crisp, etc). Food seems to be his biggest struggle when he gets home sick - we plan on going back to SA next year and bringing back a suitcase with just food items that we can't get affordably here in the states. We've met a lot of others in our age bracket (25 - 30) who struggle with anxiety, depression, etc. It's normal, but it still is a struggle. Stay strong and rely on your partner for help and support as needed!

[Leah and Matt 120]

43 minutes ago, WhatLoveBuys said:

Congrats! Glad to see others in MN! Will this be his first full winter in MN?

 

I am also the USCitizen. My husband's been here almost a full year now and still experiences culture shock in a lot of ways.

We've found a great community of other Saffas here in MN. We went to the Midwest Potjie Festival last month and try to make as many of the Braais and other meet ups as possible. Families aren't as close here as he was used to in South Africa - we hardly see my parents and he lived a few houses away from his parents and siblings. It makes it tough sometimes. We make our own SA food (Boerwors, Melktert, Peppermint Crisp, etc). Food seems to be his biggest struggle when he gets home sick - we plan on going back to SA next year and bringing back a suitcase with just food items that we can't get affordably here in the states. We've met a lot of others in our age bracket (25 - 30) who struggle with anxiety, depression, etc. It's normal, but it still is a struggle. Stay strong and rely on your partner for help and support as needed!

Yes it will be his first full winter here in MN! Its definitely going to be interesting. We would love to get involved and meet others as well! I heard texas does alot of that kind of that stuff as well i didnt know MN had all of that! It would be nice to get involved in that community as well. My family is pretty close so im glad that wont be an issue. 

[WhatLoveBuys 10]

51 minutes ago, Leah and Matt said:

Yes it will be his first full winter here in MN! Its definitely going to be interesting. We would love to get involved and meet others as well! I heard texas does alot of that kind of that stuff as well i didnt know MN had all of that! It would be nice to get involved in that community as well. My family is pretty close so im glad that wont be an issue. 

I recommend following the FB page: South Africans in Minnesota; as well as joining the FB Group: Midwest Potjie Festival.
We live over on the other side of the cities (Maple Grove/Osseo area); but I have family out in Hudson we see fairly often, and we're usually good for a drive for some good company!

[Mozam 147]

12 hours ago, LuFlolady said:

I tried calling today to try my luck and I got the not yet received...lol I was doing nothing so thought I would give it a try. You should try tomorrow. When  I called I waited 37mins for someone to get on the line so be prepared to wait unless you call early in the morning

I ended up calling as well and waited somewhere around 35minutes as well. Thankfully the call was free through Google voice since I am currently in Mozambique right now. They haven't received mine yet either. So I will probably wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to try again. However, this time I will try to call first thing when they open in the morning (afternoon for me).  

[Mozam 147]

9 hours ago, Vintage girl said:

Hi guys

 

For all the couples that made it to the USA, how did you experience your first week?

Did you guys had a culture shock or any trouble adapting so far?

I would like to hear your experience.

 

Good luck to all the couples waiting for interviews and visa's. 

 

I am now 13 days in Florida. Everything is so different here and I have a lot to learn.

My first week was overwhelming. I still feel jet lag sometimes but every day it get's better. 

 

Zel 

 

 

Peace and positive thoughts headed your way. I'm a U.S. citizen and living here in Mozambique was a huge shock for me. Even after a few years I still have trouble. However, knowing what I have experienced it gives me a deeper understanding of what my fiancé will go through as we are getting ready to move to the States together. This has been on my mind so much lately! Excited to head back "home" but definitely grieving about my life here and the process he is having to go through. 

[Mozam 147]

6 hours ago, JS5220 said:

Yeah my fiance keeps hoping that she'll be back before Christmas but at this stage with the holidays coming up and how slow things seem to be going lately I'd have to bet it'd be more like mid - late January. Which is a little disheartening but at least it's moving forward.

Sounds like you, @LuFlolady, and me are all in the same boat. Maybe we should book a group flight to the states and celebrate Christmas on the plane since it's looking like we won't celebrate it in the U.S. 

[Leah and Matt 120]

6 hours ago, WhatLoveBuys said:

I recommend following the FB page: South Africans in Minnesota; as well as joining the FB Group: Midwest Potjie Festival.
We live over on the other side of the cities (Maple Grove/Osseo area); but I have family out in Hudson we see fairly often, and we're usually good for a drive for some good company!

hey guys, Matthew here, that does sound like an awesome plan, my fiance and i would be keen for meeting up im sure, besides haha i will need friends wen im home lol ( i sound so sad ) haha

[Loveusa222 37]

Hello everyone. So I've got such exciting news, I just received my tracking number I will have my Visa on monday!!! Finally after two weeks it here!! Now to pack and get on a plane and go home. 

 

I want to thank everyone for bring so supportive and for all the help.🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

[Leah and Matt 120]

8 hours ago, WhatLoveBuys said:

I recommend following the FB page: South Africans in Minnesota; as well as joining the FB Group: Midwest Potjie Festival.
We live over on the other side of the cities (Maple Grove/Osseo area); but I have family out in Hudson we see fairly often, and we're usually good for a drive for some good company!

My mom actually lives in maple grove and I grew up there so we will be out that way often! Matt and I would definitely love to meet up sometime! 

[LuFlolady 881]

12 hours ago, JS5220 said:

Yeah my fiance keeps hoping that she'll be back before Christmas but at this stage with the holidays coming up and how slow things seem to be going lately I'd have to bet it'd be more like mid - late January. Which is a little disheartening but at least it's moving forward.

This is true.....I'm hoping to get case number from NVC sometime next week

[LuFlolady 881]

1 hour ago, Ayeshacharles said:

Hello everyone. So I've got such exciting news, I just received my tracking number I will have my Visa on monday!!! Finally after two weeks it here!! Now to pack and get on a plane and go home. 

 

I want to thank everyone for bring so supportive and for all the help.🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

CONGRATS

[LuFlolady 881]

6 hours ago, Mozam said:

Sounds like you, @LuFlolady, and me are all in the same boat. Maybe we should book a group flight to the states and celebrate Christmas on the plane since it's looking like we won't celebrate it in the U.S. 

RIGHT! But I'm going to keep hoping until the opportunity passes us by....lol

[Loveusa222 37]

3 minutes ago, LuFlolady said:

CONGRATS

Thanks @LuFlolady just booked a flight , leaving on Sunday the 28th  its time to pack and head on home😊😊😊😊 

 

I hope you get your case number soon.

And that everything goes well for you. 😊

Edited October 19, 2018 by Ayeshacharles

[LuFlolady 881]

6 hours ago, Mozam said:

I ended up calling as well and waited somewhere around 35minutes as well. Thankfully the call was free through Google voice since I am currently in Mozambique right now. They haven't received mine yet either. So I will probably wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to try again. However, this time I will try to call first thing when they open in the morning (afternoon for me).  

Yea I'm going to try again next week too...and yes Google voice is great I'm in South Africa with my fiance now....