French/American Couples - Part III - 2014

[mattelo 45]

No I don't have my plane tickets for now, I have plenty of time since I'm not planning on leaving before February - I need to leave my job, my apartment and everything I have here before anything else

Congratulations on your NOA2 approval!!!!!!!!!!!!

Should be just a matter of weeks now!

[quentin955 4]

Congratulations Quentin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Must have been really stressful because of the NVC’s mistake, but I’m happy everything went fine for you at the Embassy.

RKandGC, I don’t understand, you’re already supposed to send a copy of the US citizen's birth certificate with your original submission, but they asked for another one??

Oh, and as for me, I got myself in a very stressful situation too, that I absolutely need to share here to make sure that it won’t cause anyone a problem! A little bit more than 2 weeks after my interview, my visa got delivered at my place… but with wrong information on it!!!!!!! My personal information was correct, but on the visa you’re also supposed to find the name of your fiancé(e) and your case number. Well, in my case, it was… the name of a girl, and a wrong case number!!! I totally freaked out when I found out they messed up. Worst thing is that it was impossible to contact the Embassy by phone!!! I found an information about possible mistakes on the visa on their website though, so I sent them a letter along with my passport and the sealed envelope. I paid for a Chronopost to follow the delivery (26€ ), and they got everything back the very next day after I realized their mistake. In my letter, I was asking them to give me a call as soon as they had my letter and thank God, they did!!!!!!!!!! So I had the chance to talk with someone who apologized for the mistake and explained me that they were going to print a new visa for me. The lady wouldn’t give me a phone number to call her back just in case because they don’t want to be called AT ALL… So I just had to trust her and cross my fingers! Fortunately, a week later I got delivered my new (and correct) visa!!!! It wasn’t long at all, but it can be a real problem for someone who is in a hurry to leave the country (wasn’t my case).

Oh and they explained me what happened and the thing is that they need to complete an online form for each visa, but instead of filling out a blank form, they copy the information entered for the previous visa and changed them one by one!!! That’s why I ended up with the information of someone else. The lady explained me that it happens sometimes, but that not everybody spots the mistakes!!!!! So they end up with HUGE problems at the point of entry because their information is incorrect on the visa! So don’t forget to verify the information on your visa when you get it, mistakes are possible and it could definitely ruin your entry in the US, so be careful!

Oh and now, I have two K1 visas in my passport. The good one, and the wrong one with a big stamp on it saying “CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE”. It was, of course, a brand new passport, so it looks wonderful as you can imagine LOL

Voilà pour les nouvelles ! Just wanted to keep you posted about what happened, thought it could be helpful maybe for someone else in the future! Take care guys and good luck!

Well, thank you for the congratulations! But yes, it was quite stressful! Especially when you try to contact someone at the embassy and you can't talk to anyone! lol

But apparently your case wasn't less stressful!! I'm glad it has a good end! I can't imagine what you've been going through.

I haven't got my passport back yet. It has been issued on Thursday, last week (apparently they are taking as long as french administration lol). And now, because of what happened to you, I'm a little bit stressed about this. Especially because my fiancee changed her name back to her maiden name. I explained it to the man, and he typed the new name on his computer so it might be ok, but I was juste spelling the name to him and I couldn't check he wrote it in the good way. I can't wait to have the visa in hands, I'll feel much better! lol

Btw, what company delivered the passport to you? La Poste? I heard some got it from TNT, so I don't know!

RKandGC, congratulations! You've been through the longest part!! Time will be passing by now because you'll be more active toward your case. Good luck!

Oh, and I just got a letter from the French Consulate of Los Angeles. It's my "certificat de capacité à mariage", which comes after the "publication des bans". It took less than 2 months for me. Just know that it's not necessary at all, but it will be faster and easier for us now to get the livret de famille. Voilà!!

Well, thank you for the congratulations! But yes, it was quite stressful! Especially when you try to contact someone at the embassy and you can't talk to anyone! lol

Edited October 31, 2016 by quentin955

[RKandGC 1]

Thanks !!

How do you know when uscis sends the file to the NVC? I read different things about calling the NVC, how often and how early did you guys start calling them?

What is the process for the publications des bans? You are doing that so the marriage is recognized in France too right?

Thanks for your help

[quentin955 4]

Thanks !!

How do you know when uscis sends the file to the NVC? I read different things about calling the NVC, how often and how early did you guys start calling them?

What is the process for the publications des bans? You are doing that so the marriage is recognized in France too right?

Thanks for your help

The only way to know is to call the NVC. We did after one week. They told us they had everything and gave us our case number. If I remember well, my fiancee got a letter from them with all of the details the day after (it was apparently on its way already).

Once your fiancée gets the letter, she must read every information and make sure everything is correct, especially both of your names. (I saw a mistake and didn't contact the NVC. It was a mistake!)

Then, you or your fiancee can use the case number to track your case by going to https://ceac.state.gov/ and clicking "Check My Visa Application Status" under "Immigrants" (It's a nonimmigrant visa, but it's still the immigrants section you need to use! )

Once you know the embassy got it, wait until you get an email from them, with all of the information you need. In most cases, the US Citizen gets the email, so she will have to forward it to you!

About the publications des bans, it's not really necessary to do it because it usually gets recognized anyway and many people don't do it. But we did it because we had enough time to do so, and because it will make the process a lot faster after the marriage.

