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This weekend I received a letter in the mail that I only dreamed of receiving as a young girl growing up in PTA. I have my interview scheduled for my citizenship , 30 days and counting! I wanted to post something on this forum as this as been my go to for reading up and finding out information, for being a "friend" when times go tough and allowing me to know I was not alone. Also for the vulnerability that you all have shared on these forums that allowed me to learn from but also not be to hard on myself. Thank you to everyone! So five years later what has happened? I have moved 5 times to 5 new cities, got divorced & got engaged . Managed to find a job that was below my experience level in a great company and subsequently accelerated fast through the ranks. Have built a solid credit record, something I still think is bs I got cable and got rid of cable and now live off of apps and live streaming. I have embraced my american colleagues and friends and have learned that I was as biased towards them as I perceived them to be towards me. I have cried many a time, screamed and felt despair and loneliness but now I get to the point in my life that I can start to think about bringing my family across and hopefully help open some doors for them. I am extremely grateful and I know very fortunate for the last 5 years. Here is to the rest of my american journey with the new passport and finally travelling without having to submit 3 months worth of bank statements! Also if anyone needs any support, let me know, will love to pay it forward! Meg

I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, but I have literally, just this week, finalized my Financial Emigration through FinGlobal and I couldn't be more happy with the results! From start to finish their service has been absolutely top notch. Took about 5 months for my specific situation. It can get a bit pricy if you have lots of policies and assets to cash out, but it’s probably a mere fraction of the cost of flying back to SA and spending weeks to months sorting out the mess and jumping through the ridiculous hoops necessary to get the process moving along. I caught a really lucky break and got my payout and Forex transfer right when the Rand hit its recent high, which effectively paid for itself, as I was going by a much higher exchange rate back when I started out If your financial situation is super simple, you bank with someone who is able to process your MP336(b) without you physically walking into a branch, and you use SARSefiling, then you may be able to do it yourself. But there are a lot of regulations, moving parts and a very specific order that needs to be followed. The process also takes quite a while, even with pros doing most of the heavy lifting. One screw up or delay and you could be set back weeks... probably months.

As far as long outstanding documents go, don't be afraid to make use of the presidential hotline to speed things up. It's an inter-department service that aims to deal with complaints re service received from any other department, and in the process they'll ensure your document or service request is actually fulfilled. This worked well for me in terms of getting our marriage certificate in time. Tel: 17737 Email: president[at]presidency.gov.za

Hi [at]moving2018 I guess its not easy to stay away from Brits simon website ,its good though you are helping us,Its great.to hear from you.I am going to Cape Town city.Home.affairs,tomorrow which is friday to get my all unabridged certificates,it was easy to get the kids ones its lm still waiting four mine and hubby birth unabridged for over 7 months now,so tomorrow after applying for the unabridged marriage certificate I will send an email straight to Mr Gigaba himself,I trust him ,he did a great job at homeaffairs prior his overnight reshuffle im glad they throwed him back there.I will wait and update you guys,Thank you [at]Pete and [at]Angel21 for all the interview experiences and info,you made it sound very easy☺

