Called NVC about I-864

[andrea&roberto 1]

Ok, So today I called NVC to see if they received my AOS bill in the mail, and I don't remember what they said, but they did say that if or once they do, it takes like 4-6 weeks to process it!! What? how freaking long does it take for them to cash a postal money order and put it in the system!!!!???

And also, they said I HAD to wait for the I-864 packet they send me, becuase I told them I already had it ready to go....and they said I needed theirs to make sure I have the updated version, but I do, which i got from their website....so was the agent just following protocyol? Am i ok, to have already filled it out, and have it ready to go? Also, I qualify upbove the poverty limit, but I want to send in my mother's I864 Co-sponsor application, just in case....if i do qualify by myself, will they just dismiss her application, or will they use it anyway? Should I send only mine in first, and see if I qualify alone, and if not, then send hers in if they request it? Or will this slow things up, and I should just mail in both just to be safe?

AND once NVC forwards our case to the consulate in Rio de Janeiro, will the consulate send the packets and other info to me the US Cit. & Choice of Agent, or will they send it to my husband? Becuase mailing it to my husband would obviously be faster since he lives in brazil, versus having to internationally mail me packets and info....??

AND at this point in our process, if we have no hang ups, or RFE's, do you think our case will be done by December, including interview, that he'll make it home by Christmas, and if not, what about January, or do you think it will be longer?

[alix 20]

Hi Andrea,

I know exactly what you are going thru...I´ve been there! My case is already registered at the consulate in Rio, but the paperwork hasn´t arrived yet.

It doesn´t take that long for them to process your AOS bill. It´s usually about 3 weeks for them to see the payment and send you the package. They ask you to wait for their version of the I-864, but you can send the Dep. of State version. The thing is that sometimes they send different information on which documents you have to send (i.e. my husband only sent one tax return). And you need the barcode sheet that comes in their package. Unless you were able to print your own, you need to put that together with all the other documents you send. You also need to write the RDJ number on all your documents (right upper hand corner). You may get the Immigration Visa Fee around the same time. You have to send them the check.

As I can see they also sent you the DS-3032 (Choice of Agent and Address form), that Roberto has to fill out and sign and send back to the NVC. He will have to say whether he wants you to get his case mail or if he wants to receive it all in Brazil.

Once they get the Immigration Visa Fee and the DS-3032 they will mail the DS-230 to you (if you are chosen as Roberto´s agent) or to him. It also comes with a barcode sheet. He has to fill that out and sign and add a copy of his passport biographical page. I´d advise him have that ready to go. He can download the form from the Dep. of State website (the consulate one is outdated). If I were you I´d put you (Andrea) as the agent, and he´d send you the form and the passport copy asap. So when you get the DS-230 you can send it right away, even overnight. The package with the DS-230 also comes with the instructions to get the police certificates and the other documents you will need for the interview (I assume it´s old packet 3).

Once they get the DS-230 and I-864, they will do a check and then send the case to the consulate. It took about 3 weeks for them to do mine, and another week for them to send it to the consulate.

About packets 3 and 4, there have been changes as far as I know. Nowadays some CR1/IR1 only get the interview date and the medical info (known as packet 4). I am not a 100% sure though. I think all consulate mail will be sent directly to the beneficiary (Roberto). Even if you are his agent. Only US mail will be sent to you if you are his agent.

I wish I could tell you that your interview will be by Christmas, but I wouldn´t count on it. The consulate already has appointments booked till the end of November and your case is not even here yet. Probably it will be in January. But who knows!!! Maybe you will be lucky!

If I could give you a last advice, call the NVC every week and talk to someone. Automated systems are usually not updated right. This way you´ll be able to monitor everything better. They give you longer processing times, but it´s usually much quicker.

Good luck!

Alix

Edited October 2, 2006 by alix

[phong+mai 0]

If you qualify on your own, I would not include a co-sponsor. Doing so will probably slow down the process (more paperwork to process/verify).