Out of Order? NOA then NVC... deadline concerns.

[iliad5000 0]

In early November we received a I-797 stating that our petition was approved (in a short 90 days!) and was being sent to the listed consulate. Our consulate is

Kiev, so we have been checking mail regularly there especially since the recent situation with the protests and slowing of the government.

Then, yesterday, we received a case update that they shipped the approved or re-affirmed case to the Department of State for visa processing?

Isn't this a bit out of order? I thought the I-797 letter meant that the Department of State already had/processed accordingly.

Also, one concern we have is that the approval notice has a deadline of March 08 2014. As one has seen on the news, Kiev is virtually at a standstill in many areas of the government. Considering our i-797 was apparently just now shipped to the NVC (according to the update), and they have a bit to sit on it, is there any way to extend

the "deadline" of March 8 of the approval notice.

[tom&tanya 48]

This might slow the Ukrainian government but has little to do with the visa process since it's a U.S. government issue. the only things you need from the Ukrainian authorities is the police certificate, which she or (he) can get in the home oblast and the medical exam in Kiev.

Once the petition hits NVC it should be on it's way to Kiev in a few days unless there is a problem with your petition. Make sure you fill out the DS-160 online, call NVC and get your KEV number (or wait for the letter), read the instructions on the Kiev embassy website, have your fiance pay your visa fee at the bank, and then make your appointment for the interview.

You have time to do all of this. USCIS will not extend the dates on your petition however it does say the the consulate and do it under certain circumstances but I wouldn't test this if it were me.

[El Burro 11]

My fiancee went to Kiev today and ordered her police certificate without any problem. She was told it would take 5-7 days. May want to think about a taxi though to downtown Kiev, she said it was too crowded on the metro and she couldn't find a bus. Our petition expires Feb 15 and I'm not sweating it yet. Kiev will email you as soon as they get your paperwork. I never got ANYTHING from NVC, only the email from the embassy that they had received it.

[TBoneTX 44,679]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Embassy/Consulate forum -- topic involves that phase. ***

(Moderator hat off)

The consulates can, and do, automatically extend petition validity in 4-month increments.