December 2014 filers (TSC) - post NOA2 approval thread

[roralau 8]

If you go back in this thread someone answered me about this with also a link to another thread only about that

Sorry if this was already covered, but I just tried to search and couldn't find it. How do you track with Dhl?

anc ceac is the Consular Electronic Application Center: On this website, you can apply for a U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa; apply to renew an A, G, or NATO Visa; apply for an Immigrant Visa; or check the status of your visa application. On this website, you can also pay certain fees associated with your Immigrant Visa application.

Please note that, in most situations, submitting your application is just one of the steps in the application process. Please select the appropriate application for more information.

To learn more about obtaining a United States visa or passport, please visit http://travel.state.gov.

Hi rfi087!

First of all - thank you for taking the time to respond to my post!
I worry a little bit that it came off kind of accusatory - and I didn't mean for it to. I'm actually frustrated BECAUSE i can't find the information I'm looking for.

I've been to the flow chart link many times, but it actually doesn't provide answers to the questions I posed. For example, it never actually tells you about CEAC, or what that is? It also doesn't provide specifics about how you can track your applications. Aside from one mention of DHL, it doesnt outline the process of how one goes about searching it, ect.

I've also been to the American Embassy site in Canada, mine actually the embassy in Vancouver. I've familiarized myself with it as much as I could - but again - that information is not provided. Aside from general info on K1s, and a link to download packet 3, (which I have), it doesn't actually outline the process for you in any way.

I have not seen this Canada thread, so I will definitely do some digging there to see if I find anything.

And my general question is, where are you all researching this information outside of VJ? Because the state department doesnt provide this information, USCIS doesn't provide this information, the embassy websites don't provide this information - then where are you finding it? How are you trusting your sources? Ect.

Thanks for bearing with me. I'm just trying to find my footing here, and I want to make sure I understand what's happening with our case (as you all are), every step of the way.

Ps: everyone here tries to help with the information we gathered from our experiences and what other told us..

Of course each case is unique, so the replies are just a little help to understand better what's going on in the big picture...

Edited August 5, 2015 by roralau

[TabeaK 517]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I'm the only one - but I am actually frustrated by how over the place everyone is on this board. And I think it's because there is no single, clear post that states a timeline as well as all the steps of what happens after you get your NOA2.

I am hoping - begging - in fact, that someone who has already scheduled their interview PLEASE post a full post about everything that happens from the time you get your NOA2 approval in an email to the time you scheduled an interview.

I know (and I'm sorry) that this is too much to ask - but this would clear so much for everyone who is somewhere in between getting their NOA2 and NVC and NVC and embassy.

There is no clarity on what is happening, and no one really answers questions fully.

I tried to post a list of questions by timeline a couple of weeks ago, but except one person - no one really answered. If this is a community of support, then I please ask those of you who are ahead in your immigration process to not forget those that are slightly behind. We are in the dark, we don't know what's going on, and we have 10 posts trying to clarify one questions that in the end gets confusing and ultimately loses meaning.

Come on guys. Please.

I'll even repost my questions on which you could expand:

1) After you get your NOA2 (email and hard copy), the next thing that happens is you get an email confirmation a few days later from the USCIS that confirms that your case has been sent to the NVC.

--- After that --- I don't actually know what happens because this is the stage we're at. So -

2) How do you track if your case has arrived at the NVC?

3) When you call the NVC, appx 10-15 days after you get an email from USCIS confirming it shipped your case, you ask for a new case number. Which technically should be assigned to you immediately on the phone?

4) After your case number is assigned to you, is your case considered 'ready' for the embassy and gets sent to the embassy THE SAME DAY? If not, how may days pass before this happens?

5) Some of you have said that once you get your case number from NVC, you can begin tracking where you case is via something called CEAC? No one explained what this is, where to find it, or how far it can track your case?

6) BECAUSE, at some point, you can't track your case via CEAC, and have to track it through DHL?

7) Then someone says, that there is some kind of a trick to tracking your case via DHL? There is no clarity on this whatsoever....

8) At some point, if you are able to track movement of your case from NVC via DHL, it gets to the embassy, and the case status goes to 'READY' - presumably this is what you see what you type your case number at the DHL site? Yes? No?

9) You then either wait for the embassy to call YOU, or YOU call the embassy and ask for packet 3?

