South Africa CR1/IR1 Visa Filers

[TamDill 29]

5 hours ago, mimi206 said:

Hello all 

I just received email from nvc, “ appointment has been canceled “ any one received this email ? I wondering, I didn’t get any appointment but they said canceled. 

I got one as well, I think it's a generic mass mail maybe, I haven't received an appointment date for them to cancel

[HRQX 4,145]

14 hours ago, mimi206 said:

Hello all 

I just received email from nvc, “ appointment has been canceled “ any one received this email ? I wondering, I didn’t get any appointment but they said canceled. 

At other consular posts, expedite applicants have gotten appointments a few days after receiving that email:

 

[HRQX 4,145]

On 6/29/2020 at 2:15 AM, TamDill said:

Let us know if you come right - the more CR1 / IR1s getting through the more hope for the rest of us 😊 Good luck!!

I noticed Vani didn't provide an update. She ended up transiting through Dubai instead:

 

[TamDill 29]

7 minutes ago, HRQX said:

At other consular posts, expedite applicants have gotten appointments a few days after receiving that email:

 

This is great news as we where approved for an expedited interview today, the cancelled appointment email now makes more sense  Thanks for the info @HRQX and also for the update on Vani, I'm really glad to hear that she came right ❤️ 

 

Will update on my expedite process once I have received my interview date 

[Vani & Henry 14]

1 hour ago, TamDill said:

This is great news as we where approved for an expedited interview today, the cancelled appointment email now makes more sense  Thanks for the info @HRQX and also for the update on Vani, I'm really glad to hear that she came right ❤️ 

 

Will update on my expedite process once I have received my interview date 

Hello yea I made it through Dubai. I couldn't risks it I was lucky to get on a repatriation flight mru to Dubai Dubai new york where I went through the customs. They were easy going nothing to be scared of. Then I travel new york to sfo. Everything went on pretty much quick as there's not much people travelling. Don't worry you will be fine. Best of luck 🤗

[onek 306]

3 hours ago, Vani & Henry said:

Hello yea I made it through Dubai. I couldn't risks it I was lucky to get on a repatriation flight mru to Dubai Dubai new york where I went through the customs. They were easy going nothing to be scared of. Then I travel new york to sfo. Everything went on pretty much quick as there's not much people travelling. Don't worry you will be fine. Best of luck 🤗

Welcome to the US 👍

[Vani & Henry 14]

26 minutes ago, onek said:

Welcome to the US 👍

Thank you 😊

[mimi206 8]

Hello , we are the same boat, so far they approved expedite waiting interview appointment, 

please could you tell me what,what doc they need from us for interview day ???

we will hear something this weekdays 

🙏

 

[April M 28]

On 6/25/2020 at 11:21 PM, IsItLekker said:

I didn't see a group for this so I thought I would start one. Since we are included on the ban exclusion list atm, the only thing holding up the line for IR1/CR1 visas is on the South African side. It appears that Cape Town consulate (non-immigrant only) has reopened, and Durban's consulate (non-immigrant only) will be reopening in August. We have contacted Johannesburg's consulate and they are still closed for all consular services, however they told us they will be looking at the cases which are exceptions under the ban in the next few weeks. We also reached out to the doctor who provides the medical checks for the consulate in Johannesburg and they have a list of people they have promised to contact as soon as they receive word from the US Consulate about opening/resuming immigration interviews.

 

According to the understanding of the recent court ruling, the lockdown is basically legally over. However, as we know, the government could decide to come up with a new lockdown requirement at any time. If you guys hear any news about the level of lockdown for Gauteng, Johannesburg specifically, please post the info here. The other big hurdle will be finding ways out of SA with the severe travel restrictions in place. Quite a few people have bought tickets on different airlines just to have them cancelled, so if anyone knows anything about the status of OR Tambo, it would also be greatly appreciated. There have not been any notifications of repatriation flights for US Citizens for awhile, so we may have to wait until commercial flights become available once more.

Just know you are not alone and we are all in this together!

My husband's is out of Kenya and I emailed embassy all the time. Last time they said they have not yet opened but on US side they can do the visas. They said late July beginning of August because they are opening the airports right now. I watch the embassy business on zoom and Facebook and they are doing everything but working on visas. The proclamation has provided many provisions for us to get the help we need right now but as the whole visa experience has been dragging on and on with no reason for it considering we are solid in case, documents etc. We are even under Humanitarian Aid issue and still waiting. There has been 14 visas most fiance that have come into the US while the lockdown has been on and you can see them here and that is just the ones here. There has been a few people that have posted comments about what flights they took and say the what's called EU is not the ones to take.if I am getting that right.  I'm not sure what EU is as of yet. I talked to the state department here and trying to get the visa moving somehow. My husband should have been here months before the lock down. We are still waiting.  Hope the best for you . Thanks for the info.

