August 2014 Interviews

[Ryan&Joanna 44]

Just checked CEAC, not expecting much of it and... Visa ISSUED (date status changed 7-23)!!!!

I think I can buy the ticket now

Hi sorry for sounding ignorant, but could you share which URL or website you are looking at that gives you that information? I'm wondering if it's the same one that shows the AOS changing from PAID to NA before case complete..

[Ethi2014 17]

In database world the crash happen once in a while. However, every primary center should have disaster recovery site and they should be operational immediately from their secondary site! If not the folks working on the database and disaster recovery part of IT department should be examined about their skill set!

[Ryan&Joanna 44]

Welcome to the group. I have added you to spread sheet. Hopefully next week good news will be coming to those in queue waiting for interviews.

And we aren't that type of group and fuss over questions asked a million times (need I count how many times the "how do I track my case-file to embassy). LOL

You are welcomed and have some fun and mingle we are a blessed fun group of peeps here.

Thank you for the welcome dwheels76

[mueed 7]

My case completed on july 10th. Just got off the phone with nvc. They said they have stopped scheduling interview for august. I am so disappointed that 20 days just went down the drain :/ cant wait to see my wife.. am so stressed out

[Gee&Cee 41]

Hi sorry for sounding ignorant, but could you share which URL or website you are looking at that gives you that information? I'm wondering if it's the same one that shows the AOS changing from PAID to NA before case complete..

It is almost the same! I go to https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/

And click on "Check my Visa Application Status" (https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==)

Enter Case Number, the one starting the the three letters. I can't remember what it says before the case has been submitted to the consulate for interview, but the status of the visa application may go from IN TRANSIT (to consulate), to READY (for interview), to ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING (after interview), to ISSUED (visa printed on passport). In my case, the "date status changed" was almost as important as the actual status, because the dates were updated, but the status weren't (remained Ready).

Edited July 25, 2014 by Gee&Cee

[ArthurandMarcela 249]

Hi sorry for sounding ignorant, but could you share which URL or website you are looking at that gives you that information? I'm wondering if it's the same one that shows the AOS changing from PAID to NA before case complete..

Hi Joanna, you could check here:

https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/

• Check My Visa Application Status

[M024405 12]

VISA approved today!! But their computer crashed!! How can they tortured us in so many ways! I don't know when can I get the passport back..urrr....

CONGRATS!! Was the interview easy or hard? What questions did they ask you?

[Ryan&Joanna 44]

It is almost the same! I go to https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/

And click on "Check my Visa Application Status" (https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==)

Enter Case Number, the one starting the the three letters. I can't remember what it says before the case has been submitted to the consulate for interview, but the status of the visa application may go from IN TRANSIT (to consulate), to READY (for interview), to ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING (after interview), to ISSUED (visa printed on passport). In my case, the "date status changed" was almost as important as the actual status, because the dates were updated, but the status weren't (remained Ready).

Hi Joanna, you could check here:

https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/

• Check My Visa Application Status

Thanks guys! I checked there and all it says is "AT NVC" I guess it's gonna take some time before there's any change, but thanks! At least I know I"m looking at the correct site!

[cindy0908 55]

CONGRATS!! Was the interview easy or hard? What questions did they ask you?

Don't worry it was easy! You can go to see my interview review Good luck!

[Sukie 1,460]

Hey folks! Waving from the Hudson Valley in New York with some friendly advice about Social Security Numbers!

We very clearly ticked the box saying we wanted Julie to get her Social Security Number (it's in the DS-260). Someone on the list (thank you, whoever you were) said it was good to remind the CBP officer at the POE to make sure the box was checked on their screen too, because that is really the place that the SSN request is generated.

We very carefully mentioned it to both the first CBP officer at JFK, and he heard us, but didn't comment. We also mentioned it to the second CBP officer in the secondary room after he said that everything would be sent to the address specified in the DS-260. I said something like - that means the Social Security Number too, right? And he said, Oh, you can go to your local office to apply for that.

Neither of us was willing to push a CBP officer further and tell him to check the box on the screen, so we just got out of there.

But we did wonder if the SSN request was in the system, or whether we needed to go into our local office. I really didn't want to go to our local office. We live in a very small town that is not, as a whole, well-educated or very wealthy, and I've been in the SSN office before, and it wasn't too pleasant.

But since Julie needs a Social Security Card in hand before she can apply for a Driver's License, we wanted to make sure the SSN generation was in process.

So we went to the office and Julie went up and checked to see if they could tell if a request had been generated. As it turns out, the clerk helping her (who had to be in her early 40s) had NEVER processed a CR-1 or IR-1 visa applicant before! She had to look everything up! We had to wait about 35 minutes in line - there were about 10 British young people ahead of us who were summer camp counselors getting their SSNs - so I found a paper copy of the application that Julie had filled out before her number was called.

And...it turned out that the CBP officers had NOT generated the SSN request. Julie immigrated 8 days ago, so that has put us at least a week behind on getting the SSN.

However - the clerk said she'd get it in the mail within a week, most likely, which is still a week ahead of what we'd been told it would take when it was generated via the DS-260.

My advice? I think it probably depends on your POE - and JFK has three terminals that handle international flights - so perhaps it's only Terminal 7 that doesn't tick the box on the system. But double-check - either at POE, or...go into your local office if you can. Try to make sure you understand whether they've done it at the POE - otherwise, you will HAVE to go to your local office.

By the way - New York is a tough state in which to get a license if you are anything but Canadian. They do not allow reciprocal privileges for any other country. Julie, at nearly 60 years old, will be required to get a learner's permit first, take at least 5 hours of driving lessons, and take both a written and a driving test. I've got to teach her how to parallel park.....