Apparently you'll be moving to Florida, so you depend on the French Embassy in Washington DC. Here is the page you need to look at: http://www.consulfrance-washington.org/spip.php?article868

It's a little bit different than the one in Los Angeles, but it's almost the same process. I got everything ready, filed every form, and sent it to my fiancee. She just had to add her birth certificate and to sign and she sent it to the Consulate. If you want to do it and need help, feel free to send me a private message so we can talk in French and it might be easier!

[RKandGC 1]

Thank you for all these answers!

I will start calling the NVC then.

I'll message you for the publications des bans when we're further in the process.

Thank you so much again for all the tips.

[mattelo 45]

@quentin955 Maybe my response's too late, but it wasn't delivered by La Poste but by TNT ! And they need a signature. Not super convenient, but safer, I guess!! Keep me posted about it! Fingers crossed for your visa!!

[quentin955 4]

RKandGC, you're welcome! We've all been through this and we all know having someone to answer our questions is useful!
I'd suggest you, if you are interested in the publication des bans, to not do it too late. It takes up to 2 months to do so. Once you get the certificate, it's effective for 1 year, I think.
After the consulate of LA got our case, they sent us an email. Here is what it says:

Votre dossier a été traité ce jour. Vous aurez la possibilité de visualiser cette publication sur le tableau d’affichage de la mairie de votre lieu de domicile (ou consulat si vous résidez hors de France) dans un délai de 3 semaines.

Après qu’un affichage soit effectué 10 jours, votre mairie (ou consulat) nous fera parvenir un certificat de non-opposition à votre mariage.

Dès réception de celui-ci (il est à prévoir des délais postaux), nous vous enverrons un certificat de capacité à mariage par voie postale, et là vous serez autorisé à vous marier (même si vous ne l’avez pas encore reçu avant votre départ). Ce document n’est pas demandé par les autorités américaines

@matt88 Thank you for your answer! Unfortunately... it was not too late. I haven't got it yet. Thankfully my contract ended on last Sunday so I'll try not to leave my house too often until I get it!

[fosu 0]

Hi!

Our case has been approved on 7th october , since that day no news at all, my fiancé called last week the nvc and the guy told him, that before 6weeks after approval, we should not be worried...

When i check all the timeline it seems that most of the time its less longer than that for nvc to received the case.Is that happened to other couple?

Wha do we need to do? just wait again?

thank you.

[quentin955 4]

Hi fosu.

One month seems long. I guess it can take longer sometimes, depending on the order they get everything (I'm only guessing. I have no idea).

It took only one week for us and it's apparently average. But all of the USCIS centers seem to go faster than before, maybe the NVC is getting a lot of stuff at the same time. Once again, I'm just guessing.

Did your fiancé try to call the USCIS? Maybe they can tell him if it has been sent or not.

[fosu 0]

hi! thank you for you answer!

Yes my fiancé called them yesterday and they told him that everything was sent the day of approval : the 7th october.But they were not worried at all telling its normal to wait so long...Like you said i saw a lot of people for who it took only a week or two. I was so happy that our approval only took 3 weeks, too good to be true that everything will be so fast ...

Do you think we need to call again? wait? send email..? thank you

[quentin955 4]

3 weeks to get approved? Wow. It's really going fast at USCIS centers right now. 2 months ago it took at least 2 months to get approved.
This might be a reason! I mean, if all USCIS centers are going this fast (and apparently they are), it means the NVC is getting a lot of paperwork at the same time.

I don't think there is something you can do about it until 6 weeks have passed. They don't seem to worry so I don't think they can do something right now, unfortunately. Maybe your fiance can call them at the beginning and at the end of each week until the 6th week, to see if your case has been updated.
If there is nothing after 6 weeks, he should call again, they might be able to do something, this time.

EDIT: I looked up the NVC category on VJ. Apparently there are delays problem for everyone.
You must be able to find answers to your questions here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/83-national-visa-center-dept-of-state/

As you can see on this topic, the NVC was going very slow two years ago too. The reason might be the same.

Edited November 8, 2016 by quentin955

[fosu 0]

thank you for your answer!

he is goignt o all again today; hope with good news, i will let you know

[Mar&Ant 42]

Hello everyone,

Quick question, is the Hepatitis B vaccine required for the Visa, or is it only for the Adjustment of status, or not required at all?

Thanks very much!

[fosu 0]

Hi! fdont know about the hepatite B vaccine, but in case its not a big deal to have it done.

For my case, finally after another call they gave us the casenumber , the guy on the phone said that they dont send anything before everything is in Paris... weird no?

He said that the eptition left the 9th november.

Also, when i check online i got that :

Your case is in transit to the Consular Section. Your interview date was provided to you by the National Visa Center.

interview date was provided to you?? did you have the same thing?

have nothing since the NOA2, what do i need to do now? if there is something to do beside waiting? Thank you very much!

[quentin955 4]

@antwan918: I don't think it's needed. I got it done because I did not know if it was needed or not for the Adjustment of Status.
But the doctor didn't even ask me or added it on the page she gave me, which is the copy of the sealed letter I had to give to the embassy (apparently if you're more than 18 or 19 years old it's not necessary to do it.

@fosu
I don't know what is happening at the NVC but it seems kinda messed up.
They take a very long time to process and they are not really helpful apparently

I am not sure but I think this thing about the interview date is not something you should worry about. It must be something from an older procedure or just something generic they put here because every embassy works differently.
In our case the NVC sent the petition on August 19th. I think the Embassy got it on the 23rd. Then we waited until September 6th or 7th. On this day, my fiancee, the US citizen, got an email from the embassy. I think it's like this for everyone now, they just send an email to the US Citizen.
So I'd say you just have to wait!