NVC Filers - June 2016

[LinJoe 117]

hi to all,

I'm a newbie on this site as a member,but I visited it so many times to get useful information with my visa case. I will let you all know a bit about my case.

3rd May 2016 I-130 approved(NOA2)

11th May case sent to NVC

17th May case received to NVC

3rd June case number

My husband called NVC on the 6th June to see if we have a case number,an we had one assigned since Friday 3rd. We also completed the DS-261 form in same day. After that, on the site the IV fee was available to be paid but the AOS fee was N/A.We decided to wait to review the DS-261 form over the phone with NVC and to see what happens next...

Is there something else for us to do now and we didn't?

The AOS fee should've been available to pay first. they don't normally invoice the IV fee until the AOS fee has been paid and the DS-261 has been reviewed. Did you receive a welcome email from NVC? Sometimes, they don't issue the AOS fee until that email has been sent out. That's what happened to me. Doesn't happen to everyone. Just be prepared for NVC's inconsistencies.

[LinJoe 117]

Thanks! Unfortunately no haha my husbands petition was sent to Dept of State on the 20th of May and till now I have not received any correspondence except the approval notice.... I'm probably going to call and ask whats going on...

You need to be proactive at the NVC stage. NVC will not automatically send you an email or text when they have received anything from you like USCIS did. If you got notification that USCIS sent your approved petition to Department of State, then about 1-2 weeks from that notification, start calling NVC to confirm they received your petition. They will ask for your USCIS Receipt number. Call everyday if you need to. Once they confirm they have your petition, then wait 1-2 weeks and start calling them to find out if your case and invoice numbers have been assigned yet. A welcome email from NVC with that information is a hit or miss. not everyone gets them that's why I say be proactive. You'll be calling NVC a lot during this phase.

Good luck on your journey!

Edited June 7, 2016 by LinJoe

[Jo Al 5]

The AOS fee should've been available to pay first. they don't normally invoice the IV fee until the AOS fee has been paid and the DS-261 has been reviewed. Did you receive a welcome email from NVC? Sometimes, they don't issue the AOS fee until that email has been sent out. That's what happened to me. Doesn't happen to everyone. Just be prepared for NVC's inconsistencies.

Hi there,

I checked with the site again and the IV fee is not Invoiced,so I think i misunderstood...it's not available to be paid. The AOS is blocked as I can see, and no, we didn't received the welcome letter yet.

How much time until the AOS will be available?

The case number was assigned Friday the 3rd and we completed the DS-261 form last night(6 June) as soon as we called NVC and received the case number.

Should we call NVC again and request to have the DS-261 form reviewed over the phone?

[mestiza9 0]

You need to be proactive at the NVC stage. NVC will not automatically send you an email or text when they have received anything from you like USCIS did. If you got notification that USCIS sent your approved petition to Department of State, then about 1-2 weeks from that notification, start calling NVC to confirm they received your petition. They will ask for your USCIS Receipt number. Call everyday if you need to. Once they confirm they have your petition, then wait 1-2 weeks and start calling them to find out if your case and invoice numbers have been assigned yet. A welcome email from NVC with that information is a hit or miss. not everyone gets them that's why I say be proactive. You'll be calling NVC a lot during this phase.

Good luck on your journey!

Thank you LinJoe! I will be more proactive about it then. I am currently on the phone right now on hold with them.... and I thought Potomac was unorganized with communication lol I hope they already have it and a case number so the process will go faster

[eljourney 9]

Hi there,

I checked with the site again and the IV fee is not Invoiced,so I think i misunderstood...it's not available to be paid. The AOS is blocked as I can see, and no, we didn't received the welcome letter yet.

How much time until the AOS will be available?

The case number was assigned Friday the 3rd and we completed the DS-261 form last night(6 June) as soon as we called NVC and received the case number.

Should we call NVC again and request to have the DS-261 form reviewed over the phone?

Your AOS fee will be unlocked the next day after submitting the DS-261 form( so hopefully today) I got my welcome letter the day after submitting DS-261 and got the AOS fee unlocked.. Once you pay that If you have reviewed your DS-261 over phone you should be able to pay IV fee as well( In my case it was unlocked the day after reviewing DS-261). Then take the print out of the Cover sheet from the payment portal and submit your AOS and IV package.

[LinJoe 117]

Hi there,

I checked with the site again and the IV fee is not Invoiced,so I think i misunderstood...it's not available to be paid. The AOS is blocked as I can see, and no, we didn't received the welcome letter yet.

How much time until the AOS will be available?

The case number was assigned Friday the 3rd and we completed the DS-261 form last night(6 June) as soon as we called NVC and received the case number.

Should we call NVC again and request to have the DS-261 form reviewed over the phone?

You can call them and tell them you have not received the AOS fee yet and the case was assigned on Friday. They may invoice you today itself. While you're on the phone let them know you completed your DS-261 and would like to get that reviewed over the phone. They may or may not review it over the phone. Again, it's a hit or miss. I was told they couldn't review my DS-261 over the phone because it hadn't been "send to you (me) yet." a couple of hours later, I got the welcome email and then the AOS fee was available to pay and when I called NVC again they reviewed my Choice of Agent over the phone with no issues. Once that's reviewed that then the IV fee will be invoiced within 24 hours or so.

