Confused about the DS-230

[Pam&Mbaye 0]

I've confused myself further. After reading Aussie Wench's shortcuts, she mentioned having the beneficiary fill out the DS-230 while you are waiting for the forms to be generated and once I receive the DS-230 from the NVC then submit the form that has already been filled out by the beneficiary along with the cover letter with the barcode back to the NVC. Am I correct in that my husband should gather all of his documentation i.e. birth certificate, police certificates, marriage certificate etc. and send them to me now, and that all of this information should be sent in with Part I of the DS-230? If so, then I suppose that my husband will need to fly back to his home country to pick up his police certificate so that I can send it in with part I?

I hope my question is clear because at this point I am not quite sure on this portion of the process.

Thanks!

[riblet 0]

The answer to this as far as I can tell is that it depends on what country the beneficiary is from. Some countries (such as Canada) you do have to submit them all... whereas with other countries you submit them at the consulate. Try checking in the regional forums

I've confused myself further. After reading Aussie Wench's shortcuts, she mentioned having the beneficiary fill out the DS-230 while you are waiting for the forms to be generated and once I receive the DS-230 from the NVC then submit the form that has already been filled out by the beneficiary along with the cover letter with the barcode back to the NVC. Am I correct in that my husband should gather all of his documentation i.e. birth certificate, police certificates, marriage certificate etc. and send them to me now, and that all of this information should be sent in with Part I of the DS-230? If so, then I suppose that my husband will need to fly back to his home country to pick up his police certificate so that I can send it in with part I?

I hope my question is clear because at this point I am not quite sure on this portion of the process.

Thanks!

[user786 0]

Unfortunately YES. He will have to fly all the way back to get a police certificate.

We already had a police certificate but it was over one year old and we had to fly back to Canada from Florida just so we could get a new police certificate and mail it in with the DS-230. What a pain in the ####### and what a waste of money. We could have taken it direcxtly to the consulate with us as we have to do that with the medical anyway...But they INSISTED that they MUST get the poilce certificate at the NVC or they will NOT forward the case for interview to Montreal Consulate.

I would not waste time if I were you! I would hurry up in sending him to get his police certificate NOW. You never know what delays there might be inthem issuing it.

The answer to this as far as I can tell is that it depends on what country the beneficiary is from. Some countries (such as Canada) you do have to submit them all... whereas with other countries you submit them at the consulate. Try checking in the regional forums

I've confused myself further. After reading Aussie Wench's shortcuts, she mentioned having the beneficiary fill out the DS-230 while you are waiting for the forms to be generated and once I receive the DS-230 from the NVC then submit the form that has already been filled out by the beneficiary along with the cover letter with the barcode back to the NVC. Am I correct in that my husband should gather all of his documentation i.e. birth certificate, police certificates, marriage certificate etc. and send them to me now, and that all of this information should be sent in with Part I of the DS-230? If so, then I suppose that my husband will need to fly back to his home country to pick up his police certificate so that I can send it in with part I?

I hope my question is clear because at this point I am not quite sure on this portion of the process.

Thanks!

[cokebbeh 0]

Unfortunately YES. He will have to fly all the way back to get a police certificate.

We already had a police certificate but it was over one year old and we had to fly back to Canada from Florida just so we could get a new police certificate and mail it in with the DS-230. What a pain in the ####### and what a waste of money. We could have taken it direcxtly to the consulate with us as we have to do that with the medical anyway...But they INSISTED that they MUST get the poilce certificate at the NVC or they will NOT forward the case for interview to Montreal Consulate.

I would not waste time if I were you! I would hurry up in sending him to get his police certificate NOW. You never know what delays there might be inthem issuing it.

The answer to this as far as I can tell is that it depends on what country the beneficiary is from. Some countries (such as Canada) you do have to submit them all... whereas with other countries you submit them at the consulate. Try checking in the regional forums

I've confused myself further. After reading Aussie Wench's shortcuts, she mentioned having the beneficiary fill out the DS-230 while you are waiting for the forms to be generated and once I receive the DS-230 from the NVC then submit the form that has already been filled out by the beneficiary along with the cover letter with the barcode back to the NVC. Am I correct in that my husband should gather all of his documentation i.e. birth certificate, police certificates, marriage certificate etc. and send them to me now, and that all of this information should be sent in with Part I of the DS-230? If so, then I suppose that my husband will need to fly back to his home country to pick up his police certificate so that I can send it in with part I?

I hope my question is clear because at this point I am not quite sure on this portion of the process.

Thanks!

yes, since your consulate is part of the alpha group, you have to submit the police report, birth certificate, marriage certificate, ds 230 part 1, to the NVC. If you have not received them, you should start working on those now..