10) Packet 3 gets sent to you, and you confirm all your paperwork is complete. This is also when you complete your DS160 form, send them a confirmation back, send them a fee payment confirmation back.

11) Embassy gets back to you and schedules your interview and medical?

Am I right? Wrong? Off?

I'm really hoping we can all work together on this to clarify all these questions for all those still waiting.

Thank you.

I appreciate your frustration, but the reason you can't find a completely clear guide is because after NOA-2 the process is variable and country specific. You may have more luck on the Canada board, but I'll give it a shot.

1) Yes, at TSC you get an email confirmation and status update, that the case was forwared to NVC. CSC does not update the case status nor sends an email. The time from NOA-2 to case sent is highly variable - like 2 days to three weeks or something. For me it was 11 days.

2) Only way to track is calling NVC.

3) NVC assigns the case number on their own time. Either you are lucky they have already done so by the time you call or you have to call back. NVC receive took 9 days for me after the email that USCIS had it shipped. First time I called there was no case number, that took another 5 days. Again, timelines are extremely variable - no prediction possible. NVC ships cases to the embassy on their own time- no prediction and no personalized tracking possible. You can call and asked whether it has been sent and when it has been sent through.

4) No, the case is considered ready (trackable on ceac.state.gov with the NVC number) once the file has reached the embassy and the embassy has acknowledged receipt. This is often the electronic case file the embassy receives first, with the physical case file showing up later. In my experiences the status can be off by a week or more, i.e. saying ready before it actually is, or not saying anything despite the case being ready. Timelines very variable... It usually takes several days for the case to show up on CEAC as well.

5) ceac.state.gov, use your NVC case number to track under 'immigrant visa'

6) You can't really do personalized tracking through DHL, all you can do is track all shipments from NVC to ypur embassy as NVC uses a standardized shipper reference. But you will never know a particular package did actually contain your case.

7) See 6).

8) No. Your case number has no relation to DHL. You can track it on ceac, but it is not necessarily accurate - tends to be off by a few days.

9) No answer possible, each country has their own process. Some mail the applicant a letter, some don't. Some email the applicant, some don't. Some wait for the applicant to get in touch, some don't etc.

10) See 9). Country specific process. Some ask for pack 3 documents to be mailed, some have to take it to the interview.... What you definitely need is: a) DS-160, filled in, printed confirmation containing DS-160 barcode & confirmation number and b) paid visa fee - via ustraveldocs.com website (you need to create an account there) and c) the various documents for the embassy stage (birth cert, police cert, affidavit of support etc.

11) See 9) Country specific process. In Germany, for example, you schedule your own interview. In other countries the embassy does that...

[jadegreen 1]

After 238 days of waiting for our NOA2 it feels like I'm never going to be able to join in this group. Fingers crossed for soon though!

Congrats all

[kasiz 9]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I'm the only one - but I am actually frustrated by how over the place everyone is on this board. And I think it's because there is no single, clear post that states a timeline as well as all the steps of what happens after you get your NOA2.

I am hoping - begging - in fact, that someone who has already scheduled their interview PLEASE post a full post about everything that happens from the time you get your NOA2 approval in an email to the time you scheduled an interview.

I know (and I'm sorry) that this is too much to ask - but this would clear so much for everyone who is somewhere in between getting their NOA2 and NVC and NVC and embassy.

There is no clarity on what is happening, and no one really answers questions fully.

I tried to post a list of questions by timeline a couple of weeks ago, but except one person - no one really answered. If this is a community of support, then I please ask those of you who are ahead in your immigration process to not forget those that are slightly behind. We are in the dark, we don't know what's going on, and we have 10 posts trying to clarify one questions that in the end gets confusing and ultimately loses meaning.

Come on guys. Please.

I'll even repost my questions on which you could expand:

1) After you get your NOA2 (email and hard copy), the next thing that happens is you get an email confirmation a few days later from the USCIS that confirms that your case has been sent to the NVC.

--- After that --- I don't actually know what happens because this is the stage we're at. So -

2) How do you track if your case has arrived at the NVC?

3) When you call the NVC, appx 10-15 days after you get an email from USCIS confirming it shipped your case, you ask for a new case number. Which technically should be assigned to you immediately on the phone?

4) After your case number is assigned to you, is your case considered 'ready' for the embassy and gets sent to the embassy THE SAME DAY? If not, how may days pass before this happens?

