Email or phone NVC?

[JamesandJamie 6]

I have seen various people saying that you can email NVC rather than call. Is this more efficient? If not, is calling NVC better than calling the DOS first? I've called the NVC, but if it's more efficient to email, I'd prefer that. Thanks for the help!

[ChicagoSarah 127]

Call them. I e-mailed NVC and never heard back. I called, and the person was very nice and I had my answer within about 10 minutes. Definitely worth calling! I called DOS this morning and got through easily and talked to a very nice woman. From my experience, calling is definitely going to be a more immediate response.

And it depends on what stage of the process you're in. NVC and DOS are at different stages of the process. Your visa goes through NVC after you receive NOA2. NVC then sends it to the Embassy (which is run by DOS).

[ChicagoSarah 127]

Just in case you (or someone else) needs them:

NVC - you can check your case with your USCIS Case number: (603) 334-0700

- ask for your LND case number if assigned

DOS - you need the case number that starts with LND (provided by the NVC): (202) 663-1225

- Press 1, then press 0 to get to a visa operator who can help you

[NikLR 13,227]

***moved to NVC forum from K1 process and procedures***

[rjgacek 6]

I emailed the NVC 1 1/2 weeks ago, got no response. So, I do believe the phone call is more faster. You might sit on hold for an hour, but, if patient and dont hang up they will get to you. But, your wasting your time with an email. Seems they do not bother to check or they just think emails are wasting their valuable time

[ChicagoSarah 127]

So much for the NVC preferred method of contact. Their website very adamantly states that e-mail is preferred....but they don't respond to it!

I've definitely read of people being on hold for a long time, but I got through within about 5 minutes no problem. Must have been lucky in the time of day I called!

[Bridget ~ Steven 3]

DoS says they look at NVC's database. I just got off the phone with DoS (2 minute wait) and he was very polite. The downside is they still have no sign of our file approved July 9th. I guess it's time to try to deal with USCIS.

[h_m 12]

The visa specialists at DOS can see what the NVC has, so I find that there is no point in calling the NVC. If you try calling the NVC during the day you'll likely get a busy tone, and if you get through you'll be on hold for 15 minutes or more (yes, even at 7:30 in the morning). DOS, on the other hand, has no wait time or a very short wait time depending on when you call. If the NVC has your case logged, DOS can tell you the case number.

Only benefit to calling the NVC is that they are open until midnight, so if you absolutely cannot call DOS during the day for even just 5 minutes then call the NVC later at night, perhaps around 9 or 10PM EST.

[ChicagoSarah 127]

Just as an update...

I finally DID get an e-mail response from the NVC! It was 8 days (6 business days) later. And was very vague. I had e-mailed asking if/when it had been sent from the NVC to the Embassy.

The e-mail response was generic and said that it had been sent to the embassy (no specific date provided) and that I would have to contact the Embassy/DOS since it was out of NVC.

DEFINITELY suggest calling. Our petition had been out of the NVC for 9 days before getting that response. When I called last week, I got through easily, got my embassy case number, and was able to take the next steps in the process.