South Africa CR1/IR1 Visa Filers

[IsItLekker 183]

@WilliamSmith @TamDill What phone number did the consulate use to communicate with you guys? Was it the same number you called to arrange your interviews after your medicals? 

[TamDill 29]

1 hour ago, IsItLekker said:

@WilliamSmith @TamDill What phone number did the consulate use to communicate with you guys? Was it the same number you called to arrange your interviews after your medicals? 

I never received a call or a number. My communication has been email only 

[IsItLekker 183]

1 hour ago, TamDill said:

I never received a call or a number. My communication has been email only 

Ah ok. Weird question, did they always communicate with you on a Thursday?

[WilliamSmith 16]

1 minute ago, IsItLekker said:

Ah ok. Weird question, did they always communicate with you on a Thursday?

Wednesdays or Thursdays..

[IsItLekker 183]

I'm beginning to develop a hypothesis... lol. I think they only work at the consulate/have access to cases one day a week on Thursdays. They arrange everything, respond to emails, etc on that day. Wednesdays would be the one day when the interviewers work. I think Johannesburg is in Phase 1 of the DOS phase plan of reopening, so they cannot have more than 50% of their staff working at any given time. If most non-visa things can be done from home, it would explain the sketchy communication. I remember reading that USCIS had a similar issue with processing during the pandemic because of information security/privacy laws regarding their work. They could only access cases via secure servers in secure environments like their offices. Pure conjecture, but that is all I have to live off of at the moment. That and a burning desire to believe they are not just trying to avoid us. 😂

Have you guys heard anything about them issuing your visas yet?

[TamDill 29]

18 minutes ago, IsItLekker said:

I'm beginning to develop a hypothesis... lol. I think they only work at the consulate/have access to cases one day a week on Thursdays. They arrange everything, respond to emails, etc on that day. Wednesdays would be the one day when the interviewers work. I think Johannesburg is in Phase 1 of the DOS phase plan of reopening, so they cannot have more than 50% of their staff working at any given time. If most non-visa things can be done from home, it would explain the sketchy communication. I remember reading that USCIS had a similar issue with processing during the pandemic because of information security/privacy laws regarding their work. They could only access cases via secure servers in secure environments like their offices. Pure conjecture, but that is all I have to live off of at the moment. That and a burning desire to believe they are not just trying to avoid us. 😂

Have you guys heard anything about them issuing your visas yet?

It's not impossible, they mostly communicate on Thursdays with me. 

 

Need on visa being issued - they just emailed now (funny it's Thursday 😂) they are having issues with printing. Once it's sorted we'll get our passports back 

[mimi206 8]

@TamDill Hello , thanks for asking, my medical done today, and emailed for consular, waiting response, 

Did you gave all Documents together;-  supporting doc. ( Pictures with spouse...........)

how long take to get answer for schedule from Embassy, I emailed before noon 

Thank you 

 

[IsItLekker 183]

Yay! Happy news to report. The NVC told us our expedite has been approved by the consulate while I was sleeping. 🎉 It's a nice thing to wake up to progress. Thanks for being so supportive and offering information when you can, guys. Hopefully, this thread will help others who have to deal with this mess.

Edited August 22, 2020 by IsItLekker
Spelling error.

[TamDill 29]

On 8/20/2020 at 3:39 PM, mimi206 said:

@TamDill Hello , thanks for asking, my medical done today, and emailed for consular, waiting response, 

Did you gave all Documents together;-  supporting doc. ( Pictures with spouse...........)

how long take to get answer for schedule from Embassy, I emailed before noon 

Thank you 

 

Hey Mimi

Yes you give your documents to one person and then another interviews you. She asks for the documents individually so you don't just hand over a stack of documents haha, its a very simple process! They seem to schedule interviews on Thursdays for the following week Wednesday. So if they didn't schedule you yet, you'll probably hear next week. Have you received your interview date yet?

 

My passport is ready and on its way to CPT 🥳 I'm booking a repatriation flight for the 31st. The end is in sight 

Edited August 22, 2020 by TamDill

[TamDill 29]

31 minutes ago, IsItLekker said:

Yay! Happy news to report. The NVC told us our expedite has been approved by the consulate while I was sleeping. 🎉 It's a nice thing to wake up to progress. Thanks for being so supportive and offering information when you can, guys. Hopefully, this thread will help others who have to deal with this mess.

I'm super happy for you guys! Congrats 🥳🥳 It should move fairly quickly from here. From our expedite approval to now it's been about a month - not bad considering the long haul its been  Hope it moves swiftly for you

[April M 28]

1 hour ago, IsItLekker said:

Yay! Happy news to report. The NVC told us our expedite has been approved by the consulate while I was sleeping. 🎉 It's a nice thing to wake up to progress. Thanks for being so supportive and offering information when you can, guys. Hopefully, this thread will help others who have to deal with this mess.

 

[mimi206 8]

@TamDill Congrats, safe flight 

i waiting schedule, 

payment cash or card they accept ?

 

 

@IsItLekker congrats, wow that is good news , they will contact you with in 2 weeks

 

 

 

[IsItLekker 183]

7 hours ago, TamDill said:

Hey Mimi

Yes you give your documents to one person and then another interviews you. She asks for the documents individually so you don't just hand over a stack of documents haha, its a very simple process! They seem to schedule interviews on Thursdays for the following week Wednesday. So if they didn't schedule you yet, you'll probably hear next week. Have you received your interview date yet?

 

My passport is ready and on its way to CPT 🥳 I'm booking a repatriation flight for the 31st. The end is in sight 

Did they tell you guys what all you need to get permission from home affairs to leave?

[TamDill 29]

On 8/22/2020 at 5:31 PM, IsItLekker said:

Did they tell you guys what all you need to get permission from home affairs to leave?

Check this group out - they have it as a pinned post in the group. Also helpful for flight info! https://www.facebook.com/groups/244575196818730/

[IsItLekker 183]

5 hours ago, TamDill said:

Check this group out - they have it as a pinned post in the group. Also helpful for flight info! https://www.facebook.com/groups/244575196818730/

Did the DHA actually get back to you? I see a lot of people commented under the template that they were just being ignored. 😕