Hey, peeps! My basic rule of thumb regarding electronics and appliances is as follows: Make the distinction between electronics and appliances. Electronics are generally gadgets… computers, laptops, tablets, TVs, phones, computer monitors, gaming consoles etc. (ie. high-tech stuff with microchips and/or processors). Appliances are mostly things like refrigerators, microwaves, fans, coffee machines, kettles, blenders, hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, ovens, power tools etc. (ie. simpler items that require high wattages or either make things bright or hot via an electric element or that have and an electric motor of some sort.) The US uses 110V/60Hz while the EU/SA use 220V/50Hz (Thanks to Jannerman for the correction). Just look at the back of your electronic gadget, appliance or at the power brick/supply or charger. If you see something like "110V - 220V / 50 - 60Hz” or there about you're good to go in the US. You may have to change the plug or use one of those travel plug adapters, but it'll still work just fine in the US. The awesome thing with the US’s 110V is that if you happen to plug in your SA item that only uses 220V it won’t damage the item, it simply just won’t turn on or work properly. Where as if you were to plug your US device into a 220V SA wall socket and it wasn’t rated for 220V, you get snap, crackle, pop, bang, a lot of smoke and then it’s “So long and thanks for all the fish” for your device or power supply! Most houses you see advertised in the US with 220V outlets are usually only in the laundry and sometimes kitchen. These are specific power outlets to power your large appliances like Washers, Dryers, Lamps, Fridges and Ovens. They take a non-standard US plug anyway, so you wouldn't be plugging any other items into those 220V rated sockets either way. Make a list of your precious electronics and appliances and note its compatibility with the US. I made a long Excel spreadsheet with power ratings, power compatibility as well as Yes, No , Maybe columns :-) Adding in an estimated price is also worthwhile to get a better idea of replacement costs/losses. You’ll be amazed how quickly it all adds up! In further detail… Electronics (ie. laptops, phones, computers, TVs etc.): If it has a charger or power brick/supply of some sort it will more than likely work in the US without any problems at all, as those power supplies are generally made for the international market and usually have automatic power-switching capabilities. It’s good to check them all anyway, because there are still gadgets that don’t have switching power supplies. I still have a few odd things that required either a new power adapter/cable or a step-up transformer, but not that many. If it's an old device, though, and you are in the market for something newer you may as well not bother and just by it new on this side. Note 1: For desktop computers and most HiFis you'll need to manually switch the power supply to 110V. There's usually a little red sliding switch at the back of these things where the power cable runs into the device. So once you’re in the US and while it is still un-plugged (both VERY important!), just slide it over to 110V with a small screwdriver or pen and you'll be good to go. Note 2: Modern TVs are generally compatible in US. If you have a new-ish flatscreen Plasma, LCD, or LED TV it will more than likely run on 110V/60Hz power and will generally also accept the NTSC video signal used in the US. Although it is still best to double check your specific TV first, especially if it’s not a very popular global brand (eg. HiSense, Goldstar, Sinotech). Our Sony Bravia worked perfectly here in the US. The same goes for your DVD and Blu-ray players. In fact if you have a large DVD collection make very sure to bring your SA DVD player, as there are no guarantees that a DVD player bought in the US will play any of your DVDs due to the different region code used here. Blu-rays are less of a problem, although a couple of my Blu-rays (mostly from the UK) will not play on one of our US bought TVs, because even though my player will play them, the TVs itself does not recognize the PAL video only signal via HDMI. Note 3: Yes. Electronic items are “technically” cheaper in the US, if you were to replace them here. However, don’t be fooled by the initial prices you seen advertised. Firstly, they exclude sales taxes, which runs anywhere up to about ±10% over the marked price, and secondly, if you’re buying online you often need to factor in shipping or delivery costs, again anywhere from $3 - $50 depending on the store and value of the item. This adds up really quickly, especially if you’re replacing a whole bunch of gadgets! This can close any perceived price gap considerably in most cases. Note 4: Gamers can message me if you have any questions regarding your gaming consoles (PS2, PS3, Xbox360, Nintendos etc.) I have a ton of games and consoles and can answer most of your questions :-) Large and small appliances: Many of these are a no go for a few reasons. Most are specifically designed to work on 220V - 240V only. And anything with a spinning motor (e.g., hairdryers, fans, blenders, power tools etc) are usually designed to run at frequency of 50Hz. The latter is less of a problem and will technically will still work, it just won’t work to its optimum (mostly faster) and will risk damage to the motor after constant or long periods of use. Again, just check the back of your appliance and look for references to 110V/60Hz. If you see this, you should be good to go. But more likely that not you’ll just see something like “220V/50Hz only” or “240V only”. These are no good unless you have a Step-Up Transformer (i.e. a current transformer that ‘steps’ the 110V Voltage from the wall ‘up’ to the 220V required for your appliance.) As a basic rule of thumb, your Washing Machine, Dryer, Fridge, Dish