NVC Filers - June 2014

[dirk_diggler 107]

OK I know I said I was going to wait until Wednesday to call, but I couldn't take it anymore so I called today... I called the National Visa Center... had to press redial about 25 times before I got through. Then I finally got through and was on hold for about 30 minutes.

This was my first time calling so at least now I know what to expect for next time. Thank goodness I had a baby blanket to crochet for an upcoming shower so my hands were busy to keep me from going insane!

When I got through I got connected to Page (Paige?)... she sounded very nice. I told her I don't have a case ID number yet but was calling to see if they had received my case from USCIS. She checked using my USCIS receipt number and then said it had not yet been received. She asked if the letter I got said my case had been transferred to the NVC and I said yes.

After I hung up... I reread the email again from USCIS (still haven't gotten anything by snail mail)... it says:

"Your Case Status: Post Decision Activity

On May 21, 2014, we shipped this approved or re-affirmed case to the Department of State for visa processing. For more information, please contact them directly.

For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations."

SO I realized maybe I should call the Department of State instead of the NVC... and I did, but their recording says that they only process nonimmigrant visas. What do you guys think? Should I be calling National Visa Center, or Department of State? ( I swear I read the Wiki a few times, just looking for reassurance here, thanks!)

you're calling the right place. NVC is the dept of state for your purposes

[AustinCanada 681]

Hi Austin!

Same here, total income shows "0.00". However, I thought that it was mandatory to put the "total income" line in the I-864, not the wages and salaries one... therefore we put 2013, 2012 and 2011 income as "0.00"... We mentioned this in an explanation letter, mentioning that my husband's income wasn't really zero, but since it was foreign it is not taxable, therefore we had to put 0.00 because the form asks for the total income line.

Everybody here has mentioned that NVC is very finicky with this matter, and they checklist you if the numbers don't match exactly with the total income line (for 1040 filers), even if you round up the numbers and they are different for one cent...

In this case, I believe that you should put 0.00 in previous years, and at 'current annual income' you type the number that appears on the employment letter of your partner's new Job...You could explain this in an additional letter... And we got a joint sponsor just in case...

At least that's what we did.. I can only advise from my own experience, at the moment I googled the issue and searched in threads, and I understood that that's the way to do it... Hopefully I'm not wrong, because I already sent my package and it could generate a checklist if incorrect

Maybe Saylin (the expert) has advice?

This worries me a bit...

Ummmmmm.... You may be right on this issue and I should put "$0.00" since that's what it states at "Total Income".

I'm calling NVC tonight to ask this question.

[TM713 63]

OK I know I said I was going to wait until Wednesday to call, but I couldn't take it anymore so I called today... I called the National Visa Center... had to press redial about 25 times before I got through. Then I finally got through and was on hold for about 30 minutes.

This was my first time calling so at least now I know what to expect for next time. Thank goodness I had a baby blanket to crochet for an upcoming shower so my hands were busy to keep me from going insane!

When I got through I got connected to Page (Paige?)... she sounded very nice. I told her I don't have a case ID number yet but was calling to see if they had received my case from USCIS. She checked using my USCIS receipt number and then said it had not yet been received. She asked if the letter I got said my case had been transferred to the NVC and I said yes.

After I hung up... I reread the email again from USCIS (still haven't gotten anything by snail mail)... it says:

"Your Case Status: Post Decision Activity

On May 21, 2014, we shipped this approved or re-affirmed case to the Department of State for visa processing. For more information, please contact them directly.

For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations."

SO I realized maybe I should call the Department of State instead of the NVC... and I did, but their recording says that they only process nonimmigrant visas. What do you guys think? Should I be calling National Visa Center, or Department of State? ( I swear I read the Wiki a few times, just looking for reassurance here, thanks!)

I think you might need to just give it a few more days. Call the NVC at the end of the week or at the beginning of next week to make sure it's gotten there safely. I think the average time from NOA2 to NVC receipt of the case is about 2-3 weeks (sometimes less, sometimes more), so so far nothing is off the rails with your case, I don't think.

