Should I listen to Tier 2, or is there another way?

[Abby&Mario 100]

My case is at NVC, but I am still trying to get my hands on the USCIS approval hard copy so we can have my husband's alien registration number. It is proving difficult. Some background:

Our I-130 petition was approved April 17. I spoke to a Tier 2 rep on April 21 to confirm this; he said they would send a new hard copy to our just-changed address. Never got there. So in theory they have already sent two hard copies: one to our old address, one to our new address. I have no way to confirm this, but whether that's the case or not, we haven't received jack.

Yesterday I called to see what's going on. Tier 2 said that our zip code wasn't showing up for him on the screen. I told him that we had received the change of address notice and a notice that said we'd get the approval notice soon ( ), but just not the actual approval notice. Both of these documents showed the complete new address, with zip code. He said he would fix the zip code problem and file a request to have them send another approval notice. (I still don't understand the supposed zip code problem if the other two letters got to their destination with no problem AND HAD THE ADDRESS COMPLETE WITH ZIP CODE.) Sigh.

This is annoying. We're going to get a NVC case number by the end of the month if all goes well, and we need my husband's alien registration number to fill out the forms for NVC. Tier 2 dude said that the only other way to get the alien registration number would be to visit a field office in person. Well, the closest one is in Lima and we are in Buenos Aires, so that's not gonna happen. He was very adamant that there was no way I'd be able to get it over the phone.

What should I do if in two weeks the approval notice still hasn't gotten to my parents' house? Dude said to call them again if we still hadn't gotten it, but honestly, this is ridiculous. Is there a Tier 3? Has anyone out there successfully retrieved their alien registration number another way?

[apple21 953]

There's no alien registration number for the beneficiary on the NOA1 or NOA2.

When speaking to NVC after USCIS approval, you can provide the receipt number which is found on the NOA1.

When filing out NVC forms and access to CEAC, what you need is the NVC case number and Invoice ID Number (IIN).

Edited May 15, 2014 by apple21

[dwheels76 5,466]

My case is at NVC, but I am still trying to get my hands on the USCIS approval hard copy so we can have my husband's alien registration number. It is proving difficult. Some background:

Our I-130 petition was approved April 17. I spoke to a Tier 2 rep on April 21 to confirm this; he said they would send a new hard copy to our just-changed address. Never got there. So in theory they have already sent two hard copies: one to our old address, one to our new address. I have no way to confirm this, but whether that's the case or not, we haven't received jack.

Yesterday I called to see what's going on. Tier 2 said that our zip code wasn't showing up for him on the screen. I told him that we had received the change of address notice and a notice that said we'd get the approval notice soon ( ), but just not the actual approval notice. Both of these documents showed the complete new address, with zip code. He said he would fix the zip code problem and file a request to have them send another approval notice. (I still don't understand the supposed zip code problem if the other two letters got to their destination with no problem AND HAD THE ADDRESS COMPLETE WITH ZIP CODE.) Sigh.

This is annoying. We're going to get a NVC case number by the end of the month if all goes well, and we need my husband's alien registration number to fill out the forms for NVC. Tier 2 dude said that the only other way to get the alien registration number would be to visit a field office in person. Well, the closest one is in Lima and we are in Buenos Aires, so that's not gonna happen. He was very adamant that there was no way I'd be able to get it over the phone.

What should I do if in two weeks the approval notice still hasn't gotten to my parents' house? Dude said to call them again if we still hadn't gotten it, but honestly, this is ridiculous. Is there a Tier 3? Has anyone out there successfully retrieved their alien registration number another way?

You been chasing needlessly. Focus on getting your case#. Read the NVC process Wiki in my signature please. Call NVC and keep calling until they assign the case#. Sorry you been wasting your time. Forget USCIS.

[Darnell 8,478]

My wife was not issued an Alien Registration Number on I-130 approval,

and

I not use any Alien Registration Number when doing her paperwork at NVC.

I think (the OP) is worried about a non-event.

Also,the approval notice is NOT NEEDED for anything else (unlike a K-1 visa holder, where the Alien Registration # and approval notice are needed for other stuff)

If I were you, I'd focus again with a Tier 2 human at USCIS, inquiring exactly what day it left the dock at USCIS on it's way to NVC. Remind the Tier 2 that you are not asking about when the approved casefile was sent off for scanning into an A-File (they confuse these 2 events) but actually when the casefile was sent out to NVC, leaving the dock at USCIS.

[Abby&Mario 100]

You been chasing needlessly. Focus on getting your case#. Read the NVC process Wiki in my signature please. Call NVC and keep calling until they assign the case#. Sorry you been wasting your time. Forget USCIS.

Chasing needlessly? I'll explain again: I can't completely fill out the NVC forms until I have the alien registration number that comes from USCIS, the number that apparently only appears on the approval hard copy. I am extremely familiar with Saylin's NVC wiki and already understand the process. We have just about everything ready for NVC, but again, we need the alien registration number for the forms. I already call NVC every couple of days about the case number, but if you look at my signature you will see they received it April 29, so the fact that I don't have a case number yet isn't the problem. I'd love to be able to forget USCIS, but until I get that alien registration number, I can't.

If you are implying that one can fill out the NVC forms without the applicant's USCIS-issued alien registration number, please say so. If you are implying that once I have a case number with NVC, I can get the alien registration number over the phone from NVC, please say so.

[CanGirl 95]

Chasing needlessly? I'll explain again: I can't completely fill out the NVC forms until I have the alien registration number that comes from USCIS, the number that apparently only appears on the approval hard copy. I am extremely familiar with Saylin's NVC wiki and already understand the process. We have just about everything ready for NVC, but again, we need the alien registration number for the forms. I already call NVC every couple of days about the case number, but if you look at my signature you will see they received it April 29, so the fact that I don't have a case number yet isn't the problem. I'd love to be able to forget USCIS, but until I get that alien registration number, I can't.