Washer, Oven, Microwave, Kettle and Toaster are all a write-off. You may get lucky with some other small items like your food mixer, blender or maybe your coffee machine, but don’t bank on it or hold your breath. Either way, their required wattages are often way too high to operate safely, if at all, for long periods of time with a step-up transformer. Note 1: Step-Up transformers work well and get the job done, but they’re pretty big and heavy, some times unreliable. They can also make a buzzing sound if they are working hard to power multiples items. They only step up the Voltage (V) and not the frequency (Hz). It’s also best that they are only used for intermittently for items like the occasional drilling or sewing session if you must. Especially for appliances with motors. They MUST also have a higher Wattage rating than the item/s in use combined. So if your 220V drill or hairdryer uses above 1000W (Watts) it’s better not to even bother bringing them or using them with a transformer . A decent enough 1000W Step-Up Transformer with cost you about $50 and up. Anything more powerful gets really heavy and really expensive fast! So it may make sense for a handful of small individual items that use 800W or less and that you’ll probably replace later anyway, or maybe for that one big item you simply can’t replace or live without. Note 2: US bulbs will not fit in your your lamps. But some of your lamps can still be saved if you’re handy with a screwdriver, some pliers, a wire stripper and re-wiring plugs. For a few bucks each you can often gets some new plugs and replacement light bulb sockets to adapt your lamps for US use. Seriously though, unless you know what you’re doing or unless your lamp a really a expensive designer thing, something really unique, traditional or carved from exotic African wood, it’s probably not worth the effort. I re-did about 4 of our lamps, and they all worked out well, but you often have to work some magic with the lamp shades to connect them around the slightly wider US light bulb sockets. Furniture: If you have something that looks even vaguely decent, is designer, or is made from any kind of solid wood, even plain old pine, stop reading now and just bring it with you! Quality furniture in the US is expensive. Solid wood furniture even more so. Even IKEA can be anything but cheap in comparison to average SA furniture prices in similar ranges and quality. Yes, there is a huge variety of furniture available in the US, some of which can be very stylish. Quality, however, varies greatly regardless of price. There are also often very good deals and sales to be had, but seriously, look at all of your stuff, consider its value and then do the maths. A 20-foot container to the US costs very roughly R120k - R160k. That’s $11.5k - $15k at the current exchange rate. Now make a list of your furniture and go online to Ikea, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Macys, Sears, JC Penny etc. and price (even vaguely) the equivalent items, not forgetting to add up to 10% sales tax. Even excluding delivery, which is either free or exorbitant. If you make it to even three quarters of the way though your furniture list and HAVEN’T hit $13k yet, you are either a student, or you are young and single, or you have somehow spent more money on your car than on your house/flat/apartment. That is furniture ALONE! Now consider all of your other stuff… cutlery, crockery, towels, linen, curtains, wall art, picture frames, mirrors, clothes, shoes, electronics (the ones mentioned above that will work in the US), Blu-rays, DVDs, CDs, Games, Books, Toys etc. Suddenly, even at R160k, that container is looking like a bargain! Note 1: Bed sizes are roughly the same in the US, give or take an inch. Name differ and vary slightly though. The US also has some additional sizes like California King for example. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_size for dimensions and you should get a good idea if they match what you have. We didn’t bring our beds, because they were really old and we were going to replace them anyway. Our linen from our queen bed fits the replacement queen-sized bed we bought for our guest bedroom perfectly (even the fitted sheets). As for duvet inners, we found some decent feather/down duvet inners at Bed, Bath and Beyond (even in blazing hot Arizona). American’s are more partial to their comforters, which are more like all-in-one duvets. Think fiber-filled duvet with the cover sewn on permanently. It’s also very regional and based on climate, so you’ll find they layer their linen more, depending on the season and the temperature range. Now of course not everyone’s financial circumstances are the same and up to R160k cash up front is quite a chunk of change, especially factoring in the costs of flights, accommodation, rentals and the whole move in general. Luckily for us we had the savings up front and could afford the container. We’re also so glad we did. Not only from the financial side, but also from the personal side. The shock of a new country and whole new culture, one without friends or family is hard enough to deal with, sacrificing almost all of your familiar and worldly possessions that you’ve poured your life, your savings and years of your time into is like leaving behind a part of your soul. I find it wonderfully comforting to have so many familiar things from my SA life around my new home in the US. Alternatively, if you’re young and carefree enough and still sleeping on that worn out old couch bed that your mom gave you when you left home, you can just flog your worldly belongings and start from scratch. Beware, though. The climb back to where you were before will be slower and more expensive with almost every single thing you have to replace. Although, it does make for a great spring cleaning exercise :-) I’ll leave you with that to mull over for now…

