DS-3032 via email stuff up

[TJ2010 5]

I sent my DS-3032 information via email a week ago, and today I received the below email! WHAT? Yes, I got a NVC auto response after I sent it, and yes, I sent the template here on the VJ forum as my choice of agent. Well, I resent the info again in reply to this email, stated clearly that this is what I wanted. Hopefully it's accepted soon, and no more stuff ups. Otherwise I guess I'll have to send it via snail mail as a last resort. It definitely hasn't been accepted yet, the IV fee bill hasn't been made up yet.

Dear Sir/Madam:

Your inquiry has been received at the National Visa Center (NVC).

The NVC has updated the mailing/email address. Please continue to notify the NVC of any change of mailing/email address, or change in personal situation, which may affect the beneficiary's entitlement to a visa.

We are waiting for the form DS-3032 (Choice of Agent) that was previously sent to the beneficiary. This form tells us how to contact the beneficiary during the immigrant visa process.

The agent selected by the beneficiary can be the petitioner, another relative, a friend, an attorney, or a charitable organization, such as a church or other immigrant assistance organization. Mail delivery is often unreliable in many parts of the world, so we strongly suggest that the beneficiary choose someone who has an address in the United States.

It is acceptable that the beneficiary not name an agent and have us contact him/her directly. If the beneficiary is unable to locate a copy of this form, he/she may notify the NVC via a letter or an e-mail, which indicates his/her choice.

Regardless of the beneficiary's choice, the beneficiary must notify us of his/her choice before we may continue processing this file. In the event that the beneficiary is under the age of sixteen, it is acceptable to have the beneficiary's parent or guardian sign the form.

The NVC is sending a duplicate packet. Please allow at least 10-15 business days for the packet to arrive.

According to our records, your Affidavit of Support Processing Fee payment was made on-line through the Department of State's website: www.ImmigrantVisas.State.Gov, Fee Collection. You must now download and complete the appropriate Affidavit of Support form and submit it to the NVC in order to complete your immigrant visa processing.

Please visit the Department of State's website above to download a copy of the I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, or I-864W and/or the instructions.

If a period of one year passes from the last date of contact with the NVC (by email, telephone or mail), all submitted fees and documents will expire. In that case, your fees will need to be repaid and documents will need to be resubmitted in order to continue the immigration process.

[msd 3]

That's really odd.

Are you the beneficiary? Only the beneficiary can send this form.

Sounds to me like it was just a change of address but if you used the template there can't be a lot to go wrong...

I'd call them and ask what happened.

Good luck in clearing this up!

[TJ2010 5]

I am the beneficiary!

It really sounds like they got confused and thought I was the petitioner doesn't it?

I'm going to follow this up with a phone call on Monday US time and see what they have to say. Thanks for the good luck

[msd 3]

No probs. Keep us posted and we'll see if somebody else has an idea too.

[hotzone 1]

Can you mail the DS-3032 form on behalf of the beneficinary? I went to see my wife and had her sign it.

[MJ&RJ 7]

You can email the DS-3032 but make sure to put NVC case number and Choice of agent in the subject line. Use the template for sure. It's been a little lag getting them processed as ours was emailed about 2 weeks ago and is just now getting put into the computer. Our hard copy being mailed in might have beaten the email here in a couple days. They have been slow to respond to emails from us.

[TJ2010 5]

You can email the DS-3032 but make sure to put NVC case number and Choice of agent in the subject line. Use the template for sure. It's been a little lag getting them processed as ours was emailed about 2 weeks ago and is just now getting put into the computer. Our hard copy being mailed in might have beaten the email here in a couple days. They have been slow to respond to emails from us.

As I mentioned, I used the VJ template to send in my information, cheers.

So, I emailed the informationa again, and today they emailed me back and basically said MUST SEND BY POSTAL MAIL it was bold and underlined. So I guess they're not taking DS-3032s from non-electronic filing countries, or maybe I just have really bad luck. Printed off the sheet and sent it via express post with a lot of angry grumbling. I love wasting money on postage. Yes I do. So something that should have taken a few days to do will now take a month for no reason. Yay NVC.

Still no word on fixing my name in the system (their error, not mine). They seem to be ignoring that issue. I won't push it for now, I'd rather get my DS-3032 accepted and IV bill paid. The worst would be if they change my name in the system and demand I sign another DS-3032 and post it to them.

So the upshot is, I advise anyone who is planning to email in the DS-3032 to send a signed hardcopy via post as well to cover all bases just in case what happened to me happens to you too.

[MJ&RJ 7]

As I mentioned, I used the VJ template to send in my information, cheers.

So, I emailed the informationa again, and today they emailed me back and basically said MUST SEND BY POSTAL MAIL it was bold and underlined. So I guess they're not taking DS-3032s from non-electronic filing countries, or maybe I just have really bad luck. Printed off the sheet and sent it via express post with a lot of angry grumbling. I love wasting money on postage. Yes I do. So something that should have taken a few days to do will now take a month for no reason. Yay NVC.

Still no word on fixing my name in the system (their error, not mine). They seem to be ignoring that issue. I won't push it for now, I'd rather get my DS-3032 accepted and IV bill paid. The worst would be if they change my name in the system and demand I sign another DS-3032 and post it to them.

So the upshot is, I advise anyone who is planning to email in the DS-3032 to send a signed hardcopy via post as well to cover all bases just in case what happened to me happens to you too.

That is basically what I did. Only word back was the auto reply of email received but magically when the hard copy of Affidavit of Support and DS-3032 COA is received by mail. A day later it is being put into computer and the COA has been received not via email but the hard copy mailed.

Edited October 5, 2010 by Mark & Ruth

[hotzone 1]

I printed DS-3032 form and had my wife sign it when I visited her last week. The problem is I do not have the bar code. Should I just put my case # where it says paste bar-code and mail it?

[MJ&RJ 7]

I printed DS-3032 form and had my wife sign it when I visited her last week. The problem is I do not have the bar code. Should I just put my case # where it says paste bar-code and mail it?

Check the guides here most gives instructions on how to make your own barcode and to write your full case number in that spot in a black marker legibly.

[hotzone 1]

Just confirmed with an NVC rep this morning, they said they don't use the barcode anymore. They told me to just put the Case # on top right hand side of DS-3032.

[MJ&RJ 7]

Just confirmed with an NVC rep this morning, they said they don't use the barcode anymore. They told me to just put the Case # on top right hand side of DS-3032.

good to know

[TJ2010 5]

UPDATE: Today I received an email to let me know that my DS-3032 has been accepted. Now, they would have received my hard copy version in the last couple of days so it might be a response to that. However, the email they sent me was a direct reply to the followup second attempt email I sent them... no idea which version they accepted, but I'll take it.

As for my name change, they responded to that also and this is what they had to say:

The NVC is unable to change an applicant's name without a copy of the

applicant's valid passport containing the applicant's current name. If

you wish the name to be changed, please submit a copy of the

biographical page of the applicant's passport to the address below.

Well, my passport is in my maiden name so I guess I'm going with that all the way. le sigh.

So, because of that I'm kind of worried since my police certificate is in my married name, but they clearly state that you should give them all names used so I gave them my maiden name and my married name to do the background check on. I'm thinking of attaching a short notice to my PCC to say "they checked both names" so I don't get a RFE cos it has my married name on it. That would be just the worst.

But otherwise, things are okay. Despite the occasional annoyance that my husband can't get our case expedited because he's on deployment - because he IS on deployment and therefore can't do the necessary paperwork etc required. Talk about catch 22.

[MJ&RJ 7]

Well mine was accepted as well yesterday now waiting on IV bill to show paid status.