[Pam&Mbaye 0]

Unfortunately YES. He will have to fly all the way back to get a police certificate.

We already had a police certificate but it was over one year old and we had to fly back to Canada from Florida just so we could get a new police certificate and mail it in with the DS-230. What a pain in the ####### and what a waste of money. We could have taken it direcxtly to the consulate with us as we have to do that with the medical anyway...But they INSISTED that they MUST get the poilce certificate at the NVC or they will NOT forward the case for interview to Montreal Consulate.

I would not waste time if I were you! I would hurry up in sending him to get his police certificate NOW. You never know what delays there might be inthem issuing it.

The answer to this as far as I can tell is that it depends on what country the beneficiary is from. Some countries (such as Canada) you do have to submit them all... whereas with other countries you submit them at the consulate. Try checking in the regional forums

I've confused myself further. After reading Aussie Wench's shortcuts, she mentioned having the beneficiary fill out the DS-230 while you are waiting for the forms to be generated and once I receive the DS-230 from the NVC then submit the form that has already been filled out by the beneficiary along with the cover letter with the barcode back to the NVC. Am I correct in that my husband should gather all of his documentation i.e. birth certificate, police certificates, marriage certificate etc. and send them to me now, and that all of this information should be sent in with Part I of the DS-230? If so, then I suppose that my husband will need to fly back to his home country to pick up his police certificate so that I can send it in with part I?

I hope my question is clear because at this point I am not quite sure on this portion of the process.

Thanks!

yes, since your consulate is part of the alpha group, you have to submit the police report, birth certificate, marriage certificate, ds 230 part 1, to the NVC. If you have not received them, you should start working on those now..

What do you mean since I am part of the alpha group?

[riblet 0]

The instructions from the NVC depend on which country you are from - there are two different groups:

English Language Instruction Packet:

Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants (applying in Albania, Canada, Lebanon, Philippines, Turkey, United Arab Emirates or on the continent of Africa)

Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants (NOT applying in Albania, Canada, Lebanon, Philippines, Turkey, United Arab Emirates or on the continent of Africa)

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

Unfortunately YES. He will have to fly all the way back to get a police certificate.

We already had a police certificate but it was over one year old and we had to fly back to Canada from Florida just so we could get a new police certificate and mail it in with the DS-230. What a pain in the ####### and what a waste of money. We could have taken it direcxtly to the consulate with us as we have to do that with the medical anyway...But they INSISTED that they MUST get the poilce certificate at the NVC or they will NOT forward the case for interview to Montreal Consulate.

I would not waste time if I were you! I would hurry up in sending him to get his police certificate NOW. You never know what delays there might be inthem issuing it.

The answer to this as far as I can tell is that it depends on what country the beneficiary is from. Some countries (such as Canada) you do have to submit them all... whereas with other countries you submit them at the consulate. Try checking in the regional forums

I've confused myself further. After reading Aussie Wench's shortcuts, she mentioned having the beneficiary fill out the DS-230 while you are waiting for the forms to be generated and once I receive the DS-230 from the NVC then submit the form that has already been filled out by the beneficiary along with the cover letter with the barcode back to the NVC. Am I correct in that my husband should gather all of his documentation i.e. birth certificate, police certificates, marriage certificate etc. and send them to me now, and that all of this information should be sent in with Part I of the DS-230? If so, then I suppose that my husband will need to fly back to his home country to pick up his police certificate so that I can send it in with part I?

I hope my question is clear because at this point I am not quite sure on this portion of the process.

Thanks!

yes, since your consulate is part of the alpha group, you have to submit the police report, birth certificate, marriage certificate, ds 230 part 1, to the NVC. If you have not received them, you should start working on those now..

What do you mean since I am part of the alpha group?

[cokebbeh 0]

check this out and it will explain how different consulates process with the NVC. Hope this help answer what is an 'Alpha post'.

Department of State Designates New "Alpha" Posts for Immigrant Visa Processing

04/08/2002

April 8, 2002 – On April 5, 2002, the State Department announced that, effective May 1, 2002, several consular posts located in Asia, Australia, the Near East and South America will be added to the list of "alpha" posts for consular processing of immigrant visas. Alpha posts are those for which the State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) undertakes prescreening of immigrant visa applications. With this latest announcement, the State Department continues the trend towards greater involvement of the NVC in immigrant visa processing generally.

