South African K1 Visa applicants

[Mel & Llew 11]

Birth certificate (Pretoria): for those having applied / still needing to apply for a birth certificate - have to say, I am mighty impressed. Just got a notification text that it's ready for collection - the process has taken exactly 2 weeks and 2 days since I applied (Pretoria branch of Home Affairs)! This is extremely fast, as I was told it would take a minimum of 8 weeks+ and we were worried it could affect things. Super grateful 🙏😀

[LuFlolady 881]

6 hours ago, Mozam said:

Hey all. Just wanted to check in after a whirlwind of a weekend. I called and called and emailed. We got the passport back Friday just before DHL closed. They wouldn't deliver it to Pretoria where we requested so at 4pm (DHL closed at 6pm) they headed to DHL in Sandton through N1 traffic and retrieved it right before closing. We tried to get my fiancé out of SA on a direct flight so he didn't overstay his visa, but SA airlines had a problem (their problem not ours) and couldn't process our last minute payment. He ended up staying over by one day, but things were resolved after a huge ordeal. 

 

All that to say we are flying out today in a few hours. I truly wish the best for you all and hope your passports come back soon. So thankful for this group and here's to keeping in touch as we go through our first few months. We are getting married on the 8th. Can't wait!

TL;DR - We have our visa and going to America today. 

Wow what a story! safe Journey

[LuFlolady 881]

For those that have already traveled to the USA how did you get your 2018 taxes? My fiance wants to know will he still get his taxes in Dec 2019?

[MozambiqueSoninha 50]

2 hours ago, LuFlolady said:

For those that have already traveled to the USA how did you get your 2018 taxes? My fiance wants to know will he still get his taxes in Dec 2019?

What do you mean by "Get his taxes?"  technically as an American, you are obligated to pay taxes on your income no matter where you live in the world, even if you are there for the entire year.   Now, if your income is below the "poverty level" you wouldn't owe anything but if its above you would likely owe money unless he has been payed via an employer and a w2 income form.  

 

The only way you receive a tax "Payment" at the end of the year is when you OVERPAY the tax system during the year and/or you have enough deductions / exceptions / credits to result in a payment to you. 

 

So in terms of getting his taxes - he will get the required paperwork needed to fill out his forms either from his employer (if employed), or he is required to fill the documents out on his own if self employed, which are online at IRS.gov, to declare his income and calculate his owed tax burden/refund. 

 

IF You owe money it is VERY important you submit your return WITH the amount owed, if not it will start collecting very steep penalties and charges, If you do not owe money but are getting a refund, they will send you a check or deposit into your bank account the amount once they verify your forms.   

 

Not sure this answer helps or not....  

[MozambiqueSoninha 50]

9 hours ago, Mozam said:

Hey all. Just wanted to check in after a whirlwind of a weekend. I called and called and emailed. We got the passport back Friday just before DHL closed. They wouldn't deliver it to Pretoria where we requested so at 4pm (DHL closed at 6pm) they headed to DHL in Sandton through N1 traffic and retrieved it right before closing. We tried to get my fiancé out of SA on a direct flight so he didn't overstay his visa, but SA airlines had a problem (their problem not ours) and couldn't process our last minute payment. He ended up staying over by one day, but things were resolved after a huge ordeal. 

 

All that to say we are flying out today in a few hours. I truly wish the best for you all and hope your passports come back soon. So thankful for this group and here's to keeping in touch as we go through our first few months. We are getting married on the 8th. Can't wait!

TL;DR - We have our visa and going to America today. 

Amazing - so happy it is over - So happy you guys are traveling ! 

 

I have started looking into either applying for a 60 day at the border / consulate ahead of time or, planning to fly back to Maputo for a few days in the middle of the process, just to get a new 30 day, ugh.

[LuFlolady 881]

2 minutes ago, MozambiqueSoninha said:

What do you mean by "Get his taxes?"  technically as an American, you are obligated to pay taxes on your income no matter where you live in the world, even if you are there for the entire year.   Now, if your income is below the "poverty level" you wouldn't owe anything but if its above you would likely owe money unless he has been payed via an employer and a w2 income form.  

 

The only way you receive a tax "Payment" at the end of the year is when you OVERPAY the tax system during the year and/or you have enough deductions / exceptions / credits to result in a payment to you. 

 

So in terms of getting his taxes - he will get the required paperwork needed to fill out his forms either from his employer (if employed), or he is required to fill the documents out on his own if self employed, which are online at IRS.gov, to declare his income and calculate his owed tax burden/refund. 

 

IF You owe money it is VERY important you submit your return WITH the amount owed, if not it will start collecting very steep penalties and charges, If you do not owe money but are getting a refund, they will send you a check or deposit into your bank account the amount once they verify your forms.   

 

Not sure this answer helps or not....  

