OMGOMGOMG expedite request approved!!

[casualsurfer 25]

I sent an expedite request, thinking the worst thing they can say is no, to NVC a few weeks ago. Today I received in my mail a letter stating that the expedite request has been approved and that the case has been accepted and forwarded to AIT. The letter was dated 1 week ago so I have no idea where the file is now.

Question is, what now? I filled out the AOS, paid the AOS fee, but was waiting to pay the IV fee so I can do the DS-261, but now I have no idea what in the world I'm to do.

I'm so excited but at the same time completely thrown off.

[Karam and Jamie 44]

Just curious, what was your case for having it expedited?

[imse82 45]

I sent an expedite request, thinking the worst thing they can say is no, to NVC a few weeks ago. Today I received in my mail a letter stating that the expedite request has been approved and that the case has been accepted and forwarded to AIT. The letter was dated 1 week ago so I have no idea where the file is now.

Question is, what now? I filled out the AOS, paid the AOS fee, but was waiting to pay the IV fee so I can do the DS-261, but now I have no idea what in the world I'm to do.

I'm so excited but at the same time completely thrown off.

May I ask what was the reason for your expedite?

[JIJourney 96]

congratz

[MUXAGIRL 69]

@casualsurfer

I am going to help you out here, because I have been through this myself two months ago. What you can do right now is DO NOT SEND ANYTHING TO NVC ANYMORE. sorry for all caps, but it's important. The file is out of their hand, it's with the consulate now. All paperwork should be sent to your WIFE from now on, she has to carry them by hand to her interview.

My case was also expedited in May and within three days it had arrived at the consulate in India from NVC. The consulate did not contact me, I contacted them after I checked my case status on CEAC and then they sent me link on ustraveldocs to schedule my own biometrics and interview online.

Here is what you can do, go to ceac.state.gov and under immigrant visa category check your case status. You can put your case number and it will tell you if it is "At NVC" or " In Transit" or " Ready for interview". If its " ready for interview" it's already in Taiwan, you can contact the US embassy customer service by sending them email at <support- taiwan@ustraveldocs.com>, then they will guide you from there.

You spouse can go for her interview within a matter of days now, depending upon the available interview slots at the embassy and her readiness with required documents. I would advise you to not be too hasty and do your AOS paper work first and send them to your wife before scheduling anything with the embassy.

The IV fee can be paid at the embassy at the time of interview. To the embassy, your spouse should carry the exact amount in CASH, they do not take credit cards. You can still check online on ceac.state.gov if IV fee payment option is available to you now or not,

your wife should fill out DS-260 online if she has not already. I am assuming it should be available to her even if IV fees are not paid, since this is an expedited case. If its not available yet, she should contact the embassy and they will assist her in accessing it online.She needs couple of printouts of the DS-260 submission confirmation page.

Since you were in the stage of paying fees, I am assuming the civil and AOS documents have not been sent to NVC. If you have not done that, the best thing you can do is DHL the following to your wife ASAP

1. Filled and signed I-864. If she is the only person immigrating and you are the only sponsor and sponsoring from your income which can be entirely accounted for by W2, it is advisable to use I-864 EZ instead. Much less headache.

2. About six or seven recent pay stubs of yours, originals not necessary, xerox will do. If you are using other means as proof of income, then documented proof of that, including bank statements. Please note, bank statements are not necessary if the income stated on your W2 are above required minimum amount, which is around $22k/yr.

3. Your 2013 tax return transcript or copy of your 2013 form 1040 which you submitted to IRS. This is mandatory.

4. Optional is previous two years tax return transcripts, you can add them if you have them, or download them from IRS.gov

5. Your job letter, if any, which states you salary, length of employment etc.

Your spouse should not schedule the interview in haste before all the documents are received by her and are ready.

For civil documents, she should carry her original birth certificate, original marriage certificate, any record of previous marriage(s), divorce record(if any), original police clearance certificate from her local passport office, two 2by2 passport photographs, her DS-260 confirmation page and of course her passport with at least six months left on it.

AFTER she receives all the AOS documents from you, after she has successfully submitted DS-260 online and prints out the confirmation page, when she is confident she has all the AOS and IV docs ready to go, she should call the embassy again to schedule her biometrics and interview. She can do it herself online on ustraveldocs.com/tw or schedule it over the phone. She should print out the IV interview schedule confirmation page which will have her name, the time of biometrics appointment and time of interview on two different days, her passport number, her visa category etc.

