NVC Filers - March 2012

[foobaz123 39]

<--- Just booked the wife's tickets to come to the States

I didn't want to wait and run the risk of the price skyrocketing or seats together being available.. Expensive bet though..

[Sugarz.K.R 9]

We have 2 copies my husband just had to submit his for business in Trinidad so I have my copy with I just sent off. If he gets his back before I get mine I will ask him to Fed ex it too me. But from what u guys are saying I think the department of state will get it back to me in time.

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Finally, I can see my hard work in a visual graph!

You have to keep something very important in mind: some people at NVC are slow. They either don't have all the packages ready and need the time to get documents, or they're purposefully going slow to get a certain interview date or something. Also, they might not have the money to pay the fees at that time. This is all VERY IMPORTANT. All those outliers you see on the graph are no fault of NVC's, it's the petitioner/beneficiary purposefully going slow!

Over the months, I've noticed the following patterns for time frames:

NOA2 to case number: 1 week to 4 weeks

Case number to AOS invoiced: 1 day to 1-2 weeks

DS-3032 acceptance: 1 day to 1-2 weeks

Bills to change to PAID after paying them: 1-3 days

IV invoiced after DS-3032 acceptance: 1 day to 1-2 weeks

Review of packages after received: few days to 3 weeks

Paying bills and sending out packages is what comprises the MAJOR part of the time in NVC. If you only send out a package a month after you're able to, well, that of course increases the time in NVC, no fault to NVC though.

.

I understand that. To compete a case is dependent on the person filing the paperwork, paying fees etc.

What I'm trying to figure out is from NOA2 to getting the ball rolling. Once a petition arrives at NVC from USCIS, there doesn't seem to be a set pattern as to when they put the case in the system, issue numbers and release the first invoice. After the number is issued, it is totally up to the petitioner and beneficiary of how fast their ride through NVC goes.

I understand there's those that don't call NVC for case numbers, and do not know when their case arrived or when they got their number issued.

I'm only comparing to people in this tread. It doesn't seem to matter over priority date (NOA1).

NOA2 dates,cases being received and numbers being assigned dates are very close together, but you have those hand full of people that get their numbers pretty quick.

The people in EP, in theory, should be able to submit the DS-261 as soon as they have a number. Some were able to log on to the document page, some had to wait on their Opt-in acceptance first. Those with out EP, again in theory, can send in the DS-3032 by email right away. Some EP opt-ins are quick, others take days.

Then those that get the invoices after the DS-261 or the DS-3032 are accepted, and some get them before hand. Some can log on the payment portal, and others get a SIF from day one. Some even get invoices with out a SIF at all. Some, like me, get a SIF for a day only to find no invoice.

I know there's thousands of people out there that are not in this thread or not even on VJ. That's why I'm trying to narrow it down to dates only in the March 2012 NVCers that try to keep their timelines in their signatures up to date.

[shaka 11]

Is it me or there have been barely any interview dates given lately... I am starting to believe a tad bit their 2nd week of April script...

You are not alone(not sure if it` s gonna cheer you up in this case!)...still waiting for the date...tired of listening about this April thing...And actally I stopped calling last week,but checking the e-mail every 2 secs like craaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy....grrrrrr....

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Quick question, what did you guys use to create the PDFs? If using Adobe Acrobat, is there a free version out there? Is there some alternate software?

I scanned everything into my computer into .pdf files. I then did the right click compress to make them smaller.

Hubby's passport photos, passport bio page and birth certificate were emailed to me, and I imported them to open office, and then turned them in to a .pdf reducing the file size.

To put the numbers on the top corner of my .pdf files I used the 30 day free trial of Adobe Acrobat

Finally to merge the files into one file, I used Foxyutilities http://foxyutils.com/mergepdf/

[Sugarz.K.R 9]

U guys are do lucky I can do EP.

So*

[Saylin 1,605]

Oh trust me, Saylin's guidelines really helped us sail thru' NVC!

Quick question, what did you guys use to create the PDFs? If using Adobe Acrobat, is there a free version out there? Is there some alternate software?

I used Adobe Acrobat. You can get the free 30-day trial off their website. Or, ahem, if you know what you're doing, you can get it for completely free, no trial period *cough*

<--- Just booked the wife's tickets to come to the States

I didn't want to wait and run the risk of the price skyrocketing or seats together being available.. Expensive bet though..

Good luck. I'm sure it will all work out!

I understand that. To compete a case is dependent on the person filing the paperwork, paying fees etc.

What I'm trying to figure out is from NOA2 to getting the ball rolling. Once a petition arrives at NVC from USCIS, there doesn't seem to be a set pattern as to when they put the case in the system, issue numbers and release the first invoice. After the number is issued, it is totally up to the petitioner and beneficiary of how fast their ride through NVC goes.