[TamDill 29]

On 7/18/2020 at 5:39 PM, mimi206 said:

Hello , we are the same boat, so far they approved expedite waiting interview appointment, 

please could you tell me what,what doc they need from us for interview day ???

we will hear something this weekdays 

🙏

 

Hey @mimi206 yes it seems we are  congrats on your expedite approval. Has your case been received at Johannesburg yet? My arrived Friday morning, waiting on contact from Consulate for interview date - I think it will be soon. 

Docs you will need are

 

- appointment booking page - once received

- DS-260 summary page

 

- all your original civil documents  

• unabridged birth certificate
• unabridged marriage certificate
• police clearance (less than one year old)
• copy of your passport biometrics page
• photographs (X6) 5cmX5cm

- Affidavit of Support documents

• original AOS for main sponsor
• sponsors tax documents (as uploaded onto CEAC site)
• joint sponsor AOS and tax documents (if you have a joint sponsor) 

- additional evidence

• photographs
• proof of communication (phone call history, emails, whatsapp chat, messenger chats - which ever ones you have been using)
• any legal documents together (I have our prenup, my husbands life insurance where I'm beneficiary and a standing order with my bank to receive funds from my husband)
• letters from friends and family verifying relationship
• any other proof that is relevant for your relationship

I hope that helps, and good luck for your interview - perhaps I'll see you there  let me know when you get your date

 

[April M 28]

41 minutes ago, TamDill said:

Hey @mimi206 yes it seems we are  congrats on your expedite approval. Has your case been received at Johannesburg yet? My arrived Friday morning, waiting on contact from Consulate for interview date - I think it will be soon. 

Docs you will need are

 

- appointment booking page - once received

- DS-260 summary page

 

- all your original civil documents  

• unabridged birth certificate
• unabridged marriage certificate
• police clearance (less than one year old)
• copy of your passport biometrics page
• photographs (X6) 5cmX5cm

- Affidavit of Support documents

• original AOS for main sponsor
• sponsors tax documents (as uploaded onto CEAC site)
• joint sponsor AOS and tax documents (if you have a joint sponsor) 

- additional evidence

• photographs
• proof of communication (phone call history, emails, whatsapp chat, messenger chats - which ever ones you have been using)
• any legal documents together (I have our prenup, my husbands life insurance where I'm beneficiary and a standing order with my bank to receive funds from my husband)
• letters from friends and family verifying relationship
• any other proof that is relevant for your relationship

I hope that helps, and good luck for your interview - perhaps I'll see you there  let me know when you get your date

 

Awesome answer 👍

[mimi206 8]

@TamDill Thank you a lot , I think my doc arrived in Johannesburg, nvc sent to Johannesburg , 

do I need my petitioner original tax form and W2 form ? Please and Thank you 

we update each other 🙏 

 

 

[TamDill 29]

18 minutes ago, mimi206 said:

@TamDill Thank you a lot , I think my doc arrived in Johannesburg, nvc sent to Johannesburg , 

do I need my petitioner original tax form and W2 form ? Please and Thank you 

we update each other 🙏 

 

 

You can check where your file is by logging into your CEAC if it says Johannesburg then you're all set. I think we may be at the same stage as one another. 

 

No the W2 and tax forms are copies 😊 You're most welcome! 

Edited July 19, 2020 by TamDill

[mimi206 8]

@TamDill Thanks again, yes, my  doc is in Johannesburg, 

[WilliamSmith 16]

Hi all,

 

I was about to book myself a massage this morning, as all of the spa's have opened up,  when I realised that if the government is fine with me being in a room for 90 minutes with someone giving me a massage then surely they should be fine with me being interviewed. Perhaps even through a glass window like they have at banks. They did it like that when I had an interview for a B1 / B2 visa in Dublin a few years ago. If that is not possible, I can be 2m away, wearing a mask while limiting the number of people in the embassy. I find it absolutely insane that they are not open for interviews but so many other (more dangerous) things are open.

 

With that said, I know we live in a world where logic doesn't always get taken into account when rules and regulations are put in place but I am also not okay just hanging out until they have no other choice but to open up. I think we need to set a date and if we don't hear anything from them (say end of July or Aug), then we need to take some action. Start emailing / calling weekly, getting immigrations lawyers involved, contacting Congressmen / Senators or even starting a petition. I know all of these things will probably not achieve much on their own but perhaps together we can put some pressure on someone in the embassy to start taking this seriously. I most certainly do not want to wait another 6 months to be with my loved ones in the US after already waiting more than a year. Especially because we are so close to the end and the thing standing in our way is so ridiculous.

 

Sorry about the rant, today is just one of those days!

 

Any thoughts are welcomed.