Next thing she has to do is call the US embassy approved doctor nearest to her and schedule her physical. They will need the interview confirmation page, which is nothing like the interview letter people generally receive from NVC and they will need the DS-260 confirmation page which has her case number along with 2by2 photographs, and her original passport for verification. Most people, starting from the doctors assistants to the embassy officials, do not know how to go about an expedited case, so they might keep on asking for the NVC interview letter, but she needs to explain that hers is an expedited case and take a copy of the expedite request approval letter with her if available.

She needs to have enough time in between her medical and biometrics appointment so that the doctors report is ready before she goes to the embassy.

Doctors reports come in two sealed envelops, one is her medical checkup report and the other is the Chest x-ray. She needs to bring only the smaller medical report with her to the embassy on the day of the actual interview. She is not allowed to open those envelops.

To the biometrics appointment, she needs to take the DS-260 confirmation page, her biometrics and interview schedule confirmation page and her passport. The process takes couple of minutes. they will stamp the interview confirmation page after the fingerprints are taken.

To her actual interview, she needs to take that stamped page from the biometrics along with all her docs, which will include, but not limited to

1. Her valid passport and all her previous, old, expired passports if she has any, including passport of any other country if she has dual citizenship.

2. All her AOS docs from you

3. All her original civil documents plus photocopies of the said documents

4. Proof of bona vide marriage. You know this can include a lot of things, but lots of photographs of the two of you is a must.

5. Her sealed medical report.

6. Again, the DS-260 confirmation page and the stamped interview confirmation page from the OFC appointment. The biometrics appointment is called the OFC appointment.

7. A great attitude.

Phew! I hope this answers your question.

[MUXAGIRL 69]

@ casualsurfer

I just noticed in your time line that you have sent the AOS package to NVC. But have they reviewed it? If they have not reviewed it, chances are those docs have not been forwarded to the embassy. This happened to me. When my case was expedited, all our fees were paid, I had submitted DS-260, our AOS package was reviewed and our IV pack was received but not reviewed. And guess what, NVc did not forward the IV docs to the consulate! Thankfully, I had another set of IV docs with me, except my MC. Just recently NVC returned my original IV docs to my husband in the US and advised me to " carry them with me to the interview". My interview was almost two months ago!

Anyway, I strongly advise you to send another set of AOS docs to your wife in Taiwan, just to be on the safe side. That means filling out another I-864 with your original signature.Everyone is really confused when a case is expedited mid processing, so chances are NVC has NOT forwarded the docs which are not reviewed yet.

[casualsurfer 25]

@ casualsurfer

I just noticed in your time line that you have sent the AOS package to NVC. But have they reviewed it? If they have not reviewed it, chances are those docs have not been forwarded to the embassy. This happened to me. When my case was expedited, all our fees were paid, I had submitted DS-260, our AOS package was reviewed and our IV pack was received but not reviewed. And guess what, NVc did not forward the IV docs to the consulate! Thankfully, I had another set of IV docs with me, except my MC. Just recently NVC returned my original IV docs to my husband in the US and advised me to " carry them with me to the interview". My interview was almost two months ago!

Anyway, I strongly advise you to send another set of AOS docs to your wife in Taiwan, just to be on the safe side. That means filling out another I-864 with your original signature.Everyone is really confused when a case is expedited mid processing, so chances are NVC has NOT forwarded the docs which are not reviewed yet.

Really appreciate your thoughtful, and detailed response, thank you so much!! I will prepare all the documents for my wife now.

[casualsurfer 25]

Just curious, what was your case for having it expedited?

Personal and financial hardship. I have two children and one of them has a disability which I have been struggling to juggle between earning a living and making sure all the help is being provided to address the condition. Having my wife here will help tremendously, since that's what she went to college for (child development).

[casualsurfer 25]

@ casualsurfer

I just noticed in your time line that you have sent the AOS package to NVC. But have they reviewed it? If they have not reviewed it, chances are those docs have not been forwarded to the embassy. This happened to me. When my case was expedited, all our fees were paid, I had submitted DS-260, our AOS package was reviewed and our IV pack was received but not reviewed. And guess what, NVc did not forward the IV docs to the consulate! Thankfully, I had another set of IV docs with me, except my MC. Just recently NVC returned my original IV docs to my husband in the US and advised me to " carry them with me to the interview". My interview was almost two months ago!

