How long to process I-864?

[BC_Ed 0]

Well....its in the mail and was delivered this morning. How long does it generally take NVC to process the AOS and tell you if it is acceptable? This is the scary one for us. We have lots of assets and no income.

Another question....how did you find out if the I-864 was approved? Do they send a snail mail? I have had no luck gettting an operator at NVC lately. We signed up for e-mail at the CSC process but never did receive one.

The phone message says our DS-230 is generated and will be mailed in the next few weeks (can you imagine). How do you find out about approval there also?

Thanks,

Ed

[germangel 0]

my 864 was processed within a few days. Less than a week even if I recall correctly. I am currently waiting for DS230 to be okay so I can't tell you for sure but I'd say about 1 - 3 weeks

[joyeann 0]

I am with you on this on Bc_Ed! I mailed mine this morning, but I don't think it takes long for them to approve it.

In the meantime I had my husband download the DS230 and fill it out while I waited for it to arriive in the mail, then we will just attach the barcode to it and save a little bit of time! Not sure if that helps.

I looked around on the timelines tho, and from I can tell it doesn't take long for i-864 to be approved. I think you just call the NVC automated system and they will update the approval from there.

[Fischkoepfin 1]

They don't tell you unless you specifically ask. We only found out that the I-864 for ok when we got an RFE for the missing DS-230 (which they hadn't mailed to us yet).

You should hear fairly quickly if things are not ok, though.

[Euro 3]

Take a look at my timeline...it was pretty fast to case complete!!

[BC_Ed 0]

WOW - not bad. Wish me luck on the AOS.

I hope they turn around the DS-230 as quickly.

Thanks folks.

[Cygnet 0]

I don't have "real" answers to your questions but I can tell you a little about our experience.

First off, my husband and I were expecting an RFE because he sent in actual copies of his return and not the IRS transcript (he e-filed). I was lucky enough to get someone on the phone a few days after they received the I-864, and they told me we were going to get a letter because we were missing documents. So I thought... this must be our RFE.

But several days later, I got a letter stating this:

"The NVC has received the requested Affidavit of Support Form (I-864) for this case. However, we are still waiting for the Immigrant Visa Application (DS-230) and/or related fee/s. Please submit..."

I called NVC again - first, to let them know that at that point I have not received the DS-230 yet, and second to ask about the I-864. The operator was a little bit vague on his response but from what I understood, the I-864 was "okay'd". We're still skeptical about the whole thing as the operator sounded like some kid who was new at the job. My husband did not get any letter at all.

So I guess you just have to try calling again... probably Monday or Tuesday. Another operator told me that it takes them about 7 - 10 days to enter things on the system once they've received a form. You can also try the automated system. You can also check our timeline in the signature below to get more date details. So far we've sent forms using regular mail (so I would count at least 7 days from the moment we mailed forms/fees to the time NVC received our stuff.

Also, you asked about the DS-230... I guess you'll know everything is okay once they say your case has been completed.

Good luck!

Edit: While I was writing this message, so many people had already posted theirs. Anyway, our experience is just like Fischkoepfin's.

Edited April 20, 2006 by Cygnet

[MaryandMian 1]

Ours was processed within three weeks once it went to the NVC. Good luck.

Mary