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I'm trying to figure out when we can starting filling the DS-160 and any other documentation. Do you have to wait until the case reaches the foreign embassy and you get a welcome letter from the foreign embassy saying they are ready? I thought you could fill it when you get a case number from NVC, but here's my issue...

• I kept reaching out to NVC via their public inquiry and they finally told me that they got my petition from USCIS and they gave me my case number and invoice ID. However, when I go to CEAC login, after entering those two pieces of information I simply get a generic page about the k-1 visa: "K visas are nonimmigrant visas that assist spouses or future spouses of American citizens in entering the United States. As with all nonimmigrant visa applicants, a DS-160 must be filled out in order for a consular section to process the case." and there's an OK button at the bottom of that page. Not helpful. Doesn't log me into anything specific to me. And If I try to check my status in CEAC via their status check page, I run into a different issue: If I choose NON-IMMIGRANT visa type, I get "Invalid Application ID or Case Number." If I choose IMMIGRANT visa type, I get "Your search did not return any data." Is that because they haven't sent it to the foreign embassy yet? Or it hasn't finished being registered in their system? I'm not sure.

I see that I could go start filling in the DS-160 application online, but if I'm understanding my research correctly, I think that's a bad idea until I officially get told to do that.

I'm just not understanding the timing. I know that I have to be patient, but I also don't want to be sitting around waiting when I could've been working on documentation. So what are my next steps, if any?

Additional info:

• In their email response to my public inquiry, NVC said "Due to your petition type, you will not receive a request for fee payment or document submission." That really confuses me. I'm 100% sure my fiance has to fill out a DS-160, so does that just mean that I myself won't be asked to submit any documents? I don't know why their communication is so unclear to me.
• Also, they said "All case parties will be notified when this petition is forwarded to the assigned U.S. Embassy/Consulate General." So that leads me to believe I should just keep waiting I guess.

regarding the Canadian police record check on the travel state gov website at says that "The following documents WILL NOT be accepted: Type of Criminal Record Check for Personal Use: Visa-Border Crossing, Foreign Travel, Work document." and they want "Sub-type: Other (Provide Details)", my husband went to his local station to ask about it and said he wanted the subtype other and when asked for details he said immigration but was told there were multiple types. what type is he supposed to say exactly? he even showed the example document but they could not help him further.

Hi everyone,

I d appreciate input from those with experience in 221(g) administrative processing, especially cases with multiple CEAC updates.

Case basics:

• Immigrant Visa (EB-based), Consular Processing

• Embassy: Santo Domingo

• CEAC status: Refused (221g Administrative Processing)

• Passports: submitted and currently with the embassy

• No additional documents requested

• Principal and derivative cases now updating together

• My nationality: Colombian (born in Venezuela)

• Spouse s nationality: Venezuelan

Short timeline:

• Dec 14, 2025: Interview placed under 221(g)

• Feb 18, 2025: Requested 221(g) documents submitted

• Throughout 2025: Several Case Last Updated changes, no status change

• Dec 2 3, 2025: Passports submitted and processed

• Dec 16, 23, 30, 2025: CEAC updated multiple times

• Late Dec: CEAC stopped accepting NA/NA and now requires real passport data

• Jan 7, 2026: Another CEAC update, still shows Refused

Questions:

1. Is this pattern (frequent updates + passports retained + still Refused ) typical before Issued in 221(g) cases?

2. For those who ve been through this, how long did it stay as Refused before changing to Issued ?

3. Based on real experience (not speculation), could recent Trump immigration policies affect a consular EB case already at this stage, considering our nationalities?

4. At this point, is it better to keep waiting or to email the consulate after a certain amount of time?

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share real-world experience.

After a delay of years, my in-law (who we are sponsoring) will finally have a green card consular interview in Guangzhou, China (somewhere between 2 weeks and 2 months from now). Since we filled out our information with the NVC years ago, both my spouse and I have gotten new, much better paying jobs. We are now way over the minimum income requirements to sponsor (we were over those requirements, but not by much, when we filled out the NVC material). My in-law's spouse is also now here on a green card and has employer benefits, including health insurance that would cover my interviewing in-law.

I seem to remember that a few years ago the consensus was that in such a situation (i.e. where we have had changes for the better in financial situation), the general consensus was to not try to update things in the NVC website (since this could cause a delay) but instead to write statement letters (with evidence such as W-2s, etc.) and have my interviewing in-law take copies of these with them to the interview. And then that the consular officer might ask us to update the system afterwards. Is this still the general consensus?

Any other tips/advice would be appreciated as well. My interviewing in-law is over 55 and so if there are new things that we should be thinking about in terms of health, insurance or even a letter of interest in hiring them from a prospective employer (my company's cafeteria has expressed interest in hiring them should they arrive with a green card), thoughts/advice would be appreciated. Thank you all!

Hello,

I'm wondering if there will be any need of spouse to be in country of consulate interview BEFORE the consulate there receives the case from NVC.