Electronic Processing VS Snail Mail

[rowanheather 23]

I've finally reached the NVC stage of the CR1 process.

Since electronic processing is optional for Canada, I'm curious -- what is everyone finding faster -- EP or snail mail? I'm not sure which way to go.

[ricky and elaine 8]

I personally can't imagine if I hadn't done electronic filing. Even that was slow. They have 20 business days to look at each thing so why waste time mailing. It took more that a week to get acknowledgements about filings. Our case was received Jan 9/14. We didn't get our numbers until Feb 9/14 And from there it took 2 months. My vote...electronic file. Its also much faster if you have any RFE or Check list. Just my humble opinion. Good part we only had to wait 6 wks for interview. Good luck!

[deej1973 4]

I personally can't imagine if I hadn't done electronic filing. Even that was slow. They have 20 business days to look at each thing so why waste time mailing. It took more that a week to get acknowledgements about filings. Our case was received Jan 9/14. We didn't get our numbers until Feb 9/14 And from there it took 2 months. My vote...electronic file. Its also much faster if you have any RFE or Check list. Just my humble opinion. Good part we only had to wait 6 wks for interview. Good luck!

Did you have to enroll to do electronic filing? Some places I see you do and others say no. I just got my case number at NVC on 6/23.

Thanks.

[ricky and elaine 8]

Check out Saylins guide for Canadians thru NVC it tells it all. I believe you need to send in the opt in email formatted correctly. It takes awhile to get a response though..Seems to get approved before you get the approval email. I kept calling.

[NikLR 13,232]

You no longer have to send in an ENROLL email.

which is nice because that means you don't have to wait for the enroll confirmation either!

[BatmanFlow 481]

good topic. I am also debating whether to use snail mail or EP. Maybe ill just try EP as well.

But first still waiting for that elusive approval of my petition! hahaha

Edited July 3, 2014 by BatmanFlow

[Sparkles2013 9]

Electronic seems like a much simpler way to go! How exactly do we opt to do that rather than snail mail...may as well save on postage if we can!
anyone know of any guides for this process?

[Sparkles2013 9]

Did some more digging.. Looks like you literally can just opt to do one or the other (but once you choose, you cant change your mind)

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/submit/how-to-submit-documents-to-the-nvc.html#GroupA

[NikLR 13,232]

Did some more digging.. Looks like you literally can just opt to do one or the other (but once you choose, you cant change your mind)

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/submit/how-to-submit-documents-to-the-nvc.html#GroupA

Yep, once you email, you can't snail mail and once you snail mail you can't email.

Electronic seems like a much simpler way to go! How exactly do we opt to do that rather than snail mail...may as well save on postage if we can!

anyone know of any guides for this process?

You simply send the documentation via email to the required email address. There's no optin or enroll process anymore.

Can you fix your timeline to reflect Montreal please?

[Sparkles2013 9]

Yep, once you email, you can't snail mail and once you snail mail you can't email.

You simply send the documentation via email to the required email address. There's no optin or enroll process anymore.

Can you fix your timeline to reflect Montreal please?

Ok perfect.

my timeline? does it not already reflect Montreal?

[NikLR 13,232]

does now..

[Lakehouse 293]

Electronic seems like a much simpler way to go! How exactly do we opt to do that rather than snail mail...may as well save on postage if we can!

anyone know of any guides for this process?

We chose snail mail and were glad we did, as we could call and check on the status of items, knew when they were received via tracking, knew when they were scanned in by calling, and didn't have the rigmarole that a lot of EP filers were having at the time - which included waiting forever for the ENROLL confirmation email that is no longer required per other's reports.

Our one tiny hitch was having them temporarily 'lose' my police report likely when they scanned in the package, even though all pages were binder clipped together (maybe it was a stall tactic ), but that was resolved quickly thankfully, unlike some other people who's missing documents became quite a nightmare.

The best guide is of course Saylin! I'm sure you've read her Wiki by now, along with her newly revised EP section.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/503660-nvc-filers-july-2014/

Her first post includes what you'll need

Good luck!

[Smyte 0]

My EP process has been excruciating. I'm not sure if that is caused by the EP, or simply my bad luck.

That said, I really like being able to scan all my documents, apply my case number with a little Post-it in the corner, and not send originals away. I've had hard lessons about lost originals that makes me dodge sending them if at all possible.

BTW - @Lakehouse - I read your timeline and get super angry. Grrr. Not at you, but at the capricious and nutty process. My start date is three months before yours. And I'm still not out of NVC. And you already have yours approved? So given my three month lead time, and (at least) three more months to get visa in hand, it somehow takes us six months longer to walk the same path? I could cry....

Edit for finishing my thought after getting distracted by Timeline envy.

Edited July 12, 2014 by Smyte