K1 visa confused help

[JDallas 0]

Hello everyone, I am somewhat confused about the k1 visa process. Is k1 visa currently been processed electronically after NVC sent it to China? I was been told that the electronic data file and the hard copies were sent out from NVC on June 23rd of this year. Currently, whenever I call NVC or DOS, some of them will tell me hard copies have not arrived in China yet, or they don't know anything about it...

sent few emails to the consulate general in Guangzhou, China. They only replied to my first three emails, then never again... anyone knows why?

and back in July, the first email responds I got from Guangzhou said the electronic file is received and that they are processing it, and we may hear from them within a month... Well, it has been a month, and no responds yet...

Does NVC knows the status of a case once it has been sent to China?

Thanks!

[patient2010 93]

Hello everyone, I am somewhat confused about the k1 visa process. Is k1 visa currently been processed electronically after NVC sent it to China? I was been told that the electronic data file and the hard copies were sent out from NVC on June 23rd of this year. Currently, whenever I call NVC or DOS, some of them will tell me hard copies have not arrived in China yet, or they don't know anything about it...

sent few emails to the consulate general in Guangzhou, China. They only replied to my first three emails, then never again... anyone knows why?

and back in July, the first email responds I got from Guangzhou said the electronic file is received and that they are processing it, and we may hear from them within a month... Well, it has been a month, and no responds yet...

Does NVC knows the status of a case once it has been sent to China?

Thanks!

Call DOS they will have more info than the NVC....Once NVC sends it they will tell you it has been sent and that is all they know. DOS will tell you if it has arrived there and the interview date if you have one....good luck

[Darnell 8,478]

K-1s to Guangzhou have a 50/50 chance of being 'sent over' SAFEFILE ONLY.

SAFEFILE is a secure communications network that DOS uses, for Consular Stuff back/forth from NVC to the various Embassies around the world.

Since the inception of the NVC Electronic Processing option for I-130's/CR-1/CR-2/IR-1/IR-2/IR-5s, about half of those I-129Fs are sent via SAFEFILE.

Prior to the NVC EP program, all I-129Fs were sent over via DHL, and there's a 2 to 5 month 'wait' at a China Customs Warehouse in Guangzhou - US Consulate Guangzhou has no say about any 'quick release' of documents.

So, if I were you, I'd try to find out from NVC - if the shipment was:

--SAFEFILE SOLELY or

--DHL and SAFEFILE

if DHL is involved at all, yer in for a wait.

Now, you can keep calling DOS Hotline, get some status - I suggest, at this point, to call 2 to 3 times a week - review http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/264972-shortcuts-when-checking-for-updates-from-the-nvc-and-dos/ - look for my post there on 'what you can ask for' .

When DOS Hotline tells you 'Casefile Opened' - then wake up (literally) as GUZ IV is about 1 week away from sending out the Packet 3 - and there's a shortcut for that - see http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/GUZ_P3_Shortcut - if you use the shortcut, you can shave off 2 to 3 weeks of 'normal processing time' and get into a 'prior queue' for appointment scheduling, Packet 4 sending.

Good Luck !

[JDallas 0]

K-1s to Guangzhou have a 50/50 chance of being 'sent over' SAFEFILE ONLY.

SAFEFILE is a secure communications network that DOS uses, for Consular Stuff back/forth from NVC to the various Embassies around the world.

Since the inception of the NVC Electronic Processing option for I-130's/CR-1/CR-2/IR-1/IR-2/IR-5s, about half of those I-129Fs are sent via SAFEFILE.

Prior to the NVC EP program, all I-129Fs were sent over via DHL, and there's a 2 to 5 month 'wait' at a China Customs Warehouse in Guangzhou - US Consulate Guangzhou has no say about any 'quick release' of documents.

So, if I were you, I'd try to find out from NVC - if the shipment was:

--SAFEFILE SOLELY or

--DHL and SAFEFILE

if DHL is involved at all, yer in for a wait.

Now, you can keep calling DOS Hotline, get some status - I suggest, at this point, to call 2 to 3 times a week - review http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/264972-shortcuts-when-checking-for-updates-from-the-nvc-and-dos/ - look for my post there on 'what you can ask for' .

When DOS Hotline tells you 'Casefile Opened' - then wake up (literally) as GUZ IV is about 1 week away from sending out the Packet 3 - and there's a shortcut for that - see http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/GUZ_P3_Shortcut - if you use the shortcut, you can shave off 2 to 3 weeks of 'normal processing time' and get into a 'prior queue' for appointment scheduling, Packet 4 sending.

