Electronic Processing

[bwoo 1]

My AVR yesterday said that they had received documents as of 4-13 but not what those documents were. I talked to an operator and she said she couldn't tell me if that included the I-864 and/or the DS-230, just that documents had been received. She said to wait 2-4 weeks and check back, which of course I will not do! Checking again every other day to see if the AVR message changes.....

Can you still log into the payment portal where you paid the fees? When did you send in the DS-230? I sent it in Monday but not expecting anything until next week.

[kaya541 1]

Yes, I can still log into the payment portal. And we only just sent in the DS-230 on Monday. I was hoping to confirm whether or not they received the I-864 this time, since we originally sent it in middle of March and they never got it. We sent that in again on Monday as well.

[zenaxe 22]

One more thing I thought of - I have never received an automated response from NVCElectronic@state.gov. This concerns me, since I see others mentioning it. I sent the initial opt in email (March 31st), a second one (April 5th), the I-864 (today), and finally the DS-230 (today). Not one automated response. Should I be concerned?

There seems to be some inconsistencies with how NVC is processing. For example, myself, bwoo, and fireray could only pay each bill separately ie AOS then IV. The IV bill could only be paid after getting EP confirmation. I just got EP confirmation this morning and paid the IV bill this am as well. You and others including canadiandgal were able to pay both AOS and IV bills at the same time.

I often got auto responses when I sent emails. I've received the EP confirmation this am, and also an email advising that NVC had received documents and that they would be reviewing them and notifying me accordingly. When I scroll to the bottom of that email, I see my initial email to them advising that I was sending the attached I 864 package so obviously this is what was received. Others haven't had an email advising of the receipt of packages. Interestingly, I called the NVC AVR and they haven't updated, saying only that they received my AOS bill on Apr 2nd.

You can certainly call NVC and speak with an operator or a supervisor to try to get some clarity on what NVC has received or not. I doubt that in the absence of an automated response, that you should be worried, but I understand your need for light in the dark. Better communication would go a long way in helping us along the path, to ensure that we are in fact on track.

As long as we are moving forward, all is well in the valley.

[Darnell 8,478]

zenaxe - small procedural question -

which version of the ds-3032 did you use, and was there any barcode on it?

Thanks in advance !

[AlanM 1]

I have a question, I wonder if EP can be done AFTER the interview... example: they asked for my joint-sponsors 2008 tax transcripts.. the IRS faxed it to us, there is no "official seal" on it or anything, I was wondering If, since we did the OPTIN before our interview, if we could scan the 2008's and send them to MTL?? Anyone have any clue? Or is this waay outside the box for backasswards montreal?

I am confused. How is it that the MON IV section is backwards due to a petitioner not realizing that the year 2008 fell into the "3 years of tax transcipts" requirement? Imagine working in these positions and getting the "incomplete" applications then having to suffer the indignation of those who think it is the IV department's responsibility to give out a visa even if one does not provide all the requested information.

[ValerieA 350]

OK, here is the email response I got back from submitting the DS-230 on Monday (just received this morning):

Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for your interest in processing your case electronically with the National Visa Center (NVC).

Your case has been updated with the email address you have provided to us.

All further communication with NVC will now be done through this email address NVCElectronic@state.gov.

All documents and forms that we request and require from you should be scanned copies of the originals. The applicant must present all original forms and documents to the Consular officer at the visa interview. Failure to present the required originals at the visa interview will result in a denial or delay in obtaining a visa for the sponsored applicant.

Any questions regarding your petition should now be directed to NVCElectronic@state.gov.

The Affidavit of Support instructions were downloaded on 09 March 2010. Once you have gathered all of the information and completed the necessary form, please scan the documents and email them to us.

The Instruction Packet was downloaded on 09 March 2010. Once you have gathered all of the information and completed the necessary form, please scan the documents and email them to us.

