NVC Filers - April 2011

[kimsue 3]

Thanks to all who responded. It's kind of disturbing, but it seems to me that NVC workers actually have very little familiarity with DOS regulations. They are very clear that it's 6 months for your current residence and country of nationality and 12 months for other countries.

To jennie ann- thanks so much for sharing your experience... I really hope it works out the same for me! I definitely hope this is not a UK-specific rule, but that would be really bizarre. The text in my RFE was actually copy/pasted from the Reciprocity By Country - United Kingdom DOS website. There is no citation to any actual authority, which makes me think the UK page is just seriously misleading. I would imagine that it's addressing British nationals and residents (people applying through the London embassy) when it says those who have resided there more than 6 months since the age of 16 need police certificates.

E-mail correspondence seems to be working surprisingly well for me, so I'm going to send an e-mail today and call in on Monday morning (thankfully- at least for my situation- Easter Monday is not a federal holiday in the US).

[JerryA 1]

NVC shouldn't be closed on Monday as apparently Easter isn't a federal holiday in the USA. http://www.opm.gov/operating_status_schedules/fedhol/2011.asp

Also, it appears that the IV bill has been invoiced for you. Are you able to click on 'pay'?

Clicking on Pay take you to Invoice page with no IV bill.

CaliforniaGuy - did you get the same?

Edited April 24, 2011 by RinTse

[Saylin 1,605]

Clicking on Pay take you to Invoice page with no IV bill.

CaliforniaGuy - did you get the same?

Ah, I see. My husband paid all the bills and I never gave him that part of the payment portal with the DS-261 and DS-260. I just gave him the link that is only for paying bills. It seems that NVC has gotten slower in the last 2 months with invoicing the bills. Our AOS bill was invoiced the next business day after having received our case number. And our IV bill was invoiced 2 business days after having submitted the DS-261.

[CaliforniaGuy 2]

Clicking on Pay take you to Invoice page with no IV bill.

CaliforniaGuy - did you get the same?

Yes the same thing had happened to me as well. Someone needs to fix their system. Just give it a day or two. I'm sure you will be able to pay on Monday or Tuesday.

[jennie ann 15]

Thanks to all who responded. It's kind of disturbing, but it seems to me that NVC workers actually have very little familiarity with DOS regulations. They are very clear that it's 6 months for your current residence and country of nationality and 12 months for other countries.

To jennie ann- thanks so much for sharing your experience... I really hope it works out the same for me! I definitely hope this is not a UK-specific rule, but that would be really bizarre. The text in my RFE was actually copy/pasted from the Reciprocity By Country - United Kingdom DOS website. There is no citation to any actual authority, which makes me think the UK page is just seriously misleading. I would imagine that it's addressing British nationals and residents (people applying through the London embassy) when it says those who have resided there more than 6 months since the age of 16 need police certificates.

E-mail correspondence seems to be working surprisingly well for me, so I'm going to send an e-mail today and call in on Monday morning (thankfully- at least for my situation- Easter Monday is not a federal holiday in the US).

No problem! That's interesting (about the reciprocity by country info) – I see now that it was the same on my RFE. So basically, they just copy that information to give you instructions on how to obtain police certificates from the relevant country, which makes me think you don't really have to worry about it if NVC doesn't actually require the police certificate (which they shouldn't in your husband's situation, according to their rules). In this case, I'm fairly confident that your situation is pretty much like mine and you can respond in the same way, but yeah, definitely call to make sure. Good luck!

[JerryA 1]

Will my spouse (beneficiary) be needing to show my bank balance & bank statements for the Interview at consulate? Should I be collecting any documents from my bank or is the tax docs, W2s & paystubs enough evidence?

[bigbigblake 2]

For me, the IV bill showed up like I could pay it for a couple days before I was able to actually click on it. It happened a few days after the AOS bill was paid.

It wasn't an issue as the whole time we were still waiting for the OPTIN authorization.

Ive gotten very good at waiting.

[Saylin 1,605]

Will my spouse (beneficiary) be needing to show my bank balance & bank statements for the Interview at consulate? Should I be collecting any documents from my bank or is the tax docs, W2s & paystubs enough evidence?

Nope, you don't need bank statements if you're not using assets or savings or anything. If you're just using your income, then all you need to send in is either tax transcripts OR 1040s and W2s. Pay stubs are optional, but are always good for proof of current income, as are employment letters.

[lbjr 0]

We decided to Opt into EP, I was very hesitant at first because of the response time it took for them to accept the optin e-mail. I sent the e-mail on Friday, and they replied this morning less than one business day too!

[giamimigio 21]

NVC taking their sweet time acknowledging the AOS bill. IV bill not generated yet.

come to think of it... when was the last time any of us were so anxious for a bill to come and pay it.

[KarenB 0]

NVC taking their sweet time acknowledging the AOS bill. IV bill not generated yet.

come to think of it... when was the last time any of us were so anxious for a bill to come and pay it.

[Saylin 1,605]

We decided to Opt into EP, I was very hesitant at first because of the response time it took for them to accept the optin e-mail. I sent the e-mail on Friday, and they replied this morning less than one business day too!

Wow, one business day?! Grats! Mine took 16 total days for my optin to be accepted It seems like they're getting faster to accept optin emails now.

[lbjr 0]

Wow, one business day?! Grats! Mine took 16 total days for my optin to be accepted It seems like they're getting faster to accept optin emails now.

Yep, I even sent the Opt in e-mail late in the afternoon too. Once I received my case number Friday morning, I sent the DS3032 by e-mail, they responded to that a few minutes ago, I was quite surprised.

However, the AOS has not been invoiced yet. I see that yours was invoiced two days after you received your case number...so I'm hoping that tomorrow it'll show up so we can pay it - never been so excited to pay an invoice

[Saylin 1,605]

Yep, I even sent the Opt in e-mail late in the afternoon too. Once I received my case number Friday morning, I sent the DS3032 by e-mail, they responded to that a few minutes ago, I was quite surprised.

However, the AOS has not been invoiced yet. I see that yours was invoiced two days after you received your case number...so I'm hoping that tomorrow it'll show up so we can pay it - never been so excited to pay an invoice

Your AOS should be invoiced soon. Just keep checking the payment portal site

Mine was technically the next business day as February 2 (the day between getting my case number and the AOS being invoiced) NVC was closed due to weather.

[Amy and Nick 37]

Just got a fake SIF on NVC portal.

It says maintenance from 3-3:30pm, but it may have something to do with that?!