5) Some of you have said that once you get your case number from NVC, you can begin tracking where you case is via something called CEAC? No one explained what this is, where to find it, or how far it can track your case?

6) BECAUSE, at some point, you can't track your case via CEAC, and have to track it through DHL?

7) Then someone says, that there is some kind of a trick to tracking your case via DHL? There is no clarity on this whatsoever....

8) At some point, if you are able to track movement of your case from NVC via DHL, it gets to the embassy, and the case status goes to 'READY' - presumably this is what you see what you type your case number at the DHL site? Yes? No?

9) You then either wait for the embassy to call YOU, or YOU call the embassy and ask for packet 3?

10) Packet 3 gets sent to you, and you confirm all your paperwork is complete. This is also when you complete your DS160 form, send them a confirmation back, send them a fee payment confirmation back.

11) Embassy gets back to you and schedules your interview and medical?

Am I right? Wrong? Off?

I'm really hoping we can all work together on this to clarify all these questions for all those still waiting.

Thank you.

I can hopefully help you out since I'm also applying from Canada and the process does get blurry past the NVC stage.

My NOA2 got approved on June 16th, and we didn't call NVC to get the new case number until July 10th. When we called we were given the new MTL number that was assigned (because they get shipped to Montreal) and were told that it was already sent off to Montreal.

I kept putting "non - immigrant" in the CEAC search when I was looking it up to see if it reached Montreal yet so that wasn't helpful. Finally I realized that you have to use "immigrant", and then my case came up. I honestly wouldn't try any other tricks to see where the case is, because if you keep checking CEAC then you'll for sure know that the consulate received your stuff.

The status on my CEAC was "Ready" and it said that they were ready to schedule the interview appt as of July 23rd. Then I checked again and the date on CEAC changed to July 27th. If you are planning on emailing your packet 3 before you get an actual physical copy in the mail then from what I've seen you should wait until the date changes on CEAC (from July 23rd to July 27th in my case) before you send your packet 3. I didn't wait to receive the physical copy of packet 3, because you can get it online http://photos.state.gov/libraries/canada/303578/montreal/Packet3-K1-MTL.pdf

I emailed packet 3 on July 29th along with the DS -160 barcode confirmation page and scanned passport page, I also added in the email that I would like all future correspondence done by email. The very next day they emailed me packet 4 and from there I was able to schedule the medical and the interview.

Since you asked, the embassy mails you packet 3. I received my packet 3 in the mail on July 31st I believe and it was dated as sent on July 23rd. So I assume they send you your packet 3 as soon as they receive your case in Montreal.

No payment for packet 3, you don't need to pay anything when you fill out DS - 160. You DO need to pay when you have your packet 4, and you do it right before you can schedule an interview.

When they email you packet 4 they give you the link to schedule the interview http://canada.usvisa-info.com and to schedule medical http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3739.html and also give you a list of what to bring for the interview. So basically you do all the work lol.

Make sure to schedule interview first, as the medical people will want to know that. If you're curious, mid September is what was available for Montreal interviews.

I hope that clears it up for you a bit!

[roralau 8]

Question about Packet 4: is that the email with the appointment, where they tell you the fees to pay and to register online for courier?

about the fees...just making sure to have understood : Fiancè Fee is $265 to be paid online PRIOR INTERVIEW + Immigrant Fee $325 to be paid AT THE EMBASSY ON INTERVIEW DAY?

is there anything else to pay?

[TabeaK 517]

No immigrant fee for K1.

When you pay the visa-fee is country dependent. Here in Germany you will not get pack 4 nor be allowed to schedule an interview without having paid the visa fee.

Edited August 5, 2015 by TabeaK

[roralau 8]

THANK YOU MUCH!!!

I got the email about the appointment and I was confused

No immigrant fee for K1.

When you pay the visa-fee is country dependent. Here in Germany you will not get pack 4 nor be allowed to schedule an interview without having paid the visa fee.

[Onago 2]

Hi there!

I'm happy to join this thread, we were aproved yesterday!!!

Hi

We were approved on 31/7 and the file sent to NVC on 4/08. I am the beneficiary. I live in Barcelona. Have you had your interview already? How was your interview?

[edame 0]

Hi

We were approved on 31/7 and the file sent to NVC on 4/08. I am the beneficiary. I live in Barcelona. Have you had your interview already? How was your interview?