Anyway, I strongly advise you to send another set of AOS docs to your wife in Taiwan, just to be on the safe side. That means filling out another I-864 with your original signature.Everyone is really confused when a case is expedited mid processing, so chances are NVC has NOT forwarded the docs which are not reviewed yet.

I've kept copies and multiple certified copies of everything so I will send my wife both the AOS packet and the IV packet items that I have on hand.

Thank you again!

[bilou0323 0]

but could anyone axplain more what the expedite request means ???

thanks !

[Married4Life13 38]

@casualsurfer

I am going to help you out here, because I have been through this myself two months ago. What you can do right now is DO NOT SEND ANYTHING TO NVC ANYMORE. sorry for all caps, but it's important. The file is out of their hand, it's with the consulate now. All paperwork should be sent to your WIFE from now on, she has to carry them by hand to her interview.

My case was also expedited in May and within three days it had arrived at the consulate in India from NVC. The consulate did not contact me, I contacted them after I checked my case status on CEAC and then they sent me link on ustraveldocs to schedule my own biometrics and interview online.

Here is what you can do, go to ceac.state.gov and under immigrant visa category check your case status. You can put your case number and it will tell you if it is "At NVC" or " In Transit" or " Ready for interview". If its " ready for interview" it's already in Taiwan, you can contact the US embassy customer service by sending them email at <support- taiwan@ustraveldocs.com>, then they will guide you from there.

You spouse can go for her interview within a matter of days now, depending upon the available interview slots at the embassy and her readiness with required documents. I would advise you to not be too hasty and do your AOS paper work first and send them to your wife before scheduling anything with the embassy.

The IV fee can be paid at the embassy at the time of interview. To the embassy, your spouse should carry the exact amount in CASH, they do not take credit cards. You can still check online on ceac.state.gov if IV fee payment option is available to you now or not,

your wife should fill out DS-260 online if she has not already. I am assuming it should be available to her even if IV fees are not paid, since this is an expedited case. If its not available yet, she should contact the embassy and they will assist her in accessing it online.She needs couple of printouts of the DS-260 submission confirmation page.

Since you were in the stage of paying fees, I am assuming the civil and AOS documents have not been sent to NVC. If you have not done that, the best thing you can do is DHL the following to your wife ASAP

1. Filled and signed I-864. If she is the only person immigrating and you are the only sponsor and sponsoring from your income which can be entirely accounted for by W2, it is advisable to use I-864 EZ instead. Much less headache.

2. About six or seven recent pay stubs of yours, originals not necessary, xerox will do. If you are using other means as proof of income, then documented proof of that, including bank statements. Please note, bank statements are not necessary if the income stated on your W2 are above required minimum amount, which is around $22k/yr.

3. Your 2013 tax return transcript or copy of your 2013 form 1040 which you submitted to IRS. This is mandatory.

4. Optional is previous two years tax return transcripts, you can add them if you have them, or download them from IRS.gov

5. Your job letter, if any, which states you salary, length of employment etc.

Your spouse should not schedule the interview in haste before all the documents are received by her and are ready.

For civil documents, she should carry her original birth certificate, original marriage certificate, any record of previous marriage(s), divorce record(if any), original police clearance certificate from her local passport office, two 2by2 passport photographs, her DS-260 confirmation page and of course her passport with at least six months left on it.

AFTER she receives all the AOS documents from you, after she has successfully submitted DS-260 online and prints out the confirmation page, when she is confident she has all the AOS and IV docs ready to go, she should call the embassy again to schedule her biometrics and interview. She can do it herself online on ustraveldocs.com/tw or schedule it over the phone. She should print out the IV interview schedule confirmation page which will have her name, the time of biometrics appointment and time of interview on two different days, her passport number, her visa category etc.

Next thing she has to do is call the US embassy approved doctor nearest to her and schedule her physical. They will need the interview confirmation page, which is nothing like the interview letter people generally receive from NVC and they will need the DS-260 confirmation page which has her case number along with 2by2 photographs, and her original passport for verification. Most people, starting from the doctors assistants to the embassy officials, do not know how to go about an expedited case, so they might keep on asking for the NVC interview letter, but she needs to explain that hers is an expedited case and take a copy of the expedite request approval letter with her if available.

She needs to have enough time in between her medical and biometrics appointment so that the doctors report is ready before she goes to the embassy.

Doctors reports come in two sealed envelops, one is her medical checkup report and the other is the Chest x-ray. She needs to bring only the smaller medical report with her to the embassy on the day of the actual interview. She is not allowed to open those envelops.

