Persistance Pays

[IndigoSkies 168]

@IndigoSkies- good luck next Monday with your call to NVC (though I might even suggest you give it a try on Friday as they may be less busy).

Will do. I called a few times already into the AVRS. I didn't attempt to reach a person as I'm quite sure it's futile to do so now. It has only been 3 business days since my NOA2. And thanks.

[Heather&Matt 0]

@BrokenFamily - I hear where you are coming from and am not the type of person who wishes to cause any further backlogs in the system.

Regarding your comment "you can check your bank to see if check was cashed to make sure they got paperwork"... we can't send a payment until we are invoiced for it, which hasn't happened yet. So, perhaps you thought we are in a different part of the process than we really are. The reason I was calling the NVC was to find out if they had assigned a case number and then to inform them that we wish to use email. Had I listened to the operator I spoke with yesterday and waited several weeks before calling again, we would have received an invoice via snail mail, which could add weeks to our process. Since we have already been apart for 15 months (due to some circumstances beyond our control that I won't go into right now), any amount of time I can shave off of the process by making a one minute (to the operator) phone call is very much worth "the dime" to us. My advice: This is supposed to be a supportive community. Let's be empathetic and supportive of each other rather than critical/quick to judge and attack, we are all in the same boat!

I agree. If a couple of phone calls speeds up the process but weeks maybe months, then dial away. We live in such a techonoligical world, waiting for snail mail is just silly when the option to email is there.

[JustUs 3]

I am SO glad I listened to advice given on Visa Journey saying to call NVC often and not to listen to everything they tell you.

Our NOA2 was approved on 09/22. After several calls (it sure is nice to be able to talk to someone isn't it?!) we found out that NVC received it on the 28th but it wasn't in the system. We were told to call back in a week to give email addresses. I called yesterday and was told to call back at the end of October or beginning of Nov because "it usually takes us 6-8 weeks to get your case into the system". I expressed my confusion at how another operator had told us to call back in a week, and this lady said well you can TRY but I am telling you the usual timeframe.

I called today anyway, and sure enough we now have a case number! I am sure glad I did, since now they have our email addresses (the operator asked for them) and now they will email us the invoice etc rather than snail mail.

Celebrating the little steps! And sending hope and encouragement to all the others out there who are missing their spouses. IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE END!

~C

Very helpful advice - I am counting down the days when I should check back with the NVC. Already made the first call and got the feedback that they received the case but it was not in their system. Thanks to you I know to wait 14 days and see if I can get the same results that you got. Loving VJ Members!!

[Henykat 16]

How does anyone know whether making these calls sped up the process or not? Has anyone actually said "If you had not called we would have taken longer"? Maybe it slowed down the process because they have to answer so many phone calls.

Edited October 7, 2010 by Henykat

[Heather&Matt 0]

Very helpful advice - I am counting down the days when I should check back with the NVC. Already made the first call and got the feedback that they received the case but it was not in their system. Thanks to you I know to wait 14 days and see if I can get the same results that you got. Loving VJ Members!!

We JUST received our case number by calling them...the 13th day from our NOA2. Without the help of all the knowledgeable VJers, we wouldn't have just waited like the NOA2 hard copy said. This site has been more than helpful to us...its really great to talk to people who are going through the same thing, as of course, most of our friends and family has no clue about the stress of this process.

[Matt n Shannon 3]

Congrats I hope to get mine anyday now.

[IndigoSkies 168]

My NOA2 was issued on 10/02/2010. It's 10/07/2010 today and I haven't received the hardcopy. Should I be upset at USPS?

[Heather&Matt 0]

How does anyone know whether making these calls sped up the process or not? Has anyone actually said "If you had not called we would have taken longer"? Maybe it slowed down the process because they have to answer so many phone calls.

According to the NOA2 hard copy, it says to wait 6-8 weeks to receive the case number. This is by far longer than the 13 days I had to wait to get mine by calling them.

[IndigoSkies 168]

The average days between the getting NOA2 and getting the NVC case number is 14 days. It'll probably become longer since USCIS approved a boatload of cases in recent weeks.

[Heather&Matt 0]

My NOA2 was issued on 10/02/2010. It's 10/07/2010 today and I haven't received the hardcopy. Should I be upset at USPS?

I doubt it, since the weekend is a write off (for sending mail) technically its only been 2-3 days...they may have sent it on Monday.

[Matt n Shannon 3]

It is our 1 yr anniversary weekend if we get our NVC File number it'll truly be a great start to the weekend!

[Henykat 16]

According to the NOA2 hard copy, it says to wait 6-8 weeks to receive the case number. This is by far longer than the 13 days I had to wait to get mine by calling them.

I wasn't really referring to the case number. I understand it is quicker to call than to wait for mail if they have already done the work. I'm really not convinced anybody works any faster if someone calls about work in progress though

[Heather&Matt 0]

It is our 1 yr anniversary weekend if we get our NVC File number it'll truly be a great start to the weekend!

Happy Anniversary! You got your case number

[Heather&Matt 0]

I wasn't really referring to the case number. I understand it is quicker to call than to wait for mail if they have already done the work. I'm really not convinced anybody works any faster if someone calls about work in progress though

I think the OP was specifically referring to the case number. I believe email is the best way to get info about your NVC process after the case number is received. From what I've read, people on VJ aren't really calling NVC to inquire about progress (at least for CR-1ers) of their cases as everything is mainly done online.

Edited October 7, 2010 by Heather&Matt

[zenaxe 22]

I am SO glad I listened to advice given on Visa Journey saying to call NVC often and not to listen to everything they tell you.

Our NOA2 was approved on 09/22. After several calls (it sure is nice to be able to talk to someone isn't it?!) we found out that NVC received it on the 28th but it wasn't in the system. We were told to call back in a week to give email addresses. I called yesterday and was told to call back at the end of October or beginning of Nov because "it usually takes us 6-8 weeks to get your case into the system". I expressed my confusion at how another operator had told us to call back in a week, and this lady said well you can TRY but I am telling you the usual timeframe.

I called today anyway, and sure enough we now have a case number! I am sure glad I did, since now they have our email addresses (the operator asked for them) and now they will email us the invoice etc rather than snail mail.

Celebrating the little steps! And sending hope and encouragement to all the others out there who are missing their spouses. IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE END!

~C

Congrats on your success thus far. Well to be sure, you have to stay on it with NVC. And will you consistently get inconsistent comments from operators. Remember that they are not employees of NVC but they are contracted services that typically are directed to follow scripts. I remember many times being told, wait a week, call back in a few weeks. I always phoned the next day. Worked out well overall but the point is to stay proactive. While there is only so much you can do and the process has to be followed, but you can be very proactive and follow up....sometimes it feels like it's in the abyss.

Good luck.

Edited October 7, 2010 by zenaxe