Background

In the past, processing of immigrant visa applications was undertaken by the consular posts directly, with consulate staff reviewing applications and supporting documentation, collecting fees, and scheduling and conducting applicant interviews. With the establishment of the National Visa Center in 1994, the State Department began to transfer administrative functions pertaining to immigrant visa applications to the NVC, thus relieving consulates of some of the burdens of visa processing. In September 2000, the State Department designated ten consular posts – called "alpha" posts – to participate in a pilot program that assigned immigrant visa fee processing and application prescreening to the NVC. Since that time, the State Department has repeatedly expanded the list of consulates adhering to alpha procedures. To date, some 40 consulates are designated as alpha posts and participate in some form of prescreening by the NVC. The remaining consulates are designated as "beta" consular posts, for which the NVC has minimal participation in immigrant visa processing.

Currently, there are two levels of alpha prescreening, depending upon the consular post at which the applicant will undergo processing. At standard alpha posts, the NVC distributes the basic immigrant visa application forms in the Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly known as "Packet III"). The Center collects and reviews the completed immigrant visa application form (Form DS-230) and the affidavit of support (Form I-864) for completeness, and also collects and processes the relevant application fees. Once the NVC has determined that the forms are complete and the fees have been paid, the applicant's case is forwarded to the consular post, where it is reviewed in depth. The consular post is responsible for scheduling an immigrant visa interview and sending the applicant the remaining application materials, contained in the Appointment Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly known as "Packet IV"). The applicant brings his or her original supporting documentation – such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and the like – to the interview. This procedure is currently in place in Bogota, Colombia; Chennai, India; Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; Georgetown, Guyana; Guangzhou, China; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Manila, Philippines; Mumbai, India; New Delhi, India; Port au Prince, Haiti; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

For the remaining alpha posts, the NVC performs a larger role in the review of immigrant visa cases. After the NVC has forwarded the Instruction Package, the applicant or attorney completes all forms and collects supporting documentation. The fees, forms and original documents are sent to the NVC, which reviews the submission to make sure that the correct documents have been provided. If the NVC determines that the applicant is "documentarily qualified" – i.e., the applicant possesses all of the required supporting documentation – the NVC obtains a visa allocation number, schedules an immigrant visa appointment, and mails the Appointment Package. The NVC then forwards the applicant's file to the consular post. The applicant appears for the interview, where his or her original documentation is returned. This procedure is in place at the following alpha posts: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Algiers, Algeria; Antananarivo, Madagascar; Cairo, Eqypt; Casablanca, Morocco; Cotonou, Benin; Dakar, Senegal; Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Djibouti, Djibouti; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Harare, Zimbabwe; Johannesburg, South Africa; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Lagos, Nigeria; Libreville, Gabon; Lilongwe, Malawi; Lome, Togo; Lusaka, Zambia; Monrovia, Liberia; Montreal, Canada; Nairobi, Kenya; Niamey, Niger; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Praia, Cape Verde Islands; Tirana, Albania; Tunis, Tunisia; and Yaounde, Cameroon.

At "beta" posts (comprising all consulates other than alpha posts), the NVC simply sends the Instruction Package to the applicant or agent, instructing him or her to forward the completed forms directly to the consular post for processing. The consulate takes responsibility for all ensuing phases of the application process, including document review, interview scheduling and fee collection.

The New Alpha Posts

Effective May 1, 2002, the following consulates have been designated as alpha posts: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Ankara, Turkey; Amman, Jordan; Asmara, Eritrea; Auckland, New Zealand; Caracas, Venezuela; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Damascus, Syria; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Doha, Qatar; Hong Kong; Islamabad, Pakistan; Jakarta, Indonesia; Jerusalem; Kathmandu, Nepal; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kuwait, Kuwait; Manama, Bahrain; Montevideo, Uruguay; Muscat, Oman; Naha, Japan; Nicosia, Cyprus; Perth, Australia; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Rangoon, Burma; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sanaa, Yemen; Seoul, Korea; Singapore, Singapore; Suva, Fiji; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Tel Aviv, Israel; Tokyo, Japan; Valletta, Malta; and Vientiane, Laos.

It has not yet been determined whether these posts will follow the standard alpha procedures or will subscribe to the NVC's enhanced screening and appointment services.

[Pam&Mbaye 0]

check this out and it will explain how different consulates process with the NVC. Hope this help answer what is an 'Alpha post'.

Department of State Designates New "Alpha" Posts for Immigrant Visa Processing

04/08/2002

April 8, 2002 – On April 5, 2002, the State Department announced that, effective May 1, 2002, several consular posts located in Asia, Australia, the Near East and South America will be added to the list of "alpha" posts for consular processing of immigrant visas. Alpha posts are those for which the State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) undertakes prescreening of immigrant visa applications. With this latest announcement, the State Department continues the trend towards greater involvement of the NVC in immigrant visa processing generally.