[VNBCI130 94]

I have no clue what's going on, either! May 7th is a phantom day, NVC never gets to it. I hope those IV fees get issued soon. This is too long in my opinion!

It is definitely very long. Also, their generic answer of "You have to wait for 30 days after you complete DS261" is just so annoying. If we keep waiting 30 business days for everything then 100% of my hair will be grey

[k.dlg 300]

SO I realized maybe I should call the Department of State instead of the NVC... and I did, but their recording says that they only process nonimmigrant visas. What do you guys think? Should I be calling National Visa Center, or Department of State? ( I swear I read the Wiki a few times, just looking for reassurance here, thanks!)

NVC = Dept of State. They're the same thing. Hopefully they'll receive your case sometime this week, and you should expect a case number in 20-30 days after that.

[BOS_LHR 829]

As my wife would say, "Everything is better in America..." (She's joking by the way, so no one is offended here!) And for food, I would have to agree on. The cost of restaurants though here are 50% mark up than restaurants in America... Now you know why it's called ripped of Britain .

Wish my husband felt that way! He's horrified by the preservatives, sweeteners, and general overload of unnecessary additives in American food. I'll never forget him asking why all the fruit in the grocery store is so shiny, and me shamefacedly telling him it's because it's waxed to make it look more appealing to consumers

[jsumner86 403]

Wish my husband felt that way! He's horrified by the preservatives, sweeteners, and general overload of unnecessary additives in American food. I'll never forget him asking why all the fruit in the grocery store is so shiny, and me shamefacedly telling him it's because it's waxed to make it look more appealing to consumers

You get 50/50 of who love the food, and who are scared of it . My wife thinks it's strange how the eggs are never in the refrigerated part of the store.. They just stock it on the shelves.. I never noticed the fruit being so shiny in the shops there.. .

Edited June 2, 2014 by jsumner86

[AustinCanada 681]

Why don't you try to get into the website just in case he might be wrong and you might be able to get in and start the process now. Give it a try.

I've already tried and it didn't work, unfortunately.

It looks like people who got their case numbers on May 22 received the emails asking them to fill out the DS-261 form and pay the AOS fee today.

I think I can expect to receive the email tomorrow since my case number was created on May 23.

I could have extended my vacation a little bit more since NVC turned out to be slower than I had expected. LOL!

[AustinCanada 681]

Just got a whatsapp from my esposo

CASE COMPLETE

Call LifeonHold!!!!!!!!!

(I want to scream and cry and can't because I'm in the middle of class!!! AHHHHHH)

[lucybelle 453]

Thanks!!!

---

Called to confirm- CASE COMPLETE on May 31 (Saturday!)

Wooooo

[anly8872 25]

It is definitely very long. Also, their generic answer of "You have to wait for 30 days after you complete DS261" is just so annoying. If we keep waiting 30 business days for everything then 100% of my hair will be grey

It has been 25 days on my case for IV Fee Invoicing.

[dirk_diggler 107]

Thanks!!!

---

Called to confirm- CASE COMPLETE on May 31 (Saturday!)

Wooooo

did you ask them about that bit where they wanted you to bring a certificate along to the interview?

[sparrow20 32]

That's the only reason why I'm still here; the few of you that actually do read and such

In case you are in a devil mode, good thing i have your wiki saved for offline reading.. haha

[AustinCanada 681]

Yes, as someone else said, you'll need to add an explanation to the I-864 about why your income shows as 0. And for current income, put the actual income, backed up with a letter from his employer saying that he will continue in his current job (and salary) once you move.

Are you also using assets? (The amount you expect to get on your current place, for example? That should help, too.

Julia, your hubby also works in Canada so you must have put "$0.00" for the income on the I-864, eh? Did NVC accept your AOS package without a checklist?

Yes, I'm attaching an employment letter stating that he will continue working for the same company in the US.

I'm also using assets and am including the purchase offer letter of our townhouse as well as a property title certificate and a letter from the bank stating we have paid off our mortgage.

[Lottry 14]

called today to see when IV fee will be up,,,got the 30 days magic number,,,,my ds261 was rec'd may 29th, so I have to wait till End of June ,,,,,,,,I guess 30 days goes with every thing,,,,