NVC Filers - March 2012

[shaka 11]

<--- 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..

It will be just fine!Get everything in order and do some "training"!I am sure she`ll pass!

[lizka 3]

We're sending the DS-230 tomorrow morning, expedited from Madrid, with all your experiences, do you think an appointment for late June or early July is the latest possible? I'm just hoping that if they receive our package by this Friday from Spain and everything is in before April 1st, we could hope for a May interview!!!! Thoughts?

[sheeshkabelle 153]

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.

Ya, to many variables I don't have answers to and it's driving me crazy!!

Your spreadsheet is awesome, your wiki is awesome. Opening these threads every month and your tireless dedication is awesome!

You make difference in so many lives. Sometimes others forget, these are not words on a screen, it's thousands of people all over the world, who want the same thing; to be with their families and live the American Dream.

[sheeshkabelle 153]

<--- 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..

Hopefully, the NVC servers will soon recover from your packages

[Amanda&Elvio 12]

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....

I've tried to limit myself to only checking e-mail every half hour. It's not working...

Are there any non-EP cases that have gotten their interviews scheduled outside of the second week of the month? I'm starting to believe the operators too

[TangoBravo 7]

<--- 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..

Thought you already went, cuz it been a while I didn't see you in here.

[Saylin 1,605]

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)

If you can get Adobe Acrobat at work, then definitely get it. It's SOOO easy to merge PDFs that way. Only takes a few clicks and a few seconds.

And like another member said, keep the 2011 tax information together, so put the W2s and 1099 with the tax return. Don't confuse the poor reviewing officer.

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

Writing the case number is optional. The purpose of writing the case number is this: if a paper somehow dislodges from the case and falls to the floor, it will be 100% more easier to link it back up to the case if the case number is written on it somewhere (top right, preferably).

Now, if you do EP, it's not a HUGE deal, as it's electronic and they should just be able to re-download the package, if necessary. Despite this, I STILL wrote the case number on every single page except the bar-coded cover sheet and cover letter. If you use Adobe Acrobat, it's really simple to do. Just do it once, then copy and paste it on to the following pages. Took me less than 5 minutes to do and gave me the peace of mind knowing it was on there.

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...

[...]

Pizza Hut is waaaaaaay better than Sbarro, IMO

[...]

Oh, I agree, Pizza Hut is better than Sbarro's. But I only have Sbarro's when I'm at the Minneapolis airport, so I look forward to it each time!

And yes, the atmosphere in here is definitely awesome, so full of happiness (with a sprinkle of impatience). I've said this earlier, but when someone here progresses (sending in a package, paying a bill, getting a case number, getting a case complete, etc), EVERYONE is happy!

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!

Two things about your package:

-For the sponsor's tax return, are you including both their W2s (of each spouse)? If not, do that, so each of their incomes can be known, if necessary.

-I'm not sure if it's required, but I'd also include your joint sponsor's marriage certificate, to show they're married to their spouse. It might not be necessary, but if it's possible, I'd suggest including it. I've seen ridiculous checklists when it comes to joint sponsors and proving relationships and such.

And a question: are you related to the joint sponsors at all? Are you living with them (or vice versa)?

We're sending the DS-230 tomorrow morning, expedited from Madrid, with all your experiences, do you think an appointment for late June or early July is the latest possible? I'm just hoping that if they receive our package by this Friday from Spain and everything is in before April 1st, we could hope for a May interview!!!! Thoughts?

Unfortunately, I don't know time frames for Spain, so I can't give you a 100% solid answer, but in most places, it's roughly 2 months from CC to interview date, so you'll probably get a June interview.

Ya, to many variables I don't have answers to and it's driving me crazy!!

Your spreadsheet is awesome, your wiki is awesome. Opening these threads every month and your tireless dedication is awesome!

You make difference in so many lives. Sometimes others forget, these are not words on a screen, it's thousands of people all over the world, who want the same thing; to be with their families and live the American Dream.

Thank you for those kind words And that's the reason I stay: you're all real people behind your questions, trying to be with your loved ones as fast as possible. And if I can help with the knowledge I've gained here, then it'd be wrong of me to leave and let you guys figure it out for yourselves. So, I'll be staying on this website, continue creating the monthly threads, as long as I can!

*big group hug of all my immigration babies*

[Trav&Shell 83]

OOOOH! Just found a really cool tool that helped me with some blue spots on the application (as well as on my scanned passport pic). It's free, it's fast, and it WORKS - amazingly well!

http://www.pdfescape.com

for reference - here's a quick guide of how you can edit your PDF document, for free:

- make the choice to continue for free on the main page if you have to.