Regards,

NVC Document Review Team

National Visa Center

Serco Inc., Support Contractor

NVCElectronic@state.gov

This does NOT seem right to me - shouldn't it actually say that my DS-230 has been received on it? I am so confused. And nothing on the I-864. Sigh. I hate this. And phoning NVC is no good, because they have no access to the department that handles the EP.

[Darnell 8,478]

That smells like a 'conversion to EP' email. Not exactly, but close.

Either they are abysmally lagged still, or it's a programming glitch, or a ill-trained human clicked something back at NVC.

IIWY, I'd wait ONE DAY (today, friday) then

send in the two sets again, on Saturday morning.

grrrr.

[bwoo 1]

OK, here is the email response I got back from submitting the DS-230 on Monday (just received this morning):

This does NOT seem right to me - shouldn't it actually say that my DS-230 has been received on it? I am so confused. And nothing on the I-864. Sigh. I hate this. And phoning NVC is no good, because they have no access to the department that handles the EP.

That's the EP OPTIN approval email.. Did you already receive that one before? I sent in the DS-230 on Monday as well but haven't heard anything. Tried calling but operator also doesn't know anything more than what I know about the status.

[ValerieA 350]

They really need to get phone support for EP. This is ridiculous. I am so tired of hearing "We don't have any information on EP, that is a different department. No, you can't talk to someone in that department because we are the only department that takes phone calls."

AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

[ValerieA 350]

That's the EP OPTIN approval email.. Did you already receive that one before? I sent in the DS-230 on Monday as well but haven't heard anything. Tried calling but operator also doesn't know anything more than what I know about the status.

Yeah, that's what I figured. I have now gotten this email response 3 times - one as a response to my lawyer's OPT IN email, one as a response to my OPT IN email, and now once for the DS-230 submission. Sigh. I am just going to resend the document emails. I know the EP process is new, and is bound to have bugs, but they should be asking for feedback so they can improve it. Instead, it seems they just want to ignore any and all issues.

[bwoo 1]

They really need to get phone support for EP. This is ridiculous. I am so tired of hearing "We don't have any information on EP, that is a different department. No, you can't talk to someone in that department because we are the only department that takes phone calls."

AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

I just called NVC and got the same lecture about how they don't know anything about my status since I'm EP. Well.. I don't get any feedback (that makes any sense) from the EP email system either.

Oh, and my wife keeps getting the DS-3032 and AOS Fee Bill mailed to her house. I think she just received the third mailing from NVC today.. grr. We're past that step! Haha.

Edited April 16, 2010 by bwoo

[ValerieA 350]

I think this was a bad time to go with EP. Because of the glitches they seem to be having, I think it cost me a little bit of time. Non-EP (with no RFE) is getting through NVC in 8-11 days. I am at 16 days so far, and have no idea if they even have my documents. Sigh.

[kaya541 1]

No kidding...although ours has taken slightly longer because we were waiting for a police clearance certificate. We've sent everything in now but the lack of communication is very frustrating, and unless you ask for a supervisor, the operators are no help.

[FireRay 1]

EP does seem sorta messed up at the moment. Seems like its taking almost 2 weeks for them to get to your e- now accepted my I-864, and I sent it back on the 4th,Same thing happend for my DS-3032, they accepted it 2 weeks after they got it. And now they are asking for my DS-230..but I have only sent that a week ago. And now the AVR also states that they have recieved my documents and to wait 6-8 weeks for them to be reviewed and an outcome to be reached. Lol, I will be calling on Monday.

[zenaxe 22]

zenaxe - small procedural question -

which version of the ds-3032 did you use, and was there any barcode on it?

Thanks in advance !

Hi Darnell, I used the one without the barcode. I had mentioned that to a supervisor I spoke with and he said not to worry about that as long as the NVC case number appears on the subject line, NVC will match it. I also advised him that the forms NVC sends out with the barcode show an expiration year of 2006 and that this contradicts the DOS form with 2012 expiration - the latest form advises that forms prior to this one are obselete and not to be used.