Ouch... always SARS to put a cherry on the top. I think some of the "older RA's are a beast to get out. So many choices and companies to use... FinGlobal, Expatri8 and Exchange for Free. Might have a look and see if I can do it myself when the time comes. Thanks for your great info. I read that Allan Gray is really great in assisting with this and do it in house.. maybe a bit of running around but cost saving might be there. With the other smaller RA's maybe best to cash out, pay tax and transfer as cash. Fingers crossed, this will all be more cost effective in 2 years time.

I wasn’t actually directly linking them, just looking for a cheaper option to get the money out. As i said above, I didn’t know what the rules for cashing out an RA were. ( I was lucky enough to have other types of pension/provident funds where I had to pay a tax penalty for cashing them out but otherwise had no restrictions on what I could do with my own money.) The suggestion about using the discretionary allowance was simply given as an easier way to take funds out without having to officially financially emigrate, given the cost of that process vs the amount of funds mentioned. If the RA indeed can’t be surrendered then - as I said - “If I’m wrong this won’t work”.

I actually have one silly Sanlam RA and they quoted 29k. I will see if I can get it done myself. RA value after penalty and SARS 51k. Probably TMI, but yes, I think the cost is really high. Best of luck.

We were in SA in Dec 2017 and needed a new unabridged birth certificate for our daughter. I contacted an agency and they quoted me R2,000... My wife went to Home Affairs herself about 30 mins before closing time, and was out of there in less than 15 mins with unabridged birth certificate in hand. They printed it on site. Think it cost R75.

That sounds ridiculous. I can’t remember exactly what we paid, I probably have a record somewhere, but as a % it was nowhere near that, in fact it probably ended up being much less than 1%. However you may find that there is some kind of basic/ minimum fee that gets charged for the admin work involved irrespective of the value of the asset. Have you tried asking your bank’s exchange control department for a quote?

Im with the Family dear we are 5 ,,we have a whtasp group as DV 2018 if ud be interested to join us ,let me know

Good Morning Guys Im also waiting for the Interview date My Cn is xxx35 and hey the waiting is sooo frustrating I hope the Vb pace will pickup is the coming months ,,

Thanks so much for all the advice and the friendly greetings, this is a fantastic forum. I will make sure I go look into Canada and still try the family visa as well as the DV.

here's a link to the Canadian Visa process. http://onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/eapp/eapp.do Depending on your personal info etc, you might be able to do an express process which takes just a couple off months, rather than 20-24 months. as well as a link to the SA Canada Forum just like this one http://www.sacanada.org/ (Hendie is the same Host for both)- join this forum too, I do expect it to be as helpful as this one The timeline and process to CA will be much easier and quicker- in my opinion. And as SJ said, while you live there you can continue the F4 process, as well a continue the DV lottery entries (if the lottery continues- many many roomers, but no confirmation) I would start with renewing the UK passports. having a British passport might even speed up the process and help you skip some steps and some ''costs'' (like the English Language tests) {sorry just checked - for Express Entry you still need to do the tests- } Get all your Legal Documents (Birth Cert, Marriage Cert etc)- which you probably have all since you have UK passport? If you have ever lived in the UK (or any other country except SA since age 18 (for Canada, 16 for US) you will have to apply for PCC's (Police Clearance Certificates)from each country you lived in as well as for SA. These are usually valid for 12 months, but some Countries state that they only accept it within 6 months.- just to keep in mind

yes indeed. They are RELOCATION agents. A lot of companies make use off relocation agents/ services, to help setup their Expats. but when you as an individual immigrates or relocate, these services are super expensive. they will not be able to help you to legally immigrate. They can only assist in the acquiring off the paperwork (documents etc), relocation services, accommodation search, schools, DMV etc all things , as SJ stated, that you can do yourself. Unless you have the money to splash around and don't have the time to invest

"Be over 18 years of age. Provide proof that you know how to speak and write in 1 of Canada's official languages (either English or French) Be a Permanent Resident (PR) Have lived in Canada as a PR for at least 3 years out of the 5 years before you apply" quick search

Oh I looked briefly at the site. One of those that tries to make you think you need someone to make sure you have all the stuff you need. between the official USCIS /state.gov pages on immigration and the (free) guides on sites like visajourney, again unless you have some kind of complication I honestly believe guys like this just take your money for telling you exactly what you can find out for free. They even say they’re not attorneys! So if you need legal assistance all they’ll do is refer you to someone else.

And what do they do that you can’t do yourself? What do they actually charge for? They can’t manufacture a visa for you...it won’t change your options.

Haha snap

Another thought - if your sister lives in Seattle have you looked at options for Canada? I’ve never looked into that so don’t know but I believe it’s easier than the US based on professional qualifications/experience. You can live practically across the border from her in Vancouver and then see if you want to move across when the sibling visa eventually happens...?