Thanks but Im not asking from and American Standpoint I am American and know how the tax system works here.... My fiance the beneficiary lives and works in SA and knows how the system works there. The question is will he still receive his 2019 taxes in December although he will have traveled to the USA. So really the question is for those that was paying taxes before they left SA did they receive there 2018 taxes in December? hope that is more specific......

[IsabelleFredrick 6]

On 2/21/2018 at 11:32 PM, amaraimee said:

You can check out my timeline for more info, but we've FINALLY made it though the petition process, our interview is scheduled for March 20 so we're working on preparing for that! Anyone can feel free to message me if you have any type of question! Do not hesitate! This is a LONG, stressful but REWARDING process

 

Best of luck to each one of you.

BTW-

Hello from a fellow minnesotan!

Hi! What needs to be fresh signatured by petitioner, for interview? - I134? What about the tax transcripts - does he need to email me pdf's of the last 3 yrs worth? Just want to be sure I have all I need, especially fresh ink stuff

[Mozam 147]

18 hours ago, Pdvdw said:

Who did you call and email? Do you think it helped to get it back faster? I'm flying out this Thursday to the USA and only got my status changed to "issued" 2 or so days after yours, so it may seem like I'm going to miss my flight if it isn't handed over to DHL at the latest tomorrow.

 

Happy you guys seem to have gotten everything sorted, sorry for the rough week. Have a great wedding

I called and emailed the embassy. It did help, but it was because my fiancé was a foreigner in South Africa. I don't think it would help in your case as you are only trying to rush the process due to a flight. They clearly tell you not to make travel arrangements until you have visa in hand. We needed to rush the process as he was going to (and did) overstay his visa for South Africa because they were holding the passport for so long. 

[Mozam 147]

11 hours ago, MozambiqueSoninha said:

Amazing - so happy it is over - So happy you guys are traveling ! 

 

I have started looking into either applying for a 60 day at the border / consulate ahead of time or, planning to fly back to Maputo for a few days in the middle of the process, just to get a new 30 day, ugh.

Very wise idea. Learn from our troubles and save yourself some grief. However, don't be afraid to remind them that you are foreigners in SA (well, more specifically your wife and stepchild) and that they are only allowed to stay for so long as they aren't SA citizens/residents. We didn't emphasize that at the interview and I think it might have helped our situation. Don't let them skirt around and say it isn't their responsibility when they can influence the process. 

[JS5220 67]

15 hours ago, IsabelleFredrick said:

Hi! What needs to be fresh signatured by petitioner, for interview? - I134? What about the tax transcripts - does he need to email me pdf's of the last 3 yrs worth? Just want to be sure I have all I need, especially fresh ink stuff

I did a fresh signature on the I134 because I didn't want to take any chances. I also sent over my last 3 years worth of tax transcripts which I obtained online. I figured if I was sending the i134 then I would also send the transcripts, however you can email them to her/him and have them print it over there too. 

[JS5220 67]

If anyone is curious, my fiance called DHL and was told they don't have her visa, then called the embassy and was told that if DHL didn't have it than it still must be in processing (which doesn't make sense cause the visa is at "issued"). So yeah basically no updates, just gotta wait more. 

[madameMaison 204]

11 minutes ago, JS5220 said:

If anyone is curious, my fiance called DHL and was told they don't have her visa, then called the embassy and was told that if DHL didn't have it than it still must be in processing (which doesn't make sense cause the visa is at "issued"). So yeah basically no updates, just gotta wait more. 

Thanks for the heads up. I called a DHL guy as well who is in charge of immigration shipping and he said they haven't received any visas the whole of last week until now. 

 

SMH. This process takes a year and then after being finished and approved it takes one month.. Sigh. 

 

Oh well we're at their mercy. I'll wait it out until their recommended dates surpass. 🤐

 

 

[madameMaison 204]

Just recieved a text from DHL Express with a tracking number and it says my shipment (visa + passport) is on it's way to me. 👀🌸🤗

[JS5220 67]

1 hour ago, madameMaison said:

Just recieved a text from DHL Express with a tracking number and it says my shipment (visa + passport) is on it's way to me. 👀🌸🤗

That's so amazing!! Yours was fast!! What does it say on the CEAC website now and when are you expected to receive it?

 

I'm getting so excited and happy for you!! 🤗 

 

It's almost surreal!

Edited February 27, 2019 by JS5220

[madameMaison 204]

6 minutes ago, JS5220 said:

That's so amazing!! Yours was fast!! What does it say on the CEAC website now? 

 

So happy for you 🤗 

The Ceac website has not changed since it stated "issued"... 

 

I did however also get an email from the embassy stating that they have released my passport and visa package to their courier DHL and they have referrenced the same tracking number as the one stated by the DHL in the text. 

 

Thank you so much. 🌸🙏🏽... I believe all our passports are batched together though and that we'll all receive them by this week. 🙈⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