If you are implying that one can fill out the NVC forms without the applicant's USCIS-issued alien registration number, please say so. If you are implying that once I have a case number with NVC, I can get the alien registration number over the phone from NVC, please say so.

You will not get an alien registration number with the I-130 petition. They don't issue one. You don't need it to fill out the forms. You would write "NONE" in the spot where it asks for the number.

[dwheels76 5,466]

Chasing needlessly? I'll explain again: I can't completely fill out the NVC forms until I have the alien registration number that comes from USCIS, the number that apparently only appears on the approval hard copy. I am extremely familiar with Saylin's NVC wiki and already understand the process. We have just about everything ready for NVC, but again, we need the alien registration number for the forms. I already call NVC every couple of days about the case number, but if you look at my signature you will see they received it April 29, so the fact that I don't have a case number yet isn't the problem. I'd love to be able to forget USCIS, but until I get that alien registration number, I can't.

If you are implying that one can fill out the NVC forms without the applicant's USCIS-issued alien registration number, please say so. If you are implying that once I have a case number with NVC, I can get the alien registration number over the phone from NVC, please say so.

We are all telling you there is no alien number assigned to IR1/CR1. You will be given a Case# and IIN (Individual Identification Number) those are the only two numbers required and needed.

You will be assigned and given your case# with your Visa when you are approved after interview.

The only people who would fill in Alien # are those who had one previously who were petitioned before otherwise no you won't have one.

Could you please tell us where you got this information that an Alien # is required to get through NVC? Because you would be the first to be told this. Remember USCIS is the mis-information line for a reason.

Edited May 15, 2014 by dwheels76

[Darnell 8,478]

maybe a form changed and I not pay attention?

perhaps that's it?

Alien Registration number not needed at NVC, to the best of my knowledge.

Sure, my knowledge *might* be out of date, but I've not read of folk complaining about this in a monthly NVC topic this year.

We are all telling you there is no alien number assigned to IR1/CR1. You will be given a Consular CaseFile # and IIN (Invoice Identification Number) those are the only two numbers required and needed.

You will be assigned and given your Alien Registration # with your Visa when you are approved after interview. There is a immigrant visa summary sheet stapled to the outside of the visa packet - scan that sheet, email it around.

Edited to reflect correct labels [sorry, D]

[Novembro 1,763]

You don't need one. Just write N/A.

[dwheels76 5,466]

Edited to reflect correct labels [sorry, D]

Thank you Darnell.

[apple21 953]

Chasing needlessly? I'll explain again: I can't completely fill out the NVC forms until I have the alien registration number that comes from USCIS, the number that apparently only appears on the approval hard copy. I am extremely familiar with Saylin's NVC wiki and already understand the process. We have just about everything ready for NVC, but again, we need the alien registration number for the forms. I already call NVC every couple of days about the case number, but if you look at my signature you will see they received it April 29, so the fact that I don't have a case number yet isn't the problem. I'd love to be able to forget USCIS, but until I get that alien registration number, I can't.

If you are implying that one can fill out the NVC forms without the applicant's USCIS-issued alien registration number, please say so. YES.

If you are implying that once I have a case number with NVC, I can get the alien registration number over the phone from NVC, please say so. They will not give the beneficiary an alien registration number. What NVC will give you, for access to CEAC, is the CASE NUMBER and IIN.

Case# and IIN is all you need.

[Abby&Mario 100]

You will not get an alien registration number with the I-130 petition. They don't issue one. You don't need it to fill out the forms. You would write "NONE" in the spot where it asks for the number.

We are all telling you there is no alien number assigned to IR1/CR1. You will be given a Case# and IIN (Individual Identification Number) those are the only two numbers required and needed.

You will be assigned and given your case# with your Visa when you are approved after interview.

The only people who would fill in Alien # are those who had one previously who were petitioned before otherwise no you won't have one.

Alien Registration number not needed at NVC, to the best of my knowledge.

Sure, my knowledge *might* be out of date, but I've not read of folk complaining about this in a monthly NVC topic this year.

Thank you very much, everyone. (Sorry, didn't quote everyone, but the replies keep coming in.) Makes sense that since the K1 people fill out the same AOS form eventually, there's a spot for alien registration number. I appreciate the help!! As soon as I get my case number, we will be good to go! Hell yeah!

I love Visa Journey!

[CanGirl 95]

You don't need one. Just write N/A.

You will not write N/A as it is applicable, but you don't have one. You would write NONE.

[Abby&Mario 100]

You will not write N/A as it is applicable, but you don't have one. You would write NONE.

Yep, got it, thanks. Learned about N/A vs. none around the time we filed the I-130 thanks to the forum! Very important distinction. I appreciate you writing that.

VJ members, good looking out! Can you tell I'm in a great mood now that I know I don't have to wait on hold with USCIS anymore? No callback option when you're calling from abroad with an app. Wahoooooo!

[dwheels76 5,466]

Yep, got it, thanks. Learned about N/A vs. none around the time we filed the I-130 thanks to the forum! Very important distinction. I appreciate you writing that.

VJ members, good looking out! Can you tell I'm in a great mood now that I know I don't have to wait on hold with USCIS anymore? No callback option when you're calling from abroad with an app. Wahoooooo!

Great attitude and mood you have. And thanks for asking cuz i am sure someone out there wanted to ask but didn't want to. Now phewwwwwwwwwww now the Case# wait, My bad Consular Casefile #. hehe