- select the option to upload a PDF, and pick your file from your computer.

- edit away! Whiteout feature cleans up smudges, etc. Text lets you fill whatever you want right in the document. I didn't play with any other ones though

Then, to download the edited version BACK to your computer, just select the green down arrow button on the left side of the page. Quick and painless! Two huge !!!!

***edit: I thought I should mention - used this to clean blue smudges that the scanner left on the scanned image of my passport pictures. They look IMMACULATE now. You really can edit whatever you want

Edited March 27, 2012 by Trav&Shell

[Trav&Shell 83]

*big group hug of all my immigration babies*

Hooray for group hugs!!!

[MCMLXXXII 29]

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...

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

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

Pizza Hut is waaaaaaay better than Sbarro, IMO

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

I am absolutely not mad at you. Just joking around. Hey those reassurances really did help a lot back when I was waiting. Frankly I don't have the heart to go back and tell those poor folks to be patient. But I won't be some of those others who gloat by creating new posts filles with YAY!s and smileys just looking for everyone to congratulate them. I hated those when I was waiting. Especially those which said NOA2 in only 2 Months! I wish there was an emoticon which would deliver a punch through the screen.

[Saylin 1,605]

OOOOH! Just found a really cool tool that helped me with some blue spots on the application (as well as on my scanned passport pic). It's free, it's fast, and it WORKS - amazingly well!

http://www.pdfescape.com

for reference - here's a quick guide of how you can edit your PDF document, for free:

- make the choice to continue for free on the main page if you have to.

- select the option to upload a PDF, and pick your file from your computer.

- edit away! Whiteout feature cleans up smudges, etc. Text lets you fill whatever you want right in the document. I didn't play with any other ones though

Then, to download the edited version BACK to your computer, just select the green down arrow button on the left side of the page. Quick and painless! Two huge !!!!

***edit: I thought I should mention - used this to clean blue smudges that the scanner left on the scanned image of my passport pictures. They look IMMACULATE now. You really can edit whatever you want

So wait, that program lets you edit SCANNED pdf files?

[Trav&Shell 83]

So wait, that program lets you edit SCANNED pdf files?

Oh yes. It TOTALLY does. It does a bang-up job too!

[alizon 77]

But I won't be some of those others who gloat by creating new posts filles with YAY!s and smileys just looking for everyone to congratulate them. I hated those when I was waiting.

Assuming you mean starting new threads to announce approvals rather than/in addition to just posting in a larger existing thread: I still hate them...

[MCMLXXXII 29]

Alright I am going to switch around the order of things and keep the 2011 W2 with the 2011 return. I will put in the case numbers on every page also, It seems like there will be a lot of waiting and it gives me something to do.

Thanks for everyone's help!

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Saylin:

Two things about your package:

-For the sponsor's tax return, are you including both their W2s (of each spouse)? If not, do that, so each of their incomes can be known, if necessary.

Yes, both W2s/1099misc and schedules for every one are in there. Spouse is self-employed, so no employment letter for him. They did not claim any assets, because they make a gazillion dollars over poverty level, so nothing to include in there

I'm a bum going to college full time. My income is from hubby in Canada, so it doesn't count. I did include 2011 transcript because I did work last year. We could have used assets, but it was rather a large pain to have the house appraised, get statements from the banks in Canada etc.

-I'm not sure if it's required, but I'd also include your joint sponsor's marriage certificate, to show they're married to their spouse. It might not be necessary, but if it's possible, I'd suggest including it. I've seen ridiculous checklists when it comes to joint sponsors and proving relationships and such.

At first I though "The taxes are a joint return, with their children listed as dependents.." Then I came to my senses and realized this is the US government we're dealing with. I've already asked for her to e-mail the marriage certificate to me. Way ahead of you on that one!

And a question: are you related to the joint sponsors at all? Are you living with them (or vice versa)?

Yes, we are related, no we do not even live remotely close to each other and haven't for 22 years. If so it would cause much grief and phone calls to our parents for bail money....

From what I understood I wouldn't need to prove how we are related unless we lived in the same household. My Birth Certificate should already be in the petition file, but again.. this is a bureaucracy.. I should include it.

Thank you for those kind words And that's the reason I stay: you're all real people behind your questions, trying to be with your loved ones as fast as possible. And if I can help with the knowledge I've gained here, then it'd be wrong of me to leave and let you guys figure it out for yourselves. So, I'll be staying on this website, continue creating the monthly threads, as long as I can!

*big group hug of all my immigration babies*