If your sister is a US Citizen she can sponsor you for a visa in the Family Fourth Preference (F4) category. This is, unfortunately, quite low on the preference list for family-based visas and with a numerical limitation (only 65,000 visas each year) and the backlog is substantial. The latest Visa Bulletin indicates that the currently priority date for applicants is something like Sep 2004. Which puts you at the back of a seriously long queue! It might not take the full 14 years, but 7-10 or more is most likely. If you want to hedge your bets, you can apply for that Visa now and get in line, then enter the DV Lottery every year while you wait.

Hi and welcome to the forums. As SJ272 said, if you have immediate family living in the US (brother, sister, parents etc.) then they could sponsor you and you can apply for a family-based visa. Even then, you are literally looking something like a 12-14 year waitlist, which is probably not in your 5 year plan. Employment-based visas are another option, but it’s absolutely no walk in the park, with few guarantees, and even then, we’re taking a looong and difficult path to even Permanent Residence, let alone Citizenship. If you are a seriously talented Graphic Designer, and from a Graphic Designer / Art Director myself, I’m talking top tier, next level, the absolute brass bollocks good... you may, maybe, might, possibly, just have a shot at a Visa. That is if an agency, media outlet or some business with the time, money, and resources to spend wants you enough and is willing to go out on a massive limb and sponsor you for an employment visa. But that is another huge hurdle to clear on its own. Even then, expect a long, bumpy, and rocky road with no certainty or guarantees. In all honesty, the DV Lottery is your best bet. It’s free to enter and your chances aren’t the worst either. Entries open again in October, with the corresponding draw May next year. Even then, and if you hit the jack pot, and all the stars align, the absolute soonest you’ll be looking at getting here is Q4 2019 or sometime during 2020. That timeframe moves back a full year every single time you miss out on the draw and have to re-enter for the next draw.. A lot of members here have been through the DV process (including myself) and can give you or point you to all the info you need should you decide that is the route for you and your family. Unfortunately, as you may have come to realize,, the US is a notoriously difficult place to emigrate to, with few to no quick or easy routes, especially if you have no close family or business ties. Countries with points-based immigrant programs, or certain skill shortages are often a more fertile environment for Saffers looking for the ol’ “Plan B”. Good luck and shout if you have any other questions...

Even though my Wire haired fox is a medium breed, she does stand quite tall. Also, the crate was built according to IATA specs, which I believe has recently changed. The airline and destination also has a big influence on cost. Glad you were able to do it for that price. I am just glad my girl is here with me.

Wow, for one pet?! What size was it? Ours was a few years ago now admittedly but was around R10k, for a cat so I guess a dog would be a bit more but not 4x! They did all the same stuff yours did by the sounds of things. There were cheaper quotes for other airlines, they do a bunch of them, but we chose KLM.

Hi. We used Global Paws and could not be happier. Cape Town, London, Philly on BA, they did the crate, all inspections en delivered her to us out in the stix (an hour from Philly) and came in around 40k, rough idea, but they build the crate etc, so worth it. Follow them om FB and you will see all the happy clients. Best of luck.

It seems to me that every October/November there is a flurry of activity with hopefuls entering the DV lottery. Probably the best advice we can give anyone entering is to there and then make sure they have unabridged birth/marriage etc certificates for everyone on that application - at R75 each, it is really worth it - and it is not as if they expire - you never know when you may need it, or for what. Many of the posts here after an applicant is actually drawn involves stress around not having these documents in hand, and the time it takes to get them. I would advise to just get all of these, and keep them in a safe place - even military records, your matric certificate (in English) etc. IF you are drawn, you can wait for your interview virtually stress-free with only the medicals and the police clearance to be done, and if not, you have the documents for the following year, or for any other country you are considering moving to, or for any other reason whatsoever.

O dear Dreamland, I have just been onto Britsimon. Yes, the numbers are real slow. I can imagine your anxiety at this stage. Stay positive, and at least you have time to get unabridged of everything. Timing for a reason, so just hang in there.

My wife and I went for the DV interview at the JHB consulate in February. At the first window, we were asked repeatedly whether we have a sponsor (we don't). We'd provided evidence of our financials though, and it didn't come up again. I think you can either provide proof of your own financial position, or you need to have an affidavit of support from a sponsor. At the second window, the officer asked my wife only two questions, and then said we were approved. We're going on a trip to activate next this month, where we're taking a 2 week trip to various cities we're interested in.

