Waiting for an "appointment"

[drake 0]

Hi am from Morocco and 6years ago I went to the US as a Student. After 2 years in the States I got married to an American Citizen. As I was out of status, filing didn't help much and we had to go through an Immigration court. Our I-130 got approved but our lawyer said we don't have an extreme hardship case, therefore instead of risking being deported, we should take a Voluntary Departure. We all agreed for a VR and he said we can easily get adjusted through the consulate in Morocco and this process can get us back to the US in 6 months. Back in April 2006, our lawyer filed a form with the USCIS to transfer our approved petition to the NVC. We departed from the US in 6/6/06. Now (10/16/06) we're in Morocco and still haven't heard anything from the NVC or the USCIS.

Our lawyer proposed that we contact the consulate in Morocco and let them know we have the original of the approved I-130 and see if they can accept our Visa Application as we both reside in Morocco for the time being. After emailing the consulate, they asked us for the CSB case number and the beneficiary's name which is my name. Now the only number we have is the one in the approved petition and it's an A number. My question is what should we do at this point? keep waiting for the NVC? or can we go ahead and start an application directly to the consulate here with what we have?

Thanks for your time, any help would be appreciated.

[YuAndDan 153]

Email NVC at NVCINQUIRY@state.gov reference your USCIS case number in the email header, and names of petitioner, and beneficiary as well as DOB of beneficiary. They will reply with status and if sent to the embassy, and the new Case number for the consulate. You can also call NVC at 603 334-0700

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_1309.html

Then provide the NVC case number when you contact the consulate that is the CSB number they are asking for.

Good luck

[drake 0]

Email NVC at NVCINQUIRY@state.gov reference your USCIS case number in the email header, and names of petitioner, and beneficiary as well as DOB of beneficiary. They will reply with status and if sent to the embassy, and the new Case number for the consulate. You can also call NVC at 603 334-0700

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_1309.html

Then provide the NVC case number when you contact the consulate that is the CSB number they are asking for.

Good luck

Thanks for the reply, I already emailed the NVC 2 days ago, but in the header I gave them the A number I have on my approved I-130. Can they work with that number?

Thanks again.

[YuAndDan 153]

Thanks for the reply, I already emailed the NVC 2 days ago, but in the header I gave them the A number I have on my approved I-130. Can they work with that number?

Thanks again.

They should be able to work with that number, but if you don't hear from them or they come back asking for a case number use the Receipt Number on the I-797 form this is the form that you should have gotten the A# from.

[meauxna 15]

Hi am from Morocco and 6years ago I went to the US as a Student. After 2 years in the States I got married to an American Citizen. As I was out of status, filing didn't help much and we had to go through an Immigration court. Our I-130 got approved but our lawyer said we don't have an extreme hardship case, therefore instead of risking being deported, we should take a Voluntary Departure. We all agreed for a VR and he said we can easily get adjusted through the consulate in Morocco and this process can get us back to the US in 6 months. Back in April 2006, our lawyer filed a form with the USCIS to transfer our approved petition to the NVC. We departed from the US in 6/6/06. Now (10/16/06) we're in Morocco and still haven't heard anything from the NVC or the USCIS.

Our lawyer proposed that we contact the consulate in Morocco and let them know we have the original of the approved I-130 and see if they can accept our Visa Application as we both reside in Morocco for the time being. After emailing the consulate, they asked us for the CSB case number and the beneficiary's name which is my name. Now the only number we have is the one in the approved petition and it's an A number. My question is what should we do at this point? keep waiting for the NVC? or can we go ahead and start an application directly to the consulate here with what we have?

Thanks for your time, any help would be appreciated.

Have you thought about getting a second opinion anywhere? Right from the get-go, it is confusing that your AOS filing resulted in a voluntary departure.

And no one has heard anything from the NVC since April? That's not very proactive follow up.

It might be easier to lodge a new petition in Casa; I don't know what impact your previous departure will have.

[drake 0]

I looked at all the INS papers, unfortunately we can't find a receipt number. I also emailed my lawyer about it but he didn't check his email yet. I am still waiting for a reply from the NVC or the consulate.

Thank you for clarifying that the CSB case number is the receipt number.

[meauxna 15]

Thank you for clarifying that the CSB case number is the receipt number.

For nitpicky clarity, the CSB (Casablanca) number is your file number, not receipt. That number escorts you through NVC, and onto the Embassy. The IV staf and the NVC will identify you by that number.

[drake 0]

Thank you for clarifying that the CSB case number is the receipt number.

For nitpicky clarity, the CSB (Casablanca) number is your file number, not receipt. That number escorts you through NVC, and onto the Embassy. The IV staf and the NVC will identify you by that number.

I got a reply from the NVC and what they want is the CIS receipt number (which we don't have). The consulate reply stated CSB case number (which we don't have either). Our lawyer finally checked his email and he insisted about us somehow getting the consulate to accept an application with the original I-130 as we're both in Morocco. He said they can direct pull a number from the NVC or CIS to work our case.

Can we contact the INS and get the receipt number? Would it be through email or phone?

Do you think I can scan my I-130 and email it to the consulate?

Thanks for the help.

[meauxna 15]

Thank you for clarifying that the CSB case number is the receipt number.

For nitpicky clarity, the CSB (Casablanca) number is your file number, not receipt. That number escorts you through NVC, and onto the Embassy. The IV staf and the NVC will identify you by that number.

I got a reply from the NVC and what they want is the CIS receipt number (which we don't have). The consulate reply stated CSB case number (which we don't have either). Our lawyer finally checked his email and he insisted about us somehow getting the consulate to accept an application with the original I-130 as we're both in Morocco. He said they can direct pull a number from the NVC or CIS to work our case.

Can we contact the INS and get the receipt number? Would it be through email or phone?

Do you think I can scan my I-130 and email it to the consulate?

Thanks for the help.

The CIS receipt number can be found on your "NOA1", a letter 797C (?double check that letter #)--anyway, that is the notice of receipt that you get shortly after filing the I-130. Sometimes you can find this number on the back of your cashed payment.

The Consulate would want the CSB number; that is the case number given after the CIS approves and transfers the petition to the State Dept (NVC & Consulates). If it never got to NVC, there won't be a CSB number--it's sounding as if NVC holds the key to your success at this point. They should be able to look your case up by any number of identifiers, especially your A# (which you have).

It may be easier, ask your lawyer, for you to put a new I-130 in at Casa, which could be approved "immediately", followed up by the visa application. This is the "DCF" procedure. The risk you run, being Casa and all, is that they give you a hard time about the I-130. You are running that risk anyway, so it is worth looking into. Often, it's just plain easier to eat the filing fee instead of making them look for a case that you can't identify. Becasue of the other issues you face (the hearing, the VD etc), I dont' know what other, hidden implications there might be to re-filing. Not many folk here would.