I understand there's those that don't call NVC for case numbers, and do not know when their case arrived or when they got their number issued.

I'm only comparing to people in this tread. It doesn't seem to matter over priority date (NOA1).

NOA2 dates,cases being received and numbers being assigned dates are very close together, but you have those hand full of people that get their numbers pretty quick.

The people in EP, in theory, should be able to submit the DS-261 as soon as they have a number. Some were able to log on to the document page, some had to wait on their Opt-in acceptance first. Those with out EP, again in theory, can send in the DS-3032 by email right away. Some EP opt-ins are quick, others take days.

Then those that get the invoices after the DS-261 or the DS-3032 are accepted, and some get them before hand. Some can log on the payment portal, and others get a SIF from day one. Some even get invoices with out a SIF at all. Some, like me, get a SIF for a day only to find no invoice.

I know there's thousands of people out there that are not in this thread or not even on VJ. That's why I'm trying to narrow it down to dates only in the March 2012 NVCers that try to keep their timelines in their signatures up to date.

Yeah, there definitely isn't a strict time frame or order in which case numbers are assigned. There's a general order, yes, but I've inputted case number dates on my spreadsheet out of order many a time. Unfortunately, I don't know how that process exactly works. Are cases shipped out immediately upon I-130 approval? Or are they stuck with other cases with close approval dates and then shipped out to NVC in a big bunch? Does NVC input the cases in order or is it more like USCIS where each person gets a few cases to input, and it depends on whose desk you land on. These are questions that most likely we'll never know unless someone starts work at USCIS/NVC and tells us.

Also, about the EP part you wrote. Again, keep in mind, EP and online forms are different. Optin acceptance and being able to fill out the DS-261 have NO correlation; they're two completely different processes, just like the AOS and IV are two completely different tracks.

But I understand about different people getting AOS invoices first whereas others are still waiting. I would have to study people's timeline VERY closely to see what the correlation is, IF ANY. Again, it could just be NVC and the system they have that doesn't go in order.

[lizka 3]

It seems perfect to me, wait for the Senior's opinions. By the way, was your AOS accepted?

it was delivered yesterday, fingers crossed. i called and the rudest man alive answered the phone, like MA"AM SLOW DOWN, repeat, repeat, i'm like, i call every day and you people are super fast, and this dude was as slow as molasses and RUDE. I mean, usually i'm really nice even to the mean ones, but today, i snapped back at him, he got nicer :-) (sorry for the rant, nothing to do with the post :-)

[MCMLXXXII 29]

I used Adobe Acrobat. You can get the free 30-day trial off their website. Or, ahem, if you know what you're doing, you can get it for completely free, no trial period *cough*

I can get a legal copy from work on my work computer so I was going to do that but I was wondering if there was a better way to merge the documents. Thank God for the document center at work which was able to scan and email me the PDFs of all my tax return and tax transcripts with so much ease. The tax transcripts are double sided and if I had to scan them at home a page at a time it wouldhave taken forever.

So what I am left with for my AOS package is just receiving the case number which I can then add to my cover letter. And Of course the bar code. I am thinking that perhaps I should attach my next pay stub also which will be at the end of this month.

What I am including in my package:

● I-864 Coversheet (with barcode)

● Form I-864 (signed and dated)

● 2011 Tax Return Copy

● 2010 Tax Transcript

● 2009 Tax Transcript

● 2011 W2

● 2011 1099-MISC

● Letter of Employment

● Pay stubs from the most recent three months (January 2012 – March 2012)

[Rujby 23]

it was delivered yesterday, fingers crossed. i called and the rudest man alive answered the phone, like MA"AM SLOW DOWN, repeat, repeat, i'm like, i call every day and you people are super fast, and this dude was as slow as molasses and RUDE. I mean, usually i'm really nice even to the mean ones, but today, i snapped back at him, he got nicer :-) (sorry for the rant, nothing to do with the post :-)

I am sorry to hear that, call tomorrow

[MCMLXXXII 29]

I scanned everything into my computer into .pdf files. I then did the right click compress to make them smaller.

Hubby's passport photos, passport bio page and birth certificate were emailed to me, and I imported them to open office, and then turned them in to a .pdf reducing the file size.

To put the numbers on the top corner of my .pdf files I used the 30 day free trial of Adobe Acrobat

Finally to merge the files into one file, I used Foxyutilities http://foxyutils.com/mergepdf/

Is it really important to put the Case Number on every page? If I don't, will it make a difference?

[meno-is-mine 37]

This thread is so much fun! But you guys do post a lot, it took me half an hour to get through all the posts I missed since last night.

