NVC Filers - July 2012

[Saylin 1,605]

Hello guys,

I am very sorry for being absent for 2 days. My Birthday was yesterday and i got the best birthday present - my wife flew into town from Maryland. So I was at the airport to pick her on the 4th and we had loads of catching up to do.

while i was absent, i got an email from NVC, addressed to my lawyer, my wife and myself (email). In the letter was a requirement to pay the IV and AOS bills . 88 and 230dollars. I thought thAT one was meant to come after the other one?

I will like to ask the experienced VJ members if in a sitaution where we already have a lawyer, do we ask him to pay the bills on our behalf or we have to do it ourselves. We plan calling him today, but wanted to find out before calling him.

Second question is what forms are we required to fill out, since we will be using the services of a lawyer. I know that we dont need to send out the DS 3032

The process might get a bit slow here, since my wife is here on holiday with me. We will pay the relevant bills while she is here, but i guess the AOS package will be sent out when she gets back home. For my IV package, i am still expecting the police report from Nigeria. I hope it arrives soon, every other document, including my UK police report are ready.

Thanks everybody for your anticipated input.

Please keep in mind: when you have a lawyer, there is no need to send in the DS-3032 as your agent is automatically designated as an agent. Because the DS-3032 step is skipped, then the IV bill is invoiced at the same time as the AOS. This is the ONLY benefit of having a lawyer IMO.

And whether or not you pay or he does is up to the lawyer. All lawyers are different on how they want things handled.

Besides the DS-3032 step, everything else is the exact same with a lawyer. So follow the guides here on VJ. Refer to the first post in this thread.

I have a question guys. I had my interview on 2nd July on IR1 category and visa is approved. When I check my visa stamp in passport it says CR1 category. I'm confused now. Can somebody explain what are consequences of that.

Thanks

You should have been issued an IR-1 visa as you've been married over 2 years. Since your POE is coming up soon, you probably won't have enough time to get it fixed at the consulate/embassy. What I suggest doing: at your POE, point out to the officer that you've been married over 2 years and that you should have an IR-1 stamp in your passport, thus getting a 10 year green card. A lot of people have to do this because they get their visa before their two year anniversary, but wait to do POE after, so they can get the 10 year green card. Just point it out to the officer and everything should be fine.

They decide IR1 or CR1 based on the date when you filed your petition I-130 at USCIS.

No, no no. It doesn't matter when you filed the petition. It's at the interview when they take your passport is when they look at your marriage date and then give the appropriate visa. I'm guessing in bh112's case, the officer either didn't look at the marriage date or made a mistake. It happens.

Okay I got my case number on June 22nd. I stil am unable to pay my aos bill and send my info. I called yesterday and they said they were processing my electronic processing email. I asked why it was taking so long, since I know others get theirs within a day or two and she said "well I can ask my supervisor but it will take at least 15 days to get a reply". REALLY? I am so tired of the run a round. Every time I call I get zero help. Any suggestions?

Have you asked for a supervisor and explained your situation yet?

NVC case complete finally with DS 230 accepted!! Was told August interviews are going be scheduled all of next week including our counsulate, Mumbai in India. Hope to get a August interview for Mumbai.

Grats!

[sunshine_84 11]

No, no no. It doesn't matter when you filed the petition. It's at the interview when they take your passport is when they look at your marriage date and then give the appropriate visa. I'm guessing in bh112's case, the officer either didn't look at the marriage date or made a mistake. It happens.

I am kinda surprised that my friend's wife was told by immigration officer at POE on JFK airport (November, 2011) that he cannot override her CR1 status with IR1. She was married for 2 years and 1 month. Must be a lazy officer than.......

Edited July 6, 2012 by smart84

[kingilbert 2]

NVC case complete finally with DS 230 accepted!! Was told August interviews are going be scheduled all of next week including our counsulate, Mumbai in India. Hope to get a August interview for Mumbai.

great news . . .

[Saylin 1,605]

I am kinda surprised that my friend's wife was told by immigration officer at POE on JFK airport (November, 2011) that he cannot override her CR1 status with IR1. She was married for 2 years and 1 month. Must be a lazy officer than.......

He must have been lazy as POE officers have the ULTIMATE power over these things. I have seen many cases where people were either mistakenly given a CR-1 visa or were correctly given one, but at POE got it either fixed to an IR-1 or were married for more than years at that point and got it converted to an IR-1.

If for whatever reason, the POE officer doesn't change it to an IR-1, one can always fix the mistake with USCIS after getting the green card.

[bh112 0]

You should have been issued an IR-1 visa as you've been married over 2 years. Since your POE is coming up soon, you probably won't have enough time to get it fixed at the consulate/embassy. What I suggest doing: at your POE, point out to the officer that you've been married over 2 years and that you should have an IR-1 stamp in your passport, thus getting a 10 year green card. A lot of people have to do this because they get their visa before their two year anniversary, but wait to do POE after, so they can get the 10 year green card. Just point it out to the officer and everything should be fine.

