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|  Review on November 10, 2006: |
NaNaNaNaBooBoo
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Johannesburg Consulate
Pre-Interview:
No contact made by consulate. We initiated contact 3 weeks after NOA2, as we had not yet received packet #3. We received the name of our case manager over the phone, but each time we called to inquire, we were sent to a different case worker. In all we had four different case workers, very confusing. We physically picked up packet #3 five weeks after NOA2. Our original packet #3 arrived by South African Fast Mail, 7 weeks after NOA2. We received our interview date via phone (initiated by us) 3 days after we faxed the checklist & DS-230. Interview date was set for 3 weeks later.
Interview:
Our interview was at 10 am. Luckily we arrived one hour early, as there was a queue that took 54 minutes to get through just to get into the embassy. Interview letter was needed, and me and my fiance both received different tickets with numbers on them. The directions on the ticket advised us to enter through security, and then ring bell at window #7. Security kept everything from cell phones to car keys. We entered the room that had about 100 people in chairs waiting, and about 10 windows along one wall. We rang the bell of window #7 and a clerk took our numbers and interview letter and asked that we take a seat, they would call our names. After 1 hour, they called our names and our case manager was behind the window. We used a phone to communicate with him. He asked that I sit and wait. We had everything organized into separate envelopes. He asked my finace to remove everything from the envelopes and put into one pile and give him everything at once. The case worker sifted through the rubble I mean pile of evidence, and started saying things were missing. They weren't but he did not see them, so he sorted and resorted and found everything we needed. Unfortunately, two of the documents from my fiances country were apparently not acceptable as birth certificates and police clearances even though they were from my fiances' embassy and they said birth certificate and police clearance right on them with seals and all the appropriate information. He said that the interviewer would need to make the final decisions, and he asked that we return at 1pm. This process took 1 hour. We returned at 1pm, luckily no queue, as immigrants are from 8-12 and American citizens & Interview are from 1-4. We were issued new numbers again rang bell #7 and were asked to sit and they would call our names. There were 5 people/couples ahead of us, the same interviewer did DV's, K3's, & K1's. Our names were called at 3pm and we both went to the window. Same process communicating through the phones, one for each of us, and the woman was very friendly, she even spoke in French when my fiance did not undertand the oath portion of the forms. She asked him how & where we met, the date we vacationed together to as stated in our evidence, where was our daughter born, when was she born, do we have her birth certificate and her passport. We produced both and she said ok, everything is in order, unfortunately we are in pending status, as the birth certificate was not the original, it was a letter from the embassy, and therefore not acceptable. We received a green 221g letter and once we bring back the 221g letter and birth certificate to the consulate, they will issue the visa within 24 hours.
TIPS:
-Stay on top of your caseworker, they are very busy, and always on vacation
-As soon as case arrives at consulate you can pick up packet 3 in person, recommended if you can afford it. We had a friend in Jo'burg pick it up for us, as we live 18 hours away.
-Arrive 1 hour before appointment
-Bring a book, cards, or something to do(don't forget security takes your cell)
-Bring 65 rand cash, DHL service is available in the same room as interview
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1011