Not yet, I sent the packet 3 back on 30/7 and I'm waiting for the packet 4. The consulate in Madrid send them by mail. I hope to receive it soon!!. I live in Valencia

[Onago 2]

Not yet, I sent the packet 3 back on 30/7 and I'm waiting for the packet 4. The consulate in Madrid send them by mail. I hope to receive it soon!!. I live in Valencia

Hi

Thats great. Valencia is not far from Barcelona. We should talk one of these days. My email address is gewavernon@gmail.com

[Bj1986 0]

Hey everyone! I'm a January filer but I thought I might be able to find some help here filling out my I-134

I work in sales and while my base salary is enough to cover the financial requirements, it fluctuates up and down with my base be well above the minimum. My taxes show significantly higher income for the last two years and I was wondering : Should I put my annual income for last year as shown by my taxes, or put my base salary??

Any help is appreciated and good luck to everyone!

[StephanieC 43]

I can hopefully help you out since I'm also applying from Canada and the process does get blurry past the NVC stage.

My NOA2 got approved on June 16th, and we didn't call NVC to get the new case number until July 10th. When we called we were given the new MTL number that was assigned (because they get shipped to Montreal) and were told that it was already sent off to Montreal.

I kept putting "non - immigrant" in the CEAC search when I was looking it up to see if it reached Montreal yet so that wasn't helpful. Finally I realized that you have to use "immigrant", and then my case came up. I honestly wouldn't try any other tricks to see where the case is, because if you keep checking CEAC then you'll for sure know that the consulate received your stuff.

The status on my CEAC was "Ready" and it said that they were ready to schedule the interview appt as of July 23rd. Then I checked again and the date on CEAC changed to July 27th. If you are planning on emailing your packet 3 before you get an actual physical copy in the mail then from what I've seen you should wait until the date changes on CEAC (from July 23rd to July 27th in my case) before you send your packet 3. I didn't wait to receive the physical copy of packet 3, because you can get it online http://photos.state.gov/libraries/canada/303578/montreal/Packet3-K1-MTL.pdf

I emailed packet 3 on July 29th along with the DS -160 barcode confirmation page and scanned passport page, I also added in the email that I would like all future correspondence done by email. The very next day they emailed me packet 4 and from there I was able to schedule the medical and the interview.

Since you asked, the embassy mails you packet 3. I received my packet 3 in the mail on July 31st I believe and it was dated as sent on July 23rd. So I assume they send you your packet 3 as soon as they receive your case in Montreal.

No payment for packet 3, you don't need to pay anything when you fill out DS - 160. You DO need to pay when you have your packet 4, and you do it right before you can schedule an interview.

When they email you packet 4 they give you the link to schedule the interview http://canada.usvisa-info.com and to schedule medical http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3739.html and also give you a list of what to bring for the interview. So basically you do all the work lol.

Make sure to schedule interview first, as the medical people will want to know that. If you're curious, mid September is what was available for Montreal interviews.

I hope that clears it up for you a bit!

I realise this is probably a silly question but I keep reading conflicting info, do you only electronically mail the 160 barcode and checklist and passport? I was reading somewhere about physically mailing the forms and a DS-156K x 1

DS-230 x 1 DS-156 x 2 and so on. My head started spinning.

[kasiz 9]

I realise this is probably a silly question but I keep reading conflicting info, do you only electronically mail the 160 barcode and checklist and passport? I was reading somewhere about physically mailing the forms and a DS-156K x 1

DS-230 x 1 DS-156 x 2 and so on. My head started spinning.

Yes that's right, all you have to do is email (montreal-iv-dv@state.gov) the scan of your passport, the checklist, and the DS-160 confirmation (barcode) page. I guess they have been doing email instead of regular mail since 2013.

[StephanieC 43]

So I checked and noticed that my case number is showing up as Ready as well. Before I checked, I emailed the embassy for more information. I just got back an email today stating that it's a glitch in the system that everyone who has a case # shows up as ready. So I'm pretty annoyed not really knowing what is right and if I go ahead and send my packet 3 whether or not it will get "lost."

[kromero2 1]

So I checked and noticed that my case number is showing up as Ready as well. Before I checked, I emailed the embassy for more information. I just got back an email today stating that it's a glitch in the system that everyone who has a case # shows up as ready. So I'm pretty annoyed not really knowing what is right and if I go ahead and send my packet 3 whether or not it will get "lost."

What?! That means even if our case hasn't left NVC it still appears as Ready?!