South Africa CR1/IR1 Visa Filers

[LEISEROM 32]

Well I knew that. This is her fifth African tour since starting in the Foreign Service. If things ever open up we will go there. She has been in

 

Angola

Botswana

Nigeria

Zimbabwae

 

And now SA. sounds exciting but tough on the kids(teenagers) when you have to take them out of schools with established friends. But they knew they wouldnt be in DC indefinitely. 

 

We went to Botswana when they were there. My sister went to Angola(take grandkids back after summer vacation in the midwest). She was appalled by the place. But I knew it would be like that as I worked there in the 70,s for a few months

[kerdt 0]

Hi all! I'm new here - my husband and I have been waiting for our CR1 interview to be rescheduled (ours was cancelled at the beginning of lockdown in March). It looks like some of you are successfully getting interviews at the Joburg consulate - how are you managing it?? We did direct consular filing, not sure if that makes any difference. 

[IsItLekker 183]

We got approved! They said we should get our visa back in 10 days!

[mimi206 8]

@IsItLekker Congratulations 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾 

[AMTM 61]

2 hours ago, IsItLekker said:

We got approved! They said we should get our visa back in 10 days!

Congrats!!!🎊 Happy for you.

[April M 28]

3 hours ago, AMTM said:

Congrats!!!🎊 Happy for you.

Congrats 🎉

[IsItLekker 183]

Hi guys! Did anyone receive AP after their interview? I'm trying to keep my husband calm, but I don't know what to tell him exactly.

[IsItLekker 183]

Hi guys! Just to update you. Hubby is safely stateside. He had AP as his status for six days, but it changed to issued. It's quite common, and others have had similar experiences. He picked up his passport at the DHL three days after the status changed to issued (would have been shorter, but that Thursday was a public holiday). We ended up using a travel agent to book passage out of SA to the US. She was very professional and got us a very reasonable deal on our tickets. He flew with Qatar Airlines from Johannesburg to Doha and transferred to New York. The plane was rather empty as was the immigration line, which he was through in five minutes. They did pull him aside into a room while they checked his documents which had been submitted electronically. It took about three to five minutes and he was through due to the lack of people. He had a 12 hour layover in JFK and caught a flight with Delta from New York to Denver in the evening. JFK has a airport hotel (TWA) which allows for short term day stays if you have a long layover. If you pass through this airport, don't leave and go into the city, or you will be quarantined. Good luck you guys!

[Ophoriwaa 82]

Hi all. I'm glad I found this page. Our expedite was accepted on 10/10/20 and as of 14/10/20, CEAC status shows "Ready" but we still haven't received any email from the embassy. I sent an email to them and the response i got was that routine visa services had been suspended. I don't know if it was a generic email but it's had us quite worried. How long did it take for you guys to hear back from the embassy after your cases were expedited? Did you schedule your own interview or the embassy did? Did you wait until receiving the interview appointment before scheduling the medical? I'm sorry in advance for the lengthy post and questions but I'm really tensed right now. TIA

[SimonS 0]

On 9/17/2020 at 6:02 PM, IsItLekker said:

Hi guys! Did anyone receive AP after their interview? I'm trying to keep my husband calm, but I don't know what to tell him exactly.

Hello. My Visa has been approved yesterday as well. But when i checked the CEAC, it tells me 'Administrative Processing". Is this a routine like yours? Why must it be in AP status? 

[April M 28]

13 minutes ago, SimonS said:

Hello. My Visa has been approved yesterday as well. But when i checked the CEAC, it tells me 'Administrative Processing". Is this a routine like yours? Why must it be in AP status? 

Ours went that way as well back in March 2020. They have it on mission critical and say that it is going to be done but that they are short staffed. The lockdowns and delays have been a mess. We are told to be patient. CR1 visas are available it is only that the processing needs done. Waiting is a pain!!! We are waiting too. 

[Neeeeek&LilHummus 1]

Hopefully someone can help answer this...

 

Our petition was approved last month, which was two months earlier than anticipated (no complaints!), and we filed with her maiden name. She just received her police clearance that has her marriage name but we hyphenated her last name when married so it still includes her maiden name.

 

My wife is trying to obtain her birth certificate, which has been a headache, but she wants to know if she should obtain a new ID and passport with our marriage name? Also, should she obtain another police clearance but with just her maiden name??

 

I know this seems confusing but if we filed the petition with her maiden name then shouldn't her ID and passport remain as her maiden name?

 

Thank you!!!

[April M 28]

1 hour ago, MavisAndBoclay said:

Hopefully someone can help answer this...

 

Our petition was approved last month, which was two months earlier than anticipated (no complaints!), and we filed with her maiden name. She just received her police clearance that has her marriage name but we hyphenated her last name when married so it still includes her maiden name.

 

My wife is trying to obtain her birth certificate, which has been a headache, but she wants to know if she should obtain a new ID and passport with our marriage name? Also, should she obtain another police clearance but with just her maiden name??

 

I know this seems confusing but if we filed the petition with her maiden name then shouldn't her ID and passport remain as her maiden name?

 

Thank you!!!

I don't know but I was told to leave my maiden name because that is what it was filed under. I am the petitioner. I don't know if that helps or not but that's what I was told.

[HRQX 4,145]

2 hours ago, MavisAndBoclay said:

I know this seems confusing but if we filed the petition with her maiden name then shouldn't her ID and passport remain as her maiden name?

It doesn't have to remain as maiden name. Can be updated to married name so that visa is issued with married name.

[Neeeeek&LilHummus 1]

8 minutes ago, HRQX said:

It doesn't have to remain as maiden name. Can be updated to married name so that visa is issued with married name.

Thank you! We're not worried what her passport/ID ends up being but more so if it would cause issues for her final interview if we left it as just her maiden name now. I keep finding back and forth answers on other threads.