Preparation for an Interview at US Embassy --Thailand

[psalyach 0]

Hello,

As a husband petitioner filing for CR-1 for my wife. I just received a letter from NVC yesterday (Oct 6, 2010) stating that.

"All documentation necessary to complete the National Visa Center's processing has been received. As soon as an interview date has been scheduled, the designated representative of this case (applicant, petitioner, or attorney) will be notified. The US Embassy or Consulate General may require additional documentation at the time of the interview."

What is the next step? Will the US Embassy mail a package letter to my wife in Thailand and she needs to get ready for her medical exam? When can she expect to be interviewed at the US embassy? What kind of questions the embassy staff will be asking her?

I am eager to have my wife and a US citizen daughter join me here by Thanksgiving. Is this reasonable expectation?

Thank you all for the info you may have and share.

Tom

[Darnell 8,479]

CR-1?

*** not a K-3 visa question, moving to IR-1/CR-1 forum ***

[Darnell 8,479]

It would be a good thing, if you knew (exactly)

if NVC sets the appointment

or

if the Embassy sets the appointment.

Suggest you call into NVC, get a Human, and inquire.

There's some other steps now, for the casefile, at NVC -

--final review

--scheduling (if NVC does this)

--appointment letter sent out via email (if NVC does this)

so, call in to NVC, get a Human, inquire about casefile status,

and ask

--when is final review going to start? or

--when will final review be finished ? and

--do YOU set the appointment or will the appointment be set by Thailand after the casefile arrives in Thailand?

I tried studying the VJ Embassy page for Thailand, over at http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Thailand&cty=Bangkok - but there's no direct info there about CR-1s coming from NVC, at all (if you feel inclined, it'd be great if you could add to that page, when you have time, when you learn stuff)

[Used to be broken 147]

It would be a good thing, if you knew (exactly)

if NVC sets the appointment

or

if the Embassy sets the appointment.

Suggest you call into NVC, get a Human, and inquire.

There's some other steps now, for the casefile, at NVC -

--final review

--scheduling (if NVC does this)

--appointment letter sent out via email (if NVC does this)

so, call in to NVC, get a Human, inquire about casefile status,

and ask

--when is final review going to start? or

--when will final review be finished ? and

--do YOU set the appointment or will the appointment be set by Thailand after the casefile arrives in Thailand?

I tried studying the VJ Embassy page for Thailand, over at http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Thailand&cty=Bangkok - but there's no direct info there about CR-1s coming from NVC, at all (if you feel inclined, it'd be great if you could add to that page, when you have time, when you learn stuff)

Not sure why you need to call NVC , they just gave you a case status update. The information you need is available on the Embassy Website. In this case it appears NVC schedules the interview.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/immigrant-visa-process.html

* I would make sure the NVC has your email address and look at the information on their website regarding interview preparation. (go to case status online and update there)

To answer your original question, No thanksgiving is too soon, on the website it says they will notify you 6-10 weeks in advance of appointment and even if they assigned appointment tommorow that would take you past Turkey day.

It does not appear you need to call NVC they are keeping you up-to-date and post the appointments on the website. Look for an email from the NVC assigning your appointment date in the next couple weeks.

Appointments list

Good Luck

Edited October 9, 2010 by brokenfamily

[Darnell 8,479]

Not sure why you need to call NVC , they just gave you a case status update.

NVC knows much for casefile status, why would one NOT call NVC for getting casefile status?

I'm terribly sorry, I find yer logic on 'not calling NVC' to be flawed.

[Used to be broken 147]

NVC knows much for casefile status, why would one NOT call NVC for getting casefile status?

I'm terribly sorry, I find yer logic on 'not calling NVC' to be flawed.

Well, I was just reading the post. He said he just got an "update" on his case status from NVC dated 3 days ago. They told him the next step is theywill schedule the interview and contact him with that information. You told him to call NVC to ask this who schedules the interview NVC or Consulate, he doesn't to call to get this info the website tells you NVC does.

You also told him to call NVC to get his case status, but he has a very current "case status from NVC only three days old. His case status is complete pending appointment scheduling.

So his next step is start reviewing the Embassy specific information for the interview ..also on the Embassy website so he can start gathering that information, and his spouse/fiance can go ahead and schedule the physical with the panel doctor listed on the website. The embassy website also publishes a list of appointments for this post so even if you missed the appointment date letter or email from NVC you will see your case number posted on the website when they update it at the end of the month.

They website also tells you 6-10 weeks advance notice of the appointment is the norm and the appointments they currently have scheduled and posted there go through the end of October, so its a reasonable assumption the next batch will be November appointments not October unless of course his case number is already there, which would be great and even less reason he has to call NVC! If you add the 6-10 weeks advance notice of appointment to the first of November it answers the question of "is it realistic" to expect my spouse to be home by Turkey day?'. That answer appears to be no.