Sukie in NY

Edited July 25, 2014 by Sukie

[Sukie 1,460]

Interview on July 22nd in Sydney APPROVED.

Super easy and everyone was very friendly!

Woo-hoo, Caitlin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you!!! Be sure to write a review on the Sydney Consulate!

When/where is your POE?????

Sukie in NY

[MoBar65 520]

Hey folks! Waving from the Hudson Valley in New York with some friendly advice about Social Security Numbers!

We very clearly ticked the box saying we wanted Julie to get her Social Security Number (it's in the DS-260). Someone on the list (thank you, whoever you were) said it was good to remind the CBP officer at the POE to make sure the box was checked on their screen too, because that is really the place that the SSN request is generated.

We very carefully mentioned it to both the first CBP officer at JFK, and he heard us, but didn't comment. We also mentioned it to the second CBP officer in the secondary room after he said that everything would be sent to the address specified in the DS-260. I said something like - that means the Social Security Number too, right? And he said, Oh, you can go to your local office to apply for that.

Neither of us was willing to push a CBP officer further and tell him to check the box on the screen, so we just got out of there.

But we did wonder if the SSN request was in the system, or whether we needed to go into our local office. I really didn't want to go to our local office. We live in a very small town that is not, as a whole, well-educated or very wealthy, and I've been in the SSN office before, and it wasn't too pleasant.

But since Julie needs a Social Security Card in hand before she can apply for a Driver's License, we wanted to make sure the SSN generation was in process.

So we went to the office and Julie went up and checked to see if they could tell if a request had been generated. As it turns out, the clerk helping her (who had to be in her early 40s) had NEVER processed a CR-1 or IR-1 visa applicant before! She had to look everything up! We had to wait about 35 minutes in line - there were about 10 British young people ahead of us who were summer camp counselors getting their SSNs - so I found a paper copy of the application that Julie had filled out before her number was called.

And...it turned out that the CBP officers had NOT generated the SSN request. Julie immigrated 8 days ago, so that has put us at least a week behind on getting the SSN.

However - the clerk said she'd get it in the mail within a week, most likely, which is still a week ahead of what we'd been told it would take when it was generated via the DS-260.

My advice? I think it probably depends on your POE - and JFK has three terminals that handle international flights - so perhaps it's only Terminal 7 that doesn't tick the box on the system. But double-check - either at POE, or...go into your local office if you can. Try to make sure you understand whether they've done it at the POE - otherwise, you will HAVE to go to your local office.

By the way - New York is a tough state in which to get a license if you are anything but Canadian. They do not allow reciprocal privileges for any other country. Julie, at nearly 60 years old, will be required to get a learner's permit first, take at least 5 hours of driving lessons, and take both a written and a driving test. I've got to teach her how to parallel park.....

Sukie in NY

Hi Sukie,

I don't know if you're aware of it but until this business is concluded, Julie can use her foreign driver's license, as long as it is in English or accompanied by an international permit. At least this is the case in all the States I visited and rented vehicles from, unless this rule is not applicable to fresh immigrant arrivals. Just make sure she's insured.

PS. It was me who suggested nudging the CBP officer... sorry it didn't work and am glad you didn't overdo it.

[LifeOnHold 186]

This is not good: consulate system for processing passports and visas has crashed.

http://apne.ws/1z55ZEb

This has to be a joke right?? Seriously? All I wanted was my husband's visa issued by next week so we could fly in together. I know people have been waiting longer than me. But it just feels like when you are super close, something else delays it. This just means my in laws might fly in before my husband and I have to stay with them alone at the house. Oh brother....

Or he might not be with me for our Anniversary after all. No wonder nothing has changed on the Portal.

CEAC is a bit nutty... But at least it looks like things are moving.

7-18: status "Ready", status date changed 7-18 (day of the interview)

7-23: most of the day status "Ready", status date changed 7-21

7-23: after 5:30pm Brazil time status "Administrative Processing", status date changed 7-22 (yep, as of yesterday).

Hopefully tomorrow or Friday it'll show Issued/ mailed!

I'd love to be able to buy my ticket!

Congrats!! Glad yours is moving

FYI, CEAC does not always show the latest information. For my wife's case, it still shows Administrative Processing, even though I received an e-mail from ustraveldocs over 8 hours ago saying that her passport would be sent today, and then I learned from the courier (Pony Express) website that it was picked up from the embassy almost 4 hours ago. So now it's in transit, and I feel much better.

Here's something I found helpful. You can send an e-mail to: passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com, and just put the passport number in the subject line (nothing else in the subject or body of e-mail). You then get a pretty quick auto-reply that tells you what's happening. Earlier today, I received, "Your passport is still with post." But now, I get, "In Transit From Post."

But CEAC still says Administrative Processing...

Thank you for this info!!!

[LifeOnHold 186]

VISA APPROVED!

It took 2 hours, everyone was friendly. I got really worried when they told me I might have to come back in a week because there was a computer system problem and that they couldn't access my ds260... right before she was going to give up, it got unlocked!

I'll write a review of the embassy.

PS: when the PO told me congrats and that we were approved, I just left. I had nothing to sign before leaving right? I got so surprised the interview itself took only 3 minutes I was confused and just left without asking...

Congrats!!! Can't believe the system decided to crash now.

You had nothing to do. Just skip away from the US Consulate lol. Wonder if it was the same young girl who interviewed us.

[LifeOnHold 186]

I read this in US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: CONSULAR AFFAIR facebook page. image.jpg image.jpg

This must have crashed right after our interview on the 22nd. Guess we are lucky we at least got the interview in and they didn't have to reschedule us.