[LinJoe 117]

Your AOS fee will be unlocked the next day after submitting the DS-261 form( so hopefully today) I got my welcome letter the day after submitting DS-261 and got the AOS fee unlocked.. Once you pay that If you have reviewed your DS-261 over phone you should be able to pay IV fee as well( In my case it was unlocked the day after reviewing DS-261). Then take the print out of the Cover sheet from the payment portal and submit your AOS and IV package.

To clarify - the AOS fee does not automatically unlock the day after submitting the DS-261. As you mentioned, the DS-261 has to be reviewed first, then the fee will be unlocked for payment. If the DS-261 is submitted and you get NVC to review it over the phone the same day, then yes, the AOS fee will be unlocked by the next day or so.

I don't know why but sometimes, they won't review the DS-261 over the phone until the welcome email has been sent out. Which is what happened to me and others on this forum. Yet for others, no issues.

[Jo Al 5]

To clarify - the AOS fee does not automatically unlock the day after submitting the DS-261. As you mentioned, the DS-261 has to be reviewed first, then the fee will be unlocked for payment. If the DS-261 is submitted and you get NVC to review it over the phone the same day, then yes, the AOS fee will be unlocked by the next day or so.

I don't know why but sometimes, they won't review the DS-261 over the phone until the welcome email has been sent out. Which is what happened to me and others on this forum. Yet for others, no issues.

ok, thanks LinJoe I will tell my husband to call the NVC today and see what we can do

[eljourney 9]

To clarify - the AOS fee does not automatically unlock the day after submitting the DS-261. As you mentioned, the DS-261 has to be reviewed first, then the fee will be unlocked for payment. If the DS-261 is submitted and you get NVC to review it over the phone the same day, then yes, the AOS fee will be unlocked by the next day or so.

I don't know why but sometimes, they won't review the DS-261 over the phone until the welcome email has been sent out. Which is what happened to me and others on this forum. Yet for others, no issues.

I got welcome letter and AOS fee unlocked the day after submitting DS-261. I did not call to review DS-261 to pay AOS fee. Once I payed AOS fee I had to call in to review the DS-261 for IV fee to be unlocked. I am just sharing my experience and it might not be the same for others. I would definitely agree with you to call them and be proactive.

[LinJoe 117]

I got welcome letter and AOS fee unlocked the day after submitting DS-261. I did not call to review DS-261 to pay AOS fee. Once I payed AOS fee I had to call in to review the DS-261 for IV fee to be unlocked. I am just sharing my experience and it might not be the same for others. I would definitely agree with you to call them and be proactive.

Yes, you are correct! sorry I got my fees mixed up. the IV fee is what gets unlocked after the DS-261 is reviewed. the AOS fee should be there once you get the case and invoice numbers and for some only after the welcome email. sorry about the confusion.

[BeckyMaria 2]

Any CC's for the week so far?

[Jo Al 5]

Just few hours ago i received the welcome letter from NVC via email. The AOS fee bill was invoiced too. Now we can pay the AOS and afterwards we are going to call NVC for the DS-261 review.

Happy happy happy....I didn't even expected this.

One more question guys, In the NVC letter they mention to send "Proof of relationship" with AOS package. What does this mean? I have to send them all my bonafide marriage proofs that I sent to USCIS too?

[eljourney 9]

Just few hours ago i received the welcome letter from NVC via email. The AOS fee bill was invoiced too. Now we can pay the AOS and afterwards we are going to call NVC for the DS-261 review.

Happy happy happy....I didn't even expected this.

One more question guys, In the NVC letter they mention to send "Proof of relationship" with AOS package. What does this mean? I have to send them all my bonafide marriage proofs that I sent to USCIS too?

Proof of relationship is for the AOS package if you are planning to have a joint sponsor. If not then it's not required.

Here is the link with the info: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Step_4_Collect_Financial_Documents.html

Proof of relationship If you completed Form I-864A, submit evidence that proves your relationship to the sponsor (the person who filed Form I-864). You can prove your relationship by submitting a photocopy of one of the documents below:

• Birth certificate;
• Marriage certificate;
• Adoption certificate;
• The petitioner or joint sponsor’s most recent Federal Income Tax Returns, if you are listed as a dependent; or
• A signed, written statement describing the relationship.

[Jo Al 5]

Proof of relationship is for the AOS package if you are planning to have a joint sponsor. If not then it's not required.

Here is the link with the info: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Step_4_Collect_Financial_Documents.html

Proof of relationship If you completed Form I-864A, submit evidence that proves your relationship to the sponsor (the person who filed Form I-864). You can prove your relationship by submitting a photocopy of one of the documents below:

• Birth certificate;
• Marriage certificate;
• Adoption certificate;
• The petitioner or joint sponsor’s most recent Federal Income Tax Returns, if you are listed as a dependent; or
• A signed, written statement describing the relationship.

Oh,Thanks eljourney! Just now I was looking at the same link and I understood how things are now. Anyhow,thank you for the prompt and clear response

[eljourney 9]

Oh,Thanks eljourney! Just now I was looking at the same link and I understood how things are now. Anyhow,thank you for the prompt and clear response

You are welcome Good luck!