Sbarro Pizza? Seriously? I never really understood Canadians. What surprised me more was not that Sbarro is considered a desriable and worth drooling food but that you can't find any near you in South Dakota! I thought Sbarro was the staple of every mall in the US. I believe there is one at the Mall of America too in DC right next to the Lincoln Memorial

Meno-is-mine, thanks for your comments and yes, you were one of those offenders who would come back to the September threads and look down on us who were still waiting and tell us, "It should be any day now ..." all the while coming to this thread here and discussing Poutine and other delicacies and laughing around with others using insane bus driver emoticons etc. and watching Canadian Wives at primetime

So on a serious note, I updated my AOS package and am scanning my 2011 tax return. Fortunately my office copier has a documentfeeder and scans all the documents so it will not be that much of an effort. I think I am not going to wait for the transcript after all as I have no idea when they will have it available for me to order.

Oh man, I totally wasn't "looking down" on anyone... i felt we went through the waiting period together (mostly anyway) and I meant to encourage... my apologies though if my concern didn't come across as sincere (F)This thread does have a much friendlier feel to it though, it exudes happiness... i guess after the NOA2, i couldn't help feeling happy... this thread affects my good mood about this whole process now...

After reading these two pieces, I have to know - did you actually read the WHOLE thread? You deserve a medal!

I read everything... but i dont want a medal... LOL

What else am I supposed to do while waiting for the case number? Back at the USCIS stage, my time was spent making charts and graphs, I have like 4 spreadsheets where I had my own predictions and such but now that I have my NOA2, I just don't feel like doing that anymore. I would much rather talk about food here!

Feels good to not fret as much, i make a call once a day (more like once every night)...

Hey now, don't insult my food choices I really do like Sbarro. But South Dakota is a barren wasteland, I'm lucky I have Pizza Hut here And I just checked Sbarro's site, they don't even have a location in Sioux Falls, one of the biggest cities in SD. So I'm out of luck until I fly through Minneapolis again

We're getting closer! Less than 70 pages to go and we still have 4 days

Pizza Hut is waaaaaaay better than Sbarro, IMO

Quick question, what did you guys use to create the PDFs? If using Adobe Acrobat, is there a free version out there? Is there some alternate software?

I used Foxit Reader. Free online and easy to use... hope ur not mad at me

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Is it really important to put the Case Number on every page? If I don't, will it make a difference?

For people doing EP, not really, it's not like a page is going to get misplaced out of your folder. But I did it anyway, it wasn't a big deal. Once I got what I wanted on my cover page it was just copy and paste for the next 56 pages lol.

[sheeshkabelle 153]

I can get a legal copy from work on my work computer so I was going to do that but I was wondering if there was a better way to merge the documents. Thank God for the document center at work which was able to scan and email me the PDFs of all my tax return and tax transcripts with so much ease. The tax transcripts are double sided and if I had to scan them at home a page at a time it wouldhave taken forever.

So what I am left with for my AOS package is just receiving the case number which I can then add to my cover letter. And Of course the bar code. I am thinking that perhaps I should attach my next pay stub also which will be at the end of this month.

What I am including in my package:

● I-864 Coversheet (with barcode)

● Form I-864 (signed and dated)

● 2011 Tax Return Copy

● 2010 Tax Transcript

● 2009 Tax Transcript

● 2011 W2

● 2011 1099-MISC

● Letter of Employment

● Pay stubs from the most recent three months (January 2012 – March 2012)

Looks good! I'd put the 2011 tax info with the 2011 return copy though , but that's just my OCD.

Because my AOS file was so large, I put only my 2011 transcript, and my joint-sponsor's 2011 return. I filled out the three year blanks on the I-864 and I have tax documentation for the past three years for both of us, if they ask for it at Montreal I'll have it.

My package:

Petitioner

- I-864 signed and dated

- 2011 Tax Transcripts

- Letter of Enrollment for Walters State Community College

Joint Sponsor

– I-864 signed and dated

– Letter of Employment

– I-864a for Spouse

– 2011 Compelete Joint Tax Return

– Birth Certificates for both as proof of U.S. Citizenship

And I did have to sit there and scan every page of the transcripts, tax returns, everything with a flat bed scanner... it did take forever!

Edited March 27, 2012 by sheeshkabelle

[lizka 3]

Is it really important to put the Case Number on every page? If I don't, will it make a difference?

i did on my checklist as it actually says to do so on the letter that comes with it, i didn't do this on my AOS and it was accepted aside from the missing document i had. my husband put the case number on everything for DS-230, just makes it easier if anything is misplaced. kind of a not-required, but beneficial deal.