NVC Filers - April 2014

[Merrily 14]

For those of you who are waiting on the PAID status - here is an explanation of what happens with your payment - and why it might be delayed...

1. When you fill out your payment form, you give them your bank number and your account.

2. NVC collects all your payment information and formats it into a standard "transaction" - essentially a "go to this bank and take out this money"

3. NVC (most likely) sends these transactions in a "batch" or, a collection of similar transactions. These batches probably are transmitted several times per day - but not on a one-on-one basis (again, most likely).

4. The "batches" are transmitted to the Automated Clearing House (ACH). Think of it as central warehouse where ALL transactions from ALL banks, ATMs, companies, and individuals end up on a daily basis. The ACH sorts the transactions by the bank number, creates a "batch" of all the transactions, and then, at some point during the night, sends the batches to the respective financial organization.

5. The banks do their thing - debiting your account, and creating a return "transaction" that goes back to the ACH. This batch will have both successful and non-successful transfer information.

6. The ACH then sorts the transactions again - this time by recipient (in our case, NVC), and sends a batch transaction, with all the individual information, back to NVC.

7. NVC then has to apply all those transactions to our individual accounts so that their system has us marked as "PAID".

If NVC has a problem in their system where they cannot receive the batch from the ACH, OR, they cannot apply the individual transaction data to each account, there will, most likely, be a 24-hour delay. The transaction data program is probably only run once a night (after ACH sends the data back). If that program blows up, then it has to be run the NEXT night. And, they will have to run the batches in date order - which might delay stuff down the line. If they have two days' worth of transactions, they'll try to catch up by running the "apply" program twice in one night. IF they have enough time before the online systems have to come back up.

If NVC uses satellite reception (instead of, say, fiber optic cable), then the high winds we've had over the past two days might have meant that they didn't get the WHOLE batch data from the ACH. The "batch" has a header and a footer (the first transaction is a summary, and the last transaction is a summary - they have to receive both of these transactions for the batch to be complete).

I don't know what is REALLY going on at NVC. But this is an explanation of how the banking system works for automated transactions like our payments.

Sukie, former bank programmer

No doubt that it is very complicated..but as I was reading through it..I was like 'hmmph...this goes there..that goes there...this needs to be sent there..it's only a day's job!'! Everything looked so easy...!! :-D! [because of the way you explained it..of course!!]

I know that it is not!! :D Only can only hope!!

[etrangais 932]

Just an update i paid my IV fees on both my cases on 4/21

Today 4/25 one cases DS-260 is ready. Hope the other one is ready later today

Aos sent on 4/21 arrived on 4/22

Have not called to confirm giving them some time.

Waiting on hubby police report to send civil docs. Hopefuly in the next week.

Feel good about the movment. Its long over due!!!

Giving me hope on my IV fee also.

Paid on 04-21 and still shows IN PROCESS!!!!!!

[Sukie 1,444]

No doubt that it is very complicated..but as I was reading through it..I was like 'hmmph...this goes there..that goes there...this needs to be sent there..it's only a day's job!'! Everything looked so easy...!! :-D! [because of the way you explained it..of course!!]

I know that it is not!! :D Only can only hope!!

Merrily, it really isn't that complicated - just a bunch of sorting, really (of MILLIONS of transactions, granted!). But if one little thing goes awry, it can really upset the applecart. I paid my fees on a Sunday (not a banking day). They were deducted from my account on Monday night, and my invoices showed as PAID on Wednesday morning. That's the way it is SUPPOSED to work!

Sorry for those of you who are struggling with glitches!

Sukie

[Changnoi 410]

This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted.

If you believe you have received this message in error, or to resume processing of the case, please contact the NVC immediately.

Oh My ! What to do ???

Multiple Choice

1. Place an NVC tip jar at your job for 1 week

Send proceeds to NVC in a plain envelope with Case# and clearly write:

"reverse termination determination"

2. Ask Saylin for help…before carefully reading post 1

3. Accept your fate…what were you thinking trying to do this on your own!

4. Keep calling NVC until you reach a person named "Joy" she can "fix it"

None of the above N/A

Edited April 25, 2014 by Changnoi

[Saylin 1,605]

This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted.

If you believe you have received this message in error, or to resume processing of the case, please contact the NVC immediately.

Oh My ! What to do ???

Multiple Choice

1. Place an NVC tip jar at your job for 1 week

Send proceeds to NVC in a plain envelope with Case# and clearly write:

"reverse termination determination"

1. Ask Saylin for help…before carefully reading post 1
2. Accept your fate…what were you thinking trying to do this on your own!
3. Keep calling NVC until you reach a person named "Joy" she can "fix it"
4. None of the above N/A

Or option 5: send Saylin money for already going over it in the wiki

[snikit15 10]

To my fellow Australians,

I just read the information that the embassy in Canberra has on their website about the immigrant visa process and they have a very different set of instructions: http://canberra.usembassy.gov/appr_pet_family.html

Has anyone read this? I'm thinking maybe it's outdated because it says to file a ds2001 with the i864 and ds230 + supporting documents straight to the embassy in Sydney. What do you make of that?

