|
|
| South Africa |  Review on November 18, 2015: |
Ochili
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
On November 10, 2015, my husband, myself (the petitioner) and three children had a 1 p.m. appointment. Before entering the embassy security area there is someone that checks your name off a list, verifying your appointment. After entering the first door, we went through security screening. If there is anything you can’t take inside you leave it in a plastic container and they give you a number that you use to retrieve your items. You then exit the security area and there’s a catwalk leading to another building where the interviews take place.
Once you enter the second building, you are given a number. We were given number 605. The numbers are called over the PA system and you’re told which window to go to (ex. 605 to window 4). When our number was called, all five of us went to the window. The lady intaking the documents told us the children could have a seat because she didn’t want to make them nervous. (We brought books for them to keep them entertained.) She took my husband’s fingerprints. Then she requested our marriage certificate, police reports, unabridged birth certificates, passports and passport photos for the four of them. Since we had four cases, she took each person’s documents separately (ex. everything for husband then everything for daughter number 1, etc). Once everyone’s documents were collected, which took a little time, we sat in the waiting area again. I thought since we had young children they may go ahead and interview us, however, we were the last to be interviewed.
My husband said he noticed that a camera was aimed at us while we were waiting. He said when we went in it had been aimed another way then zeroed in on us.
We could see the CO going through our folders with our documents because we just happened to be sitting in front of his window. We also think he was observing us as a family. He never called our number over the speaker but asked through the window, are you the “O” family? We came to the window and we all raised our right hands and swore the oath.
I’m the petitioner but the CO seemed to be directing his questions to the both of us so half the time I answered before my husband responded. I thought he’d tell me to be quiet but he never did. These are the questions we were asked:
1. When did you meet? For clarification, I asked whether he meant online or in person then answered.
2. The children’s mother is deceased?
3. You all live here in Johannesburg?
4. You’re all going to Alabama?
5. You applied for K-1? What happened? At this point he was reading noted on the computer and the look on his face and tone of voice was incredulous as if to say that we should have been issued the K-1.
6. Is this the first marriage for each of you? Husband and I were asked individually.
7. Have the children ever applied for a visa before?
For each child my husband had to do the fingerprints for his left hand. WE know this was to make sure they matched the fingerprints that are on file at Home Affairs.
The questions were asked in manner that flowed like a conversation.
We were approved pending receipt of the medical tests. When the medicals were done they assured us they would ready by the interview date but that wasn’t the case. The doctor sends the medical reports to the embassy in batches, now. The batch for our interview date hadn’t arrived. Everyone that was approved received a pink sheet for AP for medicals. We were asked to leave a contact number. My husband also gave both of our email addresses. He wanted to make sure they could reach us in all ways.
Overall, we were there about 2 hours. They never requested any additional documents of proof of relationship. We’d brought five years of proof of relationship but it wasn’t needed.
I checked the case status yesterday and it now says issued. Hopefully, they'll be picking up their passports, ASAP.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #18370