Good Luck !

Thanks. Just got a responds from Guangzhou saying that they have not received the electronic file yet, and no physical files should be sent to them anymore. However, the embassy in Guangzhou also told me on July 13th, 2010 that they have received the electronic file.

I have been calling DOS and NVC often, and NVC said that all physical files were scanned into a database, and with the GUZ number, the embassy in Guangzhou should be able to access it.

Call DOS they will have more info than the NVC....Once NVC sends it they will tell you it has been sent and that is all they know. DOS will tell you if it has arrived there and the interview date if you have one....good luck

Thanks!

[garfield529 47]

Based on your last post, you are saying that GUZ told you that they are NOW 100% SAFEFILE?

@Darnell: didn't someone post something recently about SAFEFILES possibly not including any of the frontloadinｇ？　I am curious about this as it could affect how we advise folks to present their cases moving forward.

[Darnell 8,478]

garfield - ya - that was BleuWolf - he's been doing some research on it, these last 2 months, whilst slinging stuff into NVC EP.

[JDallas 0]

Based on your last post, you are saying that GUZ told you that they are NOW 100% SAFEFILE?

@Darnell: didn't someone post something recently about SAFEFILES possibly not including any of the frontloadinｇ？　I am curious about this as it could affect how we advise folks to present their cases moving forward.

Responds from Guangzhou told me they process k1 visa electronically now. Then it seems like NVC and Guangzhou are not on the same page. NVC stress on physical file needs to be received while Guangzhou said they don't need it. I know that back in July they told me they got the electronic file and was processing it... and at that time i got confused becasue NVC said Guangzhou needed the actual physical files.

it is strange that they now told me not even the electronic file was received. if NVC gonna have all of the hard copies of the file in a database like they said, then it should basically take few seconds to get to the embassy...

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, that's why I was 'pointed' on you finding out exactly which method of transport NVC used, from an NVC Human.

ie -

SAFEFILE ONLY or

DHL and SAFEFILE

It's kinda important, at this stage.

use those exact words , next time you call in to NVC ..

oh - for any 'electronic file' coming in, regardless of DHL shipment or 'not' -

GUZ IV will say - 'the casefile is loaded' ...

[JDallas 0]

ya, that's why I was 'pointed' on you finding out exactly which method of transport NVC used, from an NVC Human.

ie -

SAFEFILE ONLY or

DHL and SAFEFILE

It's kinda important, at this stage.

use those exact words , next time you call in to NVC ..

oh - for any 'electronic file' coming in, regardless of DHL shipment or 'not' -

GUZ IV will say - 'the casefile is loaded' ...

Yeah, I'm going to ask them in exact wording. Yesterday DOS said it was sent physically and arrived in Guangzhou on July 7th. Then again, Guangzhou still waiting for the file. we sent P3 too and that was delivered to them on July 20th. They said it takes about 2 to 3 weeks to get into their system, but now they can't confirm that P3 was received. They don't have any of them... Could the file be lost?

[Darnell 8,478]

DOS will know if 'casefile opened'.

That's different from GUZ's 'casefile loaded', btw.

'casefile opened' is a 'physical file'. If they got it in from DHL, is good indication that they've retrieved it from the China Customs Warehouse, then trucked it over to Shamian Island US Consulate, then it wound it's way through the mailroom, over to 'active files' section.

or

'casefile opened' for 'SAFEFILE SOLELY' - they printed all, created physical casefile.

'casefile loaded' means GUZ IV has the electronic record from SAFEFILE.

Sure, all of this is minutae (sp?) at this point, but ....

it helps to know the casefile status, over time - view this 'staging' as something yer keeping track of, with hopes of 'pulling the trigger' to get the P3 pre-filled out and sent in, prior to the P3 actually arriving at her address (see http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/GUZ_P3_Shortcut )

[JDallas 0]

DOS will know if 'casefile opened'.

That's different from GUZ's 'casefile loaded', btw.

'casefile opened' is a 'physical file'. If they got it in from DHL, is good indication that they've retrieved it from the China Customs Warehouse, then trucked it over to Shamian Island US Consulate, then it wound it's way through the mailroom, over to 'active files' section.

or

'casefile opened' for 'SAFEFILE SOLELY' - they printed all, created physical casefile.