Background

In the past, processing of immigrant visa applications was undertaken by the consular posts directly, with consulate staff reviewing applications and supporting documentation, collecting fees, and scheduling and conducting applicant interviews. With the establishment of the National Visa Center in 1994, the State Department began to transfer administrative functions pertaining to immigrant visa applications to the NVC, thus relieving consulates of some of the burdens of visa processing. In September 2000, the State Department designated ten consular posts – called "alpha" posts – to participate in a pilot program that assigned immigrant visa fee processing and application prescreening to the NVC. Since that time, the State Department has repeatedly expanded the list of consulates adhering to alpha procedures. To date, some 40 consulates are designated as alpha posts and participate in some form of prescreening by the NVC. The remaining consulates are designated as "beta" consular posts, for which the NVC has minimal participation in immigrant visa processing.

Currently, there are two levels of alpha prescreening, depending upon the consular post at which the applicant will undergo processing. At standard alpha posts, the NVC distributes the basic immigrant visa application forms in the Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly known as "Packet III"). The Center collects and reviews the completed immigrant visa application form (Form DS-230) and the affidavit of support (Form I-864) for completeness, and also collects and processes the relevant application fees. Once the NVC has determined that the forms are complete and the fees have been paid, the applicant's case is forwarded to the consular post, where it is reviewed in depth. The consular post is responsible for scheduling an immigrant visa interview and sending the applicant the remaining application materials, contained in the Appointment Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants (formerly known as "Packet IV"). The applicant brings his or her original supporting documentation – such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and the like – to the interview. This procedure is currently in place in Bogota, Colombia; Chennai, India; Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; Georgetown, Guyana; Guangzhou, China; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Manila, Philippines; Mumbai, India; New Delhi, India; Port au Prince, Haiti; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

For the remaining alpha posts, the NVC performs a larger role in the review of immigrant visa cases. After the NVC has forwarded the Instruction Package, the applicant or attorney completes all forms and collects supporting documentation. The fees, forms and original documents are sent to the NVC, which reviews the submission to make sure that the correct documents have been provided. If the NVC determines that the applicant is "documentarily qualified" – i.e., the applicant possesses all of the required supporting documentation – the NVC obtains a visa allocation number, schedules an immigrant visa appointment, and mails the Appointment Package. The NVC then forwards the applicant's file to the consular post. The applicant appears for the interview, where his or her original documentation is returned. This procedure is in place at the following alpha posts: Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Algiers, Algeria; Antananarivo, Madagascar; Cairo, Eqypt; Casablanca, Morocco; Cotonou, Benin; Dakar, Senegal; Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Djibouti, Djibouti; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Harare, Zimbabwe; Johannesburg, South Africa; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Lagos, Nigeria; Libreville, Gabon; Lilongwe, Malawi; Lome, Togo; Lusaka, Zambia; Monrovia, Liberia; Montreal, Canada; Nairobi, Kenya; Niamey, Niger; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Praia, Cape Verde Islands; Tirana, Albania; Tunis, Tunisia; and Yaounde, Cameroon.

At "beta" posts (comprising all consulates other than alpha posts), the NVC simply sends the Instruction Package to the applicant or agent, instructing him or her to forward the completed forms directly to the consular post for processing. The consulate takes responsibility for all ensuing phases of the application process, including document review, interview scheduling and fee collection.

The New Alpha Posts

Effective May 1, 2002, the following consulates have been designated as alpha posts: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Ankara, Turkey; Amman, Jordan; Asmara, Eritrea; Auckland, New Zealand; Caracas, Venezuela; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Damascus, Syria; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Doha, Qatar; Hong Kong; Islamabad, Pakistan; Jakarta, Indonesia; Jerusalem; Kathmandu, Nepal; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Kuwait, Kuwait; Manama, Bahrain; Montevideo, Uruguay; Muscat, Oman; Naha, Japan; Nicosia, Cyprus; Perth, Australia; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Rangoon, Burma; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sanaa, Yemen; Seoul, Korea; Singapore, Singapore; Suva, Fiji; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Tel Aviv, Israel; Tokyo, Japan; Valletta, Malta; and Vientiane, Laos.

It has not yet been determined whether these posts will follow the standard alpha procedures or will subscribe to the NVC's enhanced screening and appointment services.

According to what I just read we are under the new Alpha Posts and that it has not yet been determined which process we will follow. Although my husband is from Kenya he lives and works in Saudi Arabia where he will be given his interview. Also, Riblet posted a link which I have read that had instructions for what country my husband will be interviewing in and it says what is required is a copy of the biographical page of his passport and that part one of the DS-230 be filled out. I will call the NVC to verify this information on tomorrow when they are open and post what I find out. Thanks for the info