It also says to include an original birth certificate for all children even if they aren't immigrating and also for the spouse/partner, so I'm wondering if I should add these to my IV package. What do you think?

[benipals4 72]

Happy Friday Everyone!! I hope we all have some luck today!

I hope my AOS fee gets invoiced so I can send the packet!

[LoveMyTico 999]

She was serious about the winds. I live in a very rural area of upper New York, and only have satellite broadband and TV. Both my internet and tv reception yesterday just sucked. Anyone who depends on satellite transmissions can relate. You don't want your digital payments packets broken up - the transmission will fail each time.

So it wasn't Three Little Pigs.

Sukie

Maybe this has nothing to do with the NVC, but it has been windy in the Philadelphia area the past few days.. I have had difficulty getting a good connection when calling my husband on his landline. I end up having to call his cell.... So I don't know if it is the tower my phone is accessing or over there in Costa Rica. Wind causes huge issues. New Hampshire is up near NY so I don't think Amanda was lying.

[LoveMyTico 999]

This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted.

If you believe you have received this message in error, or to resume processing of the case, please contact the NVC immediately.

Oh My ! What to do ???

Multiple Choice

1. Place an NVC tip jar at your job for 1 week

Send proceeds to NVC in a plain envelope with Case# and clearly write:

"reverse termination determination"

2. Ask Saylin for help…before carefully reading post 1

3. Accept your fate…what were you thinking trying to do this on your own!

4. Keep calling NVC until you reach a person named "Joy" she can "fix it"

None of the above N/A

6. Freak out and not search for the answer...

[stereophonics 3]

my IV packet is on its way! now, to wait for the interview appointment, then interview prep session with my attorney, and then off to the embassy!

USCIS
01/07/2014 -- I-140 mailed to USCIS
01/08/2014 -- I-140 Received at USCIS
01/10/2014 -- I-140 approval e-mail received
01/16/2013 -- I-140 hardcopy approval notice received by attorney

01/24/2013 -- I-140 hardcopy approval notice received in the mail from the attorney

02/27/2014 -- I-140 shipped to NVC

NVC
03-10-2014 -- NVC received and logged
04-10-2014 -- NVC case number assigned
04-15-2014 -- IV bill generated and e-mail invoice received
04-15-2014 -- IV bill paid

04-17-2014 -- IV fee payment posted
04-24-2014 -- DS-260 submitted online
04-25-2014 -- IV packet sent
XX-XX-2014 -- Case completed
XX-XX-2014 -- Interview scheduled

Embassy
XX-XX-2014 -- Medical
XX-XX-2014 -- Interview
XX-XX-2014 -- Visa in hand
XX-XX-2014 -- POE

Edited April 25, 2014 by stereophonics

[Sukie 1,444]

To my fellow Australians,

I just read the information that the embassy in Canberra has on their website about the immigrant visa process and they have a very different set of instructions: http://canberra.usembassy.gov/appr_pet_family.html

Has anyone read this? I'm thinking maybe it's outdated because it says to file a ds2001 with the i864 and ds230 + supporting documents straight to the embassy in Sydney. What do you make of that?

It also says to include an original birth certificate for all children even if they aren't immigrating and also for the spouse/partner, so I'm wondering if I should add these to my IV package. What do you think?

Snikit, don't panic. When you get your interview letter, you will be told EXACTLY what is necessary for your interview. All your original documents would have been forwarded to Sydney by NVC and will be returned to you. ALWAYS take a copy of all the documents, though.

Many of the consulates/embassies are WAY behind the times in their instructions.

I'll let you know what happens in our case - I think we are a little ahead of you.

Sukie

[Changnoi 410]

Or option 5: send Saylin money for already going over it in the wiki

6. Freak out and not search for the answer...

7. After logging in to CEAC.... carefully press CTRL + ALT+ DEL at the same time

Edited April 25, 2014 by Changnoi

[lcwilliams 4]

What harm can it do if I send the IV packet before it shows 'paid' on CEAC?

[BOS_LHR 829]

Looks like our documents have been received at the embassy today, almost exactly three months from when NVC first received them. Not too bad! And only 24 days until the interview, so we're falling right in the middle of the 4-5 month duration from NOA2 that I was predicting. NVC is probably glad to be rid of me

[LoveMyTico 999]

What harm can it do if I send the IV packet before it shows 'paid' on CEAC?

Its at your discretion. This subject is covered 1000 times a day. Have you read the WIKI and have you read through some of the past posts?

Looks like our documents have been received at the embassy today, almost exactly three months from when NVC first received them. Not too bad! And only 24 days until the interview, so we're falling right in the middle of the 4-5 month duration from NOA2 that I was predicting. NVC is probably glad to be rid of me

I am happy for you !!! It must be a wonderful feeling just knowing you're in the home stretch. CONGRATS !