'casefile loaded' means GUZ IV has the electronic record from SAFEFILE.

Sure, all of this is minutae (sp?) at this point, but ....

it helps to know the casefile status, over time - view this 'staging' as something yer keeping track of, with hopes of 'pulling the trigger' to get the P3 pre-filled out and sent in, prior to the P3 actually arriving at her address (see http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/GUZ_P3_Shortcut )

have to ask them about casefile loaded or opened on Monday...most of the time, NVC or DOS gets mad at me for asking more than one question per call...

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, NVC Tele-Operators are not so useful, but sometimes, if yer lucky, you can get them out of their 'listening for buzzwords' mindset

DOS, eh - half the time is ok, other half the time they seem like USCIS work-transfer ppl. I so loathe that USCIS hotline..

[JDallas 0]

ya, NVC Tele-Operators are not so useful, but sometimes, if yer lucky, you can get them out of their 'listening for buzzwords' mindset

DOS, eh - half the time is ok, other half the time they seem like USCIS work-transfer ppl. I so loathe that USCIS hotline..

So I called NVC and DOS today... DOS said GUZ requested NVC to re-send the electronic data but hasn't been sent yet... NVC on the other hand, the person I called don't know what DHL or SAFEFILE means... so it looks like they did lost the file after all... NOA2 expires in october.. so how will it be possible to get an interview date before that

[Darnell 8,478]

I'm sorry, but it seems like you've been pitched, head first, into some black hole.

Regardless of the expiration of the validity of duration on the NOA-2, approval notice, the GUZ IV unit automatically extends this duration due to the 'China Customs Clearing' issue.

Even with that said - ug - it's the 17th of August, 2 months past the date that NVC said it went out, and no one seems aware of exactly where the casefile is, or how it was 'sent over'.

Strongly suggest you set up for 'congressional inquiry' , start today -

you want the 'Immigration Liason Staffer' human at yer (pick 1)

US REP's Office

US Senator's Office (you have 2 senators)

so - call all 3 offices, ask for the ILS person, talk a bit, then pick the office that has the ILS staffer that you feel comfortable with. You'll need to sign a release form, but usually that form is easily available from that office, via fax, email or website.

The questions you need resolved:

1. where is the casefile

2. NVC thinks it was lost, never loaded into SAFEFILE

3. DOS can't verify it was sent to Guangzhou - where is the casefile?

4. Guangzhou IV can't find the casefile in SAFEFILE - where's the casefile?

Expect answers in 1 to 2 weeks after signing the release form.

My apologies, I wish I had 'other news' for you.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Darnell

[JDallas 0]

I'm sorry, but it seems like you've been pitched, head first, into some black hole.

Regardless of the expiration of the validity of duration on the NOA-2, approval notice, the GUZ IV unit automatically extends this duration due to the 'China Customs Clearing' issue.

Even with that said - ug - it's the 17th of August, 2 months past the date that NVC said it went out, and no one seems aware of exactly where the casefile is, or how it was 'sent over'.

Strongly suggest you set up for 'congressional inquiry' , start today -

you want the 'Immigration Liason Staffer' human at yer (pick 1)

US REP's Office

US Senator's Office (you have 2 senators)

so - call all 3 offices, ask for the ILS person, talk a bit, then pick the office that has the ILS staffer that you feel comfortable with. You'll need to sign a release form, but usually that form is easily available from that office, via fax, email or website.

The questions you need resolved:

1. where is the casefile

2. NVC thinks it was lost, never loaded into SAFEFILE

3. DOS can't verify it was sent to Guangzhou - where is the casefile?

4. Guangzhou IV can't find the casefile in SAFEFILE - where's the casefile?

Expect answers in 1 to 2 weeks after signing the release form.

My apologies, I wish I had 'other news' for you.

Currently, the supervisor at NVC confirmed that the file was originally sent to GUZ on 6/23 electronically. GUZ did say they got it on 7/13. Maybe someone deleted the file by accident. GUZ apologized today. And according to DOS, GUZ asked NVC to re-send the file electronically last Friday but the new one hasn't been sent out yet. NVC asked me to check back this Friday. GUZ is telling me to rest assured, and they will contact me as soon as they got the file. At this point, I don't know if they will speed up the process for this particular case or not.

well, either way, the wait is too long... if I'm gonna wait another few months, I probably will have to apply for citizenship in China...