US Immigration from South Africa

Timeline: NOA1- 26-07-2021

NOA2- 14-10-2022

Its been a long and draining journey, having to be past this long step is really heartwarming...Never loose faith guys, your time is definitely coming!!!!!

Any advice on what I can do in the meantime as we waiting for NVC to issue case number?

any advices is greatly appreciated...I've been a long time lurker lol been waiting on my approval

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to the forums and tried searching for threads but many were a bit dated. I was wondering what the average time length from NOA1 to NOA2 takes after COVID? It'll be for a South African with the embassy in Seoul South Korea. We just past a year and a month which seems a little higher from people we see in the facebook group.

Hi please someone help me. Do I need to check the multiple filer box on the I-129F form? This is my second application, the first one was approved in 2012, we got married 2013 and 2019 we divorced due to some issues and now I want to file for my current fianc in 2022?

Brief backstory:

My husband and I met in Korea. We've lived here together for several years.

Neither of us is Korean/has Korean heritage.

We didn't use a joint sponsor and my husband did not move to the US before my interview.

My husband attended the interview with me and he was allowed into the embassy without any issues.

We saw 3 other couples interviewing together (the rest of the applicants appeared to be families and there were a few women and one man interviewing alone).

Everything happened really quickly. I read a few reviews saying they keep the room cold so I brought a cardigan but it wasn't necessary.

The interview was at 7:45 and we got there at 7:20. Quite a few people were already in line so we went to the back of the queue.

At 7:30, we were told anyone with a 7:45 interview time could enter- This is when I spoke to some people around me and discovered some people had a later appointment time and couldn't enter yet. We were maybe the 7th or 8th people allowed in.

We handed in our phones and then went up to the 2nd floor.

I was called up 4 times (and my husband went up with me twice- when we submitted the documents and then for the interview). I went alone to get my fingerprints scanned and to collect the DV pamphlet.

The interview was super quick. I was asked all the expected questions (when we met, When we got married, When we started dating).

My husband was asked when he planned on returning to the US. He told the CO he quit his job, the CO requested proof and we showed him.

We were then told the visa was approved and to expect it in 2 business days. We left the embassy around 9AM.

We did not use a joint sponsor (we used assets in a US bank account) and my husband and I have stayed in Korea together throughout the entire process.

The CEAC showed Administrative Processing on August 22, 2022 and it changed to "Issued" late morning/ early afternoon August 23, 2022.

TL;DR: Every Embassy is different but Seoul appears to be okay with couples staying together throughout the application process.

They did want to see proof the USC has made plans to return to the US. The domicile evidence we submitted to NVC (drivers license, bank accounts and credit card was fine for NVC but insufficient at interview).

We did not upload any additional evidence between DQ and interview but had something in our folder in case we were asked for additional proof of assets or domicile.

Communication proof at the interview-South Africa CR1

Question

When you go to the interview and been together for few years by the time the interview comes. how do you sort out the communications to bring and how much? Like what just pull like two screenshots per month for all the years you been together ?

Like we use

WhatsApp message
WhatsApp voice
Skype video (I barely take pics though)

as of now I made 7 visits to my hubby in SA.

i go twice a year to see him .

By the time of the Interview next year I visit my hubby in South Africa like 9 or 10 times since 2018.

Any suggestions