If you are like us with no one in the US, I understand 100%, Without the advice from the people on this forum I would not have made it. The journey is lonely. We were only telling the absolute "must know" people, so I get that. We are doing better by the day. Hubby been working for over 2 months now and I have just started. Exciting times and loving every minute.

Thanks for all the responses, really appreciate the feedback. To clarify on the education point, my wife never wrote matric exams and doesn't have a senior certificate. She has a matric exemption certificate from the matriculation board of SA, based on tests (SAT and some others) she took at the end of her homeschooling. She got into UNISA with this, then UCT based on her performance. She'll definitely be preparing a work experience portfolio. The plan is to focus on documentation in the form of job descriptions, relevant training / certification, and affidavits from her current and previous employers regarding her role and duties. This seems more or less in line with what they're looking for. It's unfortunate how poorly detailed / understood the work experience requirement is - hopefully we'll be able to add to this understanding. Happily, in terms of addresses, I've discovered I have some 2nd cousins in NY / Boston, so I'll reach out and see if they're okay for us to use their address. Some further good news is that I picked up our unabridged marriage certificate this morning, which took only 5 weeks. I used the "presidential hotline" to expedite this, as I'd read a lot of bad stories about this document. I'd recommend this route if you get stuck with Home Affairs, as its free and surprisingly efficient. You can just email president[at]presidency.gov.za to escalate your issue at any department.

Hi all, first post for me. I've been studying Britsimon's website for the past few months but I've only just found this forum. It's great to get some local SA perspectives on the DV visa, and living in the US more broadly. My wife and I have entered thrice now, for the 2015, 2016, and 2018 draws. This year, the 2018 draw, my wife was fortunate enough to be selected - cue the shock, awe, happiness, and excitement! We've got a low case number of ~12,000 so will likely see an interview in November or December. We've been scrambling about to assemble all the required documents, with no major issue thus far - though still no word on the unabridged marriage certificate from DHA, which I understand can be a headache to acquire. The snag is that my wife, the principal applicant, was home-schooled and didn't attend formal high-school for matric. She has a matric exemption, and a degree and post-grad from UCT, but nevertheless does not technically fulfill the high-school education requirement. Fortunately, her work does fall into the skilled work category, so we're building up documentation and support for qualification based on work experience. It's an additional worry though, as from what I understand the qualification based on work experience is pretty much entirely up to the CO when you get to the interview at the embassy. The other thing is an address which I know we'll need to provide. On the DS260 we just put the SA Embassy in Washington for now, but we'll need to figure out a real one ahead of the interview. A mail forwarding service seems like a good idea given the circumstances, but I don't know if they'd accept that. Sjoe, I know this feeling of being in limbo well. We have not bought anything new, and have put our plans to improve our house on the backburner. Then there is just that feeling of waiting which is so pervasive on a daily basis. I consider us very lucky to have gotten a lower number though, as I don't know how people cope with this stress for as long as a year, which I know some must wait.

I cannot believe its only been 3 months after finding out we have been selected,my life is at complete standstill,i dont know if yhere is any one who experiences the same limbo im in.After trump's announcement last week I was half way in to throwing in the towel,thank you to Jason Flash in this forum, I have a glimpse.of hope,i am so ready to get ouf of SA.

We looked into this option before you won our green card. its complicated and the only thing is that the money that you put into a EB5 visa is alot and its quite complicated, We once chatted to a guy in Miami -- by the name of Clifford from Mirzam Investments -- he came and did a few seminars in SA on the matter with an immigration lawyer (Grant Kaplan) --- they all ex-SA guys. they coudl help. look them up

Just to mention that if you are financially emigrating the household contents value just gets listed on the form so in that case it is no extra approval. Also when did you go? I thought it was R200k on household goods. I may have remembered wrong or maybe it's updated. Another poster here, I forget who, mentioned his insurance ended up being useless because breakages have to be reported within a specified time and in the nature of a move like this one may not unpack and discover the breakage in time. Where it would be useful are the rare occurrence of the container being lost, ship sinking etc. I remember a report of a ship sinking a while ago and people looting the containers washing up!!

Well Heeeelllo Mr Janneman Good to put a face to the name....by god, and here I was thinking you were a woman all this time!!!