So my "logic" then is why call the NVC and inquire when you have all the information in hand already? You are going to get the same answer you got three days ago. You get a busy signal, have to sit on hold and then get the same information that is easily available elsewhere. At the same time he is tying up the line for other folks who may have a problem which it appears he doesn't at this point. If he makes sure the NVC has his email address when they release the appointment date he will have the same information the person on customer service has.

So there you have my "logic"

Edited October 9, 2010 by brokenfamily

[Darnell 8,479]

I'd like to join up yer logic with casefile status -

marry it together -

There's

'avr / letter says case complete' which is really 'documents complete'

then there's 'final review'

then there's 'place in appointment queue'

then there's 'appointment scheduling' (if NVC does this for Thai Embassy or not)

then there's 'ship casefile to Embassy'

I'm sorry, just because NVC says 'we have all yer stuff' does not mean NVC processing is finished, at all.

The letter that he's received, has no mention of 'final review', and that is taking 3 weeks or more, currently. Scheduling or shipping (depending) won't occur until the final review is finished. 'casefile complete' is not 'final review', at all.

I'm sure we can agree on one or more things, yes?

Edited October 9, 2010 by Darnell

[Used to be broken 147]

I'd like to join up yer logic with casefile status -

marry it together -

There's

'avr / letter says case complete' which is really 'documents complete'

then there's 'final review'

then there's 'place in appointment queue'

then there's 'appointment scheduling' (if NVC does this for Thai Embassy or not)

then there's 'ship casefile to Embassy'

I'm sorry, just because NVC says 'we have all yer stuff' does not mean NVC processing is finished, at all.

The letter that he's received, has no mention of 'final review', and that is taking 3 weeks or more, currently. Scheduling or shipping (depending) won't occur until the final review is finished. 'casefile complete' is not 'final review', at all.

I'm sure we can agree on one or more things, yes?

NVC just told him recently they have everything they need from him to make a decision. They are going to wrap it up, set and appointment and ship his documents to the Embassy. It looks like the NVC does in fact schedule for this post as I have mentioned twice and provided links to the website and the current months appointments.

So the original question was, IS IT A REASONABLE EXPECTATION MY WIFE AND CHILD WILL BE HERE BY THANKSGIVING? Based on what you have just said, and what the Embassy website says... that answer is NO.

Why? because on Oct 6th they told him his case status, now like you said they will review it wrap it up, set appointment which the website says is 6-10 weeks in advance of appointment and according to your estimate it will be a couple more weeks to finish up and ship his documents to Embassy.

I advise a different method of getting information, that I think will benefit all VJ folks by not tying up the lines at NVC unless a case is out of normal processing times or there is some other obvious problem. I am so not in agreement with your advice to pick up the phone, abuse Tier 1 operators and demand case status from supervisors who are slammed with real problems, when clearly from the time line this case is proceeding smoothly, and most of the info the OP needs is on the Embassy website.

So between the casual observations and knowledge of VJ posters and the information on the website of the Embassy along with your projections I think we can answer the MAIN CONCERN the OP had which is ...the interview and VISA issuance in this case is not going to happen by Thanksgiving .. can we agree on that?

[Kang Lang 7]

Hello,

As a husband petitioner filing for CR-1 for my wife. I just received a letter from NVC yesterday (Oct 6, 2010) stating that.

"All documentation necessary to complete the National Visa Center's processing has been received. As soon as an interview date has been scheduled, the designated representative of this case (applicant, petitioner, or attorney) will be notified. The US Embassy or Consulate General may require additional documentation at the time of the interview."

What is the next step? Will the US Embassy mail a package letter to my wife in Thailand and she needs to get ready for her medical exam? When can she expect to be interviewed at the US embassy? What kind of questions the embassy staff will be asking her?

I am eager to have my wife and a US citizen daughter join me here by Thanksgiving. Is this reasonable expectation?

Thank you all for the info you may have and share.

Tom

tom,

please view the sawasdee 4 thread it is thailand specific with some of the members having very recently just gone through bkk. with that said i doubt very seriously your family will be here by thanksgiving but before christmas would seem more accurate. i was a k-1 filer for my husband so have little info on cr-1 but do come to the sawasdee thread for bkk more info.

good luck!

[road417king 7]

@BrokenFamily -

Can you please chill out? Darnell gave perfectly valid advice, that being to call NVC to find out the *VERY LATEST* status. Your beating a dead horse about whatever point you're trying to make does not disabuse the very good advice that Darnell gave on this question.

