NVC Filers - March 2012

[TangoBravo 7]

It's pretty saddening, especially when you know you're that close to going home and then there's something holding you back.

I'm having the same feeling right now, waiting for my packages to be reviewed. but I usually remind my self that I had to wait 6.5 months with my i130, so I get more upset and sad...LOL, just kidding, I really get happier to know this only matter of weeks, not months.

[foobaz123 39]

Operators know absolutely nothing about your case, they know less than you about the NVC process, AND they tend to have an attitude... the only thing you can ever ask these people while expecting an efficient answer is "what is my case status and what was the last update?".

When they talk business days - never listen. I remember an obnoxious one who was demonstrating to my husband, as we were calling over 30 days past NOA2 and still didn't have a case number, that they had only had the file in the building for 9 business days, and we should expect at least 15 more, and disturbing him was indecent. I'm happy my extremely calm and mellow husband was on the phone cause I would become less polite... Needless to say we got our case number a couple days later.

Yayyyyy!

The only way you could spend so much time at NVC stage is if you were retaining the AOS or IV package: in other words, it's the applicant who got slow, not NVC.

Maybe they didn't have the necessary civil documents (sometimes getting police certificates can take forever), maybe they wanted to wait for personal reasons. Maybe they didn't take the "shortcuts" and actually corresponded with NVC through snail mail. It was their responsibility, no doubt.

Truth. It doesn't help things any that as Darnel always says, NVC is still stuck in a "mail only" mind set with huge turn around times in mind. The idea that it would take 20+ days just to review a document that is only a couple of pages long, even factoring in their volume, is just silly. No one can convince me that they're spending more than 5 minutes or so on each one. Figuring an average of 7.5 minutes and around 480 working minutes in a day, each person would review around 64 each day. I would like to think that they have more than 20 people working there so that would make the minimum logical output at around 1280 per day. In 20 days they would review 25,600 documents. Given that it is more likely that, with experience factored in, they spend no more than an average of 2.5 minutes on each one (some far less, some a bit more) the per day number now jumps to 3,840 with the 20 day number at 76,800.

I'm sure the volume is pretty high, but the processing time per case cannot be that high once it enters the processing stream. It may take a bit of time to enter the stream, getting things scanned from USCIS and such, but once in it ought not be that different than a process I'm very familiar with. If it is... then the process time drops to about 45 seconds per page (and that would be long). At that rate they ought to be examining around 12,800 documents in the stream per day.

That's a lot of conjecture it is true, but 20 days?! No bloody way.

The attitude is annoying at times. I'll give them a bit of slack because they are taking calls from impatient and often confused people all day long. I'm sure by the end of the day it wears on you. Especially when most of the time they really have no answers and have to tell people that over and over again. Okay, I'm rambling now...

[foobaz123 39]

I'm having the same feeling right now, waiting for my packages to be reviewed. but I usually remind my self that I had to wait 6.5 months with my i130, so I get more upset and sad...LOL, just kidding, I really get happier to know this only matter of weeks, not months.

Same here. The waiting is still maddening, but if all goes very well the wife will finally be here in a bit more than 6 weeks. We've waited longer than that just for the next trip, so in the grand scheme of things it is no time at all. Sure do wish it was a more certain outcome though. It is actually that uncertainty of the outcome that makes the waiting so bad for me. If we were waiting for "a visa" it would be a lot easier than "an interview that may result in a visa, but may instead result in heartbreak and severe problems".

Edited March 8, 2012 by foobaz123

[VisaJourney2011 14]

Ok guys, NVC still hasn't received my case. So i've been doing lots and lots of reading here.

Can you guys verify my steps:

Steps:

1) Get NVC case # and Invoice Identification #., Give the operator Beneficiary's and petitioner's email address

2) Email DS-3032 from the Beneficiary's email acct to NVCInquiry@state.gov

3) AOS bill gets invoiced

4) Pay AOS bill via payment portal. Link: https://ceac.state.gov/CTRAC/Invoice/signon.aspx

5) DS-3032 accepted

6) Once AOS bill appears as Paid on payment portal - Mail the AOS package to NVC

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal

- Cover letter

- i-864 form completed, signed, and dated

- Tax transcript from: 2008, 2009, 2010, and copy of return from 2011 with 2011 W2

- Employment letter

- Pay stubs

7) IV bill gets invoiced

8) Pay IV bill via payment portal. Link: https://ceac.state.gov/CTRAC/Invoice/signon.aspx

9) Once IV bill appears as Paid on payment portal Mail the IV package to NVC

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal

- DS-230 form completed, signed & dated (just part 1), part 2 will be done at the interview

- 2x passport photos (write on the back beneficiary's full Name, DOB, and NVC case#)

- Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport

- Original or Certified Copy of beneficiary's birth certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY

- Original or Certified Copy of marriage certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY

- Original police certificate(s)

Few q's:

1) Whats the address to which we mail the AOS and IV package? I read through the instruction and couldn't locate it.

