Update...

[ToddT 1]

Hello,

I haven't posted in a few months and thought it might be time for an update. I filed an I-130 that was accepted back in early February. It was for my wife and her kids. In early June, I received our NOA2 letter of approval. I started contacting the NVC around two weeks later and continued for two months without any update that they had received our package. That's how long they asked me to wait before contacting NVC Research. Once I contacted the NVC Research, they advised me that it would take up to 30 days to get a reply. It took all of the 30 days plus a few more. The research had found that my packet was sitting in the Dallas Field Office of the USCIS still. (During this time I had also phoned the USCIS a few times and been told that our case was approved and should be at the NVC.)

I immediately tried to make an InfoPass appointment at the Dallas Field Office. Unfortunately, they had no appointments even showing in the system for the first 2-3 weeks of my attempts. Finally after almost 3 weeks, they had one appointment opening. It was for 30 days later but I made it any way. I kept checking for earlier appointments but never found one so waited the 30 days. When I finally met with an agent at the Dallas Field Office, I was told initially that my case had been mailed to the USCIS back in June. I advised him that NVC Research found it to be sitting in Dallas and to please investigate further. This was early morning and he asked me to return to the office that afternoon. He was going to check with the last case officer who had accessed our case.

That afternoon, I found that the officer had decided to hold my case because she wanted better interpreted birth certificates for the children. I had never received a RFI or any other letter except the NOA2 approval. To say the least, this was disheartening. After all of the wasted months waiting and then another two to get translated birth certificates from Thailand to me and another Infopass to turn them in, 6 extra months had been added to our timeline. I turned the second set of birth certificates in at an Infopass in November. The agent said he would put my case at the top and it would be looked at by the next available agent. He also said that since it was being held just for the birth certificates that I could expect it to only take about a week before it was mailed to the NVC. He looked over the birth certificates before I left and said they looked good to him.

November and December passed without an email, update or any indication that anything had changed. I had started calling the NVC after Thanksgiving. I had the NVC Research looking again since the 2nd week of December and I contacted my Congressman's office on January 3rd. On January 8th, my Congressman's representative email me that my case was at the NVC. I phoned them that day and the agent said it had just been received but needed to be input into their system. Soooo now I'm waiting on my "BKK" numbers. I call almost every day to check but get the same 6-8 week answer.

Once I get the BKK numbers, around how long am I looking at. I've been reading and it appears that I have about 2-3 months left once I have that. Does that sound right to those who've recently received VISAs?

[Darnell 8,478]

I absolutely hate the Dallas Office, and suffered a bit at their hands. [check my notes in my profile when you have some time]

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BKK numbers? about 3 months...

[Karee 4,190]

Once I get the BKK numbers, around how long am I looking at. I've been reading and it appears that I have about 2-3 months left once I have that. Does that sound right to those who've recently received VISAs?

Actually it will be BNK numbers. They will start with BNK2014.

I've seen people get through NVC in as little as 17 days after getting your BNK case number from NVC. You need to make sure you have everything ready to go on your end. Original birth Certificates, (which it sounds like you have), original police report from Thailand, original marriage certificate with translation.

Here's the steps:

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/LingChe_NVC_ShortCut

It looks like NVC recent timelines are running about 43 days.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ir1cr1historical

Like I posted above, use those shortcuts and you'll breeze through. Things will move quickly now compared to USCIS.

Edited January 29, 2014 by Karee

[ToddT 1]

The NVC assigned case numbers today so we're finally starting that process.

[Karee 4,190]

The NVC assigned case numbers today so we're finally starting that process.

Follow that guide I posted. Make sure you get originals of the marriage certificate (with English translation), police certificate, and birth certificate (with English translation) mailed to you in the U.S. You'll need to submit those to NVC.

[ToddT 1]

The packets have originals of the Marriage and Birth certs already.. They'll need them again?

[Karee 4,190]

The packets have originals of the Marriage and Birth certs already.. They'll need them again?

Which packets? The ones you sent to USCIS with the I-130?

[ToddT 1]

Which packets? The ones you sent to USCIS with the I-130?

Yes, those.

[Karee 4,190]

Yes, those.

You didn't need to send originals to USCIS. Only copies. Hopefully they'll forward them to NVC, but I wouldn't count on it. The good thing is at NVC you can actually talk to a human that knows what's going on. You'll need to find out ASAP what they got from USCIS. Put NVC on speed dial (603) 334-0700. You'll be calling them alot.

[ToddT 1]

When I talked to them last time via an infopass they said they would send me all docs they didn't need and forward the rest to the NVC.

[ToddT 1]

Yes, they are on speed dial. I've been calling them 2-3 times a week since June. lol

I'll find out and can get them again if needed. My wife has to do the police report and couldn't start that without the BNK numbers. So I can get the birth certs again at that time.

[Karee 4,190]

When I talked to them last time via an infopass they said they would send me all docs they didn't need and forward the rest to the NVC.

Yeah well USCIS sucks. As you can see from you went through with them. The docs they said they would send you might show up next week, next year, or maybe never.

It's two totally different agencies in the U.S. govt. One run by Dept. of Homeland Security, the other by Dept. of State.

USCIS = bad

NVC = good.

Like I said, get on the phone with them ASAP. They may not have your case yet, but call them everyday anyway. They are open 7 am to midnight (EST) weekdays. This is the part of the process where it's up to you how long it takes to get through it.

[ToddT 1]

My wife will go to Bangkok this weekend to apply for her police certificate and I also just now recieved our AOS Processing Fee Bill from the NVC. I've tried to pay online but so far, it's erroring out. I think I'll give it a few hours and try again before calling.

[ToddT 1]

Ok, I only had to wait around 15 minutes and the online payment was accepted.

[Karee 4,190]

My wife will go to Bangkok this weekend to apply for her police certificate and I also just now recieved our AOS Processing Fee Bill from the NVC. I've tried to pay online but so far, it's erroring out. I think I'll give it a few hours and try again before calling.

Try to think of everything you'll need from her so you only have to pay Fedex or whoever once. Remember everything you submit has to be an original.