Thanks Saylin. Your answer is very comforting. I'll definitely point out to officer regarding my category.

[Saylin 1,605]

Thanks Saylin. Your answer is very comforting. I'll definitely point out to officer regarding my category.

Make sure you have your marriage certificate on hand at POE to show that you have indeed been married for more than two years. I'd also print out from USCIS or NVC or somewhere official stating that if one has been married over two years, then an IR-1 is issued instead of a CR-1. I suggest this in case the officer is incompetent and doesn't know immigration

[bh112 0]

Make sure you have your marriage certificate on hand at POE to show that you have indeed been married for more than two years. I'd also print out from USCIS or NVC or somewhere official stating that if one has been married over two years, then an IR-1 is issued instead of a CR-1. I suggest this in case the officer is incompetent and doesn't know immigration

Thanks again Saylin. I'll have my marriage cert and print out from NVC to support IR-1 claim.

[Saylin 1,605]

Thanks again Saylin. I'll have my marriage cert and print out from NVC to support IR-1 claim.

[Amenspanglish 5]

NVC case complete finally with DS 230 accepted!! Was told August interviews are going be scheduled all of next week including our counsulate, Mumbai in India. Hope to get a August interview for Mumbai.

Congrats!

Since you have been married for over two years now, I would start the process to change it to the 10 year visa. I know that is a headache...and I don't know who you would ask about "Should it have been handled differently when it was actually issued or if they will do anything about it at this point." Keep us posted.

It was for another poster. Although I am curious too because I filed my petition before our 2 -year anniversary. Saylin seemed to clear that up though..phew because I really don't want to pay another $500 and go through another process all for no reason!

You should have been issued an IR-1 visa as you've been married over 2 years. Since your POE is coming up soon, you probably won't have enough time to get it fixed at the consulate/embassy. What I suggest doing: at your POE, point out to the officer that you've been married over 2 years and that you should have an IR-1 stamp in your passport, thus getting a 10 year green card. A lot of people have to do this because they get their visa before their two year anniversary, but wait to do POE after, so they can get the 10 year green card. Just point it out to the officer and everything should be fine.

No, no no. It doesn't matter when you filed the petition. It's at the interview when they take your passport is when they look at your marriage date and then give the appropriate visa. I'm guessing in bh112's case, the officer either didn't look at the marriage date or made a mistake. It happens.

Thanks Saylin!!

[Amenspanglish 5]

I have a question for those who already filled out their DS-260. Is it just like the DS-230? Just wondering if I should fill one out and keep it to have all the information handy. Or is there more to the DS-260?

[Saylin 1,605]

I have a question for those who already filled out their DS-260. Is it just like the DS-230? Just wondering if I should fill one out and keep it to have all the information handy. Or is there more to the DS-260?

The DS-260 is similar to the DS-230, so I definitely suggest you fill a DS-230 out for practice. I suggest you look at some DS-260 screenshots here: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/49845403/DS-260-screen-shots The form might be a little different now than those screenshots, but it'll give you a very good idea of what the form will look like

[Amenspanglish 5]

Oooh...I didn't know they had this! You rock! Thanks!

Aw man, no luck openning it.. I'll try on a different computer. In the meantime, I'll get a hold of a DS-230.

[Amenspanglish 5]

Okay I got it and that was sooooo helpful Saylin! Okay, it's not so bad. Oh, I have a question. When I fill it out should I do it as the beneficiary and then can I just save it so he can do the electronic signature part from his computer? Or should I log in as the petitioner? I'm just afraid there will be some questions missing if I log in as the petitioner and I don't want mu hubby to miss anything.

Anyway, thanks again! Can't wait to get my case number! I still don't have my tax transcripts though.

[Ryan H 3,812]

thank you very much! after I email the OPTIN how would I find my GZO#? I shall receive an email from NVC? thanks!

The NVC will email it to you.

[Saylin 1,605]

Okay I got it and that was sooooo helpful Saylin! Okay, it's not so bad. Oh, I have a question. When I fill it out should I do it as the beneficiary and then can I just save it so he can do the electronic signature part from his computer? Or should I log in as the petitioner? I'm just afraid there will be some questions missing if I log in as the petitioner and I don't want mu hubby to miss anything.

Anyway, thanks again! Can't wait to get my case number! I still don't have my tax transcripts though.

If you want, just sign in as the 'principal applicant' (aka beneficiary), and fill out the form and sign it for him. As it's electronic, you're not really "signing" it per se. You put your case number as the signature and the date.

Make sure you print out the review pages for your records! As well as the confirmation page at the end after it's submitted.