Uh, I dont get it

[Faycel and Renee 30]

Hello VJ Family!

I really need some clarification. When Faycel was approved by USCIS I began contacting the embassy in Algiers to schedule an appointment, as well as the NVC. I was under the impression that I had to pay the 240 for the visa, but the embassy sent us a response that at the time of the appointment the visa fee is to be paid.

Ok before I get ahead of things, let me give you the scoop: Faycel made his appointment with the Algiers embassy for his K1visa appt, which is set for December 16, 2013. At the same time I was writing all these places, NVC responded with this (after we got the appointment in Algiers)

Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for your inquiry. The National Visa Center has not received your petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Please scan and email your I-797 or I-171 Notice of Action to nvcresearch@state.gov. Type the receipt number in the subject line of your email. We will contact USCIS on your behalf to find your petition.

If your I-797 or I-171 Notice of Action does not indicate USCIS approved your petition and sent it to the Department of State, please contact USCIS for a status update.

USCIS Contact Information
Telephone: 1-800-375-5283
Website: www.uscis.gov

My question is this........Will the embassy in Algiers forward the fee and the file to NVC after the appointment? Faycel filled out the DS160 online, now I think I still have to fill out the DS156 & DS156K - could this be why NVC doesnt have our petition?

Does anything I say make any sense? Im confused

Any input, experience or comments are welcomed !

Thanks !

[Darnell 8,478]

NVC doesn't have your petition because it hasn't been sent out by USCIS yet.

as to fees at NVC, there's none for a K-1 visa chaser - the fees are collected in that country instead.

If you review the K-1 visa flowchart in the guides section here, note you've jumped a bit .

Will the casefile catch up to the IV Unit by interview day? Hard to forecast.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Darnell

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

K-1 petitions go to NVC for just a day or so to get logged and get a case number assigned before they are shipped off the the embassy.

[Faycel and Renee 30]

@ Darnell,

The embassy in Algiers got the file, so why wouldnt have NVC. I do plan on sending them a copy of the approval letter when I get home tonight, but just needed some clarification

Thanks

[Faycel and Renee 30]

@ Harpa Timsah,

I dont even know the case number lol, I have a receipt number and a a xxx-xxx-xxx number not even sure what that a number is

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Did the consulate say they have your case already and give you your case number and instructions for the interview? I am not sure how you could schedule the interview if your case is not at the consulate yet. The consulate should have given you instructions on what to fill out, what to bring, where and how to pay, etc. You do not pay anything to the NVC. They just forward your case to the consulate from the USCIS. The consulate needs your file for the interview. It seems like your case was already sent through the NVC to the consulate so that is why the NVC says they do not have your petition. Strange that they did not tell you it was sent to the consulate, but I suppose they were lazy and just checked to see if your case was with them or not, saw it was not and responded that way to you.

[Faycel and Renee 30]

@ Jay-Kay, now this sounds reasonable. We did get a notice saying what the embassy wanted at the time of the interview (which I sent in my initial filing of my petition, cause I knew exactly what they were going to ask for and I was prepared!)

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yeah, you don;t need to correspond with NVC. You ask, why does Algiers have your file and not NVC? Because there is one file, paper, being passed around. Algiers has it, it went through NVC quickly, like normal.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Faycel and Renee 30]

@ Harpa Timsah

Yes our case was processed quickly that I will admit, but I filed everything in with the petition. You name it, it was sent. I was not going to have to have a bunch of RFE's sent to me, so I played it smart and I think that is why we got thru this fast.

The only thing I did forget was 2 passport pics of me which I sent out immediately.

So I quess I shouldnt have to worry about NVC since we already have our appt with the embassy?

[Faycel and Renee 30]

Now the next thing, do i still fill out the DS156 & DS156K forms on the visa site - I guess I should sit down in a quiet area and read this all out.

I guess thats the selfish part of me wanting all the answers now.

Thanks VJ family, really all this is happening because of you!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

@ Harpa Timsah

Yes our case was processed quickly that I will admit, but I filed everything in with the petition. You name it, it was sent. I was not going to have to have a bunch of RFE's sent to me, so I played it smart and I think that is why we got thru this fast.

The only thing I did forget was 2 passport pics of me which I sent out immediately.

So I quess I shouldnt have to worry about NVC since we already have our appt with the embassy?

?

No, you misunderstand me. I am not talking about RFEs or anything. First, your petition goes to USCIS and they approve it or send RFEs. That already is over. Your petition was not fast through USCIS because your package was complete, fyi. Your file sat in a box the whole time until the last 20 minutes, where it was taken out, looked at, and approved.

What I am talking about is NVC, which I thought was the subject of your question. Your approved petition is sent from USCIS to NVC for a short time. All K-1s are like this. K-1 files merely pass through NVC, get logged, and get an embassy number.

Then the case is sent on to your embassy. Your fiance nows applies for a visa through them and corresponds with them, and gives them paperwork, pays them, etc.

So to your last sentence, yes, don't worry about NVC any more. Algiers has your file which is what you want.

[Faycel and Renee 30]

@Harpa Timsah

Ahhhh ok, got it !Thank you for the clarification. You have just brought down my stress level !

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

@Harpa Timsah

Ahhhh ok, got it !Thank you for the clarification. You have just brought down my stress level !

Have you found the K-1 flow chart on this site?

[Darnell 8,478]

@ Darnell,

The embassy in Algiers got the file, so why wouldnt have NVC. I do plan on sending them a copy of the approval letter when I get home tonight, but just needed some clarification

Thanks

OK - The IV Unit has the casefile.

Great !

Disregard what I wrote, as I was only writing in response to what you've written, back at post #1.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Darnell

[Faycel and Renee 30]

@ Darnell

Its ok, I am learning from everyone on this, every comment and every experience is so appreciated

@ Harpa Timsah,

I found it now and looking over it now.