Visa Application for My Mother

[gadt25 1]

Filed an I-130 for my mom in the Philippines that was approved December 4, 2014. Next we received an email instructing us to choose an agent. We did that (I named myself) and we were instructed to wait a few days and then check to see if we could submit the $120 application fee. We did that successfully. Again we were instructed to wait until the check cleared the bank. It did just yesterday. Now we are being instructed to complete Forms I-864 and I-864a and gather financial documents even though this is step 4 and not 3. (Step 3 is to file visa application Form !)

My question is where and when to submit the I-864 and I-864a?

There's a box on the Application Receipt page requesting payment from the Applicant who would be my Mom. But the box to pay is grayed out not allowing us to pay. Why? Does the payment have to be made before DS-260 can be completed? Who completes it, my Mom or us (her agent)?

Thanks !

[oatmeal 8]

The DS260 will generate after the IV payment. You can complete it in behalf of your mom. you can send the AOS in the NVC.

[gadt25 1]

But the receipt page will not allow me to pay the IV fee. The "submit" box is grayed out and says "Not Invoiced" What does this mean? When do I send the AOS? Can I send it now? What address?

[oatmeal 8]

You have to wait the invoice from the nvc, you will receive an email for that. If you paid the AOS, print the barcoded sheet (it has address too) and attach to your documents.

Yes, you can send it now.

[gadt25 1]

Thank you ! Very helpful.

[dzt 1]

I have the same situation as gadt25.

I wanted to start visa application, but it has status "not invoiced" and there is no access to application form yet.

You have to wait the invoice from the nvc, you will receive an email for that. If you paid the AOS, print the barcoded sheet (it has address too) and attach to your documents.

Yes, you can send it now.

Do I need to send AOS and all required financial documents to NVC first? So does step 4 go earlier than step 3? Does it make any sense?

If it`s correct. When are we going to have an access to our Immigrant Visa applications?

Thank you in advance!

[oatmeal 8]

You can send the AOS documents after paying it. In a few weeks you will receive an IV invoice email from nvc. The immigrant application is the last thing to do after sending your IV documents to NVC.

[gadt25 1]

dzt is right, the instructions are very confusing and make no sense. One would think the steps are to be followed in sequence but it appears to be not so. The instructions really don't say the documents need to be submitted before the application is filled out. In fact the instructions seem to say that all documentation should be submitted in step 6 including the AOS. We sent the AOS yesterday on your advice oatmeal. But the instructions say to submit everything in ONE package and if you don't it might result in significant delay !

I was assuming NVC needed the AOS before they would invoice for the IV. Terrible instructions.

[oatmeal 8]

Got CC last month for my mother's petition. Its very important to send the AOS docs right away. They will review the case within 60 days. If you are lucky you won't get a checklist. For my friend it took 3 months before she received the IV invoiced. Nobody can tell how long you will receive the invoice.

[dzt 1]

dzt is right, the instructions are very confusing and make no sense. One would think the steps are to be followed in sequence but it appears to be not so. The instructions really don't say the documents need to be submitted before the application is filled out. In fact the instructions seem to say that all documentation should be submitted in step 6 including the AOS. We sent the AOS yesterday on your advice oatmeal. But the instructions say to submit everything in ONE package and if you don't it might result in significant delay !

I was assuming NVC needed the AOS before they would invoice for the IV. Terrible instructions.

I am agree, that there is a lot of confusing stuff in these instructions.

As I see it now. We need to do step 4 (which is - http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Step_4_Collect_Financial_Documents.html) BEFOREstep 3.

So it means we need to send (in most common case) the following docs in AOS package:

a) I-864EZ (or I-864W, or I-864) - with pay stub with name of the company and name of the petitioner, which is issued within last 3 months and which is signed business letterhead.

Could please anybody explain, what does signed business letterhead mean? Regular pay stub doesn`t work?

b) tax transcripts.

c) proof of relationship (birth certificate).

d) proof of US status.

