DS-261 Error

[jonperu 0]

I'm a US citizen, and my I-130 petition for my father in Peru has been approved. I have just been emailed by the NVC with details for next steps. I have encountered what may be a technical error in attempting to complete step 1, completion of form DS-261. When I visit the DS-261 form at ceac.state.gov, I am asked for 3 pieces of information:

• Case Number
• Principal Applicant's Date of Birth
• "I am the": (Petitioner)

Upon clicking "Continue", I am given an error: "The selected Case Number and Invoice Identification Number combination you entered does not match our records. Please try again or contact the National Visa Center for further assistance." This error message is strange because I am never prompted for the "Invoice Identification Number." I have tried multiple times over multiple days, at different times, from various computers using a variety of browsers. Just to do exhaustive troubleshooting / error checking, I have tried entering my invoice ID number instead of my case number, I've tried my own DOB, I've tried selecting the options other than "petitioner", with no luck. I have double, triple, and quadruple checked my Case Number and that my father's DOB is entered accurately as stated on the original I-130. The error message is always the same. I have tried calling the NVC phone number (603) 334-0700 a number of times, but have been unable to reach an operator for support.

I have attached a screenshot of the error I am shown.

Please let me know if you have any guidance to help resolve this issue.

Thanks!

[MrsBeaver 21]

I just did the Ceac.state.gov. Ds 261. You need your invoice and case number. Best time to call NVC is early morning. I call at 6am CST. Hood luck. It's not the computer it's the information your typing in.

[jonperu 0]

I finally got through to the NVC phone number this morning (finally connected at about 10:30am EST, then waited on hold for about 30 minutes), and with their help the problem has been solved! I had been using the USCIS case number which starts with "LIN".

For some reason, when an NVC support rep sent me an email a few days ago, they listed my USCIS case number, and did not list any NVC case number. With the NVC phone rep's guidance, I found an email from state.gov that I had originally missed, buried under a pile of SPAM, that had the correct NVC case number!

I've now submitted DS-261 and need to wait 15 days. Does anyone know, is that 15 business days or 15 calendar days? Is there any way to tell by logging in that the site is ready to take the next step?

[Darnell 8,478]

on a pc? signature view enabled? cool !

click the link below: