Missing document at NVC, how long until they finish processing at NVC??

[emma1990 1]

I need to share my visa journey from the beginning. My husband and I got married on September 14, 2012. We both were going to catch a plane from Buffalo to Texas after passing the US-Can border on September 22, 2013; not knowing that I had to apply for a visa and having to wait for so long to be with my husband. I was shocked to receive the news from the US border protection that we had to apply for I-130 visa or K-3. We thought that as Canadian citizen, I can go to US anytime, not knowing I can’t go with my newly married husband. Yes, we were dumb to not have thought of this before we even got married. But here we are; getting all the hurdles we possibly can while trying to get the visa.

Let me give you a sense of what my life is like here in Toronto. After the wedding, my husband got sick. He caught West Nile virus (through a mosquito bite)and nobody knew about it until it affected his heart. On our wedding night he was short of breath, he was lethargic, but I didn’t think it would be due to his weak heart, which was caused by a stupid virus. After he went back to Houston, he got a chest X-ray done and found out his heart was bigger than normal size. That’s when he was diagnosed with myocarditis (inflammation of heart d/t infection caused by West Nile), and cardiomyopathy. I was devastated! I felt like my life was over; he is on 5 heart medications now (sad L). Anyway, he is getting better now, but I feel horrible to not be able to be a part of his sickness when he got sick. I was just on Skype and prayed for him. That was all I could have done. Moving on to other stuff... Last year, because I was hoping to move to the US, I had my driver’s license get expired because I was going to move there anyway, so why bother doing another exam and going through a possibility of passing or failing. So now, I have no license. Now third situation is that I am a new graduate Registered Nurse. I finished my nursing school in 2012 and got a casual position at a place. However, I feel very depressed at times because I don’t get called to work very much and I don’t think I am gaining much experience working at the place I am working. I didn’t even look for jobs because usually most positions require you to sign an annual contract because new grads need training and they only provide that orientation training to those who will work for them for long (pretty much forever). Hence, I didn’t bother looking for jobs; was happy with what I had. I recently passed the American RN exam (NCLEX-RN), yay me, but I was not as happy as I should have been due to this immigration problem. I have been crying and not sleeping/resting as I should be due to all these issues and living away from my husband just breaks my heart. I don’t even feel married. My brother got married a couple months before me, and I see my brother and sister-in-law grow as a couple, but here I am stuck on skype with my husband. Sometimes I just feel like I am talking to some bot on skype. Every time my husband comes to see me (usually every 3 months) I feel like I am meeting a new person because we have been away from each other for so long. Gosh... I am crying right now as I write. So right now my life situation is the worst you can possibly imagine. I am a health professional and so I try coping with this stress through various strategies; but lately I really have been very depressed. I even considered seeking professional help. Anyway, sorry to write my life story, but I felt it’s important to mention this to everyone so you understand what’s going on. So from start until now, everything has gone wrong since the wedding. Bad things happened and unanticipated things happened. Maybe someone’s evil eye afflicted us (I don’t know, it’s possible). Now let’s see what hurdles I have encountered so far in my visa process...

First hurdle was that our case was sent to NRC instead of NVC and our case was gone missing for 2 months (please see timeline). This delayed the process significantly, which again contributed to a little bit of my depression. I was happy then I guess, but later on in the process we got this e-mail from NVC saying we had some missing documents. The checklist PDF stated:

NVC has reviewed the financial evidence submitted. However, additional information is

required to complete the financial evidence review. Please provide all requested documents and

refer to page two for mailing instructions.

General Instructions

[x] The checklist below indicates missing or incomplete documents.

Supporting Documents missing or incomplete

[x] A written statement/explanation as to why tax returns were not filed is required if you are/have been

unemployed, retired or dependent.

[x] The listed income tax documents/IRS statements for the years marked below are missing/incomplete (if you

have lost any of the requested tax information, contact your local IRS office to obtain a copy) (Only Federal

returns (not state or local) are acceptable unless the sponsor's income was earned in Puerto Rico.)

• Federal income tax returns, literal printouts from the IRS (RTFTP) or a Letter 1722 issued by IRS

are missing/incomplete for the year(s): [x] 2012 [ ] 2010 [ ] 2009 [ ] 2008.

However, on their website, they say “IF you filed US taxes, you MUST submit a copy of your most recent federal income tax return with all supporting schedules and/or W-2s, or an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript (even if you filed electronically). To request IRS-generated transcripts or copies of a tax return, visit the IRSwebsite.” Hence we only sent them the W-2. We even confirmed with the NVC operators if we only needed to send the W-2 and they said, “YES”. Then why in the world did we get this e-mail? My hubby called NVC and spoke to the supervisor and she agreed that the website is misleading and agreed to send our supporting documents of W-2 to the appropriate department. We received an e-mail from them that very night (July 11^th) saying:

Dear Sir/Madam:

The National Visa Center (NVC) received your correspondence.

We received electronic documentation for this case. Please allow up to 20 business days from the day the email was sent for the scanned attachments to be uploaded to the electronic case file and reviewed.

IMPORTANT:
Do not let more than one year pass without contacting the NVC concerning this visa petition. If a period of one year passes from the last date of contact (by telephone, mail, or e-mail) with the NVC, all submitted fees and documents expire. If this occurs, the fees must be paid again and documents must be resubmitted in order to continue the immigration process.

As this case is processing electronically, all forms and documents must be sent via email as scanned attachments to NVCElectronic@state.gov. Sending physical documents to the NVC will delay the processing of your case.

Case Number: M*********

Petitioner's Name: ****************
Principal Applicant's Name: *********************
Preference Category: CR1
Your Priority Date: 13Nov2012
Foreign State Chargeability: ************
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL
1155 RUE ST. ALEXANDRE
MONTRÉAL, QC H3B 3Z1
MONTREAL-IV-DV@STATE.GOV

Sincerely,

******
National Visa Center
Written Inquiry Unit
Serco Inc.
Support Contractor

After all this, I feel like our case is now stuck. Nobody seems to be reviewing it and everyday we call NVC and they say the same thing that they haven’t reviewed it yet. I am really losing hope. I am currently living in my brother’s house and my parents live with him also. I just feel so uncomfortable living with my brother and my parents because I should have been gone from this house long time ago. I feel like a burden on them. I sometimes wish I never got married; I would have been happier then. But then I think, this is only temporary wait; I will be out of this mess sooner than I think. Please help me understand what’s going on with my case. When will it be completed at NVC. Please someone, helppp!!

[Julie O 5]

Hi Emma,

I received a checklist from the NVC because they rejected the initial Canadian police certificate I mailed them. They received my second police certificate on June 24, 2013 and It took them 18 working days to review it. Hopefully they will review your document soon, but it may take another two weeks for them to have a look at it. I know how frustrating it is to call them and be told they haven't reviewed it yet.

I am also living apart from my husband while waiting for my green card so I understand your situation. I haven't seem my husband since February and probably won't see him until September. I'm originally from Canada but I am currently living in Australia. I have no family or close friends here so I've been very lonely since my husband left for California. It would be too expensive for him to visit me so I just have to wait for my visa before seeing him again. At least my case is now complete, I'm just waiting for my interview date.

Julie

[tool 3]

Hi Emma,

I received a checklist from the NVC because they rejected the initial Canadian police certificate I mailed them. They received my second police certificate on June 24, 2013 and It took them 18 working days to review it. Hopefully they will review your document soon, but it may take another two weeks for them to have a look at it. I know how frustrating it is to call them and be told they haven't reviewed it yet.

I am also living apart from my husband while waiting for my green card so I understand your situation. I haven't seem my husband since February and probably won't see him until September. I'm originally from Canada but I am currently living in Australia. I have no family or close friends here so I've been very lonely since my husband left for California. It would be too expensive for him to visit me so I just have to wait for my visa before seeing him again. At least my case is now complete, I'm just waiting for my interview date.

Julie

Hi Julie,

Can you please tell me why they rejected your initial Canadian police certificate? I ask because I will be submitting one as part of my K1 visa so want to make sure I submit the correct one. Thanks!

[Julie O 5]

Hi Julie,

Can you please tell me why they rejected your initial Canadian police certificate? I ask because I will be submitting one as part of my K1 visa so want to make sure I submit the correct one. Thanks!

Hi,

As I live overseas, they rejected the local police certificate I submitted, they wanted one with fingerprint check from the RCMP. If it wasn't for that, I probably would have received my green card in June. I am a bit mad at myself to be honest. I was going to apply for both a local and an RCMP police clearance but then thought the local one would probably be sufficient. Huge mistake!!!

If you need to apply for a Canadian police certificate from overseas, I highly recommend using L1 Identity Solutions, they are accredited by the RCMP. They can scan your fingerprints and submit them to the RCMP for only $50. It took about a week for me to get the certificate.

Julie

[tool 3]

Hi,

As I live overseas, they rejected the local police certificate I submitted, they wanted one with fingerprint check from the RCMP. If it wasn't for that, I probably would have received my green card in June. I am a bit mad at myself to be honest. I was going to apply for both a local and an RCMP police clearance but then thought the local one would probably be sufficient. Huge mistake!!!

If you need to apply for a Canadian police certificate from overseas, I highly recommend using L1 Identity Solutions, they are accredited by the RCMP. They can scan your fingerprints and submit them to the RCMP for only $50. It took about a week for me to get the certificate.

Julie

Ohhh I get it. I also live overseas but I got a Canadian police certificate before I left Canada in May. It's nice to know that we have the option of applying for a Canadian police certificate from overseas, I didn't know that was possible thanks for the info!

[emma1990 1]

Hi Emma,

I received a checklist from the NVC because they rejected the initial Canadian police certificate I mailed them. They received my second police certificate on June 24, 2013 and It took them 18 working days to review it. Hopefully they will review your document soon, but it may take another two weeks for them to have a look at it. I know how frustrating it is to call them and be told they haven't reviewed it yet.

I am also living apart from my husband while waiting for my green card so I understand your situation. I haven't seem my husband since February and probably won't see him until September. I'm originally from Canada but I am currently living in Australia. I have no family or close friends here so I've been very lonely since my husband left for California. It would be too expensive for him to visit me so I just have to wait for my visa before seeing him again. At least my case is now complete, I'm just waiting for my interview date.

Julie

Thanks Julie for your response. I was hoping it would be sometime this week. But at least now I know it will be a while so I can stop thinking about it too much. I woke up crying again this morning and I feel like I get so mad at my husband sometimes. But what is he do to... he is a very nice man. He just takes all my harsh words in and tries to calm me down. This is really affecting my mental health now. Anyway, thanks for sharing your side of the story as well. It's nice to know I am not the only one in the world, not that I wish this on either one or anyone in this world.

[A_Singh 21]

Who told that you have to get i130 approved and only then you can go to the US with your spouse. I am from Ontario and my wife is a US Citizen, I cross the border with her all the time and everytime we tell the officer, that my docs are in process.

Backgroung - I am an Indian citizen with Canadian PR. Wife is a US Citizen and a doctor.

most of the times when I cross I tell them, that I will come back to Canada as I already have a job in Canada and also the best thing is that Being a Doctor or a husband of a Doctor really helps.

my i130 was filed in Dec and sincce then I've made liek 10-12 trips to the US

[emma1990 1]

Who told that you have to get i130 approved and only then you can go to the US with your spouse. I am from Ontario and my wife is a US Citizen, I cross the border with her all the time and everytime we tell the officer, that my docs are in process.

Backgroung - I am an Indian citizen with Canadian PR. Wife is a US Citizen and a doctor.

most of the times when I cross I tell them, that I will come back to Canada as I already have a job in Canada and also the best thing is that Being a Doctor or a husband of a Doctor really helps.

my i130 was filed in Dec and sincce then I've made liek 10-12 trips to the US

Unfortunately, I was crossing the border with 'intent to move' and being a Canadian Citizen you cannot have that intent otherwise you would be booted and will not be allowed until I-130 is all done. It happened to me, sad . You only visited, which is different than "moving".

[A_Singh 21]

Ah ok.. Well there could have been an easier way around, go to Niagara ranibow bridge, ask your spouse to drive over and leave u behind, then you cross teh border on foot at tell them just visiting as you are a Canadian. Then re-unite at like a store once crossed, me and my wife did this once and met at Hard Rock Cafe across the border and then leave again.

However, I did that only once just to be sure that if i am visiting the US with my wife, the US doesn't assume that I won't come back. but then I realised, I'm only visiting and will wait for my Visa Journey to complete so cross together.

[flip314 0]

Ah ok.. Well there could have been an easier way around, go to Niagara ranibow bridge, ask your spouse to drive over and leave u behind, then you cross teh border on foot at tell them just visiting as you are a Canadian. Then re-unite at like a store once crossed, me and my wife did this once and met at Hard Rock Cafe across the border and then leave again.

However, I did that only once just to be sure that if i am visiting the US with my wife, the US doesn't assume that I won't come back. but then I realised, I'm only visiting and will wait for my Visa Journey to complete so cross together.

Nope, once you're flagged as an intending immigrant you're put into their system and will get caught EVERY time whether you're crossing together or not.

My wife and I screwed up in a similar way (she tried to travel with me while I was moving from Canada to the US), and the next time she tried to cross the border (by herself) she was denied again based on the previous denial. They were very clear that there's no way she's getting in without a visa.

[emma1990 1]

Nope, once you're flagged as an intending immigrant you're put into their system and will get caught EVERY time whether you're crossing together or not.

My wife and I screwed up in a similar way (she tried to travel with me while I was moving from Canada to the US), and the next time she tried to cross the border (by herself) she was denied again based on the previous denial. They were very clear that there's no way she's getting in without a visa.

Yea, and that's why I didn't attempt to do that again. Just being sent back was humiliating enough for me to not attempt it again without a proper visa. I don't know how ridiculous this is. Many people lie and go and get married there and apply for adjustment visa. People like us don't want to lie and tell the truth and we are the ones to get screwed :'(. Life is very unfair sadly

[A_Singh 21]

Nope, once you're flagged as an intending immigrant you're put into their system and will get caught EVERY time whether you're crossing together or not.

My wife and I screwed up in a similar way (she tried to travel with me while I was moving from Canada to the US), and the next time she tried to cross the border (by herself) she was denied again based on the previous denial. They were very clear that there's no way she's getting in without a visa.

No that is incorrect, Every time I cross the border, I'm asked who's moving, you to US or your wife to Canada, I said I am in the process of immigrating.

I answer that question and am let go. I crossed the border this weekend too.

Again mentioning if you have a job in Canada itself suffices for me.

and when you say without a Visa, I have a US Visitors B1/B2 visa, I use that to enter, I own a Non Canadian passport . may be thats why

[emma1990 1]

Just to update, my hubby called NVC today and found that the case is now complete. We will receive an interview letter soon. Hope that day comes soon!