South Africa CR1/IR1 Visa Filers

[Vani & Henry 14]

3 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Each POE has a phone number: https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports Also, all IR-1 travelers I know were granted entry recently by CBP despite coming from Schengen Area, UK, Ireland, Brazil, Iran, or mainland China. If airport/airline employees give you issues ask them to check with their CBP contact (IAP, etc.). IATA database is a resource used by airline employees: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

Thank you for ur help 

[TamDill 29]

11 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

You can transit EU today as spouses are exempted:

Sec. 2.  Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry.

(a)  Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:

(i)     any lawful permanent resident of the United States;

(ii)    any alien who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;

 

Your issue is getting out of Mauritius.

 

Thanks for this it's wording I was looking for as well. I was sure that spouses that were allowed 

[TamDill 29]

2 hours ago, HRQX said:

Each POE has a phone number: https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports Also, all IR-1 travelers I know were granted entry recently by CBP despite coming from Schengen Area, UK, Ireland, Brazil, Iran, or mainland China. If airport/airline employees give you issues ask them to check with their CBP contact (IAP, etc.). IATA database is a resource used by airline employees: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

Thanks for this info! The more I know and understand the better also the less stressed I feel lol. 

 

@Vani & Henry It may also be helpful to travel with a copy of the proclamation with you and highlight where it says spouses of USC are exempt from the ban and have your marriage certificate on hand as well. I think you'll be okay. Let us know if you come right - the more CR1 / IR1s getting through the more hope for the rest of us 😊 Good luck!!

 

 

Edited June 29, 2020 by TamDill

[Vani & Henry 14]

1 minute ago, TamDill said:

Thanks for this info! The more I know and understand the better also the less stressed I feel lol. 

 

@Vani & Henry It may also be helpful to travel with a copy of the proclamation with you and highlight where it says spouses of USC are exempt from the ban and have your marriage certificate on hand as well. I think you'll be okay. Let us know if you come right - the more CR1 / IR1s getting through the more hope for the rest of us 😊 Good luck!!

 

 

Thank you for giving me the courage as the embassy hasn't been of any help apart from increasing my stress level 

[TamDill 29]

3 minutes ago, Vani & Henry said:

Thank you for giving me the courage as the embassy hasn't been of any help apart from increasing my stress level 

🙂 🙂 I believe that's part of what the forums are for to encourage others and be helpful. 

[HRQX 4,145]

1 minute ago, TamDill said:

the more CR1 / IR1s getting through the more hope for the rest of us 😊

@jennywhite421 successfully traveled directly from London to US:

@LeoUSA successfully traveled through Germany:

 

[TamDill 29]

10 minutes ago, HRQX said:

@jennywhite421 successfully traveled directly from London to US:

@LeoUSA successfully traveled through Germany:

 

Thanks for this @HRQX Monday morning just improved 😁 

[WilliamSmith 16]

So after reaching out to the Consulate in Johannesburg about interviews, I got a response basically saying that our visa falls under the suspension.

 

 

I responded to the email quoting a section of the above mentioned proclamation stating that spouses of US citizens are exempt to which I received this response:

 

 

 

So I guess now we wait?

 

Edited June 29, 2020 by WilliamSmith

[TamDill 29]

26 minutes ago, WilliamSmith said:

So after reaching out to the Consulate in Johannesburg about interviews, I got a response basically saying that our visa falls under the suspension.

 

 

I responded to the email quoting a section of the above mentioned proclamation stating that spouses of US citizens are exempt to which I received this response:

 

 

 

So I guess now we wait?

 

I honestly don't see a reason for them not doing spouse visas. They are declared mission critical, there is nothing stopping us from leaving once we have received a visa as we are allowed on the repatriation flights, and travelling to JHB from another province is not an issue. Inter-provincial travel is only banned for leisure purposes. Something is off with the response, maybe it's worth trying to contact someone higher up in the consulate to understand why they arent doing spouse visas? Do they may be not know that spouse visas are now mission critical? Their recent press release does state they are doing emergency and mission critical visas. 

 

https://za.usembassy.gov/press-release-update-on-visa-operations/

 

It does also concern me that when asked about spouse visas they use the proclamation as an answer. When I emailed in May I was told they would start processing after 22 June. This seems to be their go to answer. 

[IsItLekker 183]

4 hours ago, TamDill said:

I honestly don't see a reason for them not doing spouse visas. They are declared mission critical, there is nothing stopping us from leaving once we have received a visa as we are allowed on the repatriation flights, and travelling to JHB from another province is not an issue. Inter-provincial travel is only banned for leisure purposes. Something is off with the response, maybe it's worth trying to contact someone higher up in the consulate to understand why they arent doing spouse visas? Do they may be not know that spouse visas are now mission critical? Their recent press release does state they are doing emergency and mission critical visas. 

 

https://za.usembassy.gov/press-release-update-on-visa-operations/

 

It does also concern me that when asked about spouse visas they use the proclamation as an answer. When I emailed in May I was told they would start processing after 22 June. This seems to be their go to answer. 

I have been meaning to ask where you guys found that our visas are considered mission critical. I've been looking for it online and I cannot find any evidence that immigrant visas for family of US Citizens are considered mission critical, so if anyone has a link, send it my way haha.

[TamDill 29]

3 hours ago, IsItLekker said:

I have been meaning to ask where you guys found that our visas are considered mission critical. I've been looking for it online and I cannot find any evidence that immigrant visas for family of US Citizens are considered mission critical, so if anyone has a link, send it my way haha.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/proclamation-suspending-entry-of-immigrants-and-nonimmigrants-who-present-risk-to-the-US-labor-market-during-the-economic-recovery-following-the-COVID-19-outbreak.html

 

@IsItLekker direct off the State Departments site, last paragraph. It does state that it's country dependant (local laws etc) but I don't know any local SA laws that would prohibite us from doing our interviews. 

Edited June 29, 2020 by TamDill

[IsItLekker 183]

5 hours ago, TamDill said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/proclamation-suspending-entry-of-immigrants-and-nonimmigrants-who-present-risk-to-the-US-labor-market-during-the-economic-recovery-following-the-COVID-19-outbreak.html

 

@IsItLekker direct off the State Departments site, last paragraph. It does state that it's country dependant (local laws etc) but I don't know any local SA laws that would prohibite us from doing our interviews. 

Ah yes... they include the H-2A visa as mission critical which is the visa my husband's friend's brother just received... these jerks... 🤔

[IsItLekker 183]

https://za.usembassy.gov/press-release-update-on-visa-operations/?fbclid=IwAR0eOtBb9MJQBSKhi_xSOAm-09qRyMpEMqxquW0nUlsClT1Qi1FBsosBZRk

 

This is the official release from the US Mission in SA dated June 18th. 

They explicitly state they will do H2A visas, but make no mention of us. Everyone is better off just applying for an emergency expedite if I am to believe the advice they gave on their FB page or we may never get an interview. What is wrong with them?

[IsItLekker 183]

I have created a FB group for South African Immigrants. Hopefully, we will attract more people and get more information. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/267620401227943

[TamDill 29]

2 hours ago, IsItLekker said:

I have created a FB group for South African Immigrants. Hopefully, we will attract more people and get more information. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/267620401227943

I'm not on facebook if you hear anything helpful could you let me know 🙂