2) How many bar-coded sheets are there?

3) Is the bar-coded sheets that we mail with our AOS and IV packages, is that the one received from NVC with DS-3032?

4) Or that something you get with the AOS bill invoice and another one with IV bill invoice?

I read that we'll get email from NVC with bar-coded sheets with DS-3032 and to mail the bar-coded sheets with AOS and IV packages.

Thank you !

Edited March 8, 2012 by VisaJourney2011

[GoingCrazy2012 16]

Ok guys, NVC still hasn't received my case. So i've been doing lots and lots of reading here.

Can you guys verify my steps:

Steps:

1) Get NVC case # and Invoice Identification #., Give the operator Beneficiary's and petitioner's email address

2) Email DS-3032 from the Beneficiary's email acct to NVCInquiry@state.gov

3) AOS bill gets invoiced

4) Pay AOS bill via payment portal. Link: https://ceac.state.gov/CTRAC/Invoice/signon.aspx

5) DS-3032 accepted

6) Once AOS bill appears as Paid on payment portal - Mail the AOS package to NVC

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal

- Cover letter

- i-864 form completed, signed, and dated

- Tax transcript from: 2008, 2009, 2010, and copy of return from 2011 with 2011 W2

- Employment letter

- Pay stubs

7) IV bill gets invoiced

8) Pay IV bill via payment portal. Link: https://ceac.state.gov/CTRAC/Invoice/signon.aspx

9) Once IV bill appears as Paid on payment portal Mail the IV package to NVC

- Bar-coded cover sheet from payment portal

- DS-230 form completed, signed & dated (just part 1), part 2 will be done at the interview

- 2x passport photos (write on the back beneficiary's full Name, DOB, and NVC case#)

- Copy of bio-data page of beneficiary's unexpired passport

- Original or Certified Copy of beneficiary's birth certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY

- Original or Certified Copy of marriage certificate, PLUS A PHOTOCOPY

- Original police certificate(s)

Few q's:

1) Whats the address to which we mail the AOS and IV package? I read through the instruction and couldn't locate it.

When you print the bar-coded cover sheets they will show the mailing address on it.

2) How many bar-coded sheets are there?

Two. One for the AOS package and one for the IV Application Package

3) Is the bar-coded sheets that we mail with our AOS and IV packages, is that the one received from NVC with DS-3032?

No. They're the ones you print off the NVC payment portal once you make the payment. You will see a button an option to print them both right on the spot

4) Or that something you get with the AOS bill invoice and another one with IV bill invoice?

Soar of. Read my answer for number 3

I read that we'll get email from NVC with bar-coded sheets with DS-3032 and to mail the bar-coded sheets with AOS and IV packages.

Same answer as number 3

Thank you !

[Laure&Colin 558]

Laure ( woohoo I got it right this time) 20 days 'til D day, are you excited?

Me? No, very relaxed...

(I have to STOP eating to feel better cause if I keep putting on weight like that every day, I'll end up having to pay for a second seat in the plane for my POE...)

[Trav&Shell 83]

Hey! Silly but quick question - I tried to call last night from home to see if my case has been received yet, but the NVC system doesn't like my Blackberry when trying to enter my USCIS number. None of the numbers pick up correctly by their system. I'm so impatient I just hung up after 3 tries. Question is - is there a way to just speak to an operator?

[Laure&Colin 558]

Same here. The waiting is still maddening, but if all goes very well the wife will finally be here in a bit more than 6 weeks. We've waited longer than that just for the next trip, so in the grand scheme of things it is no time at all. Sure do wish it was a more certain outcome though. It is actually that uncertainty of the outcome that makes the waiting so bad for me. If we were waiting for "a visa" it would be a lot easier than "an interview that may result in a visa, but may instead result in heartbreak and severe problems".

Exactly. Well, I know you think that it's gonna be a lot easier for me, interviewing in Paris, but it doesn't stop me from thinking nothing is granted.

They could put me in AP because I lived 4 years in a Muslim country. They could find something wrong in the paperwork. We could mess up the interview. They could find I have TB at the medical (syphillis, no, I checked ). They could be unhappy about my husband's income stability, because he just started his job, and they could even reject the back-up co-sponsor we would then provide, because she's too old (sorry mother-in-law) and will be retired in a few years. Hell, the train company workers could go on strike and we could miss our interview ! (this one is probably the most likely to occur) Uncertainty is my enemy, it affects me really badly by making me feel unsafe.

[alizon 77]

Exactly. Well, I know you think that it's gonna be a lot easier for me, interviewing in Paris, but it doesn't stop me from thinking nothing is granted.