To the biometrics appointment, she needs to take the DS-260 confirmation page, her biometrics and interview schedule confirmation page and her passport. The process takes couple of minutes. they will stamp the interview confirmation page after the fingerprints are taken.

To her actual interview, she needs to take that stamped page from the biometrics along with all her docs, which will include, but not limited to

1. Her valid passport and all her previous, old, expired passports if she has any, including passport of any other country if she has dual citizenship.

2. All her AOS docs from you

3. All her original civil documents plus photocopies of the said documents

4. Proof of bona vide marriage. You know this can include a lot of things, but lots of photographs of the two of you is a must.

5. Her sealed medical report.

6. Again, the DS-260 confirmation page and the stamped interview confirmation page from the OFC appointment. The biometrics appointment is called the OFC appointment.

7. A great attitude.

Phew! I hope this answers your question.

WOW! What an awesome response. Do you happen to know what I should do if the embassy I need to go to isn't on ustraveldocs.com? I'm guessing my husband should probably call them asap. I looked online and the status is *ready*.

I sent an expedite request, thinking the worst thing they can say is no, to NVC a few weeks ago. Today I received in my mail a letter stating that the expedite request has been approved and that the case has been accepted and forwarded to AIT. The letter was dated 1 week ago so I have no idea where the file is now.

Question is, what now? I filled out the AOS, paid the AOS fee, but was waiting to pay the IV fee so I can do the DS-261, but now I have no idea what in the world I'm to do.

I'm so excited but at the same time completely thrown off.

Congratulations! I did the same and I was shocked they expedited my case as well based on financial hardship. Woohoo!!

[MUXAGIRL 69]

Well, if the embassy is not on ustraveldocs then they must have a direct email/ phone number listed on their website. Each US consulate and embassy maintain their own website and they work with the ceac.state.gov as well.

So just email them directly, give them a call or both , the rest is pretty much the same as I posted above. I did not know there are some US embassies nor on ustraveldocs !

[Married4Life13 38]

Well, if the embassy is not on ustraveldocs then they must have a direct email/ phone number listed on their website. Each US consulate and embassy maintain their own website and they work with the ceac.state.gov as well.

So just email them directly, give them a call or both , the rest is pretty much the same as I posted above. I did not know there are some US embassies nor on ustraveldocs !

Thank you! I'm surprised Belgium isn't listed on the site too. Odd eh. I will have my husband call tomorrow.

[casualsurfer 25]

but could anyone axplain more what the expedite request means ???

thanks !

It means bypassing NVC and go straight to the embassy/consulate.

[casualsurfer 25]

I got an email response from AIT today, and it was to be quite honest, really shitty.

Dear APPLICANT,

A petition for you to immigrate to the United States has been approved.

Please fill out the forms listed below and follow the instructions very carefully. The forms and instructions are known as Packet 3 and can be downloaded from both the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services web site (http://www.uscis.gov) and the AIT web site (http://www.ait.org.tw). If you are receiving this as an e-mail, you may also download these forms and associated instructions by clicking on the following links:

Forms:

1. Form DS-2001, Notification of Applicant Readiness

2. DS-260, online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application

3. I-864 (English only) http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864.pdf

(to be filled out by the petitioner)

Instructions:

1. Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants Overview

(English) http://www.ait.org.tw/get/iv.packet3/Packet3-English.pdf

(Chinese) http://www.ait.org.tw/get/iv.packet3/Packet3-Chinese.pdf

2. Poverty Guidelines (English and Chinese)

http://www.ait.org.tw/get/iv.packet3/LatestPovertyGuidelines.pdf

3. Photo Instructions (English and Chinese)

http://www.ait.org.tw/get/iv.packet3/PhotoInstructions.pdf

Your case is filed under your name as shown below. When communicating with this office either by e-mail, facsimile or mail, you must provide your name and case number exactly as shown in this letter. If any information in this letter is wrong or incomplete, please contact our office.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Section

American Institute in Taiwan

MOST of the important links they gave me are dead links! They don't tell me how long I have to wait after I submit this, and what the hell is a Packet 3? When should my wife go get her medical exam (on AIT's site it says don't do it until they tell you to go get the medical exam).

Anyway I'll fill out everything that I can - the DS-260 is suddenly available on the state.gov site so I've been filling it out.

And I'm paying for this! You (anyone who pays taxes) are paying for this.