As for finding out if the case review has been completed, that can happen at any time. From reading your posts, you are presuming that a case review as approved is a foregone conclusion, it's not.

Just because NVC has indicated they have all the documents to MAKE A DETERMINATION does not mean the determination has been completed.

The only time that the OP will know that a determination has been made is when NVC tells them that they are simply waiting to schedule an appointment with the embassy.

So please, chill out and stop fighting with Darnell. The rest of us readers/members will appreciate it greatly.

Thanks!

Mike

[psalyach 0]

Thanks for all who replied. I never been able to call NVC directly (other than sending NVC Inquiry email). The phone line is ALWAYS busy. I contacted our local congressional office staff to help check the status, and she was kind enough to follow up on our behalf. Seems like they have the separate congressional phone line separate from the general publiclines.

I've come to accept that Thanksgiving will not be possible. I will know by the end of this week from the congressional office if there is an update. I've also checked the website that one of the responders mentioned about the interview schedule but the given link does not seem to work. Since my wife hasn't received any package letter from the US Embassy in Thailand yet, I doubt if I can even check her case status online (maybe I am wrong). Is there a website that you can check the case file starting with the case number BNK####### online?

Thanks again for all the info. I have learned so much from you guys.

Tom

[Used to be broken 147]

@BrokenFamily -

Can you please chill out? Darnell gave perfectly valid advice, that being to call NVC to find out the *VERY LATEST* status. Your beating a dead horse about whatever point you're trying to make does not disabuse the very good advice that Darnell gave on this question.

As for finding out if the case review has been completed, that can happen at any time. From reading your posts, you are presuming that a case review as approved is a foregone conclusion, it's not.

Just because NVC has indicated they have all the documents to MAKE A DETERMINATION does not mean the determination has been completed.

The only time that the OP will know that a determination has been made is when NVC tells them that they are simply waiting to schedule an appointment with the embassy.

So please, chill out and stop fighting with Darnell. The rest of us readers/members will appreciate it greatly.

Thanks!

Mike

I'm not arguing with anyone. I told the OP how I would do it, someone else did the same. Darnell made a comment comment challenging my "logic"..So who was arguing with who?

The OP was trying to get info on what the expectation of what will happen next and if his family will make it for turkey dinner I laid out how to figure this out not sitting on hold or getting a busy signal. Some people have jobs that don't let them make outbound calls during the time NVC is open Two paths to same conclusion, probably family reunion closer to Christmas than Thanksgiving. In any case I hope this family has a nice holiday whichever one comes first.

Edited October 11, 2010 by brokenfamily

[Used to be broken 147]

Thanks for all who replied. I never been able to call NVC directly (other than sending NVC Inquiry email). The phone line is ALWAYS busy.

Tom

Tom,

Sorry you are having so much trouble getting through to NVC. Here is the link again. If it doesn't work this time, go to US Embassy Thailand, click on Immigrant VISA processing, look to the left and see the appointments scheduled link. Click that and see the link for the PDF of the appointment schedule. Currently looks like they only have the October one published. Best of Luck

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/scheduled-appointments.html

[psalyach 0]

Tom,

Sorry you are having so much trouble getting through to NVC. Here is the link again. If it doesn't work this time, go to US Embassy Thailand, click on Immigrant VISA processing, look to the left and see the appointments scheduled link. Click that and see the link for the PDF of the appointment schedule. Currently looks like they only have the October one published. Best of Luck

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas/scheduled-appointments.html

@brokenfamily Thanks for the visa appointment calendar for BKK embassy.

I also received an email from NVC today. NVC has completed the processing of my wife casefile and it has forwarded the casefile to US Embassy in Bangkok. A visa interview has also been scheduled for her on Nov 19, 2010. So, it is looking good for her to join me by Thanksgiving. (Provided that the visa will be issued just a few days after the interview).

[Used to be broken 147]

@brokenfamily Thanks for the visa appointment calendar for BKK embassy.

I also received an email from NVC today. NVC has completed the processing of my wife casefile and it has forwarded the casefile to US Embassy in Bangkok. A visa interview has also been scheduled for her on Nov 19, 2010. So, it is looking good for her to join me by Thanksgiving. (Provided that the visa will be issued just a few days after the interview).

Well, that is great news!.. I thought that the last email you got meant that the interview date was the next email you would get in a couple of days, but didn't want to get your hopes up too much because other posters thought that it meant something else entirely.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday and can find some reasonable airfares. (hint flying on Thanksgiving day is usually a bargain and has lots of extra seats on the plane)

Have your spouse go ahead and get medical done as soon as possible so you don't have any hangups with a re-do on a TB test or annoying stuff like that, so you will have time to deal with it. The medical is good for a year I think.