They could put me in AP because I lived 4 years in a Muslim country. They could find something wrong in the paperwork. We could mess up the interview. They could find I have TB at the medical (syphillis, no, I checked ). They could be unhappy about my husband's income stability, because he just started his job, and they could even reject the back-up co-sponsor we would then provide, because she's too old (sorry mother-in-law) and will be retired in a few years. Hell, the train company workers could go on strike and we could miss our interview ! (this one is probably the most likely to occur) Uncertainty is my enemy, it affects me really badly by making me feel unsafe.

omg agree 100%

And it's hard to just let the interview be the end of the uncertainty...I'm already thinking about whether we will remove conditions in two years and wait for citizenship or start the move to Canada.

[GoingCrazy2012 16]

AOS Status "PAID"! Yaaay! Moving along. Mailing my AOS package this afternoon via Fedex on my way home. God is Great!

[Amanda&Elvio 12]

Hey! Silly but quick question - I tried to call last night from home to see if my case has been received yet, but the NVC system doesn't like my Blackberry when trying to enter my USCIS number. None of the numbers pick up correctly by their system. I'm so impatient I just hung up after 3 tries. Question is - is there a way to just speak to an operator?

Press 1, then 5 to get to an operator. You should be doing this anyway because the AVR is usually a couple of days behind.

[foobaz123 39]

Exactly. Well, I know you think that it's gonna be a lot easier for me, interviewing in Paris, but it doesn't stop me from thinking nothing is granted.

They could put me in AP because I lived 4 years in a Muslim country. They could find something wrong in the paperwork. We could mess up the interview. They could find I have TB at the medical (syphillis, no, I checked ). They could be unhappy about my husband's income stability, because he just started his job, and they could even reject the back-up co-sponsor we would then provide, because she's too old (sorry mother-in-law) and will be retired in a few years. Hell, the train company workers could go on strike and we could miss our interview ! (this one is probably the most likely to occur) Uncertainty is my enemy, it affects me really badly by making me feel unsafe.

Agreed on all points. It ought to be nearly infinitely easier for you, and likely will be. However, that said nothing is assured until after the POE. After all, the terrible thing none of us want to think about is that even the Visa is NOT permission to enter the US. It is merely permission to come here and ask permission to enter. Even though refusal at POE is practically unheard of for a visa holder, it isn't impossible.

I know I won't totally relax until we're sitting in our house here in the States. At any point between then and now something could go wrong, even for those for which it ought to be and probably will be a cake walk.

omg agree 100%

And it's hard to just let the interview be the end of the uncertainty...I'm already thinking about whether we will remove conditions in two years and wait for citizenship or start the move to Canada.

Well that's easy. Remove conditions, wait for citizen ship (only another near after removal of conditions) and then move to Canada (unless Canada would be a real pain after that). This way moving either direction becomes infinitely easier, no?

[GoingCrazy2012 16]

Exactly. Well, I know you think that it's gonna be a lot easier for me, interviewing in Paris, but it doesn't stop me from thinking nothing is granted.

They could put me in AP because I lived 4 years in a Muslim country. They could find something wrong in the paperwork. We could mess up the interview. They could find I have TB at the medical (syphillis, no, I checked ). They could be unhappy about my husband's income stability, because he just started his job, and they could even reject the back-up co-sponsor we would then provide, because she's too old (sorry mother-in-law) and will be retired in a few years. Hell, the train company workers could go on strike and we could miss our interview ! (this one is probably the most likely to occur) Uncertainty is my enemy, it affects me really badly by making me feel unsafe.

Begin with shifting your train of thought to a more positive one and leaving negative ideas or "possibilities" out of your journey. It will definitely help you in the long run. Trust yourself and the fact that you have done an excellent job in educating yourself with the process through this wonderful forum. Always repeat mentally: Everything will be all right!

[foobaz123 39]

Side note, there are indications that NVC may be reviewing my corrected AOS form. I got another one of those Super Special Received Electronic Documentation emails. The last time that happened it directly indicated a review was in progress. This is based on being able to call in later that afternoon/the next morning and finding out about the checklist. I'll be calling a few hours to see if there is any indication of a result of the review, and ask about the DS-230 for which there is still no news yet.

[Laure&Colin 558]

omg agree 100%

And it's hard to just let the interview be the end of the uncertainty...I'm already thinking about whether we will remove conditions in two years and wait for citizenship or start the move to Canada.

I'm afraid the interview won't be a closure. I all goes well and they say we're approved, I'll be anxiously waiting for my package containing the passport with the visa, spending my days tracking it online. Then I'll be afraid something could go wrong at POE. Then I'm gonna be anxioulsy waiting for the green card. I might relax for a bit until ROC time comes.

After all, the terrible thing none of us want to think about is that even the Visa is NOT permission to enter the US. It is merely permission to come here and ask permission to enter. Even though refusal at POE is practically unheard of for a visa holder, it isn't impossible.

Why would you say that?? Are you trying to kill me??