Then we wait about 60 days. In about 2 months NVC emails us invoice for Immigration Visa application (which is step 3 in instructions!!!). It supposed to give us an access for application.

But here I have another question. Are we going to send support documents (step 5) http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Supporting_documents.htmlbefore step 3 or after?

Sounds stupid, I know. But if step 4 goes before step 3, it means that step 5 can also be ahead of step 3...

Thank you for your help and advice, guys! I DO really appreciate it!

p.s. I have also questions about originals/photocopies on stage 5/6, but I am going to ask it next time

[gadt25 1]

I am agree, that there is a lot of confusing stuff in these instructions.

As I see it now. We need to do step 4 (which is - http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Step_4_Collect_Financial_Documents.html) BEFOREstep 3.

So it means we need to send (in most common case) the following docs in AOS package:

a) I-864EZ (or I-864W, or I-864) - with pay stub with name of the company and name of the petitioner, which is issued within last 3 months and which is signed business letterhead.

Could please anybody explain, what does signed business letterhead mean? Regular pay stub doesn`t work?

b) tax transcripts.

c) proof of relationship (birth certificate).

d) proof of US status.

Then we wait about 60 days. In about 2 months NVC emails us invoice for Immigration Visa application (which is step 3 in instructions!!!). It supposed to give us an access for application.

But here I have another question. Are we going to send support documents (step 5) http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Supporting_documents.htmlbefore step 3 or after?

Sounds stupid, I know. But if step 4 goes before step 3, it means that step 5 can also be ahead of step 3...

Thank you for your help and advice, guys! I DO really appreciate it!

p.s. I have also questions about originals/photocopies on stage 5/6, but I am going to ask it next time

If you follow the instructions it appears the State Dept expects you to sit back and wait to be invoiced first BEFORE sending the AOS package. So I guess step 3 is before step 4. The 864 is different for everyone. Did you print the instructions to Form I-864? The answers to your questions are there. The supporting financial documents are NOT required. They are optional. You can include pay stubs showing income for the last 6 months or a letter from your employer showing their name address phone number and your annual salary. Letterhead means preprinted employer paper. Or you can submit both. The most important financial evidence is your tax transcripts or returns. Again it appears from the instructions that you complete the DS-260 first and then submit ALL documents at once. The supporting visa application documents AND the AOS documents. This follows the sequence of steps. Anyone else care to comment or correct me?

Edited February 16, 2015 by gadt25

[oatmeal 8]

The DS260 will not generate after IV. Here's the thing. It's all up to you if you wait the IV to be invoice before sending all the documents. The point is They will review your AOS within 60 days, most of the people got checklist on this.

[dzt 1]

Thank you for your replies!

most of the people got checklist on this.

What does it mean?

[oatmeal 8]

Thank you for your replies!

What does it mean?

They will send you a checklist if there's something missing or wrong in your aos documents. Then if you get the checklist, its another 60 days waiting period. So what I do, I sent my AOS first while waiting for my IV invoice.

[dzt 1]

They will send you a checklist if there's something missing or wrong in your aos documents. Then if you get the checklist, its another 60 days waiting period. So what I do, I sent my AOS first while waiting for my IV invoice.

Thank you! It makes sense. I`ll do the same.

Another question I have is about originals/photocopies which needed to be sent to NVC as a supporting documents.

Do we need to send to NVC photocopies of our documents with certified translations? Here it says http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Supporting_documents.html -

You and each family member accompanying you must obtain an original (or certified copy) of your birth certificate(s).

• You must submit a photocopy of each birth certificate to the NVC.
• You must submit the original birth certificate(s) (or a certified copy) and a photocopy of each birth certificate to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of the interview.

I have this question because one of my friends just finished the whole process recently and for this stage #5 he have sent originals (or official duplicates) of birth certificates, marriage certificate, military records etc. to NVC.

But I believe, for this stag ORIGINALS later - in the Embassy in Warsaw (because my parents are going to Poland). So may we bring our originals to Warsaw only?